‘Tis the season! Celebrations and gatherings. Rich food and drink. Coupled with a long school term and the approach of winter solstice with it’s long nights and short days. Exhaustion and burnout on the horizon.

This is my experience as a mother with a young child at school. As an acupuncturist treating children and adults. As an observer of the world.

How can we better look after ourselves? I believe it helps to have an appreciation for nature and its immense influence over us. For the dark seasons, short days and long cold nights, there’s an opposition between the need to rest, to hibernate and the expectation to work and play a little harder. 

Teachers, mothers and fathers of young children, teenagers – whoever you are that is pulled by these opposing forces – be gentle with yourself and the little ones you care for. Listen to your intuition.

Perhaps take the time to reenergise and connect by being out in nature. Ideally first thing in the morning… Check out this insightful podcast from the Live Better podcast with Dr Chatterjee and Andrew Huberman: “Exposure to morning light is key to optimum human functioning Ideally first thing in the morning.”

And finally, although it’s a cliche and hard during the festivities, try to eat well including a diverse array of plant foods and warm meals to counteract the cold. I can recommend @ZOE for tips on healthier eating habits and delicious recipes.

Wishing you a rest and rejuvenation 🙂

Affordable Acupuncture

It can sometimes feel difficult to be positive with all of the doom and gloom, wars and the cost if living crisis to name but a few… stress levels increase and chronic illness abounds. As the NHS struggles with a growing number of patients with multiple and chronic health conditions, there is huge scope for registered acupuncturists to be a part of the solution.

I’ve been thinking for some time about the best way to make acupuncture treatments affordable and accessible for all.

Introducing Sliding Scale Acupuncture Treatments

My standard charge for each appointment is £55 as this covers not only my time, but also my outgoings (e.g. needles, hygiene equipment, heating costs to name a few).

I do however recognise that times are tough, and I have therefore put together a pricing structure of your to pay what you can afford.

£55 if you can afford to and I will be very grateful 🙂

If this price proves a barrier to you receiving treatment then I can be flexible down to £50 or £45 to help you get the care you need when you need it. You will receive exactly the same treatment.

In the Works: Low Cost Multi-bed Clinic

This brings me to my next idea – a multibed clinic, where several patients are treated together at the same time in a large room. It means acupuncture treatments are much more affordable (roughly £20 per treatment for about 40 mins of treatment).

Initially I would run the clinic for anyone experiencing chronic pain, however in the future this would extend to mental health too. But I need YOUR help!

Do you know of any locations in and around St Neots with a large room, able to fit at least 3 treatment tables, and with storage for those treatment tables (the portable fold-down type).

Do you know of anyone selling an old portable treatment tables?

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Treating children’s mental health is something I am particularly passionate about having had firsthand experience. 1 in 6 young people in England (aged 5 to 16) experienced a mental health problem in 2020, increasing from 1 in 9 in 2017 (NHS Digital, 2020).

Have you ever considered acupuncture treatment for children? Perhaps the idea of using needles on your precious one is a worry for you. However, acupuncture has been found to be safer than many drugs and other procedures used in the treatment of children (Jindal, et al 2008). 

As a mother of a 5 year old with a needle phobia, I can assure you that a) the needles are painless and gentle and  b) needles aren’t always necessary. We can use alternatives such as tapping and stroking of acupuncture points with special devices developed for the treatment of children.

The following case study refers to 8-year-old Kiera, treated by acupuncturist Sahar Hooti BSc (Hons) for anxiety. Kiera presented to her GP with debilitating digestive issues, which after several clinical appointments and investigations left her GP and paediatrician confused. She was diagnosed with IBS – although as a child she is considered too young for this formal diagnosis – and advised that she would grow out of it.

Kiera’s mum Louise was desperate to help her daughter as the condition was affecting school attendance and many areas of her life. Louise’s sister suggested she try acupuncture. Kiera’s paediatrician was also an advocate of acupuncture.

Louise says of their acupuncturist: “Sahar seemed able to identify, unpick and ultimately, treat, the emotional aspects of Keira’s condition. So, as well as helping to ‘clear’ her anxiety issues, we started to see real improvements in her physical symptoms, too.” 

Of her treatment Kiera says, “For me, it has definitely changed my life.” 

You can read the full case study here: Anxiety case study.

As the above case study shows, anxiety and many other mental health issues can have a physical component too. This is something that acupuncture is great at identifying and treating. Individual symptoms are part of a bigger picture, involving many aspects of health.

As a mother I understand how to engage and listen to a child; how it can be scary for them; how to speak to them with empathy, respect and with language they can understand. I treat my children’s sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep, night terrors), tummy aches linked to constipation and loose stools and teething pains to name but a few. I have treated children in my clinic for digestive issues, anxiety and pain. 

Can you think of anything acupuncture could help your children with? Do you have any questions about treatment?

For a free no obligations phone consultation please email or call me to book a time. You can find more information about paediatric acupuncture here.

I am excited to be back from maternity leave. I am currently taking acupuncture bookings for Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Eaton Ford St Neots clinic. The clinic is a purpose built log cabin, which is accessed from the garden with its own private entrance. I have worked to create a tranquil and comfortable space – I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!

Whilst away I have made a wonderful little girl, now 9 months old. I have also completed a course in scalp acupuncture, which I use alongside traditional acupuncture when called for. I am currently undertaking a paediatric acupuncture course too, so if you have children watch this space.

I look forward to treating you in 2023 🙂

Schedule an Appointment

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Back pain? Stiff neck? Painful shoulders? These problems seem to be affecting many people now, and it is no surprise. As many attempt to work from home due to coronavirus your desk set-up may be less than perfect. A combination of poor posture, incorrect desk set-up and insufficient breaks all lead to pain.

You can read about the correct ergonomics for desk work in a blog I wrote about acupuncture, massage and posture for neck, shoulder and back pain. If you work from a laptop and do not have a laptop riser, why not use a stack of books to raise your screen up to eye level? If you can, invest in an external keyboard and mouse if using a laptop. A height adjustable chair is also important.

There are two acupuncture points which I find vital for neck and back pain, and both can be massaged by using a tennis ball, or other hard ball. GB20 Fengchi and GB21 Jianjing:

GB20 Fengchi is located below the occipital bone, in the depression between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and trapezius muscle.

GB21 Jianjing is located at the highest and most tender point of the shoulder, between the spine and tip of the shoulder.

To use acupressure on these points, lean back against a wall with a tennis ball between you and the wall (see image at top). Push gently, release and repeat. To access GB21 start by standing side on and leaning into a wall and tennis ball. Then roll the ball down the back by turning 45 degrees. You can apply static pressure or roll on the ball, but do not roll on the spine.

Yoga postures I often recommend for back pain are Cat Pose and Cow Pose. If you’re used to yoga, you can flow from one into the other and repeat as many times as you like, articulating through each vertebra as you transition.

I hope these tips will help you to manage any pain you are experiencing. Do you want more advice on this issue? I am currently offering online appointments via Zoom. Contact me to find out more.

ONLINE ACUPUNCTURE: ACUPRESSURE, DIET, EXERCISE AND LIFESTYLE ADVICE

Acupuncture without needles?

Acupuncture is more than the insertion of needles. It involves a diagnosis based on your symptoms and the acupuncturist’s observations. From this basis we formulate an acupuncture point prescription plus specific dietary, exercise and lifestyle advice.
Online acupuncture sessions will consist of the above, with the acupuncture point prescription being demonstrated by me and administered with acupressure and massage. 

The virtual session was so much better than I imagined and the way you explained everything was so clear. I have already started with the massage techniques and the yoga and there already seems to be a small improvement.

Feedback from Joanne Moore

You can find out more about online acupuncture treatment here, including information on fees and concessions.

Coronavirus may be stalling our lives somewhat, but nature continues to bloom into spring. As it does, the pollen count rises and back come the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Many of you have asked about acupuncture for hay fever, so here are some points you can use with acupressure.

It’s worth noting that hay fever can be very stubborn, so if you find this treatment unhelpful, please do not despair. Come along for an acupuncture treatment when things return to normal, as it’s a stronger intervention than acupressure as so more likely to bring relief.

I have briefly covered this topic already. You can read more about allergic rhinitis and acupuncture here. Please note that as well as having a course of acupuncture when the symptoms arise, you can have treatment in the winter months to strengthen the body in preparation for the following season.

There are many acupuncture points we could and these depend on your presenting symptoms and underlying health. However today we will cover a few general points to help with the symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose or congestion, headache and sore throat.

Each of these points is located bilaterally (on both sides of the body). When using acupressure (finger pressure) please follow these instructions:
Apply downward pressure to the point with thumb or finger for a few seconds. Release and then reapply as many times as you would like. Be sure not to hyperextend the thumb or finger joints.

BL2 Zan Zhu is located at the medial end of each eyebrow. A great point for redness, pain and swelling of the eye.

LI20 Ying Xiang is located at the midpoint either side of the nostrils, in the nasolabial groove (the line than forms when you smile). Great for congestion and sneezing.

LI4 He Gu is located on the hand between the thumb and first finger Squeeze these together and at the highest point of the bulge of muscle you will find this point. Useful for painful swelling and reddening of the eyes, sore throat and headache.

LR2 Xing Jian is located on the feet between the first and second toe, half a thumb’s width from the margin of the web. For red swollen and painful eyes and throat pain.

Questions? Comments? Please contact me: hello@sunnyjaspal.com