Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Banksia
Josephine is a registered acupuncturist & Chinese herbal medicine practitioner based in Lane Cove and Frenchs Forest. If you're willing and able to travel from Banksia to either of these locations for TCM consultation, acupuncture and herbal medicine services, Josephine looks forward to meeting with you.
Sciatica — pain radiating along the sciatic nerve from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg — affects up to 40% of people at some point in their lives. A randomised trial published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2015) found that acupuncture was more effective than conventional medication for sciatic pain, with 90% of the acupuncture group reporting significant improvement compared to 75% in the medication group.
The primary TCM diagnosis for sciatica is Qi and Blood stagnation in the Gallbladder and Bladder meridians, which run along the lateral and posterior aspects of the leg — precisely matching the sciatic nerve pathway. Treatment follows these meridians using points such as GB30 (Huantiao) at the hip, BL36 (Chengfu) at the buttock crease, GB34 (Yanglingquan) below the knee, and BL60 (Kunlun) at the ankle. This approach creates a "channel" of stimulation along the nerve pathway.
Electroacupuncture is particularly effective for sciatica, as the electrical stimulation helps reduce nerve inflammation and promotes endorphin release. The treatment also addresses piriformis muscle tightness, a common contributor to sciatic nerve compression.
Acupuncture reduces inflammation around the sciatic nerve, relaxes the muscles compressing it (particularly the piriformis), and stimulates endorphin release for pain relief. Needles are placed along the nerve pathway from the hip to the ankle, following the Gallbladder and Bladder meridians.
GB30 (Huantiao) is located deep in the buttock at the hip joint and is one of the most important points for sciatica. It directly accesses the area where the sciatic nerve passes through the gluteal muscles, helping relieve compression, reduce inflammation, and restore mobility in the hip.
Yes. Electroacupuncture applies a gentle electrical pulse through the needles, which has been shown to reduce nerve inflammation, block pain signals, and promote nerve repair. It is particularly effective for sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, and other conditions involving nerve compression or damage.
Josephine Zhuo (TCM) is an AHPRA registered health practitioner — acupuncturist and herbalist.
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