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Southwest Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Margaret River, WA
Southwest Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine

Dr Bridie Ritchie (TCM)
Classical and Modern Integrative Acupuncture, herbalism & bodywork. Evidence based and patient centred care. AHPRA registered.

AACMA member.

💛🖤❤️ Wadandi Boodja - Nannup & Margaret River
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 For all bodies Working from Margaret River and Busselton, servicing the south-west of Western Australia. I combine Traditional East Asian therapies and Western health science to offer a holistic and integrative approach to health care. I am an AHPRA registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and can use a broad toolkit

of therapies to support your health goals. I have a special interest in:
- Pain conditions- chronic and acute
- Fertility and reproductive health
- Paediatric support
- Aesthetic acupuncture and dermatology

Acupuncture sessions and herbal medicine consultations can be claimed through private health- check your fund for coverage.

28/08/2026

Very excited for this new offering- acupuncture home visits! 🚘🏡☯️

I’ve decided to offer some limited spots in my weeks for home visits to better serve the Blackwood and Southern Forrests region.

Since opening my clinic in Nannup, I’ve had people drive hours for treatment. Being a country gal from way back, the gap in regional allied health support is something I’m keenly aware of (especially for those who are unable to comfortably travel for treatment). I’ve also got birthing folks in mind with this offering, as who is jumping in the car with a newborn for a postnatal session!? Nope. So I can come to you…

These will eventually make it to online booking when I figure out how work it in with my existing clinic schedule. But for now just reach out and we can find a time that works 🌻

05/08/2026

🎓 I've recently completed my postgraduate training in Paediatric Acupuncture with UK based practitioner Rebecca Avern (a world leading expert in the field and all-round epic teacher) 🎓

The course was incredible and has shown me the extensive possibilities acupuncture, tui na and shonishin based treatments can offer babies, young people and teens. It also provided a deeper understanding of growth and development from a classical TCM perspective, which I think offers sage wisdom and a sound foundation to work on some of the prevalent issues facing our young people today.

While I've been treating children and teens for some time now, this course has unlocked so much more, and I'm excited to bring the skills and knowledge into clinic.

I'm working on a little offering for new parents and their babes - which is still evolving. I will also aim to share more insights and practical advice for parents and caregivers across socials in the coming months... watch this space.

30/07/2026

What a bloody gorgeous week we’ve had. Deep cold winter, with frosty mornings and bright sunny days.
It’s reminds me of the foundational Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, that explains the constant cycles of nature and, well, pretty much everything…
Yin and yang are interdependent and mutually consume each other, but also in doing so transform into each other. A constant ebb and flow of two vital forces that make up our world- internal and external. Like the little white eye on the yin side of the taijitu ☯️ we are seeing a spark of yang which will seed into spring then summer. (Yin and yang is SO much more than the ‘masculine/feminine’ that I see this theory too often being reduced to… but maybe that’s one for another day)
For me, this little spark brings thoughts of spring garden prep, business opportunities and creative pottery projects. Which feels good! But I am still going slowly and leaning into the winter season with rest and conservation to store energy for the ‘yang-er’ times ahead. And of course, I’m spending what time I can trying to enshrine the feeling of sun on my skin to get through the final weeks of winter yet to come 🌞🌧️❄️

21/06/2026

Happy Winter Solstice! ❄️🔥🌱

Here we are in the deepest Yin time of the year, as the nights are at their longest and the days are at their shortest.

Because Yin and Yang are interdependent and constantly generating one another, from the dark depths of Yin, the early beginnings of Yang start to spark. We are still in for colder temperatures and wetter days as winter fully ramps up. But, the seed of Yang is startting to stir as the days get incrementally longer. It’s a small, daily glimpse toward the warmer seasons to come, and the greater cycles at work.

It’s an important time to rest and look for nourishment in our food, environment, and relationships. Some traditional foods that help support this season are black sesame and walnuts.

So light the fire, or light a candle, to welcome in the yang. Honour the darkest ‘yinest’ time of the year, and rest your body to say thanks for all it does for you across all seasons.

Here’s an update of the solar nodal calendar from where we last left off (details are in the infographics!) ☯️:
* June 6th: Major Snow / Da Xue
* June 21st: Winter Solstice / D**g Zhi
* July 7th: Minor Cold / Xiao Han
* July 23rd: Major Cold / Da Han

21/05/2026

Herbies ahoy!

My Nannup dispensary is in the making. After a busy first month opening my clinic here, I have finally got a display for patent herbs, and a select pick of supplements.

👀 You might spy some raw herbs on the bottom shelf which is a sign of things to come as I build up my full dispensary.

🍵 My plan is to focus on the ease of custom granule formulas, but have some power-packed raw herbs on hand for when we need them. Granule formulas are dissolved in hot water and drunk like a tea (or a shot depending on the formulas taste…). Raw herbs take a bit of at home prep to boil/decoct, and tend to be a bit harder to fit around modern life, but they do hold a special place in my heart and practise so I want to have them on offer.

Curious about traditional Chinese herbs? Reach out anytime because I LOVE to chat about them.

01/05/2026

❤️‍🔥 Moxabustion ❤️‍🔥
This ancient technique has gone hand in hand with acupuncture for thousands of years, but you don’t see it mentioned as often. It can be used alone, alongside, or even on top of needles. It is typically burnt in sticks or as fluffy lumps of herb called ‘punk’.
“Moxa” comes from the mugwort plant, and modern evidence is starting to explain why it has been a tried and tested therapy for so long.

Why does it work?
* Thermal Effects: The heat stimulates deep tissues, activating warm receptors (WRs) and polymodal receptors (PRs). This helps improve circulation and reduces pain (Kim et al., 2011).
* Infrared: Burning moxa emits infrared radiation. This resonance matches the infrared radiation of human body acupoints, allowing for deeper stimulation than traditional hot packs (Zhang et al., 2024).
* Pharmacological: Volatile oils in moxa, such as 1,8-cineole and borneol, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Juergens, 2014). Moxa smoke also has documented antimicrobial effects (Kim et al., 2011).

How I use it in clinic:
* Breech Babies: Moxa on BL67 (the pinky toe) has been shown to increase the likelihood of babies turning from breech to cephalic position. This is widely studied and holds a strong evidence base (Cardini & Weixin, 1998; Liao et al., 2021).
* Warming Cold & Deficiencies: Used for TCM patterns where the body needs internal warmth.
* Gastrointestinal Issues: Specifically those caused or worsened by cold.
* Pelvic Pain: Used for certain types of pelvic pain, including symptoms of endo and adeno.
* Musculoskeletal Aches: For deep, chronic pains that respond well to heat, or help increasing blood flow in acute conditions.
* Skin Conditions: Support for various inflammatory skin issues.

24/04/2026

I’ve fallen behind with the Chinese Solar calendar updates. Sorry folks! Between moving and setting up a new clinic in Nannup, life has been life-ing. Here’s a catch-up of the current phases, with a few in advance so you can see what the next few cycles may bring…

For those of you new here, firstly, a warm welcome! I’m really excited to extend my practice to Nannup and surrounding communities. I hope to connect with you here and IRL soon. For some context, I’ve been tracking the Chinese Nodal/Solar calendar since Spring. This is an ancient East Asian agrarian calendar based on the positioning of the sun. It essentially marks micro-seasonal shifts every 14 or 15 days. In traditional East Asian medicine, subtle changes in the environment and climate impact everything, so the nodal calendar is a great way to track what’s going on externally so we can find balance and optimal health internally. Of course, the calendar was based in the Northern Hemisphere, so I’m tracking it out of curiosity to see if it lands the same for us, and if not, where it differs.

The last two nodes, Cold Dew (Hán Lù 寒露) and Frost Descent (Shuāng Jiàng 霜降), are pretty on point with what’s been happening, particularly here in Nannup. I’ve noticed much chillier mornings, with the grass often sporting a fine layer of dew. Perhaps for us in the south, the warmth is lingering still later in the day, with some pretty nice sunny afternoons. It is the perfect weather for warm cuppas and soaking up the lingering yang-vibes. In clinic, I’m still seeing lots of wry necks and flaring of chronic aches and pains as the cold and yin continue to rise. Back pain has been a big one, which is interesting as we near winter, a season of the Water element which is related to the Bladder and Kidney meridians (both having a lot to do with the back).

15/04/2026

My Nannup clinic is opening tomorrow, Thursday 16th April 🎊

After moving to town a month ago I’ve been so keen to get up and running to support the local and surrounding communities with East Asian Medicine.

The clinic is in the Wellness Centre, right in the middle of town, and will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From here I’ll be offering:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine (with tailored granule and raw herbal dispensing)
- Bodywork (cupping, gua sha and some massage)
- Lower cost community acupuncture launching early May
- And potentially some paediatric focused workshops in the not too distant future... watch this space...

Acupuncture and East Asian therapies can support a range of health conditions, as well as promote general wellbeing and balance.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out here or via call/text 0483804934

15/03/2026

The year of the Fire Horse has charged out of the gates for me, so I’m running behind on my nodal calendar posts. Here’s a quick catch-up on the last couple of phases, plus the next one ahead (which lands right when I’m moving house, so yay to proactive posting)…

On 23 February we entered the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of Chu Shu (Limit of Heat). This marks the point where summer begins to ease. From a yin–yang perspective, the expansive force of yang has reached its peak and starts to soften, while the first traces of yin begin gathering beneath the surface, even though the days can still feel hot.

On 7 March we entered Bai Lu, or “White Dew.” In classical thought this reflects the strengthening presence of yin. Nights begin cooling just enough for moisture to condense, while days can still carry the warmth of late summer. The shift that began at Chu Shu becomes more noticeable.

In the South West, both of these nodes sit within Bunuru, when the land remains hot and dry but the seasonal turn has quietly begun.

Coming up this week, 21–23 March we reach Qiu Fen, the Autumn Equinox. Day and night are nearly equal, marking a balance of yin and yang. From here, yin gradually begins to lead as nights lengthen and the year turns inward.

Locally this sits at the transition from Bunuru into Djeran, when cooler mornings begin to arrive and the landscape prepares for the change of season. 🍂

We are moving from Earth transition time to Metal element. This governs Lung and Large Intestines. Start leaning towards soups and broths to combat dryness, and protect yourself from wind and cold chills with scarves and dressing for the current weather, not the summer days that are past us 🙌🌻

07/02/2026

In East Asian medicine, the Five Shu points are some of the most powerful points on the body, and they start from the hands and feet 🙌👣

These points sit along each meridian from the tips of the fingers and toes up to the elbows and knees. Classical texts describe qi moving here like water: first bubbling up, then gathering, flowing, and finally diving deeper into the body. Because qi is more accessible and dynamic in these areas, small inputs can create big shifts.

This is why we sometimes treat distantly, using the hands and feet rather than the area of concern. The Five Shu points allow us to support the whole channel and its associated organ, helping regulate heat, calm inflammation, move stagnation, and support deeper, long-term balance.

Address

Margaret River, WA
6285

Opening Hours

Monday	12pm - 7pm
Tuesday	8am - 2pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	3pm - 7pm

Website

http://southwestacupuncture.com.au/

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