By Angie
When it comes to fertility, there is a lot of focus on what women can do to improve their chances of falling pregnant. But, as they say, it takes two to tango! It is just as important for the father-to-be to look after his health and make sure his reproductive system is in top shape for a successful and healthy pregnancy to take place.

There are many things that men can do to boost their fertility and increase the likelihood of conception with their partner.

Do you struggle with insomnia? Find yourself counting sheep at night when you wish you could be catching z's? We have already covered some great strategies you can use to combat sleepless nights like our blog posts Acupuncture and Insomnia and 10 Self-help tips for Insomnia, but if you are still looking for some more ideas, we have put together a free download for you. 
This worksheet contains acupressure points, a bedtime breathing meditation, a mudra for insomnia and other tips. Download and print this baby off for next time insomnia strikes.

By Angie
You settle into a warm, comfortable bed, close your eyes and even though you are tired, nothing happens...you just can’t fall asleep. Hours go by and still you’re awake, feeling increasingly frustrated at your inability to drop off. The next day you feel tired, grouchy, and unable to focus. Does this sound familiar?

Sleepless nights happen to almost everyone at some time, but ongoing insomnia can indicate a deeper issue and could lead to further health concerns. Unfortunately, a common approach to treating insomnia includes prescription sleeping medications, which can cause side effects or even dependence. That’s one of the many reasons to consider an all-natural approach to treating your sleep problems. Acupuncture can be a very effective way to improve your sleep quality without side effects, but here are some tips for healthy sleep that you can try tonight:

By Angie
This is one of the many little tidbits that I share on Affordable Acupuncture's Facebook page, but I thought it would be good to share it here too! Make sure you 'like' us on facebook if you like inspiration and information like this. 

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, try this acupressure technique: 

Use the tip of your index finger to apply gentle but firm acupressure on YinTang, also known as "Acupunctures Chill Pill", located between your eyebrows (see photo). Close your eyes, and focus on making your breaths slow and deep whilst you maintain pressure on the point. 

If you like visualisations, you can imagine white or golden light entering YinTang on the inbreath, and suffusing through your body on the outbreath. Aim for 10 breaths, although you might enjoy it so much you want to do it for longer! You should feel calmer and more balanced afterwards. Enjoy.

With winter well and truly upon us, and a greater incidence of colds and flus about, its important to look after ourselves to boost our immunity and get in tune with the natural rhythm of the season.

Winter is the season of stillness and conservation. It’s a period of hibernation and our time to rest, slow down and revitalize our reserves. Winter is a great time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, conserve our strength and heal on a deeper level. The “downtime” that winter provides gives us an opportunity to slow down, check in and take account as to how our lifestyle supports or detracts from our health, and to recharge our battery.

Here are 10 easy pointers on how you can support and promote your own health this time of year:

By Angie
Do you, or does anyone you know suffer from asthma? Did you know that there are some simple strategies using the wisdom of TCM that you can use to bring relief to your symptoms?

Here is a self-help worksheet for you to download, print out, and keep somewhere handy for regular use. It includes acupressure points, a specific meridian stretch for asthma, and a range of essential oils, including a recipe for a natural chest rub. You can use these tips in between attacks, to strengthen your Lungs (in TCM, this includes both your Lung organs and your Lung meridian system). You can also use these acupressure points and essential oils during an attack in addition to your standard medical care. They should help the attack pass more quickly and less intensely.

By Angie
Do you, or does anyone you know suffer from headaches? Did you know that there are some simple strategies using the wisdom of TCM that you can use to bring relief to your symptoms?

Here is a self-help worksheet for you to download, print out, and keep somewhere handy for when the next headache strikes. It includes acupressure points, a specific meridian stretch for headaches, and a range of essential oils.

Remember that acupuncture is a treatment that may help you get to the root cause of your headaches, so contact us for help if this is a recurring problem for you. In the meantime, I hope these tips help you nip your next headache in the bud.  Take good care of you.

EDIT: Please note in the handout below, it looks as though the acupressure/acupuncture point "BL-10" is on the front of the neck, but it is actually opposite, on the back of the neck at the same position. Think of it as an X-Ray view of that particular point.

By Angie
Acupressure is the application of moderate to firm pressure to various points over the body to produce a therapeutic effect. These points are the same as used for acupuncture – it is just the method of stimulating these points that is different. Acupressure allows you to treat yourself (or others) anywhere, at any time, using only your hands and some basic knowledge. It is a very effective way to bring about positive changes in your body and mind, and is very useful tool to have up your sleeve!

Here are some acupressure points that might be helpful for the post-natal period. As you are pressing the points, close your eyes, focus on making your breathing slow and regular, and put your attention on a healing thought, affirmation or image to enhance the therapeutic process. Some suggestions for affirmations to repeat to yourself whilst doing the acupressure points are given below for each situation.