Chinese Herbal Treatment is another tool that we have in Oriental Medicine to help our patients.  Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years and they are the result sof observing nature and how animals and plants are used for healing. Roots, flowers, leaves, seeds and some minerals are used in Chinese herbs. These are processed and can be taken by the patient as raw herbs or processed pills or powder. Herbs are very gentle on the body and your practitioner will make sure that the herbs prescribed will not interact with your current medications.   

In Chinese Medicine we see the body as a whole system and women seeking to become pregnant, need to find balance physically AND emotionally.  

Acupuncture has an effect in the nervous system, endocrine system and lymphatic system, because it stimulates the body to react once the needles are placed into the skin. The body reacts to the needles by flaring up these systems and putting them “on alert”.  

One of the leading reasons why patients drop out of infertility treatment is due to stress; this program is a resource for patients to integrate holistic therapies into their medical treatment. 

Acupuncture and herbal treatment are used in fertility patients and these techniques can: · 

Regulate menses – controlling irregular periods can predict better the time of ovulation 

Regulate hormones  · 

Increase uterine lining · Improve sperm – acupuncture stimulates the body to increase sperm counts, sperm motility and the percentage f normal sperm within a given sample · Possible miscarriage prevention Acupuncture can also be beneficial when used in conjunction with IVF treatments, it may help by: · Increasing the number of follicles and improving quality of eggs produced · Increasing the likelihood of implantation · Moderate the side effects of hormone therapy · Relieve stress- IVF can be a stressful process and acupuncture can regulate and increase endorphins (natural feel-good chemicals) in the blood · 

Prevent miscarriage · Regulate hormones  

Increase circulation in the lower abdomen and low back, which stimulates the nerves that go into the uterus - acupuncture can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, which dramatically improves a woman’s response to hormonal therapy and it also reduces stress and a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system response. Other conditions in which acupuncture is helpful are: · To turn a breech baby- best results are achieved in weeks 34 to 36 and the chances of a baby moving, decrease as time goes by. However, it is worth working with the patient after week 36 · Morning sickness · Musculoskeletal conditions (back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel) · Fatigue · Insomnia · Edema (water retention) · Pregnancy induced hypertension Pregnancy induced anxiety and/or depression. 

College Park Acupuncture specializes in the treatment and prevention of sports injuries. Catherine Ford completed the Whitfield Reaves “Sports Acupuncture Apprenticeship Program”: which is a six-month intensive program on sports acupuncture, receiving her certification in August of 2014.  

The style of acupuncture that she uses was developed by Whitfield Reaves who has been specializing in treating Olympians, professional triathletes, runners, cyclists, and weekend warriors of all sports since the early 1980’s. He is also the Author of The Acupuncture Handbook of Sports Injuries and Pain and teaches seminars on the subject all over the world. 

What is “sports acupuncture”? Sports Acupuncture is an integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture) with anatomy, western Orthopedics and Sports practices.  Whether you want to perform better at your chosen sport, or need help recovering from an acute or chronic injury, acupuncture has been shown to increase performance and decrease recovery time. If you have an acute injury that requires surgery acupuncture can relax the tissue and decrease inflammation prior to the procedure. After surgery sports acupuncture can decrease recovery time by increasing circulation and decreasing inflammation. By relieving both pain and inflammation, sports acupuncture can allow you to train harder and recover far more quickly both before and after an athletic event. Whether you’re a triathlete with a nagging injury, have experienced an acute injury and want to speed recovery, or just a normal person who wants to take the next step in exercise performance, acupuncture can play a significant role in that regard. For example, evaluating shoulder pain begins with testing the strength and movement of your shoulder to determine its physical weaknesses, inpingements, and imbalances. Treatment may include needling, electro-stimulation, tuina massage, cupping or possibly Chinese herbs.  

What is orthopedic acupuncture? Orthopedic acupuncture focuses diagnosis and treatment on specific problems associated with your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. These problems may include a loss of strength or stamina, the presence of pain and restricted mobility.