Chinese Medicine Lower Plenty: Traditional Care for Modern Wellbeing

What a Chinese Medicine Consultation Involves, Step by Step

For many people in Melbourne's north-east, a first Chinese medicine appointment is something new. At our Lower Plenty clinic, Dr Catherine Farchione takes time to understand you as a whole person before suggesting any care, and every step is explained as you go.

1. A Detailed Conversation

Catherine asks about your main concern and your wider health: sleep, digestion, energy, appetite, stress, temperature preferences and, where relevant, your menstrual cycle. These everyday details help shape her approach.

2. Traditional Observations

She may look at your tongue and feel your pulse at both wrists. In the traditional framework, these observations help organise information about your overall pattern of health.

3. Your Medical Picture

Catherine also asks about diagnoses, medications, supplements and any tests or care from your GP or specialist. This is essential for safety, particularly if herbs are being considered.

4. Discussing Options

Depending on your situation, she may suggest needling, herbal medicine, dietary guidance, lifestyle changes, or a combination. You choose what you are comfortable with.

5. Follow-Up

Catherine will talk about how you might review progress and whether further visits make sense. Some people come for a few sessions around a particular goal, while others prefer occasional check-ins. There is no obligation to commit to a long course of care, and you can change your mind at any time.

The Tools Catherine Uses

This is a whole system rather than a single technique. Catherine draws on several tools, chosen to suit each person.

Acupuncture

Fine, sterile, single-use needles are placed at selected points while you rest. Our acupuncture page explains more about what a needling session is like.

Herbal Medicine

Traditional formulas combine several herbs. If herbs are suggested, Catherine explains what they are, how to take them, and what to watch for. Herbs can interact with prescription medicines, so please keep your GP and pharmacist informed.

Dietary Therapy and Nutrition

As a qualified nutritionist, Catherine can combine traditional food principles with practical nutrition advice that fits into a real household and a busy week.

Other Techniques

Some practitioners also use techniques such as cupping or gentle heat. Catherine will explain any technique before using it, and you can always say no.

How Chinese Medicine Thinks About Health, in Plain English

The traditional approach looks at patterns: how sleep, digestion, energy, mood and physical symptoms relate to one another. Rather than focusing on one symptom in isolation, the practitioner looks at the whole picture and aims to support balance.

These traditional ideas come from a very different framework to Western medicine. The modern research picture is still developing and varies widely, so we avoid promising particular outcomes. Many people value the time, the detailed attention and the practical lifestyle guidance that a consultation provides.

Chinese medicine works best alongside, not instead of, your regular medical care.

Who May Choose This Approach

People choose to see Catherine for many reasons. Many people use Chinese medicine for:

• General wellbeing, energy and stress support during a busy time of life.
• Support through women's health stages, from menstrual cycles to pregnancy and beyond.
• Complementary support while going through fertility care with their medical team.
• Digestion, sleep and lifestyle guidance as part of a broader plan.
• Muscle and joint discomfort, often alongside other hands-on care at the clinic.

If you are pregnant, trying to conceive with medical help, or managing a diagnosed condition, please discuss your plans with your GP or specialist first and keep them informed. Catherine is happy to work in with your medical team.

Preparing for Your Visit

• Bring a list of all medications, supplements and herbs you currently take.
• Bring recent results such as blood tests or scans if they are relevant.
• Eat a light meal beforehand rather than arriving very hungry.
• Avoid brushing your tongue or drinking strongly coloured drinks just before, as Catherine may look at your tongue.
• Wear loose clothing in case needling is part of the session.
• Track a few details for a week or two beforehand, such as sleep, energy or your cycle, if they are relevant to your visit.

Safety and Registration

Practitioners in this field in Australia must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, which works with AHPRA. You can check any practitioner's registration on the public register before you book.

Herbal medicines are not risk-free. Tell Catherine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take blood thinners or other regular medicines, have liver or kidney concerns, or have reacted to herbs before. Tell your GP and pharmacist about any herbs you take, too.

How Chinese Medicine Complements Other Services at Bodyline

As a multidisciplinary clinic in Lower Plenty, Bodyline Health makes it simple to combine different kinds of care when that suits you:

• Chiropractic with Dr Phil Mifsud for spine and joint concerns.
• Naturopathy and nutrition and dietetics for further lifestyle and food guidance.
• Remedial massage, myotherapy and physiotherapy for hands-on and movement-based care.
• Counselling with our mental wellness therapist if stress is a big part of the picture.
• An onsite Austin Pathology collection centre for blood tests your GP has requested.

Questions Worth Asking at Your First Visit

A good consultation is a two-way conversation. You are always welcome to ask Catherine:

• What do you suggest, and why?
• What will each part of the session involve, and how might it feel?
• If herbs are suggested, what are they, how long should I take them, and are there any side effects to watch for?
• How will we know whether this is worthwhile for me?
• How does this fit with the care I am already receiving from my GP or specialist?

Clear answers to these questions help you make informed choices about your own care.

Claiming Your Visit

Many private extras policies include cover for this type of care. With HICAPS at reception, you can usually claim on the spot and pay only the gap. Rebates depend on your fund and level of cover, so check with your fund before your first visit. More detail is on our payments and funding page.

When to See a GP or Seek Urgent Care

Some symptoms need medical assessment before anything else. See your GP promptly if you have:

• Unexplained weight loss, ongoing fever or night sweats.
• Bleeding during pregnancy, or new or unusual bleeding at any time.
• Severe or worsening abdominal pain, or blood in your stools or urine.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a rash after starting any herbs.
• Persistent low mood. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Call 000 for chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a severe allergic reaction, or sudden weakness on one side of the body. Healthdirect offers reliable general health information.

Practical Self-Care Between Visits

• Keep regular mealtimes and eat mostly warm, cooked, simple foods if your digestion feels sensitive.
• Protect your sleep with a consistent bedtime and a wind-down routine.
• Include gentle movement most days, such as walking along the Plenty River trails.
• Build short pauses into your day to breathe slowly and reset.
• Take herbs exactly as directed, and stop and call the clinic if you notice anything unexpected.

Chinese Medicine for the Diamond Valley

Bodyline Health is a short drive from Eltham, Greensborough, Montmorency, Rosanna, Yallambie, Viewbank, Macleod, Heidelberg, Templestowe and Templestowe Lower, making Chinese medicine care easy to reach for families across Melbourne's north-east.

To book with Dr Catherine Farchione, call (03) 9017 4784, mobile 0434 789 885, or book online. The clinic is open Monday to Thursday 8am–7pm, Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday 8am–2pm, and closed Sundays and Victorian public holidays.