The Practitioner — Callum Irvine
Callum's qualifications include certificates in:
- Relaxation Massage
- Indian Head Massage
- Therapeutic Massage
- Trigger Point Therapy
from the Moods School of Massage. He has also completed the following courses:
- Certificate in Reiki Level One (The Haughton Reiki Network)
- Certificate Level 2 First Aid (Health Services International)
- Bachelor Health Science, Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Victoria University of Technology.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been used as part of traditional Chinese medicine for more than 3,000 years. It involves inserting fine, sterilised, single-use needles into specific points in the body. Once the needle has been inserted, specific manipulation techniques are used to alter the internal energy of the body. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, when a person’s internal energy is out of balance disease occurs, therefore, by balancing the internal energy disease can be eradicated.
What Can Acupuncture Treat?
By applying these traditional theories, common ailments such as headache, back pain, stress, digestive and other internal problems, such as excess weight, can be treated with promising results.
Tell Me More!
The specific technique used was developed in China approximately 30 years ago by professors that the practitioners at Aculife have recently studied under, during an internship in China.
Is It Uncomfortable?
The needles are left in for approximately 20 minutes. The gauge of the needles used is relatively fine and a minimal stinging sensation may be experienced with this technique.
What Is Electro Stimulation?
This technique incorporates a specialised machine that, when hooked up to acupuncture needles, is able to send a small electrical pulse through the needles. This can be used to cause muscular contraction, often used is injury rehabilitation, or to generally stimulate an area of the body.
What Is Moxibustion?
Moxibustion or Moxa is the burning of specific therapeutic Chinese herbs. The moxa is burnt over parts of the body to help warm and invigorate the area. Moxa can be used as cones, placed on needles to warm up the needles, or it can be used like a wand. In the second case, the moxa comes in a cigar shape and is held like a wand. The moxa is then held over specific parts of the body.
What Is Cupping?
Cupping utilises the use of glass jars and a vacuum effect to cause an increase of blood flow to a particular part of the body. Oxygen is burnt out of the jar by way of a naked flame and then the jar is placed on the body. The lack of oxygen in the jar causes a vacuum which allows the jar to adhere to the body. This suction stimulates blood flow to that area which aids in loosening tight muscles. Some small bruises may occur after cupping, however, these last only a few days.
What Is Gua Sha?
Pronounced, “gwar shar”, is the therapeutic use of the traditional Chinese soup spoon. By using the side of the spoon to rub along the surface of the body, friction and therefore heat can be produced. This technique can aid in the relaxation of tight muscles, the expulsion of toxins found in rashes, and generally help stimulate a particular area of the body. Small bruises may occur after this treatment, however these last only a few days.
What Is Tui Na?
Pronounced, “tway nar”, is Mandarin for push and pull. This is the traditional form of Chinese massage that is still used today in hospitals in China. This technique does not always incorporate the use of oils, relying on heat build up, which is the result of continuous friction on a specific area of the body. This style of massage incorporates many strange looking movements and is more difficult to learn than other massage techniques, however, the results gained by using the techniques makes it a very effective treatment. Practitioners at Aculife are trained in many different massage techniques and use different movements from different techniques as they deem appropriate to give the best treatment possible.
What Are Stretching Techniques?
Different stretching techniques are often incorporated into treatments at Aculife. These techniques are employed depending on the situation, and can range from gentle, passive, assisted stretching through to a harder resisted-type stretching. Different techniques have been studied and are adopted to help gain extra flexibility in areas of the body where a lack of flexibility is an issue.
What Is Patent Herbal Medicine?
At Aculife, practitioners are qualified to administer patent herbal medicine. This means that bottles of pre-prepared, traditional Chinese, herbal medical decoctions may be prescribed with your treatment. These bottles contain small herbal pills coated in honey. Correct dosages will be explained to you at the end of your treatment. Please note the concentration of active ingredients is far lower in herbal patents than in western pharmaceuticals, therefore, the dosages are higher.
What Experience Do The Practitioners Have?
Practitioners at Aculife have completed a four year degree in traditional Chinese medicine at the Victorian University of Technology in St Albans. As well as studying many forms of massage at short courses during this four-year stint, these practitioners have also undergone an intensive four-week internship in China. They gained many hours of “hands on” experience in both acupuncture and massage. They have returned to Australia with this knowledge equipped with many new techniques which they incorporate daily into their treatments.
Links of Interest
For more information on acupuncture, you may wish to visit these sites: