Three Fragrant Herbs

3 Fragrant Herbs

These are 3 of the most fragrant herbs in the Materia Medica; Angelica root (Bai Zhi), Chinese mint (Bo He) and patchouli (Huo Xiang).
Bai Zhi can open the orifices of the nose and sinuses and alleviate headaches. Bo He assists in opening the orifices and Huo Xiang helps to break up and discharge nasal mucus (damp). Together they are inhaled from a stream bath to clear the nose and relieve sinus congestion.

You will need a large bowl, towel and boiling water. The easiest position is sitting on a chair at a table.
Place your herbs into a bowl and boil enough water to cover the herbs and create steam (usually 1-2 litres depending on the size of your bowl). Allow the fragrance of the herbs to infuse into the water. Allow water to cool a little. Sit at the table and place a large towel over your shoulders, head and bowl, and inhale the fragrant herbs deeply.

Have tissues handy to blow your nose as required. The herbs may be reused for as long as they remain fragrant. You may add additional boiling water to the bowl, or remove some water and replace with boiling water.

Conditions We See

Fertility and IVF Support

Fertility challenges are more common than many people realise, affecting around one in six couples at some stage of their journey to conceive. Our Altona clinic in Melbourne's inner west offers fertility acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of a holistic approach to reproductive health, for those trying to conceive naturally or preparing for IVF or IUI.

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Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines affect millions of Australians and can range from occasional tension headaches to debilitating migraine attacks. Our Altona clinic offers acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of a gentle, whole-person approach that aims to understand and address the patterns contributing to your headaches.

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Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common condition that affects many people at different stages of life. It can present as a dull ache, stiffness, or sharper pain, and may be associated with factors such as muscle tension, joint restriction, postural strain, or prolonged sitting. For some people, it can make everyday activities like bending, lifting, sitting, or sleeping less comfortable.

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Menstrual Health

Menstrual health refers to the overall quality and regularity of your cycle, including timing, flow, symptoms, and how you feel throughout the month. A healthy cycle should feel relatively predictable and manageable, without significant disruption to your energy, mood, or daily life. Changes in the menstrual cycle can show up as irregular periods, pain, PMS, heavy bleeding, or symptoms that shift from month to month.

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Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we see at the clinic. It can build up gradually from prolonged desk work, poor posture, stress or repetitive movement, or follow an acute strain. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine offer a whole-person approach that looks beyond the pain to the patterns contributing to it.

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Period Pain

Painful, irregular or heavy periods are extremely common but are not something you just have to live with. There is often an underlying pattern that can be identified and supported. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine take a whole-person approach to menstrual health, from period pain to conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and PMS.

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TMJ, Jaw pain and Teeth clenching

TMJ acupuncture in Melbourne may help reduce jaw pain, clicking, headaches, clenching and facial tension. At Altona Acupuncture, treatments are tailored to address the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms, supporting relaxation, pain relief and improved jaw function.

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