FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question before your first visit? Here are the things people most often ask us – and if you can't find what you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.

GETTING STARTED

We’ll do that thinking for you. When you call or enquire, our team takes the time to understand what’s going on for you and match you with the practitioner best suited to your needs. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you reach out, we’re here to support you.

If you’ve been told your symptoms are “normal” and you don’t believe that anymore, you’re in the right place. We work with people who are done being fobbed off and ready to actually feel better.

Our patients tend to be women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s carrying more than they should, whose health has historically come last. They want something real, something that works, and someone who will take them seriously from the first appointment. If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.

Your first appointment is 90 minutes because we refuse to guess. We start with a detailed conversation, including your history, your symptoms, the things you’ve never quite known how to explain to a health professional. Nothing is too weird, too small, or too complicated.

You’ll leave with a written treatment plan that maps out exactly where we’re going and how we’re going to get you there. Not “see how you go.” A real plan.

WHAT TO EXPECT

In the early stages of treatment weekly appointments are usually recommended and this is where the real momentum builds. As your body responds and stabilises we space things out. We’ll talk through the cadence that makes sense for your life and your goals in your initial appointment, and it will all be in your written plan.

Healing isn’t a quick fix, and we’d rather be honest with you about that than waste your time. The number of sessions depends on what’s going on, how long it’s been going on, and how your body responds — all of which we can only assess properly in your first appointment.

What we can tell you is this: every session builds on the last. We’ll map out the stages of your treatment plan clearly so you always know where you are in the journey and what’s coming next. By the time we’re done, the change will be real and it will last.

Acupuncture needles are nothing like the needles used for injections. They’re hair-thin and most people are surprised by how little they feel. Some points produce a dull ache or a gentle warmth, which is actually a good sign that the needle is doing its job. Many patients find the treatment deeply relaxing and fall asleep on the table.

If you’re anxious about needles, tell us. We’ll go at your pace.

Your first appointment runs for up to 90 minutes. We start by going deep and exploring your full health history, your sleep, your cycle, your stress, your digestion, the things that feel unrelated but probably aren’t. We use tongue diagnosis, pulse reading, and a lot of careful listening.

Then we do the treatment. This includes acupuncture and any other tools that are right for you on the day. By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of what we found, what we’re working with, and exactly what the plan is. We’ll follow that up in writing within 24 hours.

CONDITIONS WE SUPPORT

You are exactly who we are here for. The woman who holds everything together for everyone else and whose own health is always the last item on the list. She deserves to be cared for too.

You are not broken, your body isn’t failing you, it’s asking for something it hasn’t been given yet. We know how to listen to what it’s saying and we know how to work with your life as it actually is, not some idealised version of it.

We have a plan, not a shrug. Perimenopause is one of the most under-supported transitions in women’s healthcare, and “it’s normal, just wait it out” is not good enough.

We work with the full picture of what’s happening hormonally, physically, and emotionally and we bring real tools to it: acupuncture, Chinese herbs, pathology interpretation, nervous system calibration, and lifestyle guidance. Women going through perimenopause consistently tell us they wish they’d come sooner.

Yes, and we go well beyond the surface. Chronic skin issues like acne, eczema, rosacea, and unexplained flare-ups are rarely just a skin problem. We investigate what’s driving the reaction from the inside: your gut, your hormones, your nervous system, your inflammatory pathways.

If you’ve had people look at your skin and hand you a topical without asking why, we will ask why. That’s where the real work starts.

This is exactly the kind of thing we’re built for. In Chinese medicine, the symptoms that seem unrelated to each other often tell the clearest story. We’re trained to read the whole picture, not just manage individual symptoms in isolation.

Your weird symptoms, your complicated history, the thing you’ve never said out loud to a health professional before — bring all of it. Nothing about you is too much for us.

HOW IT WORKS

Your treatment plan maps out the full journey: what we found, the approach we’re taking, the number of sessions we recommend, what to expect at each stage, and any between-appointment actions that will support your progress. It’s built around your specific goals, not a generic template.

You’ll receive it in writing within 24 hours of your first appointment, so you’re never left wondering what comes next.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete healthcare system that’s been refined over thousands of years. Yes, it involves things like tongue diagnosis and pulse reading. Yes, we know that sounds unlikely if you’ve never experienced it. But Hobart women keep sending their sisters, their besties, their mums and their partners through our door.

We’re not fancy and we’re not woo. We use TCM principles alongside current pathology, functional testing, and evidence-based practice. Our practitioners are lifelong learners who are always updating their knowledge, because what matters to us is what actually works for you.

Acupuncture is where we start — but we bring everything. Chinese herbal medicine, pathology interpretation, supplements, nervous system calibration (including somatic breath work and NLP), and lifestyle support. We also refer out when that’s the right call.

Think of us as electricians for the body. We find where the wiring has gone haywire and help everything start running properly again, using whatever tool is right for the job. No stone is left unturned when you work with us.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Absolutely please call us. We genuinely love talking to people who are curious or on the fence. There’s no obligation and no pressure. If we think we can help you we’ll tell you. And if we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you that too.

There is no shortage of health advice out there. What’s been missing is a plan that actually fits you, and someone who will walk alongside you until it works. That’s what we do, and we’re happy to explain exactly how before you commit to anything.

When you book with us, we hold that time entirely for you. Your practitioner prepares in advance — reviewing your history, thinking through your plan, making sure your session is ready to do real work from the moment you walk in. That preparation starts well before you arrive.

We ask that you treat your appointment time with the same care we do.

New patients: 48 hours’ (2 business days) notice is required to cancel or reschedule.

Follow-up patients: 24 hours’ (1 business day) notice is required.

Cancellations made outside these windows for any reason or missed appointments will be charged the full consultation fee to the card on file. Cancellations received after 5pm, on weekends, or on public holidays are counted from the next business day.

New patient booking deposits are non-refundable if you cancel or reschedule with less than 48 hours’ notice.

We know that life happens. If something comes up, please contact us as soon as you can. The earlier we know the better chance we have of offering your spot to someone on the waitlist who needs it.

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us care for everyone in it.

Many private health funds cover acupuncture under extras, depending on your level of cover. We recommend checking with your insurer ahead of time. We provide you with an itemised receipt at the time of your appointment so you can claim with your provider.

We’ll send you a detailed intake form ahead of your appointment. Please take the time to fill it in thoroughly. The more we know before you arrive, the more of our time together we can spend actually listening and treating, rather than catching up on paperwork.

Come with a light meal in your system (not fasting, not stuffed), wear comfortable clothing, and bring any recent blood tests or investigation results if you have them. And bring the thing you’ve never quite known how to say, that’s usually the most important part.

We’re based in Lenah Valley, Hobart. Street parking is available directly out the front. If you’re unsure about finding us, give us a call before your appointment and we’ll help you sort it out.

South Hobart Acupuncture acknowledges the muwinina people of lutruwita, who are Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are fortunate enough to work and play. We recognise their continued connection to the land and waters of this beautiful place and acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. We respect all Elders and Ancestors, and the rights of all first nations people throughout Australia and the Torres Strait to care for Country, to share and to celebrate culture
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