Creating and giving life is one of the most beautiful achievements in life.
However – as it’s the case with most achievement – it also comes with a fair amount of pain, dedication and hard work. Did you know that Acupuncture can help not only to easy pain and discomfort during pregnancy but also to induce labour?

Acupuncture and Acupressure has long been used to manage ‘side effects’ of pregnancy and to induce labour when it is over the due date. Here is a short article on it.

Although I do not specialize in maternity acupuncture, I did have the pleasure of inducing labor for a kind client of mine recently.

Pregnancy is a very complex journey that requires plenty of support from your environment, family, professionals and your own believes.

There are so many requirements for a successful childbirth.

1. The First Container.
As a mother, one of the most important tasks during pregnancy is to treat your body as a temple. To prepare and create the sacred grounds which will prepare you for one of the most wonderful and difficult tasks of life. The body is the first container.

2. The Second Container
Although your body may be ready. You may even start having contractions. However the new life, the baby also needs to feel the safety and joy of her mother.
It is important to let go of fears, unnecessary expectations and to truly feel the joy and trust in the process. Thus, the heart-mind is the second container.

3. The New life
Once the First and Second container is ready, it is up to the new soul to make their move.
Of course I am sure there are many more factors that I am ignorant of. However life is really about alignments and effort. We need to put in the effort into manifesting our dreams. However we also cannot rush the comings and goings of life.
Whether we call it “God’s mysterious ways” or the natural unfolding of the Dao, the baby is going to be ready when it is their time. Trust the process and surround yourself with people who are able to help you walk through this deep process.

Where does Acupuncture come into the picture?

Acupuncture can support the Mother during pregnancy and even prior to conception to prepare both the body and the mind for this sacred journey.

Needles and heath therapy (moxibustion) can be used to balance the body, nourish fertility, reduce unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy (bloating, nausea, mood changes, cramps, etc) and also to naturally induce labour when the time is ready.

Or rather, prepare the Containers so the environment is optimal and welcoming for this new life to join us here on Earth.

Even though I have only played a tiny part in this life’s birth, it still filled me with joy.
So please do get in touch if you or someone you know may need additional support on this beautiful journey.

The ancient Sages/Shamans who were practicing Chinese medicine, strongly believed that the climatic, environmental factors have a strong effect on us humans.

They differentiated 6 climatic factors, which they also called the ‘6 Evils’. Because they understood that excessive climatic factors can lead to disease.
Although the Sages did not have technology and Science, yet they were much wiser than people nowadays. They understood that they have to live in harmony with nature, the changing of seasons and Qi (energy).
They were also aware of that ‘Evil Qi’ only attacks people if their immune system (Protective qi) is deficient due to disease of poor lifestyle.

Chinese Medicine also has an understanding of the seasons according to the 5 Phases (some people call them elements) which are not only a representation of they climatic factors, but also our internal organs and much more.

We are currently moving away from Fire (Summer) into Earth (Late Summer) phase. Which means that the major climatic factors currently are ‘Summer Heath’ and ‘Dampness’ (please read my previous article describing Dampness in regards to Diet).

Heat is a simple concept. The hot weather makes us sluggish, sweaty, tired and possibly irritated.

So what can we do about it?

1. Cold drinks – No No

First off: although I looove and iced latte (with oat milk of course) in Summer, I also understand what a bad choice it is. Introducing cold internally actually harms our digestive system (Earth) which is meant to provide us with metabolic Fire. It does not only brings cold (and Dampness) into the digestive tract, it also cools down the Lungs (Metal).

The Lungs are responsible for managing the pores and thus keeping them open when needed. Drinking an icy cold drink cools down the Lungs, which in return closes our pores and may actually pull in the External heath even further into the body.

It is well known that perspiration cools down the body. Open pores allow sweat to be released. The body releases heath through the sweat, which in return further cools down the body. Isn’t that what we want?

2. Hot drinks and spicy food

Instead of ice, try some spice!
Having a moderate amount of spice in our diet as well as some hot tea will actually help to keep the pores open and to cool down the body quicker. Green tea is especially good as it has a cooling quality.

Of course make sure not eat too spicy, as you do not want to fight heat with fire.

3. Keep hydrated, right?

Yes! But also no.
Drinking plenty of fluids is useful as we loose a lot through sweating. However the body receives most of its hydration from the food we consume.
Thus eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and the least processed foods (raw, gently stir-fried) are the best to be consumed at this time.

4. Diet, diet, diet

Diet is not just about what you eat. It is also about when, in what environment, how much and so on.
It is best not to overeat in summer and also to avoid heavy, oily food. Try to have light meals. However also pay attention to your own digestive system. Some people with weaker digestion may not benefit from too much fruit and cold/raw food. Keep attention!

5. Exercise

Exercise should be minimal and it should be avoided in the peak hours 11-2 pm.
The heart is already more challenged by the heath, which dilates the blood vessels and thus lowers the blood pressure. Which in return often spikes up the heart rate.

On the other hand, doing Qigong exercises -specifically working on the Heart and Digestive region- can be extremely helpful. It helps to release excessive ‘Heat’ qi by gently opening up the body (joints, tendons, muscles) and relax the mind (to keep it relaxed).

6. Waking early

Waking up with the first light, followed by some meditation is an excellent way to follow the natural rhythm. Likewise, it is appropriate to go to bad later. Which should be not much later than sunset.

7. Detox

As the weather is now in the Earth Phase (Yang Earth according to Chines Astrology), it is an especially good time to balance the excess in our digestive system with some form of detox.

When I say detox I do not mean any special diet. Simply taking off the load from the digestive tract. Leaving all the ice-cream, fried foods, alcohol, sugar, ultra-processed ingredients behind. Having a bland meal maybe once a day or once a week already helps to take a load off from our Stomach and Spleen

We can also do some intermittent fasting (if that is suitable for you personally) or to do an even gentler fast where we drink nourishing herbal tea instead of a meal (preferably dinner).

According to my very kind teacher (Anita Eredics), it is a perfect time to drink Mint (which is cooling and calming for the digestive system), Lavender (calming for the mind and cleansing for the bowels) and Calendula (reduces inflammation, clears heat and tonifies our Earth organs).

8. Meditation

Although the qi has started to descend, the environment is still very hot. Thus the qi has a tendency to rise to the head and get stuck there. Which may result in headaches, absent mindedness, floaty sensation, irritability, anxiety and insomnia.

We can counterbalance it with simple daily meditations where we bring our focus back into our body. Sitting and focusing on your lower abdomen (for man) and your heart centre (for the ladies) even for 5-10 minutes daily can help to centre ourselves

9. Astrology

According to the Earthly branches of Chinese Astrology we are currently in Yang Metal (Monkey) which represents reaping the fruits of our labor/year and slowly bringing our focus down back to the body.

Thus it is a great time to enjoy holidays. To relax and bring our focus back onto ourselves.

It is especially a good time to implement mental detox and meditation into our daily habits. As the energetics of the month and the year are opposing each other. Which, being supplemented by the monthly associated hexagram of I Ching (12, Pi, Blockage), further warns us about possible confusion and disorder in our lives.

Therefore, meditation and finding our centre is strongly encouraged.

I have a confession to make. I am a little bit in love with yawning. And it is not because I promote stuck energy for people. Rather the opposite.

I find yawning a widely misunderstood concept. Yes, it does bring more oxygen to the brain when it is needed. However people don’t only yawn when they are tired or bored.

If you have been to my Qigong/Tai chi classes, there is a very high chance that you have seen me yawning more than once. No, it’s not because I am bored of my own classes 😀

In Chinese medicine frequent yawning is often seen as a symptom of Qi constraint (energy failing to move freely in the body).

Now this is true, however the action of yawning is actually a “process” to relieve tension and constraint. It is a natural body mechanism. The action of yawning has an ability to release the diaphragm, which is often overly tight for most people. Whether that is because of unresolved trauma, excessive stress or postural imbalances, digestive issues etc.

A relaxed/healthy diaphragm is essential for the optimum movement and dispersion of Qi within the body. Which is initiated via the Lung and Liver organ axis.

Moreover, yawning is not only a process but also an important sign. A sign that the nervous system is becoming relaxed. Indicating active parasympathetic (rest and digest) or Ventral-vagal (social engagement) states of the central nervous system. In lay terms, if someone starts yawning whilst talking to you, It probably means that they feel relaxed enough in your presence so that they need not to be in a fight flight state.

In conclusion, yawning is something that I love to see and encourage in my classes and practice.

Let’s yawn away all that stress and anxiety 🙂

Let me know if you are interested in practices that help to release pent up emotions, stress and tightness in the body.

In general, I have always held the belief that expectations are perfect, fertile ground for disappointment and therefore suffering.
However, they are part of our daily lives. They help us orientate ourselves and provide a sense of safety in regards to what is happening around us and to us. They can be useful coping tools to deal with stress and uncertainty. However, they (can) also pose as barriers to personal development.
Thus managing expectations is a crucial part of our lives.

It is very important to differentiate between goals, plans, and expectations.

Goals provide targets and direction. They are extremely important and also great for our health.

Plans are slightly more detailed goals with variations. Where we invest a good amount of mental energy into developing an image, a mental structure that we aim to achieve.

The main difference between the last two and expectations is ‘Attachment’.
Attachment brings inflexibility. It reduces our perception of the present -which is now based on our past- and it provides a false picture of our future.

Whether we attach ourselves to people, beliefs, expectations and so on. All we do is create a false sense of safety whilst reducing our own freedom to act and live in accordance with nature.
Which is ever-changing and ever-transforming. Unexpected and beautiful.

Now dear Reader, how is this relevant to you?

In my humble opinion, expectations are one of the biggest hurdles in the healing journey. For both the practitioner and the client.

Healing has a clear goal. But reaching, or rather maintaining health is not a linear journey.
As a practitioner, my goal is always going to be to ease your suffering. However, if I attach myself to an immediate goal -expectation- I will break the connection to the present, the present version of you.

Likewise, as a patient, it is important for you to understand that healing is a never ending journey. But that does not mean you will need a practitioner by your side for the whole length of it. Actually, you will meet a lot of different people, who will play many different roles -often in an unexpected way.

So if expectations create a false sense of safety, how can we attain safety?

First off, true safety can only exist internally. With the increasing experience of the recent pandemic and war going on, it is hopefully becoming easier to understand that external safety is a mirage.
We can spend our whole life building it, and it can disappear in a matter of hours or even seconds.

Safety comes from building a nourishing, warm, safe environment within ourselves. Our minds, our hearts, our souls – use any terminology that is aligned with your spiritual/religious beliefs.

We can only affect the hear and now. We can only claim this immediate space, this immediate moment. The only thing we truly have power over is our response to internal and external stimuli. So, let’s work on that wisely.

How are you managing expectations?

Ps: As always, these are just my personal thoughts. My personal truth. I respect everyone’s subjective truth and I am also humbled by the knowledge that there are many more advanced players on this planet. Playing the game of life and consciousness.

There is a saying in therapist/healing circles that “the patients know their body the best”. But do they really? Sure they have lived through the experience of their body, mind, and emotions for an extent of a time that we practitioners could never grasp fully. But how much of it are they actually familiar with?
The healing journey requires us to build awareness not just around our conditions but also our health.

Just to put it out there, no I am not saying that your health professional will always know your body or state of health better than you. And consent should never be given up because your practitioner may know “best”.
Rather I am inviting you on this journey of exploration. To really ask yourself these questions:
How well do I know my body? How well do I know my thought patterns? How well do I really know myself?

Although I am not trained in psychology/psychotherapy and I am not a therapist in those terms. I do however often find myself in the place of providing a reflective surface for my clients.
In my humble opinion, empowerment comes from holding space for transformation, recognition, and reflection.

It does not come from giving the “right” answers to people, but rather providing an opportunity for others to build consciousness around their issues, so they can reflect and learn from their own bodies.
Sometimes this can happen by listening and providing feedback. Sometimes it happens non-verbally through touch, different healing modalities, and energy work.

Try to tell someone what they should do and they will never do it.
Hold space for someone to recognize their own true needs and it will change their lives.

Health is based on the quality and amount of consciousness we are willing to build around our life, our bodies, thoughts, and emotions. It is about building awareness around our needs and the actions we take to meet those needs.
Dis-ease, sickness, pain, and trauma are all but lessons. Lessons that require our attention, effort, patience, and compassion to process. Lessons that provide a space for transformation.

As a practitioner -or healer, if that term does not bring negative connations to you – my role is to provide a safe container, a safe space for transformation. To provide the ignition for these processes and to be there to observe, support, and direct the process if necessary.

It is time for transformation in your life?
Feel free to reach out and let’s see if I am the right person to support you on this important journey.

Here is a short clip with a short answer:

What is the longer answer?
Acupuncture is for everyone, who is willing to invest in their own wellbeing.
Change is generated from micro-changes. Dedication and consistency.

It is totally fine to simply arrive to your session to relax and wind down. So you can look forward to your weekly self-care.
However if you wish to make the most of your sessions, you will need to supplement your journey with reflecting on your daily actions and habits. So you can make the neccessary changes that can support you to reach your ideal outcome.

Acupuncture and Tuina are focused on the person, not the disease.

Thus if you come to see me with back pain. I will be able to help and alleviate it. However in order to “fix” it you will have to do your reflective work, identifying actions (e.g. too much screen time) that are aggravating your conditions.

I do offer general lifestyle advice, but usually we do not have the time to go into too much details on that topic in your sessions.
The more involved you are in your own healing process/journey, the quicker and more meaning ful changes we can make. It is a 2 player game 🙂

Do you use protocols?

Two people visit me, complaining about headaches. Chances are, I will treat both of them very differently. Every client goes through a process of diagnoses, which allows us Acupuncturists to understand the pathomechanism involved with your complaints.

As opposed to allopathic/western medicine, most of us do not work with protocols.
You have chronic back pain? Sure I could just use a list of points that tend to work, however I much prefer going through a detailed diagnostic procedure (asking questions, palapting the area, listening to your pulse, looking at your tongue, etc) before I develop a treatment plan.
Thus your treatment will be fully tailored for you!

Does it mean that you can heal/fix everything?
Certainly not. Every practitioner has their limits.
It is just as important to stay within your level of competence, as you trying to provide the best care for everyone coming through your door. Sometimes the best I can do is refer clients to other specialists. And that is okay.
I am only going to work with you if I believe I can offer you some reliefe to your suffering.

Is it actually a good idea to fixate on the outcome of the treatments?
That is the golden question that I have been pondering on for years. Us “healers”/therapist are driven by results. We love to see the change we co-create in our clients lives. We aim to ease suffering in everything we do.
However, I found that chasing outcomes is detrimental for both the practitioner and the client.

What is the focus of Chinese Medicine?
So what should we focus on then?
My role as a practitioner is to focus on You. Your very current representation, needs priorities. When I say you, I do not only mean what you convey through language, but also what your physical and energetical body tells me through my diagnostic skills.

I have a role where I need to observe changes and react to it in a way that serves the best possible outcome in that moment based on my knowledge and understanding.

Your role as a client is to also focus on Yourself. To observe the changes. To notice not only the changes around your complaint but also the changes that needs to happen in your life in order to best support yourself in the moment.

Healing happens in the present, not the future.

So what should I expect?
You can expect to be understood and compassionately cared for.
Throughout your session I will do my best to listen to you and assess your condition.
I will provide you with personalized advice, treatment plan and a safe environment for your healing journey.

Is Acupuncture and Medical massage a quick fix?
It can be, but most often than not: it isn’t.
However I do tend to see around a 50% improvement within the first 2 sessions.

If you think about it.. Usually people develop health issues over many years due to poor lifestyle, emotional abuse, stressful jobs and such.
Healing a bone fracture that happens in a second can take up to 3 months to fully heal.
So is it really a healthy expectation to be “healed” in 3 sessions of Acupuncture?

Whether it is emotional or physical trauma. Healing takes time.
Change requires time and effort.
We are working through many different layers (psychological, emotional, physical, energetic) instead of simply focusing on the symptoms. Which may come back much easier if the root is not addressed.

Acupuncture and Tuina treatments are accumulative. It is not a linear, ‘quick-fix’ path. It can be better imagined as a Spiral of healing journey.

Is healing about fixing problems and symptoms?
That is a slightly deeper subject, so I will leave that question for a later blog post.

Where can I ask further questions and book my personal appointment?
Please feel free to get in touch here.