Optimal Health

ACUPUNCTURE SHOWN TO RELIEVE TENSION HEADACHES

German researchers found that acupuncture is an effective treatment for people suffering from tension headaches. Over an 8 week period, this team of acupuncturists in Germany compared a group of people who regularly experienced tension headaches. One group received acupuncture and the control group received no acupuncture and a 3rd group received both conventional Western treatments and acupuncture. The headache rate in the group given the acupuncture and the group that received acupuncture and traditional Western treatments was the same — 7 fewer days of headaches in the 4 weeks following the treatments. The control group, which received no treatments, had only 1 1/2 fewer days of headaches. According to the researchers, acupuncture cut the rate of headaches by nearly half.

Source: “Acupuncture shown to relieve tension headaches,” July 29, 2005: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/acupuncture.

ACUPUNCTURE MAY IMPROVE SPERM QUALITY

According to a study reported in the July 2005 issue of Fertility and Sterility, acupuncture may improve sperm quality in male infertility. Of the 40 men in the study, 28 received acupuncture twice weekly for 5 weeks. Their semen samples were then randomized with semen samples from the 12 men in the untreated control group. The results showed a positive effect on sperm concentration and motility, and an increase in testosterone in the treated group.

The study also showed an increase of normally shaped sperm and a decrease in abnormal sperm.

Source: Laurie, Barclay, MD, “Acupuncture May Improve Sperm Quality,” Medscape Medical News, July 25, 2005: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/50885?print (July 29, 2005)

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES EFFECTIVE IN TREATMENT OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

According to the July/August 2004 issue of Homeopathy Today, there are a number of effective homeopathic remedies which have been used by doctors to treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The following remedies can be used in either 6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X or 30C, and taken either once, twice or three times per day. The first to try is always Arnica. Apply it both topically and in potency for a new flare up of CTS.

Causticum is used for long lasting or recurring CTS. There may be a feeling of contraction of the tendons and muscles, stiffness, weakness and even atrophy of the muscles. Ruta grav is the remedy used when the overuse of the area brings a bruised and aching sensation. For Ruta grav to be effective, there is often a previous injury, or sprain to the tendons and ligaments in the arm. Rhus tox is often indicated when the pain is better when there is movement or use of the area and it’s worse when the arms are at rest.

Finally, I often use the oil of Vitamin E rubbed on the arms as well as the use of vitamin B-6, in the form of P5P. The use of acupuncture points P6 and TH7 are also commonly used effectively.

EFFECTIVE REMEDIES TO BRING ON LABOR IN DELAYED SITUATIONS

The question of overdue babies is a vexing one, because doctors and midwives can often disagree over the baby’s exact due date. When unnecessary intervention or Cesareans are the last resort, it is often a good idea to immediately start with acupuncture and homeopathy. I have often been called in, with almost 100% success, to help bring on labor in a delayed pregnancy.

A few doses of Caulophyllum or Pulsatilla will often start a labor when combined with some stagetically placed acupuncture points. If the baby is ready to come out and the mother’s body is correspondingly ready to deliver, a woman can take a dose of 30C or 200C daily for two days. If labor doesn’t start after the second day, then another homeopathic remedy and additional acupuncture points should be chosen. For Caulophyllum to be effective, the woman will usually be in an anxious state, and in Pulsatilla, the emotional state will be more weepy and sad.

THE 10 MOST USED HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY:

I have used homeopathic remedies many times during my patient’s birthing process. (I have also used Acupuncture during the pregnancy and birthing process quite successfully.) Homeopathy has not only worked well for infertility, and to help people get pregnant, but it also works well during pregnancy for headaches, hemorrhoids, nausea, vomiting, constipation and lower back pain. Lastly, please never let a family member or friend suffer from post-partum depression. Homeopathy works fabulously, and quickly for this problem. It makes my heart heavy whenever I hear of a woman suffering any type of problem post-pregnancy, since these natural healing modalities will work so quickly and effectively. SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Now, to the subject at hand. Which homeopathic remedies are used for the birthing process itself?

1. Aconite & Contractions are coming too fast and there is tremendous anxiety and fear. The woman may even express her fears of dying. Right after the birth, this is also the number one remedy for fear and shock. Use for the mother, baby and / partner. Use for anyone who feels shocked, like they have been through “quite an experience.”
2. Arnica & This is the most popular remedy for use during and after the birth, for both mother and child. The remedy can also be taken throughout labor to prevent bruising. Typically, the woman will feel aching, sore and bruised. Arnica can also be used for a week or more after the birth to help speed the healing and reduce trauma and swelling from the labor and birth.
3. Chamomile & This is the same Chamomile that is used in tea in order to relax. When used homeopathically, it’s also used for pain and relaxation. There may be unbearable pains, the woman might also be very angry, and screaming in pain, while making demands of those around her. This is similar to its use for the screaming child who is teething.
4. Cocculus & After the birth, this remedy is often indicated due to the tremendous fatigue of breastfeeding and the nights of broken sleep. This exhaustion is often accompanied by dizziness, trembling or a mild headache.
5. Kali Carbonicum & This remedy is used for back labor with exhaustion, pain in the lower back radiating into the legs. Contractions might be slow or stop completely. The birthing woman might be anxious, irritable, rigid, controlling, and bossy.
6. Kali Phosphoricum & This is one of the best homeopathic remedies for exhaustion and the nerves being burnt out from any debilitating experience. It can be used between contractions to stimulate the next one, and to strengthen the system. It will also help after the birth to strengthen the nerves, for fatigue, and to rejuvenate.
7. Pulsatilla & For this remedy to be effective, their very well may be no contractions, and the delivery may progress too slowly. Often this remedy is also used to start contractions if the labor has not started at the due date. The woman may need a lot of reassurance and she feels better when she has someone to talk to. She will ask to have the window open, and feels worse in a stuffy, hot room. After the birth, she may feel depressed and need to be taken care of.
8. Sepia & The woman may give up and be severely depressed. She may feel miserable and irritable, wanting to be left entirely alone. She may have also had severe headaches during the pregnancy. This is one of the major remedies used for post partum depression and hormonal imbalance when the woman won’t accept the responsibility of motherhood. She may easily loose her temper with the baby, slam doors and want to be left alone, demand a divorce, feel no sexual energy towards her husband, and abandon the baby entirely.
9. Sulphur & This remedy might be very effective if there is a history of skin problems, like rashes or hives, during the pregnancy, and the labor is progressing very slowly. She feels hot, sweaty, thirsty and irritable. She wants fresh air, like Pulsatilla, but has a stronger, more independent personality style.
10. Rescue Remedy & This homeopathic can be used at any point for anxiety and stress. It can be used externally as well as an ointment. But internally, it’s usually taken by putting a few drops in a cup of water and sipping it whenever needed.

It is hard to generalize the potency when using homeopathy for pregnancy and childbirth. A safe bet is to use 30C potency every hour or so, with a maximum of three doses. Some homeopath’s use 200C and others use low potency like 6 or 12C. It’s best to choose one remedy and stick to it. But if after a few doses it’s not working, you should try the next remedy. Once it works, stop using it. It’s always best to seek the help of your homeopath. Also, never take anything, including a homeopathic remedy, during the pregnancy, or at labor, without your medical doctor’s approval, since if complications should occur, you will want to be sure your doctor knows everything you have taken. Teamwork is always the best approach.

Acupuncture for Childbirth and Labor by Dr. Randy Martin, OMD

Q - I have heard that Acupuncture can be used to induce labor and to reduce the pain of labor, but I’m so afraid of needles, I’m not sure I can handle even more pain from the acupuncture needles — should I try it?

A - To be quite honest, needles give me the creeps too!  I don’t like them either, and I hate blood tests.  But the needles used for acupuncture are so tiny that you can even put one in the hole of a regular needle used for injections or blood tests.  They are about the size of a strand of hair actually.  And you hardly even feel them.

Q - What is your experience in the use of acupuncture during labor?

A - In my experience, it is not uncommon for the entire labor to be extremely quick and easy when acupuncture is used.

Q - How could you ever possibly convince me that I would want to let someone poke LOTS of needles into me?

A - I know that acupuncture seems odd to our Westernized mind, but there is actually a lot of scientific research that supports its use during labor.  Many studies show that those little needles increase endorphins, and it’s your endorphins that actually help you to relax.  So if you want to calm down and feel a bit more relaxed and less stressed during the whole birthing process, acupuncture is actually the best and safest way to go.

Q  - Are there any studies that acupuncture works to help birthing?

A - Yes.  There are many such studies.  Your labor can be significantly shortened if you use acupuncture while giving birth.  One such research study published in “Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation” and reported in Natural Health Magazine stated that out of 120 women, those who received acupuncture treatment during the first stage of labor reduced their labor time from an average of 321 minutes, down to 96 minutes.  In other words, the women in this study who received acupuncture reduced their labor by more than one-third!

Q – In your experience, does acupuncture shorten the time for the labor?

A – Yes, definitely.  The women who I’ve needled during their labor had their babies very quickly.  Everyone was very happy and the doctors were really surprised!

Here is one personal experience:  My office got a call from a very pregnant woman who was referred to us by her obstetrician.  “Anna” was one week overdue and her doctor was going to induce labor if contractions didn’t start within 10 days.  This was Anna’s third pregnancy and the other two had been late as well.

Her doctor had heard of my practice, and me and since another of our mutual patients had experienced great success with acupuncture during her pregnancy and birthing process.  So he told Anna to give me a call and try some acupuncture to induce the labor, before resorting to traditional Western methods.  He figured that she had nothing to lose by trying.

He was right!!!  She came to my office and was very uncomfortable in her body.  It was hard for us to find a comfortable position for her acupuncture treatment.  We settled for having her sit up on the massage table, propped up by pillows.  This worked for her, and also gave me access to all the points on her body that I needed.

We treated Anna three times.  Her fourth appointment was scheduled for the day before her doctor was going to induce the labor and delivery, but she didn’t show up.  My secretary jokingly said, “Well, she probably went into labor after the last acupuncture treatment and is back at home already with the baby!”

And my secretary was right.  When Anna called us a few days latter, she said that contractions began immediately upon leaving the office and continued to get stronger and stronger as the hours went by.  A day later she was in the hospital, and the delivery of her baby began shortly thereafter.  All was a grand success!

Q – Does Acupuncture Help with Deliver of Breech Babies?

Yes it does.  In one study published in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy (Nov-Dec 2003; 18(6):418-21, doctors demonstrated that of the 67 pregnant women studied who had babies in the fetal breech position, those who received acupuncture were far more likely to have the baby move to the proper delivery position.  This study showed a difference of 31% in the group that got acupuncture.   I have personally had excellent successes with my acupuncture fertility treatment and with turning the baby in the last few weeks and hours before delivery.

Q – Can Acupuncture also help emotionally if I feel depressed and am full of fear?

Yes – Acupuncture is very successful at increasing endorphins, or the body’s own, naturally occurring stress-relievers.  Because acupuncture works on the energy of the mom and baby, it not only affects the mom physically, but can also relax her and reduce her stress levels.

It’s really important to keep your body/mind/and spirit balanced during the time of birth, and acupuncture can be your friend and ally during this time.

Dr Randy Martin, OMD, LAc, PhD, QME, MUP, CCH

Doctor of Chinese Medicine

Certified Classical Homeopath

Homeopathic Remedies During Pregnancy and Delivery  by Dr. Randy Martin, O.M.D., L.A.C., Ph.D.    I have used homeopathic remedies many times for my patients’ birthing process. Homeopathy not only works well for infertility, and to help people get pregnant, but it also works well during  pregnancy for headaches, hemorrhoids,  nausea, vomiting, constipation, and  lower back pain. Homeopathy also works fabulously and quickly for post-partum depression.  It makes my heart heavy whenever I hear of a woman suffering from any type of problem post-pregnancy, since these natural healing modalities will work so quickly and effectively. SPREAD THE WORD!!!   Homeopathic remedies are very useful before, during and after labor and delivery for both physical and emotional relief. Others involved in the birth, such as birthing partner and baby, may also benefit from these remedies. A woman can ease anxiety and encourage relaxation with a remedy called Aconite. She can also relax and ease discomfort with the very well known chamomile, commonly used in tea. Teething babies are often soothed by chamomile. There are many homeopathic remedies that treat specific areas and types of labor and birthing pain. After baby is born, mom’s fatigue and exhaustion can be treated homeopathically as well. Even post-partum depression can be helped by homeopathic remedies. It’s always best to seek the help of your homeopath. Also, never take anything, including a homeopathic remedy, during pregnancy, or during labor, without your medical doctor’s approval, since if complications occur, you will want to be sure your doctor knows everything you have taken. Teamwork is always the best approach. 

Pregnancy, Childbirth and Pediatric Resources

1.  Homeopathy can be used to root out or partially erradicate some of the genetic predispositions that you would rather not transfer to your children.  The best time for this is about a year before you are planning to conceive.  Diet is also important both for the prospective father and mother, to detox and cleanse the body before conception. 

2.  Fertility:   I can help with fertility, either with or without Western Medical Interventions.  I have many fertility patients who are using Western approaches.   I can help with both your husband’s and your fertility issues.   I would use acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy and dietary suggestions and work closely with your Medical Doctor as a team. 

3.  Pregnancy - Treatment Stage — During pregnancy, you probably don’t want to use drugs for problems that arise.   We can use acupuncture, herbs orhomeopathy to help with headaches, constipation, aches or pains, immunity andmost other issues. 

4.  Pregnancy - Maintenance Stage:  There are actually some specific homeopathic remedies that can also be used during the first trimester to strengthen the pregnancy and baby, and also towards the end of the pregnancy to make the labor go more easily.  Acupuncture is also used during pregnancy every month or so to balance and relax you so that everything goes smoothly.

5.  Birthing Process:   We will use specific homoepathic remedies and acupuncture to assist in a fast and easy delivery.  Any problems that arise during thedelivery can be helped with homoepathy. But of course you must be at ahospital and working with a Medical Doctor that is comfortable with an acupuncturist and homeopath assisting during the pregnancy. This can all be written into your Birth Plan.  It’s also helpful to have a Doula or Nurse/Midwife, so that we can all work as a team.

 6.  After the Birth:  There are specific homeopathic remediesgiven to baby and mom to reduce whatever trauma occured during the labor andbirthing process.  Also, it is agood idea for mom to be taking some Chinese herbs for the first 3 months or so, to revitalize her Chi and Yin energy, since pregnancy tends to deplete the Chi and the Yin in the body.

7.  Baby and Toddler Care:   As a team with your pediatricianand Medical Doctors, baby should immediately be under the care of a homeopathto assist with healthy physical, behavioral and emotional health.   Most problems that occur, such ascolic, skin problems, constipation, ear infections, etc., can be helped verynicely with homeopathy. 

Alternative and Complementary Medicine for use During Pregnancy by Dr. Randy Martin

These days, it’s not uncommon for many of us to want to explore our options in life.  Not only in life, but also in our healthcare.  And what better time to do just that then in choosing the best for yourself, your family, and your newest addition to your family – your new baby. 

Many of us are increasingly becoming aware that the way we treat our body during pregnancy can have a pretty large influence on the health of your baby.  And that is where Alternative and Complementary Medicine comes in. 

Most Medical Doctor’s generally agree that it’s not a great idea to fill yourself up with drugs during the pregnancy period.  And that is why many Medical Doctors are beginning to recommend Alternative or Complementary Medicine.   It is now common for Medical Doctors to refer to me their female pregnant patients.

Q:  So What is Alternative or Complementary Medicine Anyway? 

A:  So-called Alternative or Complementary Medicine refers to any type of medical treatment that is not traditional.  This might include Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Homeopathy, Massage, Chiropractic, or Psychotherapy.  There are other forms of alternative therapies as well.

Q:  How would I decide if I need an alternative type of treatment?

A:  During pregnancy, it’s always preferable not to use drugs.  So most problems that occur during pregnancy offer you an opportunity to explore alternative methods.  Common problems treated during pregnancy using alternative methods include tension headaches, migraines, constipation, varicosity, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, moodiness and depression or anxiety.

Q:  How do I know which type of treatment is best for me?

A:  You have a wide variety of options when it comes to alternative or complementary medicine during pregnancy.  The most common is acupuncture.  Acupuncture is perfectly safe to use during pregnancy.  There are certain specific points that should not be used during pregnancy, but other acupuncture points are fine to use.   Additionally, there are specific acupuncture points that are generally used during the first and second trimester that are said to eradicate bad genetic traits so they won’t be passed down to your baby.

Homeopathy offers yet another option during pregnancy.  Very safe, homeopathy is very effective at eliminating headaches, back pain, and emotional issues such as depression and anxiety.

Chinese and Western herbs may also be used.  But it’s important to avoid certain herbs that are known to weaken the pregnancy.  It’s best to always consult a holistic health professional and not to use herbs on your own during pregnancy.

Q:  Is Homeopathy and Acupuncture safe for use during pregnancy?

A:  Actually, homeopathy and acupuncture are some of the only safe treatments to use during pregnancy.  Make sure someone who has experience treating pregnant women is treating you.

Q:  What could I expect if I were to try Acupuncture or Homeopathy?

A:  Generally, you can expect to receive one or two acupuncture treatments per week for two or three weeks.  This should be long enough to know if it’s effective.  If your symptoms return, you will probably want to resume treatments immediately.

Homeopathic treatments are very simple.  You will be given one or two small white pellets to place under your tongue once or twice per day.  Some homeopathic remedies are only taken once, and once only.  If your problem is recent, and you have no history of this problem, expect results rather quickly, within a few days.  The homeopathic remedy can be changed if you do not get the desired result.

Q:  Should I tell my Medical doctor that I intend on trying some alternative methods during my pregnancy? 

A:  YES!!!!  Never start on a regimen of acupuncture, herbs or homeopathy without your Medical Doctors knowledge.  The teamwork approach is the best, with all your health providers having full knowledge of what healing methods you will be using.  This way, the results can be evaluated more quickly and effectively.  I have a few Medical Doctors who refer their patients to me for treatment during pregnancy because they have seen the quick results and they know it is safe.

Some of the common types of treatments are the use of herbal ginger for morning sickness.  Also, the use of homeopathic Ipecac is very effective for stopping morning sickness or vomiting due to pregnancy.

For turning the fetus, we use an acupuncture point called UB 67.  This can be used with needles, or heat treatment, called Moxa, or acupressure massage. 

If the labor fails to begin, we can use various homeopathic remedies to bring it on.  One of the remedies I’ve had a lot of success with includes homeopathic Pulsatilla.  I also sometimes use homeopathic tincture of Pulsatilla. 

To tonify the fetus and make for a healthier baby, many homeopaths will use a remedy called Calc phos. Caulophyllum homeopathic is sometimes used by homeopaths during the last trimester to help ready the pelvic muscles, ligaments and tendons so that the birth process will be easier for mother and baby.

As with all alternative methods, it’s always best for the specific treatments chosen to be based on the individual being treated and their specific symptoms.  In other words, not all women with migraine headaches should be given the same treatment.  Each person should be treated as an individual.  This is the sign of the good doctor or practitioner.  Choose your doctor based on a referral list if at all possible. Also do some research, and ask a lot of questions.  Finally, use your gut feelings to determine if this is the right doctor for you and your particular issue.   The doctor may have come with a great recommendation, but if he or she doesn’t feel right to you, then find another.