Acupuncture for Hormonal Health
Acupuncture is a highly effective and holistic approach to supporting hormonal health, particularly for conditions such as PMS, PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and perimenopause. By addressing imbalances in the body’s energy flow, acupuncture helps regulate hormone levels, reducing common symptoms like mood swings, bloating, irritability, fatigue, and menstrual discomfort. The gentle stimulation of specific acupuncture points can help restore balance to the endocrine system, promoting overall hormonal harmony.
Additionally, acupuncture supports emotional well-being by reducing stress and anxiety, which can exacerbate hormonal imbalances. This integrative approach provides relief not only for physical symptoms but also for emotional challenges associated with hormonal fluctuations, offering long-term support for both women’s health and overall well-being.
In addition to its physical benefits, acupuncture provides a gentle space to nourish and reconnect with oneself. The calm and peaceful environment during a session offers an opportunity to slow down and embrace moments of stillness. This nurturing experience supports self-care, allowing for a deeper sense of relaxation and mindfulness that encourages balance and well-being beyond the treatment.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Acupuncture is a gentle, natural way to support your body throughout pregnancy. It helps ease some of the most common discomforts, like morning sickness, aches and pains, and even stress. Many parents and parents-to-be love acupuncture because it promotes relaxation and balances your body’s energy during this exciting time. Whether you're looking for a little extra help preparing for labor or just want to feel your best as you move through each trimester, acupuncture can be a great companion on your pregnancy journey!
Acupuncture Helps:
Ease nausea and vomiting: Acupuncture can help lessen the intensity of morning sickness, a common discomfort during early pregnancy.
Relieve pregnancy-related pain: Many people experience pain during pregnancy, such as back, pelvic, or joint pain. Acupuncture has been shown to help manage these discomforts by triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers.
Regulate hormones: Acupuncture aids in balancing hormone levels, which can be particularly helpful during pregnancy when hormonal fluctuations may cause discomfort or mood swings.
Manage pregnancy related conditions: Acupuncture can help with conditions like gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure), and swelling (edema). Our acupuncturist is happy to connect with your pregnancy primary care provider to discuss any conditions or symptoms you may be experiencing.
Promote relaxation and reduce stress: Pregnancy can be both physically and emotionally taxing, making stress management crucial. Acupuncture provides a calming and relaxing experience, helping to lower stress and improve overall well-being.
Lastly, it’s a fantastic opportunity to take an hour for yourself, just to rest and relax. Many of our expectant parents sleep peacefully during their acupuncture session and wake up feeling refreshed!
Acupuncture for natural labor
preparation and encouragement
In the third trimester, acupuncture can be especially beneficial as your body prepares for labor and delivery. It helps alleviate many common discomforts experienced during these final weeks, such as back pain, sciatica, and swelling in the legs and feet. Acupuncture can also assist with issues like heartburn, insomnia, and anxiety, promoting relaxation and better sleep.
One of the key benefits in the third trimester is to support labor preparation. Acupuncture can help soften the cervix, promote optimal baby positioning, and encourage the body’s natural readiness for labor. This can lead to a smoother labor process and can even reduce the need for medical interventions like inductions.
Additionally, for babies in the breech position, acupuncture combined with moxibustion (a warming technique) can help encourage the baby to turn into the optimal head-down position for delivery. Overall, acupuncture during the third trimester is a safe and calming way to support your body as you prepare for the final stage of pregnancy.
We recommend that you come in by 34 weeks if your baby is breech and by 35 weeks if you would like assistance with labor preparation. Once you have reached your due date acupuncture for natural labor encouragement can begin. This treatment is aimed at helping the body to be in the best possible place to naturally start the labor process. This treatment is gentle and safe, and, if induction is still needed, many people find that the process goes smoother with fewer complications.
A team of Spanish researchers looked into how acupuncture influences labor and found that:
“…the acupuncture protocol to “trigger” birth increased the rate of spontaneous onset of labor by 64%!”
(Acupuncture before planned admission for induction of labor (ACUPUNT study): a randomized controlled trial, 2024)
Acupuncture to Support Lactation
Acupuncture is a valuable tool for supporting lactation by promoting the body’s natural ability to produce and regulate breast milk. In traditional Chinese medicine, insufficient milk supply is often attributed to an imbalance in the flow of energy, or "Qi," particularly in the Spleen and Stomach meridians, which are closely connected to nourishment and digestion. Acupuncture helps to restore this balance, improving blood flow and energy to the breasts, which can enhance milk production. It also relieves stress and anxiety, which are known to interfere with milk supply. In cases of blocked ducts or mastitis, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain, supporting a smoother breastfeeding experience. By addressing both physical and emotional factors, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to improving lactation and ensuring breastfeeding success.