Acupuncture Oamaru

15/03/2022

Acupuncture Oamaru is now closed.

On returning from the summer break I knew it was time for a change. After practicing acupuncture in Oamaru for nearly 5 years and still being in my 20's, I'm off for new adventures.

It's been a wild couple of years to be in business. I'm grateful for everything I've learnt, the people I've met and to finish up my clinic on a good note. To be able to help people of all walks of life has been a humbling experience and at the same time I'm proud of the tranquil, healing space I was able to create.

Many thanks to all those who have helped me along the way and to my patients who without them Acupuncture Oamaru wouldn't have existed.

I'll be delving in Chinese Medicine in some different ways over the next few months which I'm super excited about. For now though I'll be heading off to the hills for lots of tramping and camping and I can't wait!

I will return to Oamaru occasionally, so if you are in need of treatment please don't hesitate to leave a message on my phone: 0223765960. I'll then be able to organize some home run clinics when I'm back in reception/town.

Much love, Elise ❤

16/12/2021

Thank you.

To my patients and everyone who has supported my clinic and I this year, especially in the last couple of hectic months.

I'm thankful for the way the recent circumstances have given me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.

I'm thankful for the amazing connections I've made in our awesome community.

I'm thankful that I can and must accept all patients, and that I can do so legally without being required to undergo a medical intervention. I take this small miracle as another sign that I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.

I'm thankful to those who have influenced me since I was 4 years old and who set me on this career path.

Although next year won't necessarily be any easier, I'm excited about where my career is headed. I have a feeling some amazing healing interactions are going to take place, not just one on one with my patients, but transformations on a larger scale as well.

So again, thank you.

Have a wonderful summer and go have some damn fun!

I'll be open again on the 10th of January.

Elise ❤

15/12/2021

Grey rainy days in clinic are my favourite 😌😌

10/12/2021

Scenes from the secret location for our Group Recoup 💫

✔Recuperation
✔Relaxation
✔Real Connection
✔Healing

Thank you to everyone who came 🤗😌🙏🏻

06/12/2021

I am SO excited to run this event on Friday!

There are 30 spots max for this and 7 are taken already 🥰

I've blocked out the location, only because we don't want people just showing up - we need you to RSVP. I have to say though, I'm just as excited about the awesome location as I am the event itself 😁

Send me a txt if you'd like to come and recoup...

😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌

02/12/2021

We're not open on Friday's, but just a heads up for this coming Monday as New Zealand moves into a segregated country at midnight tonight.

I've got work to do and patients booked in who need treatment next week. Apparently being an ACC provider means we are not allowed to deny any patient their treatment, which is great!

Even so, if the Ministry of Health and ACC enforced medical apartheid (it's entirely possible the rule will change again), Acupuncture Oamaru would continue to adhere to the NZ Bill of Right's Act and not comply with the 'traffic light system'.

I am still unvaccinated for Covid 19 and therefore I am still adhering to the 14 minutes and 59 seconds face to face rule with patients.

Thanks to all those supporting my clinic and business decisions 💪🏻

01/12/2021

More lovely treats from a lovely patient 🥰🥰

It'll be a tasty dinner tonight!

30/11/2021

1st of December, 1st box of chocolates for Christmas 🤩😋 Yummyyyyyy, sure brightens a rainy day!

Thanks so much for having me Waitaki Girls' High School and thanks for the choccys! 😊

30/11/2021

Not that I'm counting down or anything 😅 but who doesn't love a holiday?!

If you need a treatment before Christmas, I only have 10 clinic days left. If you can't find an available appointment online, please call me and I may be able to get you onto the schedule somewhere 😊

www.acupunctureoamaru.com

26/11/2021

I'm never usually in Oamaru on a Friday let alone treating patients, but a new patient from a high country station a couple of hours away is in town for the day and has caught me in town too!

They're in desperate need of some shoulder pain relief. Luckily they don't mind my dungarees, even if I feel odd not wearing my work uniform 😅

This is officially the most patients I've ever treated in one week now! 🥳

25/11/2021

A little post-patient wine while I finish my to do list to celebrate seeing the most patients in the past 2 week period that I've ever seen in 2 weeks since becoming an acupuncturist 🥳🍷

My health tip today is to pick one good thing that happened in your life this week and celebrate it however you want. Comment with a picture of your mini (or big!) celebration! 🤩🥳

18/11/2021

Hey, hay fever sufferers 🤧... let's modulate your mucosal immune response!

We've got another 4 weeks or so before the Christmas holidays to sort your itchy eyes and runny nose out, so please book in sooner rather than later 📅

15/11/2021

I'd like to say a huge thank you for all of the amazing support I've received over the last couple of weeks since my post to say I will always accept all patients. I've had almost 2000 people show their support! It gives me so much courage in the face of all that's happening in NZ, so thank you.

Today, the 15th of November, the NZ government has mandated that all healthcare workers and teachers must be vaccinated. Here is my update as to how Acupuncture Oamaru will now operate, it is long so please bear with me.

Short version: I am not vaccinated for Covid19 and Acupuncture Oamaru will remain open. The intentions of the mandate are that acupuncturists should come under it, however legally we do not for now - depending on how our practice operates.

Long version: Acupuncturists are not yet regulated under the HPCA Act. Currently for unregulated health professions, the mandate states that if you see patients face to face for 15 minutes or more then you must be vaccinated. As I have multiple treatment rooms and a separate office, I can safely treat patients in 10-15 minutes and then let them rest with the needles in while I write my records. This is how I practice most of the time anyway as most patients love their quiet restful acupuncture nap.

We will be regulated under the HPCA Act soon however, so I am also in the process of going through the Service Disruption Exemption. This is for businesses who will be severely disrupted if their unvaccinated staff member has to be fired. Obviously Acupuncture Oamaru is a little bit disrupted if I'm not here 😅

Although I don't have to disclose whether or not I am vaccinated, I stand by my patients right to informed consent. I would prefer that my patients knew, so that they can make an informed decision about going ahead with treatment.

For those interested, these are my personal reasons for why I haven't received the Covid vaccine. I have heart palpitations and a family history of heart conditions, and although supposedly rare, adverse reactions pertaining to the heart can occur. I've also had chicken pox in the past and anecdotal evidence suggests that taking the vaccine may activate shingles, along with other neurological conditions. There is also no long term fertility safety data, I'm 27 and would rather not risk anything going awry there. I am confident in my immune system - being self employed I've always had to be healthy otherwise I can't work.

As far as taking the vaccine for the sake of other peoples health goes (which I have considered), there is conflicting research as to the reduced transmission rates in vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated. Also, I believe the first step to health is claiming responsibility for your own health. It is not up to others to take a medical intervention that carries it's own significant risks to keep you safe. For you, claiming responsibility for your health may mean taking the vaccine, wearing a mask, or self isolating when there are local cases of Covid. For others it may mean getting more exercise, eating better, sleeping better and taking Vit D3 and immune boosting herbs. These are all good options that can improve your health and immune system.

I also have to say I'm quite shocked at the coercion that has been used to get people vaccinated. I'm sure I would have failed my ethics class at university had I answered "Yes" to a test question like, "Can you offer free KFC, rugby tickets or the chance to win $100 to get people to come for acupuncture treatment?". I have made my vaccine decision based on health reasons and will not be coerced into changing it. Even if I'm not allowed to attend festivals, if I have to pay an extra $200 for a test to go on an airplane, or if I lose my business, career and livelihood - the most appalling form of coercion of all.

Finally, I'd like people to be aware (especially those genuinely concerned about getting Covid) that as Auckland opens up and as we head towards the traffic light system in the coming months, please realise that vaccine certificates do not actually tell you much about the health status of a person. It doesn't tell you anything about the certificate holders antibody levels, whether or not the person is carrying Covid, if the vaccine efficacy has waned over the months, if they are due for their booster shot in 2 days, or if they received one of the 5 saline injections that were reported to have been given in Auckland earlier in the year.

If you've read this far, well done and thank you! My condolences to all those who have lost their jobs today, or who have been coerced into taking the vaccine only because they have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed.

Where there is risk there must be choice. I stand by bodily autonomy and I stand against inhumane mandates and medical coercion.

Thank you again for the support.

Elise ❤

11/11/2021

It's been a busy week!

Most weeks in clinic are filled with lower back/neck/shoulder pain and sciatica. But this week we had 7 new patients who presented some interesting cases 🧐

It's fun listening to patients and working with them to see beyond the ailment. To find out what it actually is about the ailment that is stopping them from doing what they need/love to do, and then making goals based on that.

05/11/2021

Here is a great website for you to find other businesses that are welcoming of all customers. The website is excellently set up, listing businesses in local regions.

So far in Otago we have Unbroken Performance, a gym in Dunedin and Acupuncture Oamaru, but I'm sure the website will grow!

If you or someone you know owns a business whose behind a truly united NZ - send them to this website to register!

https://www.kiwisforchoice.co.nz/copy-of-canterbury

An online directory of NZ businesses that are inclusive celebrate diversity regardless of vaccine status.

04/11/2021

Hi all! I've been very absent on my business social media lately. I would prefer not to talk about the elephant in the room, but I also cannot bear to post about frivolous things when Covid and the issues surrounding it are impacting peoples health and lives on so many different levels. I also have had a lot of new followers recently so a huge hello and thank you to them!

As we approach the implementation of the new traffic light system I obviously have to make careful business considerations. It is my full intention to remain open to all patients. I love working with all of my diverse, amazing patients - from different cultures, ages, genders, work industries, abilities, religions and of course different medical statuses. I will not begin discriminating against any patient now or in the future.

In other news, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine practitioners have been mandated to have their first Covid vaccine by the 15th of November. Any unvaccinated practitioner treating after then may be prosecuted by Worksafe and will lose their ACC registration. On top of this, there are major changes happening to ACC funding for Acupuncture. Currently patients are eligible for 16 treatments that are valid for one year after their injury. On the 15th of December this will change and patients will have 12 treatments valid for just 12 weeks after the injury. Chinese Medicine is also now regulated under the HPCA Act as of the 1st of November - ordinarily this would be a good thing, but in the current situation it is just another stressful change.

I have a lot of decisions to make over the next couple of weeks and I'm thankful for the support I'm receiving through all of this. I love that I get to provide a place for people to come and deeply relax and escape the madness. If everyone could have a 45 minute acupuncture nap I think the world would be a better place!

I want to remain transparent in my business and will give some more updates soon.

Elise ❤

19/08/2021

I hope everyone is keeping safe out there!

There is a lot of misinformation about vaccines currently and there is an overwhelming mine feild of information on the internet, and a lot of hearsay.

Although I can't treat patients at the moment, I feel it is still my responsibility to care for them in anyway possible. Some patients seek advice on the covid 19 vaccine, but I consider it to be outside my scope of practice to answer.

However, there is good information on the government website Medsafe regarding safety of the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine used here in NZ: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/June2021/Spotlight-on-Comirnaty-vaccine.html

Here are some excerpts from this site:

• Comirnaty [pfizer] vaccine has provisional approval for use in individuals aged 16 years and older, based on a favourable benefit risk profile.

• Efficacy was evaluated in study C459001... resulted in a vaccine efficacy of 95 percent [for non delta variant]. The study is conducted on 36,523 people and is a multicentre, multinational, phase 1/2/3 randomised placebo-controlled observer-blind trial.

• The long-term efficacy [and safety] remains to be elucidated. Follow-up of subjects in study C459001 is scheduled for completion in 2023.

• A number of conditions were placed on the provisional approval of Comirnaty vaccine to address missing information from the application.

• In addition, the following have been identified in the Risk Management Plan as areas of missing information:

- Use in pregnancy and while breast feeding.
- Use in immunocompromised patients.
- Use in frail patients with co-morbidities (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], diabetes, chronic neurological disease, cardiovascular disorders).
- Use in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders.
- Interaction with other vaccines.
- Long-term safety data.

This webpage was last updated at 17 June 2021.

Our health and disability code states that: Every consumer has the right to be fully informed, to make an informed choice and give informed consent and to be free from coercion.

If you feel the vaccine is right for you, excellent, go for it! If you feel you'd like to wait for more information particularly regarding the long term safety, then equally good for you, please know that you are well within your rights to wait before getting it.

With the best intentions and respect for everyones health choices and decisions,

Elise ❤

Comirnaty vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech, is an mRNA vaccine indicated for the active immunisation against COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged 16 years and older.1 The vaccine has provisional approval, granted under section 23 of the Medicines Act 1981.