Read our latest news
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Can Acupuncture Help Fertility in Those Who Have Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterised by growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterus, most commonly in the pelvic cavity, but also in other parts of the body (RCOG 2006).
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This ectopic tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle, with subsequent bleeding, inflammation, and pain. Common symptoms include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-cyclical pelvic and abdominal pain, and subfertility (RCOG 2006). The condition may also be asymptomatic. The pre... -
How Acupuncture Can Support YOUR Fertility Journey: Can It Increase IVF Success Rates?
The answer to that question is, yes it can! And there is firm evidence to support the benefits of acupuncture in increasing your IVF success. A meta-analysis study of 25 high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in the Archives of Gynaecology and Obststrics in July 2023 came to a very firm and positive conclusion: acupuncture can significantly improve live birth rates (LBR) and clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) among women undergoing IVF. This was one of the largest studies...
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Relief Without Pills: How Acupuncture Can Help Manage Chronic Pain
Effective chronic pain management is a huge challenge in medicine, with side-effects of medications often out-weighing the benefit with long-term use. The enormous impact of chronic pain on quality of life and mental health cannot be underestimated.
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Having practiced acupuncture for more than a decade, I am aware of the benefits it can have in the management of chronic pain, and now an international research collaboration, involving the University of York, has shown that acupuncture is an effe... -
The Science Behind Acupuncture: Exploring its Mechanisms
How does acupuncture actually work? An important and interesting question that many have pondered and investigated but yet no single definitive explanation has been agreed upon to date.
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Before I explore some of the potential mechanisms, my scientific brain (I studied Immunology at Birmingham University and subsequently worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over a decade) notes with interest that although paracetamol has been studied for over 150 years, how it actually works remains a myst... -
Patience and Persistence: How Many Acupuncture Sessions Do You Need?
The benefits of acupuncture are dose-dependant and cumulative, therefore a course of treatment is required not just a one-off treatment. The number of sessions required will vary from person to person. As a general guide, I recommend weekly treatment initially, usually for a minimum course of 6-8 sessions. As improvement allows, this will move to fortnightly or monthly. I will be able to give more of an idea of how many sessions will be required for you personally at your initial session....
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Stress weakens the immune system
Acupuncture practitioners believe and work with the theory that emotional health affects our overall wellbeing. I think this is a relevant topic to refer to in the current climate with all the bleak news stories regarding the weather, travel chaos and viruses.
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I like this interesting article by the American Psychological Association which discusses how stress weakens the immune system.
Far from being a story of doom and gloom which prevail currently, it encourages us to use ou... -
Acupuncture can help to Alleviate menopausal symptoms
As with many women’s health conditions, there is a tendency to simply believe that we should endure troublesome symptoms and accept them as part of life’s rich pattern. Whilst menopause is certainly an inevitable stage of life and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter - with many women reporting feeling happier and more confident beyond menopause - women should be offered whatever support they need during this challenging transition, as with other health conditions. Symptoms can range from...
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Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy - don’t suffer in silence
Women suffering from nausea and vomiting and hyperemesis gravidarum face a very challenging time in early pregnancy. The more severe the condition, the more it impacts on their general quality of life and mental health and the effects can be far-reaching. There can be a lack of understanding for their condition from those around them, and it can be difficult to deal with the effects of persistent nausea like taking time off work, being unable to eat healthily, and there can be a real feeling of...
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Shardlow clinic refurbishment
I’m very excited to say that the refurbishment at the Shardlow, Derby Acupuncture clinic is well and truly underway. The re-fit will further enhance the peace and tranquility of our lovely clinic spot and please be assured that we are still fully up and running in the meantime. We look forward to unveiling the end result soon and I will post some pictures in due course....
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Ann-Marie Shepherd -
Cosmetic acupuncture: how to support treatment with an anti-aging skin care plan
It’s Summer, and the time of year when cosmetic acupuncture treatment is very popular. It’s a fantastic treatment that gives the skin a lovely natural glow and works on a number of levels to improve the skin’s appearance: increasing circulation to the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production by creating a tiny injury to the skin, and improving muscle tone.
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Summer is a great time of year to get started, as is any time of year really but there is an additional challenge at this t...