The holiday season, filled with lots of parties, food and family gatherings can be a fun filled time, but it can also be a time for stress, anxiety and depression for many people. Money and family stresses can seem overwhelming, especially in a year such as we've had when many people are losing jobs or facing salary cutbacks. Normal stress can seem difficult in the best of times, but combined with challenging economic times and holiday pressures it can be overwhelming.
This past year I have had an unusually high number of people coming to see me for stress, stress related ailments, anxiety and depression. I have treated them with acupuncture and herbal medicine and have seen dramatic and welcome improvements in most of them. Depending on the severity of the situation, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic solution to this very common problem. Mild to moderate depression and anxiety can often improve very quickly with the use of regular acupuncture treatments and customized herbal formulas. It is important that the formulas and treatments be customized as each person is different in their constitution and cause of imbalance.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies. It can be especially effective when used in conjunction with psychological counseling particularly in more severe cases.
For questions on how acupuncture and herbal medicine may help you call 310-367-1564 for a free phone consultation.
Many women wonder if acupuncture is safe during pregnancy. It is absolutely safe when given by a trained and skilled acupuncturist. It not only is safe but can help prevent miscarriage, alleviate nausea and morning sickness, reduce aches and pains during pregnancy, reduce heartburn, ensure a good night's sleep and much more.
Since one of my specialties is fertility acupuncture, once a woman becomes pregnant she usually continues with me throughout her pregnancy. Most women report having easier pregnancies and births as a result of the care they get with acupuncture.
During pregnancy it is important to keep the body in balance as it is easy for the Qi energy to get stagnant during this time. When discomforts arise it is a sign that the Qi is not flowing properly in the channels. This is easily remedied with acupuncture.
I usually recommend that women get weekly treatments during their first trimester and at the very least monthly treatments thereafter until the last month of pregnancy. At this point we increase treatments again to help facilitate an easier birth. Of course each woman is different and we structure treatment protocols based on each woman's needs.
If you are pregnant or wishing to become pregnant, consider acupuncture as a wonderful way to ensure your health and well being and to pave the way for an easier birth.
Complementary consultations available. Call for information. 310-367-1564.
As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a specialist in Women's Health and Fertility, I see many women with menstrual irregularities. They come to me with moderate to severe monthly cramps, mood swings, depression and a host of other complaints that can accompany the monthly period. Most women accept and deal with the monthly cycle they have regardless of the pain, suffering and inconvenience it causes them. Or, they go on the pill whether or not they are trying to avoid pregnancy.
When I tell a woman that she does not have to have menstrual cramps she is often surprised. What most women don't know is, there is very easy, very simple solution. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer a highly effective, healing alternative. What I do in my clinic is not put a bandaid on the problem, but get to the root imbalance that the woman is suffering to effect a permanent solution.
If you are suffering from menstrual cramps, PMS, irregular periods and more, there is a solution that works to bring relief to your very next period. You simply don't have to live with painful periods any more!
For more information call 310-367-1564 for a complementary phone consultation.
As a specialist in Women's Health and wellness, I have successfully helped many women make the transition from HRT to natural methods using acupuncture and herbal therapy. Each woman's situation is unique with a varying set of symptoms and severity. During a consultation I carefully consider each woman's constitution and specific health situation in order to create a custom treatment. As I create an herbal formula for my patient, I carefully choose herbs and acupuncture treatments to specifically match her set of symptoms. This ensures the greatest success in alleviating menopause symptoms and creating a better quality of life.
If you are ready to make the change from HRT and have questions, I offer complementary phone consultations for your convenience. I may be reached at 310-367-1564.
Male infertility concerns are appearing more regularly in the news lately and for some couples this may come as a surprise. Often times the male partner is overlooked in favor of primarily treating the woman . This however, is changing and more doctors are looking at the man's fertility as frequently as the woman's.
It is thought that about 50% of all fertility cases are related to problems with the male partner. Fertility for the male depends on adequate sperm, unobstructed ability of the sperm to travel through the seminal tract, the ability of the sperm to travel through the woman's reproductive tract to reach the egg and its ability to fertilize the egg. When sperm quantity, quality and motility (ability to swim and move) are reduced it is difficult to fertilize an egg.Physical problems like varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum) also impact fertility, possibly by elevating the temperature in the region thus affecting sperm quality and quantity.
Factors that may contribute to infertility:
history of prostatitis or genital infection
testicular trauma
history of early puberty or delayed puberty
exposure to toxic substances or hazards on the job, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, ethylene oxide, vinyl chloride, radioactivity, and x-rays
Chinese Medicine, which incorporates acupuncture and herbal medicine, has shown to be very effective in treating low sperm count, problems with liquefaction, low motility, poor morphologyand other problems related to the male reproductive tract.
If you are a couple that has been trying for some time to become parents please consider testing to see if male factor infertility is part of the problem. Having a semen analysis is a good first step. Consult your medical professional for options.
For more information on how acupuncture and herbal medicine can help go to www.bethanymuhl.com or call 310-367-1564 for a complementary phone consultation.
Eating a healthy diet is all important for a woman wishing to become pregnant. Preparing your body ahead of time by eating the right things helps insure that you are in the best health possible. It is much easier to conceive and to produce a healthy baby when you are at the peak of health yourself.
Food choices are as important for the months leading up to pregnancy as they are during pregnancy. If you are a gardener you understand the importance of preparing the soil in order to germinate and grow the healthiest and strongest plants. Farmers prepare their soils for planting well in advance of planting the seeds. It is the same for our bodies. By making sure we have the right nutrients and eliminate what might be harmful we create the best environment for fertilization to take place and for a fetus to thrive.
What are some of those good food choices?
Eat fresh, unprocessed, organic foods whenever possible. Buy fresh from a farmers market if you can and cook it yourself. This is the best way to get the nutrients that your body needs and to eliminate chemicals and preservatives that are harmful to your body. Buying from a farmers market ensures that the food is as fresh as possible and that more vitamins and minerals are still intact. Organic and pesticide free fruits and vegetables also are shown to have more nutrients present than those grown in fields sprayed with pesticides.
Eat hormone free meats. We absolutely don't want to add synthetically produced hormones to our bodies by eating them in our food. This can disrupt the naturally produced hormones we make within our own bodies.
Add foods containing omega 3 essential fatty acids like wild salmon, sardines and other oily fresh cold water fish that are low in mercury content. Other sources are flaxseeds (ground daily), walnuts, brussel sprouts, cabbage, soybeans and many others. Omega fats are important in maintaining reproductive capability and in fact, a deficiency can lead to infertility. Fatty acids are important components of cell structures, are necessary for skin and hair grow and are important in visual and neurological development. It is most important to have the omega fats present in your body for the developing fetus.
We've talked about good things to eat, but there are also important thing to eliminate or reduce.
Eliminate coffee and caffeinated drinks. Coffee and caffeine can constrict blood vessels in the body, which include those leading to the uterus. To maximize fertility we want to increase the blood flow to the uterus at this time. A small amount of green tea is acceptable (1 small cup) if you must have caffeine.
Eliminate alcohol which elevates blood sugar levels and leads to damp heat in the body. Damp heat in Chinese Medicine is considered a pathogen and can interfere with conception. Of course alcohol is contraindicated during pregnancy as it can be toxic to the fetus.
Eliminate or reduce sugar. Sugar includes: honey, maple syrup, agave, corn syrup and others. I know this is one of the hardest things for my patients to give up, often even more difficult to stop than caffeine. However, sugar, especially in excess leads to inflammation and this is one of the enemies of fertility. So if you can at least greatly reduce sugar it will be to your benefit. Artificial sweeteners are also not the answer, they are chemically produced and may be injurious to your health.
These are just a few dietary suggestions that can greatly enhance your ability to become pregnant. Try these suggestions and see if you don't feel more energized, feel happier, sleep better and know you are increasing your fertility potential.
If you would like further information on the fertility diet or fertility acupuncture visit my website; http://www.bethanymuhl.com/ or call (310)367-1564.
A new study has come out indicating that exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), according to a new study. The finding is important because women with PCOS often have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which plays a role in hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
The study also found that electro-acupuncture treatments led to more regular menstrual cycles, reduced testosterone levels and reduced waist circumference.
One of the researchers, Dr. Elisabet Stener-Victorin of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden states that; “The findings that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise decrease sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS indicates a possible alternative non-pharmacologic approach to reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients.”
The findings regarding menstrual cycles and decrease in testosterone levels also are important because this can help improve fertility in those PCOS patients who are trying to become pregnant.
As an acupuncturist with a specialty in women's health and fertility I often have patients who's fertility is impaired by PCOS. This is wonderful news and validation of the ability of acupuncture to normalize hormonal function and menstrual cycles. For more information on how acupuncture helps fertility visit my website.
The study, “Low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in polycystic ovary syndrome” was conducted by Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Elizabeth Jedel, Per Olof Janson and Vrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir, all of the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The study is in the online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society.
For more information on acupuncture and how it can help go to www.bethanymuhl.com
Once a woman decides she is ready to have a baby she usually wants to become pregnant TODAY! However,that often doesn't happen. It can take a while to become pregnant and sometimes it can take much longer than anticipated. This can create anxiety, depression and anger.
One thing a woman can do is start planning for pregnancy before she thinks she is ready. That way when the time is right, conception can happen more quickly as the body is healthy and ready to support a pregnancy.
Here are some things one can do to prepare for pregnancy:
Eat those vegetables!! I can't emphasize this enough. Vegetables are filled with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that can heal the body. I recommend eating veggies at every meal, or at least at lunch and dinner. The best ones to eat are broccoli, kale, collards, carrots, brussel sprouts, green beans, asparagus, spinach and yes you can eat salad, but don't count that as your veggie every day. Include one or two of the above every day in addition to salad if you have to have it.
Include seaweed in your diet. Seaweed has many important minerals, contains lots of calcium and has many healing properties.
Get enough rest. Plan to sleep 8 hours every night. This is when your body heals itself and does maintenance. I find that most people these days do not get enough rest and it is all important in maintaining good health.
Exercise. Exercise helps one maintain a healthy weight, helps strengthen heart and lung function, keeps the qi (vital life force) flowing smoothly though out the entire body.
Consider meditation. Meditation is a wonderful way to reduce stress. Stress can interfere our health in many ways. It lowers our immune system function, causes menstrual irregularities, interferes with sleep, affects metabolism and much more.
Get regular acupuncture treatments! One of the best things you can do is make sure your body is ready for pregnancy by regulating your menstrual cycle or any other health imbalance with acupuncture before you want to get pregnant. Making sure you have a healthy menstrual cycle before pregnancy helps insure an easier time conceiving. Taking care of other health concerns before pregnancy helps insure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. This is preventive medicine!
The recommendations I've made are small things you can do to insure your fertility and a happy pregnancy. There are many more things that can be done and I am happy to share them with you. Check back here for updates and more information in future blogs or call me for a free personal consultation on how I may be able to help you achieve excellent and glowing fertility.
A natural approach to dealing with menopause symptoms is on the minds of many women these days. After all the bad press regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) many women now fear using HRT. When the results of the Women's Health Initiative were released relaying the many serious health consequences of use, many women on HRT decided to go off the hormones that they had been using for years. Many decided that they would never go on them.
The symptoms of menopause and perimenopause can vary from woman to woman, from mild to severe and life disrupting. One woman may have mild occasional hot flashes, another may experience severe hot flashes every fifteen minutes accompanied by heart palpitations and feelings of severe anxiety.
Some of the symptoms of menopause are:
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Insomnia
Depression
Irritability and mood swings
Heart palpitations
Feverish feelings (hot then cold)
Dryness
Headaches and migraine
And many more
With a large number of women currently entering menopause years and the years leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, what can be done if HRT is not their choice?
How can we help these women?
Many women will try herbs like black cohosh or others. But there is much variation in the success women have with these herbs touted for menopause relief. One product may work for one woman, but her friend will try it and have no success at all. These are all wonderful and helpful herbs but women may become discouraged not understanding why this so called wonderful and helpful herb that works for her friend isn't working for her.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are two proven natural remedies for menopause symptoms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we look at each person as a unique individual with a unique set of symptoms and constitution. The herbs and acupuncture treatment we give for one woman will differ from the next, as each person's symptoms and constitution will not be the same. We tend not to use a single herb but a formula with many herbs that are chosen to work synergistically with one another to enhance the overall treatment success.
In the hands of a skilled acupuncturist and herbalist many women can achieve success and relief from menopause symptoms. Each women receives her own specific herbal formula addressing her uniquely specific needs.
As a specialist in Women's Health I successfully treat many women for menopause and perimenopause symptoms. Please visit my website for more information.
Let's face it, as women we have all at some point in our lives experienced PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. If it is a mild case it can be unpleasant, but if severe it can be debilitating. Some of the symptoms of PMS are:
bloating
breast tenderness
irritability
moodiness
depression
anxiety
headache or migraine
You may have suffered one or two or more of these. In some cases a symptom such as depression can be severe enough to be disabling and sometimes a migraine can last for days. For these women a monthly period is something indeed to dread! Often women with these symptoms also have severe menstrual cramping making the menstrual week and the week leading up to it a pretty miserable experience. Often women are put on birth control pills to control their symptoms regardless of whether they are sexually active or not.
For the women who would rather not use birth control (and for those who currently do) there is an answer to your pain and suffering.
In using Chinese Medicine we look to the root cause of the problem in order to correct it and alleviate symptoms. We do this by balancing the organs systems, removing blockages and supplementing where needed. Often in PMS we might say the women has qi stagnation, although other imbalances could also be present such as blood deficiency or blood stagnation. There are many possible imbalances as each person is a unique individual. We consider all of the variables in making our assessment. This is the way in which we get to the root of the problem to eliminate the symptoms.
When a woman comes to my office with menstrual problems I do a complete evaluation of her health and arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. I usually treat the person with acupuncture and a custom herbal formula that is specific for that person, as no two people with PMS are alike in their constitution. Once the woman is taking the herbs and receiving acupuncture for one or two months she will notice a big improvement in her symptoms. Sometimes the PMS will go away with the first menstrual period, sometimes the second. Sometimes it may take a little longer, but it does improve. And the best part, with proper care it is an improvement that can last a lifetime.
Many fertility clinics are now embracing the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive technologies. Why would they do this? Because of the increased success rate of those procedures when acupuncture treatments are used concurrent with treatment.
A large well designed German study showed that acupuncture used along with IVF nearly doubled success rates in achieving pregnancy. This is a huge increase in successful outcome. For the men and women undergoing the expense and physical and emotional ordeal of IVF procedures this is a huge bonus.
How does acupuncture actually help women achieve this success?
Acupuncture can:
increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
help thicken the uterine lining which creates a better environment for the fertilized egg
release endorphins to relax the body and uterus during procedures
help return the body to homeostasis
help relieve anxiety and stress
create a feeling of overall well-being
All of the above contribute to the successful outcome of IVF procedures. Remaining positive during these treatments is also important. In the hands of a skilled and compassionate acupuncture practitioner this is possible.
Choosing a practitioner who is experienced in fertility problems and in the acupuncture IVF protocol is also important. Research has shown that specific acupuncture points used for infertility and during embryo transfers is an important factor in this success.
In choosing an acupuncture practitioner, in addition to having experience with infertility, pick someone you feel you can really open up to, someone you feel will really listen to all your concerns. This can be a long journey and you want to feel supported. The relationship should be a partnership in healing and in achieving your fertility goals.
I wish you all great success in your fertility journey!
For anyone who would like to access this German study it was published in the periodical Fertility and Sterility. You can access the abstract of the study here.
If you would like more information on how acupuncture and IVF can work together, or in how I might be able to help you please call for a free phone consult at (310)367-1564.
As a specialist in women's health, I treat many women with fertility challenges. Some women are undergoing IVF or invitro fertilitzation and use acupuncture to maximize a successful outcome. Others use acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine alone. In either case Traditional Chinese Medicine can help.
In the years that I have been treating women I have seen many miracles. Some examples of those miracles are a 44 year old patient who had suffered two miscarriages prior to using Chinese medicine. We worked together for about 9 months, she became pregnant and now is the mother of a healthy 2 year old.
Another case, a 33 year old came to me distressed because her doctor had recommended clomid in order for her to become pregnant. She decided to try acupuncture and herbs first. Within 6 weeks of my treatments she was pregnant. She is now the mother of a 3 year old.
Another women had tried IVF on two occasions unsuccessfully, then decided to just use chinese herbs and acupuncture. After 2 months of treatment she became pregnant, had a wonderful pregnancy and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
I give these examples to give hope to the many women out there who feel they may never succeed in getting pregant. I can site many more successful cases, but for now let me just say, THIS MEDICINE WORKS! It works in many different situations and truly it is my honor to be of help.
I love to look at the baby pictures in my office of all the women who have been helped with this medicine. I think I may have to get a larger bulletin board!
If you would like more information on how Chinese medicine can help please visit my website:bethanymuhl.com
We are constantly hearing how stress can affect our health. But what does it do exactly, what are the costs and what can be done about it?
Stress affects our whole system. Stress causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that the body produces so we can get ready for action, the “fight of flight” response. This worked fine when we were out in the wilderness fighting off wild animals or hunting to survive. That kind of stress response allowed us to maximize our physical prowess to survive.
However when our bodies don’t need these hormones for fight or flight what can happen?
This is a list of costly illnesses that can result from chronic stress: Diabetes Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol Atherosclerosis Stroke Depression Sleep disorders Stomach problems like ulcers Weight gain
Studies have shown that acupuncture is very good at relieving stress and the effects of stress. With regular treatments it can be a very easy and cost effective way of avoiding these debilitating illnesses.
For some women, fertility is a seemingly elusive quality. These women are of varying ages, but mainly in the range of 35 years plus. Most have delayed child-bearing to their later years due to choice or circumstance.
In our younger years, fertility is not something we necessarily think of as something to maximize, but as something to curb with birth control. When the time and circumstance is right, we discard the birth control and expect or hope that our bodies are ready to conceive and bare a child. When conception doesn’t happen after a few months we can become distressed, saddened, angry, depressed or desperate. We may look at the friends around us and wonder how they managed to conceive so quickly, or wonder how that 45 year old celebrity managed to get pregnant with such ease.
Many reasons exist for why one person conceives easily while another is challenged. The main question to ask is: what can be done to change the situation?
The key component is to restore balance to the individual and to remove any energetic blockages. The Eastern Medicine practitioner wants to enhance the flow of qi and blood and to make sure that qi, yin, blood, yang are all sufficient. Qi is our vital energy; yin is our fluid and physical substance; yang is our vital inner heat or warmth. Women are especially subject to deficiencies of yin and blood due to the menstrual period. These substances need replenishment with individualized Chinese herbal formulas and diet plans.
Stress is also a factor that can cause blockages to the flow of qi or vital energy and blood, thus reducing fertility. Acupuncture excels at reducing stress and maintaining a healthy flow of qi and blood throughout the body.
There are many things that people can do on their own to maintain or build fertility. Maintaining a healthful lifestyle is all important. This means eliminating smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption.
Getting adequate sleep (7-8 hrs) at night is also important. Night is the time when our body rebuilds yin and those who skimp on sleep can actually be damaging their yin. Exercise is excellent for stress reduction and is important to maintain the flow of qi and blood to keep stagnation or blockages from occurring.
Eating healthful whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits is essential. Patients are usually given a list of foods that are blood and yin building to enhance their treatments. All foods should be organic when possible and meats should be hormone and antibiotic free.
Some of those foods are:
Olive oil
Flax oil
Black beans
Kidney beans
Aduki beans
Sesame seeds
Almonds
Walnuts
Millet
Oats
Eggs
Salmon
Sardines
Chicken
Asparagus
Beets
String beans
Shitake mushrooms
Leafy greens like spinach, kale, collards, chard, broccoli
Cherries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Raisins
Figs
Foods should be cooked, not raw. Vegetables should be lightly steamed or sauteed. All cold drinks, cold foods and ice cream should be eliminated from the diet because it is important to keep the body warm, and this includes the digestive function. To keep the womb warm, avoid sitting on cold surfaces. Cold can invade the body and cause stagnation.
These are just a few suggestions for increasing the fertility quotient. Simple changes in lifestyle choices can bring big results. I urge anyone who wishes to increase or maintain fertility to follow the above mentioned general guidelines.
I am a California licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, specializing in Women's Health and Fertility. The purpose of my blog is to educate, demystify and awaken peoples awareness of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and how it may help them.
You may reach me at 310-367-1564
http://www.bethanymuhl.com
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