How An Injury Led A Kiwi-Indian To Study Traditional Chinese Medicine

A few years ago, an injury changed the course of Rhea Bush’s life. The Kiwi-Indian Auckland student, who earned her Bachelor’s in Art History and International Relations from Victoria University in 2017 and spent five years in the public sector, discovered a new calling through her personal journey of healing.

That experience sparked a passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture, and today she is dedicated to sharing its benefits with others.

“The philosophy of TCM is rooted in harmony and balance and resonates with values of holistic wellness, like Ayurveda,” she said.

That turning point came in 2021, when Rhea suffered a "serious back injury" after falling from a concrete wall during a hike in Wellington.

“I was sitting on the concrete wall that used to be an old bunker (but the roof of it was missing so it was just some remains) looking at the view of the ocean when I decided to do some deep breathing,” she recalled.

“The deep breaths I took with my eyes closed and I remember feeling lightheaded and next thing I knew I felt my body hit something hard and everything went black.”

When she regained consciousness, Rhea found herself at the bottom of the bunker. “I woke up finding myself in the pit of the bunker on the concrete and eventually sought help from a lady walking who called an ambulance for me,” she said.

She was admitted to Wellington Hospital for a week and diagnosed with a T12 vertebra fracture in three places.

“I then went on to wear a back brace for three months, 24 hours a day, to allow my spine to heal,” she shared.

When the brace finally came off, Rhea slowly returned to her yoga practice which helped her flexibility, in combination with weekly acupuncture treatments, she said.

During that time, she discovered an acupuncturist in Wellington who began treating her back pain.

“I remember always feeling relaxed after the treatments and noticing gradual improvements in my condition which gradually led me to develop a growing interest and curiosity within the field,” she said.

Her accident, she explained, became the catalyst for a change in direction. Previously, Rhea had worked mostly in the public sector, including roles at the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Primary Industries as a quarantine officer.

“I chose to pursue studies in TCM as I knew I wanted to do something where I could help people and after my back injury and my mostly negative experience with Western medicine,” she said.

“I chose acupuncture as I was recommended by some family and friends to see if it could help. I also got some therapeutic massage after I got my brace taken off which felt good but also helped soften some of the tissue that had become stiff and knotted after my fall.”

Born in India and raised in New Zealand, Rhea says her cultural roots shaped her perspective.

She also points to the influence of Indian traditions she grew up with. “I already had an interest in holistic Indian medicine as my grandmother had many traditions such as chewing cloves after a meal to help digestion and freshen breath and using Indian spices medicinally (for example, ajwan and fenugreek to help digestion),” she said. That, she says, gave her a push as well.”

Her interest led her to pursue Ayurveda alongside acupuncture. “Ayurveda influenced my decision to pursue acupuncture as I have completed a certificate in Ayurveda with the Ayuskama Institute of Indian Medicine in Himachal Pradesh,” she said.

Still, she acknowledges that understanding Chinese medicine requires a different learning curve and takes time for the community to learn about this form of medicine.

“It’s modalities like acupuncture work in comparison to what they knew (Western medicine),” she said.

Over time, she has seen how acupuncture has been increasingly embraced “by many patients at my school clinic,” she said.

“I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge which has fuelled my passion for the ancient healing system and given me the opportunity to help people who may be suffering from various health conditions.”

Rhea says she has learned to balance the body’s energy, or Qi, using precise acupuncture techniques to address pain, stress, and chronic conditions.

At her school clinic, she provides treatments under the supervision of qualified acupuncturists and teachers.

However, she has advice for anyone considering a similar path. “I recommend doing research, reading some books on what one may potentially be interested in pursuing further study in to get an idea of what you will be exploring once you undertake study and ask current practitioners within the field if you have any questions or concerns,” she said.