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Kiah McGowan TCM

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Northcote, VIC
Kiah McGowan TCM

Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner in Northcote, Melbourne.

07/09/2025

Your PMS cravings aren’t random!

They’re your body’s way of telling you what it needs. In Western medicine, it’s often about hormone shifts, serotonin dips, and nutrient demand. In Chinese medicine, cravings reflect imbalances in Qi, Blood, Yin or Yang, and the flavours your body calls for to restore balance:

🍫 Sugar → energy dips + Spleen Qi deficiency 🍟 Salty → adrenal stress + Kidney imbalance 🥒 Sour/Fermented → Liver Qi stagnation 🥩 Red Meat/Protein → low iron + Blood deficiency 🌶️ Spicy → Liver Qi stagnation / internal Cold 🍞 Carbs → serotonin support + Spleen Qi weakness

👉 Instead of seeing cravings as weakness, try viewing them as messages. With the right food swaps and lifestyle supports, you might just reduce PMS, improve mood, and nourish your cycle long-term. This, with the addition of TCM treatments can be great for those with more severe symptoms.

Save this for your next cycle + share with someone who always gets pre-period cravings!

01/08/2025

Struggling with heavy periods, sore b***s, PMS, or bloating before your cycle? These are all not normal, and tell us it is time to check in on your hormonal balance.
 You might be dealing with oestrogen dominance, one of the most common hormone imbalances I see in my clinic.

It can show up as: • Mood swings • Painful or heavy periods • Breast tenderness • Fatigue or poor sleep • Weight gain around hips, thighs, or belly

The good news? There’s so much you can do to support your body naturally. From liver and gut health to blood sugar balance and reducing hormone-disrupting exposures, it’s all connected!

This post breaks down: ✔ What oestrogen dominance is ✔ Why it happens ✔ What symptoms to look for ✔ And practical steps to start rebalancing today

Save this one to come back to or screen shot along
 And if it feels like your hormones are all over the place - you don’t have to figure it out alone.

📩 DM me if you’d like support with your cycle or hormones

25/07/2025

Because using ancient wellness practices doesn’t have to be so complex! Consistent, simple habits make a big difference.

Here are four easy practices I use every week:
1. Cooking with herbal broths Adding Chinese herbs to soups and broths is a simple way to nourish your body and support digestion.
2. Natural skincare tools Gua sha and facial rollers help boost circulation, release tension, and promote healthy skin.
3. Moving with your cycle Energy shifts throughout the menstrual cycle. Adjusting your exercise to match these phases helps maintain balance and prevent fatigue.
4. Choosing warm foods over cold Warm, cooked meals are easier to digest and support your digestive energy, which is central to overall health in TCM.

Start with one or two of these habits and see how they make you feel.

19/05/2025

Your period is like your own built-in health update.
 The colour, texture, and flow of your period can reflect the state of your hormones, circulation, nutrient levels, and organ systems.
Here’s what different types of menstrual blood may indicate — and gentle ways to support your body: 
🔴 Bright Red Blood Generally a sign of healthy circulation and balanced hormones. ➤ Support: Nourishing, regular meals; gentle cardio or Qi Gong; raspberry leaf tea for tone. 
🖤 Dark Red or Brown at the Start/End May reflect Blood stasis or slow uterine shedding. ➤ Support: Warming soups with ginger and cinnamon; castor oil packs; movement like yoga or walking. 
🩷 Pale or Watery Blood Often linked to Blood deficiency or low nutrient reserves. ➤ Support: Iron-rich foods (like slow-cooked lamb with beetroot); goji berry + red date tea; rest and early bedtimes. 
🟣 Purple or Clotted Blood Can signal stagnation, Cold, or inflammation. ➤ Support: Anti-inflammatory foods (e.g. turmeric, leafy greens); abdominal warmth; stress regulation tools like acupuncture or journaling.

Your cycle is a conversation with your body. The more you listen, the more empowered your choices can become.
 

14/03/2025

Acne is more than just a skin condition—it’s a reflection of what’s happening inside the body. Western medicine links acne to factors like hormonal imbalances, excess oil production, bacteria, and inflammation. Treatments often include topical creams, antibiotics, and hormonal support to manage breakouts. But there’s so much more you can do naturally!

Chinese medicine takes a different approach, viewing acne as a sign of internal imbalances. It is often associated with Heat, Dampness, and poor circulation (Blood Stasis). Breakouts in different areas of the face can indicate different underlying issues, such as Lung Heat (forehead and cheeks), Stomach Heat (jawline and mouth), or Blood Stagnation (deep, cystic acne). Treatment focuses on restoring balance through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary changes.

By addressing both the symptoms and root causes, a holistic approach can lead to long-term skin health. Swipe through to learn more.

06/02/2025

Your next period will thank you!

Aligning your diet, exercise, and lifestyle with your cycle using Chinese Medicine principles can support hormone balance, reduce PMS, and optimize overall well-being.

From warming, nourishing foods in the luteal phase to gentle movement during menstruation, small adjustments can make a significant impact. Learn how to work with your body for a smoother, more balanced cycle. If your cycles are still bothering you after all these changes, reach out to discover how Acu and TCM can help you more deeply.

Swipe through to screenshot each phase!

29/01/2025

Welcome to the year of the Wood Snake!

As we step into this transformative year, the Wood Snake brings wisdom, strategy, and growth. In Chinese Medicine, Wood symbolizes renewal, vision, and flexibility—just like a tree bending with the wind but standing strong. This year invites us to embrace change, trust our intuition, and move forward with purpose. Stay grounded, nurture your health, and align with the energy of transformation.

17/12/2024

Ah, Summer, the time of year where we are meant to be energy-filled, positive, social and joyful. Not feeling this way? Maybe it's time to pull out your journal.

In Chinese medicine, Summer is governed by the Fire element, which corresponds to the Heart organ system, the emotion of joy, and the expansion of Yang energy. This season represents peak vitality, connection, and creativity, with the Heart acting as the "emperor" of emotions and the center of spirit (Shen).

When balanced, the Fire element fosters joy, emotional harmony, and clear communication. However, excess or deficiency can lead to restlessness, irritability, or feelings of being overwhelmed. Prioritizing self-reflection strategies, such as journalling, helps anchor this expansive energy, harmonizing the Heart and maintaining emotional balance. It also encourages mindful living, ensuring that the vibrancy of summer fuels personal growth rather than burnout.

Journal through the prompts on the second slide and explore how you can make the best of this Summer!

16/12/2024

Your daily reminder to take your herbs or supplements!

They don’t work if you don’t take them, and they certainly don’t work as well if you’re only taking half-doses or every-now-and-then doses) 😉

Have you taken your herbs/supplements properly today?

# medicine

06/12/2024

Eating well is actually pretty simple when we're talking about TCM.

As in all forms of medicine, you want to eat enough protein, fat and carbs as a base. However in Chinese Medicine, we also want to make sure the body can digest these quickly and easily, which keeps our bodies functioning flowing smoothly. So, stick to about 80% warm and cooked foods and drinks; and 20% raw, cold or iced.

Dampness is a disease pattern in TCM that is linked to digestive upset, with symptoms like diarrhoea, bloating and even pain. Avoid this sluggishness through really limiting highly processed, fried, fatty and sugary foods.

Lastly, don't eat on the go! Make your meal time a moment of presence and calm- sit down without distraction and eat slowly.

09/09/2024

It’s Spring!

I love these transitional seasons- which are so externally symbolic towards what you can be doing internally/ at a personal level. This is the time of year where we pivot from Yin energy in to Yang energy.

Essentially, we are coming out of our restful hibernation and are beginning to work up the energy we’ll need for Summer. Follow these tips to make the most out of your Spring, and flourish come Summer-time.

31/08/2024

Spring has sprung and it’s time to take advantage of it!

Your body responds to your environment and the seasons, and Spring is an amazing time of motivation, extroversion, planning and clearing the blocks in your path.

It’s a time of the Wood element (the Liver and Gall bladder), which means releasing bottled up emotions and things that don’t serve us is key.

Follow the below tips to get the best out of this season!

Address

2A Elm Street
Northcote, VIC
3070

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 7pm
Tuesday	11am - 7pm
Friday	8am - 1pm
Saturday	8am - 1pm

Website

https://bloomacuwellness.com.au/

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