Acupuncture in early stages of pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Dermot:

 

Treat her and just don't do forbidden points that are noted in your

tradition. I went to a Worsley school so in the back of his red book,

Traditonal Chinese Acupuncture, is listed all the forbidden points by

stage of pregnancy. I know some practitioners that still use forbidden

points during pregnancy. I wouldn't and it sounds like you are pretty

cautious, so just avoid any forbidden points, contraindications during

pregnancy. Otherwise treat her. It sounds like you are right on about

what she needs and you have been supporting her well.

 

Anne

 

Dermot O'Connor wrote:

 

> Hi Group,

>

> Just wanted to throw something out for the group to consider:

>

> I was treating a woman for infertility and fortunately she has now

> found out

> that she has successfully conceived. I know that there are differing

> views

> about acupuncture in the early stages of pregnancy and in the past I have

> tended to wait until after 12 weeks before treating with acupuncture

> (unless

> there was severe morning sickness). With this case, what was

> preventing the

> woman from conceiving was a strong Blood Deficiency - and as Blood

> Deficiency can also result in misscarriage I am inclined to continue

> treating with acupuncture and also herbs.

>

> What are the views of the group?

>

> Kind regards

>

> Dermot

>

>

>

>

>

> http://babel.altavista.com/

>

>

> and

> adjust accordingly.

>

> Messages are the property of the author. Any duplication outside the

> group requires prior permission from the author.

>

> If you are a TCM academic and wish to discuss TCM with other

> academics,

>

>

>

> ------

>

[Guest guest]

Dermot -

 

How many weeks along is this patient? Does she have any history of RPL?

Did she have a western diagnosis for her infertility? How old is she?

 

The answers to these questions should help guide your decision whether

or not to give her acupuncture and/or herbs. I agree with Ann that it

is usually safe to give Acupuncture during the first trimester as long

as the technique is gentle and tonifying. Even some of the forbidden

points - i.e. Sanyinjiao/SP 6 - are only forbidden with the wrong

technique.

 

Because my specialty is reproductive medicine/infertility I am

routinely confronted with the situation you are facing, and in my own

experience it is usually safe to give an herbal formula to support the

patients Qi and Xue. However, although it is safe, it is sometimes not

recommended. For example, if the patient has a history of recurrent

pregnancy loss (RPL), it is often the expedient and appropriate herbal

formula that can help them carry the baby to term. Unfortunately, if

there is no history of RPL and you were to prescribe herbs to help

build her Qi and Blood, and there was then a naturally occurring

miscarriage - due to advanced reproductive age for example - you can

bet that the herbs will be blamed.

 

Your decision to " herb or not to herb " can also be guided by some

western guidelines such as her beta HCG and progesterone levels. If the

HCG levels are low, it it probably best not to use herbs as this may

indicate a nonviable embryo. If the progesterone levels are low, and if

the patient does not wish to do progesterone suppositories, you can

help to support P4 levels with the following formula:

 

Dang Gui Shao Yao San (Angelica and Peony combination) + Tu Si

Zi/Cuscutae, Du Zhong/Eucommia, Xu Duan/Disacus, Sang Ji

Sheng/Loranthus.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Ray Rubio

 

 

 

On Apr 18, 2005, at 1:59 AM, Dermot O'Connor wrote:

 

>

> Hi Group,

>

> Just wanted to throw something out for the group to consider:

>

> I was treating a woman for infertility and fortunately she has now

> found out

> that she has successfully conceived. I know that there are differing

> views

> about acupuncture in the early stages of pregnancy and in the past I

> have

> tended to wait until after 12 weeks before treating with acupuncture

> (unless

> there was severe morning sickness). With this case, what was

> preventing the

> woman from conceiving was a strong Blood Deficiency - and as Blood

> Deficiency can also result in misscarriage I am inclined to continue

> treating with acupuncture and also herbs.

>

> What are the views of the group?

>

> Kind regards

>

> Dermot

>

>

>

>

>

>

> http://babel.altavista.com/

>

>

> and

> adjust accordingly.

>

> Messages are the property of the author. Any duplication outside the

> group requires prior permission from the author.

>

> If you are a TCM academic and wish to discuss TCM with other

> academics,

>

>

[Guest guest]

A rough, but reasonable rule of thumb I was taught about acupuncture during

pregnancy is to avoid needling: below the waist in the first trimester; below

the chest in the second trimester; below the shoulders in the third trimester. -

Matthew Bauer

-

Dermot O'Connor

Chinese Medicine

Monday, April 18, 2005 1:59 AM

Acupuncture in early stages of pregnancy

 

 

Hi Group,

 

Just wanted to throw something out for the group to consider:

 

I was treating a woman for infertility and fortunately she has now found out

that she has successfully conceived. I know that there are differing views

about acupuncture in the early stages of pregnancy and in the past I have

tended to wait until after 12 weeks before treating with acupuncture (unless

there was severe morning sickness). With this case, what was preventing the

woman from conceiving was a strong Blood Deficiency - and as Blood

Deficiency can also result in misscarriage I am inclined to continue

treating with acupuncture and also herbs.

 

What are the views of the group?

 

Kind regards

 

Dermot

 

 

 

 

http://babel.altavista.com/

 

and adjust

accordingly.

 

 

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