[{"document_url": "https://www.utopiahealthcare.com.au/melbourne_acupuncture_news/2017/3/15/utopias-autumn-2017-newsletter-edition", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56063cd9e4b08dbc6e774882/t/58cf619e414fb508c21a786a/1489990320624/chinese+rooster.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56063cd9e4b08dbc6e774882/t/58cf619e414fb508c21a786a/1489990320624/chinese+rooster.jpg", "formatted_filename": "chinese rooster", "alt_text": " 2017 - The year of the Fire Rooster "}, null, null]
Welcome to 2017,

Yes we have past the first quarter and I have only just drawn breath.

The year of the Fire Rooster has begun so for those interested in this information, here is one of many web sites.

My year started off with a reboot in New Zealand where I took myself off to a retreat for 5 days, under the guidance of a very experienced practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a number of other healing modalities under her belt, near 40 years of clinical experience. Heather Bruce certainly knows a lot about health and in particular fertility. Yes there are many specialists in fertility these days; Heather’s style is focused on bringing the whole person back to health not just for fertility, overall health and well being for both the male and female. I certainly felt a change within the time I was away. I spent the time receiving treatments and studying health and nutrition from a different frame work. The information is not new, it is presented in a way that made perfect sense and after putting the systems into place I have seen immediate results, both in myself and in clinic. The feedback has been most encouraging from clients and so the changes have stayed. Generally the treatment sessions are longer and the work deeper and less frequent, so it is a win win all the way round.

I have been busier than ever in clinic, which speaks volumes itself.

So if you would like to come in and try the different format I’d love to see you again, especially if I haven’t seen you in a while.

One of the styles that I touched on, while I was away, was the Avigo Therapy; I was impressed enough with this and so I invited a practitioner Elizabeth Stein to come over and run a self care workshop in May, please follow the link if you are interested. It is 2.5 days of invaluable training and well worth the investment. I look forward to seeing you there. Elizabeth will also be available for treatments too. Avigo Workshop

Hoping you have all had an enjoyable summer, I can’t believe it is actually over. I am most saddened that my local pool has closed for the season. I do notice the coolness in the early mornings and the late evenings, which I in fact enjoy.

So it is that time of year to consider the Metal element and protect the Lungs, (for more reading on this element please follow link metal

Remember to take an extra layer to work, or when you are out and about maybe a scarf, vest, or a lightweight jacket, so you don’t catch a chill when the temperature begins to drop.

Acupuncture clinics in China are always busy at this time of year as the people in the know come in for their preventative treatment sessions. Much easier to strengthen the immune system than get sick; any lung issues, asthma, allergies, reoccurring infections, can all be addressed with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. And of course to shorten the duration of a cold if you get one, come in and get a treatment.

Heather Bruce has just been in Melbourne to both give treatments and introduce the Mercier Training that will be available later in the year, this was another system that I was introduced to while in N.Z. and I found of benefit. Here is a link:

Both of these therapies are very complimentary to the Acupuncture system.

And for those of you that wait with baited breath or taste buds, for my recipes, this one came from my Christmas present Hemsley and Hemsley.


For those that have asked: they have a simple recipe for stock, which the Americans call bone broth.

This is 101 in any restaurant kitchen that I have ever worked in and made once or twice every week by an apprentice.

3 kg of beef bones, lamb bones or chicken carcasses.


Optional extras: generous splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, onion, leek, carrot or celery, parsley stalks peppercorns and or bay leaves.

Spinach and Bacon Tart with nutty Almond case Pastry case

375 g ground almonds (meal)

2 teas sea salt

½ teas bi carb soda

30 g butter at room temp



250g bacon or pancetta chopped

1 large onion halved and finely sliced

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

180 g fresh spinach chopped


250 mls full fat coconut milk

80 g cherry tomatoes

1 handful of fresh parsley leaves and stalks finely chopped

1 tabs fresh thyme leaves 1 teas if dried

Sea salt and black pepper


For many more healthy recipes - click here

All the usual things are happening in clinic; great massages with Christina on Tuesdays.

Tania does more than live blood analysis when she is in once a month; these are very informative sessions about what goes on in your blood and the preventive markers that you can address before it gets more serious.

Sam has some great remedies for treating any number of ailments, emotionally and physically.

Ilse, as always, brings much calm and centeredness to thy self.

Look forward to see you all soon, and I’d love your feed back on the new look web site, much more mobile friendly too.

Team Utopia.