Acupuncture and Hypnopuncture can improve Fertility Success
Fertility improvement is one of the most sought-after treatments in acupuncture. There is little doubt that trying to get pregnant can be a very frustrating and difficult journey. While modern medicine has improved the chances of pregnancy, there is still that certain mysterious “magic” that is just out of reach of the medical community. This is where acupuncture comes into play.
How does acupuncture improve the chances of pregnancy? Simply put, for women, it balances out hormonal fluctuations and improves blood flow to the uterus. For men, it again balances out hormonal fluctuations and improves the function/performance of sperm production.
Let’s first take hormone balance. For women and men, reproduction is very much tied to hormone stability. Taking women as an example (as most of my fertility patients are women), physical and emotional stress as well as genetics can disrupt the daily flux of hormonal shifts. Every day, every week, a woman’s cycle fluctuates responding to internal and external environmental changes. The more stressed a woman’s body and mind are, the more erratic those fluctuations are. The body is a living, highly-intelligent organism. For pregnancy to succeed, it knows it needs to make a happy home for the embryo. The more stress the body endures, the less happy the "home", or uterus, is for reproduction. Acupuncture stimulates the parasympathetic side of the nervous system (rest and relax/repair part of the nervous system). It calms the mind and the body down, allowing for the dynamic fluctuations of the hormone system to level out within normal ranges. Acupuncture also boosts the adrenals, ovaries, thyroid and hypothalamus (the organs involved in hormonal regulation) to their optimal function. By leveling out the physical and mental stress on the body, the reproductive system comes back into balance. This, similarly, is the case with men’s hormonal system.
Now let’s take a look at blood flow and production. Having a healthy, moderately thick uterine lining is the “home” for the impending fertilized egg. Without a happy home, the body cannot sustain embryo growth. In 1996, a major study found that acupuncture reduces blood flow impedance to uterine arteries. This study proved that acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus, allowing for that happy home. Additionally, stimulation of the uterus and ovaries can improve their function, leading to more egg production and increasing the chances of mature eggs (especially when doing IVF treatment). This is similarly so in healthy sperm production.
When you take acupuncture treatments that can help regulate the hormones, and encourage blood flow to the uterus, and combine it with hypnosis, which can help reframe subconscious habits and patterns of thinking, then the treatment effects are amplified.
While acupuncture cannot guarantee a viable pregnancy, it can and has been shown to increase the chances. It boosts conventional medicine’s chances of success within the first trimester. It is advised for a patient to see an acupuncturist once a week for, at least, three menstrual cycles. This allows the body to come back into dynamic hormonal balance and improve blood flow to reproductive organs.
Anne Gordon
Kirkland, WA
by Anne Gordon
Over the past 20 years, the medical community has started to combine acupuncture and hypnotherapy together to treat conditions with a psychosomatic (mind-body disorder) element. The results have been extremely positive. While acupuncture alone can create profoundly positive changes in the body, engaging the subconscious mind to help facilitate healing through hypnotherapy increases the effectiveness of acupuncture and takes it to new heights!
Acupuncture is a 3000 year old system of medicine that has been practiced for generations. The Chinese mapped out the body’s neurological and cardiovascular system, and realized that there are “junctions” in the body where nerves and veins came together in bundles. If these junctions, or acupuncture points are stimulated, some pretty astonishing things happen. From there, they formulated a system to heal many different symptoms and conditions.
Modern clinical studies are now learning what exactly transpires in the body when acupuncture is utilized. Acupuncture helps in the following ways: 1) Improves blood circulation, 2) Calms the nervous system, 3) Increases organ function, 4) Decreases pain levels, 5) Balances the hormone system, 6) Boosts the immune system, 7) Heals damaged tissue, 8) Relaxes the musculoskeletal system, 9) Decreases systemic inflammation, 10) Calms the mind.
Hypnotherapy has been recognized by the medical community for over a century to have a valid use in certain conditions. As early as 1892, the British Medical Association has studied its efficacy and, in the 1950s both the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association has adopted its use, claiming “For the past hundred years there has been an abundance of evidence that psychological and physiological changes could be produced by hypnotism which is worth study of their own account, and also that such changes might be of great service in the treatment of patients.” Hypnotherapy taps into our subconscious where our motivations/urges, our self-worth, our memories, all our meaningful decisions are stored. Whatever our subconscious believes in, that is what our body believes. If our subconscious believes we are sick, our body believes it as well. Changing our subconscious has a direct power to induce our inner healing functions, thus, helping alleviate symptoms. The adage, “Mind over Matter”, truly does exist where hypnotherapy is concerned.
By combining the two therapies into one session, the body takes on a whole new level of healing that is fast, powerful and effective.
Anne
Kirkland, WA
by Anne GordonKirkland, WA
January 27, 2021
Ok, so you've got your appointment scheduled for the first round of COVID vaccine. Yay!!!
How do you prepare? I've been consulting with my colleagues in Chinese, Western and Homeopathic Medicine about this, and have seen some commonalities in ideas. First and foremost, eat something an hour or so before you go in. Stay hydrated with water, and give your liver a break a day or two before your appointment...lay off of the vino! Seriously, we know alcohol can cause inflammation, something you don't want before any vaccination, so just abstain for a day or two, before and post vaccination.
The single biggest side effect seems to be a very sore arm and/or fatigue after the first dose. So just take it easy afterwards, knowing that it will soon pass. And if you feel any kind of fever-ish response, that too is OK - in fact, it's great! - as it means your own immune system is working hard to create COVID 19 antibodies. Western docs would advise you to take an analgesic, but in Chinese Medicine, we'd encourage you to just let your body do it's thing. Rest. Hydrate. Know that this is a good thing. My colleague, who is a homeopath, recommends Thuja, to be taken right after the vaccination (NOT BEFORE!). This will help your body detox. You can take 3 of the little pellets, three times a day for a day. For arm pain, you can try some light gua sha and some Traumeel, or Ledum Palustre. Also, hey, acupuncture! I know, more needles, but it works great for fatigue and detox post vaccination. One thing I wouldn't recommend here is Chinese Herbals that clear heat and toxins, as they are antiviral, and we WANT the body to have an immune response to the vaccine. Vitamin C is wonderful if you're still feeling fatigued a day or two later it can help your body detox.
Wishing you the very best in health,
Anne
by Anne GordonKirkland, WA
January 27, 2021
"It feels like winning the lottery"...if you're one of the lucky ones who were fortunate to have gotten the COVID vaccine.
A lot of people were on the fence about getting the COVID vaccination when the vaccine rollout first began, me included. We wanted to see more data, more research. And now, there seems to have been a huge tidal shift...people (me included) are actively beginning to seek out vaccination sites only to realize that there are no appointments available. Zero. Zilch. Ninguna. And if that weren't bad enough, it now appears that there is only enough vaccine to vaccinate those who are getting their second dose.
So how can you track down a vaccine? I heard this piece on NPR yesterday about "tech people" in California, who were equally frustrated with finding vaccine availability, who created a COVID-19 vaccine data base. That got me thinking...we live in a very tech savvy place. Couldn't we follow suit and find some technologists and volunteers who could create a data base spending time calling the places that could have the vaccine and putting those who say yes in a single place? A website that offers much more accurate data in a more timely way than even the federal government's delivering, at least today? Keep checking back for more information.
Yours in health,
Anne
Atha Wellness is proud to present a new and very special offering for ....YOU!
Ahh, what to say about 2020? ( I could say a LOT, but I won't, because I want to focus on the year ahead...2021.) Most of it felt like an insurmountable challenge - AND we moved on, one day at at time. Taking care with the food we ate, how we stayed active, even the air we breathed...all of that has helped us stay grounded in the present while envisioning a hopeful and kinder future. Isn't that what true wellness is about?
It's in that spirit of holistic wellness that Atha Wellness welcomes you to come take a private individualized retreat in a quiet and luxurious setting to help you reset your health and wellbeing. This retreat is a one-on-one individualized retreat to focus on just you, and/or a friend or family member if you so choose.
What is it you're looking forward to in 2021? Could it be health, wellness, kindness, sunshine? Starting a family? Whatever is calling you to come on retreat, you’ll find it here with daily acupuncture and moxibustion, yoga, hiking, meditation, and delicious meals prepared especially in accordance with Chinese Medicine food therapy principles.
For more information, click here.
FIND THE SOLUTION FOR INSOMNIA, APNEA, AND EVEN ANXIETY
January 18, 2021
Sleep/Acupuncture/Anxiety/Insomnia/Stress/Apnea/Restless Leg Syndrome
Thomas Dekker once said that “Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. "
Do any of these sound familiar?“
I can’t remember the last time I slept straight through the night.”
“I want to sleep when I’m supposed to be awake, and I want to be awake when I’m supposed to be sleeping. Help!”
“I’m so tired of taking medication to fall asleep.”
“My sleep apnea wakes me up hourly.”
“I’m too stressed to sleep. I might as well keep working.”
Many of us struggle with sleep issues, but very few of us take sleep deprivation seriously. At Atha Wellness, we focus on sleep health for a reason. Actually, many reasons:
An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans experience chronic sleep disorders, and a staggering amount of adults report falling asleep during the day without intention at least once a month.
Sleep deficiency has been a factor in tragic accidents linked to human error and slowed reaction times, including aviation and transportation accidents.
Sleep deficiency is linked to heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and depression.
Sleep deficiency affects work performance, athletic prowess, healing from injuries and illness, and the well-being of our personal lives.
And, of course, sleep deprivation is a contributing factor in rapid aging.
There are, of course, a wide variety of sleep medications readily available in an overstocked pharmacy aisle, but have you considered acupuncture treatment? Acupuncture’s benefits are far-reaching when it comes to healing the conditions that cause insomnia:
It reduces stress and anxiety that keep us awake.
Do you suffer from restless leg syndrome or other physical ailments that feel more severe at night? Acupuncture relieves congestion and blockages by balancing the flow of blood and fluids of the body’s circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems. For those suffering from sleep apnea, acupuncture strengthens the tongue and prevents it from blocking your airway.
Does your chronic or acute pain management involve prescription drugs? Acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing mechanisms with improved blood circulation and oxygenation to ease the pain and tension.
Is your weight having an effect on your energy levels, health, and appearance? Acupuncture can eliminate toxins and invigorate your path to better health.
Sleep should be a dream. If you’re struggling with insomnia or any other symptoms contributing to your sleep disorder, acupuncture could be the remedy you need.
Wishing you many great night's sleep,
Anne at Atha Wellness
Kirkland, WA
by Anne GordonAcupuncture and Herbal Medicine to Boost Your Immune System
Here we are again! Fall is upon us, and as the leaves begin to change and the air begins to cool, we begin to actively shift from the warmer summer months into preparing for the winter ahead. Collectively we’ve been “social distancing” to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and as places open and we begin to venture out, we’re faced with the dilemma of how we can keep ourselves healthy and well, AND begin to rejoin our community.
This is where acupuncture and herbal medicine can be hugely helpful.
Acupuncture has been shown to boost the immune system by increasing the number of T-cells in the body; these cells can destroy dangerous bacteria and viruses. Scientists believe acupuncture increases T-cells because the body may view the acupuncture needles as a threat, sending white cells and T-cells to fight this off. The boost of T-cells in the body lasts for several days after an acupuncture session. Research also indicates acupuncture increases the body's levels of interferon, one of the messenger hormones of the immune system. Acupuncture is also helpful in regulating the digestive tract and keeping the elimination pathways open – this is important because if we do come into contact with a virus, we can naturally expel it (along with other waste products😉).
Not only can acupuncture boost the immune system by increasing the number of T-cells, it can help boost the immune system by reducing stress, anxiety and depression. There have been numerous studies showing that weekly acupuncture sessions can relieve the symptoms of depression or anxiety for months, with results comparable to those associated with counseling. A few clinical trials have found similar results, claiming that acupuncture likely triggers the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters.
Herbal medicine can also help us stay well. Many herbs have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and can be used prophylactically. It’s important to consult with a licensed herbalist to find the right formula for you.
Prevention is your best friend:
Of course we all know the hand washing bit. It’s super important to wash off any nasties that we come into contact with, and that we might inadvertently put into our bodies via the eyes, nose or mouth.
Here are some other things that you can do:
Keep yourself warm, eat warm and nutritious food, and get a good night’s sleep.
Cold enters the body through the bottoms of the feet and through the back of the neck, just under the occiput. If you know any acupuncturists, that’s why they are always going on about wearing socks and a scarf!
Cold also enters our stomachs. Fall is the time of year when we’ll want to switch from eating cooling summer foods to warmer foods like sweet potatoes, onions, pears, walnuts. Cook them! Raw foods are very cooling to the body and overtime can damage the Stomach/Spleen in Chinese Medicine.
Some other factors that make us more susceptible to catching colds are not getting enough good quality sleep, poor nutrition (highly processed foods, refined sugars, diet sodas, etc), emotional stress, and overwork. Good food, good sleep and good stress reduction techniques are essential to a healthy immune system.
Act quickly at the first sign of cold or flu!
Chinese Medicine diagnoses colds as either Wind-Cold or Wind- Heat. Each diagnosis has its own unique set of symptoms and treatment strategies. Wind-Cold presents as chills, aversion to cold, stiffness in the upper part of the body, like the neck, and no sweating. Wind-Heat symptoms are sore throat, feeling warm with a light sweat, irritability and aversion to heat.
If you have a Wind-Cold:
Watch your diet, cut out any phlegm producing foods (dairy, sugar, fried foods, orange juice) and drink a big cup of hot ginger tea (cut a one inch piece of fresh ginger root and steep it in hot water for 15 minutes and then drink Don’t have ginger? Try the same thing but with a cinnamon stick). Bundle up and take a nap. The warm tea and blanket will promote a sweat to resolve the condition. Hydrate well afterwards. Still not sweating? Try gua sha on the upper back and neck to open the pores to promote sweating.
If you have Wind- Heat:
Again, watch your diet, and remove any phlegm producing foods. You may already be sweating lightly, so hydrate with coconut water which will replace any fluids and electrolytes lost. As a bonus, coconuts are naturally antimicrobial. Consider drinking teas that are flowers, as flowers ascend and vent heat from the surface. Try mint or chamomile.
If you can, see an acupuncturist and herbalist to stop the cold in its tracks, or to lessen the severity and duration of the cold or flu. And as always, get plenty of rest.
Chinese Herbal Formulas:
The most common patent formulas for the treatment of early stage colds are “Gui Zhi Tang”, “Yin Qiao”, and “Gan Mao Ling”. Gui Zhi Tang, or Cinnamon Twig Decoction is used to treat Wind-Cold with cinnamon and fresh ginger, by warming the body and promote sweating. Yin Qiao contains very cooling herbs such as Forsythia and Honeysuckle. This formula should only be taken for Wind-Heat. Gan Mao Ling is neutral in temperature and can be taken for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat, or even be taken preventively. Please follow the dosing guidelines on the bottle, or consult with a Chinese Medicine Herbalist.
Wishing you a safe and healthy fall,
Anne
Kirkland, WA
