This is something very close to my heart! this site was created 5 years ago and it provides fantastic support, the creator is a wonderful lady called Meisha Robinson, so a big thank you to her and may the site continue to be a brilliant source of information, support and comfort for many many more years to come.
www.molarpregnancy.co.uk

Also one of the wonderful women on this site did an article for the Express newspaper on how she thought she would never become a mother due to molar pregnancy, link below is the full article well worth a read:
http://www.express.co.uk/​posts/view/151224/​I-thought-I-d-never-become-a-mo​ther-I-thought-I-d-never-becom​e-a-mother-I-thought-I-d-never​-become-a-mother

Neck pain (or stiff neck and shoulders) is a very common condition, one that I see time and time again.  A stiff neck is typically characterized by soreness and difficulty moving the neck - especially when trying to turn the head to the side. A stiff neck may also be accompanied by a headache, shoulder pain and/or arm pain.

The main muscle involved is the levator scapula muscle. It is located at the back and side of the neck, the levator scapula muscle connects the cervical spine (the neck) with the shoulder. This muscle is controlled by the third and fourth cervical nerves (C3, C4). The function of this muscle is to lift the shoulder blade for example when  shrugging the shoulders. It also helps stabilise the shoulder joint when the arm  is moving. It also helps turn the neck towards the shoulder.

In acupuncture, stress in modern life together with physical and mental tension can contribute to neck pain. Overstrain, physical trauma, lifestyle, exposure to the elements, or possibly surgery, these can all cause pain or stiffness.

So what can Acupuncture do to help you with this complaint? 
Studies have shown that using acupuncture on the neck muscles can reduce spasm and lessen pain, leading to a relaxed state and a  heightened sense of well-being.
Stimuating certain acupuncture trigger points can release the muscle and also release natural drug free pain relief.  This natural painkiller is called adenosine.  Adenosine, which also helps to regulate sleep and keep the heart healthy, becomes active in the skin after an injury to inhibit nerve signals and ease pain.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7785824/Acupuncture-does-work-as-it-stimulates-a-natural-pain-killer-scientists-find.html

I will be at Sonairte Markets (Sonairte, The Ninch, Laytown, Co. Meath, Ireland) this Sunday 25th March from 11am to 5pm if anyone wants to pop along and ask any questions :)
Also I will be giving away Vouchers worth €15 off all Treatments!!! 
http://sonairte.ie/

A fantastic invention for "pregnant or sensitive tummies. Use on land or water, on holiday or at home, to lie on your front for relaxation, massage and sunbathing". 
It is also great for therapists to use with their pregnant clients as finding a comfortable position can be tricky!  Well not anymore with this fab Holo!  For more information see link below:
http://www.holo-lilo.com/

Now available for use in my clinic for anyone with sensitive tummies and all the lovely mummy's to be, to make their treatment experience as comfortable as possible.
 

 

An article published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine shows that Acupuncture reduces the cost of Low-Back pain.  This is fantastic news for people who suffer from chronic low back pain that there could be some relief for them in sight....

Acupuncture reduces the cost of Low-back pain
Patients with low-back pain (LBP) are less likely to visit physicians for LBP after receiving acupuncture treatment, leading to reduced healthcare spending on LBP. In a case control study carried out in Canada, 201 cases in which LBP was treated with acupuncture were compared with 804 controls.  Each acupuncture group case was matched with four comparison cases from the general population with LBP, based on gender and age. The number of physician visits for the one-year period post-acupuncture decreased 49% for the acupuncture group, compared with the one-year period pre-acupuncture. In the comparison group, there was a decrease of 2% in physician visits for the same time periods. The of cost LBP-related physician services showed corresponding decreases, declining by 37% for the acupuncture group and 1% for the comparison group. (Reduced health resource use after acupuncture for low-back pain. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1015-9).
http://www.jcm.co.uk/research-archive/article/acupuncture-reduces-cost-of-back-pain-1927/

A clinical study was conducted at the Thousand Buddha Mountain Hospital in Jinan, China, to determine the efficacy of acupuncture versus medication for amenorrhea. There were 95 subjects in the study. All the patients’ amenorrhea had lasted for six months or more, and was attributed to the use of birth control pills. 57 of the patients were in the Acupuncture Treatment Group, and 38 patients were in the Medication Group. The entire treatment consisted of six courses (20 treatments in each course), with five-day breaks between the courses. In the Medication Group, patients took Stilbestrol first, then Progesteronum was injected. One month after finishing the treatments, the effective rate (cure, great improvement and improvement) for the Acupuncture Treatment Group was 96.49%, while the effective rate for the Medication Group was 97.36%. Six months after finishing the treatments, however, the effective rate was reported at 94.73% for the Acupuncture Treatment Group, while the
effective rate dropped to 78.94% for the Medication Group. This is a significant difference between the two groups, suggesting that the long-range effects of acupuncture are very positive.


Many studies in China reveal that acupuncture, moxibustion, and Chinese
herbal medicine are superior to conventional medicine in the treatment of
menstrual disorders, including amenorrhea.

This is a very interesting article on the benefits of Acupuncture for Fertility, not many people are aware of what Acupuncture can do for both male & female fertility issues.  As Fertility treatments are so costly it is interesting to know how Acupuncture can assist in the process.  Have a read and if you know of anyone with fertility issues please let them know about this article and also about how Acupuncture may assist them on their journey.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5372452_benefits-acupuncture-fertility.html

This weekend I attended a fertility course ran by the Acupuncture Foundation.  It was an amazing course taught by MS Therese Parsons M Sc. Lic Ac. Dip Herb. Cert Ed.  It covered evidence based clinicial trials for male & female infertility, acupuncture protocol for the IVF process and also for treatment for prevention of miscarriage.  It was an amazing course and I am very excited to introduce all of this additional knowledge into my clinical practice.

We are having an open-day to demonstrate some of our signature treatments at Anam Mai acupuncture on Tuesday 6th March 2012 from 9am-9pm.  The goal of our open-day is to introduce you to the benefits of acupuncture treatment.  Come along and let us show you our most up-to-date and effective treatments.  A whole world of health and relaxation awaits.  Experience the genuine feel good and therapeutic results that we can offer.  We can't wait to show you the amazing outcomes we can achieve at Anam Mai Acupuncture!

Tomorrow I will be hosting Anam Mai Acupuncture as a new business show case in AIB Bank, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin from 11am to 4pm.  Come along and see what benefits Acupuncture has for you!