Not everyone can come into our Belmont clinic in person — and for Chinese herbal medicine consultations, dietary therapy, and health guidance, you don’t always need to. Our telehealth service allows patients anywhere in Australia to access Chinese medicine consultations via video call. This is particularly useful for follow-up herbal medicine appointments, patients in regional or remote areas, people with limited mobility, and those who have moved interstate but want to continue care with Dr. Yang.
What Telehealth Chinese Medicine Can Help With
- ✔ Ongoing herbal medicine management for chronic conditions
- ✔ Dietary therapy and nutrition consultations
- ✔ Lifestyle and health coaching from a Chinese medicine perspective
- ✔ Follow-up appointments after initial in-clinic assessment
- ✔ Patients in regional WA, interstate, or with limited mobility
- ✔ Digestive, hormonal, and sleep conditions that respond well to herbal treatment
- ✔ Pregnancy support via herbal medicine when acupuncture is not accessible
- ✔ Chronic fatigue, immunity, and long-term wellness management
How Telehealth Consultations Work
A telehealth consultation at our clinic follows the same assessment process as an in-clinic appointment — history taking, detailed symptom review, questions about sleep, digestion, energy, and the other areas that Chinese medicine considers in building a picture of your health. The practitioner will ask you to show your tongue (a key diagnostic tool in Chinese medicine) via your camera, and will take a pulse description from you. Based on this assessment, a custom herbal formula is prescribed and posted to your address. For existing patients, most follow-up consultations can be completed effectively via telehealth. New patients with complex conditions may be asked to attend in person for the initial appointment before transitioning to telehealth follow-ups.
Key Takeaway: Telehealth is not a substitute for acupuncture or physical treatment — but for herbal medicine management, dietary guidance, and ongoing support for chronic conditions, it is genuinely equivalent to an in-clinic consultation.
Getting Started with Telehealth
- • Use our online booking system to select ‘Telehealth’ appointment type
- • Choose a time that works for your timezone
- • Receive confirmation with video link
- • Join the video call at your appointment time
- • Have good lighting so the practitioner can see your tongue
- • Be in a quiet space where you can speak freely
- • Formula prescribed and posted to your address
- • Detailed dosing and preparation instructions included
- • Follow-up appointment booked to review progress
Our practitioners at Nature’s Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic in Belmont are registered with AHPRA. Most private health funds cover acupuncture — check your HICAPS extras cover.
What the Research Shows
Journal of Telemedicine and e-Health 2020
Telehealth consultations produced equivalent patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes compared to in-person visits for chronic condition management across multiple specialties
BMC Complementary Medicine 2021
Telehealth herbal medicine consultations produced comparable patient-reported outcomes to in-person consultations for digestive and hormonal conditions
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association 2022
Telehealth has significantly improved access to specialist healthcare for regional and remote Australians, with high satisfaction rates across all age groups
Integrative Medicine 2021
No significant difference in herbal medicine outcomes between patients seen in-clinic versus via telehealth when consultation quality was equivalent
Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- ✅ Test your video and audio before the appointment — technical issues waste valuable consultation time
- ✅ Have good lighting so your practitioner can clearly see your tongue and face
- ✅ Write down your main symptoms and questions beforehand — telehealth appointments are the same duration as in-clinic visits
- ✅ Be in a quiet, private space where you can speak freely about your health
- ✅ Have your existing medications and supplements list ready to share
Don’t
- ❌ Don’t attend a telehealth consultation from a moving vehicle or noisy environment
- ❌ Don’t expect to receive acupuncture or physical treatment via telehealth — it is available for consultations and herbal medicine only
- ❌ Don’t order herbs from online suppliers independently — telehealth prescriptions use quality-controlled, TGA-approved sources
- ❌ Don’t skip follow-up appointments — herbal formulas need to be adjusted regularly as your condition changes
- ❌ Don’t hesitate to call the clinic if you have questions between appointments — ongoing support is part of the service
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a telehealth appointment as a new patient?
Yes, in most cases. Patients with complex conditions or those primarily needing acupuncture may be asked to attend in clinic for an initial appointment. For herbal medicine and dietary therapy, most new patients can be assessed effectively via telehealth.
How are herbs delivered to me?
We use a dispensary service that packs and posts custom herbal prescriptions. Delivery typically takes 3–5 business days within Australia. Tracking information is provided. Granule formulas (dissolved in hot water) are the most common delivery form for postal prescriptions.
Is telehealth covered by private health insurance?
Chinese medicine telehealth may be covered under your extras policy, depending on the fund and policy. This varies — check with your fund before your appointment. Medicare does not currently cover Chinese medicine telehealth consultations.
What if I need acupuncture in addition to herbs?
We can recommend appropriately trained AHPRA-registered acupuncturists in your local area who can provide acupuncture while we manage your herbal medicine plan. Coordinating this shared care is straightforward.
Can I transfer from telehealth to in-clinic care if I am in Perth?
Absolutely — and many patients do this once they have moved to Perth or when they have a period requiring more intensive treatment. Your telehealth case history transfers seamlessly to in-clinic care.