Tips for an Easier Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be accompanied by some uncomfortable symptoms but there are certainly ways to alleviate and prevent  things like cramps, nausea, insomnia or back pain.

Morning sickness

I am not sure why in English we refer to morning sickness as in my experience women can suffer from it in the morning, in the evening or even all day long!  Recent research at Liverpool University suggests it may be due to diet and certainly Chinese medicine advise to eat more of certain foods (plain whole foods, cereals such as oats and rice, plenty of vegetables, ginger) and avoid others (rich greasy foods, fried foods, sugar, ice cream, etc) . Also, it seems that in countries with diets high in cereals and pulses, there is a lower incidence or "morning" sickness.
In addition to diet, some smells such as smoke or perfume can act as triggers, but one thing that is pretty much a constant is that the nausea is usually worse on an empty stomach, which is why nibbling on dry biscuits can help.

Acupuncture is a popular alternative treatment and there are many reasons why people are sick.  In Chinese medicine you look at the root cause and treat that.  For instance treatment would differ depending on whether the nausea gets better or worse for eating, whether the person is tired and weak, whether there is a lot of acid reflux, whether is is worse at the end of a work day or in the morning upon waking, etc.  Dietary suggestions would differ slightly depending on the symptoms you present with as well.

Indigestion
As with many of the symptoms of pregnancy, indigestion is a consequence of the increased level of hormones relaxing many tissues in the body, including the valve from the stomach to the oesophagus.  It is obviously helpful to work out which foods trigger indigestion in your particular case.  Also, as pregnancy progresses, you may want to start eating smaller meals, especially in the evening, as the problem is exacerbated as the baby gets bigger.
If lying down makes the heartburn or acid reflux much worse, you may want to try sleeping with your head propped up slightly and during the day sitting up straight, rather than slumping.

Back Pain
During pregnancy, the body produces hormones to soften the pelvic ligaments in preparation for birth. Unfortunately, those hormones don't just get released locally and ligaments then to relax throughout the entire body, including around the spine and sacrum, which can lead to slight misalignment and lower back pain, and in more acute cases sciatica. This, combined with the weight of the baby, can lead to extra strain on the back.
Acupuncture, a great therapy for chronic back pain, can be especially useful if you start getting backache during pregnancy.  However, to prevent it from recurring, it is important to do your bit too so...
-  try and keep a good posture as much as possible and to avoid overarching your lower back (not always easy when you have all the extra weight on your abdomen but it is certainly helpful to consciously try and avoid it)
- avoid things that would make you arch your back such as wearing high heels (especially if you will be on your feet a lot), lifting heavy objects and standing for too long
- do light exercise such as pregnancy yoga and swimming (avoid breast stroke, which makes you arch your back to catch your breath).

Tiredness and Insomnia
In the first trimester you're exhausted and by the third you're suffering from insomnia. Tiredness may be nature's way of telling you to slow down, and if you can you should definitely try to get enough rest.  In the first few months nausea can be made worse if you are tired so resting can actually help you break the vicious circle of nausea/tiredness/more nausea. Later in pregnancy, poor sleep can be simply due to the fact that achieving a comfy position can be tough so use cushions and pillows to find what's comfortable; you can also use the special pregnancy pillows but normal pillows are usually fine if you play around to find the best position for you.
Acupuncture usually has a relaxing effect so it would help you get to sleep and stay asleep.  In Chinese medicine Blood deficiency is often linked to insomnia so make sure you don't suffer from anaemia and that you have a good nourishing diet including plenty of Blood nourishing foods.  Floradix iron supplement is great at this stage, also because it boosts iron levels without causing constipation, another common problem in pregnancy.

Fluid retention
"Fluid retention is a result of hormonal changes and the extra blood circulating," says Gillian Fletcher, former president of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and antenatal teacher.  It is important to get moving to get blood and fluids circulating so try walking (and if you are near  the sea a few minutes in the water will do wonders), or if you work at a desk try every now and again to put your feet up and circulating the ankles. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids as you need your kidneys to be working effectively for good circulation. Acupuncture can certainly help although it is often crucial to ensure that you physically relieve your legs, by being active or putting your feet up.

Leg cramps
They can be a sign of sluggish circulation and often doing brisk exercise with your ankles and calf muscles before bed it helps during the night. The sooner cramp is stretched out the better, so lean against the wall and stretch out the calf, or wake up your partner and get them to push your foot flat with your leg extended.
Leg cramps can be a sign of iron, magnesium or potassium deficiency or even dehydration so make sure to drink plenty of fluids, keep your iron and magnesium levels up and try having bananas to keep up potassium levels.

Blood Nourishing Foods

In Chinese Medicine, Blood and Qi have a close interdependent relationship. Both Qi and Blood circulate around the body through the meridians and blood vessels activating and nourishing the tissues.
The quality of our Blood is a measure of the available nourishment circulating in our body. Blood nourishes our muscles, organs, brain – every part of us. Its quality depends on the quality of food we eat, as well as our ability to absorb nourishment.
Blood can be easily improved through diet. As all food forms the basis of Blood, it is recommended to eat well and widely although certain foods will have a stronger effect on the blood (see table below).

Avoid or reduce	Beneficial foods	Dietary habits, cooking methods and other advice
- Fatty foods or deep fried foods - Processed foods or foods with chemicals/additives - Non essential drugs	Meat or fish in regular, small amounts: Chicken and eggs, pork, lamb or beef, liver (organic), oysters, mussels, cuttlefish, sardines, herring Vegetables (preferably cooked): Carrots, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, beetroots, avocado, black beans, kidney beans, aduki beans, eggplant, glutinous rice Fruit: dates, lychee, grapes, raisins, cherries, figs, mulberries Sesame seed, molasses, Chinese angelica	- Chew foods well and eat slowly and in a relaxed environment - Eat foods that are good quality, especially when eating liver make sure it is organic - Rest for a while after eating, especially after your main meal of the day - Preferred cooking methods are steaming, boiling, stewing and stir-frying - Raw fruit and vegetables in small quantities only

Strengthening Your Digestion

Acupuncture

Classical Acupuncture seeks to aid your body regain homeostasis and heal itself by achieving and maintaining an energetic balance throughout the body; this is achieved by treating at the level of the cause of the underlying imbalance.

Acupuncture can greatly help regulate your digestive system.  In addition you may experience a sense of relaxed calm and increased vitality, both of which will contribute greatly towards improving your digestion, as it has been shown that digestive problems can often be linked with stress and the person’s emotional state.

Dietary Therapy

Using food therapy and making the proper adjustments to your lifestyle will help restore you to a state of energetic balance, and encourage your body’s natural cycles to function efficiently again.

1. Include in your diet plenty of:

• Fresh, lightly cooked vegetables; avoid raw vegetables as they are more difficult for your stomach to process
• Fibres, especially from whole grains (but avoid wheat, especially white flour products) such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, millet, rye.
• Beans and lentils.
• Eat small amounts of animal protein as it is harder to digest and have fish and white meat rather than red meat or fatty meats (sausage, ham,…). Think of it as flavouring for your meals, rather than the core of it.
• These foods will help your digestion: carrot, potato, sweet potato, pearl barley, adzuki beans; in addition, adding aromatic spices and herbs to cooking like star anise, cardamom, coriander root, turmeric, cumin, caraway, marjoram and tarragon will help stimulate digestion.
• Linseeds in the morning will also help your digestion if it is sluggish; you can either have them on their own or sprinkled on your food.  You can get them from the health food shop.
• Probiotics can help strengthen your gut flora and can be either used as supplements or consumed through foods such as sauerkraut, miso, kefir, kemchi, among others.

2. Have herbal teas and plenty of water

Along with fibre intake, it is crucial to include plenty of fluids.  This may be water but in cases of constipation herbal teas can be a great help too.

There are herbs containing digestive enzymes that have been used for centuries to promote a healthy digestion and in many traditions herbal teas are taken daily as medicine.  For best digestive benefits, try drinking one of these teas 30 minutes to 1 hour after every meal:

• Peppermint: increases gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, soothes spasms, settles the stomach and alleviates gas.
• Liquorice: thought to have soothing and anti-inflammatory action that help relieve gastro-intestinal irritations.
• Ginger: soothes the stomach's digestive lining and balance gastric juices. It also facilitates the absorption of nutrients and the elimination of wastes.
• Chamomile: excellent herb for settling the stomach. It also soothes the nervous system and relaxes the muscles, making it a perfect choice for the evening.
• If tea is not your thing, you can get digestive benefits from drinking a glass of hot water with fresh lemon juice squeezed in it first thing in the morning (before food!). This lemon drink will help cleanse and move the residues from your intestines.

3. Avoid foods that may impair your digestion

• Avoid sugar: Our digestion is adversely affected by an excessive amount of sweet foods in the diet - reducing sweets and high GI (glycaemic index) foods like fruit juices will help to improve your digestion.
• Avoid "sweet" tasting food; this includes fruit!  Although rich in fibres, fruit also have a high sugar content, and too much sweet foods can impair your digestion so avoid high quantities of fruit. You can have some but in moderation.
• Avoid cold foods and drinks: drink room temperature or warm water; if you want cold water, drink it not too cold and use lemon or mint to make it more refreshing.
• Eat very little greasy or oily food
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid dairy
• Avoid caffeine, especially if your stools are dry: it is a diuretic and dries you out further.
• Avoid yeast
• Avoid processed foods and ready meals
• Spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper are beneficial IN MODERATION; too much of them leads to too much "heat" in your intestines, which you want to avoid when you have inflamed intestines or dry stools.

Avoid:

• Eating late at night
• Eating in a hurry
• Overeating
• Eating while stressed

4. Get moving

Regular exercise will get the energy moving in your body and should help a sluggish system where there is not enough energy to move the stool, as is often the case with constipation.

Exercise also will often help your body relax which will also help a slow digestion so whether you prefer yoga, a run outside or a brisk walk along the seafront get moving as often as possible.

Acupuncture and Skin Problems

Other conditions that can sometimes flare up in the Spring are some skin problems, especially eczema.  Although it may come as a surprise, acupuncture can be extremely useful for skin conditions, from eczema to psoriasis or urticaria. Factors leading to skin problems vary from environment allergens such as pollen, chemicals, soaps or specific fabric to stress or even the change in seasons!  It is often useful to address any potential dietary issues as our intestinal health is directly related to our immune system strength, and all those skin conditions are to some extent an overreaction of the immune system leading to inflammation to the skin.

How can acupuncture help?
Acupuncture often needs to be combined with dietary therapy when dealing with skin conditions. In terms of Chinese medicine, skin problems are associated with heat (if the skin is red and itchy or feels hot to the touch), dampness (if there are signs of oozing or fluid accumulation) among other things.  Some acupuncture points help the transformation of fluids in the body while other points are used to "clear heat" or cool the body.
Depending on the diagnosis and your diet/lifestyle, it may be useful to avoid certain types of foods while including others in your diet.  In most cases it will be helpful to avoid processed foods, dairy products (especially cow's milk), wheat products, sugar, fried and fatty foods, alcohol and it will be beneficial to include probiotics in your daily routine, as well as eating green leafy vegetables (the list of beneficial foods is likely to vary depending on the individual diagnosis however).  In addition, starting the day with lemon in hot water or wheat grass or a green juice will help stimulate the liver's ability to rid your body of toxins, which may also in turn help your skin.

Other helpful treatments
In some cases a food allergy test will isolate foods that may cause the problem.  To alleviate the symptoms topically you may find that creams and moisturisers with calendula, yarrow, lavender or chamomile are helpful in reducing the irritation.

Allergy Season is Back!

Spring is here and although most of us are rejoicing at the smell of orange blossoms and blooms in our gardens, those of us suffering from hay fever are most likely dreading this time of year! A time of growth in nature, spring is associated in Chinese medicine to the Wood element and when out of balance this time can give rise to irritations, which with hay fever usually begins at our nose and can travel, according to Chinese medicine, in eight directions! (east, west, south, north, in, out, up and down) to cause itchy eyes, sinusitis, headaches, sore throat, ear congestion, dizziness and infections.

Allergies are due to a hypersensitivity of our immune system to air-borne substances such as pollens, dust, dust mites, animal fur, feathers, spores, moulds, plants and chemicals. The condition is commonly called allergic rhinitis with symptoms of running nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and sore throat. If it affects the trachea and the lungs it may cause shortness of breath, chest congestion, wheezing and asthma. In severe cases hay fever can turns into a sinus infection.

Treatment

Avoiding allergens can keep the symptoms at bay but it is often hardly practical. Conventional therapies include antihistamines, decongestants, oral steroids, and corticosteroid sprays, bronchodilator inhaler, and allergy injections. However, these are not always sufficient and may have side effects over the long term.  Sometimes, using a combination of natural remedies and alternative treatments such as acupuncture may be all you need to relieve the symptoms.

Chinese medicine views the cause of allergies as an imbalance of our organ system. This imbalance can be caused by excessive stress in our life, poor dietary choices, sluggish digestion or hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause. A return to a state of balance, often through acupuncture as well as changes in dietary habits and lifestyle, leads to an improvement of the allergies.

For more information on managing your allergies naturally you can also read:
- Spring, the hayfever season where you will find our 10 tips to reduce your exposure to pollen
- Beating your allergies naturally, using acupuncture, diet and detoxing your liver

Tips

Sleep: a good night of sleep helps to calm our nerves and reduce our hypersensitivity, including to allergens. Most adults need about eight hours of restful sleep, while children need nine to ten hours.

Regular exercise: helps improve blood circulation, relax the nervous system and strengthen our immune system.

A home remedy of saline drainage can also be helpful in some situations. Mix three teaspoonfuls of salt with warm water. In the shower, tilt your head back and slowly pour the saline water into your nostrils. It may burn initially, but you may also feel better in the morning when you wake up.

Acupressure: A frequently used point, Large Intestine 20, located right next to both sides of the nose, in the groove beside each nostril, is an effective point for sinus allergy (see image below for location). Massages can also be applied on this point by using both index finger, applying steady, penetrating finger pressure to both points for three minutes every half hour until symptoms get better.

Herbs such as stinging nettle, chrysanthemum, angelica or magnolia, can be used for sinus allergy and infection.

Preventive measures are often the most effective and should be considered as the allergy season begins.  This can include acupuncture as well as lifestyle changes if necessary.

Acupuncture for Eczema and Psoriasis - research and information

From www.acupuncture.org.uk

There are few published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic eczema and psoriasis. Two small RCTs found that acupuncture reduced itch in patients with atopic eczema (Pfab 2011; Pfab 2010). On the other hand, a small RCT of acupuncture for psoriasis concluded that classical acupuncture is not superior to sham acupuncture (Jerner 1997). Sham interventions are not inactive placebos, but effectively different versions of acupuncture, so their value in evaluating treatment efficacy is highly questionable.

In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress (Hui 2010)

Acupuncture may help to relieve symptoms in people with atopic eczema and psoriasis by reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Zijlstra 2003; Kavoussi 2007);regulating mediators of the allergic reaction to extrinsic allergens, for example Ig-E (Rao 2006), serum cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-, Ig-E) (Okumura 2002), and basophils (Pfab 2011);enhancing natural killer cell activities and modulating the number and ratio of immune cell types (Kawakita 2008);increasing local microcirculation (Komori 2009), which aids dispersal of swelling;

Acupuncture for polycystic ovaries and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

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Moxa and Moxibustion

Acupuncture is about more than just needles. In fact, the Chinese word that typically gets translated as acupuncture, zhenjiǔ, actually means “acupuncture and moxibustion.” Though not as well known as acupuncture, moxibustion is a treatment with an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. Moxibustion involves burning moxa (a herb also known as mugwort or artemisia vulgaris) on or near an acupuncture point.  Moxibustion generates heat on the point or in the area and is thought to strengthen blood, promote the free flow of energy and blood throughout the body, and enhance wellbeing.

What is moxibustion like?

Moxibustion can be used in many ways, either as a moxa stick over an area (great for period pain, or joint aches and pains), at the end of a needle or directly on an acupuncture point. Direct moxibustion relies on placing the burning moxa on the skin, while indirect moxibustion is when the burning moxa is held an inch or so above the skin. Although generally used in conjunction with acupuncture, it can be used with or without acupuncture needles. In some cases, the moxa is set on ginger or salt to create a barrier that protects the skin.

Moxibustion is particularly effective for cold, damp and stagnant conditions and is often a calming and pleasant therapy at it creates a pleasant sensation of warmth throughout the body.

What is it used for?

Moxa typically is applied to places where there is stuck energy or pain, or where the body feels cold and can also be used to strengthen the immune system (because of its effect on the blood). Issues treated by moxibustion include obstetrical conditions, such as breech babies, menstrual cramps, pain from injury or arthritis, digestive problems, frozen shoulder, and even colds and flu.
Generally, during an acupuncture treatment, moxa is used on areas corresponding to acupuncture points, which is why moxa is said to enhance the effect of acupuncture needles. A classical Chinese text about acupuncture says, “When a disease fails to respond to medication and acupuncture, moxibustion is suggested.”

Moxibustion is however not indicated if you present symptoms of internal heat, it is therefore important to ask your practitioner if the practice is right for you.

Does moxa hurt?

Moxa should not hurt but if however the moxibustion ever feels too hot, tell your acupuncturist and he or she will remove it immediately.

What does moxa look like?

There are many different types of moxa (see image below). There is loose moxa, moxa that has been molded into sticks, and okyu (moxa that’s rolled into small pieces about the size of a rice grain). There are also moxa boxes, moxa sticks, smokeless moxa sticks, tiger warmers among others.

Certain moxa types are better suited for smaller areas while others are used to bring heat to a larger area on the body.

Can I do moxa on myself?

Yes. One of the safest ways to do moxa on yourself is to use a moxa stick, which does not get applied directly to the skin but held about an inch above the skin to produce a warming effect on the general area.
At this time of year, when we are feeling the lingering chill of winter, moxibustion can go a long way in making you feel better.