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11 posts tagged pregnancy

PCOM Alumna Makes a Difference in Women’s Lives with Her Innovative Healing Practice and New Book

Today, we are proud to host Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) alumna Aimee Raupp! Aimee’s new book Yes, You Can Get Pregnant: Natural Ways to Improve Your Fertility Now and into Your 40s (Demos Health) just hit shelves on May 28 ^th .

Aimee sat down with PCOM to explain what inspired her book, how Chinese medicine is so incredible for fertility patients, and why this is her passion.

Thanks so much for joining us, Aimee! We couldn’t be more proud of your success in sharing this ancient medicine and its benefits.

Can you tell us about your background and how you came to this profession?

As a neurobiology research scientist in my twenties, I began experiencing personal health issues. Frustrated by Western medicine’s inability to provide answers and unable to find relief, I sought solutions from Eastern medicine. I began acupuncture treatment and discovered how a mind-body-nutrition approach was key to overcoming illness and maintaining good long-term health. Inspired by my personal experience, I enrolled at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and since, have dedicated my life to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine ever since.

What inspired you to focus on fertility in your acupuncture practice and to write Yes, You Can Get Pregnant ?

In all honesty, fertility clients started coming to me. I never had the intention of having a completely fertility focused practice. My ultimate goal is to help my patients and readers restore the presence of their optimal health. When I assist them in doing that, their fertility thrives.

Writing Yes, You Can Get Pregnant stemmed from my ultimate goal to help patients restore their optimal health—and when a women is in optimal health—mentally, emotionally, physically and nutritionally—she should be able to get pregnant, even in her 40s.

What are 3 things you wish everyone knew about Chinese medicine?

1. The mental/emotional correlation to all disharmony in the body and how clearly tied our emotional states are to disease and its manifestations.

2. That it is first and foremost a preventative disease and by incorporating the theories of Chinese medicine into one’s life, you can bring balance and optimal health so that disease doesn’t manifest in the first place.

3. How intense the education is for practitioners of Chinese medicine.

What kind of patients do you frequently work with in your clinic? Can you tell us a little bit about ‘a day in the life’ of your practice?

As my practice has developed, I do tend to treat more fertility related issues (male and female) than anything else. However, I do have a subset of my patient population that comes in for other health related issues or for just general wellness. I definitely see myself as a general practitioner with a focus on women’s health and wellness.

A ‘day in the life’ of my practice usually consists of me first meditating and grounding myself before going to work. I open myself up to the healing medium that my patients need and deserve. I usually see about 15 patients per day, where I am doing a detailed intake, along with tongue and pulse and what my patients often refer to as their ‘therapy session’. I believe that the emotional component is imperative to address when dealing with any health related issue. So, each and every one of my patients has their ‘therapy’ time with me during their treatments.

How do you feel Yes, You Can Get Pregnant stands out from other holistic fertility books? We’d love to hear what’s unique about your approach.

My approach is that this is a lifestyle, not a 3-month program to follow so one can get pregnant. My goal is to empower my readers with the tools that will help them change their health and improve their fertility, not just to be able to get pregnant, but to maintain their optimal health throughout their pregnancy so that they birth healthy children.

Yes, You Can Get Pregnant is a lifestyle program that addresses not just diet, but how we can live more in accord with nature and how we can stay emotionally and spiritually balanced and live with joy, peace, and courage. My end goal is healthy women who have healthy pregnancies who then raise children in that same healthy environment.

Can you tell us where and when we can find your book?

It is available at online retailers: Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as in bookstores.

Get your own copy today!

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

Myth Busters: Debunking False Claims About Massage

Massage therapy has a number of amazing benefits, but just like anything else, there are myths that exist to tarnish its reputation. We are here to debunk these falsities and shed some much-deserved light on a miraculous form of therapy!

Myth 1: The Effects of Massage are Temporary

Debunk: Ever heard of muscle memory? The wonderful (and sometimes frustrating) thing about our muscles is that they have long-term memory. If you spend most of your workday hunched over looking at a computer screen, odds are that you will begin to experience some type of pain. Whether you’re experiencing back or neck pain, getting a massage on a regular basis can re-educate your muscles to improve the mechanics of your body and your posture as well.

Myth 2: Massages Don’t Help Migraines

Debunk: Massage therapy is a complementary treatment for migraine headaches. The application of pressure to points in the neck, shoulders, head, and face can help to ease any tension that a patient may be feeling. The applied pressure from massage can interrupt pain signals that would otherwise travel up to the blood vessels supplying the brain.

Myth 3: Don’t Interrupt a Therapist During a Massage, Even if it Hurts

Debunk: Massage therapy is a relaxing and enjoyable experience, however we all have some “knots” that take a little extra pressure to loosen up. It’s not uncommon to experience a slight degree of discomfort when your therapist is working on a particularly tense spot on your body. If the discomfort persists, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your massage therapist wants to know how you are feeling so they can give you the best massage possible.

Myth 4: Massage Spreads Cancer

Debunk: Some people fear that massaging over a tumor could cause cancerous cells to break off and enter different areas of the body via the bloodstream. Fortunately, massage has no way of spreading cancer throughout the body and a properly skilled massage therapist would not massage directly over a tumor site.

Myth 5: Massage is not Safe in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Debunk : Prenatal massage is completely safe! In fact, research has been done to prove the positive effects that massage can have on pregnancy. The key to a successful prenatal massage is to find a certified pregnancy massage therapist. Doing so will ensure that he or she is massaging you through all the trimesters with the appropriate protocols for each. A prenatal massage therapist can also modify your massage to aid your specific symptoms.

If you are ready for a massage, make sure to schedule an appointment with one of our clinics ! We are here to heal you.

-PCOM

Ginger to the Rescue!

It’s safe to say that the majority of us have been nauseated at some point in our lives—especially if you’ve experienced pregnancy. The feeling is uncomfortable and unpleasant. Sure, there are over-the-counter medications to aid in our sick feelings, but natural remedies, such as ginger, often do the trick—faster and more effectively than your local drug-store can.

As a powerful, multi-functional herb, ginger is often used for mild stomach pain to severe nausea that can result from pregnancy. During the first trimester of pregnancy, many women experience cases of nausea and vomiting and although they call it “morning sickness,” it can last throughout the day. Fortunately, ginger is a wonderful remedy for women who want to rid the feeling of nausea.

We’ve gone into this in more detail here , where we suggested that ingesting as little as 1 gram of ginger root every day for four days can significantly reduce feelings of nausea and incidences of vomiting. Don’t suffer from an upset stomach, seasickness, or morning sickness any longer!

Ginger products are readily available and easy to find. This powerful herb is available in a number of forms including: capsules, tinctures, extracts, oils, and in raw form. Fresh ginger root is easily attainable and can be used to brew tea (for all you tea lovers out there!).

If you’re feeling nauseous, give ginger a try…why not?

"Mindful Pregnancy: Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Approach to Women’s Health, Pregnancy, and Fertility"
via Bamboo Magazine

This is a great article about how Oriental medicine can help with fertility and pregnancy. Did you know that celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Celine Dion have used acupuncture to conquer infertility issues?

http://www.bamboofamilymag.com/summer-2012/mindful-pregnancy-traditional-chinese-medicine-an-approach-t.html

Celebrities who promote acupuncture

Jennifer Lopez – The 43-year-old mother of twins told OK! magazine she used acupuncture therapy to drop 15 pounds.

Sheryl Crow – In 2006, Crow was treated for breast cancer and went on to raise awareness about the importance of early detection. She also said her treatment was supported by the use of acupuncture treatments and herbal formulas.

Jennifer Aniston – After heeding the advice of long-time friend, Sheryl Crow (see above), Aniston decided to use acupuncture while preparing for motherhood. An insider said it “reduced her stress, made her skin glow, helped her with weight loss and made her happier,”

Kim Kardashian – A photo posted to Instagram earlier this year shows a beautifully made-up Kim Kardashian with a dozen or so needles in her face. The photo read, “Oh just relaxing….”

Sandra Bullock - The star told the BBC in 2002 she requires acupuncture as a contractual perk before she agrees to take part in a production.

Matt Damon – In 2008, a photograph of this celeb hit the net, raising questions that were eventually answered by his rep: “Matt had a terrible spasm in his neck/back and he had to have acupuncture, those are acupuncture needles in his ear.”

Celine Dion – In 2004, CNN reported Dion was 14 weeks pregnant with twins – a result the couple credited to supplementing the IVF treatments with acupuncture..

Robert Downey, Jr. – This Hollywood stud attributes his two-decade run of good health entirely to Chinese medicine .

Penelope Cruz – According to ABC News , the actress was sporting acupuncture seeds in her ear at the premiere of her new movie, “Venuto Al Mondo”.

Mariah Carey – Another believer in acupuncture for fertility, Daily Mail reported Carey used daily treatments to battle stress and personal difficulties that contributed to her inability to conceive.

Natalie Portman - In 2011, Daily Mail said the actress told Marie Claire magazine that she used acupuncture to supplement her exercise routine and overcome stress during her pregnancy.

Stephen Collins – This movie star frequently raves about acupuncture on Twitter, including this post from last April: “Acupuncture! Like a little vacation in my day…for those who’ve never done it, you’ be AMAZED.”