Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching
Easing embarrassing discomfort
By Paul J.O'Brien
B.A., N.C.E.H.S., Dip. Acu., Adv. Dip. OBB, Cert Clin. Med. M.AFPA, M.ETCMA, M.C.Th.A.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching can be a sensitive subject. It’s very understandable that many women are embarrassed about any excess discharge or irritation during pregnancy, but I cannot stress how important honesty and forthcoming openness about such symptoms is. Firstly it is very common and there is never any need to feel embarrassed about your body or the changes that occur during pregnancy, or for that matter at any other time. The only consideration is in your recovery and continued well being. With that said in this article I’d like to focus on presentations of vaginal discharge and itching during pregnancy and what role Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has to play in helping to resolve such things.
From a western medical point of view it is normal for women to present with some vaginal discharge, but this should be very similar to the normal secretions, as in it should be a milky white discharge, that is odorless and does not cause any irritation. The technical term for this is leucorrhoea, and while similar to the normal menstrual cycle the amounts can vary. It is common though, that this discharge increases substantially during the last trimester can many women take to using sanitary pads (Never use a tampon during pregnancy as this can increase risk of infection).
Some women however will present with an abnormal discharge that can be white, yellow or greenish in color. It could also have a thick clotted or curd like appearance and offensive odor. The discharge may also become itchy and painful which indicates the presence of an infection. The most common cause of this is a yeast infection – Candida albicans (often referred to as Thrush or Monila). Everyone has some level of Candida in their body as it is a useful and beneficial bacteria necessary for our digestion and internal metabolic processes. However, many times simple dietary choices can lead to a sharp increase in Candida that gives rises to the symptoms of thrush and vaginal itching. In this case the discharge is usually thick and white.
However, it is always a possibility that there may be a latent sexually transmitted infection that has become manifest, such as trichomonas or gonorrehea or a bacterial infection such as gerdenella. These require immediate treatment due to an increased risk of late miscarriage. Finally a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or lichen sclerosis could be present.
From a Traditional Chinese Medical viewpoint most rashes or dermalogical disorders like itching, redness and excessive hot patches are seen as being caused by Wind and heat. While these may seem strange classifications, Wind and heat are actually very descriptive and helpful illness classifications that not only reflect the symptoms, but suggest a treatment plan. In cases of wind it blows wildly in nature and is unpredictable. So Wind in the human body has the same symptomatic characteristics – intense itching, migratory nature and an unpredictable and rapid change in symptoms.
Heat is seen in the Chinese system as anything that is red, swollen, burning in nature or itching and painful. The easiest example is to think of a volcano, and you’ll see where the TCM idea is coming from.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching is a very successful treatment protocol I use in my clinic, and I often see in my patients a near instant benefit, with itching reducing or eliminated entirely during treatment or later that evening. The effect lasts several days, but can return. Many of my patients enjoy the sheer relief of knowing they have a way to stop the itching and get a few good nights’ sleep.
In addition to Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching treatments I also make a number of other suggestions, such as taking lukewarm showers as opposed to hot, using few blankets in bed, and taking in bland foods as opposed to those with spices, and avoid stimulants such as coffee and chocolate as these all infuse the body with heat, which we need to clear and cool.
Finally avoiding any perfumed soaps and deodorants and using Alo Vera topically is quite useful in helping to further cool any itching.
If you are pregnant and are suffering from mild or intense itching or present with a rash I strongly encourage you to undergo Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching treatments to help encourage your body to cool and to relieve the itching and discomfort.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Itching treatment protocols that I provide or wish to start a course of treatment then please feel free to contact me or make an appointment where we can discuss any specific concerns or questions you may have.
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