Tina's work explores the connections between Classical Chinese medicine, herbalism, botany, ecology, ancestry, oral histories, women's health-wisdom from around the world, as well as art, ritual, nature reverence and story-sharing as medicine.
Tina’s appreciation for natural medicine began at an early age. Born into a family of nature-lovers she spent most of her childhood outdoors and was enchanted by the magic of the natural world, from the way the flowers turned their faces to the sun, to the way the moon made the tide wash in and out against the shore. Her endless questioning about nature led to an early apprenticeship in the ways of garden plants, and she was taught by her mother how to use herbs in food and first aid while she was still a child. Being sensitive to certain chemicals, additives and ingredients meant an early awareness or appreciation of what did and didn't work for her body, and which plants in their medicinal or food forms could be relied on as allies or helpers.
After working in herbal medicine dispensaries through her teenage years Tina travelled to China and began to explore Chinese philosophies on health, art and yang sheng, or nourishing life. What she learnt about Chinese medicine and eastern mysticism resonated with a young Tina, and back in Sydney she went on to study Buddhism, the Hindu goddess, Confucianism and Daoism at university, as well as art history, film and gender studies. She then completed her Australian qualifications in Chinese Medicine (acupuncture and herbs).
Since working as a Chinese medicine practitioner Tina has continued her studies both in and out of the classroom, in Classical Chinese herbalism, dietary therapy, women's health (menstruation, postpartum recovery, menopausal care, Daoist sexuality and empowerment for women), constitutional diagnosis, and the shamanic origins of Chinese medicine. Tina has also travelled through eastern Europe and Turkiye learning wherever possible about plant medicines and traditional methods of healing, particularly as they relate to women's health.
In addition to her work in Chinese medicine Tina has hands-on experience in a range of holistic and earth-based healing areas including ayurveda, aromatherapy, plant-perfumery, archetypal and elemental astrology, flower essence therapy, organic gardening and sustainability of food systems. She has worked with herbs and herbalists in the Eastern and Western herbal traditions and has inspired students on the healing potentials of aromatic plant-potions while working as an aromatherapy lecturer.
Tina also has a Graduate Diploma in Writing and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing (focusing on the transformational power of personal language). These additional studies bring creativity, perception and depth to Tina’s treatments, and add to her appreciation of the uniqueness of the healing process, and the different ways health may be expressed for each individual.
