Health practitioners seem to have a personal health journey, when did you first begin to show interest in health and wellbeing and how did this turn into a healing practice for others?

My interest in health and well-being began at a very young age and was deeply influenced by my parents. My mum was a Reiki practitioner & remedial masseuse so I got to experience healing touch through her treatments. My dad’s dedication to Buddhist meditation has shaped my understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection and deep compassion. Since I can remember I’ve always had a natural pull towards helping others and the healing capabilities we hold in our own hands. I also have a funny memory of laying my sister on the bed and giving her dodgy pretend chiropractic adjustment as a child and telling her she was “healed” - so maybe it all started there!

Like most practitioners I was drawn to Chinese Medicine through receiving treatment myself. I started seeing a friend who is an amazing acupuncturist (@waterdragonacupuncture) for gut issues and anxiety after touring and travelling overseas playing in my band. After trying nearly every modality under the sun - Acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism truly aligned with me and I was blown away how calm I felt, often for weeks after treatment. This experience sparked a strong calling to learn this beautiful medicine, not just for my own healing but to help my community and those around me. It felt like the path I was always meant to follow, and today, I’m dedicated to sharing this ancient medicine with others.

Can you delve into the combination of your modalities and what kind of people you see in your clinic?

I have a deep passion for working with clients on mental and emotional well-being, deep nervous system restoration, burnout and fatigue, women’s health and hormonal conditions, sleep, skin, and gut health. I’m not your typical acupuncturist because I don’t take on clients who want to just work on musculoskeletal pain. Instead, I delve into the depths of why a client has fallen out of balance, often exploring the psycho-emotional aspects of their issue. As a trauma-informed practitioner, I listen deeply and provide a space for clients to unpack as little or as much as they need to shift through their challenges.

In my practice, I love blending a variety of modalities, styles, and techniques based on each client's individual needs. In Chinese Medicine, the body is like a map of our internal state, and my favourite part of my work is using pulse diagnosis, abdominal and channel palpation, and facial diagnosis to figure out exactly what each client needs. It’s like taking a snapshot of their internal state—almost like reading a book about their health. This means that no two treatments are the same; each one is curated to serve your mind and body in the precise way that it needs. I still remember being blown away when I first experienced pulse diagnosis. I thought the practitioner must have been psychic because they seemed to know so much about me just from feeling my pulse! I’m constantly in awe of how much refinement and I’m humbled by the constant learning that this medicine allows.

I’ve also completed extra training in somatic nervous system support, including Vagus Nerve Therapy and techniques to boost vagal tone (make you feel a lot more calm and an ideal state for healing), lymphatic and visceral manipulation to support organ, gut health and clearing inflammation from the body. I also practice esoteric acupuncture, which blends Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Ayurvedic understanding of the chakras, Sacred Geometry and spiritual and energetic principles, offering a deeper layer of healing that supports both physical and emotional balance. Oh and I also practice Reiki - I love blending all of my learnings to best support my clients.

Are there ways you incorporate herbs into your daily life, can you tell us all about it?

Chinese herbs are incredibly potent, drawing on centuries of wisdom. I love how they address both physical and emotional aspects of health, offering a holistic approach that targets the root cause of an illness rather than just masking symptoms. Personally, I’m a bit of a “tester dummy” when it comes to herbs and supplements—I like to experience their effects firsthand so I can share a genuine understanding and a felt experience with my clients.
The art of using Chinese herbs is integrating them intentionally into your daily routine. I love herbal teas, boiling raw herbs, cooking with them in soups and broths, tinctures and spiking hot cacao with adaptogenic herbs. The important thing for me is always paying attention to your body’s response when taking herbs, it’s always an opportunity to set intention and tune into what the body is really calling for.

Can you share some wisdom on the change of season moving from winter into spring and some rituals we can take on board that would be beneficial?

Oh the season of the dreaded northerlies is upon us! Wind in Chinese Medicine is considered the “carrier of 1000 diseases”. Not literally of course, but my partner knows how scared I get when she puts the fan on full bore. Wind agitates the Liver in Chinese Medicine, and the energetics of the Liver is all about the smooth flow of our emotions. That’s why you may feel yourself getting a bit irritable on a really windy day.

Spring also correlates to the Wood element or the Liver and Gallbladder in Chinese medicine. It's a time of renewal and growth and a great time for a Liver cleanse. It’s all about moving from the introspective, restful energy of winter to the more active and dynamic vibe of spring. To sync up with this change try spending more time outside to help you connect with the season. Grounding is extremely important in Spring (especially on a windy day), so here are some hot tips to align you with the season:

1. Diet: Emphasise foods that support liver health and promote Qi flow, such as leafy greens, sprouts, and young vegetables. Incorporate sour flavours like lemon or vinegar in the mornings, which stimulate the Liver.
2. Detoxification: Support liver detoxification with herbal teas like dandelion, milk thistle, or chrysanthemum. These herbs can help cleanse the Liver in Chinese Medicine.
3. Exercise: Engage in gentle, flowing exercises like Qi Gong or Tai Chi. These practices help to move stagnant energy and promote the smooth flow of Qi, reflecting the upward and outward growth associated with the Wood element. A bare-foot beach walk is also a great option.
4. Emotional Balance: Focus on activities that help release stress and manage emotions, as the Liver is closely tied to emotional well-being. Practices like journaling, meditation, and spending time in nature can be beneficial.
5. Sleep and Rest: Align your sleep patterns with the natural light cycle. As days get longer, try to wake up with the sunrise and go to bed earlier to harmonise with the increasing Yang energy of spring.
6. Breathing Exercises: Practice deep, diaphragmatic breathing to help regulate the flow of Qi and support the Liver’s role in managing stress and emotions.
7. Spring Cleaning: Take the opportunity to declutter and refresh your living space. A clean, organised environment can support the clear, flowing energy of the Wood element.

What did you have for breakfast?

I’m currently writing this while camping in WA and had an outback special: “toad in a hole.” If you’re unfamiliar, you cut a small hole in the middle of your bread, pop it in a pan, crack an egg into the hole, and fry the whole thing. Crispy bread with gooey egg in the middle—can’t beat it! I’m one of those rare folks who doesn’t drink coffee, so I usually pair this with homemade cacao spiked with collagen peptides, salt, and medicinal mushrooms. My goal with brekky is that it’s always savoury to curve blood sugar spikes and that its packed with quality protein.

If you were to use one Herb Remedy soap bar in your bath or shower today which one would it be and why?

Without a doubt, it would be the Rose with Red Clay & Almond Oil. I’m obsessed! The scent is fresh and nostalgic, reminding me of trimming roses with my grandma in her garden. It’s calming and brings back fond memories.

What would you say to someone who has never had acupuncture before but is kind of interested in checking it out?

If you’re curious and something is drawing you to acupuncture, I’d say give it a try! It’s not what a lot of people expect and I treat a lot of needle-phobic patients who are now complete converts. The needles are hair thin and many people barely feel them. The most common thing I hear after a session is that clients feel like they’re floating on a cloud. The worries of the world seem to melt away when you’re on the table and it's such a beautiful invitation to come home to your body, to the present moment and back to a state of ease. And I feel we all need a little bit more of that in our lives. 

Fiona Franklin available Thursdays at Herb Remedy | Fiona Franklin Acupuncture