Name: Dr Vitalis Acupuncture Auckland
Price range: $$

What we’re doing to ensure COVID safety

Refreshed on 01 September 2023

Our COVID strategy is simple. We treat every patient as vulnerable. Here, at Dr Vitalis Acupuncture Auckland, we take a cautious and science-based approach. And as new information about the virus comes to light, we adjust our protocols accordingly.

Ventilation. Because COVID spreads through droplets in the air, great ventilation is absolutely critical. We have upgraded our active ventilation system. Additionally, we leave as many doors and windows open as practically possible to encourage fresh air flow.
We are double vaccinated and boosted. Our professional organisation says there is no clarity about mandatory vaccination for acupuncturists, however with us you can rest assured. We are fully vaccinated.
Masks. If you have even mild respiratory symptoms, we ask that you please wear a mask at our premises. Although mask is not required if you’re feeling healthy, we encourage everyone to wear face coverings ar our rooms. To double up on safety, the team at Dr Vitalis Acupuncture will wear P2 or N95 masks when administering the treatments. P2 or N95 masks offer better protection. Snug-fitting mask makes a difference. And if you wish to have enhanced protection, or are vulnerable we recommend wearing a cotton mask over a surgical mask.
We encourage minimal contact with others/ social distancing at our rooms. We endeavour to book your appointment in the way that you would not need to wait. If you arrive early please let us know, we may be able to see you, but please wait outside, and we will take you through as soon as your treatment room is sufficiently ventilated and is ready.
If you have any symptoms and unsure if it is safe to come in, please let us know as early as possible. Screening. Before each visit, we screen every patient by asking some questions about any possible COVID symptoms, as well as possible exposures to assess the risk. We need you to fill out an online form before your visit. Alternatively, if you have any covid symptoms, please let us know in advance by email.
Extra cleaning. In addition to our regular cleaning routines, we wipe frequently touched surfaces, including our eftpos machine, doorknobs, and other contact surfaces several times daily with alcohol-based wipes.
Hand hygiene. Please use alcohol-based (non-hormone disrupting) hand sanitiser by the entrance door.

If you have any questions or suggestions of what we can do to accommodate your special needs or your safety at our rooms, please let us know.

Acupuncture and Dementia: How this treatment reduces the risk

New studies shed light on acupuncture’s potential to protect against dementia, particularly among those battling insomnia as well as those affected by migraines.

Acupuncture for patients with insomnia and dementia risk

Chronic sleep problems can muddy the waters of cognitive health, increasing the risk of dementia over time. But acupuncture might just be the lighthouse for patients with insomnia, offering them protection. A very large new study, conducted by a team from China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan and published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, sheds light on acupuncture’s potential to protect against dementia, particularly among those battling insomnia.

The study aimed to investigate whether this TCM treatment is associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia in patients who suffer from insomnia.

The researchers collected real-world data from over 30,000 patients diagnosed with insomnia to conduct a propensity-score-matched cohort study. This approach carefully aligned two groups—one receiving acupuncture and the other not—ensuring that both were balanced in demographic and health characteristics, isolating the effects of this natural therapy on dementia risk. The meticulous work uncovered a striking 46% decrease in dementia risk for the acupuncture group. This means that the relative risk in those who did not receive acupuncture is 85% higher compared to the patients who received this treatment.

Acupuncture has long been recognised for its ability to promote relaxation and improve sleep, both crucial for cognitive health. The study suggests that regular sessions could help individuals with insomnia establish healthier sleep patterns, potentially fortifying their cognitive function and reducing risk of dementia.

Acupuncture has long been recognised for its ability to promote relaxation and improve sleep, both crucial for cognitive health. The studies suggest that regular sessions could help individuals with insomnia establish healthier sleep patterns, potentially fortifying their cognitive function and reducing dementia risk. The study was published in Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in May 2023.

Acupuncture for patients with migraines and dementia risk

Another significant study by the same author Cheng-Hao Huang and colleagues from Taiwan, used a similar approach to explore the effects of acupuncture in a different patient group. This study utilised Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database to investigate the incidence of dementia in patients with migraine, who either received or did not receive acupuncture treatment. The results from this large-scale study revealed that patients with migraine who received acupuncture had a substantially lower risk of developing dementia, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.51. This suggests a 49% reduction in dementia risk among the acupuncture group compared to those who did not undergo this treatment. This robust evidence underlines the potential of acupuncture as a preventive treatment against dementia in individuals with migraine, further highlighting neuroprotective role of this natural approach.

“Why do you need to see my tongue?”

Understanding TCM Acupuncture tongue diagnosis

Have you ever heard of tongue and pulse diagnosis in acupuncture? This traditional Chinese medicine technique has been used for thousands of years to diagnose and treat health issues. It may seem unusual, but Chinese medicine practitioners believe that the tongue and pulse can provide important insights into the state of your health.

Chinese medicine says that anything that happens inside of your body may have some representation on the outside. You may have noticed that when you’re feeling under the weather, your complexion, voice, and behavior can all change. If you haven’t slept enough last night, likely your observant colleagues will pick it up. Having a cold? This one can be even more obvious.

Even mild conditions may represent in the facial complexion, in your voice, your smell, the way we behave. In the same way, your tongue and pulse can provide clues about what’s going on inside your body. Chinese medicine practitioners utilised these observations extensively for millennia. And they discovered that tongue and pulse can change a great deal. Therefore, when you come in for a treatment other than an injury, it is likely I will inspect your tongue and feel your pulse.

Now, don’t worry, this isn’t the only thing we will do to diagnose your condition! We will also ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform other assessments. However, the tongue and pulse diagnosis can help your practitioner get a more complete picture of your condition and choose the best acupuncture treatment for you.

Pulse and tongue diagnoses are often mystified and the powers of them are exaggerated. Some practitioners claiming they can detect the sex of the baby in pregnancy or detect cancer. However, the leading minds in Chinese medicine are very clear on this. These diagnostic techniques are only a small integral part of TCM diagnosis.

So, the next time you go in for a TCM acupuncture session, don’t be surprised if your practitioner asks to see your tongue and feel your pulse. It’s just one of the many tools they have in their toolbox to help you recover your balance!