Treatment of Fertility
In an article appearing in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility a team of German researches found that they had increased the success rate of assisted reproduction therapy by nearly 50% by using Acupuncture treatment.
“The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for the acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% versus 26.3%).”
When combined with Chinese Herbal Treatment this rate can increase to nearly 60%.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine can help fertility in men and women in many ways
- Improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs
- Regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
- Increase blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining
- Relax the patient and decrease their stress
- Prevent the uterus from contracting
- Lessen the side effects of drugs used in IVF
- Strengthen the immune system
- Improve semen to create better quality and quantity of embryos
- Decrease chance of miscarriage
In my clinical experience I have found that treatment has been of benefit for all of my patients. In some cases that has meant that no IVF treatment was necessary, in some cases it has made IVF successful when past treatments have failed, and in other cases IVF has not worked but egg count and the number of high-grade embryos have dramatically increased. A recommended course of treatment of up to six months is often required for fertility treatment to be successful.
Treatment of Pain
Acupuncture has gained popular recognition in it’s ability to treat painful conditions, from arthritis and back pain to problems such as period pains and migraine. In my clinic I would say that 50% of patients receive acupuncture treatment for painful conditions and it is rare for them to not receive relief from their pain. Often the more chronic the nature of the condition the longer it will take to improve.
Acupuncture is successfully in its treatment of pain because it sees pain not a diagnosis, but rather an indication or warning that there is a problem somewhere in the body. Many times the exact location of pain points to where the problem is, but in other situations the site of pain may be related to problems far away, as in leg pain resulting from a herniated disk pushing on a nerve in the back.
And the circumstances surrounding the onset of the pain are just as important. Was there an accident or incident? Or did the pain gradually develop over a course of time or during a certain period of life?
The characteristics of pain give important information about what is causing the body to send this signal. Acupuncture is able to address the underlying problem that is causing pain, not just turn down the discomfort. This is very important as otherwise the body will send out other warning signals until the root problem is corrected.
How does acupuncture stop pain?
Acupuncture is an extremely powerful and effective approach to treat pain because it decreases pain levels as it stimulates the body’s healing response. Acupuncture resolves pain by affecting several pain pathways and healing responses at the same time:
- raise endorphin levels and diminish the nervous system’s pain response
- decrease inflammation and swelling
- relax muscles and stop spasms
- increase circulation to the local area
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
My interest in psychological disorders led me to initially study Psychology at University. This gave me a good basis to understand the concepts behind what we understand as “mental health” problems but felt let down by the emphasis of dealing with these problems with the use of drugs.
Studying five element acupuncture which is one of the most Traditional styles of Acupuncture bestowed to the west by Professor J.R. Worsley, gave me real understanding of the complexity and beauty of the mind body interaction and was amazed at how effective acupuncture can be at treating depression and anxiety.
I feel that this is one of the most important areas in which acupuncture can help people in modern day society. With the stresses and strains that are put on a society that increasingly asks for more, and with developments in technology we in the west have become detached from natural rhythms of nature which help to keep us happy and feeling well. A classically trained acupuncturist can help reconnect the person to the natural flow of universal energy.
Looking at acupuncture treatment from a medical point of view there have been lots of studies that have shown that certain acupuncture points have particular effects on brain chemistry, hormone levels and the excretion of endorphins into the blood.
During treatment patients are allowed to explore their issues in a client centered approach and then points that particularly affect the mind and spirit are chosen to help restore well-being.
Treatment of Skin Disorders
In hospitals in China, doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treat even the most difficult skin conditions every day. In the West, many patients are now beginning to seek out Chinese medicine for skin conditions particularly because they have not had satisfying results from other treatments. Throughout history, Chinese medicine has emphasized the individuality of the condition, stressing that it is the root of the problem that must be addressed in order to resolve it. This method of treatment proves to be more satisfactory and have longer lasting results than treating only the manifestation of the problem.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are particularly effective at treating some of the most common skin conditions in the West: acne, eczema and psoriasis. Hundreds of case studies over thousands of years have documented its effectiveness at resolving chronic and unremitting skin problems such as these. In particular, Chinese herbal medicine serves as a safe and valuable tool for combating these and other skin conditions on a daily basis, from the inside-out. Acupuncture can also be used to reduce the appearance of scars, whether from these conditions or from surgery, injury or other trauma. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can also be used to treat acute problems, such as hives, dermatitis and even infectious skin conditions.
Whether your skin condition is mild or severe, recent or long-standing, Chinese medicine can play a significant role in the complete resolution of the problem.
Dietary Therapy
Contained within the theories of Chinese medicine and particularly the concept of balance the Chinese approach to diet can help us understand the development of disease and how what we eat affects the way in which our bodies work. By analysing your dietary intake and making suggestions about which foods to avoid and which foods need to be increased improvements can be made to most conditions and not only those associated with the digestive system. (Irritable bowl, obesity, and hernia.) From analysing your symptoms, your tongue and pulse, dietary advice will be given in your consultation.