ANTA has been accrediting Chinese medicine practitioners for over 60 years. Every one of our practitioners must meet our high educational and training standards to become members. The Chinese medicine practitioners in our directory are fully qualified, and able to deliver high quality treatment.
To find a Chinese medicine practitioner or a Chinese medicine clinic and dispensary, search our directory below.
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the idea of Yin and Yang, a philosophy that describes how opposing forces are connected, complementary, and dependent on each other. According to this philosophy, opposites such as these are found throughout our universe, including in our bodies, and when these opposites are balanced, good health is achieved.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attempts to restore a patient’s balance and harmony, which allows their vital life force (Qi, pronounced “chee”) to flow freely through their bodies. Qi imbalances can be caused by stress, diet, emotional upset, infection, pollution, and more, and TCM uses practices such as acupuncture, dietary advice, exercise, and Chinese herbal medicine to resolve them. Each of these unique practices are components of TCM, and Chinese herbal medicine helps to resolve Qi blockage or deficiency through the use of herbs. The practice has proved successful in treating a number of conditions.
Chinese herbal medicine has greatly influenced Eastern medicine, and forms a major part of healthcare in China, provided in state hospitals along with Western medicine. It has a historic background that continues to influence clinical practice in China, with extensive research into its effects, helping to develop modern diagnostic techniques.
Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that the world consists of elements—fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. This is known as Wu Xing, and is critical to Chinese medicine. Each element corresponds to a taste as well as an organ in the body, as outlined the below table:
| Element | Taste | Organ |
| Fire | Bitter | Heart and small intestine |
| Earth | Sweet | Spleen and stomach |
| Metal | Pungent | Lung and large intestine |
| Water | Salty | Kidneys and urinary bladder |
| Wood | Sour | Liver and gall bladder |
If you’re suffering from a problem related to your kidneys, you might be prescribed a herbal medicine that includes something salty.
TCM treats a wide range of ailments, including pain, IBS, infertility, colitis, arthritis, insomnia, depression, stress, neuropathy, and more7.
To become ANTA members, Chinese medicine practitioners must meet strict criteria. Every ANTA member is fully qualified, accredited, and recognised by both federal and state governments. If you’re looking for a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, the quickest and most effective way is to use our Chinese medicine directory.
If you’d rather find a Chinese medicine practitioner yourself, it’s important to consider the below.
Chinese medicine practitioners must be qualified, with nationally-recognised accreditation and be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board Australia. Malpractice insurance is also a requirement.
Medicine advances over time, and a Chinese medicine practitioner must stay up to date with the latest developments in their field.
Ginseng has proven to help with weight loss and fat absorption, and is a common herb in Chinese medicine.
One particular study has shown that some Chinese herbal medicines can help to lower cholesterol, although the findings need to be verified further.
Herbal medicine is usually administered with warm water, unless the practitioner instructs you otherwise.