It has stood the test of time for some 3,000 years. Some Bay Area pregnant women are turning to acupuncture to ease morning sickness, fatigue and other side effects associated with pregnancy.
As part of Baby Week on 10 News, anchor Heather Van Nest (who is weeks away from giving birth) talked about the benefits of acupuncture with Tampa medical doctor and licensed acupuncturist, Dr. Xio Zhang with Tampa Bay Acupuncture Clinic.
You can watch the interview on the top right side of the page.
Dr. Zhang explained how acupuncture helps improve circulation, balance hormones and ease nausea. Dr. Zhang says it can help women get pregnant, stay pregnant (avoid miscarriage) and treat pregnancy related complications including morning sickness, back pain and headaches.
Dr. Zhang says:
-Acupuncture helps restore the natural balance of hormones and improve blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. This helps with fertility and pregnancy.
-Acupuncture theory is based on the fact that the body contains energy (bioenergy). Licensed acupuncturists can manipulate that energy by stimulating various points on the body.
-It takes energy to have morning sickness. Nausea is a symptom of imbalance of energy flow in the GI tract. The GI tract usually flows downward while nausea flows upward. Acupuncture restores normal flow.
-Acupuncture can be helpful managing labor pain and can encourage labor if a baby is past due.
