Welcome to Fertility Points Acupuncture! We are an acupuncture clinic committed to providing the very best patient care. We specialize in holistic fertility treatment, women’s health, and weight loss, as well as the treatment of many common pain complaints. Even though we specialize in women’s health all family members are welcome!
Why consider acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a centuries old method of healing developed in ancient China. It has been gaining considerable popularity in the modern world, because of advantages it can have over Western drug therapy. Some of these advantages are where a specific disease cannot be found, but symptoms are experienced, as well as pathologies involving stress, and the minds effect on the body.
Some other advantages of acupuncture over traditional western medicine is that it’s minimally invasive, has little to no side effects, and does not interfere with medications. Most people find the treatments to be restful little powernaps, and are surprised at how little sensation they feel from the needles.
What is a treatment like?
An acupuncture session usually involves lying on a comfortable treatment table, while the acupuncturist inserts hair fine sterile disposable needles into specific points on the body known as acupuncture points. The needles are inserted swiftly through the skin, and you may only feel a momentary pinch.
Occasionally one may experience a sensation Chinese doctors cal “de qi” which is a unique sensation of energy, heaviness’ or tingling emanating from a point. The sensation is momentary however, since once needles are inserted you may forget they are actually there!
Once in needles are in place it’s time for a quick nap. The needles may stay in from 20-40 minutes. Additional therapies may be employed to enhance the effect such as heat lamps, or electro-acupuncture, which involves added a light electrical pulse to 2 or more needles.
Treatment frequency
Treatment recommendations for pain are to get 5-6 treatments fairly close together for stubborn long term conditions, or acute pain. Pain may return initially, but the time it takes to come back should get longer, and longer.
It’s important to note that expecting a problem to clear up after one treatment is unrealistic, and it usually takes up to 5 treatments for many pain complaints to see significant improvement.
Fertility patients are usually seen weekly, and sometimes twice weekly. Treatment frequency may be based on your menstrual cycle, or the cycle that an IVF doctor places you on. Most patients will get the maximum benefit from acupuncture if they can treat at least 3-6 months to improve fertility for a natural, or an IVF cycle.
Herbs and more
Herbal medicine is often a critical component of treatment complementing acupuncture. Herbs have certain effects on balance, and regulating the body that acupuncture does not. Most fertility patients will take at least one herbal formula during the course of their monthly cycle. If for some reason you are not able to take herbal medicine, acupuncture treatments will be structured to provide the maximum support for your fertility.
In addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine, other nutritional supplements may be recommended as well. We will also give you dietary and lifestyle advice, emotional support, and breathing techniques for stress management.
If you’re new to acupuncture
If this is your first time trying acupuncture, here are a few tips to get the most out of your treatments. Please wear loose comfortable clothes that easily allow access to your arms legs, abdomen, and any pain areas you plan to get treated.
Don’t arrive hungry, or dehydrated. Eat, or drink enough to feel comfortable, but don’t over-eat either. When your treatment is over, drink plenty of water, since acupuncture can detoxify your system. You may possibly feel sore, achy, or tired later on, or the next day. That’s part of the detox – keep drinking! Most people sleep well the night after acupuncture.