Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)

24/08/2025

Becoming a registered Chinese medicine practitioner in Australia takes dedication, including four years of study and up to 1000 hours of clinical training. AACMA represents more than 2000 qualified practitioners across the country. When you see our logo, you can trust you are receiving safe, professional care.

17/08/2025

Finding life after a stroke challenging? Many people continue to face fatigue, mobility issues or poor sleep long after the initial event. Recovery can take time, and support looks different for everyone.

There are two types of strokes. An ischaemic stroke occurs when parts of the brain are deprived of blood due to a blood clot. A haemorrhagic stroke is caused by a breakdown of a blood vessel, leading to bleeding in the brain.

Family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and diabetes are contributing factors, with men more affected than women and children.

According to the Stroke Foundation, more than 80% of strokes can be prevented by making good lifestyle choices, eating healthily, avoiding alcohol, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and getting regular health checks and blood pressure readings.

A 2022 review published in the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine found positive recommendations on the use of acupuncture for 15 symptom areas across 11 countries, including stroke rehabilitation, dysphagia, shoulder pain, motor recovery, walking, balance, spasticity, upper limb extremity impairment, post-stroke pain, central post stroke pain, cognitive disorder, depression and sleep problems.

While prevention is always the best approach, acupuncture has been shown in some studies to assist with managing symptoms that can follow a stroke.

If you or someone you know has experienced a stroke, an AACMA acupuncturist may help support your recovery with treatment that can be integrated into your post-stroke care plan. Acupuncture may work alongside other therapies to help manage symptoms and support overall wellbeing.

10/08/2025

Dealing with joint pain that flares up when you move, then lingers long after you stop? It could be bursitis. This painful condition can make everyday activities uncomfortable, especially when caused by overuse or repetitive motion.

Bursitis is the inflammation or irritation of a bursa, often caused by injury or repetitive overuse of a joint. A bursa is a fluid-filled cushion that protects tendons as they move over bones and joints.

Depending on the location, bursitis can affect the hip (trochanteric bursitis), knee (pre-patellar bursitis), shoulder (subacromial bursitis), heel (retrocalcaneal bursitis), elbow (olecranon bursitis), or buttock (ischial bursitis).

Common symptoms include localised pain and swelling, warmth or redness over the affected area, pain that worsens with movement or at night, and stiffness or reduced joint function.

Rest is the first step in managing bursitis. Acupuncture has been shown in some studies to assist with pain and inflammation, and may help manage symptoms while supporting overall mobility. An AACMA acupuncturist can work with you on a tailored, medication-free rehabilitation approach.

03/08/2025

Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be tough. Fatigue, nerve pain, and mobility issues can turn everyday tasks into daily challenges. For many people, symptoms come and go without warning, and no two experiences are ever the same.

MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease in young adults, usually diagnosed between ages 20 to 40. It affects three times more women than men and occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath that protects the nerves, disrupting smooth and effective nerve communication.

While there’s no single cause, genetic and environmental factors are involved. In 90–95% of cases, spinal fluid shows proteins indicating an inflammatory response in the central nervous system.

Symptoms are unpredictable, vary widely, and may come and go. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, reducing relapses, and slowing progression. Pharmaceutical options are available but often come with side effects.

A 2022 literature review published in the Journal of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders found that traditional Chinese acupuncture and scalp acupuncture may help reduce relapses and improve symptoms such as fatigue, pain, gait issues, neural function and bladder dysfunction.

Acupuncture may support your existing care by helping ease certain symptoms. An AACMA acupuncturist can also support you holistically with guidance on diet, relaxation and stress management.

27/07/2025

Why should you choose an AACMA-Registered Practitioner?

When it comes to acupuncture and Chinese medicine, your health deserves the highest standard of care. To become a registered practitioner in Australia, it takes 4 years of university study and over 1,000 hours of supervised clinical training.

AACMA represents more than 2,000 highly trained practitioners across the country — all registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia. This means they’ve met rigorous national standards and must adhere to strict codes of conduct, ethics and ongoing professional development.

Booking with an AACMA member ensures you’re in safe, qualified hands. Always look for the AACMA logo - it’s your sign of professional, evidence-informed care you can trust.

20/07/2025

National Pain Week (21–27 July 2025) shines a light on chronic pain, a condition that affects millions and often lingers well beyond the normal healing period.

Unlike acute pain, which is short-lived, chronic pain persists for more than three months and can take a serious toll on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. While opioid-based medications are commonly prescribed, they come with serious risks — including addiction.

Thankfully, effective drug-free options exist. Acupuncture is recommended by Better Health Victoria for pain relief and is supported by ongoing research for its ability to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. When combined with mo tui na (a traditional Chinese massage technique that targets acupuncture points), the results can be even more powerful.

Chinese herbal medicine is also showing promise. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found Corydalis (yan hu suo) to have strong analgesic effects.

You only have pain to lose. Book with an AACMA-registered practitioner to explore natural, evidence-informed support for chronic pain.

13/07/2025

Fertility and Infertility affects 1 in 6 people globally, according to a 2023 World Health Organisation report. In Australia, only 1 in 18 babies are conceived through IVF, with the fertility support market expected to reach AU$1.02 billion by 2026.

Fertility can be impacted by age, lifestyle and medical conditions in both men and women. For women, issues like endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and pelvic inflammatory disease are common. For men, s***m quality, hormone imbalances and physical blockages may contribute.

Healthy lifestyle choices - such as maintaining a balanced weight, avoiding to***co and alcohol, and moderating intense exercise - can improve fertility outcomes.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are increasingly recognised as supportive treatments, including during IVF. They may help manage underlying conditions, regulate cycles and improve s***m health. A 2022 study also found acupuncture improved male fertility.

Speak with a registered AACMA practitioner to explore natural, holistic support for your fertility journey.

10/07/2025

Last chance to attend AACMAC 2025 online - registration closes 18 July!

In-person ticket registration has now closed, but you can still be part of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier TCM event, the Australasian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Annual Conference (AACMAC 2025), from the comfort of home.

Join us online from 25–27 July and access:
• Live stream of the full three-day program
• 3 months of post-event recording access
• Downloadable lecture notes and presentation slides
• Up to 34 hours of CPD – all without leaving your clinic or couch

Online registration is only open until 18 July 2025. Don’t miss your final opportunity to be part of AACMAC 2025.

06/07/2025

Acne is a common skin condition, especially in teenagers due to hormonal changes during puberty. Androgens trigger increased oil production, leading to blocked follicles and breakouts. Many women also experience hormonal acne linked to their menstrual cycle.

Acne can appear as blackheads, whiteheads, red pimples, or painful cysts on the face, back, shoulders, and chest - often causing emotional stress.

While many turn to over-the-counter or prescription treatments, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer natural, drug-free alternatives. Facial acupuncture or acupressure helps boost circulation, reduce inflammation, and ease pain. Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to support skin health and treat conditions like acne, eczema and dermatitis.

Natural support is available. Book now with an AACMA registered practitioner and take the next step toward clearer, healthier skin.

04/07/2025

Last chance to attend AACMAC 2025 in person – registration closes 11 July 2025!

Be part of Australia’s premier TCM event, the Australasian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Annual Conference (AACMAC 2025), held 25–27 July 2025 at Sofitel Brisbane Central.

This is your final opportunity to join the conference in person – with three enriching days of clinical learning, hands-on workshops, and face-to-face connection with leading practitioners from across Australia and beyond.

Your in-person (physical attendance) ticket includes:
• Access to the physical conference on selected days.
• Live Q&A and networking with expert speakers.
• Reconnect with your TCM peers in person.
• Exclusive offers from TCM suppliers at the trade exhibition.
• Onsite catering (lunch, morning & afternoon teas).
• Free Gala Dinner ticket when attending 2+ days (pre-registration required).
• 3 months of post-event recording access.
• Downloadable slides and lecture notes.
• Up to 34 hours of CPD in one go.

In-person registration is only available until 11 July 2025 – don’t miss your chance!

29/06/2025

Breathe – Inhale, exhale – it’s winter flu season.

Scratchy throat, runny nose, cough, blocked nose and sinuses - is it rhinovirus, COVID, RSV, the flu, whooping cough or pneumonia?

Those are the symptoms, and those illnesses are the most likely causes.

Because we are indoors more during the colder months, on public transport without good ventilation, and have forgotten the lockdown days of social distancing, hand hygiene, coughing into our arms and covering our sneezes, we remain susceptible to the respiratory diseases of winter.

Your AACMA practitioner has the skills and knowledge to use acupuncture and herbal medicines to offer a drug-free treatment for relieving the signs and symptoms of the respiratory viruses that infect us during flu season.

Helping with clearing nasal and sinus congestion, scratchy sore throats, coughs and headaches, these treatments will help you breathe more easily while boosting your immune response and increasing your energy levels so you feel better quickly.

27/06/2025

48-Hour Flash Sale: Save 5% on AACMAC 2025 – Australia’s Leading TCM Conference.

AACMAC 2025 is the largest traditional Chinese medicine conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and for a limited time, take advantage of a 5% discount on online tickets.

If you're a practitioner, student or natural health professional, this is your opportunity to access world-class education without leaving home.

Attend online from anywhere in Australia and enjoy three days of live presentations, expert insights and up to 34 hours of CPD.

Use code AACMAC25 at checkout between 12 noon Friday 27 June and 12 noon Sunday 29 June to save 5%.

What you’ll get:

• Up to 34 CPD hours
• Live-streamed access to 24 expert speakers
• 3-month replay access
• Downloadable slides, CPD log and full program
• Interactive Q&As and exclusive expo offers

Register now and use code “AACMAC25” to save: www.aacmac.org.au/register

Don’t miss out on this unparalleled opportunity to join a vibrant community of practitioners, educators, and enthusiasts for three days of immersive learning, networking, and celebration.