Soothing heat treatments and traditional care in Upwey
If you tend to feel chilly, experience cold feet, or notice that your joints and muscles feel tight during cooler weather, you will love the comforting warmth of heat therapy at Upwey Acupuncture.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, mild and radiant heat is used to warm the channels, support healthy circulation, ease muscular stiffness, and nourish body energy.
Located in Upwey, my clinic provides a tranquil, cozy sanctuary for patients across the local hills community, including Tecoma, Belgrave, Upper Ferntree Gully, Ferntree Gully, Ferny Creek, Sassafrass, Olinda, Rowville, and Scoresby.
Types of heat therapy used in clinic
Depending on your individual constitution, temperature preferences, and health goals, I utilise three main forms of gentle heat therapy:
1. Traditional moxibustion (moxa)
Moxibustion is an ancient Chinese medicine technique as time-honoured as acupuncture itself. It involves using dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) to apply mild, deeply penetrating heat near specific acupuncture points.
At Upwey Acupuncture, I primarily use smokeless moxa sticks or warm needle moxibustion (where a small piece of smokeless moxa is safely attached to the top of an acupuncture needle) to warm cold areas and support energy flow. Moxibustion is also a well-known traditional modality frequently requested during late-pregnancy consultations in cases where the baby is in breech position (see moxibustion for breech presentation on my women’s health page).
2. Infrared heat lamp therapy
Patients who feel the cold particularly love resting under my infrared heat lamp during their session. Placed comfortably over cold feet, the lower back, or tense shoulders, this soothing lamp delivers radiant warmth to the skin. I often pair heat lamp therapy with traditional herbal liniments to encourage deep tissue relaxation and comfort.
3. Warmed treatment table
During the cooler months in the hills, my treatment table is equipped with a cozy table warmer. Sinking into a pre-warmed couch allows your muscles to relax immediately as your session begins.
Is heat therapy right for you?
While gentle warming is deeply restorative for those with a cool constitution or cold-induced stiffness, heat therapy is not suitable for every condition.
If you naturally feel hot, or have acutely inflamed, red, or hot joints, alternative Chinese medicine techniques will be selected for your session instead.
Experience restorative heat therapy at Upwey Acupuncture
Ready to enjoy a cozy, customised Chinese medicine treatment in the hills? Simply book a Standard Acupuncture session online, and we can discuss incorporating moxibustion or heat lamp therapy into your plan.