Acupuncture - how much $$

Hi,
Now don't laugh (Holly etc) but i am really keen on giving acupuncture a go. My new PHI will cover it in 2 months time - but it will only cover $150 per year.

How much roughly does it cost?? Does Medicare cover any acupuncture?

Should i get a GP/FS referral?

I know it's about health - not money, but it's been a pretty expensive year so far!

Anyone on the Mornington Peninsula go to a good acupuncturist? There is a lady near me, but i understand that i might have to go to someone who specialises in fertility etc.

Thanks in advance
Jo

Hey Jo, my acupuncture cost $60 per session, but I am aware that's at the expensive end of the scale.

Medicare does not cover alternative therapies (as far as I'm aware).

Hi

As Jo posted, I would like an idea of cost with accupuncture and any herbs as well? Also, is there anyone in Melbourne that people can recommend? There seems to be lots about but would prefer a recommendation if possible. West side of Melbourne is preferrable but I go into East Melbourne most weeks now it seems for visits to the FS, so anywhere is good really.

Thanks. Cheryl

A really good one in Brisbane (at the Australian College of Natural Medicine) is $40 as session.

I pay $50 for a session, and $26 per fortnight for herbs. I go in the CBD, and I when I was pricing it I picked one in the middle of the range.
Good luck with it.
xo

Hi Jo,
I have just started acupuncture for irregular cycles and PCOS. Only had 2 sessions so far - inital consultation was $65, follow up is $55. I haven't claimed yet, but I think PHI will cover $20 per session.
I see someone in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Hesitant to recommend until I see the results but I definitely think my cycle is going to be shorter this month!!!!!
I agree, best to see someone who has an interest in infertility and women's health.
I think Medicare will cover acupuncture if it is given by a medical doctor.
HTH
TICKLISH

Just a note - dont go and see a medical doctor for acupuncture unless they are fully trained. There are no standards for acupuncturists and many medical doctors just do a weekend type course. A properly trained acupuncturist does at least four years study and should be registered with Australian Traditional Medicine Society or Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (this is the preference as it is harder to get into). You can often get private healthcare rebates for services by acupuncturists in these two associations.
HTH

My acupuncture cost me $60 a session. I did it after a years unsuccessful fertility treatment. I was pregnant 5 months after that. who knows if it had any impact but I always felt great afterwards and my bowel movements improved which was a sign to me that something was working.
Good luck

Hey jo - knew you would be with us - as they say if you cant beat them join them hehehehe

My sessions have usually cost $60 and i have seen many different pratisioners sometimes that has included herbs too.

I can pay the extra on my PHI to cover me for accupunture but really dont see it worth it as what im outlaying to what i will get back doesnt really add up so i dont see the point.

Hope that helps love xx

Loula

Have you seen anyone in the Melbourne area that you would recommend to me?

Cheryl

Thank you to everyone who responded.

Might give the two people who do it nearby a call and see what they offer (i.e. are they interested in fertility etc)

If you can't beat 'em...join 'em :p

Just a quick reply. I pay $60 per session too!

Ok Chez - like my friends say - ive been everywhere man !!

What area are you as ive seen someone in collins street, fairfield, bentleigh and now im going to try somone in albert st city .......................so take your pick, the lady in Bentleigh was great just too hard to get to in the end, the lady is fairfield was good too but didnt really listen to me and after complaining of pain (had infection after epu) didnt really comfort me and just said to try and ride it out and the pins made it feel much worse !!!the lady in collins street has just stoped doing acupunture hence the change

just let me know if you want any more info

Loula

Thanks - I am in Essendon so will be interested to see how you go with the one in Albert St. When are you going next if you don't mind me asking?

Cheryl

Ive been waiting for you all day missy chez! my first appointment is on Saturday 30th. they are called ferility ground you can google them thay have heaps of info and were recomended by my NP

Forgeot to add its a bit steep $90 for the fist session and $70 after that but that is for 1hr treatment

Thanks for the info Loula! Sorry for the delay - have been busy at work and didn't get to check BB during the day as I would normally. I would love to hear about your thoughts from your first visit, especially as it seems you are bit more experienced in this area than I am. Not long to go now until the appointment. Take care and chat to you again soon. :bedtime: xx

Hi All,

When we were first having our TTC problems, I went to an accupuncturist in Murrumbeena.

His name is Bill, and he is the loveliest man you could ever meet.

The initial consultation was $35 and every visit after that was $30. Not very expensive at all and well worth it. ALso, he has a really high success rate as well.

Give him a call, you wont be disappointed :)

His details are:

Wong Bill

104 Murrumbeena Rd Murrumbeena VIC 3163
ph: (03) 9563 2236

Oh forgot to add the man in Doncaster.... hehehehe

Lou - with all the treatments you've been through, you'll be singing that song "i've been everywhere, man" soon!!!

do you think the accupuncture makes a difference? my chiro also does accumpuncture, and we've discussed it a few times, but he's talking about 12 week treatment plans, and i don't want to take the plunge (at $60 a visit) if it's not going to be beneficial

I ve proberly chopped and changed too many times, I really need to stick with one plan i guess to really comment, but it helps me to feel like im doing something IYKYIM?

yeah, sometimes it's nice just to feel like you're making an effort - so much of this journey is completely out of our hands, that being proactive is a good thing!

Hi Ladies!!!

Just wanted to put my info in for you!!

My acupuncture was $60 for the first session, and $40 each session after that.
Its $40 because I go weekly, if I went fornightly, it would be $50.
Acupuncture isn't covered by medicare at all, but my PHI covers $20 each session, until you reach $150 in the calendar year.

Our PHI covers $150 per person on the policy per year.... DH has "started having acupuncture" now.......

My chinese herbs are $10 for a bottle of 200 pills (I take 8 pills twice a day) - they usually last approx a month, as NP won't let me take them over the period I have AF.
I'm on 2 different types of chinese herbs.

The other herbs that I've started on with Antonia are a LOT more pricey!!!
The tonic for Dh & I were $390 each ($780), plus on brazillian herbs for egg quality & my tubes - They're $240 for 180 capsules.
Both the capsules & the tonic are approx 3 months worth.

It starts to add up, definatley... I'm hearing you Jo, its not about the money, but hey!!!!

I'm in NSW, but Antonia is obviously in Melbourne in Collins St... I know, though that Lou said she's not doing the acupuncture anymore - I think shes too busy just seeing patients in general?

Hope that all helps.... and Welcome to the other side, girls :p :lol:
xxx

Love Holly
xxx :D

BG - I forgot to mention to you re if it makes a difference...
I'm not sure about what your chiro said in regards to the 12 week plan, but I do know that you can feel the difference with the acupuncture instantaneously...
My NP starts with the needles at my feet and works her way up - by the time she is at my head, I can already feel it running through my body.
Over Christmas we were away, and had a few weeks where I couldn't have any acupuncture done, and I also left my herbs behind.
Within about 4 days, I wasn't feeling myself, and after 2 weeks, I just felt like crap... and was retaining that much fluid it wasn't funny...
I had a session as soon as we got home, and felt better straight away... after a day of being back on the herbs, I was back to normal.

I suffer really badly from fluid retention, so I noticed it big time... especially over Christmas, too I guess, because it was so hot as well!!!

HTH

Love Holly
xxx :D

Okay - you have talked me into it! ;) I am checking out acupuncturists who specialise in IVF support in my area right now. Hopefully I will be able to get an appointment sometime soon - maybe in time to encourage this follie to keep growing nicely! Does anyone know - is this sort of treatment claimable on my tax above the $1500 limit even though I haven't been referred by my GP? I can't start claiming on my PHI unitl July (they run a financial year not a calendar year) as I have already used up my limit on alternative/natural therapies for this year.

Thanks, Cheryl

Hi Kotare,
My DH and I go to Chinese Evergreen Clinic in Frankston 9785 6688 (near Jubilee Park pool). The accupuncture part is $40 / session, and the herbs are $20 / week. We get back $20 each seesion on PHI, but I know some PHI's pay up to $25. Definitely no medicare rebates apply. BUMMER!)
A friend of mine recommended this clinic to us. She had been TTC for 8 mths, and was PG 6 weeks after starting treatment. She too had been sent there by a friend who'd pretty much had the same thing happen. Unfortunately DH and I haven't been quite that lucky (things are a lil' more complicated for us), but 4 mths into treatment, WOW do we feel awesome!! Hopefully DH's next SA will show some improvement??
I've also read about a natural fertility clinic (just doing a google search) in mornington who offer accupuncture as part of its natural fertility program. I think you have to do the whole program however, which sounded extremely pricey to me.

Chez - a friend of mine who is doing IVF speaks very highly of her accupuncturist in Yarraville (? I think) who specialises in fertility. I believe she's a little more pricey, and not sure if Yarraville is convenient for you, but can find out contact details if you're interested.

Best of luck ladies :goodluck:
A big accupuncture fan,
Arielle:heartbeat:

Hi Arielle

Thanks for the info. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist in my area this afternoon who has done a lot of work with IVF patients. She sounds good - has all the right quals and memberships etc and trained and worked overseas as well as Melbourne. I will let you know how things go and if I don't get the right vibe from her then I might take you up on your offer of the contact details in Yarraville.

Cheryl

Sounds perfect! GOOD LUCK with it. Let us know how you find it, and ESPECIALLY if it helps you achieve up the duffness. Is looking very much like my DH and I are going to be starting IVF / ICSI in Aug / Sept, and I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping up the accupuncture during this time too. Am keeping all fingies and tosies crossed for us all.
Arielle:heartbeat:

Thanks Arielle,
Do you get a discount for recommending people?
I will give them a call and see if i can get in.
Thanks again!

Hi everyone

Just had my first fertility/IVF support acunpuncture session. The lady I saw was very nice - she has had lots of success with her therapy, with about 12 babies born in the last few months (mostly boys curiously) to patients she has treated who are also undergoing IVF/AC. I have got some bush flower essences to take twice a day as well. She has not recommended any herbs while on the fert drugs but if I do have a break then that would be a good time to try them.

To anyone interested, she does a clinic 3 days/wk in Essendon (Buckley St) and 2 days/wk in South Yarra - cost is $65/hr or $40/30mins. My first visit was one hour. For more info: google 'Essendon acunpuncture'.

GL with everyone's treatment plans!

Cheryl

Discount? That would be nice, but no don't think so. Thanks anwyay :D
The last time I visited the clinic, (soon after we got DH's SA results and was a blubbering mess), they comforted me by telling me they had helped a 48 yr old lady achieve pregnancy. Pretty impressive!
The docs name is Jim, and he's not a man of many words, but he really knows his stuff. He simply has to look at your tongue and feel your pulse, and he can tell if you're constipated / not sleeping, etc...
Anyway, hope it all goes well for you. GOOD LUCK!
Arielle :heartbeat:
P.S. Glad you've found a great doc Chez.
I hope