Helping those with chronic pain and complex health conditions start to feel like themselves again.
Meet Your Acupuncturist
Hi, I'm Gavin from Acupuncture Grove.
I have been an acupuncturist for almost ten years, with experience in all forms of acupuncture treatments. During this time, I've taken a special interest in helping patients overcome chronic medical conditions. I've used acupuncture to help treat chronic pain, migraines, fatigue, post-viral syndromes, and many more.
If you've been struggling with a chronic condition, a sports injury, anxiety, or maybe you just want to experience the positive benefits of acupuncture, then book your initial consultation today.
What is Acupuncture Used For?
Traditionally acupuncture was used as a primary healthcare treatment in China and the surrounding East-Asian countries. Today, you won’t tend to visit your acupuncturist for life-threatening illnesses. People may seek out acupuncture for issues such as:
If you’re not sure if acupuncture can help you with something specific, please don't hesitate to reach out. Book an initial consultation or email me with the links below:
Different Types of Acupuncture We Specialise In
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Traditional Acupuncture
It is important to take into account the whole body in acupuncture treatment. Health comes from good flow within the body, and obstruction of flow (whether it's blood flow, movement, nerve supply, lymphatics, organ or cellular function) is the root of disease. Since the body is an incredibly complex interconnected ecosystem, obstructions in one area can cause dysfunction elsewhere in the body.
That means you may find your practitioner working on and/or around your problem area/s, as well as choosing points elsewhere at a distance. Sometimes we refer to these approaches as "distal acupuncture" and "local acupuncture".
Distal acupuncture is the use of points distant to the affected area to stimulate change in the targeted area. This allows a practitioner to work with multiple regions of the body at once from one area. For example a single point on the leg could be used with someone who has stomach issues, sinus congestion, jaw pain, shoulder pain, brain fog, low energy or all of the above. It is also beneficial for pain and injuries that are too sensitive to be worked with directly. This is particularly useful for post-op recovery.
Local acupuncture is the use of points in or around the target areas. Certain musculoskeletal injuries and painful conditions do well with some more direct treatment. You are a little more likely to experience some post-treatment soreness when working directly on restricted areas, but usually no longer than a day or two after a session. Dry needling would fall into the category of a local treatment.
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Motor Point Acupuncture
Motor Point acupuncture is the stimulation of muscle motor nerves through the application of acupuncture, usually with electrical stimulation. When correctly located and stimulated with gentle electro acupuncture, the muscle will involuntarily contract and relax. This is used to help restore healthy muscle function when working with pain, range of motion and neuromuscular conditions.
When a muscle becomes inhibited and weak or overly short and tight, it can cause pain and dysfunction. Muscular imbalances and dysfunction are key factors for many cases of chronic pain, sporting injuries and repetitive strain issues. Even in cases with structural issues many involve muscular imbalances that have led to the structural injury or have come as a result of the changes in structure.
Motor point acupuncture uses the same needles but has a different theoretical background to the approach. Motor point theory is based on neuromuscular anatomy and principles, while acupuncture is based in traditional Chinese medicine theories. There are crossovers with many of the motor points and acupuncture points.
Dry needling evolved from treatments in the 1940s where researchers were injecting painful areas with anaesthetic. They eventually found that by using hypodermic needles without any injectable substance, similar results were observed. Hence the term “dry” needling was adopted, as opposed to a needle with a liquid injection.
This method became most popular for treatment of myofascial trigger points that had been popularised by the work of Janet Travell (personal physician to John F. Kennedy) and her associate David Simons. Myofascial trigger points are hyper-irritable regions within skeletal muscle that tend to be tight and painful on palpation. They can refer certain predictable referral patterns of pain and dysfunction.
The acupuncture needle was soon adopted as the main tool for dry needling after China started to open up to the world in the 1970s. This is where a lot of the confusion between dry needling and acupuncture comes from. You can learn more about Dry Needling in Bondi Here
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Electro Acupuncture
Electro acupuncture is a modern enhancement of traditional acupuncture, involving the application of a gentle electrical current between pairs of acupuncture needles. This added stimulation helps to amplify the therapeutic effects of treatment, particularly for conditions involving chronic pain, inflammation, or muscular tension. It’s commonly used in clinical settings to support faster healing and deeper muscle release.
The technique allows for continuous stimulation over a period of time, which can be more effective than manual needle manipulation alone. The electrical pulses can be adjusted in frequency and intensity based on the patient’s comfort level and clinical goals, offering a customised experience for each person. Many patients describe the sensation as a mild tapping or pulsing, and treatments are generally very well tolerated.
At Acupuncture Grove, we use electro acupuncture as part of a broader treatment plan tailored to your body’s needs and healing capacity. If you would like to experience the benefits of acupuncture in Bondi for yourself, then book your initial consultation today, or reach out with any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acupuncture is a treatment that has evolved within traditional Chinese medicine over several thousand years. The body is viewed as an ecosystem and acupuncture was used primarily to regulate blood flow to restore a healthy ecology within the body. Alongside Chinese herbal medicine, it was the primary method of treatment for all types of illnesses from the mild to severe.
It is important to take into account the whole body in acupuncture treatment. Health comes from good flow within the body, and obstruction of flow (whether it's blood flow, movement, nerve supply, lymphatics, organ or cellular function) is the root of disease. Since the body is an incredibly complex interconnected ecosystem, obstructions in one area can cause dysfunction elsewhere in the body.
In the clinic I use a blend of traditional and modern techniques to best meet my clients needs. Depending on what we’re working on together, I may use any combination of traditional acupuncture, trigger point needling (or dry needling), motor point acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion (moxa), cupping, gua sha and acupressure release.
The honest answer is that we don’t really have the full picture of how acupuncture works. There is plenty of research behind different modes of action within the nervous system, hormonal regulation, fascial planes, blood flow and electrical conductivity, though no unified understanding.
Research and theoretical understandings of acupuncture are important, but no amount of research will ever be able to tell you if acupuncture will work for you. You’ve got to try it for yourself to find out.
No. Acupuncture and dry needling use the same type of needles, but approach treatment from different theoretical foundations. Find out more about dry needling here.
At Acupuncture Grove, dry needling is incorporated into acupuncture treatments where appropriate.
There is no "one size fits all" answer to this question. How quickly you'll see results depends on the severity of your symptoms and the frequency of your acupuncture treatment. There are three phases of treatment for acupuncture: the Relief Phase, the Healing Phase, and the Maintenance Phase.
The Relief Phase is for severe symptoms that require immediate relief. In this phase, you may require 2-3 treatments per week. In most cases, things should stabilise within weeks of beginning treatment, which will allow you move into the Healing Phase.
In the Healing Phase, the treatment frequency can range from twice weekly to fortnightly. This phase is the most variable as some mild conditions may only need a few weeks to months of treatment, while more chronic and severe conditions may take years to change substantially.
In the Maintenance Phase many people who have gone through either of the previous phases like to keep acupuncture as part of their regular self-care. This can help with prevention and maintaining the improvements already gained. Frequency will depend on the person and their goals, usually anywhere between weekly to monthly, or just as needed.
There are many acupuncturists in Sydney. At the end of the day you want to find a practitioner who you like and trust. They should be registered with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and have completed a minimum of a bachelors degree. Ideally they will be able to explain what they’re doing and what to expect from treatment in easy to understand terms. They should also be able to give you things to track so that you know the acupuncture is working for you.
If you would like to try acupuncture in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, consider Acupuncture Grove in Bondi Sydney. Servicing areas such as Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach, Coogee, Clovelly, Bronte, Waverly, Randwick, Maroubra, Double Bay, Watson's Bay, Vaucluse and surrounding Sydney suburbs. You can book online here or reach out with any questions here.
Visit Our Clinic
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LOCATION ADDRESS
2/15 Bronte Rd,
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Located across the road from Westfield Shopping Centre
OPENING HOURS
MON: 9:00am - 6:30pm
TUE: Closed
WED: Closed
THU: 9:00am - 6:30pm
FRI: 8:00am - 1:30pm
SAT: Closed
SUN: Closed
