Category: General Health Conditions

Acupuncture for Menopausal Symptoms

25/11/2016

So many women (up to 50%) suffer with hot flushes, these are usually attributed to the changes that our bodies go thru when we reach menopausal age.
What causes them?
Changes in hormone levels (increased Gonadotropins) can cause night sweats and day time hot flushes in addition to other unwanted side effects such as disturbed sleep, depression and headaches. Not much is actually understood about the aetiology of hot flushes, Western medicine believes that an increase in Gonadotropins is to blame. These are vital to the normal function of our endocrine system which is responsible for growth, sexual development and our reproduction functions.
There are other explanations which involve the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that controls temperature. It is thought that when hormone levels drop, as part of the menopause, the hypothalamus wrongly thinks you are too hot sending more blood to the skin and causing the body to sweat to cool the skin down!!
What does TCM think?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine we look at these symptoms slightly differently, whilst acknowledging that this decline in the bodies’ resources is a natural part of a women’s life. The bodies energy (Qi) and Blood are no longer needed to power reproduction and instead are concentrated on maintaining vitality into later life, this can sometime cause an imbalance which needs assistance to right itself.
Of the systems involved the Kidneys are of greatest importance, these are responsible for a great many things in Chinese medicine, such as;

Storing Jing (this the original Qi) controls birth, development, reproduction and growth
Produces marrow and Rules the bones
Rule Water and Water metabolism
Is the residence of willpower

Therefore when problems with menopause start it’s usually rooted in a Kidney Deficiency issue. By strengthening the Kidneys we can restore balance and reduce the number and the severity of many symptoms. The Kidneys have a cooling and nourishing action, and therefore help with symptoms such as dry skin and hot flushes. They also ‘rule the bones’ so it is vital to keep the Kidneys strong to ensure bone health and reduce the likelihood of early osteoporosis.
Another area which acupuncture can help greatly with is emotional wellbeing. During a significant time of change many women experience mood swings, stress and disturbed sleep patterns. Most people find acupuncture a very relaxing experience and treatments can be tailored to encompass all of the individual symptoms that a women might be feeling.
What else can you do to help?
Other ways to help are ensuring you have a healthy balanced diet and not to eat too much cold or raw food. One very good thing to try is Bone Broth, this old fashioned recipe can be found in many cultures, it has a strengthening and nourishing effect on a number of the key systems – Kidneys, Liver, Lungs and Spleen. You can find out more about this and the recipe here on my website; http://www.eastnorwichacupuncture.co.uk/blog/nourishing-bone-broth
It is also important not to over exert yourself, exercise is beneficial so make sure you do some regularly, but do not over do it! Get plenty of rest and keep well hydrated.
If you would like to find out whether acupuncture can help you, call me for an informal chat on 07794 844196 or email me at coletteogle@sky.com

Recent studies/articles;
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279714.php
https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+Menopause

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Acupuncture for Hayfever and Allergies

12/5/2015

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Did you know that Auricular (ear) Acupuncture is great for all types of conditions including hayfever and allergies?

I use a combination of points on the ear, like Anti-histamine point , Allergy Point, Shen Men (great for relaxing) and also points on the body to create a unique combination for you and your condition. I then place ear seeds on points like Sneezing Point, Anti-histamine etc so that when you leave me you can press them to help with symptoms in between visits.

I'm getting great results with this approach.

Here's a review I received this just last week - 'A lovely lady who has a genuine interest in making you feel better. After my first visit my hay fever was 80% better. Thanks to Collette I now sleep at night and am taking virtually no drugs.' - Lindsey Smith

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Cupping.......do you know what this therapy can do?

15/4/2015

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Cupping is not just a therapy that is used as a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been found depicted in Egyptian drawings, African artefacts and was widely used in America and Europe up until the 19th century.

Cupping can be used in many therapeutic ways, for pin & injury and generl health improvements.

Cupping Methods
There are 3 main ways of cupping with some differences within these;

Dry or Suction Cupping – probably the most commonly used nowadays, this form of cupping uses suction created by a hand held pump. The cups are made of strong plastic, which can easily been cleaned or are rubber/silicone which are squeezed to create the suction.

Fire Cupping – this method of cupping uses glass cups. The practitioner uses a piece of cotton wool which is soaked in 95% alcohol, the cotton wool is lit and when it is placed under the cup and then very quickly removed it creates a vacuum on the skin – not used at ENA.

Wet Cupping – with this method the practitioner pricks the skin with a specialised tool to make numerous very small punctures. When the cups are applied blood is sucked up into the cups. This method uses glass cups which can easily be sterilised after use – not used at ENA.

All of the above methods can be used as Static cups, this simple means the cups are applied at one location and left there for a period of time usually between 5 and 25 mins depending on the condition we are treating and the desired outcome. Dry cupping and Fire cupping can also be applied using the Moving cupping method, this means that the cups will be applied and then moved over the skin, in a massage type way to improve circulation for facial treatments and well-being.

At EAST Norwich Acupuncture I only use the Dry Cupping method either as Static or Moving cups depending on the condition. For general well-being, pain & injury treatments I use plastic cups and a hand held pump and for facial treatments I use small soft flexible silicone cups.

Whichever method is used, each client is individually assessed to ensure their particular treatment requirements are met.

Treatment Options -
Tonifying – this means we aim to use the cups as a tonic to the system, strengthening and improving the function of the organs or improving Qi & Blood circulation. We can vary the strength of the cups accordingly -

‘weak’ - for very deficient patients, the client should not feel any discomfort or pain, and there should be no bruising or blistering but could be some slight reddening of the area. This strength of cupping can be used anywhere on the body and on children under the age of 7

‘medium’ - for those with stronger energies but still need tonifying. There could be some light bruising which would lonely last a couple of days. This strength can be used for children over 7

Draining – this means we aim to strongly influence Qi & Blood and also we use this when we wish to eliminate internal/external pathogens and severe stagnation.

‘strong’ - is only used where the client has strong Qi and requires this action to remove excessive amounts of Heat or pathogenic factors. There could be some very dark purple bruises appear which may last a number of days. This method should be introduced slowly, building up over a number of treatments. It is not suitable for children under 14 years old, during pregnancy or the for very frail or weak patients. Not suitable on the face, stomach or abdomen.

Here used on a client with lower back pain, the redness shows stagnation which can lead to pain. As this client was deficient, I only used light/med strength cups and this means the marks will fade over a couple of days.

Give me call on 07794 844196 if you would like to find out how cupping could help you. Some typical conditions which benefit from cupping are;

Lower back pain
Common cold & flu
Muscular pain & injury
Tiredness
Cough
Insomnia

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Yin & Yang...what's that all about then?

18/3/2015

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Yin & Yang are not actual things in the physical sense, the terms are used to describe the personality or characteristic of something. They are used to illustrate opposite and sometimes opposing forces. They also signify balance, as you cannot have one without the other.
Here are some examples that may make is easier to understand;
Yin: Moon, Female, Water, Passive, Shade
Yang: Sun, Male, Fire, Aggressive, Sunlight

This concept can then be expanded further by adding that they are interdependent, that is they cannot exist without each other. We cannot have night without day, so as night becomes day, there is Yin within Yang!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine we use Yin and Yang as a way of describing energy, emotions and functions which make our bodies and minds tick. Keeping a balance of Yin & Yang within our energy systems is the key to health.

There are four conditions of imbalance;
Excess of Yin
Excess of Yang
Deficiency of Yin
Deficiency of Yang

A good example is something we see quite often, Kidney Yin Deficiency, the symptoms of this condition can be dizziness, vertigo, weak lower back, weak knee joints, dry skin and night sweats etc. So in this case we use acupuncture to address this imbalance by replenishing the deficient Yin energy.

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My 5 Favourite Acupuncture Points

4/3/2015

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Really difficult to choose just 5, but I gave it a go! Some I luv cos I like to needle them, some because of the amazing actions they have and the results I get.

1. First up is Large Intestine 4 (on the hand)
This is one of the most powerful points on the body and probably the most commonly used. Great for any pain or discomfort of the head, inc. ear, nose and throat problems.

It can also be paired with other points to have an even more powerful effect, this is the one we use (along with SP6) to bring on labour when the baby is overdue!

Used with LIV3 it improves the circulation of Qi and Blood, so used for many conditions where stagnation and pain are involved. Its a great relaxation point too.

2. Spleen 6 (on the lower leg)
The Chinese name for this point SanYinJiao, is translated as Three Yin Crossing, this is because at this point 3 of the major Yin channels in the body cross over each other. Yin channels are important for maintaining many of the key functions in our bodies.

This therefore makes SP6 a very powerful and useful point when we are treating someone who needs strengthening.

It can be used for many menstrual conditions, insomnia, dizziness, tinnitus and other Yin deficiency related conditions. The Spleen channel is paired with the Stomach channel so we also use this point for digestive and absorption related conditions. The Spleen rules the Muscles so we use as a support point when treating many muscular skeletal problems. An all round top point!

3. Liver 3 (on top of the foot)
This powerful point helps calm the Liver, clear heat, reduce inflammation and importantly gets things moving, its Chinese name is translated as Great Rushing.

Used with LI4, on both hands and feet, these points together are known as the Four Gates. They are used to move Qi and Blood when there is stagnation, pain or injury. Its uses are basically endless!!

4. Bladder 23 (on the Lower Back)
This point is the most important point when treating lower back pain, though strictly speaking its 4 points as it works best as part of a formula, with BL24, BL52 and GV4. What we find is that many people with lower back pain have what we call, Kidney Yin Deficiency. By using this formula we can strengthen this system and this has amazing effect on back pain, with most people finding significant relief after only a few treatments.

5. YinTang (between the eyebrows)
Last but certainly not least is YinTang. This point is actually what is called an extra point, that is its not classed as being part of the 12 main meridians on the body, though uniquely amongst extra points it does actually lie on a the Governing Vessel meridian!!

Perhaps I should have mentioned this one first, as I often needle this first during a treatment, as it has a significant calming effect. It’s great to use for any stress or anxiety related conditions. It’s great for what’s known as ‘monkey mind’ when you just can’t stop those chattering monkeys in your head!

Call me on 07794 844196 to see if any of these points can help you

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Acupuncture for Menopausal Symptoms

Acupuncture for Hayfever and Allergies

Cupping.......do you know what this therapy can do?

Yin & Yang...what's that all about then?

My 5 Favourite Acupuncture Points

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