Today I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Helen Shield on ABC Radio Hobart’s Your Afternoon program. Helen has been running a handy Homeschooling for Adults segment and today wanted to discuss how to make a body scrub that you can use at home.
And what a great idea making a body scrub at home is as we come into Autumn and the dryness that it brings to the skin. In fact, did you know that in Chinese Medicine the element of Metal includes the season of Autumn, the climate of Dryness and the Lung, Large Intestine and skin which are all considered to be prone to dryness!
So you can listen into the radio program here (the salt scrub is the first segment of the show).
And here’s the DIY salt scrub recipe if you want to make it at home with instructions on how to use it. It is a versatile formula that can be used in any season as the salt softens and smooths the skin and the oil brings nourishment and moisture.
Enjoy!
To book an appointment online at the Launceston acupuncture clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), Chinese Medicine and natural health.
With the latest federal and state government announcements and requests from frontline medical staff to #stayhome in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, I can no longer see that offering face-to-face consultations in my clinic is responsible practice. Despite always maintaining a high level of infection control, beyond what is prescribed in the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Infection Control Training for health professionals, it seems higher level precautions to keep everyone safe are required now with the use of additional personal protective equipment (PPE), temperature monitoring and most importantly social distancing. As a stand alone clinician, I don’t have the capacity to provide all of this myself in a situation with close contact.
I know that for many of you, your acupuncture consultation with me as an allied health professional is essential to your ability to function or manage your health. I take this responsibility extremely seriously. This decision is not taken as complying with the minimum level of responsibility I can, but rather doing what I believe is right for you and our community. As I close my doors to the physical clinic at House of Prana (for now), I want to assure you that there is a plan in place to continue your carewith the myriad of treatment styles that Chinese Medicine has to offer. You are not alone. I am still here for you. And I have a bigger bag of strategies than you could imagine.
If you have an appointment booked with me I will be in touch with you this week.
The thing is, acupuncture is only one part of Chinese Medicine. Those of you who already attend appointments with me know that a large part of my consultations involve diet, lifestyle and herbal strategies. Some of you have had moxibustion (that herbal stick) and acupressure homework. There is still so much more I can teach you to do in your home accompanied by appropriate prescriptions. In fact, you are likely to learn more about Chinese Medicine for your health condition and be empowered with self-care strategies that are individualised to you. Better still, you can attend the appointment in the comfort of your own home, while self-isolating for the good of the community. The small number of you who haven’t managed to learn to love needles can avoid them, for now.
I plan to bring you two styles of health support:
Telehealth consultations (with a delivery service for herbs, teas and other prescribed items)
A webinar series
Most of you know I have been lecturing and writing courses in Chinese Medicine for years and the chance to be able to share my knowledge with you through online consultations and webinars gives you access to more information that you can use in your home to benefit your own health.
Currently, I am putting everything into place to ensure that both of these services are both professional and run smoothly so that your care is continued seamlessly. Please indulge me with a few more days to organise these services for you. But do contact me if you need assistance before you hear from me.
For now, be sure to follow me onFacebook, Instagram, this website and your emails if you are subscribed to my mailing list for updates, tips and some lighthearted distractions too.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge that a lot of you and the people you know are hurting right now. Please reach out if I can help. If you need support for your mental health please contact these Lifeline: 13 11 14, BeyondBlue: 1300 224 636 or Headspace: 1800 650 890.
I’m wishing each and everyone of you all the best right now. Stay home, wash your hands, stay in contact with friends and loved ones, be well and keep an eye out for further updates.
To book an appointment online at the Launceston acupuncture clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), Chinese Medicine and natural health.
As you’d all be well aware by now we are in interesting times with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my role as your health practitioner to ensure that I deliver my Chinese Medicine services in a way that both benefits your health and is performed in an environment that minimises the risk of infection.
Below you’ll find the steps I’m taking to provide health services with suitable precautions to ensure that when it comes to your treatment you feel calm and supported in your health goals:
Firstly, YES! The clinic is still open. Appointment-wise it is business as usual and you can still book in by calling or texting 0448 128 858, emailing sarah@sarahgeorgeacupuncture.com.au or visiting the online booking system.
Clinic continues in strict accordance with government health advice. I am keeping a close eye on Australian Government, Tasmanian Department of Health, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHRPA) and Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) directives and will comply completely. The situation is changing rapidly and I will remain flexible and responsive to those changes, notifying you of any changes that may affect you or your appointment. It is important to note that as registered acupuncturists we are already held to a high level of infection control and these infection control procedures continue with additional measures taking place in the building.
Notify me ASAP by phone or email if you are unwell and/or are required to be isolated/quarantined. Your appointment will be cancelled/rescheduled with the usual cancellation fees waived. In this case, please DO NOT attend your appointment in person. We will either cancel your appointment or reschedule it to when it may be safe for you to return. To reduce the spread of infection it is important that you advise me as soon as possible if you are affected by the following:
Experiencing fever, flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue, and shortness of breath. We will cancel/reschedule your appointment and should you require symptom relief this may be arranged remotely for you. (See below.)
If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.
If you have had recent overseas travel and are required to self isolate. (Have returned from overseas on or after 16 March, have been in or transited through China or Iran in the past 14 days, have returned from South Korea on or after 5 March, have returned from Italy on or after 11 March.)
Have been in ‘close contact’ with a confirmed case.
Do you suspect you have COVID-19? If you think you might have COVID-19 because of recent travel or contact with a confirmed case, phone the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline (1800 671 738) for advice. If you haven’t travelled or had contact with confirmed case, phone your doctor or healthdirect Australia (1800 022 222).
Skype & Phone Consults. This is the answer for when you can’t attend clinic due to sickness, isolation/quarantine or due to being extremely immuno-compromised but still need your Chinese Medicine treatment. The good news is that Chinese Medicine Skype and phone appointments are available for you! You may be surprised to know that Chinese Medicine is a lot more than just acupuncture. We have a full toolkit available to us including Chinese dietetics, lifestyle measures, exercises, herbal medicine, moxibustion (the herb I burn in clinic) and acupressure. Your treatment can continue should you be isolated at home with an individualised prescription of these methods tailored to your signs and symptoms and health goal. This applies to what you usually see me for or if you are seeking relief from other symptoms. These consultations will be conducted via Skype or phone. The fee is $50 and health fund rebates do not apply. Any products that are prescribed can be picked up by someone else or a courier service. If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.
Preventative medicine. Please feel free to discuss your health situation with me at your next consult and we can discuss preventative measures. Of course these hygiene measures are your first line of defence. I have also been researching Chinese Medicine strategies that have been used in China some of which may be suitable to use here also.
My health. I take my health very, very seriously not just now but always. My job requires me to be in tip top shape and if I’m even slightly unwell, I take time off. Currently I’m employing high level hygiene measures, hydrating, eating well and maximising sleep in a way that supports my immune system, and employing herbs, supplements and other Chinese Medicine methods individualised to me to maintain my health. We are dealing with a new pathogen here and research is limited as to what is effective. That said, each and every one of us can employ our winter cold and flu prevention practices.
STAY CALM AND SMILE. Employ your usual stress reduction techniques. My favourites are the meditation apps Headspace, Calm and the breathing/qigong app 7 Min Chi. Get creative. Read your favourite books. Enjoy time in your garden. Get some sunshine and keep exercising in a low contact way.
If you have any questions about any of the content in this newsletter please feel free to contact me.
To book an appointment at the Launceston acupuncture clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), Chinese Medicine and natural health.
Coronavirus is here in Tasmania and at my Launceston acupuncture clinic I have been collating resources to benefit us all.
First of all, pay close attention to our two relevant government websites. Information is changing quickly and these are the best sources to get information from. These are also the best sites for hygiene and preventative measures:
I’ll respond further as the situation here in Tasmania changes. Remember to keep checking the government websites for the best and up-to-date information.
But for now stay informed, keep calm and be kind. Follow the preventive guidelines. Stay well. Reach out to those who might need assistance.
To book an appointment at the Launceston acupuncture clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), Chinese Medicine and natural health.
Well! Winter is certainly packing a punch this year. My weather app says we’re due for -4 degrees Celsius tonight. Brrrrrrrrrrr. Note to self: I need to refresh my winter wardrobe.
But what about winter and your health? Winter has a bad reputation for ‘catching a cold’ and cops the flack for setting the scene for ‘flu season’.
Here in Launceston, we certainly notice the seasons in a big way particularly as the days are much shorter and the temperature is much cooler. And those frosts!
In keeping with my other seasonal living guides (summer and autumn), here is your guide to living well in winter.
Winter is all about the Water element (in which we find the Kidneys and Bladder). It is when the Yang (hot, energetic Qi) is hidden by the Yin (cool, peaceful Qi) accumulation. And so we crave:
Comfort and being cosy
Embracing the indoors, or well warmed outdoor spaces
Introversion
Getting more sleep (earlier to bed, later to rise – just like the sun)
Using the warm quilt and/or flannelette sheets
Getting crafty (crocheting or knitting? I heard they are the new yoga!)
Comforting foods – soups, stews, curries, apple cinnamon crumble
Kathleen and I teaching acupressure at the Woodford Folk Festival Children’s Festival (2011/12)
Hello again! I’m very happy to break this exciting news to you.
My fantastic naturopath-acupuncturist (and MamaCare) pal, Kathleen Murphy, and I will be teaming up again to speak about two of our favourite topics this year at the Woodford Folk Festival – Fertility (and Chinese Medicine) and The Fourth Trimester (or postpartum) care with Natural Medicine.
We’re super excited to be bringing discussions on traditional practices and evidence based care combined with our own clinical experiences to the good people of Woodfordia.
It’ll also be wonderful to be joining the great team at The Blue Lotus venue once again (where you’ll find the best of yoga, meditation and health speakers at the festival).
And here we are speaking about Gluten and Grain Intolerance at the Woodford Folk Festival (2012/13)
Stay tuned for more info on when we’re speaking and details of what we’ll be speaking about!
We hope you can come and join us and the rest of the great lineup that the festival brings this year!
To book an appointment at the Launceston clinics or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture).Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
Hello! It’s been a little while since my last post (I’ve been busy) but I’m here to say that the great Sam Seghers from Mindful Menus and Redcliffe Yoga & Massage is coming to Launceston (from Redcliffe, QLD) to team up with me for a fun and informative workshop!
Cook Healthy Japanese Food – Saturday 11th August (1pm-3pm)
So Sam is a whizz with Japanese cookery (having lived there for 14 years). She is going to take some great Tasmanian fresh produce and create several tasty Japanese dishes. And she’ll be able to answer all those tricky questions you have about ingredients like:
the seaweeds (e.g. wakame and kombu – what on earth do you do with them?)
tofu (how do you cook it so it doesn’t taste like a sponge?)
mushrooms (e.g. shiitake, king oyster – what do you do with them?)
green tea (e.g. what to look for in a good Japanese tea and how to brew it)
miso (everyone is talking about it – what is it and what do you do with it?)
And many more…
All food prepared on the day will be gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian and vegan although we are also happy to discuss substitutions for other diet styles, food allergies and intolerances.
My job in all of this is to introduce you to the exciting world of Chinese Dietetics. This will change the way you think about food in a very healthy and balanced way.
In Chinese dietetics we talk about the thermal nature of a food (e.g. cold, cool, neutral, warm, hot), the flavour (bitter, sweet, pungent, salty, sour) and the organs that each food has an affinity with. You’ll discover that no wholefood should be considered good (eat tonnes of it) or evil (avoid it at all costs) for every person in the same way. We’ll talk about balance of thermal nature and flavours in your meal. And we’ll go through the Chinese dietetic properties of each food we use in the recipes on the day and the over all benefits of the dish (including the cooking methods) so that you know which ones will benefit you most.
During this time you’ll also enjoy the most amazing healthy Japanese afternoon tea banquet of all the dishes we have created on the day. Having been lucky enough to have attended several of Sam’s Japanese banquets in the past I assure you that these dishes are delicious!
If you’re interested in learning a little more about Chinese Dietetics here’s a post I wrote a while ago on balancing the five flavours in a meal.
To book tickets to Cook Healthy Japanese Foods visit our Eventbrite page.
To book an appointment at the clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
So a lot of us use a range of herbs and spices in our cooking and medicines and yet we may not have a clue what they actually look like when they’re growing on the bush or vine or tree. (I also know some of you grow an extensive range of herbs in your gardens and very much know what they look like and how to use them.)
By definition herbs are plants of a particular type (soft, succulent and mostly grown from seed) but this doesn’t truly capture all of the plants we use as herbs. Broadly speaking, herbs can be any plant we use in medicine, food, flavouring, for fragrance or even as a dye.
While I was in Sri Lanka late last year I wanted to visit as many Ayurvedic herbal gardens as I could to learn more about these medicinal plants. Here are some photos I took at the Ananda Spice Garden (near Koggala Lake) of some herbs you may use on regular rotation in your kitchen or even in a medicinal brew:
Aloe VeraCinnamonGingerRed gingerVanilla
Aren’t they gorgeous?
And if you are interested, here is a east-west fusion (read: not Classical Chinese Medicine but still really interesting) of the Five Elements of herbs I found in one of my favourite, old herb books – Isobell Shiphard’s How can I use herbs in my daily life?
To book an appointment at the clinic or further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
How do you make tea? Well not how do YOU make tea, but how is tea actually made?
Firstly I have an image warning! You are in for some damn fine images of tea porn here – hot, steamy, bushy and breathtakingly gorgeous. 😉
I love tea in pretty much in all its forms (well maybe except for the black tea bag variety with cow’s milk poured in – but that’s mainly because I don’t tolerate dairy and didn’t ever develop a liking for it). In fact it’s probably the beverage we love most in Chinese Medicine. I’ve been to China and learnt a lot about the various forms of green teas, I’ve even done a tea appreciate course but I’d never seen how this delicious, medicinal and incredibly popular drink was actually made to give us those medicinal qualities (from bush to cup that is). Just so you know whatever research says I don’t believe a microwave forms part of the tea making process. So I trotted off to Sri Lanka, where some would say is the source of the best black tea in the world (Ceylon tea anyone?), to find out. I visited no less than four tea plantations and their factories to try to get an understanding of how the cammelia sinensis leaf is transformed to make a delightful cup of tea. (For those not in the know, all true tea comes from the leaves of just one plant – cammelia sinensis – be it black, green or white. (Herbal and rooibos teas are made from different plants altogether.)
So here is a photographic journey of the tea making process from the Handunugoda Tea Estate, at Ahangama in the south, where they produce their tea with beautiful, old machinery. They are also famous for their virgin white tea and a range of flavoured teas.
Tea leaf pickingThe moisture is dried from the fresh leaves – smells good
Rolling the leaves
Rolling machine
Rolling the leaves in the heavy rolling machine.
The rolled leaves further ferment and then are heated as part of the firing process (the leaves turn black at this stage).
Ungraded leaves are put through the grading machine. Four grades are produced – from small pieces to large pieces. Small pieces are used for tea bags and large for the loose leaf tea. The small pieces produce a stronger black tea and the larger pieces a lighter black tea. The size does not indicate quality. This tea making process is followed to maximise the medicinal benefits and flavour of the tea.
The finished product – black tea ready to be sold at the Colombo tea markets to the big brand names.
I mentioned earlier that I visited four tea factories. Handunugoda Tea Estate was the first. Later, I visited the towns of Ella and Nuwara Eliya which are in the high country. The area is famous for tea and the scenic railway that shows off the tea plantations.
Newburgh Green Tea Factory (Ella) – the process is similar without the ‘firing’ part of the process that black tea goes through. This factory was small and cute; it smelled fantastic!
Halpe Tea Factory (Ella) – these images do not do this factory justice. It is the largest tea factory (or so I was told) and has sweeping views of the local tea plantations. They have a lovely variety of flavoured teas also.
Pedro Tea Estate (Nuwara Eliya) – This factory produced my favourite cup of broken orange pekoe of the trip (the gorgeous orange cuppa pictured above as the very first image of this blog). The factory tour was interesting and the plantation is incredibly beautiful.
And here is one of the most beautiful railway journeys you might take (from Ella to Nuwara Eliya and just beyond) and those magical leaves:
To book an appointment at the clinic or further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
Late last year I visited Sri Lanka to learn about an ancient healing system with some similarities to Chinese Medicine – ‘Ayurveda’. Interestingly, Sri Lanka is home to what is believed to be the world’s oldest hospital (3rd Century BCE), so it seemed like a pretty good place to discover an ancient medicine system.
‘Ayuervda’ is roughly translated as the science of life. It is the predominant traditional healing system of the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine differs somewhat from Indian Ayurveda particularly in relation to herbal medicine which takes on a local variation. Ayurveda, like Chinese Medicine, involves supporting the body to attain balance. There are also Five Elements that are fundamental to this system however they are not exactly the same as those in Chinese Medicine. According to Ayurveda, there are three basic diagnostic types (dosha) based on their Five Elements: pitta, kapha and vata. Find out your dosha by doing this quiz.
My trip took me to the Dalmanuta Gardens Ayurveda Resort and Restaurant, a peaceful oasis on the Bentota River. Most people attend Dalmanuta Gardens to learn about Ayurvedic principles to improve their health and/or to correct imbalances in the body; some patients are long term guests with serious health concerns. Patients are treated through a regime of yoga, specific dietary considerations (food cooked to balance out your ‘type’) and a range of herbal and bodywork treatments. Each patient has their treatment plan guided by an Ayurvedic doctor; in my case, Dr Vimukthi. Body palpation and pulse diagnosis form a major part of forming a diagnosis, in addition to questioning. I cannot speak more highly of my two Ayuredic therapists who carried out the prescribed treatments: Gayan Sameera Samaranayaka and Jeewani Champika. Sameera was a master of deep tissue massage and Jeewani gave the most soothing shirodhara treatment. Both were extremely professional and happy to teach me about their medicine.
With my great therapists.
Tasty herbs – really!
Each day at Dalmanuta Gardens goes something like this:
Morning yoga
Breakfast (cooked for your type) served in a little hut on the Bentota River. It included a green herbal soup which looked ‘interesting’ but was actually quite tasty.
Treatment time: for me this lasted two and a half hours and involved a range of massage including deep tissue, herbal compresses, herbal facial steam and shirodhara (that wonderfully calming technique of having warm oil poured over your forehead. It involves the acupuncture point, Yintang, in Chinese Medicine known for it’s calming function.)
Lunch (cooked for your type, again served in the river hut while you are still in your treatment robe soaking in the good oils and herbs.
Relaxation after lunch (it’s a nice opportunity to explore the magnificent ayurvedic herbal garden or sit in the meditation garden.
Dinner – here you have the opportunity to join the chef to learn how he cooks the foods that have been prescribed for your dinner. I had a one-on-one session and learnt to make several Sri Lankan curries from scratch (including with milk straight out of the coconut) and coconut sambool. The fresh ingredients are mostly grown organically on the property. Once again dinner is served in the river hut where you can hear the aquatic life swimming below, nocturnal animals moving around on the opposite river bank and prayers from the nearby mosque.
Bedtime. I probably don’t need to point out that I slept very, very well here.
I left Dalmanuta Gardens far the wiser (although certainly no expert) about Ayurvedic medicine, treatments and dietary medicine as well as having glowing skin and a hard, old, hip injury that was feeling a lot more supple.
To book an appointment at the clinic or further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health.
Today I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Helen Shield on ABC Radio Hobart’s Your Afternoon program. Helen has been running a handy Homeschooling for Adults segment and today wanted to discuss how to make a body scrub that you can use at home.
With the latest 
Coronavirus is here in Tasmania and at my Launceston acupuncture clinic I have been collating resources to benefit us all.
How do you make tea? Well not how do YOU make tea, but how is tea actually made?
Late last year I visited Sri Lanka to learn about an ancient healing system with some similarities to Chinese Medicine – ‘Ayurveda’. Interestingly, Sri Lanka is home to what is believed to be the 
