In this series we take a look at some recent research into acupuncture from a Western scientific perspective, to help us deepen our understanding and appreciation for the many effective uses of acupuncture.

If you have just found out that you are pregnant – Congratulations! Pregnancy is such a beautiful and magical time in a woman's life. However, pregnancy can also be difficult and challenging if there are health issues getting in the way of your 'glow'. 

Acupuncture can offer wonderful support to women in all stages of pregnancy to help you make the most of the experience. Acupuncture offers women the choice of a drug free treatment and can be used successfully for a wide range of conditions, such as:

Chronic neck pain is one of the most common pain issues faced by office workers and students. Often, spending hours at a desk each day, combined with poor postural habits, is the root cause of the pain. However, for some, sports injuries, whiplash, and the wrong bed mattress or pillow can set off the pain. 

Regardless of what caused the neck pain to begin with, many people find relief with acupuncture when seemingly nothing else helped. Scientific researchers and clinicians have been conducting clinical trials on the use of acupuncture for neck pain since the 1980's, and most of these studies have confirmed that acupuncture is safe and effective.

Cancer is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear. It can throw you into a tumult of overwhelming feelings and fears. But if you or a loved one is facing cancer, it is very important to have hope. In many cases, cancer can be cured, especially when it’s detected early. There are more treatments available now than ever before to cure cancer or slow it from spreading, relieve its symptoms, and improve your quality of life.

You have options in addition to conventional medical treatments. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of conditions. It can safely be used to naturally support your body and mind as you undergo standard cancer treatments. A recent large scale literature review (The Acupuncture Evidence Project, which I discuss here) provides evidence that acupuncture can be used to alleviate various symptoms related to cancer or conventional treatment. 

By Angie
If you are preparing for IVF, or currently undergoing IVF treatment, you may be looking for additional things you can do to maximise your chance of a successful pregnancy. Clinical research studies show that you can significantly increase your success rate when you combine IVF and acupuncture. This article will explain how and why acupuncture helps improve pregnancy rates, and will provide links to current research for further information.

By Angie
Asthma is a chronic health condition that affects two million Australians, and unfortunately this number is increasing everyday. Caring
 for a long-term condition such as asthma can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that it can be managed. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be powerful allies in the treatment of asthma, and they work well in conjunction with other types of treatment. Read on to find out how TCM can help you if you or a loved one is living with asthma.

Here is the latest in a series of blog posts highlighting recent scientific research in the field of acupuncture. Although acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, it may not be until we can understand it scientifically through rigorous research and clinical trials that acupuncture can be fully embraced as a credible system of medicine in the West. These blog posts aim to address this ongoing issue and offer insights into a Western understanding of acupuncture. This month, we talk about depression, cognitive function in the elderly, chronic pain and PMS.

By Angie

If you are living with a positive HIV diagnosis, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be powerful allies in helping you remain as healthy as possible, supporting you physically, emotionally and mentally, at whatever stage you are at. It is more important than ever to have a wholistic approach to caring for your health, and an acupuncturist can offer you this support in conjunction with your primary health care providers. Acupuncture may help to improve your immune system, energy levels and mood, and may be of benefit for concurrent health concerns or managing the side effects of medications. Taking care of your body's needs and your emotional well-being is vital and is the key to living well with HIV.

This is the second in a series of articles highlighting recent research findings in the field of acupuncture. Acupuncture is sometimes discounted as a sham or as a placebo, however there is a great deal of research consistently proving acupuncture to be an effective, safe and natural way to treat many problems that lots of people face today. We seek to bring you relevant and interesting updates in this series.