Treating Pregnancy Nausea With Acupuncture

July 21, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Chinese Herbal Medicine by Deborah Valentin | No comments


Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman’s life but it does not go easy for everyone, many women experience nausea in their first trimester of pregnancy. Most medications cannot be taken during pregnancy, which leaves women with little to ease their nausea symptoms.  I treat many women who experience nausea during their first trimester.

During the first trimester, the increase in hormones causes havoc on the digestive system, although it is not quite known what causes first trimester nausea, it is theorized that the rise in estrogen is the main factor.  Pregnant women can experience nausea as early as 5 weeks and it normally abates by week 12 but in certain extreme cases can last the whole pregnancy. In severe cases, vomiting can ensue so it is important to hydrate.

Acupuncture To Treat Pregnancy-Related Nausea

In Chinese Medicine, during the first trimester, nausea can be due to different factors.  The spleen which is the one of the main organs in the digestive system according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be deficient due to the pregnancy or it can also be deficient preceding pregnancy. Therefore, I always ask if my patient had any digestive system complaints before pregnancy.  Other factors that can cause nausea are too much heat in the stomach or if there is stuck energy.

Acupuncture is extremely beneficial in treating pregnancy-related nausea. This is because, depending on what is imbalanced in the digestive system, and acupuncture helps to restore balance and homeostasis where symptoms go away.  What I often see in many cases is a deficient digestive system where “dampness” accumulates causing nausea during pregnancy.  The spleen in Chinese Medicine is responsible for the transformation and transportation of fluids, when it is deficient in pregnancy fluids accumulate called “dampness”. Dampness can be a factor in nausea. There are other types of factors to why nausea can develop and each case may be different. Therefore, after assessing a patient, different acupuncture points are used to stabilize the digestive system and reduce nausea symptoms. Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and I normally give two sessions per week for 2 weeks and then assess how my patient is doing.

There are good points for acupressure that I teach my patients. One point is Pericardium 6, located about two inches above the inner wrist. This point is often where sea bands wrap around. This point I also include in pregnancy-related nausea because of its ability to ease nausea symptoms.  If you are experiencing nausea of any kind, this point is excellent. Simply put three finger (index, middle and ring finger) on the inner wrist.  Pericardium 6 is located three finger widths from the inner wrist between the two tendons.

Tips For Nausea During Pregnancy

1). It is important to keep hydrated during pregnancy, since most women do not like to drink water when they are nauseous. Other good beverages are coconut water and vitamin water.

2). Keep crackers by your bedside and have them before you go to bed and first thing in the morning. Nausea can occur on an empty stomach.

3). Avoid cold or raw foods first thing in the morning.

 

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , ,

Stress: Finding Ways to Tackle Stress and Get To Your Zen

May 4, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Mood Disorders by Deborah Valentin | No comments

How Acupuncture Can Be Effective In Reducing Stress

Let’s face it, most everyone has a good amount of stress in their life, some more than others but the demands life, family and work can be overwhelming.  Most of my patients come in with some degree of stress that can be one of the factors to why they are dealing with health issues.  Often times I hear,”I feel stuck”, “I hate my job but I can’t quit”, I am overwhelmed with the unending projects and tasks”.  So what does stress do to the body?

Stress causes the sympathetic nervous system or our “flight or fight” response to be activated.  This biological response is needed for a quick response in order to get out of danger but our danger is no longer being chased by a tiger-it is the daily grind.  As the sympathetic nervous system activates, adrenaline and cortisol levels are released and as a result, your heart rate can increase, your muscles tense up, you may feel the surge of energy to get things done and as soon as you get home, you crash. Your body can not sustain this activity you are outputting and over time your natural energy reserves are being tapped and then you become truly exhausted or you begin to suffer from headaches, stomach issues, body aches and tension, menstrual cramps, or other types of disorders.

In Chinese Medicine, stress causes havoc in the body and can tax many organ systems. One of the main organs that is effected by stress is the liver. The liver energy helps to move blood flow throughout the body. It helps to create a harmonious environment in the body. When the liver energy stagnates you can experience tension headaches, digestive system issues, PMS, menstrual cramps, tight shoulders and a variety of other health ailments. Stress can also have an effect on the digestive system where gas, bloating, indigestion and IBS symptoms arise. PMS is often due to underlying frustration or stress. Most of my patients that come in for treatment have underlying stress that can be a contributing factor to their health ailments. Therefore, I normally address these symptoms in treatment.

Acupuncture has become a mainstream treatment for stress management because it is safe and effective.  Depending on the symptoms and what the patient is manifesting, acupuncture helps to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity as well as reduces cortisol levels.  Acupuncture treatments also address the health issues that stress is causing including headaches, PMS, digestive systems issues and anxiety.  Patients normally feel much more relaxed after treatment and as I say the stress is always there but you are not interacting with it.

Other important factors that I emphasize with my patients who experience stress are:

1). Setting Boundaries-One of the most important things is to set boundaries with work and home. Leave work by a certain hour and realize, the work will still be there when you get back in the morning so atleast live your life a bit.

2). Eat regularly-This is important to balance your sympathetic nervous system, allowing your parasympathetic (rest and digestion) to take place. Make sure to take time off when eating and allow your body to just focus on eating instead of doing other things.

3). Avoid multi-tasking- Multi-tasking actually decreases focus and concentration and ultimately is not “more productive” in the long run. Make sure to block times to get things done and avoid checking email throughout that time.

4). Avoid the blackberry and computer afterwork hours: Alot of people try to get things done when they get home.  When your body is constantly engaged in activity it never fully relaxes.

5). Avoid caffeine or sugar which are stimulates and tend to cause more anxiety when you are stressed.

Incorporate:

  1. One daily activity that allows you to relax.  This may be exercising, taking a bath or reading a book.
  2. A mindset that is more flexible instead of trying to “control” everything.
  3. A healthy diet that enables you to have more sustained energy instead of reaching for candy bars and carbs when you are feeling low energy.
  4. Mind-body therapies such as acupuncture, reiki or other types of therapies that are aimed to reduce stress and balance your body

For more information about Sage Wellness, or if you would like to book an appointment please visit our website at www.sage-wellness.com or call 917.763.8560.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , ,

Acupuncture and IVF

March 28, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Infertility, Traditional Chinese Medicine by Deborah Valentin | 1 comment

When you are going through IVF it is not only an emotional roller coaster ride but also can be financially draining.  You are looking for everything to help boost your chances of getting pregnant. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat infertility and now it used as an integrative approach for women undergoing assisted fertility treatments such as IUI and IVF.

One study done showed 42.5% of women who were undergoing acupuncture and IVF get pregnant compared to the control group of 21.3% pregnancy rate who did not receive acupuncture pre and post transfer.1

How Does Acupuncture Work With IVF?

Acupuncture helps to correct imbalances in the reproductive system that may be impeding a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.  Therefore, the most optimal time to start acupuncture is 2-3 months before undergoing IVF to help correct those imbalances and support the reproductive system thus enabling a healthier uterine environment for IVF. Once a woman is undergoing IVF, acupuncture helps to:

  • Increase blood flow to the uterus which is important for implantation
  • Stimulate follicle growth
  • Reduce Stress
  • Build A Healthy Uterine Lining

Acupuncture During Follicular-Stimulating Stage

Ideally, I see patients twice during their stimulation phase.  This is when follicle stimulating drugs are administered to enhance follicle growth.  The main goal is to produce a good amount of eggs and good quality eggs.  Acupuncture during this time helps to support the reproductive system and stimulates follicular growth.

Acupuncture During Retrieval Stage

During the retrieval, when the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries to be fertilized, I like to see patients before their retrieval for acupuncture. This helps to bring blood flow to the ovaries and remove any obstructions such as dampness or blood stasis to help fertilization take place.

Acupuncture During Transfer Stage

This is normally the time of anxiety.  It is finally here to transfer the fertilized eggs.  I see patients before their transfer and then 24 to 48 hours after their transfer.  Acupuncture given before transfer enables blood flow to the uterus, helps to relax the patient thus relaxing muscles and priming the uterine environment for implantation.

A post transfer treatment helps to reduce uterine spasms, thus supporting implantation.

If you want more information or have specific questions, please call our office at 917.763.8560 to schedule a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation.

References:

Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril 2002; 77: 721-4.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , , , ,

The Benefits of Moxibustion Therapy

March 9, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Digestive Disorders, Infertility, Insomnia, Moxibustion, Women's Health by Deborah Valentin | No comments

Moxibustion is a “warming”technique using the herb mugwort or ai ya in Chinese Medicine.  Mugwort has been used in many different cultures for its medicinal properties. Moxibustion helps to increase blood circulation, tonify energy and stimulate digestive system function as well as boost the immune system. Moxibustion comes in different forms including direct and indirect moxibustion.

Indirect moxa can be either pole moxa, like in the picture to the right, or when moxa is placed at the end of an acupuncture needle and lit. Direct moxibustion is when a cone shaped moxa is placed directly on the skin or is placed on a barrier such as ginger and then placed on the skin.  This form of moxibustion is not as commonly used since it can burn the skin.

Moxibustion is used for a variety of health conditions. Since moxibustion is warm and dry it is used in certain health issues where there are deficiencies of energy such as chronic fatigue syndrome as well as certain types of IBS disorders and diarrhea.  Moxibustion is very beneficial in treating arthritic conditions as well as joint pain when the pain is predominantly worse in cold or damp weather.  Moxibustion is also used in woman’s health disorders such as infertility, ovarian cysts and menstrual cramps.  It is also beneficial in improving poor sperm motility and impotence.

Moxibustion is also a popular technique used for breech presentations.  A moxa stick is normally used and placed about an inch away from a point on the little toe.

Moxibustion is safe to use but it is warm and drying so people that tend to be warm or experience night sweats should avoid using moxibustion.

References:

Dharmananda, Subhuti Moxibustion, Practical Considerations for Modern Use of An Ancient Technique, retrieved March 9, 2011 http://www.itmonline.org/arts/moxibustion.htm.

Post to Twitter

Chinese Medical Diet: How Food Can Help Heal

February 14, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Chinese Herbal Medicine by Deborah Valentin | No comments

In Chinese Medicine, diet plays a huge role in the health and longevity of an individual. In conjunction with acupuncture and herbs, diet is used to help restore health in the body when illness and health disorders arise. In Chinese Medicine, diet can play a big role in helping to restore health and vitality when an individual has health issues. Foods help to nourish, warm, cool, move stagnation as well as tonify deficiencies.  In Chinese Medicine, foods are differentiated by their color and taste. The color and taste of a food determines its healing potential in the body. For example, onions are warming and pungent. They go to the lung organ. Eating chicken soup with onion and garlic helps to treat the common cold because of the warming components of the onion help to dispel a “cold” pathogen. People who complain of nights sweats with anxiety can be yin deficient which is a type of fluid insufficiency where the body looses the “cooling” characteristics of the body and as a result heat manifests. Therefore, foods that replenish yin, which are cooling and nourishing are recommended. These types of foods can include yams, vegetables and soups. On the contrary, individuals with this type of condition should avoid foods that can increase heat including coffee, alcohol and spicy foods. For a dry cough, I often tell patients to eat cooked pears. Pears help replenish fluids in the lungs in order to help a dry cough.

Both in chronic and acute health issues, diet can play a big role in healing an individual and has been used throughout time in China both in treatment and prevention of health disorders.
If you are interested in how Sage Wellness can help you, please call 917.763.8560 to schedule an appointment and we will get started treating your specific health issues right away.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , , ,

Acupuncture For Labor Induction

January 10, 2011 in Acupuncture, Alternative Health, Women's Health by Deborah Valentin | No comments

“After being 7 days overdue with my first pregnancy, I decided to try acupuncture to induce labor and avoid the need to be medically induced in the hospital. Deb went out of her way to accommodate me at short notice. As always, her calm, confident demeanor helped me to relax. Immediately after my final treatment I started experiencing strong contractions, and they continued then increased when I got home. My beautiful daughter Kaia was born the next morning just as I had wanted, with no medical intervention. Thank you Deb, not only for your professional skill and expertise but also your kindness and reassuring manner. Based on my experience I would not hesitate to recommend Sage Wellness for labor induction.”
– M.B., New Mom

If a women fails to go into labor naturally, then her doctor often gives her a certain time period before he/she will induce labor.  I treat many patients in this situation who want to encourage labor naturally and in many cases this can be achieved through acupuncture.

When encouraging labor to take place, I often will work with a patient’s midwives or doctor to understand what state her cervix is in: Is it softened or has it begun the dilation process?  I also use the tongue and the pulse to understand the state of my patient’s body in order to understand what type of acupuncture treatment plan will be used to encourage labor.

In cases where a female does not have enough energy to go into labor, supplementing points are used to help nourish her.  In other cases, there can be stagnation of energy and blood flow that can often times be due to stress.  This is where acupuncture can help to move energy and blood flow to help bring labor on.  In some cases, the cervix may be dilating slowly or may have stopped dilating altogether.

I first understand each particular case and then construct an acupuncture treatment plan to help the body ease into the labor process.  Acupuncture works well to help dilate the cervix which is needed in order for labor to take place. Large Intestine 4, which is located on the web of the hand between the thumb and index finger, along with Spleen 6, which is located three inches above the inner ankle,  help to encourage cervical ripening when used to gether.  The cervix needs to be dilated in order for labor to take place. Other points I use are the Ba Liao Points, which are located on the sacrum. These points help to move and energy and blood stagnation in the uterus, which encourages labor.

When treating pregnant patients, I normally lay them on their sides so they are comfortable.  The acupuncture needles are retained for about 30 minutes during the session.  After the first session, I apply acupuncture “tacks” to certain points and tell my patient to press the tacks each hour to help support cervical ripening.

I normally recommend one to three acupuncture treatments as the average time to help bring on labor. Labor can take place anywhere between 10-48 hours post treatment. Acupuncture is a natural and effective way to help induce labor naturally.

Please call my New York office at 917.763.8560 to schedule an appointment for labor induction.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , ,

Alternative Health Therapy Thrives in New York

December 22, 2010 in Alternative Health by Deborah Valentin | No comments

While natural health therapies and Chinese Medicine treatments are still viewed with skepticism in some parts of the country, central NY seems to be embracing them. Across the state, hospitals, fertility centers and other medical practices are now offering a wide range of alternative treatments such as energy treatments, reiki, acupuncture, reflexology and more.

According to this article on syracuse.com, “the days of patients not being involved in their care has passed.” Thanks in part to the breadth of information online today, patients are now more knowledgeable about their conditions and are asking for more from their doctors, often pushing for more holistic treatments. There is also a push for natural healing and a greater awareness of what chemicals we are putting into our bodies.

The benefits of natural medicine are abundant and its up to you to explore what will make you feel your best.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , ,

Natural Ways To Support Female Health

December 16, 2010 in Women's Health by Deborah Valentin | No comments

With so many demands on women today, it can be difficult to give your body the proper nutrition it needs. Eating highly processed foods and neglecting to take in the vitamins and minerals you need can wreak havoc on your body. A lack of whole foods can lead to hormonal imbalance, which may cause health issues such as uterine fibroids, painful monthly cycles or uncomfortable menopause.

Therefore, no matter how busy you are, you may want to consider adding one or more of the supplements below to your diet to help your system maintain balance.

Fish Oil: High in omega-3s, which are essential for female fertility, and essential fatty acids, fish oil not only aids in motor development of babies in the womb, but also reduces inflammation caused by endometriosis and reduces painful menstrual symptoms.
Evening Primrose Oil: Also high in essential fatty acids, this supplement has been shown to ease PMS symptoms such as cramping, breast pain, lower back pain and mood swings.

Dong Quai: Known in TCM as a “blood builder,” dong quai may be helpful to those who lose a large amount of blood or experience dryness during their cycles. It can also help with irregular menstruation and amenorrhea.

Red Raspberry Leaf: This herb is rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, & E and minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus. It helps alleviate cramps and back pain during PMS, and may also help reduce the chance of miscarriage by strengthening the uterus during pregnancy.

To learn about more important supplements, click here.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , , ,

What Does The Tongue Say About Your Health?

December 7, 2010 in Mood Disorders, Traditional Chinese Medicine by Deborah Valentin | No comments

In my practice, along with a full interview and medical assessment, tongue diagnosis is one of the main tools I use to understand my patients’ state of health. Most patients are embarrassed to stick out their tongues or they wonder what I am doing staring it. So I am going to educate you on what I look for by observing the tongue and how the tongue is used as a gateway to your health.

Tongue diagnosis has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In TCM, the tongue is known as an internal organ that you can see from the outside. Therefore, it is a great diagnostic tool to understand the health of the internal organs as well as the overall health of the human body.

In Chinese Medicine, the tongue is divided into different organ systems. Geographically, the center of the tongue is the digestive system or spleen and stomach region. The back of the tongue is the reproductive system or kidney region. The sides of the tongue are the liver and gallbladder region and the upper region and tip of the tongue are the lung and heart organ systems.

In observing the tongue, the first thing I look at is the shape. There are many different shapes that indicate different symptoms. To name a few, a quivering tongue can mean energy deficiency of the spleen or digestive system. A hammer shape tongue can indicate emotional disorders and an enlarged tongue may indicate digestive system issues.

The size of the tongue can indicate if there is a deficiency in blood or fluids in the body, which can be seen in insomnia, anxiety, and headaches.

The color of the tongue indicates if there is heat, a deficiency of yang, or stasis andstagnation in the body, which can indicate pain, menstrual cramps or irritability.

The coat of the tongue tells about the fluid physiology of the body. A thin coat or lack of coat can suggest a lack of fluids in the body, as seen in insomnia, anxiety, and menopause. A thick coat can be seen in such disorders as depression, ovarian cysts, fatigue, fibromyalgia and headaches.

Cracks in the tongue can indicate dryness or blood deficiency. Disorders seen with a cracked tongue are skin or vaginal dryness, shortened menstrual flow, poor memory, insomnia and PMS.

Scallops, which are crevices on the sides of the tongue, can indicate digestive system issues, edema or fatigue.

 

A Case Study Using Tongue Diagnosis

41-Year-Old Female With Anxiety
This is a case study of a patient that came in with a chief complaint of anxiety. She was consistently worried and cried very easily. Other symptoms were insomnia and a poor memory. She also complained of always being tired. As I observed her tongue, it appeared small and pale with cracks in the center as well as scallops on the side of the tongue.

Her diagnosis in Chinese Medicine was anxiety due to heart blood and spleen qi deficiency. The first thing to notice in this case was the size of the tongue, which was small. This indicated there was not enough blood to fill the tongue. Supportive evidence of blood insufficiency was also seen in the central cracks of the tongue. The paleness of the tongue indicated both a blood and energy deficiency. The scallops indicated extra fluids in the body due to a weak digestive system, which is due to a spleen qi deficiency.

The physiology behind her tongue diagnosis was her spleen, which is one of the main organs in the digestive system. Because the spleen is one of the main organs that nourish energy, fatigue appears when it is weak. When the spleen is deficient it cannot properly produce sufficient blood to the heart and therefore, when the heart is not properly nourished anxiety and insomnia are present. Using my diagnosis I treated her with acupuncture and an herbal prescription called Gui Pi Tang as well as gave her some dietary recommendations to follow.

The outcome was that she felt more willpower and was not constantly worried all the time. She felt more centered and she had a dramatic increase in energy.  As a result, her tongue body began to change. It became more pink and enlarged. Her skin tone was not as pale and she had a better overall complexion. This is an example of how tongue diagnosis reflects the overall health of the body and can be used as a diagnostic tool when treating a patient.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , , , , ,

What Causes PMS?

November 29, 2010 in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Women's Health by Deborah Valentin | 1 comment

Premenstrual Syndrome occurs right before the period and affects women mainly in their 30′s and 40′s. An array of symptoms can appear such as breast tenderness, irritability, moodiness, anxiety, depression, nausea, headaches, food cravings, bloating and insomnia. The cause of PMS is not quite clear in western medicine. It is thought that hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone are believed to be the cause of such symptoms.

In eastern medicine, the cause of PMS is defined through organ pathology. As western medicine does not see a relationship to stress and PMS, there is a clear relationship in Chinese Medicine. The liver organ in Chinese Medicine is one of the predominant organs that is looked at when diagnosing PMS. The liver functions to properly transport energy and blood flow in the body. Its energy expands and flows outward. The liver is responsible for goals and achievements; it is task driven and loves control.

The emotion that is linked to the liver is anger. Therefore, when a female is stressed out or frustrated, this lack of control in her life creates energetic blockages in the body that result in PMS. This is why PMS primarily affects women in their 30′s and 40′s, when stress is higher compared to in their younger years.

While understanding the mechanisms behind PMS, it is important to find solutions to help create that balance so your PMS symptoms disappear.

Living PMS Free!

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is remarkable for treating PMS. One of the main treatments that is used is a combination of acupuncture points called the Four Gates. These points help open and increase liver energy and blood flow. After the treatment, as this flow is restored, you will feel calm because your system has been rebalanced.

Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine alleviates PMS symptoms by re-balancing hormone levels. Herbal prescriptions are modified to target the different body imbalances for each individual woman in order to treat the root cause of her PMS symptoms. The beauty of herbs is that they are modified for each individual case. Some women experience bloating, breast tenderness and irritability, while others may get insomnia, headaches and anxiety.

Have A Hobby That You Love

This is very important and often is overlooked. With busy schedules and a multitude of tasks, we never are at rest. Hobbies let our bodies go into parasympathetic mode of rest and digestion, which is an extremely important aspect to our health. Hobbies enable us to get into that mental “zone” where we are in the moment. Start writing down things that you love. You may want to take an art class or learn another language or find a partner with whom to play tennis. Start putting time and energy into these hobbies and create more of a flow in your life.

Tone Down Your “Driver”
Let’s face it, we live in New York City and we are drivers! We want and need to meet our goals and we love to be in control! It’s important to understand that we can’t do it all, so try and prioritize your life and learn to “let go”. Give yourself space to not have control or provide solutions for when things do not always go your way.

Create Mental Space On A Daily Basis
What I hear most the time is, “I am always on the go”, “there is too much to do at work so I can’t take a lunch break”, “I never have time.” Sound like you? This calls for “mental space” creation in your life.  Just like you schedule tasks for your family, career and house, make room for “mental space” every day. This is the time for you to calm down and relax. Speak to those around you so that you can create those healthy boundaries where they can help support you during that time of day.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

« Older entries