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Dr. Meredith O’Loughlan (TCM) is a registered acupuncturist, Chinese medical herbalist, counsellor and researcher.

Meredith’s study & training

  • VIPASSANA Art of Living 10-day Silent Meditation Course: 2018

  • Master of Applied Science (Pharmacology) (RMIT): 2009 - 2012 (RMIT Scholarship)

  • ACNEM (Nutritional Medicine) (Primary Course) (Melbourne): 2006

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biology)/ Bachelor of Applied Science (Chinese Medicine) (RMIT): 1999 - 2005

  • Bachelor of Social Work (VUT): 1994-1996

  • Bachelor of Arts (Ballarat University): 1992 - 1994

Meredith’s study of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at RMIT University was a five year double degree program (Bachelor of Applied Science – Human Biology & Bachelor of Applied Science - Chinese Medicine) with strong emphasis on Western medical Sciences.  This solid foundation in both Western and Eastern medicine has provided Meredith with confidence of when it is appropriate to provide treatment and when Western medicine intervention is required.

Additionally, Meredith completed a Master of Applied Science in pharmacology on the properties of a Chinese herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza (dan shen), used in women’s health, and a study on herb-drug interactions, and a further postgraduate course in Nutrition and Environmental medicine (ACNEM) with focus on digestive and immune system disorders.

Meredith’s initial training was in Social Work and provides counselling as part of her practice to integrate mind and body to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.  Meredith is a registered IVF Fertility Counsellor for Ballarat IVF and provides support for patients at various stages of their treatment process.

Meredith is an active member of the community providing talks for the general public and health care practitioners on Chinese medicine, acupuncture and the role of food as medicine for prevention and better management of disease

Meredith’s clinical experience & personal journey

Meredith has practiced as a Chinese medicine and nutritional medicine practitioner for the past 13 years.  Prior to this, she worked in the public hospital system for 10 years and practiced in the role of Social Work in Oncology & Palliative Care and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Monash Medical Centre and The Northern Hospital.  Additionally, Meredith practiced acupuncture in the Emergency Department at The Northern Hospital in 1998 as part of a pilot program that continues to operate.  Meredith has had the fortunate experience of observing a wide range of illness and disease and seeing how to better manage these and create improved health.

Meredith’s personal journey of living well with multiple sclerosis for 16 years, combined with her broad clinical experience has provided her with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Meredith has managed her health issues over this time solely on the use of combined Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, nutritional medicine and integrating the concept of `food as medicine’, all aimed at healing the gut to down-regulate the immune system. Today, Chinese herbal medicines have been well researched with many demonstrating vast anti-inflammatory roles both within the bowel and digestive system and systemically, and furthermore various herbal medicines that have a neuroprotective role. Chinese herbal medicines are proving to be highly valuable given the rise of auto-immune and neurodegenerative conditions.

The integration of the various modalities, Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, nutritional medicine and counselling have been the basis of Meredith’s practice over the past 13 years and has been seen to work very successfully to better manage a range of autoimmune diseases, various disease states and imbalances within the body and largely supporting women and couples to achieve successful pregnancies and beyond.

Meredith has a well developed, working understanding and appreciation of the body, illness and disease and how to support individuals to restore their bodies to work better and create improved health, so as to participate in life as fully as possible.

Meredith was born and raised in Ballarat and enjoys working and being a part of the Ballarat community.  Meredith is a full-time mother of two busy children, practices part-time and in her spare time enjoys learning mandarin, meditation and playing violin with central goldfields band The Winter Berries.

Professional Registration & Membership

  • AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency)

  • AACMA (Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association)

  • AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers)

  • ACNEM (Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine)

  • FSA (Fertility Society of Australia)

Training/ Conferences

  • All Diseases Begin in the Gut (Michael Ash: Bioceuticals): 2005

  • Dousing the flames: (Michael Ash: Bioceuticals): 2006

  • Immunotherapy (Michael Ash: Bioceuticals): 2008

  • Pregnancy, Maternity & Beyond (Tabitha McIntosh): 2010

  • Chinese Medicine & IVF (Kathryn Taylor): 2011

  • Working With It: Managing Anxiety & Depression (Bev Aisbett): 2011

  • Mood Disorders in Chinese Medicine: Depression/ Anxiety (Tony Reid): 2011

  • Drug-Herb Interactions and Chinese Medicine: (2013)