How Acupuncture can help treat colds & flus Adults and children do not have to worry about missing valuable time at work or school because Acupuncture can not only help prevent colds & flu, but can also help treat the illness once symptoms have begun to appear. Acupuncture for Prevention Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese medicine can prevent colds and flu by building up the immune system with just a few needles inserted into key points along the body's energy pathways. These points are known for strengthening the circulation of blood and energy and for reinforcing the outer defence layers of the skin and muscle so that germs and viruses cannot enter into the body. Studies have shown that certain blood counts and immune enhancing chemicals stay elevated for at least 3 days following an acupuncture treatment. Already caught that nasty cold? If you've already catch that cold, acupuncture can also help with the chills, sniffles, sore throat and fever in a safe, non-toxic way that doesn't bombard your body with harmful antibiotics. Acupuncture can also help you get better faster and does not interfere with prescribed western medicine so even if you are on antibiotics it can help with any unwanted side effects that can arise from taking antibiotics, rebalancing the body’s natural flora & fauna and helping you recover from illness quicker. Acupuncture has been around for over 1000 years and recently many of us have begun to enjoy the health benefits it has to offer. Besides colds and flu, acupuncture treats various other conditions, including arthritis, pain, digestive issues, men's and women's reproductive health issues as well as many many more conditions. Acupuncture helps balance the major systems of the body including the hormonal, endocrine and nervous systems and is excellent for stress relief and insomnia. Do the treatments differ for children v’s adults? The treatment of adults and children is different. Children respond much quicker to treatment than adults do. With adults we use acupuncture needles whereas with children acupressure techniques can be used along with fire cupping and where needles are used the needles are not retained so they are in, stimulated and removed within seconds. Another useful treatment plan for children is Ear seeds to stimulate the ear points and these seeds remain in the ear so the treatment continues long after you have left the clinic. Parents can also be shown how to use acupressure techniques and exact point locations on how to help keep their children’s immune system good and strong.
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More exciting news from Anam Mai Acupuncture! A new additional clinic will be added to Anam Mai Acupuncture's schedule from October: Where: Ardgillan Holistic Centre, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin When: Friday 19th & 26th October at 3pm-6.30pm - & more dates & times to follow :) The new Ardgillan Holistic Centre - the first of its kind in a municipal park in Ireland - is set in the former Gardener's House amid the stunning Ardgillan Demesne. Nestled in the corner of the internationally renowned Ardgillan Rose Garden, the centre is bound to become a major attraction for the people of the North Dublin area. The Holistic Centre offers Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga and Spiritual Workshops. Treatments on offer include Holistic Massage, Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Indian Head Massage, Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology. Homeopathic remedies, Bowen Technique, Emmett, Psychotherapy, Reiki, Bio-energy, Angelic Healing, Angel Readings and much more including Acupuncture now too! For more information please come an visit the new centre or contact Ardgillan Holistic Center on on 01 8029777 or Niamh directly on 087 6307786 Exciting times for Anam Mai Acupuncture! I will be heading to Electric Picnic as part of the Body & Soul area. I will be based in the communal therapists tents and will be providing acupuncture treatments on Friday 31st August, Saturday & Sunday 1st & 2nd of September and I am super excited!!! For more information click on the following links: http://electricpicnic.ie/about123 www.bodyandsoul.ie Are you concerned that you may have a food intolerance? Anam Mai Acupuncture is now providing Food Intolerance blood tests, Coeliac testing, Thyroid Antibody testing & Candida Albicans testing through the Fitzwilliam food test clinic. For more information visit the link below... http://www.anammai.com/new-food-intolerance-testing-coeliac-testing-thyroid-antibody-testing--candida-albicans-testing.html Over the last few weeks in clinic I have had a number of clients who have presented with this condition. It is called Plantar Fasciitis or otherwise known as heel pain. So what is Plantar Fasciitis? It is the most common cause of heel pain. It is caused when the ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes get's damaged or inflamed. The ligament is called the Plantar Fascia. When it gets strained it is weakened and causes pain in your heel when you walk. The Plantar Fascia is the ligament that makes up the arch in your foot. Why does it happen? It can happen for many reasons. Normally it is caused by repetitive strain, ill fitting shoes with lack of arch support, if you already have high arches or flat feet, if you are on your feet a lot, use your feet quite a lot e.g. running or sports etc. It is more common in middle aged persons and if you are carrying a bit more weight than you should this all affects this ligament. Also if you have tight calf muscles this can cause heel pain. So what does it feel like? Most people with plantar fasciitis have pain when they take their first steps first thing in the morning or after sitting for a long time. Once you get walking you may have less stiffness. Sometimes as the day progresses the pain gets worse and it may also hurt when climbing the stairs or if you are standing for a long time. So how can Acupuncture help? Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into different areas of the body known as acupuncture points. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective form of pain relief for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. The acupuncture points that are chosen are around the ankle and foot, also points on the calf are used if the calf muscles are tight. Treatments are advisable twice a week for the first week and then once a week for about 4 weeks. Sometimes electro acupuncture is used. Recent studies through the "Journal of Medical Acupuncture, show that " the combination of electro acupuncture and traditional acupuncture to the affected foot musculature produced a marked reduction in pain and improvement in function with a limited number of treatments. Your local acupuncturists Niamh (that's me!) from Anam Mai Acupuncture, Sharon from Sharon McGinty Acupuncture and Sabine from Shen Dao Acupuncture have joined forces to spread the wonders of acupuncture. We are co-writing a series of articles for The Meath Coaster Magazine. The 1st one "Quit Smoking with Acupuncture"! is posted below and now this is the second one: Acupuncture Can Help You Conceive Did you know that acupuncture can improve reproductive health, both in men and women? Acupuncture is a great way to prepare yourself before conception whether you are trying naturally or going down the assisted route. Natural conception Acupuncture is ideal for women who want to boost their fertility naturally, prepare themselves in the best way possible before IVF or try to conceive again after experiencing a miscarriage. Treatments work alongside the menstrual cycle and aim to improve egg quality, improve the quality and quantity of cervical secretions, promote ovulation, improve the quality and thickness of the uterine lining to promote implantation, address PMT symptoms and promote an efficient menstrual bleed. Acupuncture can therefore address underlying conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis. The great strength of acupuncture lies in restoring physical, hormonal and emotional balance to allow conception to happen. Male fertility Male factor infertility accounts for 45% of all fertility. Couples diagnosed with male factor infertility are quickly referred for ICSI when there is a lot men can do to improve their fertility naturally. Men are constantly producing sperm and it takes roughly 75 days to make new sperm. Considering the cost of ICSI and the increased risk of birth defects associated with it, it makes sense for men to do everything they can to let their sperm improve on their own. 12 acupuncture treatments coupled with a few lifestyle changes can significantly improve the count, motility and morphology, allowing for natural conception to happen. Assisted Conception Embarking on IVF/ICSI treatment after having been TTCing for a while can be a hopeful and joyous time, but it is also a very stressful time. The procedures are invasive and also very costly. Having regular acupuncture treatments in the lead up to IVF will ensure that you are in the best shape possible and could increase your chances of success by as much as 40 to 60%. Ideally preparation for IVF/ICSI should begin 2 to 3 months before starting the cycle. Acupuncture during an IVF/ICSI cycle improves pelvic blood flow, improves egg quality and quantity, creates a thicker uterine lining and therefore increases the chances of implantation and prevents the uterus from contracting after transfer. It will also keep you calm and relaxed and reduce the side effects from the medication. It is important to mention that acupuncture does not hurt and is in fact a relaxing and enjoyable experience and that patients look forward to their treatment. No matter where you are on your conception journey, Sabine, Niamh and Sharon can support you at whatever stage you find yourself. We are always happy to take the time to answer queries and discuss your personal circumstances with you. Please do not hesitate to ring one of us for a confidential chat If you have attempted to quit smoking, you know how difficult it can be. Nicotine is a powerful addiction and extremely difficult habit to break. The hardest thing to do is to break the habit. You might experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, stress, headaches and mostly cravings to smoke again. It is estimated that most smokers will attempt to quit two or three times, or more, before finally kicking the habit. When conventional methods to quit smoking have failed, smokers often look outside mainstream approaches and turn to Acupuncture. So to the good news, Acupuncture is an effective tool in helping you quit smoking. It can help you by calming you down and by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings for cigarettes. You can also expect increased energy levels and a heightened sense of well-being. So how does it work then? Acupuncture works by controlling the with-drawl symptoms and easing the cravings to ensure a permanent resolution to your quitting smoking. In one study conducted at the University of Oslo, Norway, acupuncture was found to significantly reduce the desire to smoke up to five years after the initial treatment. Subjects of the study also reported that cigarettes tasted worse than before treatment and that the treatments had effectively reduced their taste for tobacco. It also helps in de-congesting your lungs as well as improves your blood circulation. So what does the treatment involve? Extremely fine, pre-sterilised and disposable needles are inserted into the body points and retained for 20-30 minutes. Ear points are also needled and small magnetic pellets are then placed over the acupoints and held in place by a plaster. The patient can then press on the magnets in between treatments to stimulate the ear points and fight cravings. Many patients enjoy acupuncture and find it a comforting and relaxing experience. It is that time of the year again folks, Hay fever season that can lead to irritation of the sinus cavities. It can cause havoc and disruption to our lives so I thought I would share some handy tips on how to manage these conditions and also boost your immune system at the same time: Of course first on the list has to be...... Acupuncture In most cases, very fine needles will be placed in the back of the head, around the sinuses, and a couple spots in the forearms & lower legs. I have seen great results from acupuncture to clear congested sinuses, and provide relief from pressure pain. Also Moxibustion is great at drying up the sinuses. Nasal Washes These are a great option for something you can do at home. I myself use NeilMed Sinus Rinse that is available as a starter kit and comes with 15 sachets. It is used to wash the nasal passages using a mild salt water solution. You can find these at your local chemist, and they will have directions for use. Self-Massage This needs to be done daily, but results can be fantastic. I can show you how to do this and the massage takes about 10 minutes only and it is a great way to start the day and also to help you just before you go to sleep. Areas massaged are usually around the sinuses, the forehead, scalp, and hands. Essential oil steam inhalation Eucalyptus, Thyme, or Rosemary can all be used for this as they are pungent and clearing oils. You can place the oils into boiling/hot water, then cover your head with a towel to create a “tent” around the bowl, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Nutrition & Diet Foods to avoid: Limit dairy intake as this can add to phlegm and by limiting/avoiding dairy intake it can often provide relief for hayfever, sinusitis, post-nasal drip, and even cough or asthma. Inflammatory and acidic foods like red meat, refined wheat, e.g. white breads and pasta, sugar, salt, fatty & processed foods and also reduce citrus fruit. Foods to include: Anti-inflammatory foods like flaxseed & olive oil, goats milk, green vegetables, parsley, macadamia nuts, green tea, oily fish such as cod, salmon, tuna, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. spices like turmeric and soy products. An interesting little fact: Did you know that Green Tea, which is rich in catechins can exert anti-allergy effects: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020919071413.htm |
AuthorNiamh Muldowney, owner, Anam Mai Acupuncture Archives
June 2016
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Clinic DetailsThe Treatment Room, CityNorth Hotel, Gormanston, Co. Meath
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Copyright © 2022 - Niamh Muldowney, Lic. Ac., Cert Nanjing, Dip. Ac., Dip. BM, MAFPA |
What our Clients have to say....Karen, DublinI’d like to thank Niamh for all her treatment and care during my last pregnancy. I came to Niamh requesting help to keep my blood pressure down because on my previous pregnancies I was on medication for BP which I wanted to avoid on my third pregnancy. Niamh treated me on a regular basis and I avoided medication and high BP issues. I also had 2 previous inductions and I really wanted to avoid a third induction. Niamh started pre-induction treatment a few weeks before my due date and then worked up to the full induction the week of my due date and I was delighted when I started labour myself 3 days after my due date and baby was born soon after that. Niamh did a great job and gave me the outcome that I wanted. I’d highly recommend Niamh because she is friendly, approachable, very professional and thrives to achieve the best treatment for her clients.
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