
BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Managing Painful Back, Neck and Shoulders

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.

BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Using Acupressure Points for Hay Fever

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
BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Five Ways to Mind Your Mental Health
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

BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Headache or migraine?

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

BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Acupuncture and Hay Fever
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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BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Acupuncture and Anxiety
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
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.

BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Acupuncture, Miscarriage & Fertility
Kate came to acupuncture treatment following a miscarriage at 6 weeks. Kate wanted help with fertility. She felt that there was something wrong with her, having miscarried. In fact, miscarriage rates from week 5 to week 20 range from 11–22%, the higher proportion taking place within the first trimester.
Causes
Many women like Kate are unaware of these statistics, and often blame themselves following a miscarriage. This is made worse as most women will never find out the cause, as it is still not fully understood. A large proportion of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities. In addition, anatomical issues with the womb or cervix, hormonal issues such as polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS), age, certain long-term medical conditions, infections, medications and food poising can all contribute. Other risk factors, which can be controlled and can help with prevention, are obesity, smoking, drug misuse, more than 200mg of caffeine daily and alcohol. However it is important to remember that the cause of miscarriage it is very unlikely to be something you have done.
Periods following a miscarriage
Following a miscarriage you may find that your period is longer and heavier than usual. Every woman is different, and while for some it may only take 4-6 weeks for periods to return to normal, for some women it can take months. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture looks at signs and symptoms of menstruation to diagnose imbalances and can help to regulate the menstrual cycle. Your acupuncturist can rebalance your body through an acupuncture point prescription, as well as home care and diet advice from a TCM perspective. Once the body has had time to heal, fertility comes back into the spotlight. During this time your acupuncturist will teach you how to chart your menstrual cycle, so that you can track ovulation and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. The information from charting will not only help you to feel more in touch with your body, it will help your acupuncturist to diagnose and track your progress.
Trying again
How long should you wait after a miscarriage to conceive?
Whilst it is generally advised to wait until you next period before trying again, TCM advice suggests waiting at least 3 months in order to rebalance and strengthen the body. At this time we can begin to work closely with your cycle to create the optimal conditions for pregnancy to occur. Fertility acupuncture treatment happens throughout your monthly cycle, with each treatment being different from the last to keep up with the changing phases of your cycle. In the follicular phase, the first half of your cycle, the focus is on building the body’s energy and a healthy endometrial lining. In the luteal phase of your cycle, or the part after ovulation, the emphasis is on creating an optimal environment for the embryo to implant into the uterine lining.
Pregnancy and emotions
Kate came for regular weekly treatments and became pregnant after 3 months of treatment. Whilst Kate was happy to be pregnant, she also felt very anxious after her first experience. Because acupuncture is safe during pregnancy we have been able to treat Kate’s anxiety so that she feels she is coping much better.
Have you been affected by miscarriage? Would you like more information about miscarriage, acupuncture and fertility? Contact Sunny to find out more:
Tel: 07582 684 756
Email: hello@sunnyjaspal.com
Book online
Clinics in: St Neots, Cambridgeshire . Letchworth, Hertfordshire

BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Treating Shoulder Pain with Acupuncture
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 4th 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
BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Sleep Peacefully with Acupuncture
Sunday is for Sleep
Acupuncture Awareness Week 2017
Many people report their sleep improves within just a few sessions of acupuncture. Tina came for treatment after years of problems with her sleep which started during menopause. She was unable to fall asleep quickly, and would often wake up and be unable to fall back to sleep. In addition Tina was suffering with hot flushes. After undertaking a course of acupuncture treatment over 3 months, Tina was finally able to sleep peacefully, improving her energy levels, mood, clarity of thought and reducing her hot flushes.
Are you suffering with insomnia? Try acupuncture with 50% off for Acupuncture Awareness Week!*
BOOK NOW
Appointments available in Letchworth, Hertfordshire & West Norwood, South London
*Treatments must be booked by 13/03/2017
BY: Sunny Jaspal
Acupuncture / Blog / Conditions
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Improve Your Fertility with Acupuncture
Friday is for Fertility
Acupuncture Awareness Week 2017
Fiona came for acupuncture treatment for fertility. Both her and her partner’s medical fertility tests came back as normal. As an acupuncturist with a nutritional qualification, I asked Fiona to complete a diet diary to find out where improvements could be made. Fiona changed her diet as per the recommendations and had weekly acupuncture treatments for 7 weeks. By her 7th session Fiona was pregnant and feeling happy and healthy.
Watch this video for more successful acupuncture fertility stories.
Are you trying to conceive? Perhaps you want to increase your chances of successful IVF treatment?* Try acupuncture with 50% off for Acupuncture Awareness Week!*
Appointments available in Letchworth, Hertfordshire and St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
*Treatments must be booked by 13/03/2017
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