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Tag: fertility

Acupuncture for Morning Sickness: What You Need to Know

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic

 

Acupuncture for morning sickness may be a little intimidating, especially if you’re not all that familiar with acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine. However, acupuncture has a lot to offer, and it has been found to be generally safe to experience during pregnancy.

 

acupuncture for morning sickness
Photo by Xavier Sotomayor/Unsplash.om

While morning sickness can be unpleasant, it’s rarely dangerous for the baby and the expectant mother. There’s even evidence to suggest that morning sickness may actually be an indicator of a healthy pregnancy. Even so, it’s probably something that pregnant women won’t mind doing away with. There are a number of remedies that can help ease the symptoms of morning sickness, and acupuncture may be quite helpful to you.

 

 

Morning sickness: What you need to know

Morning sickness seems to one of the more prominent features of pregnancy. In fact, up to 80% of pregnant women to experience morning sickness in the early stages of their pregnancy. Though it’s called “morning sickness,” the nausea and vomiting can actually hit at any time of the day.

 

Because morning sickness doesn’t pose much of a threat on the pregnant woman and her baby, treatment isn’t necessary in most cases. However, there are some remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness, like consuming more food, drinks and ginger. You can also consider acupuncture for morning sickness, which researchers have found to be effective in helping lessen nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

 

 

Causes and risk factors

Scientists still don’t actually know much about what causes morning sickness, though they have some ideas. It’s possible that increased estrogen levels, increased progesterone levels, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or a heightened sensitivity to smells can all contribute to nausea.

 

Though morning sickness affects a majority of pregnant women, some women may be more at risk than others. If you’ve experienced nausea due to motion sickness, contraceptives, or certain smells before pregnancy, you’re more likely to experience nausea during pregnancy. Meanwhile, if you experienced morning sickness during your first pregnancy, you’re more likely to experience morning sickness in your subsequent pregnancies.

 

Nausea and vomiting are also more likely if you’re carrying multiples.

 

 

What you can do

There are number of things you can do to make yourself feel better or lessen the occurrences of morning sickness. Getting plenty of rest can be effective, since tiredness can make nausea worse. You can also try eating something, like crackers, in the morning about 20 minutes before you get up. Medication like B6 and doxylamine or Diclegis are also safe and effective against morning sickness.

 

Acupuncture is also a viable option. Just make sure to consult with your doctor first before booking an acupuncture appointment, and make sure to inform your acupuncturist that you’re pregnant.

 

 

When to call your doctor

Though morning sickness is generally harmless, there are some instances when it will need medical attention. Hyperemesis gravidarum, which affects about 1-2% of pregnant women, is a severe form of morning sickness that typically goes away by the fifth month of pregnancy. While hyperemesis gravidarum won’t cause harm to the baby, it can result in a low birth weight if it causes the mother to lose too much weight during pregnancy.

 

 

Acupuncture for morning sickness

acupuncture
Photo via Pixabay

 

Acupuncture during pregnancy has been found to be safe and effective against morning sickness and a number of other issues that may arise during pregnancy. It can help reduce the pain you may experience during labor, and it can also help reduce pelvic girdle pain.

 

Other than its effectiveness against these issues, acupuncture is also a safe alternative to medication. It’s possible that for certain reasons, you may be unable to take certain medications or remedies that can help you with morning sickness. Acupuncture is makes for a great alternative or complementary treatment.

 

 

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to TCM, we all have a life or energy force flowing through us, called qi (pronounced “chee”). When qi flows as it’s supposed to, we’re healthy physically and mentally. However, when the flow of qi is disturbed or concentrated around certain acupuncture points, it can result in illness.

 

To restore the flow of qi, an acupuncturist will insert fine needles into the relevant acupuncture points. This stimulates the body into restoring health and and its natural equilibrium.

 

Western medicine and TCM are complementary, and both disciplines can work together to your benefit. This is why it’s best to consult with both your physician and a licensed acupuncturist to figure out the best course of treatment. It’s also best if you bring your medical records when you come in for a consultation with your acupuncturist.

 

At the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic, we’ll make sure to pay utmost attention to your needs and provide you with effective acupuncture for morning sickness. Our owner and Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram Pham, has a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University. She also has years of experience in providing patients with all-natural healthcare.

 

acupuncture in Santa Barbara

 

Is acupuncture during pregnancy safe?

There are scientific studies that have investigated the safety of undergoing acupuncture during pregnancy. While side effects can occur, they are rare and and are not severe. At worst, the side effects are moderate, and no severe or fatal side effects have been associated with acupuncture during pregnancy. Side effects may include light dizziness, headaches, fatigue (usually after the first session), and some light bruising on the needle insertion sites.

 

At most, these side effects will last 24 to 48 hours. However, if they last longer than that time frame, make sure to consult with your practitioner.

 

Some acupuncture points are known to be “forbidden” for pregnant women. Thus, you should make sure to mention your pregnancy when you come in for a consultation with an acupuncturist.

 

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

The Santa Barbara Herb Clinic was founded in 1986 by Dr. Jean Yu. In 2016, Tram took over the clinic and continued its tradition of providing age-old treatments to the residents of the Santa Barbara and Goleta area. Here, you can experience acupuncture for morning sickness and other pregnancy-related issues.

 

To schedule an appointment with Tram, you can call us at 805-563-0222 or email us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com. If you’re not within driving distance, that’s not a problem. You can also have a consultation with Tram over the phone or via video call. Consider the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic to be your first stop on the road to all-natural and holistic healthcare.

 

 

References

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179633.php

 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/morning-sickness-nausea/

 

https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/public-pr-press-releases/acupuncture-and-pregnancy.html

 

https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/08/21/morning-sickness-relief-acupuncture

 

https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/drugs-ginger-and-acupuncture-best-for-morning-sickness/

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112450/

 

https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/public-ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-about-acupuncture/ask-an-expert-about-acupuncture-side-effects/3928-acupuncture-after-effects.html

Acupuncture for Fetal Malposition: What You Need to Know

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic

 

Studies have found that acupuncture for fetal malposition can be quite effective in helping turn fetuses for safe and healthy vaginal birth. When the head of a fetus isn’t in the optimal position for vaginal delivery, it’s considered to be a malposition or malpresentation. This can lead to a difficult labor or other complications, and it can also interfere with a woman’s wishes for a natural delivery.

 

If your due date is looming close and you’ve found that your baby isn’t in the right position yet, acupuncture can help you and your little one get to the right place. Acupuncture, as well as a practice called moxibustion, can be effective in making birth easier and safer.

 

acupuncture for fetal malposition
Photo via Pixabay

 

Fetal malposition or malpresentation

The top of the head of a fetus should normally be positioned toward the mother’s vagina to make vaginal delivery easier and safer. However, there are instances in which a fetus still has not turned right up to the moment of delivery. This is what doctors consider to be fetal malposition, the most common type of which is breech. A fetus in breech position has its legs or buttocks, instead of the top of the head, positioned toward the vagina.

 

There are other types of malposition or malpresentation as well. A fetus may lie sideways, and though it will still be born with its head first, it will still be in an improper position. Sometimes, the fetus’s may come out first instead of the top of the head, or it may come out with its shoulder in the mother’s pelvis.

 

Causes

Usually, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of fetal malposition or malpresentation. However, malposition may have something to do with factors such as placenta previa, multiple gestation, or preterm pregnancy. A short umbilical cord, pelvic tumors, uterine anomalies, fetal anomalies, and other issues may also factor into fetal malposition.

 

Effects of malposition or malpresentation

Fetal malposition carries with it some risks. For one thing, it can prolong labor and make it more difficult, leading to stress for both the fetus and the mother. It can also make a caesarian section more likely, since the surgery can reduce the risks of complications.

 

A caesarian section is a major surgery, and it takes a longer time to recover from compared to natural vaginal birth. Still, it does make birth safer for both the mother and the baby. However, it’s also an additional cost, and has its share of complications as well.

 

The best bet, therefore, is to induce the fetus to turn to its proper position. Of course, this is easier said than done. However, acupuncture for fetal malposition can be helpful, thus reducing the risk of complications during birth.

 

Acupuncture for fetal malposition

There is research that acupuncture can help reposition fetuses in breech or other types of malposition. Acupuncture may seem quite daunting or intimidating. It’s especially more so if you’re not familiar with it or if you haven’t really heard much about it. However, acupuncture is relatively low-risk. Many in the medical community have also recognized acupuncture to be safe for a variety of issues.

 

Acupuncture is a good alternative or complement to Western medicine. However, you’ll need the advice of your physician before undergoing acupuncture treatments, especially if you’re pregnant. Make sure to consult with your obstetrician first before you make an appointment for an acupuncture session.

 

acupuncture for fetal malposition
Photo by Camila Cordeiro/Unsplash.com.

 

Acupuncture in a nutshell

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture is considered to be an effective and important way to restore the normal flow of qi. Qi (pronounced “chee”), is an energy force that flows through every individual. When qi flows normally along markers in the body called meridians, it results in good physical, mental, and emotional health.

 

However, when the flow of qi is disrupted, blocked, or concentrated around certain meridians, it can affect a person’s well-being.

 

A licensed acupuncturist inserts very fine needles into certain acupuncture points to deal with and manage certain symptoms. The needles stimulate these acupuncture points and push qi back into its normal flow.

 

Acupuncture for fetal malposition is at its safest at the hands of a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. Luckily, the owner of the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic, Tram Pham, is a Licensed Acupuncturist with a deep knowledge and understanding of TCM. She has a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in Los Angeles, as well as years of experience in treating patients in accordance with the principles of TCM.

 

acupuncture in Santa Barbara

 

Benefits

Acupuncture isn’t the only way to stimulate acupuncture points. When it comes to the correction of breech malposition, an acupuncturist usually uses moxibustion instead of acupuncture. Moxibustion involves the use of heat generated by burning herb preparations containing an herb called moxa. The most common moxibustion technique is lighting a moxa stick on fire and bringing it close to the skin at the relevant acupuncture points. Tram will also teach you how to do this during your appointment, and send you home with moxibustion to continue your treatment at home.

 

Moxibustion has been found to be safe for both women and fetuses, and it does not cause burns.

 

Of course, acupuncture can be effective as well. In fact, practitioners have been using acupuncture to turn breech fetuses for about 1,000 years. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in helping correct fetal malposition, thus helping reduce complications and reduce the likelihood that a caesarian section would be necessary.

 

It’s possible, however, that successful moxibustion may render acupuncture unnecessary in cases of fetal malposition.

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

If you need moxibustion or acupuncture for fetal malposition or other issues, come visit the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic. Dr. Jean Yu founded the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic in 1986, and the clinic has been providing Santa Barbara with all-natural and holistic health care since then. Our Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram, has years of experience in TCM and specializes in women’s health.

 

Get in touch with us and make an appointment to address your various health needs. Call us at 805-563-0222 or email us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com to schedule an appointment. However, you can also have a consultation with Tram over the phone or via video call. Contact us today to learn more about how you can take control of your health!

 

 

 

References

http://www.medfriendly.com/malposition-pregnancy.html

 

https://www.babymed.com/pregnancy/malpresentation-and-malposition-of-the-fetus

 

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/280-acupuncturebreechfetus

 

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.01003.x

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942064/

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/9046931_Acupuncture_Conversion_of_Fetal_Breech_Presentation

Acupuncture for Fertility: How Acupuncture Can Help

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic
acupuncture for fertility
Photo by Ignacio Campo/Unsplash.com

 

Many couples struggle to conceive, which can impact their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Repeated failure to conceive can increase stress, which can in turn further reduce the chances of conceiving. While acupuncture for fertility might draw contrasting opinions from the medical community and the general population alike, few could deny its efficacy for inducing relaxation and promoting general well-being. This would be the first order of business for any condition that seeks help from alternative healing methods like acupuncture. When it comes to aiding conception, reducing stress might even prove to be all that is necessary to achieve success.

 

 

How acupuncture works

In general terms, one of the primary goals of acupuncture is to restore the balance and proper flow of energy in a person’s body. Practitioners to this by inserting long, ultra-fine needles into specific locations or points along the skin. These points all correspond to different body parts, both external and internal. Meanwhile, these points are also interconnected through pathways known as meridians.

 

The stimulation of points along these pathways can generate a response within the body site they’re connected to. This can unblock possible obstructions in energy flow that might be making those sites malfunction. Ideally, restoring and maintaining this stability throughout the body’s systems would give it the means to heal and continually renew itself.

 

 

Factors that affect fertility

Many factors can affect fertility. These factors include PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), hormonal imbalance in females, and low sperm count for males. One example of hormonal imbalance in particular is when the female body has too much of the hormone prolactin. This hormone gives the signal to produce breast milk while also disallowing ovulation as a natural form of birth control.

 

Another example is when the female body has less than optimal amounts of progesterone. Progesterone is crucial because, among other things, it is responsible for allowing an embryo to safely attach to the uterine lining.

 

Learn more about how acupuncture can help resolve hormonal imbalance.

 

 

acupuncture
Acupuncture can help restore balance in your body.

 

When high levels of cortisol cause stress, this can also be a factor for female and male infertility alike. Among other things, cortisol can disrupt the process of ovulation. In men, it can cause impotence, affect sperm motility, as well as have an impact on sperm count. Acupuncture can induce relaxation of both the body and the mind by promoting the production of chemicals such as endorphin, which helps lower cortisol.

 

For men dealing with infertility, there is also the option of herbal therapy, which is also often used as complement to acupuncture for fertility. Many people have also found that treatments involving Chinese herbs for fertility can be helpful.

 

 

How acupuncture for fertility can help

As stated above, acupuncture promotes balance throughout the body, but it’s not just the balance of energy it seeks to restore but also of the blood’s circulation. Acupuncture can restore stability to all the body’s systems, especially the ones integral to fertility, like the endocrine. It can also improve blood circulation, with particular attention to the supply of blood to the reproductive organs. Thus, acupuncture for fertility can dramatically increase the likelihood of success. Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture can be especially successful especially when used in conjunction with traditional treatments.

 

You can undergo acupuncture treatments at any given point during the process of your conventional infertility treatment. This can take place in the period when drugs and injections are promoting fertility. However, this phase typically has undesirable side effects like nausea and anxiety. Nausea and anxiety, in turn, might get in the way of success. Luckily, acupuncture can readily address this.

 

Acupuncture for fertility can also function as complementary therapy during the first few critical weeks of pregnancy, or even much later. It can help deal with the accompanying stress and anxieties that come with the whole procedure.

 

acupuncture in Santa Barbara

 

About acupuncture in Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

Acupuncture for fertility and other female reproductive health concerns are some of the specialties of Santa Barbara Herb Clinic and its owner and lead practitioner, Tram Pham, L.Ac. She has inherited the clinic’s operations from the late Dr. Henry Han and seeks to continue its deep-rooted legacy of holistic healing here in Santa Barbara. One of the last students of the Balance Method pioneer and Master, Dr. Richard Tan, she effectively and harmoniously combines distal healing acupuncture with other traditional Chinese medicine techniques such as tui na (acupressure), gua sha (scraping), fire or dry cupping, moxibustion, and many others to suit a patient’s needs. The clinic also has an extensive stock of herbs, powders, pills, teas, and other remedies in its Herbal Pharmacy, and it delivers wherever you are in the country.

 

Contact us to set an appointment, and we shall accommodate a consultation either in person if you could come to the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic or through a phone or video call if you live farther away.

 

 

 

References

https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-does-acupuncture-help-fertility-1959899

 

https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/infertility/treatments/does-acupuncture-for-infertility-work/

 

https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2015/04/17/how-does-acupuncture-fertility-work-increase-chance-conception-without-side

 

http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/acupuncture/