acupuncture
" I was unable to keep food or liquids down during my pregnancy and it is only thanks to Amanda's treatments that I finally turned a corner. "
What to expect: The first consultation consists of a full medical and emotional history. I look at the colours and cracks on your tongue and take your pulse, whilst you relax on the couch. Most of my clients then relax or fall asleep as the points are stimulated for 21 minutes.
How many treatments? This is like asking how long is a piece of string!! Most clients come with chronic problems and often so called 'acute' problems have their origins way back. My aim is to create a sense of peace and well being in you and if you think this is a good investment then investments take time and patience to mature. I am not in the business of sticking plasters as this is not satisfying to me or to you. Most clients who settle in to regular treatments (once every 3 -4 weeks) see a steady and lasting improvement. Some conditions require shorter time intervals in between treatments, but eventually these time intervals will start to lengthen as well. I would love to say I could sort your life with two needles, and although this has happened on occasions, generally things can take some time to resolve fully. Having said that you will start to notice changes from the start. Some clients come for a series of treatments for a specific condition and then come and go as required. Other clients stay on after the initial treatments to maintain the benefit of Acupuncture for ongoing well being and maintenance.
.
This gives the Acupuncture a good chance to work and allows
the treatment protocol that I work out, from our first meeting,
to be worked through.
Clients can then choose to stay on a maintenance program of every 6 - 8 weeks or come 4 times a year, at the change of seasons to balance the Qi. I recommend you come in the 18 days leading up to the energetic change in Seasons.
These are the dates;
Spring 5th February ; Summer 6th May ;
Autumn 8th August ; Winter 8th November.
During PREGNANCY I recommend monthly treatments to energetically support both mother and baby. Towards the end of pregnancy and nearing the BIRTH , the treatments may need to be closer together, every second week or possibly weekly. Nausea at the beginning of pregnancy is best treated every few days for the first few weeks according to the severity of the symptoms.
Post birth I recommend that you continue your treatments, as this is an excellent time to keep the Qi of the body/mind balanced and to nourish Yin and Yang.
My treatment protocol for IVF ; ideally I would see you and your partner, for a series of treatments prior to the IVF protocol. This is to get you both in the optimal state of balance and health.
I usually step back from treating the woman once she starts on her down regulation medication, but `i continue treating the man. As long as everything is going well with the woman I next see her after egg collection to "clean" her system and to get it ready to receive her future baby. If practically possible I may see her a few hours prior to transfer, but it is important to see her within 24hrs after transfer. Some studies show that good results are obtained if Acupuncture is done 20 mins before and after transfer. I then do another treatment 10 days later and then 2 weeks after that. Depending how the pregnancy is progressing I will then see the mother every month.
If during the time when the ovaries are stimulated they are either under or over stimulated, I will then use Acupuncture to try to get the ovaries to respond better by invigorating the Qi or to calm them down by removing the "heat" that is generated by the "pushing" action of the stimulating drugs.
Go to this page for some excellent research on Acupuncture and FERTILITY rates in IVF.
Interesting article on Acupuncture and babies presenting in a breech presentation . Here.
Another interesting article on breech presentation by the amazing midwife Ina May Gaskin.
