It is not surprising that many women and some men suffer from depression and anxiety when faced with fertility challenges.  The ups and downs of infertility and its treatment drain the spirit right out of people.   I hear daily the intensity of the experience, “This is personal.  I feel invisible in the world.  This is physical.  I hate my body.  I am demoralized and afraid.  This is expensive.  I have no control and I feel out of control.  This has taken over my life.  I’m so worried about my relationship.” 

Some women have mood consequences from using birth  control pills and ovarian stimulation medication, on top of the fear of not having a child.  For many of the people I see, the following “formula” captures their experience: 

Uncertain Outcome of Procedures + Uncertain Length of Time + Internal/External Pressure + Medications + Fear = DEPRESSION and ANXIETY. 

It is important to distinguish between depression and grief when dealing with fertility challenges.  Grief hurts but it does not lead the thinking process toward self-hatred and negative thinking.  Depression is a heaviness all its own. 

Help is Available at Partners in Healing

Our integrated fertility team at Partner in Healing can help.  We provide:

1. Specialized counseling for individuals and couples who are suffering from fertility challenges, that includes hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing); 
2. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine;
3. Naturopathic medicine and nutritional counseling; and
4. Medical massage aimed at reclaiming your body from the rigors of treatment.  We collaborate with national and local leaders specializing in fertility treatment. Let us help you regain your sense of wholeness and rebuild hope as you build your family. 
   

By Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT

Brought to you by Diane Tanning, LAc, MS

I hope that you will enjoy this story in the New York Times on 40 NFL players who use acupuncture to treat pain and increase flexibility.  I use acupuncture to treat pain, migraines, and fertility problems, among many others concerns.  If it's good for the NFL, it's good for all of us! 

Acupuncturist Treats 40 N.F.L. Players in 4 Cities

Jets fullback Tony Richardson recently had an acupuncture session at his apartment that included 120 needles.

  By GREG BISHOP

  Published: November 29, 2010

     Authored by Diane Tanning, RN, MS, L.Ac. 

My client, Tom (54), was diagnosed with arthritis in both shoulders when he was 52.  The cause, according to his orthopedic surgeon, was Tom's years of weight lifting.  The surgeon noted that shoulder replacement surgery can be performed to relieve the constant pain. However, the life span of the procedure is about 10 years and it can only be performed once.  The surgeon's best advice was to hang in there for the next 10 years and do physical therapy.  Tom found no benefit or pain relief from physical therapy. 

Tom was not able to lay on his left side without pain. He was often awakened by pain in the night.  Tom is a young man with a lot of energy and he was not ready to give in to a pain-filled future.  After months of encouragement from his wife, Tom decided to start  acupuncture with me.  After his first treatment, Tom reported that the next day, he suddenly realized that his shoulder did not hurt for the first time in years.  When I saw him for his second treatment several weeks later, Tom reported that this was the longest period of time without pain in years and he was now able to sleep on his left side.  

Acupuncture can work for you, too.  Come see me here at Partners in Healing of Minneapolis.  Use your Health Savings Account (HSA) because you deserve the best health care possible.  Call me at 763-546-5797 to make an appointment. 

         Brought to you by Diane Tanning, RN, MS, L.Ac.

Q:  Are acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) helpful with weight loss?

A:  Yes, indeed.  Here is an article from www.Acufinder.com explaining how specific foods chosen just for you, acupuncture, and herbs can help you to lose weight and maintain weight loss. 

“The Acupuncture Weight Loss Solution” by Diane Joswick, L.Ac.

I am going to tell you a secret. All diets will work if they lower your caloric intake and you STICK TO IT! It’s pure physics: Our weight is determined by the amount of energy that we take in, and the amount of energy we expend.

So why is obesity now a national epidemic?

The problem is that it is against our nature to limit calories. We instinctively eat more than we need to. This is a “gift” passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors from a time when there wasn't a drive-thru window on every corner.  We also tend to eat in excess due to our modern lifestyles, chronic stress, and other psychological “triggers”.

Going to Extremes

People will go to drastic measures to lose weight. Fad diets ask you to eat an unnatural and unhealthy diet, such as a meal plan of cabbage soup or pineapples or rice or no-carbs,  They may work in the short term because of the low caloric intake, but there is absolutely no way you can keep it up. Your body and mind will rebel and take revenge for putting it on such a restrictive regime, rather than providing whole foods and a “whole diet” with proper nutrients. Instinctively, your body will crave foods and gorge, filling up, terrified of and preparing for the next starvation, packing on fat for stored energy.

Eating an unnatural and highly restrictive diet can cause yo-yo dieting and drastic ups and downs in body weight. Improper diet practices can also cause malnutrition, organ damage, slow metabolic rate and imbalances within the body.

Wouldn’t it be great to decrease the amount of food that you take in, and increase the amount of energy you expend? It’s entirely possible, thanks to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture and TCM address both the physiological and psychological aspects of weight loss. A comprehensive therapy for weight issues rooted in TCM promotes better digestion, smooths emotions, reduces appetite, improves metabolism, and eliminates food cravings.

Weight loss according to Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to TCM, the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems.

In five-element theory, the spleen is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system, ensuring that the food we eat is transformed into Qi — the vital substance of life. Disharmony of the spleen will have symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stool, and feeling of heaviness.
 
The liver’s job is to keep the flow of your body’s Qi and blood (as well as your emotions) running smoothly. Our modern, fast-paced lifestyle and chronic stress can negatively impact the liver’s ability to function properly and smoothly, which, in turn, can cause the spleen and the whole digestive system to function poorly and decrease your metabolism. Liver disharmony can also cause some of the “triggers” that lead to cravings and compulsive eating.

Backed by Research

A growing body of research supports the use of acupuncture and Asian medicine in weight loss:

    * A 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture found that participants receiving acupuncture lost more than three times more weight than the control group.

    * In a study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, 95 percent of the participants receiving electro-stimulation on acupuncture points reported appetite suppression. The results showed that the acupuncture group was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group.


The Acupuncture Weight Loss Treatment

From a TCM perspective, the acupuncture points, foods and herbs that are chosen to assist with weight loss directly influence the Qi of the spleen and liver systems to treat the root imbalances that are causing the weight gain.From a Western perspective, acupuncture and TCM have been shown to have an effect on the function of the nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, food cravings, and metabolism. All of which can help to energize the body, maximize the absorption of nutrients, regulate elimination, control overeating, suppress the appetite, and reduce anxiety.

Acupuncture Points for Weight Loss

The beauty of acupuncture is that each treatment is catered to the needs of the individual patient. Acupuncture points on the body will be chosen for overall well being with the objective of increasing circulation of the blood and Qi (stimulating the metabolism) and calming the nervous system.
 
In addition to treating the root of the imbalance within the body, different acupuncture points may be chosen for each treatment as different symptoms arise. For instance, if you are experiencing a desire to overeat related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) one week, then that can be addressed at that week’s appointment.

Generally treatments are scheduled once or twice a week for 8 to 12 weeks or until the goal weight has been reached. The treatments include a combination of auricular (ear) and body acupuncture, ear tacks or pellets to leave on in-between treatments, herbs and supplements, abdominal massage, breathing exercises, and food and lifestyle recommendations.

Ear Points

Acupuncture points on the ears have been found to be particularly effective for weight loss. The human ear has been described as a micro-system of the body in an inverted fetal position; it contains points relating to all major organs and body parts.
 
Auricular points for weight loss are stimulated with small tacks during treatment. Then seed-sized beads or magnets are taped to the points to enhance the effectiveness of the points at home. The beads will generally stay in place for 3 days to a week and can be gently massaged for 10-second intervals if cravings occur.

Here are some of the most commonly used auricular points:

    * Shenmen: Important point for calming the mind and reducing stress

    * Small Intestine: Reinforces spleen, promotes digestion.

    * Mouth: Calming point used for smoking, over eating and hyperactive talking.

    * Hunger Point: Used to relieve hunger and control compulsive eating

    * Endocrine point: Moves liver Qi and aids in the function of the metabolism


A Total Health Program

Most patients report a marked decline in appetite and cravings with acupuncture alone but herbs, healing foods, and exercises can definitely enhance the efficacy of the treatments.

Herbs and Healing Foods: The herbs and foods that are chosen during a weight loss treatment are for promoting healthy digestion, energizing the body, augmenting Qi, and improve elimination of water, toxins, and waste products. Foods that are bitter, sour and acrid to taste are especially good for weight loss, while sweet, salty and greasy foods should be reduced.

Abdominal massage/exercise: Points on the abdomen improve digestion, absorption of food and peristalsis of the intestines. The abdominal points can be stimulated with massage or by belly breathing, where the abdomen is consciously moving in and out with each breath. Deep breathing with visualization can also strengthen will power and be used as a tool to curb hunger and cravings.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are powerful tools for healthy weight loss, by itself or as a supportive treatment in conjunction with other weight management programs.

In the struggle to eat less and expend more energy, you may find that acupuncture is just what was needed to overcome cravings, boost energy, enhance your metabolism, and increase your willpower to succeed!

           Brought to you by Diane Tanning, RN, MS, L.Ac.

We have found acupuncture crucial in our integrated pain program, the Program for Conscious Living.   This article from Acufinder Magazine (Fall, 2007) reports on a Mayo Clinic study that found acupuncture powerful in treating people with fibromyalgia.  Looking for comprehensive pain treatment and acupuncture?  Call us at 763-546-5797.

Acupuncture Helps with Fibromyalgia Symptoms

The June 2007 edition of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (June 2007) reports on a study that found acupuncture helpful in treating the fatigue and anxiety commonly experienced by fibromyalgia patients.  In the double blind study, Mayo Clinic doctors gave 25 fibromyalgia patients acupuncture, and 25 “sham” acupuncture treatments.  Patients received six treatments during the two- to three-week study.  Their answers to the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire revealed that those who received acupuncture treatments reported less fatigue and anxiety one month after treatment than did the “sham” group.  The study used only two acupuncturists and examined only patients who reported more severe symptoms, offering better experimental control.  Still the Mayo doctors urged more study to see how acupuncture can best be used in treating fibromyalgia patients. 

Do you want personal attention from highly-skilled health care professionals who know and care about you?  Partners in Healing of Minneapolis (PIH) is a holistic health center located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, serving people throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul). We integrate the best of Western and Eastern healing systems to meet your unique health care needs. We address the physical, mental/emotional, and social aspects of your health care. Here at PIH we respect your inner wisdom and partner with you to find what you need to be healthy. Working with individuals, couples and families, PIH addresses a wide array of health concerns. We can work with you one-on-one or as a team of health care professionals. Services include cutting-edge best practices in:

• Mental health care for adults and children
• Holistic medical care for adults and children
• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• A variety of massage traditions
• Energetic approaches to healing

We also offer classes and workshops for healing and personal growth.

Regardless of the presenting concerns, our services emphasize helping our clients to:

• Increase their natural resilience" or "stress hardiness" by strengthening self-regulation abilities
• Re-write their life story by altering patterns of perception and teaching them to take healthy perspectives on their circumstances

For any treatment to be helpful it has to be accessible. For many people this involves using their health insurance benefits. At PIH, each clinician is associated with several insurance plans, although many individual clients choose to pay privately for reasons of or covered by, their health insurance plan. If you choose to go through your insurance we will process insurance claims for you and help you decipher what is or is not covered through your insurance. Please contact our office with questions related to insurance issues and the particular coverage options available when working with any of our clinicians or participating in any of our clinical programs.

We are conveniently located in Minnetonka on the south frontage road of Interstate 394 and just west of Highway 169. A map and written directions to our clinic is available through our web site, emailing us at info@pih-mpls.com , or by calling the clinic at 763-546-5797.
At PIH, "the art and science of healing" are put to work for you in a comfortable and collaborative environment.