What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine which originated in China over 5000 years ago. It is a form of natural healing, whereby certain acupuncture points are stimulated with fine needles to improve imbalances in the body. It takes a holistic approach to illness, linking the body, mind and emotions.

How does it work?

Each person has an energy circulation. To maintain good health, it is essential for the body’s energy, as well as the blood, to circulate in a continuous and unobstructed manner. The pathways through which the energy flows are called meridians and these circulate through the organs and tissues of the body. The energy which flows along the meridians are called Qi (chi). These meridians were mapped out by the ancient Chinese.

There are over 500 acupuncture points and these lie along the meridians. By stimulating these points with fine needles, the quality and quantity of energy (Qi) and fluids can be normalised.

Often an area or acupuncture point is warmed and stimulated by a Chinese herb, and this process is called Moxabustion. Suction cups and massage may also be used to enhance the treatment.

How can it help me?

• Drug-less pain relief (includes all types of pain - nerve, muscular, period etc)
• Assists prevention against disease
• Treats the cause of illness as well as the symptoms
• Maintenance treatment of a long term problem, which will provide a more comfortable state of health and reduce need for medication and surgery.

How many treatments do I need?

The frequency of treatments depends on a variety of factors including, the duration and intensity of your condition, your age, constitution, your diet and lifestyle.

During the first visit, your practitioner will obtain a complete health history, gathering all the relevant needed to best treat you.

This will also include a tongue and pulse diagnosis. This will then enable your acupuncturist to give you a general idea of treatments needed.

What does Acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of conditions and is a benefit to every system in the body. The World Health Organisation Publication (Dec 1979) recognises a number of disorders that have been successfully treated by acupuncture. These are emphasised in bold in the following list which also includes other common disorders that have been helped.

Musculoskeletal
Sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, arthritis, gout, lumbago, weak back, Sporting Injuries – Sprains, cartilage problems, torn ligaments, tendons and muscles.

Cardiovascular System
High/Low Blood Pressure, fluid retention, chest pain, angina pectoris, poor circulation, cold hands and feet, muscle cramps.

Physiological
Depression, phobias, anxiety, emotional disturbances, addictions – Smoking, Drugs etc

Neurological System
Headaches, migraines, facial and intercostal neuralgia, Meniere’s disease, stroke, forms of paralysis, peripheral neuropathy, sleeping problems, nervous tension, tinnitus, vertigo, forms of deafness.

Respiratory System
Asthma, sinusitis, sore throat, acute and chronic bronchitis, hayfever, chronic cough, laryngitis, common cold and influenza.

Digestive System
Toothache, post-extraction pain, mouth ulcers, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, heartburn, hiatus hernia, flatulence, constipation, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, liver and gall bladder disorders, weight control.

Skin
Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, herpes zoster, acne, hair loss, dandruff, scar tissue and resultant adhesions.

Uro-genital System
PMS, period problems, abnormal uterine bleeding, menopause problems, infertility, pregnancy problems, libido, hormonal disturbances, cystitis, prostatitis, kidney disorders, urinary retention.

Eyes
Conjunctivitis, simple cataracts, visual disorders, red, sore, itchy and watery eyes.

Whether you are seeking alternative therapies to aid fertility or looking for support during IVF or other fertility treatments, Acupuncture is a safe and effective means to achieve positive results when trying to conceive.

Acupuncture to support reproductive health is becoming an increasingly popular and successful form of fertility treatment, whether as an individual treatment or as a strong support to Western Fertility treatments.

According to traditional acupuncture theory, there are twelve energy channels called “meridians” running vertically along the length of the human body, each one linking to a specific organ. Health issues are caused by obstructed energy flow at certain points along the meridians. Acupuncture therapy stimulates meridian flow and harmonises the body’s energy to influence the health of both body and mind.

In order for fertility to be successful your body must be balanced. The energy of your body controls our development, ageing, and reproduction. While naturally the chances of fertility decreases with age, acupuncture treatments can strengthen your body’s energy and therefore improve your ability to conceive.

In our clinic, we believe Acupuncture treatments with the additional support of advice and supplements you can improve blood circulation throughout the body and help stimulate and balance the body’s hormones.

For women the ability to regulate blood flow to the ovaries and uterus and to lower stress levels is a key part of reproductive health. Acupuncture also be very effective at regulating a women’s endocrine system and subsequently her reproductive system. As her estrogen and progesterone levels become balanced, her uterus will prepare for implantation. Treatment can also improve the function of the ovaries, leading to better quality eggs and embryos. Along with sperm quality and motility, increasing the chances of conception.

Once your body is regulated, it’s common to also experience the alleviation of other conditions including menstrual disorders, PMS signs and symptoms, endometriosis and other sources of pain and discomfort.

A study done in Adelaide found that Fertility rates during embryo transfer can be doubled with the use of acupuncture.

Read more at Adelaide News

Acupuncture has also been shown in several other studies to have significant advantages for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments. Surprisingly these studies have shown that the Acupuncture infertility treatments increased the successful rates of IVF treatment regardless of the age of the woman. Some people also believe that Acupuncture helps women to stay relaxed during stressful fertility treatments which can often enhance the success of the treatments.

Research suggests that IVF with Acupuncture increased the odds of ongoing pregnancy by 87% (according to ultrasound evidence of pregnancy at 12 weeks) and increased the odds of a live birth by 91% compared with IVF on its own.

Acupuncture and IVF – it is best to have a 6 week course of Acupuncture treatments prior to starting your IVF cycle, then continue treatments during the stimulation phase, on the day of embryo transfer, before and after the procedure if possible and one week after embryo transfer.

If you are trying to get pregnant naturally, we recommend Acupuncture treatments weekly for 3-4months.

When you do successfully become pregnant, continuing your acupuncture and naturopathy treatments will help to maintain and promote a healthier pregnancy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONTACT
Suncoast Natural Therapies Clinic
Wellness Chiropractic Centre
71 Bowman Road, Caloundra Qld 4551
Phone 5492 3305
Email info@sntclinic.com.au

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