Treatments
Acupuncture, Moxibustion & Traditional Chinese Medicine
General Health
Acupuncture is a safe, valuable and gentle tool which supports the treatment of a variety of physical and emotional complaints, ranging from painful joint conditions to depression and anxiety. It is often used alongside conventional medicine and is currently recommended by the National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) for chronic pain, migraines and tension headaches, prostatitis symptoms and hiccups.
However, Western medicine treats specific symptoms or diseases using drugs, surgery, or both, and whilst these are often the best option for acute issues like infections or trauma, long-term prescription medication can cause side effects or dependency. Thus some patients turn naturally to alternatives such as acupuncture for more lasting relief.
A list of commonly supported conditions includes:
(although this list is by no means exhaustive.)
Fertility
Acupuncture is an effective way of helping with fertility and gynaecological problems. The months leading up to conception are viewed in Traditional Chinese medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance a woman's health and wellbeing, and value is placed on strengthening her energy in preparation for a healthy pregnancy.
You may be looking at this page because it is taking longer to conceive than you thought, or you may have sought medical assistance and either be undergoing investigations, or have received a medical diagnosis. You may be conceiving, but sadly having recurrent miscarriages, or you may be starting down the IVF route.
Whatever stage in the journey you are at, acupuncture (possibly combined with Chinese herbal medicine) is helpful: whether or not an abnormality within your menstrual cycle has a medical name, whether or not you are aware of particular symptoms which may be causing the problem, since Chinese medicine is holistic, we look at and address a whole spectrum of environmental, nutritional, lifestyle, emotional and spiritual factors which can all play a part in negatively influencing both general and fertile health.
Male Fertility
Male fertility problems such as low sperm count, reduced motility or poor morphology (abnormal size and/or shape) are becoming increasingly common in modern society. TCM addresses these issues in a like manner.
Pregnancy
Acupuncture is a safe and drug-free treatment in pregnancy, which is becoming increasingly accepted as a valuable treatment in Western countries, used by acupuncturists and specially trained midwives alike.
Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in Traditional Chinese medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance a woman's wellbeing. Value is placed on promoting preventative care to strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they occur during pregnancy.
Conditions and discomforts within pregnancy that acupuncture may help with:
TCM is equally of great benefit in other areas such as:
Moxibustion for breech or posterior positioned babies
In the later stages of pregnancy, it can happen that the baby presents itself as bottom first, and often an External Cephalic Version (ECV) to manually try and turn the baby is offered. Moxibustion can be used as a valuable and less intrusive alternative. The optimal week for this procedure is 34 weeks, whilst there is still room in the uterus for the baby to turn.
The procedure involves applying heat to an acupuncture point on the little toe by means of a moxa stick (a cigar-shaped tube of compressed herbs lit at one end to give off heat). I will carry out the initial treatment, and the method will be clearly demonstrated so that you or your partner can continue treatment at home. It is painless, relaxing, and takes only 20 minutes a day. I will give you a leaflet explaining the procedure, several moxa sticks, and contact you to monitor progress.
Pre-birth treatment
Pre-birth treatment involves a series of acupuncture sessions, normally commencing at 36 weeks. Treatment is tailored to the individual, addressing any late pregnancy discomforts but also gently helping the cervix to ripen and the ligaments to soften in preparation for labour. These treatments are also valuable in helping women to relax and prepare emotionally for the birth of their child. If at 40 weeks labour has not commenced, treatment becomes more focused on the encouragement of spontaneous labour.
Research indicates that those women who have undergone a series of pre-birth acupuncture sessions often have shorter labour times, less medical intervention and a sense of greater empowerment (Kubista & Kucera 1974, Betts & Lennox 2006).
For a number of reasons ranging from foetal to maternal health, it may occasionally be necessary for a woman to be induced earlier than planned and she may not have the luxury of several weeks to plan for this. In these situations, acupuncture for the encouragement of spontaneous labour may be given as a stand-alone treatment with the prior approval of the midwife or consultant. In this situation, usually only one or two treatments are given.
Teaching couples acupressure for use in labour
Acupressure is the use of firm pressure applied with the fingertips to specific points on the body, and is known to produce results similar to acupuncture. A series of points known to help with pain relief, encouraging softening and dilation of the cervix and facilitating the downward movement of the baby are taught to the woman and her birthing partner. Feedback from women and their partners is very positive - partners feel more involved and useful in the childbirth process by actively being able to 'do something' to help, and women report that they feel more in control of the birthing process and see a reduction in the pain of contractions.
This session is usually taught around the 37 - 38th week of pregnancy and a leaflet with photos and point location reminders is given.
Post-natal treatment
I offer a treatment known as 'mother-warming' where moxibustion is used to nourish the mother following childbirth. This is normally done around day 4 or 5 after the birth, and can be taught to partners to continue at home. A home visit can be arranged.
Acupuncture is also useful post-natally both for nourishing the mother to aid her recovery, and also to help specific issues such as insufficient lactation, mastitis, night sweats and low mood.