Acupuncture is a holistic medicine dating back thousands of years ago to China. It is a treatment that inserts very thin needles into various points of the body to treat medical conditions. It is often used therapeutically. Acupuncture is based on the belief that there is energy - "qi" - flowing through the body in certain paths or "meridians". Acupuncture points fall along these paths. It is not based on scientific method, but is rooted in tradition.
Healthy pregnant woman can find acupuncture very beneficial to their physical state. The expectant mother should receive acupuncture once a month until her final month, from whereon in she should continue to receive acupuncture weekly until labor. This is designed to ensure the optimal health of the fetus and the mother during the different stages of the pregnancy. The acupuncture should stimulate the transmission of toxins between mother and child, as well as strengthening the mother's energy flow towards the child.
Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of physical ailments in women. Women who experience fatigue during pregnancy may find that acupuncture helps with the increased production of blood and other fluids in pregnancy, as well as removing any blockages that are preventing the qi from flowing freely. Acupuncture can also treat the qi imbalance that supposedly can cause morning sickness. Pregnant women who experience back pain and sciatica cannot take pain medication for it, but acupuncture can relieve this discomfort.
Acupuncture treatment does not need to stop before pregnancy. Women who are past their due date seek acupuncture to induce labor, which the acupuncturist achieves by applying needles to points that had been forbidden prior to the due date. The aim is to move energy flow towards the pelvis. Women also seek acupuncture during labor, many finding that it strengthens weak contractions and makes the delivery process shorter, less painful and less stressful. Many women have attested to the positive benefits of acupuncture during labor.
New mothers wishing to restore their health and well-being after pregnancy are encouraged to continue acupuncture treatment. Although it is important to take care using certain Chinese herbs during breastfeeding, acupuncture can assist with a wide arrange of post-delivery ailments. These include, but are not limited to, fatigue, postpartum vaginal discharge, postpartum depression, mastitis, and lactation problems. It can also assist in the healing process for women who have undergone caesarian sections or other types of surgery during the pregnancy and labor processes.
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