ACUPUNCTURE | My Site

Acupuncture

History

Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is over 2,500 years old. It is based on concepts of yin/yang and Qi (vital energy). Chinese medicine sees all life as an interplay. Yin and Yang make up all aspects of life. They are opposing forces yet interdependent in the natural world. This is yin and yang and the symbol is a reminder of the need to balance. Disease is a result of imbalance between yin and yang.

What is it?

Acupuncture is a holistic form of treatment that makes no distinction between mind, body and spirit. It looks at the root causes of an illness both physically and emotionally. It affects the energy in the body through meridians/channels, the patterns that these networks of acupuncture points make on the body's surface have been grouped together in lines called channels or meridians.

How does it work?

Fine needles are inserted into specific points in the body. One can expect to feel varying sensations of aching or tingling which may be local to the needle or at other locations in the body. This is quite normal as the needle affects a whole network of communicating bio-systems. A small stimulus through a fine needle can produce a longer far reaching change for the better. This is sometimes apparent when the acupuncturist chooses a point that is at the opposite side of the body from the pain.

Who can it help?

Acupuncture can help in the treatment of many pain syndromes shown through controlled trials: low back pain, tennis elbow, neck pain, period pain, depression, headaches, hay fever, knee pain, nausea, sciatica and many more.

Traditional Chinese medicine includes the following additional therapies:

Moxibustion.The application of indirect heat using moxa (therapeutic herbs) to warm and relax muscles and energy meridians.

Cupping.Glass cups with a vacuum seal are placed on the skin to stimulate blood flow and clear stuck Qi (energy).

Guasha.Vigorous rubbing of the skin to increase blood flow and clear stagnant energy.

Fertility Acupuncture

Fertility acupuncture can help in a variety of ways.

When couples start thinking about starting their family apart from stopping the contraceptive pill sometimes they feel they would like a little more help. Unless they have been trying for at least 3 years or have specific difficulties the medical profession don’t usually get involved.

When couples make the decision to start a family they feel impatient to be pregnant. Fertility acupuncture can do a variety of things, from helping irregular periods, decreasing pre-menstrual tension (PMT) and increasing chances of implantation.

All of these are important in preparation for pregnancy. Lots of women say, 'why are regular periods important? I just want to be pregnant.' When we know that a period is due love making can occur at optimal times as we know when ovulation is likely to occur. Allowing sperm to reach the egg at the optimal time and increasing the chances of pregnancy.

Why is reduction of PMT important? A relaxed and happy woman has already increased her chances of pregnancy. Traditional Chinese acupuncture believes in the idea of Qi. In the western world the best word to describe Qi is energy. PMT can result in knotted Qi that is not able to flow through the body evenly and calmly. Fertility acupuncture can help smooth the Qi so it flows evenly. Smooth qi results in a calm disposition which is favourable for pregnancy.

Fertility acupuncture can increase implantation rates, everyone who wants a baby definitely wants this. Acupuncture given at specific times can increase implantation rates leading to pregnancy.

This is a short introductory piece on a few ways fertility acupuncture can help with becoming pregnant. Please feel free to email/call for specific queries that we maybe able to help with.