Launceston’s acupuncture clinic for women’s health, fertility and pregnancy care has a new, warm and peaceful home in Invermay with Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture).
Welcome to Peppermint Cottage! The home of women’s health, fertility and pregnancy acupuncture in Launceston.
The clinic boasts a fully equipped treatment room and one of the most comfortable acupuncture treatment tables you will ever enjoy a treatment on. There is a second treatment space for those appointments that can’t be booked in advance such as prior to an IVF procedure or birth induction. You won’t miss out at these important times, even when we are booked out six weeks in advance.
The clinic places an emphasis on your comfort for the time dedicated to your Chinese Medicine consultation as we use traditional and modern diagnostic methods to guide the way for your treatment.
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.
We sometimes prescribe moxa treatment for you to do at home.
In this video, Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture) explains some of the basic tips we teach you in the clinic so you can do moxa safely at home.
Remember to always follow your written moxa prescription instructions from your registered acupuncturist and let us know if you need further help prior to starting your home moxa treatment.
To book an appointment at the Launceston acupuncture clinic or for further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah and Naomi are practitioners of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), Chinese Medicine and natural health.
Great news! I am sopleased to announce that Dr Naomi Kazi (Acupuncture) has joined my acupuncture Launceston team here at Sarah George Acupuncture and Natural Health.
Naomi is a great addition to our team, being passionate about promoting good health through the use of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. We will be taking a team approach so you can expect the same high level of care you expect from our clinic and a similar treatment style.
For those of you who are experiencing pain, Naomi has completed further education in a range of acupuncture treatment techniques specific to musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain. Additionally, Naomi is skilled in cosmetic acupuncture and gives the most blissful cosmetic acupuncture sessions.
When Naomi is not focused on acupuncture, you’ll find her doing Chinese Medicine exercise therapy, meditation, yoga, Latin dancing, gardening and her new hobby; woodworking.
Naomi is accepting new patients now. We have a team approach so if you usually see Sarah and can’t find an appropriate appointment time, you can book a follow up appointment to see Naomi too.
Naomi starts Tuesday 12th January. Her normal availability will be:
Monday 8.30am-5pm
Tuesday 8.30am-5pm
Thursday 8.30am-5pm
Friday 8.30am-5pm
You can see the new clinic hours (including Sarah’s appointment times) here.
If you are interested in trying acupuncture or not sure if we can help you, please contact us.
It makes me incredibly happy to announce that my Launceston acupuncture clinic is reopening on Monday 15th June. And bookings are now open.
As you know, I take your health extremely seriously (it’s my job after all), and so together with the team at House of Prana, I’ve implemented the following procedures to keep my clinic a low risk environment where you can get the best of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine health care.
To do this, you’ll notice a few things are different since last you visited. None of this has been easy or quick to achieve; I’ve attended every infection control webinar I can and have written a comprehensive COVID Safe Plan but it is worth it to keep everyone who visits my clinic as safe as possible. Until we are notified by government otherwise, we’ll have the following measures in place:
COVID-19 Screening Questions
You’ll receive these with your appointment reminder emails. Please complete them via the online link prior to your appointment. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions I’ll be in touch to discuss how I can offer you care in the safest way.
On arriving at House of Prana, everyone will again be asked the screening questions before attending appointments and classes.
Sanitise your hands on entry
Hand sanitiser will be available to everyone who enters the building. Please sanitise your hands allowing 20-30 seconds while your rub your hands thoroughly and allow them to dry.
Hand sanitiser will be available at multiple points in the building so make use of it anytime you need to.
I’ll meet you at the foyer on ground floor
There’s no need to arrive early for your appointment, just show up right on time to the ground floor foyer and I’ll come and collect you for your appointment. The waiting area upstairs will not be in use during this time.
Fewer appointments available
I’m changing the way I practice at least until the pandemic infection control plan is running effectively and efficiently. To achieve this, I will only be using one room for appointments with a greater space between each appointment to allow for pandemic level infection control procedures (including disinfection and a complete change of linen) to be carried out.
I look very forward to being able to offer more appointments in the future.
After hours appointments
I have continued to offer one later finish each week, on Wednesdays. I ask that you only take these appointments if this is absolutely the only time you can make.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
You’ll noticed the use of more PPE in clinic. The reason for this is most of our interactions will be for longer than 15 minutes and closer than 1.5m.
Chinese Medicine Telehealth consultations still available
If you can’t or don’t want to visit the clinic physically, and you would like to have a Chinese Medicine consultation via telehealth you are still welcome to do so. Now that acupuncture appointments are available telehealth consultation fees will be in line with those for acupuncture: Initial consultation $150 and Follow up consultation $100. Sadly and despite lobbying by my association, I have been advised that health fund rebates do not apply to telehealth consultations.
Herb, supplement and tea orders collections
For your ease during the pandemic I have grown my dispensary so that most of the items I prescribe are available in one place. You can pick up your herbs, supplements and teas at your consultation but if you need to place an order to be collected at another time, please arrange a time that you can meet me in the foyer of House of Prana to collect. Once I am back in clinic I am unable to continue local deliveries although I can still post your order (postal charges continue to apply).
I’m really looking forward to seeing you
It’s been difficult being an acupuncturist who is not physically in clinic, so I can’t wait to be back in my rooms helping you to feel the best that you can. I’ve used this time to prepare the best Infection Control Management and COVID Safe Plan that I can and update my skills and knowledge to enhance my clinic outcomes, particularly in the areas of:
Pregnancy support and birth preparation (3 day course with the wonderful Claudia Citkovitz)
IVF support (review of evidence based treatment)
Vulval conditions involving ulceration including genital herpes, lichen planus and lichen sclerosis (through Intimate Ecology)
The health benefits of tea (Chinese Medicine course)
I’m also continuing UTAS’ Wellbeing Toolkit
If you have any questions about any of the content above please contact me. There are a lot of new procedures and I’m really happy to help in any way I can. If in doubt, just ask.
And the fastest way to book in is to click here (available 24/7), otherwise contact me on 0448 128 858 or by email sarah@sarahgeorgeacupuncture.com.au.
Until I see you next, take care, be kind to yourself and look after each other.
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.
Poached eggs on leftover lentils and baked potatoes
There’s a few old sayings that suggest many people over the years may have thought that breakfast was quite an important meal of the day* including:
Eat a hearty breakfast, a moderate lunch and a small supper
Breakfast like a king, lunch like a merchant and sup like a pauper
Eat your breakfast alone, share your lunch with a friend and give your supper to your enemy
So what are you eating for breakfast now that (in the southern hemisphere) we have hit winter?
Here are some important ideas to factor in when choosing your breakfast (like a monarch of course!):
Does your breakfast nourish you and provide energy to start your day?
Does your breakfast make you feel good? (Does your tummy like it?)
Have you warmed your breakfast up for the cooler weather?
Is it convenient for the time pressures you may have in the morning?
Is it tasty? Do you like it?
Let’s start with 1. Does it nourish you and provide energy to start your day?
Think about the quality of the food here. Is it a highly processed cereal out of a box? Or white toast with jam/butter etc? For the calories you are eating you can probably do a lot better nutrient wise by eating whole foods – think of it as ‘bang’ (nutrients) for your ‘buck’ (calorie intake). Are you eating enough food? If you’re having a single slice of toast, just a piece of fruit or a cup of coffee, well you just might not be getting enough food in to start your day well. And for those dieting, a good rule of thumb is ‘eat to move‘ so it makes sense to eat more for breakfast as you’ll be on the move for the day and less later in the day when you’ve finished moving around.
2. Does your breakfast make you feel good? (Does your tummy like it?)
If you are eating food that leaves you feeling bloated, running to the loo or alternatively backed up, tired or with indigestion, then it may not be the right food for you, even if it is supposedly ‘healthy’! It may be that wheat/gluten/eggs/dairy/beans/dried fruit/excessive fruit doesn’t agree with you, or that you’re not eating enough fibre, or there’s too much sugar in it. Experiment with the types of foods you have for breakfast so your belly feels happy, leaving you with the energy and mind set you need to have a great start to the day.
3. Have you warmed your breakfast up for the cooler weather?
In Chinese Medicine it is almost non-negotiable to eat a cooked, warm breakfast in winter. And here in Tassie, well it wouldn’t hurt to eat a warm breakfast almost all year round. Why is it? Well in Chinese Medicine we consider that your digestive system works a bit like a cooking pot. You need a fire under the cooking pot to help break down the food and to pull out the nutrients (gu qi or food qi in our terms). Food that is already warm and cooked requires less from your body to provide the internal cooking fire and the warmth going in adds to keeping you warm too. Think of eating a warm pumpkin soup versus a watermelon. The pumpkin soup likely makes you feel warm from within, whereas the watermelon is refreshing and helps to cool you down – this is not what most of us need in winter, especially first thing in the morning.
So, ditch the smoothies, cold muesli, fruit salads and juices for breakfast especially in winter. Replace them with: porridges (made on any grain), eggs (any sort or even vegan alternatives) and baked beans (tinned or if you can, homemade baked beans are amazing).
To add additional warmth to your food you can add cinnamon, ginger or other spices (eggs go very well with any of the curry spices). Stew your fruit to make them warmer, stone fruit are naturally warmer so they are even better.
This point is really essential if you have a tendency to feel cold. Don’t even think about drinking the smoothie.
4. Is it convenient for the time pressures you may have in the morning?
All the above is great, but what if you just don’t have time in the morning to make much fuss? Well here are some time saver ideas I have personally used in the past:
Soak your oats or muesli the night before so you can cook/warm them in the morning.
Meal prep. Make your congee (rice porridge) or baked beans in a big batch and then freeze them in portion sizes so all you need to do is warm them up. Some people love a fritatta made in advance warmed up for a quick breakfast.
Put on a rice cooker/saucepan while you’re doing something else in the morning.
Scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, poached eggs and even omelettes (or vegan alternatives) don’t take that much longer than making toast so don’t rule them out either if you were already having toast for breakfast.
Leftovers! Leftover bolognaise, curry, stew or dal could be delicious on wholemeal toast. And they’re quick to reheat. You can even plan to have leftovers.
When we’re time poor we just have to do the best we can. So if you can at least eat some whole foods, some fibre and it’s warm, then that’s a great start.
5. Is it tasty? Do you like it?
This one is key. Life is too short to eat food that you don’t like. Actually, make sure that you have taken the time to smell the food, chew it and taste it – have you thought if you like it? Put down the phone, turn off the telly, stop reading while you’re eating. Have you noticed the tastes, textures and aroma?
If you’re eating something because it’s ‘healthy’ but you just don’t like it that much, then change to something you do like, and really enjoy it each morning.
To stop you getting bored, rotate around a few different breakfasts or do something different on weekends. Take advantage of seasonal produce to vary your staple breakfast recipes.
Winter breakfast inspiration!
I hope that the following recipes give you some inspiration but feel to use it as just that and change the ingredients around to suit you.
And don’t forget eggs your favourite way (maybe on wholemeal toast with avocado) and muesli served warm that you have made yourself from whole foods (the ingredients are easily available at bulk food stores and good supermarkets).
*NOTE: Now, I’m not here to convince the intermittent fasters among you to eat breakfast (I know intermittent fasting suits many people and evidence supports it), although if you look at the above, combined with the Chinese Medicine idea of not eating a big dinner or eating dinner late, you can see that by following this advice the length of time you’re eating in a day is naturally reduced anyway – just from the end of the day, instead of the start.
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.
Just a heads up:this is a long but useful post, I suggest you make a cuppa to sip on while you are reading.
With the Tasmanian Government’s recent announcement of the Roadmap to Recovery, I am excited to announce that my clinic will reopen it’s physical doors for acupuncture appointments on 15th June, in line with Stage Two! Of course, this is dependent on government advice, but it feels good to give you all a date to put in your diaries. I’ll be in touch soon with information on booking.
While I had hoped I may be able to provide acupuncture treatments sooner than this, the reality is that the building where the clinic is located is a wellness centre, managed by the great team at the yoga studio. When the yoga studio is permitted to operate (as Stage Two is given the green light on 15th June), then a coordinated plan with the individual health businesses within the building and the spaces they all share will be actively implemented, for the safety of everyone who uses the building. We will work as a team to make House of Prana a low risk environment that also feels warm and welcoming to visit.
First do no harm
In every treatment, a practitioner must always weigh up benefit versus potential harm. Your health and the safety of our community is my top priority. For this reason, until the House of Prana is open for business and a COVID safety plan is in place for everybody using the space, then we cannot permit the space to be used as a clinic. The novel coronavirus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal pathogen for some in our community, so this harm is a possibility that must be taken seriously.
Restrictions are easing but the virus has not changed
Many countries in the world have experienced a second wave of COVID-19 cases. We do not want that to happen here in Australia, yes it is possible. And winter is also on the way with the usual winter cold and flu infections expected. Basically, this is not the time to reduce social distancing or relax hygiene standards. By all means, enjoy the freedoms we have been allowed in stage one, just do it safely.
How am I preparing for reopening?
Before the clinic temporarily closed I had already completed the Australian Government’s COVID-19 infection control program for health practitioners. Since then I have completed a further two hours of training in an international webinar addressing practice guidelines for acupuncturists returning to work with the view to maintaining a high level of infection control to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, I am reviewing my general Infection Control Management Plan and implementing a further COVID-19 Pandemic Workplace Safety Plan. Personal protective Equipment (PPE) which has been scarce to find (as I’m sure you’ve heard in the news), is being sourced for the return to clinic.
The House of Prana team are working together regularly to implement these safety plans throughout the centre for it’s reopening in June. We are excited (as you can see from our Zoom meeting photo!)
Are you pregnant, undergoing IVF, trying to conceive or in need of Chinese Medicine help for your health now?
Please do reach out to me if you are pregnant and needing support, or are preparing for the birth of your child, if you’re undergoing IVF or trying to conceive naturally, or perhaps you’re struggling with stress, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, low energy or pain. You are not facing this on your own.
I can still assist you through a Chinese Medicine telehealth consultation right now or provide an appropriate referral if other services are required. And until the clinic physically reopens for acupuncture the fees for Chinese Medicine telehealth consultations remain lower than those for acupuncture consultations (initial telehealth consultations are $100 and follow up telehealth consultations are $50). A video explaining how telehealth operates is here and further information is here.
If you need repeats of your herbs, supplements, moxa sticks or teas from the clinic tea menu you can take advantage of my free delivery service within Launceston (postcodes: 7248, 7249 & 7250) or I can express post them to you for $12. I’m regularly out doing deliveries these days and will continue until I return to clinic. You can place an order by contacting me via phone or email.
To book a Chinese Medicine telehealth consultation online please click here or contact me.
What else have I been doing?
It was actually an enormous task to dismantle the clinic and dispensary, bringing important items and the dispensary home and setting up telehealth consultations. I’ve created new information sheets for a variety of clinical areas to support the people who use my services.
I’ve also been keeping my skills sharp and up to date by undergoing several courses including a brilliant 3 day seminar on Chinese Medicine techniques for pregnancy and birth (with an online study group too). I have so much to share with women who are in need of Chinese Medicine obstetric (and gynaecology) support. Other study I have coming up to blend into my clinic work when I’m back is completing the Mental Health First Aid course, something we may need more than ever right now, and taking part in UTAS’ The Wellbeing Toolkit.
I’m also taking an active role in the Acupuncture Now Foundation. The purpose of this organisation is to find and provide the high level evidence for the use of acupuncture and share it widely amounting to a more well-informed community.
There’s also two podcasts/facebook lives that I have been involved in. The first was with a chat about fertility and pregnancy, Chinese Medicine and COVID-19 times with the wonderful fertility naturopath, Jaclyn Harris. You can catch the conversation on my Facebook page. The second was with Shahna Sarpi on the Nutrition Grad Guide podcast which is aimed at mentoring new health practitioners to start up their clinics (coming soon).
Like a lot of you, I’m also trying to keep up with daily exercise (I’m loving the online qigong available), cooking healthy food, starting a new veggie garden, sewing and staying in touch (from a distance) with people I care about.
What about some positive, feel good vibes?
Well we have read, seen and experienced some beautiful stories to warm our hearts in this time, like:
And I have to draw your attention to this gorgeous little Australian youtube series, called Love in Lockdown. You’ll recognise the Aussie actors and be able to relate to so many of the things that have defined lockdown for us. It’s clever, funny, adorable, topical and each episode is only 7 minutes!
Finally,
Most of all, I wish for you and your loved ones, that you stay safe and well. Let’s all work together, support the local businesses, artists and musicians, and help those who are vulnerable, because we are all in this together. Let’s do what we can to create a ‘new normal’ that works well for all of us.
See you back in clinic via telehealth now or for acupuncture next month. I’ll be in touch with more news on the reopening soon. Stay well.
Well autumn is in full swing here in our pretty city of Launceston right now. It is certainly an autumn with a difference though with the COVID-19 restrictions; one none of us have ever experienced before. This week our parks have reopened so with appropriate social distancing we can enjoy more of nature which is great for our souls.
And when you come home from your walk in nature you’ll need a nourishing, warm meal. Well you’re in luck because this Asian mushroom risotto I discovered recently really ticks those boxes. Plus we have good local supplies of some of these lovely mushrooms. I bought my oyster mushrooms from Hillwood Fresh Food Co at Harvest Market but also consider growing your own with West Tamar Fungi. Tsing Wah usually has a good selection of fresh Asian mushrooms too. Feel free to mix up the types of mushrooms in the recipe as to what you have available, just keep the overall weight of the total mushrooms to what the recipe says. The ‘dried Chinese mushrooms’ referred to in the recipe may mean many things, you could use black wood ear or white wood ear (tremella) too which are available from Asian supermarkets, or just use dried shiitake if you don’t have any others on hand. You’ll notice that dried and fresh shiitake taste quite different so it’s completely fine to use both in your risotto.
Let’s have a look at the recipe by the key ingredients from a Chinese Medicine dietary therapy point of view. The functions and indications of each food are according to traditional use of these foods. For those who are new to Chinese Medicine, the organs in Chinese Medicine are quite different to their western counterparts.
Rice – Neutral in temperature and sweet, rice supplements Qi and Blood, harmonises the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen, regulates and produces body fluids.
Ginger – Warm and pungent, ginger strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, controls nausea, releases Wind-Cold, is sweat producing, relieves retching, transforms Phlegm, tonifies the Lung, relieves cough and detoxifies, stimulates Blood circulation and increases appetite.
Garlic – Warm, sweet and pungent, garlic warms the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the Stomach, moves Qi, disperses Blood stasis and Qi stagnation in abdomen, dispels cold, is anti-parasitic and relieves cough.
Mushrooms (button and general) – cool and sweet, they reinforce the Spleen, replenish Qi, moisten dryness and dissolve Phlegm
Oyster mushrooms* – Slightly warm and sweet, they reinforce the Spleen, remove Damp and relieve spasm
Shiitake mushrooms – neutral temperature and sweet, they reinforce the Spleen and Stomach replenishing Qi
Wood ear (black or white are similar) – neutral temperature and sweet, they moisten the Lung, nourishes Yin and stop bleeding
Chives – warm, sweet and pungent, chives warm the digestive system and relieve stomach aches. I think fresh chives served on top of this dish really help to aid the digestion of the meal.
The cooking method involves adding water (stock) while warming the food, giving it a yin nourishing quality (it’s still moist at the end of cooking like a good risotto should be).
Over all, this meal should make you feel warm to your centre and help you to feel well nourished and content. It’s worth all the stirring that goes into making it!
The information in this post is general and should not be considered as health advice. Please see your health professional for specific advice for your circumstances.
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 I’m so glad to say that the Chinese Medicine telehealth consultations are available for you to continue, or even start, your treatment with me if you are unable to physically attend the clinic.
We’ll be able to use the many tools we have available in Chinese Medicine to address your immediate health concerns or any of the conditions you usually consult with me on.
Everything you need to know about Chinese Medicine Telehealth consultations can be found in the video below. But if you have any questions at all please do contact me.
To book in for your Chinese Medicine telehealth consultation click here.
And do stay in touch on Facebook and Instagram as my Chinese Medicine at Home webinars are coming your way soon.
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.
It makes me incredibly happy to announce that my Launceston acupuncture clinic is reopening on Monday 15th June. And 
Well autumn is in full swing here in our pretty city of Launceston right now. It is certainly an autumn with a difference though with the COVID-19 restrictions; one none of us have ever experienced before. This week our parks have reopened so with appropriate social distancing we can enjoy more of nature which is great for our souls.
Let’s have a look at the recipe by the key ingredients from a Chinese Medicine dietary therapy point of view. The functions and indications of each food are according to traditional use of these foods. For those who are new to Chinese Medicine, the organs in Chinese Medicine are quite different to their western counterparts.
With the latest 