Many people have heard that acupuncture can help to stop smoking and the results of another study that demonstrate that fact have just been released.

I often suggest a course of acupuncture sessions to support you whilst you stop. Acupuncture may help to reduce your withdrawals and keep you feeling calm and relaxed, lessen mood swings and curb appetite changes, strengthen your motivation to stop and help to cleanse your lungs. Patients who have come to me for this support have said that they have found it easier to stop using acupuncture than with any other method they have used previously and that their desire to smoke has disappeared with treatment.

Here's what Neil said, two months after completing stopping smoking group at the group I ran for British Gas employees:

Actress Imelda Staunton relies on regular acupuncture to achieve equilibrium in her life and believes acupuncture has helped her to manage the menopause naturally, experiencing no symptoms other than tiredness. Read the full article from Times Online.

 Swedish striker Ibrahimovic scored for his country - for the first time since October 2005 - against Greece in the Euro 2008 football championships, having received acupuncture treatment for an ongoing knee injury. Read more here about his treatment.

A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has recently reported on the effectivesness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhoea (period pain). Results suggest acupuncture over 15 sessions may help to reduce period pain by almost half.

I often see results working with people over 3-4 menstrual cycles and feedback from women suggests the results can be significant and have a real impact on women's quality of life.

A large study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that too much caffeine during pregnancy can double the risk of miscarriage. Women at risk of too much caffeine were consuming two cups of brewed coffee or four cups of black tea a day or more. 12.5% of women who consumed no caffeine miscarried wheras 24.5% of women who consumed 200mg of caffeine or more a day miscarried.

The study does not make recommendations but no caffeine in pregnancy would seem to be advisable.

An American new study has found that acupuncture alleviated pain in people experiencing neck and shoulder pain post surgery in almost 40% of people within a month, compared to 7% of people who took anti-inflamatory drugs.
 
I treat a lot of neck and shoulder problems, combining massage, acupuncture and heat treatments. Whether your neck and shoulder pain is a result of tension, overuse, injury or surgery, acupuncture offers a quick and comfortable and way of alleviating your discomfort without side effects.

Acupuncture may help relieve back pain, offering a medication free route back to good mobility and health. This article from the Independent offers advice on other ways to support your back and explains how you may have developed back pain in the first place.

Check out how two of my patients Michelle and Nick found acupuncture helpful with relieving their back pain.

Raed my article on 'Why acupuncture is so good for back pain' for more information on previous research studies.

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.

Read more.

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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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.

Many people seek out acupuncture to help ease bloating and abdominal discomfort.

Some people may have a diagnosis of IBS. Others may have struggled with symptoms for a long time. These may include bloating, abdominal pain or cramping, loose bowels or constipation or a mixture of the two, or urgency with a bowel movement.
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Read the full story on the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome website

Previous studies have shown that acupuncture can lessen effects associated with cancer treatment such as nausea and hot flushes.

This new study will measure whether levels of tiredness can be reduced through acupuncture.

Read more on the icWales Website.

Anyone thinking of having a baby or who is trying to conceive should read Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant. She offers clear, practical advice in a sensible and supportive way.
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Acupuncture is becomingly increasingly popular as a treatment for migraine. Some GPs now recognise the benfits that acupuncture offers when western medicine can be limited in what it has to offer migraine sufferers. Read more about one sufferer's experience in The Scotsman.

Autumn governs the health of the lungs and large intestine and it is a time to promote lung function and strengthen immunity as we prepare for the windy days of October and November and cold dark days of winter. As the leaves begin to change colour and fall and the days become darker we need to balance our energy so we can thrive.
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Pre-menstrual Syndrome describes the collection of symptoms that many women experience in the lead-up to menstruation each month.
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Corticosteroid injections for tennis elbow were found to be less effective at a one-year follow-up than either physiotherapy or no treatment.
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Acupuncture is increasingly well-known for its ability to heal stubborn muscular-skeletal issues such as bad backs and sciatica. But did you know that it can also help with issues like tennis elbow, frozen shoulder and archilles tendon injuries? The Spanish golfer, Jose Manuel Lara, who has just competed in the Scottish Open, consulted an acupunturist in Spain to help overcome a problem with his archilles tendon and which resulted in him being fit enough to compete.

Read more about it on the Reuters website

A recent study has shown that regular acupuncture treatment can help to reduce hypertension or high blood pressure.

Read more in this article from Acupuncture Today.

For many, Spring and Summer are seasons for allergies. Allergies occur due to an overreaction of the immune system to certain allergens. If you suffer from hayfever, rhinitis or have other allergies eg to dust, animals, or household products, Spring is the best time to seek treatment with acupuncture or Chinese herbs.
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Read how film director Anthony Minghella uses acupuncture as a way to manage a busy, international life style. Read More

Did you know that I offer 'stopping smoking' sessions to groups and individuals? I have run two groups this year at British Gas (Centrica), which have been very successful. Read More