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> Safety & Effectiveness
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Acupuncture works on the idea that energy channels (meridians) run through
your body. When you are completely healthy your energy (called Qi, pronounced
"chee") flows along the meridians uninterrupted, but if you are unwell the energy
becomes blocked, too strong or too weak at certain points. Special fine needles
are inserted into these points to unblock, stimulate or sedate the energy flow,
or finger or thumb pressure can be applied. In the UK acupuncture is one of
the "top five" therapies and over 3000 doctors, nurses and physiotherapists
are qualified to use it. Research shows that acupuncture affects brain structures,
blood flow and nerve pathways and can raise your blood pressure so if you have
high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, inform your practitioner. Most acupuncturists
use disposable needles to avoid the risk of infection. Sometimes mild side effects
occur after treatment eg nausea, fainting or a temporary increase in pain. More
serious complications are rare but if you suffer any unusual symptoms after
treatment tell your acupuncturist. During pregnancy some acupuncture points
must be avoided as they may stimulate contractions. Acupuncture is best avoided
if you have a blood clotting disorder, but is acceptable if you are anaemic.
Acupuncture can be very relaxing so you should not drive immediately afterwards
or operate machinery. Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting and pain relief after
operations has been shown to be effective but there is conflicting evidence
about its benefit in treating backache, headache and pelvic pain during pregnancy.
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Highly concentrated essential oils are extracted from different parts of various
plants and absorbed into the body through the skin (in massage or the bath water),
the lungs by inhaling the aromas, or as a rectal suppository or vaginal pessary.
Most essential oils smell very pleasant, but the term "aromatherapy" is rather
misleading because treatment relies on both the aromas and the effects of chemicals
in them. Different essential oils contain different chemicals which have various
effects on both your body and mood.
Essential oils have been shown to be extremely effective at combating infections,
including the hospital-acquired MRSA, which is very resistant to drugs, and
for HIV / AIDS patients. A particularly well researched essential oil is tea
tree, which can kill bacteria, viruses and fungal infections. Regular aromatherapy
massages can be very relaxing during pregnancy and may relieve some of the normal
aches and pains such as backache which occur at this time. A large study was
done in Oxford, UK in which over 8000 women were offered aromatherapy during
labour to help them relax, relieve pain and make the uterus work more efficiently.
The results were very positive and there were very few complications or side
effects. This is an especially significant study because it was such a large
trial, suggesting that the positive results were more than just a chance effect.
Other maternity units have followed suit and introduced aromatherapy in the
labour ward, largely as a result of the Oxford study, although the availability
of aromatherapy on the NHS remains fairly limited.
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Bach flower remedies (BFRs) are liquids containing plant essences thought to
have a positive effect on the emotions. A range of 38 remedies plus the Rescue
remedy, a universal first aid / stress reliever, is available in health stores,
together with booklets aimed at helping you to decide for yourself the most
appropriate remedies. Rescue remedy has been researched for relieving examination
stress in students, but the results were inconclusive. It is not known how BFRs
work, although there are some similarities with homeopathy, but it is thought
that, unlike drugs, they do not have a chemical action on your body. They appear
acceptable to use in pregnancy, but no research has been done to test for safety.
Although the remedies are preserved in brandy, only a very few drops are used
at a time, but you may prefer to avoid them if you have moral objections to
the alcohol, or have problems controlling alcohol intake or liver disease. If
you suffer from any mental or psychological conditions you should only use the
remedies on the advice of a qualified practitioner: Bach flower remedies can
sometimes have an "onion peeling" effect on the emotions, gradually dealing
with the predominant emotion, then revealing concealed feelings, which can,
in a few people, lead to the need for professional counselling. If, after taking
them for some time, you still feel emotionally unwell, consult your midwife
or doctor for further help.
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Herbal medicine involves the use of chemicals in plants, given
as tablets, capsules, creams, ointments and liquids. Many of today's drugs
originated from plants, eg the contraceptive Pill was derived from the wild yam.
- You must inform your midwife and doctor if you use any herbal remedies
or teas,
- Be careful in the first three months when your baby's major organs are
developing
- Do not take herbal remedies routinely or for long periods of time
- If you develop any unusual symptoms after taking herbal remedies, tell
your doctor or midwife
- Herbal remedies can interfere with drugs including those used in labour
for epidural or spinal pain relief
- Stop taking herbal remedies at least two weeks before a planned Caesarean
section or other surgery.
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All
herbal remedies should be treated with the same respect that you give to drugs:
ask your doctor or qualified medical herbalist about taking any herbal remedies
with prescribed drugs during pregnancy.
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Homeopathy works on the principle of "treating like with like", but considers
you as a whole person, including your personality and the factors which make
your condition better or worse. Extremely dilute amounts of substances are used
which, if given in larger amounts would actually cause the symptoms which the
remedy is intended to treat. The remedies are usually taken as tablets but they
do not work in the same way as conventional drugs. It is believed that the remedies
contain an energy force which is released from the original substance during
the production process of repeated dilution and vigorous shaking; the more dilute
the remedy, the more powerful it will be. Homeopaths believe that pregnancy
is a normal life event and aim to encourage your body to work efficiently, adapting
treatment according to your individual needs. At first you may feel slightly
worse before you start getting better, but this is normal and usually indicates
that the remedies are working effectively. Research has shown that homeopathy
may be useful for women with infertility or menopausal symptoms. Arnica to relieve
pain, bruising and infection after surgery or injury has also been studied although
the results are inconclusive. Homeopathy is a very gentle therapy, but it is
also very powerful, so it important to use it correctly.
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Hypnotherapy, or hypnosis, is an altered state of awareness, similar to "day
dreaming". It involves deep relaxation and triggers to help you change behaviour
and is useful for anxiety, pain and stress-related conditions such as infertility,
asthma, irritable bowel syndrome and high blood pressure. Addictions respond
well to hypnotherapy and group sessions may be used, for example if you want
to stop smoking. You may also be lucky enough to find private antenatal classes
in which you can be taught hypnosis for labour. Hypnotherapy is generally considered
safe for pregnant mums, but if you have a history of mental illness or epilepsy,
check with your doctor before treatment. It has been successfully used to help
women prepare for labour, reducing their perceptions of contraction pain, which
may also indirectly have a positive effect on the length of labour. Usually
expectant mums are given several sessions of hypnotherapy during pregnancy and
taught how to trigger hypnosis themselves so that they can use it when their
labours start. Alternatively, it may be possible for your partner to be taught
how to hypnotise you when you are in labour. One study in which mums used hypnosis
for labour, also showed a reduction in the number of mums who developed postnatal
depression. Other pregnancy conditions which have been helped by hypnotherapy
include sickness, pre-eclampsia and even breech presentation, when the baby
is in the bottom-first position.
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Massage is the use of touch which relaxes muscles, stimulates circulation, lowers
blood pressure, helps with excretion of waste products and toxins and aids digestion.
Research has shown that touch relieves pain and triggers the release from the
brain of endorphins, the body's "feel good" factors, which are pain-relieving,
anti-depressant and relaxing, thus promoting well-being. Massage is usually
performed using a base oil, such as grape-seed, avocado, sunflower, sweet almond,
apricot or peach kernel. Regular pregnancy massage is relaxing, relieves anxiety
and eases discomforts such as backache, headache and constipation. In labour
massage can keep you calm and relaxed and aids pain relief, although you may
discover that you prefer not to be touched at this time. Direct massage of varicose
veins, areas of thrombosis, burns, scalds, skin infections, open wounds or eczema
should be avoided. If you have problems such as bleeding, excessively high blood
pressure or a history of premature labour, massage should be done cautiously.
Deep kneading massage should be avoided over acupuncture points which may trigger
labour. If you are expecting more than one baby or have had infertility treatment
your massage therapist should ideally also be a midwife.
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Regular osteopathy or chiropractic during pregnancy can help to relieve backache,
sciatica and groin or pubic pain as well as headaches, migraine, heartburn,
carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist pain) and chest and rib pain. Chiropractic has
been used to good effect to treat children with asthma and infants with colic
and cranial osteopathy is wonderful for fractious babies or hyperactive children.
It is important to tell your practitioner if you think you may be pregnant
as it may be inappropriate to treat you in early pregnancy. If you have high
blood pressure (pre-eclampsia) and need to take aspirin routinely to prevent
complications, or if you are already taking anticoagulant drugs or have a
clotting disorder you should avoid these therapies.
Osteopathy
and chiropractic work on the idea that your skeleton is the main framework of
your body with everything else attached to it and involve manipulation of your
joints, ligaments and bones in order to restore and maintain the correct balance
of nerves, muscles and the skeleton. Practitioners are regulated by the UK General
Osteopathic Council and the General Chiropractors' Council. Osteopaths use special
techniques, including massage, to help joint mobility and re-align your skeleton
and its attached organs. Chiropractors concentrate more on joint position and
the relationship between the nervous system and the mechanical framework of
the body and perform manipulation of the spinal joints, without massage.
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In reflexology, the feet (or hands) represent a map of the whole body, with
every part of the body reflected on one or both feet. Thus various conditions
or discomforts can be treated via the feet, or it can be used for general relaxation,
but reflexology is not just "foot massage". There is much debate about the safety
of reflexology during pregnancy. There is no evidence that it causes miscarriage,
but if you have any early bleeding, it is wise to avoid treatment. Reflexologists
who are not midwives may decline to treat you until at least 16 weeks of pregnancy.
If you develop complications such as placental bleeding, premature labour or
high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), treatment should only provided with the
permission of your midwife or doctor. Reflexology research is fairly limited
but it at least as effective as medical (drug) treatments of headaches, constipation,
premenstrual and menopausal symptoms, asthma and other stress-related conditions.The
relaxation, pain-killing and nerve-blocking effects of reflexology are well
documented. Regular pregnancy reflexology may contribute to an easier and more
efficient labour. If you have any condition affecting your feet, such as fungal
infection, eczema, verruca, varicose veins, or a fracture, hand reflexology
may be possible. If you have a high temperature or infectious disease, treatment
should be withheld. It is important to inform your reflexologist if you have
a history of kidney stones or gallstones, mental illness or other medical condition.
If you are diabetic or epileptic, you should only be treated during pregnancy
by a reflexologist who is also a midwife. If you have any major health problems
such as heart disease, clotting disorders or conditions involving severe inflammation
you should avoid reflexology completely as inappropriate treatment may make
your condition worse.
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The shiatsu practitioner uses simple thumb, finger, elbow and even heel or knee
pressure with holding techniques and gentle stretching exercises whilst the
client remains fully clothed. Shiatsu is based on the principles of Traditional
Chinese Medicine and, like acupuncture, uses the energy lines - meridians -
which run throughout the body. Shiatsu massage is thought to trigger small electrical
currents which are conducted away from the point of pressure to act on distant
parts of the body. Research has shown an increase in the amount of oxygen in
the tissues, which improves circulation and helps with excretion of waste products
and toxins. Shiatsu also regulates nerve function, strengthens resistance to
disease and makes joints more flexible. Shiatsu is relaxing and safe to receive
regularly throughout pregnancy, although there are certain points which should
be avoided as they may trigger contractions. It helps you to cope with fluctuations
in your physical and emotional state, relieves tiredness and encourages the
production of endorphins, the body's own "feel good chemicals". Shiatsu also
eases discomforts such as backache, swollen ankles, breathlessness, chronic
coughs, insomnia, vaginal and urinary infections, constipation, haemorrhoids,
leg cramps, nausea, heartburn and poor milk supply. During labour, it can relieve
pain and exhaustion and stimulate effective uterine contractions. A therapist
may decline to treat you if you have a major skin infection or other infectious
disease, slipped discs in your back, varicose veins or a history of thrombosis.
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Copyright © Expectancy Ltd 2007
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