Gardenvale Traditional Chinese Medicine

10/10/2025

Hi everyone! Zoe here 👋

Today was day 1 of 3 at a 3-day Chinese medicine fertility conference and I thought I’d share some of my thoughts from day 1 🤔

1. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is such a powerful tool that has HUGE success rates - this might not be written in all the research papers but it couldn’t be more evident in the years and years of real life experiences in clinical practice.

2. There’s no such thing as “unexplained infertility” in Chinese medicine - in TCM if there is a symptom there is always a reason for it. In a the world of fertility there are often so many questions and so little hope, Chinese medicine is often one ray of hope in these moments.

3. You need to be willing to commit 3 months of consistent treatment - 3 months is the magic number and a starting point for hormonal balancing. We always happily welcome results in less time, but if we are working against a long-term pattern, we need at least 3 months to have a strong influence and a reset.

Zoe 🪻

08/10/2025

Do Chinese herbs work like a prebiotic.

Ever thought your herbs might be feeding more than just you?
Some research suggests certain Chinese herbs may act a bit like prebiotics — giving your gut bacteria something to thrive on. 🦠

Think of it like cooking: one spice is nice, but the magic happens in the mix. 🌿
These combinations can help calm bloating, ease gas, regulate bowels, and generally make your digestion a happier place.

It’s early days for the science, but the traditional results have been clear for centuries — your gut loves a good herbal recipe. Read a little more👇

https://gardenvaletcm.com.au/recipes/chinese-herbs-and-the-gut-probiotic-prebiotic/

01/10/2025

It’s true acupuncture is fantastic for injury recovery. But it’s not the only thing that can help. New formula on the shelf.

23/09/2025

Our pads and tampons have just arrived. Completely plastic free sanitary products, absolutely fantastic.

19/09/2025

No, Period Pain isn’t normal ❌

Period pain is common – but that doesn’t mean it’s normal.

If cramps are stopping you from work, study, or daily life, your body is waving a red flag 🚩

In Chinese medicine, painful periods often point to Qi and Blood not moving freely.

Acupuncture and herbs work to restore flow, reduce inflammation, and bring balance back ✨

Don’t just push through – you deserve better!!

- Zoe

18/09/2025

Peony root, a wonder herb for cramping.

For all your Chinese medicine needs, book here 👇

https://gardenvaletcm.com.au/make-a-booking/

17/09/2025

Teamwork makes the qi work.
So grateful for this wonderful crew 💚.

Book your appointment here👇️
https://gardenvaletcm.com.au/make-a-booking/

12/09/2025

EXERCISE FOR PCOS 🏋🏼‍♀️

Welcome to my little series on dietary and lifestyle tips for PCOS and hormone support! There is SO much we can do to support our bodies with some good and free habits!

So, to start let’s talk about exercise. There’s a lot of different information circulating so I have tried to sum it up for you below…

1️⃣ Don’t exercise on an empty stomach!

Training on an empty stomach can spike your cortisol (stress hormone) as your body can’t find the resources it needs to get through the training session. A light snack before moving supports better energy, recovery, and cycle health. Ideally, a high protein snack and/or a high protein breakfast (aim for 30g) after you work out.

2️⃣ Strength training 2-3 times a week is the goal!

Lifting weights builds muscle which helps to improve insulin sensitivity (key for PCOS), and boosts testosterone transiently after workouts to help with androgen balance.

This translates to stronger metabolism, more energy, and better hormonal regulation. Aim for 2–3 sessions per week.

3️⃣ HIIT training is fine to do for hormone health, but be mindful when you do it!

HIIT is great if you enjoy it or use it as stress relief. But if you’re already feeling stressed, wired, or sleeping poorly, HIIT can push cortisol higher. In those times, strength work or gentler movement (walks, yoga, pilates) is usually more supportive.

✨ So, in summary: Match your movement to your body’s needs — fuel well, lift often, and use HIIT wise

- Zoe

10/09/2025

A little snippet of a very groovy clinic🥰

02/09/2025

Long hours in front of the computer? 👩‍💻

That forward head posture, slouched shoulders, and jaw clenching can create a cycle of tension that doesn’t just cause neck or head pain… it also affects your nervous system.

When your posture is compromised, your neck muscles overwork and tighten.

This can compress nerves, leading to:
- Headaches
- Jaw tension or TMJ pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Aching muscles
- Weakness in the arms

Jaw clenching adds another layer of strain. Together, these patterns can keep your body stuck in a fight-or-flight mode—leaving you with poor sleep, reduced digestion, and heightened anxiety or irritability.

The body isn’t just sore, it’s stuck in a protective loop.

- Michelle 💫

02/09/2025

26/08/2025

💦 Excessive Sweating? Your Body Might Be Talking…

Sweating without exertion sound familiar? In Chinese medicine, this isn’t “just how you are” — it can be a sign of internal imbalance.

Here’s what TCM says:

🧊 Whole body sweating can point to deficiency or poor regulation of fluids & Heat.
🔥 Underarm sweat? Often from internal Heat due to stress, fatigue, or sluggish fluid metabolism.
😓 Sweaty hands/feet = tired body under pressure.
🧠 Head-only sweating links to excess Heat in specific channels — often with signs like red face, bleeding gums, halitosis, or intense hunger.

So what can you do?

🌙 Be in bed by 10:30pm – rest matters
🥘 Eat warm, cooked meals – support your digestion & fluids
🪡 Acupuncture – regulates fluid metabolism & clears excess Heat
🌿 Herbal medicine – customised to where & when your sweating happens

Your sweat patterns are clues. We decode them.

Book now to get to the bottom of your health: https://gardenvaletcm.com.au/make-a-booking/