Treatments

How I work

The first consultation consists mainly of an interview. For this interview, time is taken extensively to get a good picture of your health. Also the tongue is examined and the pulse is taken; these are important parts of the Chinese diagnostics. Together with your story and the diagnostic results, I will make a treatment plan.

The acupuncture points I choose are going to contribute to the recovery of your symptoms. The number of needles (from 0.14 to 0.25 mm in diameter) per treatment varies and stays in the body for about half an hour. With young children, the treatment duration is shorter, even after only a few minutes the needle can be removed. Lifestyle and diet (pattern) play a major role in our health.

During the first consultation, this is discussed in detail and, if necessary, advice is given to optimise health. By adjusting your lifestyle and diet, you have a lot of influence on your health.

Other techniques such as Guasha, cupping and moxamay also be used .

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Guasha
Gua' means scraping and 'Sha' means sand or grains of sand. These grains of sand symbolise the particles that pollute the body. There pollution makes energy in the body stagnate and this can cause complaints such as muscle pain.

Guasha improves the blood circulation so that oxygen is more easily distributed in the body, the cells are better reached and waste products are removed ("scraped off").

Cupping
This is an ancient healing method that has its origins in Chinese medicine, but in the Middle East this method is also very well known. Nowadays it is popular among top athletes.

With cupping, the skin is vacuumed with 'cups' (made of glass, plastic, bamboo or earthenware). By cupping, the blood circulation of the skin is stimulated to remove waste products and stagnation of energy (which causes pain) is removed.

Moxa
Moxa is mugwort, Artemesia vulgaris, and is often supplemented with other herbs, such as cinnamon or ginger. It is loose material that can be compressed into a cigar. Moxa is used to support an acupuncture treatment; the needles, or directly the acupuncture point, are then heated with the lit herb. Thanks to this heat, the energy flow in the body is activated.

This method of treatment is effective in relieving joint pain, muscle complaints, flu symptoms and fatigue. Moxa is also used in case of severe cold. During pregnancy moxa is also used when the baby is in breech position. Here the acupuncture point Zhi Yin is used, the 67th point on the meridian of the bladder, which lies on the outside of the little toe. The heated moxa stick is held just above the point. By heating this point, hormones in the placenta, such as oestrogens and prostaglandins, are stimulated and this stimulates the baby to turn.

I can teach you this technique when you come to see me. You can then apply it yourself at home; of course your partner or someone else can help you with this. The intention is to do this twice a day for 15 minutes, 10 times in total.

Research (Cardini & Huang, 1998) shows a success rate of 80-90%; the best time to apply moxa is at 34 weeks of pregnancy.

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Gynaecology & Pregnancy

Many women experience symptoms around their period such as fatigue, painful breasts, abdominal cramps, headaches and mood swings.

About half of the women have these symptoms in the first few days of their period. However, some of them are unable to do ordinary everyday things due to severe menstrual symptoms.

Other complaints in the menstrual cycle are:

Pain at ovulation (also called middle pain)
Much blood loss
PMS (premenstrual syndrome: especially symptoms prior to bleeding).

Acupuncture and herbs are very effective for menstrual complaints. We make appointments for an acupuncture treatment at certain times in your cycle to restore the balance of your menstruation.

Of course, together we will take a close look at your diet and lifestyle.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue, which is very similar to endometrium, occurs outside the uterine cavity. It is usually found in the organs and the abdominal cavity. On average, it takes 7 years for a woman with endometriosis to be correctly diagnosed and, during that time, the endometriosis can grow significantly.

Acupuncture and herbs can be very helpful in endometriosis; pain and other symptoms can be reduced but also the condition itself. In TCM, endometriosis is seen as a severe stagnation of energy and blood, causing hormones to become unbalanced.

A good explanation can be seen in the video below:

A lot is changing not only in your life, but also in your body. Your body suddenly has to take care of someone else, which can make you feel unbalanced, both physically and emotionally.

"Well, that's just part of it! you hear, but sometimes it can be so intense that it is difficult or even impossible to go about your work or your usual daily business.

Even then, acupuncture can help you suffer less or no nausea, fatigue or fluid retention. The effect of acupuncture on nausea and vomiting has been researched many times and each time acupuncture proved to be very beneficial.

Emotional complaints, such as stress and anxiety, can also be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture, in combination with dietary and lifestyle advice, helps your body adjust to the new situation. And to reassure you, acupuncture is completely safe during pregnancy. There are no risks or side effects.

During your pregnancy I can treat you with acupuncture for the following complaints:

Stomach complaints and nausea
Sleeping problems
Pregnancy itch
Restless legs
Hard bellies
Depressive feelings and anxiety
An impending miscarriage
Shortening the opening phase
Inducing labour when overdue

Different studies:

Acupuncture Continuing Education Heath CMI
https://evidencebasedacupuncture.org

Research shows that both men and women can each contribute 50% to fertility problems. Women and men who are in an IVF procedure can often be successfully guided by acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Relaxation is essential in such a process. As a woman in an ICSI/IVF process, you are often prescribed hormones that can have side effects. With acupuncture, these side effects can be less severe without negating the positive effect of the hormones.

The different stages in the process receive their own necessary attention.

Just before the egg pick-up for uterine blood flow and relaxation.
An acupuncture treatment immediately after the transfer results in an increased chance of pregnancy.

Recovery after childbirth. This is a period that receives little attention in the West.

Especially in the first month after giving birth, attention to recovery is of great importance. Many moments of rest, (warm) strengthening food and massage help a new mother to recover so she can cope well with her new family life. Acupuncture, herbs and dietary advice after the birth can contribute to a successful recovery.

In the view of Chinese medicine, this phase lays the foundation for a possible next pregnancy and later a harmonious transition! But breastfeeding also takes energy! With acupuncture, breastfeeding can be stimulated and an impending breast infection can be prevented.

Giving birth takes a lot of energy and although you are not sick of course, it is important to take good care of yourself in this phase.

Between 29 and 32 weeks, about 15% of babies are in a breech presentation. Only 3-4% of babies remain in this position until birth. The longer the baby is in the breech position during pregnancy, the less chance there is of it turning. The gynaecologist can also rotate the baby manually.

At 38 weeks, the decision may be made to schedule a Caesarean delivery.

A woman's transition years are literally a time of transition: from a period of fertility to a period of ageing. The last menstruation is a fact. Menopause is the name for the day 1 year after your last period.

Once the cycles of menstruation have stopped, you will come more into your own. This is a special phase for a woman. But just as with menstruation, this is unfortunately also a period that can bring with it many complaints. The biggest misunderstanding, however, is the idea that your health deteriorates during this time; many health complaints are attributed to hormones, but hormonal imbalance exists long before you enter the menopause.

Between the ages of 45 and 55, you may experience symptoms that fall under menopause; of course, there are always individual differences.

These complaints may be:

Vaginal dryness
Night sweats and hot flushes
Sleeping badly
Fatigue
Mood swings/ stress
Libido loss
Headache
Depressed mood
Heavy bleeding during menstruation
Increase in weight

The main complaints are vaginal dryness, night sweats and hot flushes, the 'real' menopause complaints. So it is important to get in balance to reduce these complaints. Acupuncture and herbs can provide positive results.

In 2007, Arina, together with Kwee, Tan and Wauters, conducted research into the effect of Chinese herbs on menopausal complaints. The research report can be downloaded at www.sciencedirect.com.

Thyroid problems

You can think of your thyroid gland as a kind of thermostat of a stove. If it is high, you are warm(hyperthyroidism: rapid digestion, diarrhoea, palpitations, weight loss), if it is low, you are cold(hypothyroidism: slow digestion, constipation, impaired concentration, weight gain).

Your thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the level of your larynx that produces the hormone thyroid. From your brain, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus control your thyroid gland to make enough of that hormone. Your body cells are stimulated by thyroid hormone to use more oxygen, so to make more energy.

Although blood tests are very important in regular health care to determine the degree of dysfunction of your thyroid gland, and to adjust the dosage of your medication accordingly, the results of the blood test often do not correspond to your symptoms.

What is important is your own story and what bothers you. For example, you may have symptoms that correspond to the thyroid gland, but the hormone levels in your blood hardly differ.

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With the temperature method according to Broda Barnes (click) you can quickly determine whether your thyroid gland is working too slowly, a test that went out of fashion with the introduction of blood tests.

A thyroid disorder can also be related to a malfunctioning immune system, such as Graves' disease (too fast) and Hashimoto's disease (too slow). In addition, there may be goitre, a thickening of the thyroid gland. However, stress, menopause and pregnancy can also trigger thyroid problems.

According to Chinese Medicine, your thyroid gland is influenced by the energy of certain organs; the meridians (energy pathways) of those organs run through the area of the thyroid gland. When the energy in these meridians is not optimal, your thyroid gland can become unbalanced. In this disruption, acupuncture and herbs can be very supportive. And of course, we also look at lifestyle and nutrition.

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Cancer counselling

It is well known that techniques of Western medicine (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) are more effective in eliminating cancer and limiting growth and spread of tumours than Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM: acupuncture and herbs).

However, Western cancer treatments are often toxic and have negative side effects.

Your energy is damaged by radio- and chemotherapy. And sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

Together with the Western medical approach, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can play a major role in restoring your energy balance, strengthening your immune system and reducing the side effects of Western therapies.

Cosmetic acupuncture

As early as 1100 BC, Chinese physicians developed treatments to treat various skin conditions. Over the centuries, this has been further developed and refined.

In addition to placing very thin needles on the face, needles are also placed on the body. The energy that you produce yourself and that is stimulated by acupuncture is reflected on the face. All meridians end at the head and "bring" as it were energy to the face, which improves the blood circulation. An important effect of facial acupuncture is the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for elasticity and firmness of the skin and decreases with age. It has been found that in places where the needle is placed the collagen increases again. After 6 weeks, the collagen has largely returned and fills the wrinkle from within.

A cosmetic acupuncture treatment also includes facial massage/Guasha and a mask appropriate to the skin condition.

Chinese herbal therapy

Originally, herbal therapy was 'more important' than acupuncture in China. Acupuncture, however, became known first in the West for various reasons. In the last few decades, Chinese herbal therapy has increasingly been given the recognition it deserves in the West.

Whenever there is reason to do so, herbs can be prescribed / Arina can prescribe herbs; these are ordered at the Natuurapotheek in Pijnacker, a pharmacy specialised in Chinese herbs.

A Chinese herbal formula consists of different herbs that work together. In the course of the treatment, the formula is adjusted, if necessary, to the condition or complaint of the client. The herbs can be delivered in powder, tablets, drops and capsules.