Acupuncture Effective for Increasing In-Vitro Pregnancy Rates

Many couples are finding that they have difficulty conceiving, and turn to assisted reproductive services (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-uterine injection (IUI). These services are being sought after more often as it seems that our fast paced and high stress lifestyle decreases fertility rates.

IUI and IVF are uncomfortable and typically costly procedures, so it makes sense that patients want to make sure that they are giving themselves the best chance for success. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are being pursued more and more as treatment for infertility, both as a stand alone treatment, and in conjunction with ART.

This is prompting more studies to examine the efficacy of these treatments, and the news is good. A study by doctors Zhang and Udoff of the University of Maryland showed that using acupuncture does increase the likelyhood of a preganancy when used in conjunction with ART procedures. The study on acupuncture and embryo transfers can be found here: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.39471.430451.BEv1

If you or someone you know is concerned about fertility, time is of the essence. Call Dorothy Pang, L.Ac. to schedule an appointment at (650) 588-0888 and see our website at www.AcuSpaWellness.com

Acupuncture Relieves Hot Flashes, Alternative for Hormone Replacement

Menopausal and peri-menopausal women suffer from a variety of symptoms and to varying degrees. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is often mentioned as a way to manage the discomfort that can be associated with menopause. A randomized study done in China showed that women experienced relief with acupuncture care. Authors conclude that acupuncture is a good treatment option when women in menopause are not interested in hormone replacement therapy. Since hormone replacement therapy has it's risks, perhaps more women should consider gentle acupuncture as a treatment.

Full article is found here: http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep001

If you are seeking help for menopausal/peri-menopausal symptoms, visit www.AcuSpaWellness.com and experience our gentle acupuncture and convenient Chinese herbal medicine. We see many cases of menopausal symptom management, and have many happy patients to prove it!

Women May Be Able to Grow More Eggs

The journal Nature Cell Biology had a study in it which showed that mice have ovarian stem cells that can become functioning eggs. Mice in the study were able to birth young after having their ovaries removed and being implanted with ovarian stem cells.

This is great news for my patients that are suffering from infertility. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are a natural, safe, and effective way to deal with infertility. Visit www.AcuSpaWellness.com for more info.

Srouce: Women's Health Nov 2009 pg. 34

Who isn't Stressed?!?

Do you know anyone who isn't stressed? Recently, I had someone come in who said that he was in the emergency room twice in the past week, diagnosed with panic attacks. When he came in to see me, he told me that he did not feel panicked or stressed. As he went on with his story, however, it seemed pretty apparent that there were multiple stress-ers in his life. He has several children to worry about, including a rebellious teenager. His job is very high powered with lots of responsibilities and people to manage. His family life is complex and involves juggling the needs and wants of many, many individuals. As he spoke of his life... he realized that perhaps he was stressed.

How do we know if we are stressed? Stress is, unfortunately, incredibly common in the lives of most Americans. A small amount of stress can be a positive driving force. However, in most of our lives it has blown out of proportion, with tight muscles being everyday occurrence and our hormones being thrown out of balance because of our anxieties. Probably the best way to tell how stressed we are is to provide a contrast. My personal favorite, easy way to de-stress is acupuncture. Acupuncture changes the hormones in our brains and literally puts us into a de-stressed frame of mind. Our brains release feel good chemicals and our bodies respond with deep relaxation. Our face muscles relax and we wake up looking younger from our acupuncture naps. All this and it's good for our health!

Stress can cause a huge variety of other medical conditions to happen. This means acupuncture can be used to help with a myriad of health disorders, all while making us feel really good. More info on acupuncture and its effects can be found at www.AcuSpaWellness.com