Acupuncture Versus Painkillers for Ongoing Pain
Considering acupuncture versus painkillers for ongoing pain? Understand benefits, limits…
Backed by Science, Rooted in Tradition
At Centre of Balance, we’ve been helping people in Hamilton find relief from pain and medical conditions through acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 2006. Our team combines international training with a warm, community-focused approach.
Centre of Balance began in 2006 when Tracy Phua returned to New Zealand after completing her Chinese Medicine studies in Shanghai, where she met her husband, Szenan Phua. Tracy first supported fertility patients with home visits and a portable examination table.
In early 2007, Szenan joined Tracy in New Zealand and together they opened Centre of Balance, originally working from the converted basement of their first home. As the clinic grew, they moved to Boundary Road and eventually into their current space in the Dinsdale Shopping Centre.
Dr. Phua is very humble and answers all your questions to the best of his knowledge. I wish I had known him earlier but I know that at least I am in a right direction now. It's very hard to find a professional teaching TCM. I really appreciate all his efforts to give us the best explanation for all the questions we have. Looking forward to seeing you again in near future. 👍
Centre of Balance (Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Clinic Hamilton)
260 Google reviewsPosted on Google![]()
EmelTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Dr. Szenan Phua is very good at in his jobPosted on Google![]()
Aayush Acupuncture CentreTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Dr Phua is the best teacher and his NBM course I learnt many effective treatments Thank you 🙏Posted on Google![]()
erin coTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The teachings are amazing, thank you for having thomis course to help othersPosted on Google![]()
Amit KapoorTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We are truly impressed by Master Szenan Phua’s exceptional teaching of Dr. Tan’s Balance Method and his own innovative New Tan Balance Method. His deep clinical insight, clarity of explanation, and structured approach make complex acupuncture principles easy to understand and apply in practice. Every session is packed with valuable techniques, practical demonstrations, and real-world applications that greatly enhance our professional growth. Master Phua’s dedication to advancing acupuncture education and his ability to inspire confidence in his students set him apart as a world-class teacher and mentor. From Amit KapoorPosted on Google![]()
Vilin PatilTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I Acupuncture teaching is very good a simple language, god examples thank you for helping me and others to learn morePosted on Google![]()
P.Rose MaryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Thank you amazing🙏
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I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.
I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.