Hello and thank you for stopping by Cedar and Sage! My name is Andrea, and I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine out of my home in Queenwood, Hamilton. I qualified with a Bachelor of Health (Acupuncture) from the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and am a registered Acupuncturist with the Chinese Medical Council.

If you are struggling with health issues and are not sure where to turn, I’d love to share the insights of Traditional Chinese Medicine with you! It is an amazing theory of the body that looks for where the body is out of balance and offers support by way of therapy, diet, and lifestyle advice.

Many health conditions occur against a background of underlying imbalances in the body; targeting these is about giving the body the best chance to heal.

Rather than endless treatments, my goal is to give you insights into your own body that help you to make the right choices for you, so you can be the best version of yourself.

Does it hurt?

Not usually! They are very tiny needles that are placed very quickly. The sensations are likely to be a mild feeling of pressure or tingling.

If a needle feels uncomfortable, this normally subsides quickly or the therapist can adjust or withdraw the needle.  At all times you are in control and can decide to have any or all needles withdrawn. 

If you are anxious, please let me know.  The best thing to do is try one needle and see how you feel about it.  If you don’t like it, the needle can be withdrawn straight away and we can look at other options for you.  However most people find it is not painful like they imagined and are happy to continue.

What to expect and how to prepare?

Please eat something at least two hours before your session, as acupuncture is work for the body even though it feels like rest. It is normal to feel tired afterwards – please don’t schedule anything energetic after your session.

For the first session, your therapist will assess your health with questions ranging over topics such as monthly cycles, digestive health, mental wellness. If there is anything you are not comfortable discussing just let me know.

After the consult you will be invited to lie on the table and will have about 3-6 needles inserted, usually in points on the arms, lower legs, back, abdomen, or head.  More personal areas are not accessed; patients often remain fully dressed.  Please wear loose pants so these can be rolled up comfortably.

Needles remain in for 10-20 minutes and you will likely be left alone for this period to rest, with quiet background music.