Recent research suggests acupuncture offers a safe and beneficial tool to counter pain in pregnancy. Many pregnant women wish to avoid the use of drugs and medications in pregnancy and can experience debilitating conditions such as back ache, hip and and pubis pain. I have treated many women for such conditions, especially in the third trimester and finds that women at this stage respond very quickly to acupuncture. The Qi, or energy, in pregnant women seems to be even more dynamic. Pregnant women respond very quickly and the body seems to need less acupuncture to make a significant difference to pain patterns and discomfort.

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Spring is upon us, symbolising new beginnings and offering opportunities for us to see things in a new light. The Chinese believe that just as the body is nourished by eating young green plants, so too is the soul as we look at the emerging greenery surrounding us. Spring is a time for reaching into ourselves, shaking off the shackles of Winter and listening to our inner voice and self-expression.
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Leeds based hypnotherapist Sonia Mayor introduces us to the benefits of  this form of therapy...

Hypnotherapy helps with a wide range of problems - thoughts and behaviour patterns you'd like to let go of or some you would like to develop or emotional problems that can feel overwhelming. Some physical problems can also be treated effectively through hypnosis.
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Two exciting conferences are coming up about Fertility and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome .

Verity, the self-help group supporting women with PCOS, is hosting their annual conference in London on 26th April 2008. Speakers include author Collette Harris who will speak on the emotional aspects of the condition and afternoon workshops are offered on fertility, excess hair and nutrition and skin management. Price between £28-32. Visit verity-pcos.org.uk for more details and booking advice. 

It is National Infertility Day on 19th July 2008 and there is a conference being hosted in London for patients and those working in the infertility field. It’s a very full and exciting programme and speakers include Professor Adam Balen from LGI talking about PCOS and infertility. Workshops are offered on complementary therapies, male and female infertility, emotional aspects of infertility, donor issues and pick up on hot topics such as In Vitro Maturation (IVM), Single Embryo Transfers and the Postcode Lottery. At only £15 to attend, it is definitely worth considering. Check out www.nationalinfertilityday.com.

Foraging for mushrooms is not something recommended to most urbanites amongst us. However, including the wonderful varieties that are now available to us in our supermarkets, delis and at farmers markets in our diet can help to boost our health in a variety of ways. Read more here on the health benefits of mushrooms and check out Dr Mao’s immune boost borscht with porcini mushrooms recipe.