Posts in Chinese Medicine
What Does Stress Actually Do to the Body's Systems?

Stress is a normal physiological response triggered when we feel threatened. When we are stressed both our “fight or flight” responses and our immune systems are activated. These normal responses can be helpful as they prepare our bodies to help deal with the source of the threat. However, when we are under too much stress, or ongoing chronic stress, our stress hormones might not return to normal levels; we are then left in a permanent state of fight or flight.

When we are stressed, we often feel irritable, frustrated and angry, or anxious, afraid and depressed. Alongside these feelings, our bodies also react, causing various aches and pains anywhere in our body, or other symptoms such as insomnia or increased pre-menstrual symptoms.

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Your Body is a Garden ...

What does gardening have in common with Chinese Medicine? Quite a lot actually. Stemming from the Taoist tradition, Chinese medicine practitioners look at the body as a microcosm and as part of the natural world. Just like in gardening, the same principles of soil preparation, fertilisation, planting and weeding are necessary for good health.

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How Does Chinese Medicine Support Your Digestive Health?

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture treatments can improve digestive function through supporting the Spleen and Stomach meridians. From a biomedical perspective, Acupuncture supports the Vagus nerve and regulation of the Gut – Brain axis.

Acupuncture also calms the central nervous system and this can also have a beneficial effect on digestion.

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How to take your basal body temperature (BBT)

BBT charting is an incredibly simple and useful tool in helping you (and us!) gain greater insight into the timing and quality of your menstrual cycle. The shifting of your hormones throughout your cycle is reflected in small changes in your body temperature, and BBT charting helps us to really see what is going on and what could be contributing to your health issues. For a smooth and healthy period, your body needs to be producing the right levels of the right hormones at the right times – not always an easy task in our chemical-filled, stressed out lives.

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Let's talk about sperm

Do you really need to improve your sperm health? The answer is probably!  Since 1989, there has been a 30% decrease in sperm count in the general male population and about one in twenty men has a fertility issue, even if they live a seemingly healthy lifestyle. Male fertility is a common reason people go to IVF with research showing that 40% of infertility cases are due to poor sperm quality. Even if your results came back in the okay range you can still improve your sperm-health even further, giving you the best chance of conceiving.

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Acupuncture for Shingles, Bell's palsy and Neuropathy

Both shingles and Bell’s palsy tend to resolve on their own over time. But, with treatment the process can be sped up. More importantly, for both of these conditions there is a small percent of the population that has ongoing neurological issues. And that is something you want to avoid. How can acupuncture and Chinese medicine help?

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