The Upside of Emotions
The Optimal Flow Cycle for Natural Fertility
Having two periods in one month? You may have ovulation bleeding!
31-year-old Sarah (patients name has been changed) came to see me at Almond Wellness Centre, our acupuncture Chinese medicine clinic. Sarah had been trying to get pregnant for over a year without any success and was concerned that her short menstrual cycles might be hindering her chances.
Sarah’s period was so short that she almost had two periods in one month. Her first period lasts for 5 days, normal flow with mild cramping and some PMS. She then has another period a few days later. The second “period” is light or spotting only, with clear stretching discharge and some cramping or sharp pain on the sides of lower abdomen.
I suggested her to do ovulation test and check her basal body temperature (BBT). From her BBT and ovulation history we discovered that she was not actually having two periods in one month, but was experiencing ovulation bleeding instead.
So, what is ovulation bleeding?
Ovulation bleeding is light bleeding or spotting that occurs during ovulation.
The exact cause of ovulation bleeding is not clear, but it is thought to be related to changes in hormone levels that occur during ovulation. The surge in estrogen and luteinizing hormone that triggers ovulation can cause some women to experience spotting or light bleeding.
Ovulation bleeding is generally not a concern; however, it may affect chances of getting pregnant. For instance, Sarah thought that she was having period. She avoided having intercourse during that period time, therefore missed her fertile windows and had difficulty to get pregnant.
Chinese medicine and ovulation bleeding
In Chinese medicine, ovulation bleeding is seen as a sign of disharmony in the body’s energy, or qi. This disharmony can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, poor diet, and hormonal imbalances. A Chinese medicine practitioner will work to identify the root cause of the problem and develop a customized treatment plan. Treatment include acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine to help regulate hormone levels and improve overall reproductive health. In addition, dietary and lifestyle changes may be recommended to support your overall health and improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Because Sarah was avoiding intercourse during her bleeding time, she was actually missing her fertile windows, which made it more difficult for her to conceive. We gave her acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments, as well as other advice, her period became more regular and her ovulation bleeding stopped. She could time it right – having intercourse during her fertile windows. A few months later Sarah successfully became pregnant, much to her delight and relief.
So, if you are experiencing two periods in one month, with light flow or unusual spotting or discharge, you may actually be experiencing ovulation bleeding. Don’t let ovulation bleeding or any other menstrual irregularities get in the way of your dreams of becoming pregnant. With the right treatment and care, you can improve your chances of conception and start your journey towards motherhood.
Is Acupuncture the same as Dry Needling?
I often ask new clients if they’ve had acupuncture before. More often than not I find they have received a dry needling treatment. Sure, dry needlers and acupuncturist use the same types of needles and insert them into skin; but that’s where the similarity ends (Fan, Xu and Li, 2017).
They are not the same thing and here’s 5 ways to help recognise an acupuncturist:
1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Only an accredited TCM Doctor who has completed a Bachelor of Health Science can apply acupuncture. So, make sure your acupuncturist is registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA) and is a member of an Association.
2. TCM Diagnosis
A TCM practitioner will use diagnostic tools which include ‘pulse taking’ and an inspection of the ‘tongue’ to help identify a condition enabling a TCM diagnosis (Maciocia, 2005).
3. Qi and Blood
In Chinese Medicine we often talk about Qi and Blood flow (Maciocia, 2005). The Yin and Yang philosophy in TCM translates to; Yang is busy and moves quickly defining Qi. Where Yin is slower and has a stillness defining Blood (Ross, 1985). In Chinese Medicine one cannot exist without the other like day and night (Veith, 2002). The Qi is needed to move the Blood to prevent stagnation or lack of circulation around the body.
4. Acupuncture points and meridians
Acupuncture points are located on a meridian channel. There are 12 meridians on the body which allows for the free flow of Qi and Blood (Deadman, 2011). A recent study shows fluorescein a slow diffusion dye travelling along a meridian under ultrasound observation, this was identified the Pericardium Meridian and is not a vein (Li et al., 2021).
5. TCM Therapies
Chinese Medicine is a holistic medicine and can be used to treat many symptoms and diseases of the body not just muscular skeletal conditions. Dry needling is a treatment that may be provided by a physical therapist, osteopath or similar practitioner.
The subject of the Blog was chosen to address consumer confusion regarding dry needling and acupuncture. The Blog is to provide 5 ways to identify an acupuncturist and an education of the main points of Chinese Medicine. The 5 points included certification, diagnosis, Qi and Blood, acupuncture points and meridians and finally therapies of Chinese Medicine. These small pieces of information will hopefully provide the reader with some knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a way to identify an acupuncturist. More education to help the consumer with ways to identify a TCM practitioner is required.
Supporting references were used in the Blog to provide some evidence to the consumer of Traditional Chinese Medicine and provide scientific evidence through current research.
– Deadman, P, 2011, A manual of acupuncture. Chinese Medicine Publications, East Sussex, England.
– Fan, A. Y., Xu, J., & Li, Y. (2017). Evidence and expert opinions: Dry needling versus acupuncture (II). Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 23(2), 83–90. doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2800-6
– Li, T., Tang, B., Zhang, W., Zhao, M., Hu, Q. and Ahn, A (2021). In Vivo Visualization of the Pericardium Meridian with Fluorescent Dyes. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, pp.1- 10.
– Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone, China.
– Qiao, Y. and Stone, A., 2008. Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis study guide. Seattle: Eastland Press.
– Ross, J. (1985). Zang Fu: the organ systems of traditional Chinese medicine, functions, interrelationships and patterns of disharmony in theory and practice (2nd ed.). Edinburgh UK: Churchill Livingstone.
– Veith, I. (2002). The Yellow Emperor’s classic of internal medicine. London England.
Effective Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy
Sciatica is a common presentation in my clinic. It usually occurs as a result of spinal nerve root impingement in the lumbar region. The most common causes are bulging or herniation of the intervertebral disc or discs at the vertebral joints L4/ L5 and or L5/S1.
It is interesting to note that the majority of presentations are a result of a posterior bulge, which can lead to central canal stenosis, lateral canal stenosis and/or foraminal stenosis. It should be noted that lateral bulges also present, however these appear to be less common and effect mainly the lateral and foraminal aspects.
The spinal nerve(s) are impinged or compressed within these areas of stenosis to varying degrees, which results in varying presentations within the sensory and, less commonly, motor spheres. Pain, numbness, tingling and temperature sensations are the most common sensory symptoms, whilst drop foot is the most common motor issue. Of course, many patients may have reduced mobility due to pain or numbness as well.
Some other common causes include arthritic changes, especially at the exiting foramen; spondylolisthesis, usually anteriorly; and impingement due to tightness in the piriformis muscle.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at sciatica in a few different ways. The main meridians affected are the Urinary Bladder and Gall Bladder. Usually this can be interpreted as a blockage or stagnation of energy and blood along the meridian. It is important to note that symptoms often don’t occur along the entire length of the meridian and may centre at other pivotal acupuncture points. This idea corresponds to the relevant spinal nerve dermatomes as well, the symptoms can occur anywhere along the nerve pathway and may migrate from time to time.
A full TCM diagnosis is required to determine the underlying pattern of disharmony which is leading to the deficiency or excess pattern in the lumbar region. Some common patterns include kidney yin, yang, jing and/or qi deficiency, liver qi stagnation or cold invading the lumbar region. Of course, there a multitude of possibilities, however the point is that the underlying pattern must be addressed otherwise the symptomatic treatment may be just a stop gap until the next episode occurs.
I like to treat sciatica using a mechanically based method which is underpinned by resolution of the base pattern of disharmony. As discussed above, the most common cause of sciatica is a bulging disc impinging a spinal nerve root. When there is pathology of this sort the musculature of the lower back will tighten up to protect the joint from further damage. This includes not just the superficial erector spinae muscle groups, but also the deeper muscles such as the multifidus and interspinales. The key to good treatment results is to firstly release the deep muscle groups.
The best way to do this is to needle the relevant hua tuo jia ji points. In acute cases, and in many chronic cases, the patient may experience a strong twitch response and a dull heavy aching sensation. Sometimes this is all that is required, for the first treatment, to begin the process of loosening up the lumbar region to open deep anatomical space so that the disc can begin to migrate away from the nerve. Releasing the psoas muscle can also be beneficial.
Often, I will insert a shallow needle lateral and superior to the main needle and run high frequency electric current between the two needles. This should induce a buzzing or vibrational sensation, which is painless. This appears to further enhance the migration of the disc away from the nerve root and reduce local inflammation.
As discussed above, the use of the appropriate acupuncture points along the meridians and within the diagnostic framework is critical to long term resolution. Strengthening the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles helps to buttress the spine and take pressure off affected joints, weight loss is also usually helpful.
Treatment protocols vary from patient to patient. However, the best results are often achieved with 2 treatments per week for the first two weeks, and then weekly after that.
Momentum is key to a good outcome!
Safe Sciatica Solutions – YouTube
Legge, D. (1999). Close to the Bone. Redwing Book Company.
Qin, Z., Liu, X., Yao, Q., Zhai, Y. and Liu, Z. (2015). Acupuncture for treating sciatica: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 5(4), pp.e007498–e007498.
Ross, J. (1995). Acupuncture point combinations the key to clinical success. Edinburgh [U.A.] Churchill Livingstone.
Shaw, L. (2005). Anatomy And Physiology. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.
Improving Mental Health Naturally with Chinese Medicine
Donna Eddy
What are “practitioner-only-products”?
It can be confusing. Some “practitioner-only” brands are only available through qualified health care practitioners. Others are more easily available.
The idea behind the “practitioner-only” designation is simple. The majority of “practitioner-only” brands focus on producing higher quality, more potent products. Such products are manufactured to maximise impact and effectiveness, and therefore should only be accessed under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
Naturopaths and nutritionists for example, are trained in herbs and nutrients. They understand how the ingredients will affect you. Taking advice from a health professional on what products to take ensures safety risks are minimised and products are appropriate for your individual health needs.
This is not to say all “retail” products are inferior.
Quality
What does this mean? Practitioner products are generally of a higher quality, and more potent, but how is this defined? Within both the broad retail and “practitioner only” categories, quality can vary significantly due to many factors including active ingredients, encapsulation, dosage, molecular weight, excipients used, conditions a plant is cultivated in and supporting evidence (1). To keep things simple we’re going to focus on 3 key areas:
- Ingredients
- Bioavailability
- Excipients
Ingredients
Along with the importance of co-factors and ingredients being at a therapeutic dose, mineral absorption and bioavailability may be enhanced by the form the mineral comes in. Chelated minerals are minerals bound to a chelating agent which is designed to enhance their absorption in your body. An amino acid chelated mineral is a mineral (like calcium) that has been molecularly attached to an amino acid. Common amino acids used to make mineral chelates include aspartic acid, lysine and glycine. In general, animal studies indicate that chelated minerals are absorbed more effectively (2).
Bioavailability
Bioavailability is influenced by many factors from both the host (human) and from the supplement itself. Bioavailability refers to how efficiently your body can use a nutrient. The commonly accepted definition of bioavailability is the proportion of the nutrient that is digested, absorbed and metabolised through normal pathways.
It has also long been recognised that gut microbes contribute to the biosynthesis and bioavailability of vitamins and nutrients. Maintaining a healthy gut is vitally important for proper nutrient synthesis and absorption as the gut microbiota synthesises certain vitamins and nutrients (1).
Bioavailability is also influenced by other factors including diet, nutrient concentration, nutritional status, health, and life-stage (3).
Excipients
Excipients selected for product formulation vary across the pharmaceutical and complementary medicine industries. The role of the excipient should not be underestimated, particularly when it comes to generic pharmaceuticals. A number of pharmaceutical excipients are known to have side effects or contraindications. For example, excipients may make up to 90% of a product formulation and may be synthetic or sourced from plants or animals (4).
Depending on the medication/supplement type, excipients may be nil to low. Powders and capsules generally require fewer excipients than tablets due to binding and coating ingredients required for a tablet.
Each excipient serves a specific purpose for the proper performance of the supplement dose and form, i.e. capsule, tablet, powder or liquid.
Effectiveness and accessibility
As practitioner products are generally more potent, this lends itself to supervised use under the instruction of a qualified health professional. As such, practitioner only products are not as accessible to the general public. Indeed practitioner only products are designed specifically for dispensing by a healthcare professional in accordance with section 42AA of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (5).
How can I access “practitioner only products”?
If you are not currently working with a healthcare professional, you can find a practitioner here via vital.ly platform.
References
| 1 | Pressman P, Clemens RA, Hayes AW. Bioavailability of micronutrients obtained from supplements and food: A survey and case study of the polyphenols. Toxicology Research and Application. January 2017. |
| 2 | Goff JP. Invited review: Mineral absorption mechanisms, mineral interactions that affect acid-base and antioxidant status, and diet considerations to improve mineral status. J Dairy Sci. 2018 Apr;101(4):2763-2813. doi: 10.3168/jds.2017-13112. Epub 2018 Feb 4. |
| 3 | Michael, Hambidge. (2010). Micronutrient Bioavailability: Dietary Reference Intakes and a Future Perspective. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 91. 1430S-1432S. 10.3945/ajcn.2010.28674B. |
| 4 | Haywood, A., & Glass, B. (2011). Pharmaceutical excipients – where do we begin? Australian Prescriber, 34(4), 112–114. |
| 5 | Australian Government. Department of Health. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian regulatory guidelines for complementary medicines ARGCM. Version 7.2, February 2018.[Internet] [ cited 2021. September 12th]. Available from:https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-regulatory-guidelines-complementary-medicines-argcm.pdf |
Juanita Jolly
Acupuncture Intro, how it Works and What it can Treat
Acupuncture has a history spanning thousands of years. Some of the earliest text recorded containing discussions of both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine date as far back as 474 B.C.!
Acupuncture is simply the painless insertion of sterile, single use needles into the body to stimulate the bodies self-healing mechanism. Our understanding of how this works is evolving all the time.
But what is known is that Acupuncture releases pain killing endorphins in the brain, stimulates the nervous system and can even increase the production of white blood cells (the immune system).
Although Acupuncture has many clinical uses, it is probably best known for the treatment of pain, regardless of the cause.
In Australia, a trained Acupuncturist must undergo a minimum of 4 years full time study, including substantial training in Western medicine with subjects like Chemistry, Pharmacology, human Anatomy and Biology. Bachelor of Health Science trained Acupuncturists must complete that same level of science as an undergraduate medical student.
Acupuncture is a wholistic medicine, which means you are supposed to treat the WHOLE PERSON. For example, if a patient comes to my clinic complaining of shoulder pain, I treat them from a whole-body perspective. This means I still need to ask them about their sleep, stomach, bowel habits, headaches ect… as we treat the PERSON first and the CONDITION second, or at least I do.
Obviously, I need to try and get them results for the shoulder pain, which is the reason they came to my clinic to begin with. But pain is a symptom, not the cause. My job as an Acupuncturist is to identify the cause and treat that, not just apply a band-aid to reduce the pain for a short time.
Acupuncture is practised in many different ways, depending on where the practitioner has been trained and how they developed their practise.
I personally use a specific style of Acupuncture called ‘The Balance Method’ which involves understanding the interconnections of the body. This can be confusing for patients because I never insert needles anywhere near the location of their pain, and quite often use the opposite side of the pain! I practise this way because the results are far superior and the patient often feels immediate improvement in pain, which is not possible with local needling.
This is my 10th year of clinical practise, and I have only been using ‘The Balance Method’ for the last two years. Although it is a more advanced style of Acupuncture, the results can be spectacular, and it has revolutionized my clinical practise.
Pain is not the only complaint I see in clinic, and this style is highly effective for many health conditions. If you would like to know whether Acupuncture can assist your health complaint, please contact me at the clinic.
High quality herbal granules I use in my clinic. Herbs treat many conditions. Simply add boiling water, stir and make into tea, and drink. Simple!
An example of Acupuncture in the hand, sterile needles are single use. These two points called Ling Ku and Da Bai are powerful and have many applications in the clinic for pain relief and many other conditions.
