Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture in Melbourne — Flow Acupuncture Balwyn & Deepdene
Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Melbourne
Flow Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic located in Balwyn and Deepdene, in Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs. Our practitioners, Dr Jenny Kwon and Dr Vivian Chow, are AHPRA-registered Chinese medicine practitioners who practise TCM as a complete, integrated system — combining acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion and dietary guidance to address the root patterns underlying each patient’s health concerns.
Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the world’s oldest continuous medical traditions — with a documented history spanning more than 3,000 years. It understands health through the lens of the whole person: the flow of Qi (vital energy), the balance of Yin and Yang, and the relationship between the body’s organ systems, emotions, and environment. Chinese medicine diagnosis uses pulse and tongue assessment, alongside a detailed health history, to identify the patterns driving your symptoms — and treatment is built around addressing those patterns, not just managing the surface presentation.
What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine is not a single treatment but an entire medical system — a sophisticated framework for understanding and supporting human health that encompasses several distinct modalities, each with its own history and clinical application. At Flow Acupuncture, we draw on the full breadth of this tradition:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the precise insertion of fine, sterile needles at specific points along the body’s meridian pathways — channels through which Qi flows and which connect the body’s organ systems, tissues and extremities. At Flow, we offer three styles of acupuncture: traditional TCM acupuncture, ear (auricular) acupuncture, and Korean SAAM acupuncture — a classical style using very few precisely placed needles based on Five Elements theory.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is the other primary pillar of TCM — and one of the most sophisticated pharmacological traditions in human history. Prescriptions combine individual herbs into formulas, carefully balanced to address a patient’s specific pattern while minimising unwanted effects. Flow Acupuncture practitioners are qualified Chinese herbal medicine practitioners and can prescribe individualised formulas in granule, tablet or raw herb form depending on your condition and preferences.
Cupping
Cupping uses suction cups placed on the skin to increase local circulation, release muscle tension and support the movement of Qi and blood in the affected area. It is commonly used alongside acupuncture for pain conditions, respiratory support and muscle recovery.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion involves the burning of dried mugwort (Artemisia) near or on acupuncture points to warm the channels, strengthen Yang, and support conditions characterised by cold, deficiency, or poor circulation. It is particularly used in women’s health, digestive conditions, and certain pain presentations.
Conditions Commonly Supported at Flow
- Women’s health — menstrual irregularity, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, perimenopause
- Fertility — natural conception support, IVF assistance, pre-conception care
- Pain and musculoskeletal — back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, joint pain
- Digestive health — bloating, IBS, reflux, irregular bowel function
- Mental and emotional wellbeing — stress, anxiety, poor sleep, fatigue
- Immune and respiratory health — recurrent colds, allergic rhinitis, sinus congestion
- Skin — acne, eczema and other presentations with an internal pattern component
Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Melbourne — FAQ
What is the difference between Chinese medicine and acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one modality within the broader system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is an entire medical framework encompassing acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion and dietary therapy — all informed by a shared diagnostic framework based on Qi, meridians, and the balance of Yin and Yang. At Flow Acupuncture, we assess each patient from a TCM perspective and may recommend Chinese herbal medicine, cupping or other modalities depending on your individual pattern and health goals.
Do I need to see a Chinese medicine doctor or can any acupuncturist treat me?
In Australia, both acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners are regulated by AHPRA. A Chinese medicine practitioner (CMPrac) holds registration that encompasses both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. An acupuncturist (Acup) holds registration in acupuncture only. At Flow Acupuncture, both Dr Jenny Kwon and Dr Vivian Chow hold Chinese medicine practitioner registration — meaning they are qualified to prescribe herbal medicine as well as provide acupuncture.
Can I have acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at the same time?
Yes — and in many cases the two work best in combination. Acupuncture treats in the clinic; herbal medicine continues the therapeutic work between sessions. Our practitioners assess each patient individually and will advise whether herbal medicine is appropriate for your situation. We advise patients to always inform their GP of any herbal medicine they are taking.
Is Chinese medicine covered by private health insurance in Australia?
Yes — many Australian private health funds provide extras cover for acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine. The level of rebate varies by fund and policy. We recommend checking your extras schedule directly with your health fund before your appointment. Flow Acupuncture can provide receipts for claiming.
How is Chinese medicine different from Western medicine?
Western medicine focuses on identifying specific diagnoses and treating disease mechanisms — it is highly effective for acute illness, injury, and pharmaceutical management of chronic conditions. Chinese medicine focuses on the person as a whole, the patterns of imbalance underlying symptoms, and restoring the body’s regulatory capacity over time. The two approaches are complementary — at Flow Acupuncture we work alongside, not in opposition to, your GP and other treating practitioners.
Where is Flow Acupuncture's Chinese medicine clinic in Melbourne?
Flow Acupuncture is located in— Balwyn/Deepdene, in Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs. We are accessible from Camberwell, Hawthorn, Kew, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Doncaster, Box Hill and surrounding areas.
Located in Balwyn, Melbourne, Flow Acupuncture provides professional acupuncture, women’s health care, herbal medicine and holistic treatments for clients in Doncaster, Kew, Burwood, Malvern, Mont Albert North, Deepdene and Box Hill. Contact us for more information.