Jade Windscreen Powder or Yu Ping Feng San is a Chinese Medicine formula one may use when they're well. Q: Why would you take Chinese herbs when you're well? A: For prevention and to improve general health and wellbeing. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) firmly roots the immune system in the Lung and Spleen. Comparing it […]

With the global pandemic of Covid 19 or Coronavirus, Chinese Hospitals are seeing many patients not only display upper respiratory symptoms of sore throat, fever and cough, but also digestive symptoms. CBS News: Almost half of Coronavirus patients have digestive symptoms, study finds. Traditional Chinese Medicine talks about "keeping your middle warm". This dates back […]

Can you believe I've been at Terrey Hills now since August 2018?! It's been great being part of a Medical Practice in the suburbs. A medical practice with a doctor that is welcoming of other modalities in the practice makes for a more wholistic approach to healthcare. The Allied & Complementary Medicine team at the […]

With the outbreak of a global pandemic of Covid-19 /Corona Virus, I am following advice from my association (ATMS) and regulatory body the CMBA (Chinese Medicine Board Australia) and AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). ATMS Recommendation: I am still open and operating as of this date until further notice. I am currently being advised by […]

Acupuncture with Katika now available at Brookvale. I've settled into the new clinic location for Acupuncture at Brookvale! I'm continuing to provide Chinese Medicine services for current and new clients. Here's what the new treatment room looks like - bigger, brighter and more space! Availability for Acupuncture at Brookvale: Mondays 10-7pm Thursdays 2pm-6pm Saturdays 1pm-6pm […]

Relax...It's all good! A year flies past in the world of small-business. We only just moved 12 months ago when we closed the original FWC clinic, but the right fit is important for a clinic to succeed. Things didn't work for us in Allambie and that's ok. Like anything in Life you can only take […]

We have finalised a NEW Location!  Thank you to everyone that has supported our decision to move onto the next adventure! As I explained in the previous email, Vanessa and I will be moving together to practice out of a different location. We are excited to announce that we have finalised a place that is […]

We have some BIG news! After 11 years, it is bittersweet, but we have decided to close the clinic doors at 33-35 Kentwell  Rd. I have worked extremely hard and diligently for the last 11 years managing, promoting and supporting other practitioners and it is time for something new. Personally, it’s about me dedicating time to new goals, […]

Each new year brings new challenges. Katika is glad to announce that she will be joining The Terrey Hills Family Surgery as of 1st August 2018. This means unfortunately she'll be closing down her Elanora Heights wing of her practice.

We’ve used the ezybook system for many years now. Our customers give us great feedback about it, but they’ve recently upgraded their system. Let’s walk you through the basics of the new online booking.

Recently I caught up with a client that I hadn’t seen since last year and he said to me in absolute amazement and beaming pride “my sugar cravings are completely gone – I never thought that would happen.”   As a Functional Nutritionist I would love to just say to everyone – “when you take […]

I recently attended Dr Vivian Tam's Cosmetic Acupuncture seminar for the second time and she had a lot to say about Natural Acne scarring treatment. She established the 'Cosmetic Acupuncture Clinic Melbourne' and has been practising for almost a decade. She had developed experience with seeing many Acne clients, has a 92% success rate and […]

When it's YOUR face, Acne can be a frustrating or even embarrassing skin condition to have. You can't hide it, it's just there plain as day. So do natural options such as Acupuncture help Acne? Using Cosmetic Acupuncture techniques we can alleviate some of the symptoms. 

Ketogenic Diets: Everyone is going Keto, talking Keto, reading Keto and cooking Keto. Is Ketogenic the ‘latest fad diet’ and would I recommend it to my clients? Linda Funnell-Milner, Functional Nutritionist gives her opinion in this post.

Foot and Heel Pain? Here’s How Acupuncture May Help Are you struggling with sharp pain in your heel or foot? Or have you already received a diagnosis and want relief? Acupuncture can support healing and reduce discomfort for many common foot conditions. With 15 years’ experience as an acupuncturist, I’ve seen acupuncture help with several […]

Have you ever injured your elbow and found you suddenly lose strength in lifting things? Or wake up with a sore elbow and have no idea why it's so sore? Tennis elbow could be the answer and it can be easily relieved with Acupuncture.

Acupuncture to benefit the face and skin has been reported in Chinese Medical texts for longer than you think. It's not about vanity, but looking after and conditioning the tissues of the face to reduce signs of ageing and stress. When an area of the body is needled, Acupuncture on a micro-level, aims to improves blood flow […]

We have designed a checklist for you to reflect on how you're feeling during this joyful (but stressful) time. It asks some questions to get you thinking about what's important for you. Christmas isn't always happy for everyone and we want to support you the best we can. Getting through Christmas stress doesn't have to be about […]

At Family Wellness Centre we are all for minimising waste and a big question after the BIG DAY is What do I do with Christmas leftovers? And also, what's all this about Minimising?

Here are 3 Easy tips to get your Nutrition back on track this Summer after a Winter of colds, flus and illness. Its time for Comfort food to take a back seat as you embrace the colours and flavours of Seasonal food during Summer.

A nourishing and hearty salad filled with dark leafy greens, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein. Ingredients • 2 cups romaine, roughly chopped • 1 cup spinach- wilted • 4-5 roasted Brussel sprouts (from batch cooking day) • 1 roasted sweet potato • Small tomatoes • ½ cup carrots, shredded or diced • ¼ cup cucumber, […]

The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter and winter is behind us for another year. It’s time to dust off that fitness training gear and spring back into action!

Let me ask you a question. How long has it been since you felt good in your body? I mean really good. Are you waiting till summer, hoping you can hide under winter woollies before you think about the next diet? If you made the commitment to finally fit into that favourite dress again – […]

By Linda Funnell-Milner, Functional Nutritionist "I’ve Tried Every Diet and none of them work." Does this sound like you? Losing weight is not always easy and some diets get good results early but then don’t deliver from week 4 or 5 onwards.

The immune system is one of the most important systems of the body, and our most important defender against foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. It is only when we begin to feel run down or can’t shake a cold that we give the immune system the attention it deserves.

Caffeine is a drug. A very useful drug in fact, under specific conditions. How about using it to your advantage in an Endurance Race? It's not such a bad thing when you use it this way...

Energy & Stamina - they're crucial in getting you over the finish line in any high intensity sport or endurance race. How do you keep stamina & energy levels high throughout an event? What are people doing wrong that you should be avoiding? Let's take a closer look...

What if you're NOT an athelete? Can you still successfully compete AND complete in Endurance races? Absolutely. With the help of Carbs...let's take a closer look.

The pain of Plantar Fasciitis is sharp and agonising, with each step producing a sharp stabbing sensation.  In this article we look at some strategies for people with Plantar Fasciitis when they think they've tried everything.

[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]Grief Relief [/perfectpullquote] The triggers for grief are the things we “miss” It's, the walks, the talks, the hugs.   Believing that only time can heal grief stagnates the healing process. Often, we believe grief is about missing someone but in truth we usually only miss the good things. […]

    [perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Let’s take a look at the difference between drinking water and hydration and three easy ways to maximise your hydration levels.[/perfectpullquote] This Summer, I was reading “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water – You’re not sick, you’re thirsty” and in it […]

You might be in the middle of preparing for Coastrek or Oxfam Trailwalker by doing amazing things in your training sessions. Or you might have just finished your big race day. Too often people just collapse in bad that night and wake up and go about their day to day as per usual, without fully […]

Endurance Training for an event such as Coastrek or Oxfam Trailwalker can unleash a beast within us. We want to achieve great things, that are almost inconceivable such as 50km or 100km distances. We want to prove to ourselves we can do something tough and hard and challenging. We want to test our limits and […]

Its common to hear stories of people getting through Endurance events such as Oxfam Trailwalker and Coastrek, telling their war-like stories of getting through it, battle wounds and all. It's true, you can get through it. But what if you also had something left in the tank on finishing, were blister-free and weren't hobbling around for the […]

You've signed up for an endurance event- great! Your family want to be there for you at your checkpoints as Support Crew - awesome! Then you don't tell them how to go about it......Big Mistake. During events such as Oxfam Trailwalker or Coastrek, if you want to get your team finished by a certain time, […]

When newbies take on an Endurance race either as a personal goal, New Year's Resolution or as part of an ongoing fitness regime, they can bite off more than they can chew. The well-worn veterans in Endurance Racing know this stuff inside out and include it in their training programs because they know there's more to […]

One of the biggest threats to any endurance race is Blisters. Therefore knowing how to prevent blisters can give you the edge in the race and avoid a lot of unecessary pain. There's no way I can be considered as an elite athlete, nor an endurance race junkie. But I do have two big events […]

We're definitely in the Swing of Christmas now. For some (including me) - the lead up to that day is filled with overwhelm and we notice that things get start to get hectic... Let's call it Christmas Stress. One of my favourite things about Christmas is the chance to be with my family, especially the grandchildren, […]

Does Acupuncture hurt? This is probably the most common question when it comes to Acupuncture. People have amazing imaginations in conjuring up all kinds of imagery when imagining what Acupuncture is really like. In this blogpost, we take a look at ways in which the practitioner can make Acupuncture a relaxing and comfortable experience for you.

Tight and tense shoulders is a common complaint at the clinic, with people really battling pain, discomfort and sleeplessness as a result. Rather than suffer in silence we encourage people to ask for help to get on top of the problem sooner rather than later. Here are some of our best tips for tight shoulders.

Food Cravings of the unhealthy type can be a HUGE hurdle when it comes to weight loss and fat loss plans. But did you know that your genetics could be the reason you crave food at the oddest of times or have stuggles losing weight altogether? In this post we look at some of the […]

Fascial Pectoralis Stretch for a tight chest The muscle: The Pectoralis is the muscle in the area between  the armpit, beneath the shoulder and above the breast tissue and nipple. It assist with shoulder movement and strength, upper body strength and strength behind a throwing action. The idea with this technique is to passively stretch […]

Anxiety Is Rising — and You’re Not Alone Anxiety and depression rates are increasing at a rapid pace across Australia. Many people are feeling stretched — juggling work, parenting, caring responsibilities, financial pressures, health concerns, and the constant pace of modern life. While anxiety can feel overwhelming, there is also empowering news: working on your […]

VITAMIN D: Is your Immune System at Risk? Studies have unfortunately shown that at least one in three Australians are deficient in vitamin D. In addition, 73% of adults have levels deemed insufficient for good health. Do you know your vitamin D status? Are you at risk? We tend to get sick more often during […]

How Chinese Medicine May Help Migraines Migraines are more than just headaches—they can be debilitating and disruptive to daily life. For many people, conventional medications either don’t provide lasting relief or come with unwanted side effects, leading them to seek alternative solutions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture and herbal therapy, offers a time-tested […]

Tongue diagnosis can say a lot about your health. What is your tongue trying to show you? Chinese Medicine states what's happening on the inside can be deciphered by looking at the outside. Looking at the tongue is a specific and refined Chinese Medicine diagnostic method originating in the Shang Dynasty of the 16th Century […]

Cholecystitis (Inflammation of the Gall Bladder) is associated with cholelithiasis (Gall Stones) in 98% of cases.  It can leave you with ribside pain, reflux, nausea and indigestion. A general summary of what’s happening on the inside is either blockage of the bile ducts in the Liver, stasis of bile with infection and poor regulation of […]

Lower back pain is a common presentation and Acupuncture is an excellent option for back pain sufferers. Whether you’ve just hurt it or an old injury from years ago, here’s how Chinese Medicine techniques can help. Have you ever felt like a 90 year old when you get out of bed? Hobbling around hunched forwards […]

Sciatica can be very painful when left for too long to develop. A pinched nerve needs releasing as soon as possible to bring relief to the client. Here we take a look at a case study of Sciatica.

Sweet Laughs Over 'Hidden Sugar' That Sugar Film by Australian Actor Damon Gameau is for the brave and courageous for two reasons. (1)There's a memorable dentist scene that hits home with the message of the film, (2)You're willing and open to thinking about & questioning what's in the things you eat. Read on to hear […]

MANAGING FIBROMYALGIA: IS IT POSSIBLE? Fibromyalgia is a condition that can lead to serious daily pain. Some sufferers may find it difficult to even do everyday tasks. Management of fibromyalgia might seem like a daunting task. However, it is possible.  Here, we will tell sufferers of fibromyalgia just how managing their condition is possible. We […]

How Acupuncture Can Help Manage Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis You’ve probably heard that acupuncture can be helpful for pain. Often we think of back pain or neck pain first. But acupuncture has also shown promising results for foot pain — particularly plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the thick band of tissue […]

6 Ways Acupuncture Promotes Sleep If you are having difficulty reaching an ideal sleep pattern or fighting insomnia, you should strongly consider exploring complementary medicine with the support of acupuncture. While many people associate acupuncture with pain management, growing research shows it may also play a meaningful role in supporting healthy sleep regulation. Acupuncture and […]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Or CTS, Is a Common Problem That Can Cause Significant Discomfort. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS, is a common problem that can cause pain, numbness, pins and needles, inflammation and weakness in the hands and wrists for those suffering with it. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs into the palm […]

The Summer Merry-Go-Round Is Here. Warm Weather And Weight Loss So what is the latest weight loss diet in the news? You may or may not be surprised to learn that according to the prestigious medical journal The Lancet it is the low fat diet – but for all the wrong reasons. A United States-based […]

By Linda Funnell-Milner, Nutritionist Read this article if you're experiencing insomnia - whether it be tossing and turining during the night or trouble falling asleep. Linda has included a questionnaire for those having trouble getting a restful night's sleep. During sleep the body undertakes mental and physical restoration and repair. It is one of the […]

Insomnia (Latin for sleepless) is a term everyone uses when they’re having trouble sleeping. Whether it be trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, Chinese Medicine wisdom is now showing results in clinical trials. Insomnia increase our stress levels, which in turn predisposes us to poor sleep and completes a vicious cycle. Here we discuss the […]

Teeth Grinding, Sleep & Your Nervous System Why am I tired even after a full night in bed? Do you wake up feeling exhausted… even though you were in bed for 7–8 hours? Sleep isn’t just about how long you’re in bed. It’s about how relaxed your nervous system is while you’re asleep. If your […]

By Katika Funnell, Registered Acupuncturist Can Kids have acupuncture? How do you give children acupuncture? It may boggle the mind of a parent how to keep their child still for a treatment of acupuncture or reasons why their child might need Acupuncture. Here we discuss what's involved, answer your questions and explain the benefits of […]

By Katika Funnell, Acupuncturist Arthritis. A lot of people give up at this point and believe medications for the rest of their life is the solution and that nothing else will help relieve their chronic joint pain & arthritis. Here we discuss some of the Natural options on offer. In my experience as an acupuncturist, […]