Almond Wellness Centre

10/08/2026

🌿 Meet Dr Ruby Hou — Doctor of Chinese Medicine at Almond Wellness Centre

Have you met Dr Ruby yet?

With more than 15 years of clinical experience, Dr Ruby has a special interest in fertility, IVF support, women’s health and pregnancy care.

Her approach combines traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical understanding, with each treatment tailored to the individual.

But rather than telling you about her, we thought you should hear from Ruby herself. ❤️

🎥 In her updated introduction video, Ruby shares a little about:
✨ Her background and training in Chinese Medicine
✨ Why she is passionate about fertility and women’s health
✨ Her approach to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
✨ What patients can expect when they see her

Whether you're preparing for pregnancy, going through IVF, managing women's health concerns, or simply looking for personalised Chinese medicine care — Ruby would love to support you on your journey.

📍 Available at our Coburg and Ringwood clinics

▶️ Watch Ruby's introduction and get to know her a little better.

Learn more about Dr Ruby:
https://www.oztcm.com.au/practitioners/dr-ruby-hou/

31/07/2026

🌱 Did you know that seeds have been valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries?

While seed cycling has become increasingly popular in recent years, the idea of using seeds to nourish health and support reproductive wellbeing has deep roots in TCM. I was delighted to contribute to this article by The Seed Cycle, which explores the fascinating connection between modern seed cycling and the traditional Five Seeds Formula (Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan).

If you're interested in fertility, women's health, or the history behind seed-based nutrition, it's well worth a read.

👉 Read the article here: https://theseedcycle.au/blogs/hormones-and-your-cycle/seed-cycling-and-traditional-chinese-medicine-what-is-the-connection

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Explore the fascinating connection between seed cycling and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and discover why seeds have been valued for nourishment and reproductive health for centuries.

23/07/2026

Does acupuncture actually help with PCOS, or is it just wishful thinking? 🤔

A new 2026 research review just took a hard look at this exact question — and instead of hyping up every claim, it sorted the evidence by how solid it actually is.

The honest verdict: acupuncture (especially electroacupuncture) has genuinely good human trial evidence for calming an overactive stress response and improving insulin sensitivity — two of the underlying drivers of PCOS. But claims about it "fixing" fertility outcomes at a cellular level are still mostly based on animal studies, not proven in women.

Dr Richard Zeng breaks down exactly what's supported, what's promising, and what's still unproven:

https://www.oztcm.com.au/blog/acupuncture-pcos-research-review/

Acupuncture isn't a replacement for your GP or fertility specialist's care, but it may be a useful adjunct worth discussing. If you're managing PCOS and want to chat about your options, our Coburg and Ringwood clinics are here for you.

16/06/2026

💡 "I felt a deep heaviness, warmth, or even a muscle twitch during acupuncture. Is that normal?"

Yes — and in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has a name: De Qi (得气).

De Qi literally means "obtaining Qi" and is considered the moment when the needle connects with the body's energy and the treatment truly engages.

Patients commonly describe De Qi as:

✔️ A deep heaviness or pressure
✔️ A spreading warmth
✔️ A dull ache
✔️ Tingling sensations
✔️ A brief muscle twitch

Interestingly, classical Chinese medicine compares it to a fisherman feeling a fish bite on the line. The practitioner feels the tissue engage the needle, while the patient experiences a unique sensation that tells us the treatment has connected.

This sensation is usually very different from sharp pain. In fact, if you ever feel a sharp, burning, or stabbing sensation, let your practitioner know so the needle can be adjusted.

At Almond Wellness Centre, achieving De Qi is an important part of many treatments, whether we're helping with pain, fertility, stress, sleep, or women's health.

Have you ever experienced that strange but unmistakable acupuncture sensation?

Read more about De Qi and why it matters:

👉 https://www.oztcm.com.au/tcm-theory/acupuncture-sensation/

📍 Coburg & Ringwood
📞 Ringwood: 03 8802 1519

14/05/2026

Electro acupuncture for lower back pain ⚡️

A gentle combination of acupuncture and electrical stimulation to help relax tight muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, and calm nerve irritation.

Often used for:
✔ Lower back pain
✔ Sciatica
✔ Muscle spasm & stiffness
✔ Postural tension

📍 Almond Wellness Centre – Melbourne

09/05/2026

💕 A beautiful moment from our Almond Wellness family!

We are over the moon to share this heartfelt announcement from our lovely patient.
Welcome to the world Madeleine Ava ✨

Congratulations to the proud parents! Your kind words mean everything to us 💖

21/04/2026

What is "Cold Uterus" and how does it affect fertility?

Dr. Richard Zeng explain the 5 hidden causes of "Cold Uterus" and how does it affect fertility.

https://www.oztcm.com.au/blog/5-causes-of-cold-uterus-affecting-fertility/

20/04/2026

One of my fertility patients showed me this today… 🐶✨
Her dog having acupuncture too!

Yes — acupuncture isn’t just for humans.
It’s widely used to support pain, mobility, digestion, and overall wellbeing in animals.

Same principles. Same gentle approach.
Just a very fluffy patient this time 😄

Love seeing how holistic care crosses species 💛 #💛

14/03/2026

Almond Wellness Centre Clinic Locations

📍 Ringwood Clinic
31 Wantirna Road, Ringwood, VIC 3134

📍 Coburg Clinic
21 Bell Street, Coburg, VIC 3058

Online booking:

21/02/2026

We’re so grateful for this beautiful feedback 💛

Supporting our patients’ energy, balance, and overall wellbeing is at the heart of what we do at Almond Wellness Centre.

Thank you for trusting us with your health journey.

If you’ve been feeling run down, stressed, or not quite yourself, we’re here to help — gently and professionally.

📍 Coburg & Ringwood
📞 Call or book online anytime