Frequently Asked Questions:

Massage
What sort of massage should I chose?
There are many different styles of massage, what is more important than selecting a style is the “intention” of your massage – are you looking for relaxation? Do your shoulders ache? Do you have headache/back pain/restricted movement? Do you need some time out for you and a little nurturing? An experienced massage therapist will tailor your treatment using a number of different techniques depending on the outcome you desire. Often there are a number of objectives – you have a headache because your shoulders are tight because you are stressed – we can deal with the symptoms, the cause and prevention, all in the one treatment.
Will my massage hurt?
It depends why you have come for a massage. If you are looking solely for relaxation and soothing, we will use only gentle strokes and flowing movements and you will emerge calmed and grounded. If you would like us to really loosen some tight knots we will use more force and sustained “pressure and release” techniques to assist the muscles in letting go. Sometimes your therapist will use a firmer massage style and encourage you to “breathe and release” the tension your body is holding, although this may be painful it results in a more enduring relaxation effect. At every stage you are the boss – if you are tensing up because you don’t like the intensity of the massage that counteracts the intention of the massage. Your therapist will work within your comfort zones and encourage you to communicate your preferences both before the massage and during the treatment. We want you to get the best outcome for you.  
Why do I have sore areas?
Your muscles are little powerhouses that take in nutrition, perform work and produce waste products. Optimally your blood collects these waste products and takes them for excretion via the kidneys. If your circulation is impaired due to medical conditions, too much or too little exercise or due to the muscles being held tightly in tension, the waste products build up around the nerves and muscles producing areas of toxicity and causing the muscles to go into spasm – this causes pain. Massage helps to clear out that congestion, flushing new blood through the area and providing nutrition for the cells. Areas which have been congested may feel warm or appear red during the massage – this is from the blood flushing through the area. 
What can I do to continue the good work the massage has started?
Your therapist will show you stretches which target the muscles which have been problematic. By doing these stretches, drinking lots of water to assists the flushing out of released waste products and perhaps using a hot water bottle or standing under the hot shower, the benefits of your massage will be more long lasting.
Do I have to undress for the massage?
Not if you don’t want to. Usually, Swedish and deep tissue massage are done with the client undressed, underpants remaining on, and the body covered with a sheet or towel. Your therapist will leave the room while you undress, allowing you to get onto the table and cover yourself with the towel. However, you decide how much you undress, and your massage therapist will work with you, our prime objective is that you are comfortable. Communicate with your therapist as to any areas of your body which you may not want to be massaged.
Why does a massage therapist ask about my medical history and medications?
Registered massage therapists are required to ask you about your medical history to ensure that the massage treatment will not interfere with any treatments you are receiving from other medical practitioners. For example, some essential oils used can lower your blood pressure, this would not be suitable for someone already suffering from low blood pressure. An indication of prior injuries or joint conditions will alter how we move your limbs during the treatment. Be assured that all medical information is confidential.
What causes chronic muscle tension and what happens if I don’t treat it?
Chronic muscle tension result from stress, injury, trauma, exposure to cold or infection, overuse and misalignment. The resulting pain can be exhausting and lead to “fuzzy” thinking and feelings of being overwhelmed. Chronic muscle tension also restricts movement, leads to strain being placed on the skeleton, strain to ligaments and contributes to the degeneration of joints.  Chronic muscle tension also uses up energy, so you fatigue more easily.
How often should I receive massage?
The frequency with which you choose to receive massage varies depending on your physical and mental condition, activities, ability to relax, and ability to heal. In the case of seeking massage to get rid of  tension or pain which has been problematic for a while we often advise three massage treatments  one week apart, after the third treatment we reassess your progress and goals and then plan your next treatment accordingly. If you are coming for massage for prevention, health maintenance, or just to feel better, you have more flexibility in how often you receive massage. Then, considerations such as health insurance cover, time commitments etc are involved. The effects of regular massage are cumulative, often after not receiving massage for a while, a client may come more regularly to get them back to the pain-free, relaxed state and then they drop back to their “maintenance” regularity. Making massage part of your wellness routine has long term benefits such as improved immune function, improved quality of sleep, improved energy levels and overall feelings of  vitality and “wellness”.

Reflexology
How does reflexology differ from a foot massage?
Reflexologists work from maps of predefined pressure points that are located on the hands and feet. These pressure points are reputed to connect directly through the nervous system and affect the bodily organs and glands. The reflexologist manipulates the pressure points according to specific techniques of reflexology therapy. By means of rolling, rocking and applying finger pressure, any part of the body that is the source of pain, illness, or impaired function can be strengthened. In the absence of any particular malady, reflexology may be used to promote good health, prevent illness and relieve symptoms of stress. Similarly to a foot massage, a reflexology treatment feels wonderful and leaves you walking on clouds!

Acupuncture
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
What does acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture needles are hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.
Is acupuncture safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labelled for single use by qualified practitioners only. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. Choosing a practitioner who is qualified to advanced diploma or degree standard and registered with an accredited professional organisation is most important.
Does acupuncture work?
The following is a list compiled by the World Health Organization of conditions investigated under scientifically controlled trials for which Acupuncture has shown to be successful: 
Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders (Sinusitis, Hay Fever, Earache, Nerve Deafness, Tinnitus, Dizziness, Poor Eyesight) Circulatory Disorders (High Blood Pressure, Angina Pectoris, Arteriosclerosis, ;Anaemia), Gastrointestinal Disorders (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis,  Constipation, Diarrhoea, Ulcers,Abdominal Bloating, Haemorrhoids) Gynaecological / Genitourinary Disorders (Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Irregular, Heavy or Painful Menstruation, Endometriosis, Menopause, Fibroids, Chronic Bladder Infection,Morning Sickness, Kidney Stones, Impotence, Infertility in Men and Women), Immune Disorders (Candida, Chronic Fatigue, AIDS, Epstein Barr Virus), Allergies (Lupus, MS, Hepatitis), Addiction (Smoking Cessation, Drugs, Alcohol), Emotional and Psychological Disorders (Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression, Stress), Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders (Arthritis, Neuralgia, Sciatic, Back Pain, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Stiff Neck, Bell's Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Headaches and Migraines, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Polio, Sprains /Muscle Spasms, Shingles), Respiratory Disorders (Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Colds and Flus), Chemotherapy/Radiation Side Effects, Diabetes, Dermatological Disorders and Weight Control. An NCCAM-funded study recently showed that acupuncture provides pain relief, improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves as an effective complement to standard care. Further research is likely to unequivocally prove conditions where acupuncture interventions will be useful.
How widely is acupuncture used in the West?
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the West. The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.

Naturopathy
What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary care that addresses the root cause of illness or disease and promotes health and healing using natural therapies. Treatment modalities may include nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine and lifestyle counselling. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the cause of the illness rather than simply treating or suppressing symptoms. While naturopathic care helps to alleviate specific symptoms, NDs are primarily concerned with addressing the root cause of an illness.
What is the difference between naturopathic medicine and homeopathy?
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are general practitioners of natural medicine. They are trained to treat ailments using clinical nutrition, acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counselling and homeopathy. Homeopaths may or may not be trained in other aspects of naturopathy, and they choose to specialize in homeopathy. Homeopathy rests on the principle "Like Cures Like.", homeopaths providing remedies which are very high dilutions of substances know to cause symptoms such as the patient is experiencing.
What can I expect from my first visit to a naturopath?
Your first visit with an ND may be one hour or more in length. A very extensive patient history eliciting information about your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health is taken and a complaint-oriented physical exam performed. Your ND may then suggest further specialized testing. With your input, your ND will propose a personalized treatment plan including herbal supplements, dietary and/or lifestyle changes to help you achieve your health goals. Subsequent visits will monitor your progress and provide support for sometimes difficult lifestyle changes. These visits are usually 30 minutes in duration.
Do naturopaths have specialties?
Naturopaths may have ‘special interests’ in health conditions in which she has had extensive treatment experience or holds keen interest, or a modality used preferentially with a high degree of success. Although an ND may have a special interest in a specific disease or treatment modality, naturopathic care is always holistic in nature and highly individualized and unique to each patient.
How is a naturopath diffent to my GP?
At this point in time your GP will have more training in the medical sciences, will give you a 6 to 15 minute consultation, prescribe drugs or lifestyle modification. They are trained with a completely different philosophy towards medical practice. Naturopaths do not replace GPs. A naturopath offers an alternative philosophy and methodology to the treatment of illness, and factor in a longer consultation time to more holistically understand their patients’ needs. They will use substances that subtly and slowly modify the internal environment, as well as recommending lifestyle and dietary modifications.
Can naturopathic doctors treat _____________?
Yes. Naturopaths can treat the same conditions as a family doctor, including both acute concerns and chronic health conditions. In the event that an ND is unable to treat your condition, they will refer appropriately.
What training do naturopaths receive in Australia?
A modern naturopath in practice in Australia is trained in medical sciences and the modalities of herbalism, homeopathy, nutrition, and massage. At some colleges counselling skills are included as part of the basic program.
How can I tell if I am dealing with a qualified Naturopath who has received appropriate training?
A qualified naturopath will be a member of a professional body such as the ATMS, or ANTA . These bodies investigate and set academic standards and will only accept members from approved colleges or courses. Membership also entails current first aid training, regular continuing professional education and professional indemnity insurance.

Practitioners
How do I find a qualified practitioner?
When enquiring at a health centre it is important to ask for the qualifications of the practitioner providing your treatment. At The Centre of Wellbeing, all practitioners are fully qualified and members of professional bodies appropriate to their field. This also ensures that they have current professional indemnity insurance, undertake regular continuing education and are registered as providers with private health insurance companies.
How do I find the right practitioner for me?
Referrals from friends and trusted medical and allied health practitioners who understand what you are looking for are the best way to find a practitioner you will “click” with. Ask lots of questions when you are being referred and don’t hesitate to ask questions when you call the clinic or first meet your practitioner. Open communication is the best way to ensure your therapist understands your health and wellness goals and that you understand the intended treatment plan.