People often ask me why I became an acupuncturist. The honest answer is that I was drawn to a system of medicine that asks a different kind of question.
Conventional medicine tends to ask: “What is wrong?” Traditional Chinese medicine asks: “Why is this happening — and what does the body need to find its way back?”
After more than ten years of practice in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, that distinction still guides everything I do at Randwick Acupuncture Clinic.
Who I Am
My name is Jin Choi. I’m a registered acupuncturist practising at Randwick Acupuncture Clinic in Randwick, NSW.
I hold full registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and am a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS). My training combines a rigorous grounding in traditional Chinese medicine with ongoing study of the clinical research evidence that continues to grow around acupuncture and related therapies.
I’ve been treating patients in Sydney for over 15 years. In that time, I’ve worked with people dealing with chronic pain, fertility challenges, hormonal conditions, stress-related illness, sports injuries, and the kind of persistent, low-grade exhaustion that doesn’t have a clean diagnosis but is very real in its impact.
Many of the people who come to see me have already seen other practitioners. Some have been told their results are “normal” despite feeling anything but. Others have been managing symptoms with medication for years and are looking for something more sustainable. A few simply want to understand what’s happening in their body before reaching for a prescription.
All of them are welcome.
My Philosophy: Treating the Whole Person
The central idea in traditional Chinese medicine is that the body functions as an integrated system. Pain in the shoulder is rarely just about the shoulder. Persistent fatigue is rarely just about sleep. Recurring migraines are rarely just about the head.
When I assess a new patient, I’m looking at the full picture — not just the presenting complaint, but the patterns around it. When did it start? What makes it better or worse? How does it relate to stress, sleep, digestion, hormones, emotional state? What does the tongue and pulse tell me about what’s happening beneath the surface?
This process takes longer than a standard consultation. But it produces a much clearer picture of what’s actually driving the problem — and a treatment approach that addresses that, rather than just managing the symptom.
In practice, this means that two patients who both come in with lower back pain might receive quite different treatments. One might have a cold, deficient pattern; the other, heat and stagnation. The symptom is the same. The root is different. The treatment follows the root.
What I Keen to treat In
Over the years, my clinical focus has developed around a few areas where I see consistent results and where I believe acupuncture offers something genuinely valuable:
Chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions
Neck pain, back pain, shoulder conditions, sports injuries, and headaches — including the often-missed connection between jaw tension (TMJ) and migraines. I work with a lot of patients who’ve had imaging that came back “normal” but are still in significant pain. Understanding why that happens, and what to do about it, is something I find deeply interesting clinically.
Women’s reproductive health and fertility
This is an area I’m particularly passionate about. I work with women at all stages — those trying to conceive naturally, those undergoing IVF, those navigating perimenopause, and those dealing with conditions like endometriosis or irregular cycles. Hormonal health is complex, and it responds well to an approach that treats the whole cycle rather than just the most obvious symptom.
Stress, burnout, and nervous system regulation
Sydney is a high-pressure city. I see a lot of people — particularly professionals in their 30s and 40s — who are functioning well on the outside but running on empty underneath. Acupuncture’s effect on the autonomic nervous system is one of its most clinically consistent findings, and it’s one of the things I use most frequently in practice.
Post-viral fatigue and recovery
The number of patients presenting with prolonged fatigue following viral illness has increased significantly in recent years. This is an area where Chinese medicine has a long tradition of thoughtful clinical reasoning, and where I find the integrative approach — combining acupuncture with lifestyle and dietary guidance — particularly effective.
My Approach to Treatment
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all protocols.
Every treatment I give is tailored to the individual patient, their current pattern, and where they are in their health journey. I reassess at each session — not just whether symptoms have improved, but whether the underlying pattern is shifting.
I’m also honest about what acupuncture can and can’t do. If someone needs a GP referral, imaging, or a specialist assessment, I’ll say so. If their presentation is outside what I can helpfully address, I’d rather tell them that than continue treatment that isn’t serving them. I work best as part of a broader healthcare picture, not as a replacement for it.
When it comes to evidence, I try to stay current. I follow the research, acknowledge its limitations, and don’t overclaim. The evidence for acupuncture is stronger in some areas than others, and I think patients deserve to know that.
The Clinic
Randwick Acupuncture Clinic is located in Randwick, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs — a short distance from Coogee Beach, Clovelly, and the University of New South Wales.
The clinic is designed to be a genuinely restful environment. Most patients find the sessions deeply relaxing — often the most switched-off hour of their week. That’s not accidental. Nervous system regulation is part of the treatment, and the environment supports it.
I see patients by appointment. Initial consultations are longer than follow-up sessions, because the assessment is thorough. I’d rather spend the time upfront to understand what’s actually going on than rush into treatment that may not be well-targeted.
A Note on What to Expect
If you’re new to acupuncture, or if you’ve had a previous experience that put you off, I’d encourage you to come with an open mind and honest expectations.
Acupuncture is not a miracle cure. It works best with consistency — a course of treatment, not a single session. The results are often cumulative: small improvements that compound over weeks into something more significant. I usually ask patients to commit to four to six sessions before we make a judgement about whether the approach is working.
What I can offer is a careful, individualised assessment; a treatment that is evidence-informed and tailored to you; and an honest conversation about what is and isn’t realistic. That’s the standard I hold myself to, and it’s what I’d want if I were the patient.
Book a Consultation
If you’d like to discuss whether acupuncture might be right for your situation, I’m happy to help.
Initial consultations are available at Randwick Acupuncture Clinic. You’re welcome to call or book online.
📍 Shop 1, 71 Arthur St, Randwick NSW 2031
📞 0423 657 060 www.randwickacupuncture.com.au
Jin Choi is an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist and ATMS member with over 15 years of clinical experience at Randwick Acupuncture Clinic in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the clinical philosophy and approach of Jin Choi at Randwick Acupuncture Clinic and is intended for general informational purposes. It does not constitute medical advice. If you have a health concern, please consult a registered healthcare professional. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy; individual results vary.