Healthcare for Thriving Families

Acupuncture, Acupressure & Chinese Herbal Medicine are Effective for All Ages and Stages of Life!

Babies only need to keep needles in for a few seconds to a minute, to improve digestion and reduce fussiness. Typically, I'll put needles in while a parent holds, or even feeds the baby, and will sing them a gentle song. (Efficacy of acupuncture for colic is based on double-blind, placebo studies!)

We also can discuss home infant massage techniques for parents, as well as herbal possibilities, if applicable.

Kids usually keep needles in for as many minutes as they are years old. We might needle a parent or stuffed animal first, so they see how it works.

If they don't want needles, I'll do massage or other gentle techniques along affected meridians, and can show parents practices to use with their kids at home on an ongoing basis. Herbal medicine or dietary suggestions may also be prescribed.

For pregnant women, acupuncture can be a very effective way to mitigate symptoms such as morning sickness, muscle aches, heartburn, and insomnia, as well as to treat any illnesses that may arise. Acupuncture and moxa can also help to turn a breech baby and prepare for labor.

Postpartum, acupuncture can help promote milk production, heal from a challenging labor, soothe intense emotions to decrease anxiety and depression, and reset the nervous system (of mothers, as well as their partners and older kids!) to adjust to all the changes involved in having a new baby.

Herbal medicine & dietary suggestions may also be suggested, especially in cases of significant blood loss or other complications.

In menopause, acupuncture (and especially herbal medicine) can help alleviate hot flashes, excessive bleeding, insomnia, and the mood swings that sometimes accompany this change of life. Best addressed sooner than later!

In any phase of life, acupuncture, moxa, gua sha, cupping, and herbal medicine can be very effective tools to alleviate a long list of health challenges, including: sleep issues, headaches, back pain, muscle aches, joint pains, digestive issues (including constipation, IBS, heartburn, gassiness, nausea), gynecological complaints (especially irregular or painful periods, infertility, hormonal mood swings and menstrual migraines), frequent UTIs, asthma, allergies, the common cold, lingering coughs, and a range of emotional and mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression. 

Chinese medicine typically works wonderfully well in conjunction with other types of therapies too, both modern Western medicine and other alternative medical modalities, and Jem is happy to coordinate care with your other providers, or to offer referrals as needed.