Acupuncture & TCM Articles

Acupressure - Natural Childbirth Pain Relief
Author: Robert Hill

Acupressure can be extremely helpful during childbirth and has been effectively used by millions of people for thousands of years. This holistic and non-invasive technique is practiced all around the world.

Acupressure is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that is based upon the same principles as acupuncture. The only difference is that it uses fingers and thumbs to stimulate specific points instead of needles. This specific points or acupoints are located along the lines called meridians that run along the body.

Traditional Chinese medicine theory divides the body into 14 meridians. It is believed that acupressure points or acupoints are areas of higher concentration of energy and most of them are located along the meridians. Acupressure technique involves the use of fingers or hands to apply gentle, but firm pressure to acupoints, which stimulates the body's natural self-curative abilities.

Acupressure is known to be beneficial for a great number of health related issues and can also be extremely helpful before and during childbirth, especially as a natural way to bring on labor and alleviate childbirth pain. Stimulation of specific acupoints has been scientifically shown to be very effective related to labor pain and the total length of delivery time. Acupressure has been known to increase the release of endorphins which are extremely effective in relieving pain.

Using this technique is actually nothing more than prompting the body to work more efficiently. There are certain points that can be pressed on to help release the endorphins, relieve labor pains, dilate the cervix, increase the efficiency of the contractions, improve the body's performance and promote positive feelings.

Unlike medical labor induction and pain relief that involve certain risks for both the mother and the baby, acupressure is completely safe because no pharmaceuticals are being introduced into the body.

The benefits of using acupressure before and during childbirth are many: effective childbirth pain relief, induce labor naturally, encourage regular contractions, dilate better, ease the delivery of baby and placenta, keep the mother calm and relaxed, turn a posterior baby, stop nausea and vomiting, and maximize the probability of having problem-free and natural birth.

On top of all that, this technique is also very easy to master and can be used with no prior knowledge of anatomy or traditional Chinese medicine. Mothers who have used it have been incredibly satisfied with the results.

Chinese Medical Obstetrics
By Bob Flaws

DESCRIPTION: This book is both a study text and clinical manual on the Chinese medical treatment of obstetric conditions, or diseases women may experience during pregnancy, childbirth, and shortly thereafter. However, in addition to everything one would expect to find in such a book, this text also includes:
- Abstracts of recent Chinese research for most chapters
- Case history examples of common clinical presentations throughout the book
- Clinical tips at the end of each chapter from the author’s personal experience
- Special medicinals or important acupuncture points for specific conditions
- Cautions or danger signs that every practitioner of Chinese medical obstetrics needs to know
- An easy-to-follow two color design
- Protocols for five dozen Chinese gestational, birthing, and postpartum conditions
This book sets a new standard in the study and practice of Chinese medical obstetrics and should have a prominent place in the library of any Chinese medical practitioner specializing in gynecology or seeing pregnant and newly delivered woman.