Breech
A baby will generally settle into a cephalic -head down – position by week 34/36 of pregnancy. When the baby is head up, this is referred to as a breech position.

In Chinese Medicine Acupuncture point, BL67  which is situated on the little toe is used. This helps to stimulate the baby to move whilst at the same time relaxing the uterine muscles, encouraging the baby to turn. The treatment is done once a day for 5 consecutive days.

 Your midwife or obstetrician may refer you for ECV (external cephalic version) which is done by a specialist consultant.  It can be very beneficial to use the moxabustion for 5 to 10 consecutive days prior to ECV. This is a safe and effective way to encourage breech babies to turn. The alternative can often be a C-section.
The ideal time to use moxibustion is week 34 to 37, however moxibustion on BL67 can be used up until full term.

Acupuncture for breech cannot be used there is: twin pregnancy, placenta previa, high blood pressure, any uterine bleeding.

Labour Inducement
 Acupuncture can be very effective to help promote the onset of labour. points are used which can help to descend the baby into the pelvic area, to aid cervical dilation and to stimulate uterine contractions.

 This treatment is very effective at promoting optimum foetal position, helping to promote the most fluent position between the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis. Acupuncture also helps to prime the body, stimulating the endocrine processes and can help to calm any anxiety that a woman often feels just prior to birth.
In Chinese medicine it is not considered appropriate to encourage spontaneous labour until after 40 weeks. 

This treatment is very helpful prior to a scheduled medical induction. Acupuncture helps to prime the body’s systems and can help the body to respond more efficiently and fluently to the stimulus of a medical induction.
However I hope that by coming to Vitality Centre and trying the natural form of inducement, you wont have to  go through medical inducement!

I would reccommend 2-3 sessions of acupuncture to help promote spontaneous labour. I often beleive its a bit like pushing a stationary car,once we build a little momentum, we can get the whole thing moving with relative speed.

Acupuncture can really help to energise the mother and may bring you the added strength needed to have an effective labour and delivery.

Please feel free to call or email me with any other questions, i have over 5 years of experience and even train midwives how to do this,so your in safe hands and its really worth considering before you go down the medical route.

Ian Prytherch is available for appointments Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Vitality Centre. Please call or email reception for further details. info@vitality-centre.co.uk 020 8871 4677

http://www.actbrighton.org.uk/breech.html

It aims to correct imbalances and bring the body, mind and emotions back to harmony and balance, just as conventional medicine also aims to bring the body back to a state of healthy homeostasis.  Diagnosis and treatment within Chinese Medicine is a highly skilled art, which requires years of training to develop.

It looks at the human body through an Eastern paradigm, where bodily processes are powered and maintained by the flow of Qi energy.  Disturbances in this flow generate illness.  Acupuncture points are sited in key locations for influencing the flow of Qi, and are used to restore a smooth flow.

Acupuncture can be helpful in treating conditions such as:
*Anxiety and Panic Attacks
*Asthma and breathing difficulties
*Depression
*Digestive problems
*Endometriosis
*Fertility
*Male factor Infertility
*Hypertension and Circulatory problems
*Sleep problems
*Stress and Tiredness
*Pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, as well as to assist
induction
 

How often will I need treatment?
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture regards each person as an individual with a unique pattern of symptoms, and this is what makes the treatment so effective. Predicting the number of treatments required depends on the individual and the condition, and this will be assessed during the initial consultation. Most patients start coming for treatment weekly, and see improvement within 4 treatments.

As treatment progresses, the interval between treatment lengthens to fortnightly and then monthly if on-going treatment is required.

Is it safe?
As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), I am bound to observe a Code of Practice which lays down stringent procedures regarding standards of hygiene and sterilisation for needles and other equipment. All procedures have been approved by the Department of Health and provide protection against the transmission of infectious diseases. All of the needles used are disposable.

What does it feel like?
Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to those used for giving injections or for taking blood. The needles are very fine and the sensation of having acupuncture is more like a tingling or a dull ache.

During treatment, many people experience a pleasant feeling of relaxation.

Wider Benefits
People receiving acupuncture frequently report benefits well beyond their original complaint – often feeling better in themselves and more resourceful in facing the world and the challenges of work, family or relationships.

Treatment Cost
Inital 1hr session – £60
Follow up 45min sessions – £50

Ian Prytherch works at Vitality Centre on Tuedays, Thursdays and Fridays – to book an appointment with him, please email us info@vitality-centre.co.uk or call reception on 020 88714677

So are you really an insomniac?

A good way to gauge this is to judge how you feel during the day, if you are often tired, have a short fuse and find it difficult to concentrate then you probably are. If on the other hand, even if you get little sleep, but feel fine during the day then you are probably not.

So who is prone to suffering more serious sleep deprivation?

Most likely somebody who is discontent with some major aspect of their life, depression and/or anxiety are a major cause and in particular will induce early waking. The best insomnia remedy here would be a change in lifestyle; however this often isn’t always possible or easy.

Acupuncture has a calming effect on the nervous system. It clears obstructions in the muscle and nerve channels, facilitates the flow of oxygen-enriched energy and relaxes the system.

Common noted benefits of acupuncture include deeper breathing, improved digestive abilities, better sleeping patterns, decrease in various pains and a general sense of well being, which are all excellent treatments for insomnia.

General acupuncture protocol for the treatment of chronic insomnia includes 8 initial treatments at two treatments per week.

Acupuncture as an insomnia remedy can greatly improve sleeping patterns, but in order to successfully and completely resolve sleep disturbance one must address all the contributing factors. Acupuncture helps to do this very effectively by treating the whole person and focusing on bringing the entire body into balance

Written by Ian Prytherch (Acupuncturist at Vitality Centre)

 
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Acupuncture is believed to have been practiced for about 4-5000 years. The first documented record of it being used is more than 3000 years old. In China it still is regarded as normal, whilst in the West it is still regarded as “alternative” medicine.  Here I’ll give you an overview of what acupuncture can do for you if you have a sleep disorder.

The main attractions of acupuncture compared to sleeping pills or other medication is that it doesn’t have any side effects, it has a high success rate and it is considered a holistic treatment. That said, any treatment for insomnia needs to approach the condition in a cautious manner. Insomnia is not an illness in itself – with some very few exceptions – but rather a manifestation of some underlying problem. A sleep disorder can have many causes, for example depression, anxiety, trauma, bereavement or emotional upset. Thus insomnia cures take time, there’s no such thing as a “quick fix”!

Both patient and practitioner need patience… Acupuncture seems to work best with short term insomnia, defined as shorter than about 6 weeks, not as well with people suffering from chronic insomnia. This is probably caused by the fact that long term insomnia is associated with clinical depression or life style problems. If you suffer from this you will also realise that it sort of takes on a life of its own, and you will probably need professional help to address the emotional issues buried in your mind. It also seems to be a common observation that if you’ve been on sleeping tablets for a long time acupuncture will not work so well. This is probably due to the fact that sleeping pills actually make you dependant on the chemicals present, so you suffer “withdrawal” symptoms if you stop taking them. There is a physiological change in your body on top of the subconscious problems

The treatment is usually administered during fairly short sessions, about half an hour each, once a week, about 6-10 times. After that it is quite common to switch to fortnightly treatment sessions. Be warned that like some, if not most, alternative medicines, acupuncture will work its magic fairly slowly. How does it work, then? Well, according to the ancient theory energy – “chi” – flows along lines in your body, called meridians. The fine needles used are inserted at specific points along these meridians to channel or divert or block the flow of energy.

Western medicine has not found any support for these “lines of energy”, but have instead tried to explain the working of acupuncture by talking about “gate-control” and “neuro-hormonal” effects. In other words, nobody really knows! But it does seem to work for many people. If you suffer from a sleep disorder and are looking for a natural cure for insomnia, it might be worth giving it a try. After all, there are no side effects and you are not introducing any medication into your body. And if you hate the thought of needles be reassured – they are VERY fine, they are sterile and you can hardly feel them!

Article source: http://acupunctureforinsomnia.com/

Insomnia linked to relationship problems

The report, Sleep Matters, suggests a link between insomnia and poor relationships, low energy levels and an inability to concentrate.

Poor sleep has already been linked to depression, immune deficiency and heart disease.The report calls for GPs to have more training to recognise the symptoms.

The number of adults suffering from insomnia in the UK has previously been estimated at around 30%.
Nearly 6,800 people took part in an online survey, believed to be the largest of its type in the UK, for this report.

‘Poor sleep, poor health’

It was more likely to attract participants concerned about their sleep and is not representative of the whole of the UK.

However, it does show a gulf in the experiences of good sleepers and insomniacs. It showed people with insomnia were four times as likely to have relationship problems, three times as likely to feel depressed and three times as likely to suffer from a lack of concentration.

Dr Dan Robotham, senior researcher at the Mental Health Foundation and lead author of the report, believes people can get stuck in a spiral where poor sleep leads to mental health problems which leads to even worse sleep.

He said: “It is crucial that people are aware of the effective ways of breaking that spiral by improving the quality of their sleep.
“Employers, schools and public health bodies also need to know how they can identify and support people suffering from sleep disorders.”

Professor Colin Espie, director of the Glasgow University Sleep Centre, said: “We can no longer just ignore the impact of sleep problems in this country. They are affecting our health, our economy, and our everyday happiness.”

2. Don’t live with smoke
Give up smoking; it is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease. By a year after you have stopped smoking, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker. Hypnotherapy with Amanda can help you with this.

3. Keep the balance
Try to have a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and high in fruit, vegetables and essential fats. Konstantina our Nutritionist can help you boost your diet with super foods.

4. Salt or no salt…
Stop using salt at the table, reduce the amount you use in your cooking, or even better cut it out completely from your cooking. It may take a little getting used to, but your taste buds will adapt and your blood pressure will lower. Be aware that most takeaways, shop bought food can be high in salt to limit the amount you eat of these.

5. Enjoy five a day
Up your intake of fruit and vegetables and help get your 5-a-day. Try adding some dried fruit to your cereal in the morning or adding extra vegetables to pasta sauces, curries, casseroles etc.

6. Combat your stress levels
If things are getting too much, go for a walk on your lunch break, take the baby for a walk, have a massage or reflexology, discover yoga or simply sit in a café and watch the world go by. These precious minutes you take out of your daily routing can buy you many more in life. Acupuncture is effective in reducing blood pressure.

7. Cut the saturated fat
Make small changes to your diet, like switching from full fat milk to skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, choosing leaner cuts of meat or steaming or grilling foods rather than frying in lots of oil. Maybe even try more vegetarian receipes as variety is what we all need.

8. Make your diet omega rich
Eat oily fish regularly, such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon. Oily fish is an excellent source of omega 3 fats, which can help protect against heart disease. Seeds such as sunflower, pumpkin, linseed or sesame are rich in omega 6 and 9. So enjoy fish salads over the summer. You can also find a good range of biocare supplements in the shop, including omega 3.

9. Check out food labels
Get in the habit of checking the label on food packets when out shopping. The information will help you understand what is in food you are buying and make healthier food choices.

10. The vices…
Alcohol, caffeine based drinks, chocolates – these give us moments of pleasure but what do they really do in the long run? The next time you fancy a sip or a bite take a moment to consider if it is really worth it! Or make a change – one small glass of red wine, dark chocolate and only one small cup of coffee day (maybe give decaf a try) a day!

Specialising in Fertility, IVF, and Obstetrics, Ian is the Acupuncture Director with Create Health the leading experts of mild and Natural cycle IVF. Working closely with the consultants at Create, Ian provides the best support possible for couples undergoing IVF and Fertility treatment.

Ian has researched the role of acupuncture in the treatment of endometriosis associated with infertility as well as the treatment of Male Factor Infertility using Chinese Medicine. He has written articles for Child of Wimbledon, South West Families and The Chinese Journal.

Post Graduate training includes:
IVF Preparation and Support.
Insomnia and Stress related Depression.
Obstetric Acupuncture.
Further Five Element Training.

At the heart of Classical Acupuncture is the belief that many physical ailments which people suffer from today are the product of emotional distress as much as any physical cause.

He is happily married with two lovely daughters Lily and Annie and enjoys composing electronic ambient music and meditating in his spare time.