Dr Nicky Macdonald (Chinese Medicine)
Director, Owner & Clinical Lead, Health Connect Shen
With over 26 years of clinical experience, Dr Nicky Macdonald (Chinese Medicine) is the Director, Owner and Clinical Lead of Health Connect Shen in Northern Tasmania. She is registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia in three divisions: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Chinese Herbal Dispensing.
Nicky completed her training in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, followed by a six-month clinical internship at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in 2000. She later completed a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Western Sydney in 2015.
Her professional career has spanned private practice, teaching, clinical supervision, leadership, and international healthcare. From 2012 to 2015, Nicky was a Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor in the Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) program at Endeavour College of Natural Health in Brisbane, where she taught and mentored the next generation of Chinese Medicine practitioners. She has also served as a Director of the Acupuncture Now Foundation, contributing to the advancement and promotion of acupuncture within the broader healthcare community.
In addition to her clinical work, Nicky is the creator of AcuHarmonics®, an innovative modality that integrates acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, sound healing, tuning forks, mantra, meditation, and vibrational medicine. Developed from more than two decades of study and clinical practice, AcuHarmonics® offers a unique approach to supporting physical, emotional, and energetic wellbeing. Nicky is also a qualified Hatha Yoga Teacher, and her work is informed by ongoing studies in meditation, mantra, sound healing, and Taoist philosophy.
Most recently, Nicky undertook advanced mentorship studies in Taoist Death Medicine, exploring traditional Taoist approaches to ageing, dying, grief, and conscious transition. This work has deepened her understanding of how to support individuals and families through life’s final stages with compassion, presence, and respect for both the physical and spiritual aspects of the transition process.
Nicky has a particular clinical focus on supporting patients with women’s health concerns, fertility, pregnancy care, and pain management. She integrates Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage therapies to support patients through all stages of life. Her work includes fertility support, pregnancy care, pre-birthing acupuncture, birth preparation, postpartum recovery, as well as the management of acute and chronic pain conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, stress-related illness, and complex health presentations. Nicky is passionate about helping patients restore balance, improve wellbeing, and achieve their health goals through a holistic and individualised approach to care.
Her career has also included international clinical work, including serving as Senior Acupuncturist aboard the Queen Mary 2 as part of the Canyon Ranch Spa team, where she helped pioneer acupuncture services in a luxury wellness setting. More recently, she has led wellness retreats and educational programs that combine Chinese Medicine, mindfulness, movement, and sound-based healing practices.
Nicky is also the co-author of Learning Through Chronic Pain, a book exploring healing, resilience, and personal transformation through the experience of chronic pain. The book was recognised as a Finalist in the 2025 International Book Awards, reflecting her commitment to education, patient empowerment, and integrative healthcare.
She has a particular interest in supporting mothers, babies, and families and has recently expanded her work by opening a Herbal Apothecary attached to Health Connect Shen, home to one of Northern Tasmania’s largest Chinese herbal dispensaries. The apothecary has a special focus on women’s health, fertility support, mums and bubs, and paediatric herbal medicine.
At Health Connect Shen, Nicky leads a dedicated team providing acupuncture, herbal medicine, and complementary therapies in a warm and supportive environment. Her philosophy combines the wisdom of traditional medicine with modern clinical practice, empowering individuals and families to take an active role in their health and wellbeing. Through her work, Nicky remains committed to preserving the traditions of Chinese Medicine while embracing innovative approaches that support health, healing, and human connection across all stages of life.