Pregnancy
- Natural Induction – Jennie’s Story
- Natural Induction – Maria’s Story
- Morning Sickness – Jenny’s Story
- Morning Sickness – Sally’s Story
- Leg cramps, back pain, acubirth course, smooth labour
- Breech, sinus, smooth labour
- Haemorrhoids
- Constipation & sinusitis
- Breech & a blood virus affecting eyesight
- Sciatica
Acupuncture for Kids
Women’s Health
- Stress & low energy
- Stress, depression & poor immunity
- Recurrent upper respiratory conditions with over use of antibiotics
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
Fertility
Pregnancy
Natural Induction – Jennie’s Story
Jeannie was 39wks pregnant with her first baby, and was told by her midwife that her baby was sitting high (not engaged), and her cervix was tight and closed and she recommended she come to us for acupuncture to get things moving. We explained that acupuncture helped you move into the next stage that you were ready for, and so we weren’t expecting a baby that next day, but we would try and help the baby to move down and that would help the process of ripening the cervix.
Jeannie was a bit frightened of the needles as she had never had acupuncture before but was keen to try anything that could help. She was surprised that she became so relaxed in her first session that she fell instantly into a deep sleep. The next day she had an appointment with the midwife who was surprised to see the baby had almost totally engaged. After Jeannie left the next appointment (at 40wks) she started to feel some period pain and some stronger Braxton Hicks, and the midwife said her cervix was softening beautifully. Naomi saw Jeannie a few days later, and 2 hours after she left that session her waters broke. She went into labour several hours later, and surprised herself by delivering a gorgeous healthy boy naturally.
Natural Induction – Maria’s Story
Maria felt like she was beginning to go mad waiting to go into labour. Everyone kept calling and asking, including her three-year-old son who would ask almost every hour if his brother was coming now. Her friend recommended acupuncture as it had helped her with all her pregnancies and births.
At full term, Maria came to us for acupuncture on her due date, begging her to help get the baby out. Maria had had some period pain feelings and a couple of sleep disturbed nights with heavier contractions. We assessed that the bub was in a great position, and Maria’s body was as ready as she felt she was ! We gave Maria a strong acupuncture induction treatment. Maria got some strong contractions on the table and that evening went into labour, delivering her son a sweet little brother to play with!
Morning Sickness ~ Jenny’s Story
Jenny came to the clinic when she was seven weeks pregnant with severe morning sickness. She rated it as 10/10 in severity. She had been to her GP who said the next step was hospitalization if the situation did not improve.
She hadn’t had acupuncture before but decided to give it a try as it was a natural option. Her overall health was assessed from a Chinese medical perspective, which meant looking at her diet and lifestyle and how this was impacting her pregnancy. She had been told it would be hard for her to fall pregnant and to start trying soon because it could take years. She was shocked to find out she was pregnant almost as soon as they started trying and was having a hard time accepting it. In her case, her nausea had a strong link to her feelings about the pregnancy.
She left the clinic that day with her nausea rating 4/10. In subsequent treatment sessions we also worked a lot on staying in the present moment and acknowledging how she was feeling so she could let it go instead of feeling guilty about it. She had treatment twice a week for a couple of weeks after that and her nausea was substantially better. Because she had felt the benefits of acupuncture, she decided she would like to maintain her health for the rest of her pregnancy and so she came to the clinic every month until four weeks before the birth, at which time she came weekly treatments to get her body and mind ready for birth. She gave birth naturally to a healthy son at week 39. Jenny thanked us, not just for the acupuncture, but also talking with her about living in the present which she says really helped her deal with the concept that she was actually having a baby.
Morning Sickness – Sally’s Story
Sally was finally pregnant after 14 long months of trying but it was hard for her to enjoy it as she felt so sick, so nauseous and was throwing up all day. She was losing weight and was worried about the baby. At 7 weeks she confided in a friend who recommended she try acupuncture.
When she came to us, Sally looked pale, exhausted and stressed. Immediately after her first session, she exclaimed that she already felt over 50% better and was actually hungry and looking forward to lunch! We discussed some ways of managing the nausea over the following week, through diet and tending to her anxieties. That week, instead of throwing up several times per day, she found that she only vomited a few times over the whole week, and could recognize that most of those times were when she wasn’t following the dietary advice (cravings are sometimes very hard to resist!). Over the next few weeks, Sally was able to control the morning sickness, started putting on more weight, and began to share the delight of this miracle pregnancy with her husband.
Leg Cramps, Back Pain, Acupressure Course, Smooth Labour
Tamra and her husband wanted all the tools they could get their hands on for labour and so booked in for our acupressure for labour course. It was here that she discovered acupuncture could help her leg cramps and back pain as well as prepare her body and mind for birth.
Tamra came to the clinic regularly after the workshop and her symptoms reduced considerably, to the point where they weren’t an issue for her at all any more. She was also pleased to learn that the cold she had contracted could also be helped with acupuncture. In the weeks leading up to the birth, special points were used to help ripen her cervix, relax muscles and tendons, open up her pelvis and help her to stay calm and relaxed.
Their little boy arrived on his due date and their labour was a truly joyous experience. The acupressure points were extremely effective in managing contractions and she had a very rapid and painless second stage, lasting only 30 minutes. According to Tamra, the acupuncture and other mental preparation she did helped her to achieve the calm, drug-free birth we wanted.
Breech, Sinus & Smooth Labour
Sarah was referred to our clinic by her midwife as her baby was breech. She also had on-going sinus issues that she didn’t know could be helped with acupuncture.
Over eight weeks of treatment she was given acupuncture and moxibustion as well as advice on diet and lifestyle techniques to assist with her sinuses and turning her baby. We explained what was involved with the acupuncture techniques, which points would be used and what Sarah could also do herself at home to continue the treatment.
Her sinuses were so much improved as the weeks went by however, by week 37, the baby hadn’t turned so Sarah enlisted the help of a trained specialist who physically attempted to turn Lia around during a procedure called an ECV. (Sometimes when the natural treatment alone doesn’t work, the combination of the acupuncture with an ECV can be very effective, much more effective than an ECV alone for example. Having said this, in 75% of cases a baby will turn if treated between week 33 and 36 according to several studies. Click here to read up on breech research.
This was successful and Lia stayed head down until her very speedy delivery of 2.5 hours. This labour and delivery was extremely different in duration to her first one and Sarah was positive that the regular treatment was a major contributing factor.
Haemorrhoids
Afrodite developed a painful prolapsed haemorrhoid in the third trimester of her pregnancy which she fund debilitating. It was difficult for her to sit, walk and even sleep. She had never had acupuncture before but it was recommended to her for pregnancy by a friend who had been to our clinic and so she came.
After one treatment the haemorrhoid shrunk so much that all pain ceased which was a great relief to her. She found the acupuncture to be a gentle and calming treatment. She continued to come to our clinic to get her body and mind ready for birth. This involved calming her mind, relaxing muscles and tendons and ripening her cervix.
She went into labour naturally, however due to unforeseen circumstances she delivered via cesarian section. She felt very prepared for it all and was happy with her outcome as she entered the situation consciously. She found it to be a great journey and says she would happily do it all again.
Constipation & Sinusitis
In the early stages of Kim’s pregnancy she began to get constipated and her sinus problems were flaring up. She had heard acupuncture could be effective during pregnancy as it was natural and so she came to our clinic after finding us on-line.
After a few sessions her constipation had dramatically reduced and her sinuses were much clearer. Along with the acupuncture, diet and lifestyle recommendations were made according to her particular symptoms. She was surprised at the results as she had heard constipation was just part and parcel of pregnancy and that nothing much could be done. She was also glad to find that acupuncture could relieve her sinuses as she wasn’t looking forward to nine months without any kind of help for them.
Interestingly from a Chinese medical point of view these symptoms are linked. The Large Intestine is the Yang organ in the Metal element and the Lungs are the Yin organ in the Metal element. So clearing up the symptoms of one will usually clear up the other, much to the surprise of the client!
Breech & a Blood Virus Affecting Eyesight
Jade came to our clinic as her baby was breech and she had heard that acupuncture could help turn her baby. She had also been suffering from a virus in her blood that had caused her to become partially blinded early in her first trimester. Because she was pregnant, the usual drugs could not be administered and she was on strict bed rest to improve her immune system.
She was given the treatment for breech and took home a moxibustion stick so she could continue it daily for ten days heating the edge of her little toe. She came to the clinic on a weekly basis for almost two months to prepare for birth and to improve her immune system.
The baby turned a few days after her initial treatment at the clinic. Within a few weeks she had another test on her eye and the Doctor was shocked to note that the once dormant virus that had remained there for months during her pregnancy had now completely disappeared. He could provide no explanation for this.
Sciatica
Hayley started to feel the pain of sciatica around five months into her pregnancy. She was fearful it would escalate as her mother’s did when she was pregnant with her. Hayley’s mum was in so much pain by seven months she couldn’t walk and she was keen to avoid this.
After researching on-line she found that acupuncture could be helpful and so she came to our clinic. After three treatment sessions she was free from pain and was excited to be able to enjoy her pregnancy again.
After reducing her symptoms to a very manageable level we started to work on her constitution to strengthen it to get her ready for birth. She continued to come frequently until she moved up north.
Acupuncture for Kids
Persistent Coughs & Colds
Katie brought her son to the clinic when he was a few months old as he was suffering recurrent coughs and colds. We went through his health history and mum’s diet as she was breastfeeding at the time.
He was treated with a gentle all over body treatment called Shonishin, which is Japanese for “Children’s needle therapy”. No needles as we know them today are used, instead special small metal tools are used to work the body all over and stimulate the child’s energy called “Qi”.
He responded very well to the first treatment and came twice a week for a few weeks to make sure his system was sufficiently strengthened. Now he is old enough to talk he loves coming to the “tickling lady” as he finds the treatments fun to receive. He no longer gets sick very often and if anything does start to linger, Katie brings him in. Our clinic has become an invaluable part of Katie’s family’s health care and sickness prevention strategy.
Eczema & Vomiting
Amy brought her son Tom to the clinic when he was four months old. He vomited regularly after feeds and suffered from eczema. Amy was keen to try a natural solution as her son was so young.
We went through Amy’s diet in detail and took out some potential problematic foods according to Chinese dietary therapy. Tom was treated with Shonishin, “Children’s Needle Therapy” where certain points on his body were stimulated – those relating to his digestion and skin. Tom had many bowel movements per day still, which indicated his digestion was weak. So we strengthened his system as well as encouraged heat to leave his body.
Within a few treatments his poos were firmer and less frequent indicating his digestive system was improving. His skin was looking less red and he was vomiting less however he would need to come twice a week for two months to make these improvements stick.
After he had completed two months of treatment we didn’t see him for a while. After some months of solids he was back as his eczema was flaring up and he was also getting sores that would get larger and spread reasonably quickly. He had had antibiotics for them however it seemed to keep recurring.
Immediately he was put onto pro-biotics for babies to help strengthen his gut immunity. He was given Chinese herbal medicine to help with the sores and Shonishin to regulate his overall system. Soon his sores were improving as were his eczema and bowels. His mum had had to become strict with his diet, which really helped keep his symptoms at bay in between treatments. As a result he was a much happier little man.
Women’s Health
Stress & Low Energy
Simone came to the clinic with high levels of stress and low energy. She was ready to try something new to help her feel better. She had heard about our clinic through a friend.
After six weekly treatments she was feeling much more relaxed and that she had a whole lot more energy. She hadn’t had acupuncture before and surprised to find it was gentle and super relaxing. She found it helped with much more than her stress levels. She hadn’t even realised how poor her breathing was until she could breathe from her nose properly for the first time in ages. She also noticed her usual stress skin rashes had gone away.
She was so impressed by her results that she continues to come once a month, three years later.
Stress, Depression & Poor Immunity
Sarah began acupuncture treatment with our clinic because she was highly stressed at work, battling depression and was often going away for work and getting sick. She lived a fast paced life with not much down time for her and her body.
Immediately after the first treatment she felt a whole lot better, more relaxed and less stressed. She came to the clinic as often as her work schedule would allow and so it was a little eratic at times with all the overseas travel. During these times she was given Chinese herbal medicine to improve her immunity and also to help with her depression.
Her stress levels over time became much more manageable and her immune system and mood improved markedly. If she remembered to look after herself and take her herbs she was fine.
The acupuncture made such an improvement in her life that she worked it in as often as possible and has been coming to the clinic now for the past four years.
Recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections with over use of Antibiotics
Sally had been suffering many upper respiratory infections that would invariably go to her chest and become a secondary infection that she simply couldn’t shake on her own. She had taken course after course of antibiotics and things were not improving. To say the least she was very frustrated and sort out a natural solution. She found our clinic on-line as she had heard acupuncture and Chinese herbs maybe able to her strengthen her immune system.
She was coming down with an infection the day she came to our clinic. She was given a gentle immune strengthening acupuncture treatment as well as some herbs to help clear it. The difference between Chinese herbal medicine and antibiotics is that the herbs help your body to heal itself at the same time as having anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Hence they are killing of the bad guys at the same time as strengthening the good guys in your system.
Sally was impressed as that infection never made it to her chest and she didn’t need to reach for another box of antibiotics. She continued to see us over the next six months where we steadily improved her immune system to the point where she wasn’t coming down with anything much at all. She had herbs on hand in her cupboard and knew what to take if she had any early symptoms of anything. This really helped her body to heal and she is much stronger and healthier today than ever before.
Chronic Fatigue
Katrina is a midwife and registered nurse who came to our clinic after noticing a flyer in a local café. She had been battling fatigue for over twelve years.
She began weekly acupuncture treatments for eight weeks and then had a break of three weeks before starting another eight-week block. She has had a marked increase in her energy levels and finds the acupuncture also helps to manage many of the other symptoms that come and go as a result of the fatigue such as lower back and neck pain, elbow pain, foot pain and depression.
She has been coming to the clinic consistently now for two and a half years and says she is particularly fussy about practitioners but has been exceptionally impressed with our clinic.
Insomnia
Maria didn’t understand why she would wake up every night at three o’clock in the morning. In Chinese medicine theory, energy (or qi) circulates through the twelve principal meridians (channels of energy through the body, connected to our major organ systems) over a 24-hour period.
When someone is waking up or has any symptom at the same time every day, it is likely that there is an imbalance in that organ system that peaks at that time of day. For Maria, it was the Liver meridian that related to her 3:00am waking. The liver is responsible for moving energy through the channels and can get stuck when emotions aren’t flowing as well – i.e. with stress, and anger.
Maria knew that she wasn’t very good at dealing with stress, and found that she got stressed easily at work, and would get really frustrated and angry in bad traffic. With acupuncture and our advice of doing some more cardio exercise (that helps energy circulate better), she found herself sleeping beautifully through the night within a matter of weeks. We also directed her to other techniques that would help her manage her stress better in the long term.
Fertility
Fertility After Miscarriage
Tina first went to see Rebecca for carpal tunnel syndrome. After her course of visits, not only were her hands feeling a lot better but she felt refreshed and recharged and was keen to continue to help preserve her health and wellbeing.
Tina had a break from the clinic after her carpel tunnel improve however came back after she’d experienced a miscarriage because she wanted some support physically and emotionally to try to conceive again. Her husband also started coming for treatment at this point which ensured they were both in peak condition for conception.
We recommended an appropriate diet as well as pointers on what would help with conception this time around. This involved “warming” Tina’s womb with acupuncture and moxibustion as it was “cold” which doesn’t help fertility from a Chinese medical perspective.
We treated Tina throughout her pregnancy and in the lead up to her birth. Her birth “was a breeze” and she said she was so glad she placed herself in our care. She would not have done it any other way. She said we were very gentle and she always felt a wonderful energy when arriving and leaving her appointment. She looks forward to doing it all again with the next baby.
Pre-Conception & Pregnancy Care ~ Stephanie’s Story
Stephanie and her husband longed for a healthy, happy little baby. She’d heard acupuncture could help her prepare and so came to our clinic. We educated her about the importance of both partners preparing to conceive. As part of that preparation process she undertook fortnightly acupuncture sessions to assist with regulating her cycle after years of using the contraceptive pill and gave her info on diet and lifestyle that they could both take on board.
During the later stages of her pregnancy, we assisted Stephanie with getting the baby into the correct position for a natural delivery. It was breech but turned nicely so she was able to have the birth she’d hoped for. The techniques were fully supported by her Obstetrician. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 41 weeks.