Some complaints cannot be explained by laboratory values and imaging, and yet they are present: fatigue, sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, recurrent infections, and pain without clear clinical findings. This is precisely where Chinese Medicine comes in. It is an independent system developed over centuries for the diagnosis and treatment of functional, vegetative, and physical disorders. In this way, it reaches many people who cannot be sufficiently helped by conventional medical methods alone.

For us, TCM is not an either-or. You get both under one roof: the holistic perspective of Chinese Medicine and the safety of modern diagnostics. If red flags exist, medical investigation always takes priority. TCM does not replace a necessary medical examination; it complements it.

Who treats you

Dr Florian Pichler has been working intensively with Traditional Chinese Medicine since 1995. He completed his training with the SMS (Societas Medicinae Sinensis, International Society for Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Munich under Prof. Carl-Hermann Hempen, one of the defining figures of TCM in the German-speaking region. Numerous study periods in China, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany have deepened this education.

As a general practitioner, he connects both worlds daily: he is familiar with your clinical findings, your medication, and your medical history, and can tailor the Chinese diagnosis accordingly. In this patient-oriented, holistic approach, the whole person is at the forefront, body and psyche alike.

Diagnostics: Four pillars, one overall picture

Chinese Medicine is less interested in individual measured values than in the living processes within your body and where they have fallen out of balance. Capturing these functions in detail and identifying their pathological changes is the essence of the diagnosis. It relies on four methods:

• Anamnesis. In addition to your symptoms, your overall well-being is crucial: appetite, digestion, sleep, temperature sensitivity, and energy levels throughout the day. Please expect a detailed initial consultation.

• Pulse palpation. Chinese pulse diagnosis distinguishes over 30 pulse qualities. They provide detailed information about the state of individual functional circuits and the energies circulating in the body.

• Tongue diagnosis. The colour, shape, and coating of the tongue reflect the internal state of the organism.

• Sound and odour. Voice, respiration, bowel sounds, as well as the odours of sweat, urine, or stool complete the clinical picture.

When appropriate, laboratory values, imaging, and existing clinical findings are integrated. In the end, you will know exactly what we are doing and why.

Therapy: What we use

The goal of every treatment is to restore or regulate impaired functions. The choice of method is determined by the Chinese diagnosis:

• Acupuncture. Fine needles at defined points regulate impaired functions and relieve pain. For many forms of pain, migraine, and nausea, its efficacy is well-documented.

• Chinese herbal medicine. Individually formulated prescriptions composed of herbal and mineral ingredients, sourced from certified pharmacies. We pay close attention to interactions with your existing medications.

• Tuina. Chinese manual therapy, especially for musculoskeletal complaints.

• Nutritional therapy. Dietary recommendations based on your Chinese diagnosis, practical for everyday life and free of dogma.

• Qigong. Movement and breathing exercises that you can continue at home.

What TCM can help with

This list serves as a guide and does not claim to be exhaustive. It is based on clinical experience, current research findings, and recommendations from professional acupuncture societies, the National Institutes of Health (USA), and the WHO.

Internal medical diseases

• Allergies, hay fever, asthma bronchiale

• Acute viral infections

• Chronic bronchitis

• Irritable bowel syndrome, irritable stomach

• Food allergies

• Chronic diarrhoea

• Obstipation (constipation)

• Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD, inflammatory bowel disease), as a supportive therapy to conventional medical treatment

• Chronic hepatopathies (chronic liver diseases)

• Functional heart diseases

• Vegetative cardiac arrhythmias

• Latent hypertension

• Rheumatic diseases

• Anaemia

• Supportive therapy in oncology (cancer treatment)

Neurological & psychiatric disorders

• Idiopathic facial paresis (facial paralysis)

• Polyneuropathy

• Stroke rehabilitation

• Vertigo (dizziness)

• Multiple sclerosis, as a supportive therapy to conventional medical treatment

• Minimal brain dysfunction (dysfunction of the central nervous system)

• Developmental disorders in childhood

• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

• Insomnia (sleep disorders)

• Depression and anxiety disorders

• Psychovegetative exhaustion states (burnout)

• Supportive therapy for substance abuse and addiction

Paediatric diseases

• Recurrent infections

• Chronic rhinitis

• Cough

• Digestive disorders

• Tendency to constipation

• Functional abdominal pain

• Allergies (atopic eczema, asthma, hay fever, food allergies)

• Restlessness and sleep disorders

• Headaches

• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

• Enuresis (incontinence)

Chronic pain conditions

• Back pain, sciatica, lumbar spine syndrome, cervical spine syndrome

• Arthralgia (joint pain in the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow)

• Tendinopathies such as tennis or golfer's elbow

• Neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, post-herpetic neuralgia

• Phantom limb pain, stump pain

• Tension headache and migraine

• Fibromyalgia and rheumatic pain

Gynaecology & obstetric preparation

• Dysmenorrhoea (severe menstrual pain)

• Menstrual cycle disorders

• Amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation)

• Chronic genito-vaginal inflammation

• Fertility disorders

• Hyperemesis gravidarum (pregnancy nausea)

• Oedema and pain during pregnancy

• Facilitation of childbirth

• Obstetric acupuncture (preparation for childbirth)

• Reduction of labor duration

• Climacteric syndrome (menopause)

Dermatological diseases

• Acne

• Rosacea (chronic inflammatory skin disease of the face)

• Urticaria (hives)

• Pruritus (chronic itching)

• Psoriasis vulgaris

• Atopic eczema (neurodermatitis)

• Chronic eczema

• Herpes zoster (shingles)

• Herpes simplex

• Lichen sclerosus (chronic skin condition of the genital area)

Urological diseases

• Cystitis (bladder infection)

• Prostatitis (prostate inflammation)

• Functional disorders of the urogenital tract

• Irritable bladder (overactive bladder)

• Urinary incontinence

• Enuresis nocturna (nocturnal bedwetting)

• Erectile dysfunction (impotence)

• Infertility

Ophthalmic diseases

• Conjunctivitis

• Uveitis (inflammation of the uvea)

• Juvenile myopia (nearsightedness in children)

• Glaucoma, as a supportive therapy to conventional medical treatment

• Sicca syndrome (dry eyes)

• Early-stage macular degeneration

ENT diseases

• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)

• Acute and chronic viral infections

• Sinusitis (sinus infection)

• Globus sensation (lump in the throat)

• Anosmia (loss of smell)

• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

• Recurrent otitis media (middle ear infection)

Is your symptom not listed? Please ask us. Often, a personal consultation can clarify whether TCM is appropriate in your case.

How it works

• Initial consultation and diagnosis (approx. 60 minutes): detailed anamnesis, pulse and tongue diagnosis, review of your clinical findings.

• Treatment plan: You will learn which methods we suggest, how many sessions are realistic, and what you can contribute yourself.

• Treatment and progression: Acupuncture sessions last about 30 to 45 minutes. After a few sessions, we will discuss together what has changed.

TCM is a private service. Note: Many complementary insurance policies reimburse acupuncture on a pro-rata basis; please check with your insurance provider in advance.

Safety first

If red flags or acute risks are present, modern diagnostics always take priority. TCM does not replace a necessary medical investigation; it complements it. We pay particular attention to drug interactions, existing therapies, and clear clinical boundaries so you can feel safe and secure.

Next step

Schedule a TCM appointment with Dr Pichler. Please bring your current clinical findings and list of medications, so we can be specific right from the first appointment. Book an appointment