A
common proverb states, “you are what you eat”, but in fact, you are
what
you
digest. Proper digestion is required to nourish the cells that
constitute our skin,
bones, muscles and organs and to effectively eliminate waste products.
Many
common diseases, such as eczema, arthritis, fibromyalgia and asthma,
are linked to poor digestion. Sweet Birch employs acupuncture,
abdominal
massage, herbal
remedies and nutritional recommendations to restore and optimize your
digestive
system. Nutrition is a very important component of the treatment plan,
as every
food item has unique qualities that in turn improve or aggravate our
individual
health patterns.
Stress
&
Pain
Management:
Acupuncture
is the practice of inserting tiny needles under the skin at specific
points in
order to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. The insertion
and
manipulation of needles also facilitates the relaxation of muscle
tissue and instigates
the release of calming hormones and other chemicals throughout the
body.
Therefore,
acupuncture is an effective tool for managing pain and stress.
However, for acupuncture to be most effective,
it needs to be received frequently and regularly until the body regains
the
capacity to cope with pain and stress on its own. Sweet Birch offers
acupuncture in a community setting in order to make acupuncture
accessible to
everyone as often as possible, regardless of income. In addition to
local
needling, Sweet Birch uses microsystems, such as the ears and the
scalp, to treat
the entire body so that patients can remain fully clothed in the
communal clinic
setting.
Fertility
Assistance:
The Mei
ZenTM Cosmetic Acupuncture protocol was
originally developed as a
natural alternative to skin rejuvenation
and weight loss. It has since been recognized as beneficial in the
treatment of
infertility. Sweet Birch complements this
protocol with traditional acupuncture treatments, abdominal massage and
western
herbal medicine to reduce the effects of stress on the body, promote
relaxation,
regulate hormones, improve ovarian function, increase blood flow to the
uterus
& ovaries and strengthen the immune system.
Pregnancy,
Labour
&
Postpartum
Care:
Sweet Birch offers a unique program of herbal medicine, eastern
therapeutics
and doula services to help prepare your body for pregnancy and labour,
to ensure
your pregnancy is as healthy and comfortable as possible, to promote a
good
labour and to ease postpartum transitions. The complete program
consists of the
following steps but services can be
customized to suit individual preferences.
Initial Consultation: The
purpose of this
meeting is to get to know one another. I will familiarize myself with
your
medical history and your expectations for your pregnancy and childbirth
experience. This will be a good opportunity for you and your partner to
ask any questions about
doula services and about pregnancy and labour in general. After this
meeting, your
due date will be reserved and I will be on call for you 24 hours a day
via
email or phone for questions, concerns and for your labour. You will
also be
given recommendations for herbal teas, foods and exercises that will
promote a
healthy pregnancy.
Prenatal Visits: The
program includes 2 prenatal visits in which we will discuss how your
pregnancy is progressing and what
your expectations, hopes and fears are for the upcoming birth. These
visits
will allow you to review the physical and emotional stages of labour,
go over
all birthing options and learn techniques
that help build a pain coping mindset for labour. We will also discuss
exercises
and herbal remedies to relieve pregnancy discomfort. Acupuncture or
massage can
be administered during these visits to relieve any acute symptoms,
including breech presentations. Additional acupuncture or herbal
consultations outside of these prenatal visits can be arranged.
During the first visit we will draft a birth plan, which will consider
prenatal
testing and procedures available during labour. Resources, such
as breastfeeding and childbirth
classes as well as literature will be provided to help you make
informed
decisions.
During the second visit, the birth plan will be reviewed and
potentially
updated. You will also be taught acupressure points and given herbal
remedies
to help prepare your body for labour and delivery. You will also be
provided more detailed information
about labour and birth.
Labour Support: You will
be provided with continuous labour and delivery support
over the phone, at your home and/or in the hospital as soon as needed
and up to
3 hours after the birth. During labour and delivery I will help
facilitate
communication between you and the hospital or midwifery staff if
necessary. To ease
pain, facilitate contractions and help you relax, I will provide body,
foot and
hand massage, visualization and guided imagery, aromatherapy, various
position
changes and the use of hot or cold compresses. Special care will
be given to help your
partner or other family members so they can participate more fully in
the birth
experience (i.e. make phone calls, go for food and water, take
pictures, etc.).
Note: A back-up
Doula will
be suggested in the rare event of an emergency and I am unavailable.
Postpartum Visits: The program includes 2 postpartum
visits, once in your baby's first week
and once in the second or third week of postpartum. During
these visits I will provide breastfeeding support and answers to
any additional questions you may have. I will also recommend herbal
remedies and
provide acupuncture to facilitate lactation and assist the healing
process. Additional acupuncture or herbal consultations outside
of these prenatal visits can be arranged.
