Charlotte Johnston - Acupuncture

24/10/2024

One of the best things about being an acupuncturist is when you get messages like this one.

I LOVE this practice and feel so grateful to have landed in this profession. I feel so much gratitude and humility.

05/06/2024

Reasons to consider acupuncture if you are suffering with morning sickness

Morning sickness is a common problem during early pregnancy. It normally affects women between the 6th and 16th week of a pregnancy and it is thought to occur in almost half of all pregnancies.* But really it shouldn’t be called morning sickness at all because it can occur at any time of the day and night. The severity of the symptoms can vary considerably with the most severe cases needing hospital admittance.

In my experience acupuncture is a very effective treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The Chinese medicine viewpoint, is that from the moment of conception the normal flow of blood and ‘Qi’ (energy) is radically disrupted as it is reorganised to nourish the foetus. The natural descending action of the Stomach ‘Qi’ is interrupted by rebellious ‘Qi’ leading to nausea and vomiting.

I recently saw a pregnant lady who was really struggling to carry on with daily life and work because of her nausea and fatigue. She came to me in week 6 of her pregnancy for some regular treatment and started noticing a reduction in her symptoms from the first day of treatment - it was a game changer! I sent her home with special plasters on the acupuncture points which gently stimulate the points to sustain the effects of treatment. She went on to have weekly treatments which seemed to hold off the symptoms until the next session, by week 11 the nausea had improved dramatically and she no longer needed regular treatment. She now comes once a month for general support for her pregnancy.

Here are a few words from her:
“The treatment has been hugely effective. I had debilitating fatigue and morning sickness in my first trimester which was managed amazingly by weekly sessions which stopped the extreme nausea and helped me manage my symptoms during the week. I would highly recommend to anyone dealing with difficult pregnancy related symptoms”

A summary of reasons why to consider acupuncture for morning sickness
1. highly effective - why suffer miserably when there’s help out there?
2. Safe for you and your baby
3. Relaxing and enjoyable
4. And now affordable for many women

At the Blossom Tree Clinic we are offering a low-cost community pregnancy clinic every Thursday afternoon, details and booking is on our website https://www.blossomtreeclinic.com/pregnancy-clinic-1 or reach out if you would like to discuss.

*Eisenberg A., Murkhoff H Hathaway S (1999) What to expect when you are expecting. Harper Collins : Australia, p96

31/01/2023

About bedwetting…
Bedwetting is a problem but it is not a disease. You might be surprised to learn how common it is for children to suffer with bedwetting in later childhood. The Avon Longitudinal Study (a study of 13973 children) found that 9.5% of 9 year olds are still bedwetting - which might be a relatively small percentage but it equals a lot of children who may be worrying about a friend’s sleepover or a school trip. The social anxiety, pressure and shame can be enormous, and it can effect the whole family. At the Blossom Trees Children’s clinic, Mim and I are able to help children and their families so that bedwetting is no longer a drama in family life. We take a holistic view of a child’s health and look at where imbalances lie. We use a variety of techniques to support the child - including use of laser therapy, medical massage, Moxibustion, fine needles and dietary and lifestyle advice. To find out more about how we work have a look at my children’s clinic page or drop me an email charlotte@blossomtreeclinic.com

20/12/2022

In OVERKILL: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far, acclaimed medical expert and patient advocate Dr. Paul A. Offit offers an eye-opening exposé of some of the m...

20/12/2022

What every parent needs to know : a really useful video about treating fevers

In OVERKILL: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far, acclaimed medical expert and patient advocate Dr. Paul A. Offit offers an eye-opening exposé of some of the m...

03/12/2022

Every Thursday afternoon the Blossom Tree Children’s clinic is open from 2-5pm. Mim Lilley and I currently have spaces this coming Thusday in this low-cost community clinic for children. Find out more on my website.
https://acupunctureindevon.com/children/