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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.

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.

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

1 in four of us will experience a mental health issue each year. There are many ways to improve our mental health, including getting professional help, talking about it, and taking time for self-care. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Talk About It – It could be to your friend, a family member, your GP or a professional counsellor. Talking is the first step, helping you to acknowledge what’s going on.
• Eat Well – Eating good food gives us the brain power we need to deal with whatever is going on. Eat too little and you’ll be physical and mentally exhausted. Eat the wrong foods (too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol) and you’ll have even more ups and downs.
• Sleep – Lack of sleep makes us irritable, emotional and can lead to depression. Of course, sleep issues often accompany mental health issues. But if you’re able to, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. If not, try meditation such as yoga nidra (You Tube has videos).
• Exercise – Regular exercise improves mood, helps us to sleep and wards off chronic illness. A brilliant tool for stress management, just choose activities which you enjoy and aim for at least 3 sessions a week. Yoga, walking and biking are good options.
• Acupuncture – Regular treatments can be a great way to address mental health and the other symptoms that arise, such as sleep problems and tension headaches. A course of treatment is recommended initially, moving to regular maintenance treatments to keep on top of life’s stresses and strains. Concessions available – please enquire.

Need advice? Want to book a treatment?
Contact Sunny on 07582 684 756 or hello@sunnyjaspal.com

People often seek acupuncture treatment for headache and migraine. It might be the main issue for their visit, but sometimes it’s one of a multitude of symptoms.

This is one condition that generally responds quickly to acupuncture treatment. A diagnosis is made based upon location of the headache, the nature of the pain plus tongue and pulse diagnostics.

Research has shown that a course of acupuncture is a useful treatment for sufferers of episodic and chronic tension-type headaches. Acupuncture has also been shown to be also beneficial for migraine.

Most commonly acupuncture points on the head and limbs are used. An effective point and one which can be massaged at home is LI4 Hegu (pictured above). This lies between the thumb and first finger on the top of the hand, at the highest point of the bulge when the thumb and finger are squeezed together.

As with any condition treated by traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, lifestyle and dietary advice are important. This is individualised, as is your treatment.

Want to find out more? Contact Sunny today

The symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, can sometimes be difficult to manage. Perhaps you are someone who doesn’t like to take medicine if there is an alternative approach. Or maybe you find that conventional medicine doesn’t help. I was in the latter group, but by using acupuncture my hay fever symptoms have gone from severe to occasional and very mild.

The research on acupuncture for allergic rhinitis is mixed, with some studies showing that acupuncture may be a safe and effective treatment for allergic rhinitis with benefits over conventional medicine, however other studies state that further trials are needed to access effectiveness. More recently trials have found that acupuncture used alongside routine care for allergic rhinitis has shown benefits.

Studies have also shown how acupuncture may work by regulating mediators of the allergic reaction, stimulating nerves to reduce pain and reducing inflammation.

A typical treatment for hay fever involves using acupuncture points on the arms and legs, plus the face and head. Acupuncture needles are very fine, and even finer needles are used on sensitive areas such as the face.

A course of 6 treatments is recommended to treat the symptoms. To treat the root cause of hay fever, a further course of 6 treatments is recommended in the autumn or winter to avoid the recurrence of symptoms the following year.

Questions about treatment? Want to find out more?

07582684756 hello@sunnyjaspal.com

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Anxiety is a common condition that acupuncturists see in their clinics. It may be situational, related to health issues, but sometimes there may be no obvious reason.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and causes the release of neurochemicals. This causes biochemical changes which influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, promoting physical and emotional well-being.

Both men and women will benefit from acupuncture treatment. For those who find it difficult to talk about their emotions, acupuncture offers an alternative way to tackle the problem. Children, teens, adults and parents can all seek treatment. Acupuncture will aim to treat the symptom as well as the root problem.

For women, anxiety may be experienced at particular times within the menstrual cycle, during menopause, when trying to conceive, throughout pregnancy and motherhood too.

For more information on this topic please visit https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/anxiety.html

Book online or contact Sunny to find out more – hello@sunnyjaspal.com 07582 684 756.

Dawn visited me with shoulder pain and neck pain. A visual assessment and palpation of the problem area revealed that the muscles of her neck and left shoulder blade were very tense and tight. A combination of cupping, massage and acupuncture were used to loosen the muscles. By the 4^th treatment Dawn’s shoulder and neck had visibility improved and she was feeling pain free.

Watch this video to find out how acupuncture can help with pain and read the research on acupuncture for chronic pain and neck pain. Are you suffering from neck pain or shoulder pain? Contact Sunny.

T: 07582 684 756 Email: hello@sunnyjaspal.com