Traditional Acupuncture

Our Practitioner

Martin Zhao, the only qualified and registered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner in Vanuatu, is the resident TCM practitioner at Skinsense. He offers a variety of specialist TCM treatments and therapies at Skinsense including acupuncture and other specialist therapeutic acupuncture treatments.

What is Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

How Is It Administered

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.

Needles are only inserted into the top layer of skin and are never inserted directly into any organs. Once the needles are in place, there is no pain. The effects of acupuncture can feel different from person to person — you may feel relaxed, or you may feel energized.

Does It Hurt

Some people would like to try acupuncture, but may not because they assume it will be painful. In most cases only a slight prick is felt when the needle goes through the skin. When the needle reaches the acupuncture point there is another sensation felt, often described as a dull ache, heaviness or even tingling. The sensation felt is generally acceptable and lasts only one or two seconds. Your clinician will encourage continual feedback from you, letting them know if there is any discomfort, as this can be alleviated by a small correction of the needle or by complete removal.

Most Popular Treatments

Acupuncture is used mainly to relieve discomfort associated with a variety of diseases and conditions, including:

• Muscles - Low back pain, tennis elbow, knee strain, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, arthritis, joint swelling, thoracic pain, muscle strain, hip pain, and carpel tunnel syndrome.


• Respiratory - Sinusitis, hay fever, common cold, bronchitis, asthma, cough, painful respiration, nosebleed.


• Gastrointestinal - Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, gastritis, hemorrhoids.


• Cardiovascular - Angina, palpitations, high and low blood pressure.


• Women's Health - Painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, excessive menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation, fertility disorders, menopausal syndrome.


• Pregnancy - Morning sickness, foetal mal position, insufficient lactation, pregnancy tune-up, assistance with deliveries, post natal depression.


• Neurological - Headaches, migraines, triennial neuralgia, shingles, Envier's Disease, tinnitus and ear pain, Bell's palsy, hemiplegia, post-stroke syndrome.


• Metabolic Disorder - Low energy, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, hormonal irregularities.


• Psychological Disorder - Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, smoking and drug addiction, depression, erectile dysfunction.

How Many Treatments & How Much Does it Cost

The cost per acupuncture treatment varies depending on the area treated and the procedure performed. During the mandatory pre-treatment consultation Martin will advise you how many treatments you could expect and the cost of each.

To book your private acupuncture treatment session please click here or on the button below.