Acupuncture for Women’s Health

Acupuncture works to treat a wide range of conditions specific to women. While helping to balance the body so that it can regain physiological function, acupuncture also reduces stress and restores a sense of calm. This gentle, natural medicine focuses on treating the whole person, rather than the disease.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have proven effective in treating the following conditions relating to women’s health:

• PMS

• Menstrual Cramps and Irregularities

• Breast tenderness and Fibrocystic breasts

• Endometriosis

• Uterine fibroids

• Fertility-related conditions

• Pregnancy-related conditions

• Menopause-related conditions

Fertility

For women with fertility challenges, the use of acupuncture as a natural approach to pregnancy is well documented. A recent review of seven research trials of women undergoing in vitro fertilization found evidence of improved rates of pregnancy and live births among groups using acupuncture (University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2008).

Acupuncture helps to restore the body’s balance. From a Western perspective, studies show that acupuncture may:

• Increase blood flow to the uterus to promote implantation.

• Improve ovarian function, which may help produce better quality eggs and a larger number of follicles.

• Reduce side effects of drugs used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures.

• Decrease uterine contractions, intended to encourage implantation, and prevent early miscarriage.

• Reduce stress hormones and anxiety.

• Strengthen the immune system and support general health, possibly helping to prevent miscarriage.

Pregnancy

Acupuncture is a safe, natural, effective treatment for many common problems that occur during pregnancy. Unlike many pharmaceuticals, it is not contraindicated, and will not cause harm to the mother or baby.

However, there are certain acupuncture points that need to be avoided during pregnancy, because they are considered too strong. If there is a chance you may be pregnant, tell your acupuncturist, so she can modify your treatment to make it effective and more gentle.

Acupuncture is famous for its success rate in turning breech babies. It has proven success in helping to induce labor near or past the due date. During labor, studies have shown that women having acupuncture have overall faster and less painful deliveries. A recent study demonstrated that among women nearing their due dates, the randomized acupuncture group went into labor an average of 62 hours sooner than the control group, and had shorter labor times by more than two hours.

Pregnancy-related conditions that may be treated using acupuncture include:

• Psychological issues

• Physical problems

• Fatigue

• Morning Sickness

• Heartburn

• Constipation

• Hemorrhoids

• Back Pain and Sciatica

• Edema

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Postpartum moms also often face special problems that may be helped by acupuncture. These include:

• Fatigue

• Postpartum vaginal discharge

• Postpartum Depression

• Mastitis

• Insufficient or Excessive Lactation

• Post Operative Healing

Menopause

Acupuncture and herbal medicine often provide natural relief for symptoms associated with declining hormone levels.

The most widely researched menopause-related symptom is hot flashes. Western physicians commonly prescribe HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for menopausal symptoms. There is some controversy about this therapy, and acupuncture and chinese herbs are shown to be a safe and effective alternative. A recent Stanford study concluded that “acupuncture significantly reduced the severity of nocturnal hot flashes compared with placebo.”

Contact Us

Nicole Murray, L.Ac.

619.488.5515

www.beachcommunityacupuncture.com

info@beachcommunityacupuncture.com

Sources Cited:

Manheimer, E. et al. Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal. 2008 Mar 8;336(7643):545-9. Epub 2008 Feb 7.

Gaudet L.M., et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture for the initiation of labor at term: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada. 2008 Dec 30(12):1118-23.

Huang, M.I., et al. A randomized controlled pilot study of acupuncture for postmenopausal hot flashes: effect on nocturnal hot flashes and sleep quality. Fertility and Sterility. 2006 Sep;86(3):700-10.

Got Pain? Got Stress? Get Acupuncture…FREE every Monday Morning

At Beach Community Acupuncture, located a block from  the beach in  San Diego’s OB, new patients are invited to try an acupuncture treatment for free. No strings, just a great opportunity to try acupuncture.

This offer is valid Mondays from 9am-1pm (new patients only), on the following dates in 2009:
9/7
9/14
9/21
9/28
10/12
10/19
10/26

The clinic is located at 4993 Niagara Ave, Suite 206, on  the corner of Bacon, in  Ocean Beach. Please use the “book now” button on BCA’s web site: http://www.beachcommunityacupuncture.com. Under special instructions, note “free mondays wordpress.”

This offer is designed to introduce sliding-scale acupuncture to people in our community. We have just expanded our clinic hours, making sliding-scale treatments even more accessible to people. Visit us online for more information.

Thanks to our community for your support!

How Much?

As owner of Beach Community Acupuncture, that’s one of my favorite questions. That’s how the world works. Anytime I consider buying something or doing something new, that’s one of my first questions.

When I talk to someone, say, a mom from my kid’s class, and tell her I practice acupuncture, she might be curious and ask, “can that help [arthritis, anxiety, stress, pain, whatever]?” If I think acupuncture can help, I say yes. And then I might give a very quick idea about a course of treatment, say, twice a week for four weeks. And then she’ll ask, “how much does that cost?”

So I tell her: $20-$40 a treatment, whatever you decide along that scale. The reactions vary from neutral (“ok”) to thrilled (“what! that’s all? i was paying four times that much before!”). I have yet to see someone look dismayed or annoyed. I think that’s because the price seems reasonable to people. It takes away some of the barrier to trying a new practitioner or a whole new approach to a problem.

How much? Enough to keep the doors open. Enough to pay clinic staff a modest salary. Enough to feel better.

“Where would you put the needles?”… For people with back, neck, and shoulder pain, read on…

A lovely woman stopped into our acupuncture clinic a few days ago. She lives right nearby and decided to come in to ask about how we would handle her neck pain. Actually, she asked a lot of questions. She seeemed willing to consider trying treatment here, but not without thouroughly checking us out.

Her most pointed question, the one where she held piercing eye contact was, “Where would you put the needles?” I told her that it would depend, just a little, on where her neck hurts, how deep the pain is, etc. But I said, “I won’t put the needles in your neck.”

And she smiled for the first time.

I briefly said that there are two basic approaches for treating pain. One is to needle where it hurts, and make a change  right there in the local pain spot, enough to make it better. 

That’s not what we do here, I said, in part because we can’t get to every painful spot when people are in recliners. But also because the other approach is plenty effective. We needle into points away from the painful area, often in the arms or legs. There are many ways to apply the system, and different acupuncturists will do different things.

She didn’t care about any of that. She was sold when I told her that acupuncture can effectively treat neck pain without ever putting a needle in her neck.

She had already given that a try. Her insurance covered a course of six acupuncture treatments. Each time, her practitioner put the needles right where it hurt. And then her neck hurt even more. And, she said, “I forced myself to go to every treatment, thinking eventually, it’s got to get better.” It never did. This is NOT to say that acupuncture treatments for pain are not effective when the needles go into the painful areas. But they are not effective for everyone, every time. That’s the beauty of acupuncture. Thousands of years old, with so many systems and applications.

Of course, acupuncture is not magic. And it can take some time to resolve a long-standing condition. But people with pain should get some relief pretty quickly (this does vary from person to person depending on the root cause and on how long they have been suffering).

There is a patient who comes in several times a week, a young woman with a series of problems. She had a pretty severe low back injury about a year back, and nothing has helped.

She receives treatment in a recliner, so there would be no way to put needles near the painful site…even if I wanted to. Mostly, the needles go in her hands. When she started coming in a few weeks back, she rated her pain as an “8″ on a scale of 0-10. Yesterday, as I pulled out her needles, I asked her how she felt. She said that halfway through the treatment, the pain disappeared completely.

This is a post meant for you: if you are suffering from back, neck, or shoulder pain, and have concerns that if a communuty acupuncturist can’t access the area, that you should not try treatment in a recliner. You should!

San Diego Community Acupuncture Clinic in the News

Community acupuncture got some press in San Diego last week, and Beach Community Acupuncture was featured. Check it out!

http://www.sdnews.com/pages/full_story?page_label=results_content&id=2746685-Acupuncturists+needle+the+rising+costs+of+healthcare&widget=push&article-Acupuncturists%20needle%20the%20rising%20costs%20of%20healthcare%20=&open=&

“I don’t believe in acupuncture…”

Recently asked about whether she had ever tried acupuncture, a friend at the park replied, “I don’t believe in it.”

She was pretty firm in her non-belief. She did not have stories about people with bad experiences. She did say that she knew plenty of people who used acupuncture. She went right on to say that the mind is powerful, and that she is comfortable with the idea that these people willed themselves to feel better through their “belief” in acupuncture. So it  sounds like she is fine with the placebo effect, but that was all she’d give me.

So I asked the obvious question: “What about animals?” It is plenty easy to come by cases where animals are suffering, receive acupuncture treatment, and have alleviation of symptoms. Babies too. Do dogs think to themselves, “Yes! Here comes a magical acupuncture needle! It’s going to cure all my ills…I knew it! It worked!” ? 

Nope.

That’s not to dismiss placebo effect. The mind is very powerful, and placebo effect is known to be at play in Eastern and Western therapies alike…even surgery. And a postive mental outlook will likely enhance the body’s ability to heal.

But, do you have to be a believer for acupuncture to work? No.

Lots of people really come to acupuncture as a last resort, after years, even decades, of trying everything else. These people are true skeptics. Often, someone has pushed them to try acupuncture, and they finally give in, just to get it over with. I’ve heard it lots of time. For example, “My wife made me come here. I don’t have time for this. I don’t really even get it. You want to stick needles in me? And that’s supposed to help?”

These are the patients who question it all. “How long have you been doing this?” “Is it safe?” “What’s that spot you’re pressing?” “You want me to stick out my tongue? What on earth for?”

They come back. Almost every time. Usually quite surprised that they are feeling better. Because the great thing about acupuncture is that people don’t have to believe in it to get results. Although these people, the ones who were dragged in, often become great advocates for acupuncture. They’ll tell people they are getting acupuncture. They’ll say, “I know! Sounds crazy! I never thought I’d do it! But it is helping my (arthritis pain, sleep, digestion, headaches, whatever).”

If you don’t believe in acupuncture, but are curious to try it, community acupuncture is the way to go. Because at least you didn’t go broke checking it out.

http://www.beachcommunityacupuncture.com

Get the Needles Out! (or, Why it’s Nice to Receive Acupuncture in an Open Space)

Community acupuncture, which we define as affordable, high-quality acupuncture in a calming group setting, has a lot going for it.

It’s got the affordable sliding scale, the nice feeling of connecting with the community, the ability to receive treatment more frequently and so on.*

One of the nicest things for many people is that they feel more control over their treatments in an open setting. In a community acupuncture (CA) clinic, there’s your practitioner, right there in the same room. If you just open your eyes or move around a bit, he or she will notice and be at your side much more quickly. And, as soon as you are ready, s/he will pull those needles out!

In contrast, here are a few scenarios that might easily happen in a private treatment room behind a closed door:

• A needle starts to bother you. What should you do? Yell for the practitioner? Put up with it? You could be lying there for 3 minutes, or 10, or 20 before the acupuncturist comes back to check on you.
• You know you are “supposed” to keep the needles in for a given time, say 30 minutes. But you feel done before the time is up. You want the needles out. Now! Again, you need to either figure out how to get your practitioner’s attention, or just wait for help.
• You have to go to the bathroom. You didn’t think you would, but now you do. What to do?

Your body will tell you when you’re done with your treatment. It’s nice to have the flexibility to decide when enough is enough. That’s just one more beneft of community acupuncture.

 

*See other blog posts here, or see http://www.beachcommunityacupuncture.com or  http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org  for lots and lots more on the benefits of community acupuncture.

“Acupuncture Didn’t Really Work…”

Have you ever heard someone say, “I tried acupuncture. It didn’t really work”?

Or perhaps: “I think it helped a little, but I don’t know if it was worth it”?

Worst of all: “Acupuncture was definitely helping but I couldn’t afford to keep going”?

This is one concern about the prevailing business model in the West: private acupuncture treatments (with price tags to match) make it hard for many people to commit to a course of treatment. Acupuncture is a process.

That’s not to say that one treatment is not enough in some cases.

But most of  the time, people wanting to see a significant change really need to commit to a treatment plan. Look up any symptom or complaint in a book of acupuncture or Chinese medicine. There will be a recommended course of treatment, very commonly, “daily acupuncture for 10 days.”  When acupuncture costs, say $75 a treatment, people may have a hard time getting as much acupuncture as their conditions require.

Putting people in individual treatment rooms, doing exhaustive interviews and examination, and giving acupuncture treatments on tables is a westernized version of acupuncture. And it is expensive.

Insurance coverage for acupuncture is a curse in a way: while it’s nice for those who have insurance, the system forces prices up. Insurance billers need to be paid. Hours of paperwork and reporting need to be logged. Also, insurance has coverage limits, reducing patient choice, and therefore patient care.

What’s the solution? Community acupuncture. Acupuncture as it is traditionally practiced in China… with several people receiving treatment at the same time. Here, the treatments are not socialized. But with the community acupuncture model, they can be made affordable.

Come see for yourself. Get a community acupuncture treatment. And then, if you need to, come back enough times to feel better. If you’re in San Diego, come see us at Beach Community Acupuncture (http://beachcommunityacupuncture.com). If you’re somewhere else, look for a community acupuncture clinic near you (http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/clinics).

community treatments vs private treatments

Community acupuncturists work on a sliding scale; it’s a practical solution to address the high cost of private treatments. It is rooted in a value system… that people who need to think about how they spend their money and have little disposable income should be able to get acupuncture, if they want it. Often, if they need it.

So… are the people with less money settling for something less than is offered by private acupuncturists?

There’s less talking, sure. Less privacy. There is no private room with a closed door. There is no lying down. There is less talking.

But do private treatments make for better health care? Is it nourishing to the body and spirit? For some, the solitude and increased personal attention feels good. They’ve got the time. They may have the money to treat themselves. That’s great. We’re here for the other people, the ones who would rather get the acupuncture and get on with their lives.

In community acupuncture, there is a sense of  belonging. A feeling of connection with other people being treated. They’re not talking to you; you’re not talking to them… you are all there to take care of yourselves and to relax in a peaceful environment. It’s just a feeling. There’s a nice, palpable energy of goodwill and belonging.

It’s called community acupuncture for a reason. It’s not just acupuncture in the same space as others; it’s acupuncture in a community.

Please see for yourself. Find a community clinic near you (check http://communityacupuncturenetwork.org) and give it a try. If you live in the San Diego area, come see us (http://beachcommunityacupuncture.com).

‘getting acupuncture should be like going to yoga’…

At a conference about community acupuncture this past weekend (thank you working class acupuncture of Portland!), Lisa Rohleder, founder of the community acupuncture business model, mentioned something that someone once said to her…

“Getting acupuncture should be like going to yoga.”

Our sentiments exactly!

Aupuncture works. Yoga works. Getting acupuncture once will probably feel pretty good, just like going to a yoga class. But… (and practicing yogis out there will understand)… yoga is an ongoing practice. It helps contribute to a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It works better the more you do it.

So does acupuncture.

And, conveniently, this reminds me of the comparison made in Lisa Rohleder’s truly revolutionary new book, “Acupuncture is Like Noodles.” As she says, what good is one noodle to anyone? The book is highly recommended; buy it here: http://www.workingclassacupuncture.org/node/17

So if we agree that a course of acupuncture treatments is what will make a real impact, what is most helpful… then… let’s revisit the idea that private acupuncture treatments run between $60-$175 each. We don’t have $600/month that we are just itching to spend on something. Do you?

Regular acupuncture can really impact your life, just like going to yoga class. So that’s why BCA provides acupuncture for people in the neighborhood, on a $20-$40 sliding scale, in a lovely community room.

We love Ocean Beach and our neighboring communities. We love acupuncture. We’re so lucky to get the chance to be here and do this.

Thank you for your support!