Amy O'Dell Wilson

As with any medicine during pregnancy, a skilled practitioner will know what is safe and what is not during pregnancy. Acupuncture can be very safe and effective during pregnancy and labor helping with stress, nausea, bloating, headaches, and pain. If you work with a licensed and NCCAOM board certified acupuncturist they will know the exact acupuncture points to avoid during pregnancy.

Yes. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Formulas are excellent for relieving the symptoms often associated with bronchitis: shortness of breath, congestion, tightness in the chest, difficulty inhaling or exhaling, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. With regular treatment, 1-3 times per week while the symptoms are at their worse, can help reduce the length of time the symptoms last and the severity. Treatment after the symptoms have subsided 1-4 times per month, can help restore vital energy, boost immunity, and restore homeostasis.

Yes, it is safe to have an acupuncture treatment every week. In acute cases, it is preferred. In China, Japan, and Korea where the medicine is mainstream it is not unusual to have a patient show up several times a week or even daily for an acute condition. Ailments and stress unbalance the body and sometimes it takes the accumulative effect of acupuncture in a
short period of time to really make an impact.

It is impossible to say for sure how many visits you will need to clear your migraines. There are too many variables without fully knowing how long they have existed, what other symptoms accompany the migraines, your overall health, and your constitution. On your first visit with a licensed acupuncturist, they will set out a timeline for you based on the above. For an acute migraine, it may clear in just one treatment; for a more chronic issue, you may need six or more. With each treatment, you should feel some measure of relief.

Yes, when performed by a licensed acupuncturist, scalp acupuncture is safe and effective. In addition to many standard acupuncture points located on the scalp, there have also been many special points developed over time. Insertion in the scalp is shallow and often offers a deep sense of relaxation and relief.

Yes. Take advantage of the relaxed state that your body resets into after an acupuncture treatment. Although you may feel refreshed and ready to go, your body just worked hard rebalancing. Get a good night sleep, take an easy walk and breathe fresh air, eat moderately the best quality whole food you can afford, and drink hot tea. By doing these things you are
reinforcing the healing process.

Yes. I have an 8-day protocol that uses full-body acupuncture, ear acupuncture, and herbs to support the withdrawal process. The people who completed the 8 days are amazed by the results.

Acupuncture can be beneficial during pregnancy especially to help with nausea, low back pain, headaches, and stress. It is very important that you tell your acupuncturist that you are pregnant as there are several points on the body that are contraindicated during pregnancy because they are very stimulating and could induce early labor. That said these same points could be very useful if you are past due. Acupuncture can also be very useful in turning a breech baby. The best idea is to ask your OB-GYN or midwife to share your records and collaborate with a Licensed acupuncturist to ensure the best possible treatment for you.

Yes. Acupuncture is an excellent option for anxiety. It is a non-pharmaceutical option that is safe and shown to be effective in random control trials. Your acupuncturist will work to determine the root cause of the anxiety from the lens of an eastern medicine tradition and develop a plan of specific points to treat your individual needs. My patients are often surprised that once the needles are placed they feel a deep sense of
relaxation and often fall asleep during the treatment. Teens that I have worked with report better focus and well being in school. From a biomedical lenses we can say that the acupuncture works to turn off or down the overactive sympathetic fight or flight response you are experiencing and turn in the parasympathetic rest and digest response. Your acupuncturist may also offer you take home ear seed, auricular therapy, that you can
activate by just pressing them when you are feeling anxious through the week. If your acupuncturist is trained in herbal medicine they may offer herbs for your anxiety, another safe effective solution.

You just spent valuable time and money to help your body rebalance and heal. The best scenario is to continue the positive effects of the treatment. Your body will be in a state of relaxation and will have done a workout on a micro level to restore balance and promote healing. Drink 4-6 ounces of warm water or herbal tea every 1-2 hours. Take a gentle walk. Breathe deeply. Put yourself to bed early enough to get 8 hours of sleep, or if your not a great sleeper yet, relaxing horizontal time. Steer clear of cold food and drink; opt for warm nutrient rich food like soups or congee. Follow the specific instructions of your acupuncturist. And if you haven’t yet book your next appointment. Acupuncture is cumulative. Your body will respond faster, retain the balance longer and ward off imbalance with each return visit.

Yes. Acid reflux is a symptom of the body's imbalance. You have acid reflux because somewhere in your body there is excess energy that needs to flow to the areas of deficiency. Chines medicine diagnoses and treats through a system of treating patterns found along meridians. We have a saying. One pattern many diseases, one disease many patterns. Your acid reflux is unique to the patterns in your body. Acupuncture will restore the balance and alleviate your discomfort by finding the root of the problem safely and effectively without negative side effects.

There are acupuncture points along meridians all over the body, including the forehead. If you are seeking treatment with a Board Certified and Licensed Acupuncturist you can expect treatment to be safe, effective and without adverse effects.

It does not resolve in one visit, but yes acupuncture can be very effective for plantar fasciitis. Seek an acupuncturist that is Board Certified, Licensed and who has had practice treating this condition. You will need 3-6 weekly visits to see significant change and then follow up until the condition is fully resolved.