Understanding Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
Asian Medicine focuses on finding the root of your imbalance. It addresses it holistically through nutrition, herbs, lifestyle modifications, bodywork, mindfulness, and acupuncture.
We do a nutritional/herbal consult and come up with a program based on Asian diagnosis, which gives us valuable information about your unique constitution. Taking into account your lifestyle and other factors unique to you, I recommend herbal formulas and supplements to support your body’s healing.
From a scientific perspective, acupuncture causes multiple biological responses. The National Institutes of Health ( NIH) compiled numerous research studies showing the effects of acupuncture. Acupuncture causes multiple body responses both locally and distally mediated by sensory neurons to your central nervous system ( brain and spinal cord). Endorphins are released helping decrease pain, alleviate stress, and promote a sense of well being. It activates pathways that affect your body’s physiological systems. It stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary, blocking stress hormones and promoting blood flow. It can also stimulate immune function.
From a fertility standpoint, acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus which helps thicken the endometrial lining in preparation for embryo implantation. It also improves ovarian function, the release of follicles, and can help improve egg quality. It improves sperm count, motility, and morphology. Acupuncture’s balancing effect on hormones through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian axis creates homeostasis in the body. One of the ways it also improves fertility is stress reduction.
Acupuncture is a great way to prepare a women’s body for pregnancy and also for labor. In New Zealand, it is used routinely many weeks before delivery encouraging cervical ripening and helping women labor more efficiently. Whether you need help with infertility, the aches and pains of pregnancy, your baby is breech, or you want support for labor, Joy at Nourished Roots, LLC can help.
