Acupuncture

what is Acupuncture?

Gentle and safe, Acupuncture is a treatment that involves a thorough initial consultation which includes your medical history as well as pulse and facial diagnosis, before you generally lie or sit on a couch and have super fine needles placed in specific points throughout your body. These are working to restore optimal harmony and balance in the body by stimulating the flow of Qi (energy) and blood through distinct pathways (meridians) that cover the body like nerves and blood vessels. An initial treatment is generally one hour of which around 20 minutes will be on the couch. Sometimes you can feel a tingling or initial sensation of pain momentarily. Afterwards you can feel energised but many clients feel relaxed, calm and centred.     

Can acupuncture help me to conceive?

Acupuncture is effective at regulating menstrual cycles, reducing pain and discomfort of periods whether a woman is trying to conceive or not. If a couple are trying to conceive (and the woman’s cycle is regular 28-29 days), then basic ‘sex tips’ would be to have sex every 2 to 3 days (ie 2 to 3 times per week) from Day 9 to Day 21 of cycle (Day 1 is the first day of bleeding).

Learning when ovulation occurs in the cycle increases chances of conception, but avoid ‘timed’ sex as this can lead to stress, anxiety and BMS (…baby making sex!). Further conception tips are available as part of an initial acupuncture consultation.

Acupuncture can be beneficial in supporting assisted conception treatments and boosting your success in achieving a healthy pregnancy. It can work in conjunction with IVF treatments and Paulus et al, (2002) showed improvement in IVF outcome when two sessions of acupuncture were added on the day of embryo transfer, now known as “The German Protocol”. The pregnancy outcome revealed an improvement from 26% to 42%. Acupuncture is ideal for treating men as well as women and we recommend both partners have a least an initial consultation when there are fertility concerns.

Now I am pregnant my back hurts, will Acupuncture help? 

For many women pregnancy is not always a time of glowing health and energy. Medicines are limited due to concern over their side effects. Acupuncture can be beneficial for many ailments including relieving backache and pubic and joint pain, helping to alleviate nausea and boost energy, thus relieving fatigue. It is also beneficial for relieving heartburn, anxiety and constipation. It can be used as early as six weeks into your pregnancy. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us.

I feel great in my pregnancy, is acupuncture still useful?

For those with a symptom free pregnancy we recommend treatment at 12, 26 and 36 weeks. Moxa (a herb) is used to support your baby’s growth and your own energy. During the final weeks of pregnancy acupuncture can be used to optimise the position of the baby and prepare your body for labour.

I don’t like needles, will pregnancy acupuncture hurt?

The needles used in Acupuncture are super fine; 4 acupuncture needles can fit down the hypodermic needles that your midwife uses for taking blood. Very rarely bruising can occur.

Will it help my baby come “on time” or turn if breech?

Recent research* shows that acupuncture can induce labour, correct breech position, reduce the experience of pain in labour and lead to shorter delivery times. Breech baby mother’s have 1 session, between week 34 and 36. Weekly sessions of pre-birth acupuncture and/or acupressure from week 37 can prepare the pelvis and cervix for a more efficient labour. For more details of our pre-birth packages click here.

* Gaudernack L, Forbord S, Hole E. (2007) Acupuncture administered after spontaneous rupture of membranes at term ignificantly reduces the length of birth and use of oxytocin . A randomised controlled trial. Midirs Midwifery Digest. Vol 17, No 2.

Lee MK. Chang SB. Kang DH. (2004) Effects of SP 6 acupressure on labour pain and length of delivery time in women during labour. J Altern Complement Med. Dec:10(6):956-65

Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P. (2001). Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term – a randomised controlled trial. Wien Klin Wochenschr; 113 (23-24): 942-6

After birth a post natal acupuncture treatment, can help to re balance the body.