Answers to common questions about acupuncture & Chinese medicine

Both practitioners offer consultations in Chinese and English. Dr Valen Yang (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is based at Belmont, and Dr Fu Fu Yang (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is based at Geraldton.

Yes — appointments are required. Please bring any relevant medical reports (if available), a list of medications/supplements, and your private health fund card if you plan to use HICAPS at Belmont. Geraldton patients do not need to bring a fund card because they submit the clinic receipt to their fund themselves. Wear comfortable, loose clothing that rolls up easily at the arms and lower legs.

It helps to bring a list of medications and supplements, any test reports or X-rays, and your main concerns and goals. Care may include acupuncture and/or herbal medicine, with guidance on what to do between visits.

We commonly support pain and musculoskeletal concerns (e.g., back, neck, shoulder, headaches), stress and sleep, digestive concerns, women’s health and fertility support, skin concerns, and general wellbeing. If you’re unsure whether we can help, please contact us — ask whether Chinese medicine may be appropriate for your situation.

We welcome patients across many life stages. If you’re booking for a child or an older adult with complex health needs, please contact us first so we can advise on the most suitable appointment.

That’s very common. Send a message or call to ask whether Chinese medicine suits your concern and what to book.

Use our Contact page or call your chosen clinic to request an appointment at Belmont or Geraldton. Your appointment stands once the clinic confirms the time.

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Same-day cancellations or missed appointments may incur a consultation fee at the practitioner’s discretion; genuine emergencies are considered separately. See our fees and cancellation policy.

The need for treatment depends on your concern, health history and goals. After your assessment, we will discuss options and review your response before recommending further appointments. No one can guarantee a fixed number of sessions or a particular recovery time.

Please tell your practitioner about all your concerns. Together you can agree on priorities for the appointment. The plan depends on your health history, assessment and goals, and may address more than one concern where appropriate. We review your response rather than assuming that treating one issue will resolve another.

Your first acupuncture visit takes approximately 35 minutes. After your consultation and needle placement, you will rest comfortably for 25 minutes.

Please contact your clinic to confirm the duration of a follow-up appointment.

How often to come depends on your response, goals and clinical needs. A pain score alone does not determine how often you should attend. Further treatment only makes sense where appropriate, and other care or referral may suit some people better.

Your practitioner can discuss your goals and whether there is a clinical reason for treatment. If you feel well and have no concern requiring care, ongoing acupuncture appointments may not be necessary.

Adverse events reported for acupuncture are uncommon and mostly minor — bruising, brief soreness, light-headedness — when treatment is given by qualified practitioners. Most people feel relaxed during or after treatment. Possible side effects can include mild bruising, temporary soreness, lightheadedness, or fatigue. Relevant risks depend on your health history, so mention it before treatment.

Acupuncture needles are very fine — approximately 0.2 mm in diameter, as thin as a strand of hair. You may feel a brief pinch on insertion, or a dull ache, warmth, tingling, or heaviness at the point. These sensations can occur during needling, but they do not establish whether treatment is effective. Tell your practitioner if you experience pain or discomfort. All our needles are single-use, pre-sterilised, and never reused.

Yes. Our practitioners are AHPRA-registered Chinese medicine practitioners and follow professional standards for safety, hygiene, and clinical care.

Acupuncture may be appropriate during pregnancy for certain concerns, and many people choose it for supportive care. Care in pregnancy depends on the stage of pregnancy, and points that are not appropriate during pregnancy are avoided. Please let us know if you are pregnant or trying to conceive when booking.

• Eat a light meal or snack about two hours before your session — avoid coming on an empty stomach or immediately after a large meal.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol before your session.
• Bring a list of all current medications and supplements.
• Try to schedule on a day without too much stress so you can relax and get the most from treatment.

The best time for acupuncture is in the morning before noon, when Yang energy is rising. It’s generally best to avoid the 12 pm–2:30 pm window, as the body is focused on digestion after lunch.

To enhance treatment effectiveness, it’s advisable to avoid alcoholic drinks, cold beverages, chilled foods, spicy/fried/oily foods, dairy products, and coffee for a few hours after your session. These items may disrupt the flow of Qi and reduce the therapeutic benefit.

Yes. Where appropriate, we prescribe personalised Chinese herbal formulas based on your presentation and goals. Herbal medicine can be used on its own or alongside acupuncture as part of a broader treatment plan.

Herbal formulas are individual and can change over time. Tell us every medication and supplement you take — that is where the risks that matter actually sit. Because herbs can interact with some medications, it’s important to tell us what you’re currently taking (including blood thinners, hormone medications, and over-the-counter products). We will assess suitability and adjust recommendations accordingly.

Belmont offers HICAPS claiming for eligible policies. Geraldton accepts cash or bank transfer only, does not offer card payments or on-the-spot HICAPS claiming, and provides an official receipt for you to submit directly to your health fund. Private health insurance benefits vary between insurers and individual plans. Eligibility and the amount payable depend on your level of cover, waiting periods, annual limits, remaining benefits, and whether the service and practitioner are recognised by your fund. Please confirm your cover and expected rebate with your insurer before your appointment. A rebate may cover only part of the fee, and some plans provide no benefit.

See our Belmont fees and Geraldton fees.

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the skin. In traditional Chinese medicine, point selection is described using concepts such as Qi, Yin and Yang, and meridians. These are traditional explanatory concepts. Scientifically, how acupuncture works is not fully understood; research considers effects on the nervous system and other tissues, as well as contextual effects. Evidence for benefit varies by condition.

Qi is a concept used in traditional Chinese medicine to describe aspects of bodily function and vitality. It is part of a traditional framework for assessment and should not be understood as a directly measured physical substance.

Meridians are a traditional framework used to organise acupuncture points and describe relationships between symptoms in Chinese medicine. This framework differs from modern anatomical descriptions of nerves and blood vessels. Ask if you would like to know more.

Have a light meal 1–2 hours beforehand. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. After treatment, rest where possible and avoid strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day. Keep warm and avoid cold draughts, cold food, or iced drinks immediately after — these recommendations reflect traditional Chinese medicine practice. In the days following treatment, note any changes in sleep, energy, or symptoms; mention them at the next visit.

Follow the instructions given for your individual formula, including dose, timing, preparation and storage. Tell your practitioner about your medicines, supplements, allergies and any pregnancy or breastfeeding before taking herbs. Ask about possible interactions and adverse effects. If you notice an unexpected reaction, contact the clinic promptly; seek urgent medical care for a severe reaction.