Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a complex traditional medical system that has been used in china for generations. It is the worlds largest drug free treatment. It is widely used due to its safety and proven results. The aim of Acupuncture is to regulate the meridians/pathways of the body so that Qi/energy can flow freely, creating a natural balance between yin and yang, and harmony amongst the organs. When this balance is disrupted disharmony within the body can occur.

E.g. Metal yin def (which relates to the lungs) clinical indications may include shortness of breath, cough, sputum, propensity to catch colds, daytime sweating and tiredness.

E.g. Disharmony of earth and wood (which relates to the spleen and liver) clinical indications can include indigestion, gas, cramping, nausea, constipation / diarreha, pms with sore breasts, bloated abdomen, irritability and fatigue, headaches, mood swings, erratic appetite, irregular/painful periods, craving foods, cold hands and feet, unstable blood sugar and poor concentration.

E.g. Disharmony of metal and wood (which relates to the lung and liver) clinical indications may include itching /inflammation of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, and sinuses, sneezing, headache, hay fever, sciatica, tension, stiffness, cramping of the neck, shoulders, and hips.

E.g. Invasion of external wind, clinical indications may include stiff or sore muscles, headache, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, sinus congestion, ear congestion, sore / scratchy throat, hay fever, colds and flues, rashes and itching of the skin, and mild fever or chills associated with colds or flues.

It is important to identify and treat these imbalances A.S.A.P to avoid illness.

Causes

There are numerous causes and reasons why imbalances can occur within the body. Examples include stress, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, poor diet and lifestyle, poor immune response, insomnia or restless sleep, infections, addictions, weight gain or loss, excess working / studying, allergies / food intolerances, injury, pain, and poor digestion and elimination.

Consultation and Treatment

The initial consultation takes about an hour. All aspects of the clients health needs to be addressed. Traditional diagnostic skills are used including tongue and pulse diagnosis. Treatment can vary from person to person but may include

Acupuncture – The insertion of very fine disposable needles into specific points to restore health. It can restore the balance between yin and yang, smooth flow of Qi/energy, and harmony between the organs.

Auricular acupuncture – (needle free) is simple pain free and safe. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions e.g. Fertility issues, stop smoking, weight loss, stress, fears and phobias, and allergies. It is suitable to use on children and the elderly.

Chinese herbs have been used for hundreds of years. Specific herbal formulas can be used to successfully treat most conditions e.g. Allergy symptoms (sneezing itching pain) increase absorption of nutrition, improve immune system, stress, Candida, infertility, fatigue, IBS, asthma, skin problems, weight gain or loss, and to detox the system. Any Chinese herbs that are recommended will be fully licensed.

Other treatments may be advised such as allergy testing, stress management, and nutrition.

WHAT CAN WE TREAT

The World Health Organisation have recognised the following conditions as responding well to acupuncture

Acne, allergies ,anaemia, anxiety ,arthritis, asthma ,back pain, bells palsy, constipation, chronic fatigue, depression, digestive and bowel disorders, eczema, hay fever, hypertension, indigestion, insomnia,impotence, infertility, menopause, Me, headaches, menstrual disorders, muscle and joint pain, nervous problems, oedema, pain, palpitations, pms, rheumatism, sciatica, sinusitis, smoking cessation, sport injuries, stress, stomach disorders, tinnitus, uro-genital disorders.

At the clinic we treat all of the above conditions specialising in fertility issues for both men and women.

INFERTILITY

There are numerous causes of infertility in both women and men e.g. stress, nutritional deficiencies, lack of ovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, blocked tubes, miscarriage, headaches, low sperm count, poor quality / motility of sperm, poor diet and lifestyle, poor absorption of nutrients, lack of sleep, infection, uterine fibroids, and autoimmunity. It is important to address all aspects of the client’s health to achieve optimal results. Acupuncture can help with the above. We recommend a minimum of 3 months of treatment. Other therapies may be advised if needed.

HOW ACUPUNCTURE AND TCM CAN IMPROVE FERTILITY

Relaxes and reduces stress

Improves the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs

Improves blood flow to the ovaries and the uterus

Regulates the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles

Strengthen the immune system

Improves thickness of the uterine wall lining

Decreases the chances of miscarriage

Improves quality and quantity of sperm

Regulates menstruation

Reduces uterine contractions after embryo transfer

Increases chances of pregnancy with ART(IVF, ICSI, etc,)

Improves absorption of nutrients

In Chinese medicine there are many patterns which can contribute to fertility issues

E.g. vacuity of kidney yin / blood / kidney yang / Qi

Clinical indications may include no ovulation, high fsh, low progesterone, low estrogen, poor quality follicles.

E.g. damp heat / toxins / blood stagnation

Clinical indications may include cervical infection, vaginal infection, and fallopian tube infection.

For men

E.g. vacuity of kidney yin / qi / blood

Clinical indications may include autoimmunity, low sperm count, low semen volume, abnormal motility,

A course of acupuncture can help to treat all of the above.

ACUPUNCTURE AND NATURAL CONCEPTION

Acupuncture can help to optimise fertility in both men and women by helping to create balance between yin and yang, smooth flow of qi, and harmony amongst the organs. By doing this the symptoms we can treat in relation to fertility include:

Poor motility rates

Low sperm count

Endometriosis

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Miscarriage

Blocked tubes

Lack of ovulation

Headache

Stress

Pmt, clots and pain

Difficult / irregular menstruation

Diet and nutrition

It’s very important that we increase foods that enhance fertility and decrease those that do not. It is equally important to ensure that the client’s lifestyle is helping to optimise fertility. Any nutritional deficiencies will also have to be addressed.

ACUPUNCTURE AND ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART)

For the best results in cases of IVF, ICSI, etc we recommend 3 months of treatment prior to ART procedure. These treatments are usually done on a weekly basis. We also do specific treatments for before egg retrieval and before and after embryo transfer. Recent studies by Paulus in Germany showed that between a group of women under going IVF, half the group had 2 acupuncture treatments before and after transfer of the embryo, this group had a 16.2% greater success rate than the other group. A team of researchers at the university of Maryland reviewed 1366 of women undergoing IVF in conjunction with a course of acupuncture given with embryo transfer. The results stated that Acupuncture had increased the rates of pregnancy and live births. Acupuncture can increase the rates of clinical pregnancy by 65% in women undergoing IVF.

ACUPUNCTURE CAN REDUCE MISCARRAIGES

In a group of 131 women under going IVF / ICSI 48 had acupuncture and 83 did not. In the group that had the acupuncture the rate of miscarriage was nearly halve that of the non acupuncture group. Live birth rate for non acupuncture group was 16% compared to 21% in the group that had acupuncture. A report in the journal of obstetrics and gynaecology stated that pregnant women who consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine daily were at twice the risk of having a miscarriage compared to those who consumed no caffeine.

ACUPUNCTURE CAN INCREASE MALE FERTILITY

A study of 40 men with idiopathic oligospemia or teratozoospermia showed a general improvement in sperm quality following acupuncture treatment. Another study of 22 men with idiopathic infertility under going ART had a 26% improvement in fertilisation rates after acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is approved and covered by VHI, Hibernian, Quinn, HSA, and many other insurance companies. Relief can also be claimed on the MED 1 form in conjunction with your income tax.