My family practice focuses on Women’s health, fertility, pregnancy, and pediatrics. My tools include acupuncture, moxabustion, and Chinese herbal therapy.

What is Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are tools used in clinical Chinese medicine to restore the proper functioning of the body in order to eliminate illness and imbalances. This is what is meant by ‘holistic’- we treat the individual who has the ‘dis-ease’, rather than treating the disease. By treating the ‘root’, not only are current symptoms eliminated, but future illness is often averted. ‘Treating the root’  means we re-establish the normal dynamics of the body that have somehow been thrown off. Chinese medicine has been time tested for thousands of years, morphing and evolving into a marvelous system of understanding the body and the factors of  illness.

See Jennifer demonstrating an acupuncture treatment on About.com!- See Video

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works by inserting sterile, solid, hair fine needles into designated places on the body which lie along meridians. The needles help to restore the physiological dynamic flow of the life force. The meridians are like riverways. Acupuncture works to keep these meridians free flowing in order to prevent pain, and irrigate the body with beneficial fluids and energy.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture is safe practiced in the hands of a licensed professional. Practitioners must pass a national licensing examination and meet all state licensing requirements before they can legally perform acupuncture. I am certified by the Committee on Acupuncture for Clean Needle Technique. I use disposable, sterile needles. There are very few side effects from acupuncture.

What can I expect from an acupuncture and herbal treatment?

Many people find acupuncture to be very relaxing. Falling asleep during a treatment is not uncommon! A treatment lasts one hour. I will ask you questions and then use other diagnostic methods such as taking the pulse and palpating the abdomen. From these methods I come up with a Chinese medical diagnosis and acupuncture treatment.  Other therapies are utilized including cupping, moxabustion, and massage, among others. Patients leave the treatment room feeling relaxed and rejuvenated with a greater sense of balance. Herbs are administered on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

What are Chinese Herbs?

Chinese herbs are a variety of natural substances found within the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms. They are skillfully prepared and combined into formulas for the treatment of illnesses. Before the days of extracting and synthesizing natural substances into pharmaceuticals, there was the whole plant. Herbs can be thought of as very nutritious foods that heal.

Are herbs safe to ingest?

Herbs have been used for thousands of years to help people find their health. Many of the formulas we prescribe in the clinic have been used for 2,000 years! As long as the herbs are used correctly, they are safe and very helpful. The herbs we use in our clinic are of the highest quality. As a minimum, all companies comply with International GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. They are free from sulfur and other harmful preservatives.

Due to the holistic nature of Chinese medicine, women around the world are experiencing better reproductive health. Healthcare options for women most often include pharmaceuticals and surgery. Chinese medicine offers a powerful alternative to these methods, and can often advert need for drugs or surgery.  Gynecology has been an important area of clinical observation and research in Classical Chinese Medicine since it’s inception over 3,000 years ago. From as early as 610 C.E, Chinese physicians specializing in gynecology have been writing on many aspects of reproductive health. These thousands of years of experience and research form the foundation on which rests the modern application of Chinese medicine to women’s health. This modern application integrates the pure diagnostic and treatment protocols of Classical Chinese medicine with the wealth of information that western diagnostic tools and research affords us.

Scroll down the page for information about how Chinese medicine treats symptoms relating to menstruation, fertility, pregnancy and menopause.

The cycles in your life provide the practitioner of Chinese medicine a window into the body’s landscape. Whether you are being treated for painful periods, arthritis, or irritable bowel syndrome, the monthly cycle becomes a diagnostic tool that helps us focus treatment and monitor progress. This unique aspect of your life can be a great teacher. Even as your physiology changes and you may no longer bleed, this cycle manifests in  different ways in your life and can still act as a guide.

Menstrual Issues

This includes issues such as amennorhea (no periods), painful periods, heavy periods, and spotting outside of a monthly rhythm. Endometriosis, fibroids, prolapses, infections and PCOS are other areas that respond to treatment. More and more mothers are bringing their daughters to see Chinese medical practitioners which I think is so wise, because treating symptoms when they first start to manifest reduces the risk of more complicated pathologies further down the road. When working with infertility, addressing the health of the menstrual cycle is a number one priority.

Fertility Enhancement

Everyone is quickly seeing how acupuncture and herbs are so beneficial for women looking to conceive. Most mainstream reproductive centers regularly refer their patients to acupuncture for complementary treatment. Chinese medicine can help you if:

• You are planning a pregnancy, and want to create the most healthy environment to conceive and to hold a pregnancy in.
• You have been trying to get pregnant and want to use acupuncture before assisted reproduction.
• You are undergoing assisted reproduction and desire an adjunct therapy in order to increase effectiveness of the ART. See the research study regarding acupuncture and IVF.

Acupuncture and herbs have been shown through studies and clinical experience to improve reproductive health. This occurs by:

• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Strengthening ovarian function to produce good quality eggs
• Bringing stronger circulation into the pelvic area
• Strengthening uterus for better physiological functioning to increase chance of implantation and prevent miscarriage
• Harmonizing the body and mind to reduce stress

Pregnancy 

Often in pregnancy, pharmaceuticals and many over the counter medications are contraindicated. Acupuncture and herbs bring relief from physical and emotional symptoms in a natural and completely safe manner. In addition, regular acupuncture care during pregnancy often adverts conditions that may lead to medical intervening such as pre-eclampsia, breech presentation, ‘incompetent’ cervix, among others. Chinese medicine does a beautiful job preparing the body for a strong and easy birth as well as a easy recovery postpartum.

In Chinese medicine the uterus is known as “Zi gong”, translated as “Seed Palace” or “Fetal Palace”. These beautiful connotations reflect the grace and respect with which Chinese medicine approaches issues in pregnancy. For thousands of years, pregnant women have been treated safely and efficaciously with acupuncture and herbs for a variety of conditions. Like acupuncture, special herbal formulas have been prescribed to pregnant women for hundreds of years, such as Zi Chan Mi Yan Liang Fang, “Secret, Proven, Efficacious Prescription for Treating Birthing”.

Please see the Links and Resources page for some great information about acupuncture, pregnancy and birthing.

Menopause

As more women transition into menopause than ever before in United States history, it is important to know there are viable alternatives in dealing with symptoms. In the past 50 years, menopause has been promoted as a disease. This perception of menopause as a pathology creates not only a difficult environment in which women can make informed decisions regarding their healthcare, but the comfort and ease with which women feel around aging.  Chinese medicine understands menopause as a natural waning process of reproductive energies that is accompanied by a waxing of personal creativity and wisdom  energies.  This process, however, can amplify imbalances that manifest as hotflashes, insomnia and other symptoms of menopause. Chinese medicine deals with these symptoms in an effective way without the use of medications such as HRT that have deleterious side effects. The use of acupuncture and herbs can be so helpful in supporting the body through this transition.

Pregnancy Resources

Acupressure and Labor Pamphlet- Debra Betts   This is a free,  indispensable guide for soon to be moms and their partners. Easy to understand diagrams of the most important and effective points on the body to stimulate and hasten childbirth.

The Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor- Research Study

Acupuncture for pain relief during childbirth- Research Study

Childbirth Connection-Helping women and health care professionals make informed maternity care decisions

The Brewer Diet- A nutrition guide during pregnancy. Proper nutrition is the number one way to avoid complications throughout the pregnancy and during labor and postpartum.

Nutrition Resources

Nourished Kitchen

Weston Price Foundation

Parenting Resources- these are resources I have found or am currently finding helpful and inspiring as a parent of two young children

Resources for Infant Educarers- An approach to caring for and guiding children, termed ‘Educaring’, based on the work of Emmi Pickler, a doctor who worked in orphanage in Hungary.

Janet Lansbury- a new-to-me resource; Janet is an ‘educarer’ in LA…she writes articles about her work with RIE. I am still reviewing this website. I have linked to an intro page.

Simplicity Parenting- the work of Kim John Payne, educator and writer.

Joyful Toddlers- advice about guiding young children by utilizing strong and loving boundaries.

Fertility Resources

A famous study which demonstrates that acupuncture in conjunction with IVF increases rate of conception- Research Study