About Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

 Over the past 30 years, Fertility Practitioners have seen decline in fertility rates, and an increase in fertility issues, such as; PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) Natural Kill (NK) cells, Fibroids, Amenorrhea , Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Luteal Phase Defect, low progesterone and Anti Mullarian Hormone (AMH), and high Estrogen or Androgen levels in women. 

It is has been established that 1 in 6 couples currently, have trouble conceiving.

Hormonal issues can lead to weight weight gain, infertility, low libido, irregular cycles, breast tenderness, reoccurring miscarriages, pain with periods or during ovulation (Mittelschmerz), hormonal headaches, acne and PMS.

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture, may be implemented to assist sufferers, in the easing of their symptoms. 

 At Mornington Peninsula Health, we understand that men are often reluctant to address their own fertility concerns. However, as fertility issues are often attributed equally to both women and their partners, a guy's dedication to his own fertility issues is paramount. It really does " take two to tango".

Britt understands, that couples undertaking their combined fertility journey, can be quite costly, especially if they are seeking assistance through IVF treatments also. 

To encourage the fellas to get on board, 

Britt offers discounts on 'couples treatment's' (consultation at the same time applies). This is in the effort, to ensure both couples can achieve their own fertility goals, and achieve their combined desired outcome.....Parenthood.  

Just when you thought you would be happy to be done with your monthly cycles, you find yourself exchanging pads for cold packs and fans.

For some, going through menopause can be a struggling time, hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, hormonal weight gain and low libido can be all too common symptoms. It hardly seems fair right!

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture can be implemented in an individualist manner, to balance hormones, by clearing heat, smoothing liver qi, nourishing the blood, yin and kidney essence. 

Woman can really take charge of their own fertility by Basil Body Temperature (BBT) charting. Charting is cost effective and can provide more information about a woman's own cycle, than expensive Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK) can.

Having knowledge with respect to the BBT chart process, can really help get things moving in the right direction.  

It can be exciting for a woman, to see changes occurring throughout her cycle. BBT charting is like having a little window into the on goings of your ovaries. As many infertility sufferers feel as though they are running to stand still, charting can be extremely empowering. The BBT chart can offer a woman, a greater understanding of her own body and fertility.

 BBT can be implemented to determine if, and when, ovulation has occurred. Charting is essentially used a tool, to determine the overall health of the cycle. BBT charting can also ascertain whether there are any underlying issues, that could be a cause of unexplained infertility. 

Patients often chart daily, for a period of at least 3 months. As this is how long egg quality takes to increase, when they are focused upon them. 

Just grab a thermometer, download a BBT chart, or app and away you go. Britt is skilled in BBT chart analysis, and can explain the changes in your chart throughout you fertility journey.

 Our male partners also often suffer emotionally from fertility issues, with many men being reluctant to even discuss the issue. 

Some men are fearful of having their sperm tested, as they feel that not having 'super sperm' is a reflection on their masculinity. Unfortunately, societal expectations and pressures have led to this false belief in many men.

Semen quality decline is more common than many believe. You are not alone.  A recent study  indicated that sperm counts fell on average,  by 1.2% per year between the years of 1973 to 2018, from 104 to 49 million/ml.  From the year 2000, this rate of decline accelerated to more than 2.6% per year. 

Stress, overwork, poor diet, substance abuse, environmental factors and lifestyle choices, have lead to many male infertility factors. Many of these factors include; Poor Morphology, Low Sperm Count, Low Progressive Motility and Low Seminal Volume. 

You do not need to feel embarrassed, male infertility is nothing to be ashamed about, it is common, and can benefit from Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle changes.

If you already have your results, you can type them in here to assess your fertility health

Pregnancy can be an amazing time for many expectant mothers.  Some, however, can be extremely worried about miscarriage, especially if they have suffered from one, or multiple loses in the past. 

This is understandable, as impending parenthood can be scary at the best of times, let alone being terrified that something is going to go wrong. It's such a terrible thing to go through, a woman's greatest fear. 

Britt is a very caring and compassionate practitioner, who will provide support and nurturing throughout your fertility and pregnancy journey. 

Chinese medicine and acupuncture, is often implemented to address the underlying causes of miscarriage, and assist with the promotion of a healthy pregnancy. 

Acupuncture may also be implemented for natural labour promotion, and can encourage a stubborn bub to get into the 'heads down bum up' position. 

Labour prep can also assist the mum to be, to get into a calmer state of mind. Especially those first time mumma bears, or those who have suffered from birth trauma in the past.

There are typically two types of intestinal parasites that can lead to poor gut biome and even  reduced fertility. Their names are  Dientamoeba fragilis and  Blastocystis hominis. The main way to test for these pesky gut bugs, is to attend your local GP, and undertake a fecal (poo) test.

Symptoms of parasite infestation may include; loose bowels, irregular cycles, trouble with weight maintenance, and general malaise and fatigue. 

Working in conjunction with Western Medicine, Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture can assist with restoring and promoting a healthy gut biome,in the effort to increase general overall health. 

Working in conjunction with Western Medicine, Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture can assist with restoring and promoting a healthy gut biome, in the effort to increase general overall health.  

For a long time now, we have all been aware of the term “You are what you eat”, however, more recently, a greater connection has been made between the Gut Biome, and its importance in regulating the immune systems, and its impact upon mental health.

Inflammation, mood, mental health issues and depression, can all be attributed to your gut heath. 

Many people with poor digestion suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, weight gain or weight loss, food intolerance, allergies, poor muscle tone, or feelings of a heavy body and foggy head.

Dietary regulation, and Chinese Medicine, & Acupuncture, can assist with restoring your gut back to its happy state of balance.

We now live in a very fast paced society. Often we don’t get enough time to nurture ourselves. Many people are now faced with mental health and emotional issues, that can be described from a Chinese medicine perspective, as being; liver qi stagnation (depression),  heart and blood deficiency (anxiety), kidney deficiency (fear), and heart heat (mania).  

Excessive drainage of the organs through over excitement, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, substance abuse, work and stress, can lead to internal disharmony.

Symptoms we often see at Mornington  Peninsular Health, include; poor sleep, chronic and adrenal fatigue,fertility issues, irritability, anxiety and depression.  

In Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture theory,  herbs and acupuncture are used strategically to nourish the organs, free the collateral's, and increase blood and energy flow throughout the body. 

When channels/meridians become blocked (stagnated) by either blood or qi,  symptoms such as:  inflammation, heat, coldness,  pain, loss of function and immobility of joints and muscles can ensure.  This can lead to musculoskeletal pain and chronic inflammation.

Conditions such as arthritic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonopathy, sciatica, headaches, migraines, and muscle pain are common complaints that present to our Dromana clinic. 

You have been told, that structurally, there is nothing wrong, but yet you still feel pain.  In that case, qi and blood deficiency or stagnation is the most likely  cause, the domain of the skilled Chinese Medicine practitioner.

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, elector-acupuncture,  can be implemented to sooth inflammation, dredge the channels/meridian, cool what is hot, warm what is cold, and increase the flow of qi and blood within the body.

At Mornington Peninsular Health, patients commonly present to the clinic with concerns relating to;  chronic fatigue, frequent colds, flu's and persistent sinus infections.   Many patients describe episodic sensations of chill's and fevers,  frequent swelling of the glands, constantly feeling run down, and a general feeling of lethargy and malaise. 

Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture theory, describes these symptoms, as being attributed to hidden pathogen's.  The pathogen enters the body during a time of infection, and sometimes that pathogen gets stuck, and never leaves the body. It's like that pesky visitor that never knows quite when to leave.

 When a person is  eating and living well, the pathogen may seep in,  and hide in the shadows. When the host becomes run down, the pathogen rears its ugly head. When this occurs, people often feel as though their life lacks luster, they feel extremely tired, and often depression ensues.  

Some people  suffer from the symptoms of a hidden pathogen for years, with many forgetting what 'feeling good' actually feels like.  Chinese Medicine &  Acupuncture, assists the body to release these nasty pathogen's. Depending on how nasty the pathogen is, and how long it has been in cohabitation with you, the die-off symptoms will vary.

Many will feel terrible upon undertaking hidden pathogen removal.  Suffering the same symptoms they had, for example, when they had glandular fever, pneumonia, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, meningitis, shingles, brucellosis, leptospirosis  etc. Yes, these are just some of the infections people have actually presented  with in the clinic.

It's not pretty dragging a pathogen out, however, its 'better out than in' as they say. A few days of discomfort is better than a life time living with a hidden pathogen, who is anything but your friend.