KATY BRADSHAW ACUPUNCTUREYou are what you eat
Posted on July 26, 2018
The old saying goes ‘you are what you eat’. But have you ever considered that you might also be how you eat and when you eat? And what should you be eating anyway?
Now there are about a million different diets out there and I have no intention of adding another one to your repertoire. We know that ‘diets’ mostly don’t work anyway.
But there are some principles of Chinese dietary therapy that continue to hold relevance after thousands of years and I’d like to introduce them to you here.
Essentially there are three main principles – what, when and how you eat is important.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Posted on June 3, 2018
Chinese Medicine is particularly interested in women’s health. The classic texts that date back over thousands of years dedicate a great deal of time to the study, diagnosis and treatment of women’s health. As a result of this long history acupuncture is hugely beneficial in treating gynaecological issues. In particular acupuncture can benefit:
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Short/long cycles
- Painful, heavy periods
- Lack of periods
- Spotting, bleeding outside period time
- Ovulation pain
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Fibroids, cysts, polyps
- Endometriosis
- Hormonal imbalances eg: PMS, migraine, skin eruptions, emotional issues
Fertility
Acupuncture is of great benefit in the treatment of fertility. It can support couples to conceive naturally and during the assisted reproduction process. It is a physical and emotional support during what can be an extremely challenging time. Read about how acupuncture can benefit fertility for both men and women here.
Menopause
The menopause often brings disruption and misery to a woman’s life. It can involve one or more of a range of symptoms, which women experience to varying degrees and levels of distress. These can include night sweats and hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, palpitations and genital and urinary problems.
Acupuncture supports the body to alleviate these symptoms in a natural and long-lasting way, without the need for Hormone Replacement Therapy. For women who want to continue with HRT it is still beneficial to receive acupuncture as it will treat the hormonal imbalance that the medication is masking.
You can read more about acupuncture and the menopause in the blog post ‘Acupuncture – an effective alternative to HRT?’
Acupuncture – an effective alternative to HRT?
Posted on May 5, 2018
The menopause can so often be a time that brings disruption and misery to a woman’s life. It can involve one or more of a range of symptoms, which are experienced to varying degrees and levels of distress. These can include night sweats and hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, aches and pains, palpitations and genital and urinary problems.
It is estimated that up to 60% of women’s lives are sufficiently disrupted to warrant visiting the GP, where the standard treatment is a prescription of HRT (hormone replacement therapy). For some, this brings immediate relief with no or little side-effects and the added benefit of preventing the development of osteoporosis.
For others the side-effects of HRT (weight gain, bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, cramps, indigestion, fluid retention, headaches, mood swings, depression acne and backache) outweigh the benefits.
A woman may be reluctant to take HRT because of the associated risks of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Others feel uncomfortable about taking medication for such a long period of time. Some are not able to take it because of a pre-existing condition such as high blood pressure. Some have been on HRT for many years but feel unsure about stopping because of the return of the original symptoms.
So what’s the alternative…?
Locations
Posted on July 9, 2015
Acupuncture in Brighton – Fiveways
I currently have appointments available from 9.30am to 2.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
37 Stanmer Park Road
Brighton
BN1 7JL
There is plenty of free on-street parking outside.
Alternatively you can catch the 26 or 46 bus from town to Fiveways and I’m just around the corner.
To make an appointment please contact me directly on 07967316964 or via the contact form.
Contact me
Posted on May 6, 2014
To make an appointment
To make an appointment for acupuncture in Brighton or for a chat about your symptoms and what acupuncture can do for you please contact me on 07967 316964.
Alternatively you can contact me here:
what to expect
Posted on March 12, 2014
During the first appointment I will ask a number of questions to make a diagnosis of your main complaint and to get an overall picture of your health. I will then take a look at your tongue and feel your pulses and carry out an examination of any external physical complaints.
Follow-up sessions will involve a discussion of your progress along with the appropriate treatment for that time.
How many treatments will you need
You will feel a difference after your first acupuncture treatment but to see a permanent shift in your health you will need to complete a course of treatment.
For basic acute conditions you should see a significant improvement after 6 treatments.
For chronic and more complex cases you should see a significant improvement after 10-12 treatments.
You will need to come twice a week for the first 1-2 weeks and as long as your symptoms are improving you will need to then come once every 1-2 weeks for the remainder of the treatment plan.
After you have completed a course of treatment you will need to return for a follow-up monthly tune-up to prevent symptoms returning.
Remember some acupuncture is better than no acupuncture so even if you can’t come as often as you’d like still give it a go. However you may find that treatment is not effective or that your symptoms take a lot longer to improve if you do not come as often as outlined above.
What does it feel like
The needling sensation is often described as a dull ache, warmth or a tingling sensation. The needles used are extremely fine and treatment should not be painful. In general patients report feeling relaxed during and after treatment.
What is acupuncture
Posted on March 12, 2014
When people ask ‘what is acupuncture’ they may already know that it comes from China and that it treats pain. What they may not know is that today it also forms part of a rational and evidence-based system of healthcare and that over a million healthcare practitioner use it worldwide. Furthermore practitioners use acupuncture to treat a wide range of physical and mental health illness.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine sterile needles into acupuncture points and/or warming or massaging the points. Glass cups may also be used to create a vacuum over areas of the skin to dispel stagnation. In these ways the acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response in a completely natural way.
What can it treat
Acupuncture is increasingly recognised as a treatment option for a wide range of conditions and consequently many health professionals are happy to recommend acupuncture to their patients.
Patients come for treatment for:
- chronic and acute pain
- sports injury
- arthritis, joint pain and stiffness
- anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia
- digstive disorders including IBS
- chronic fatigue syndrome and ME
- Skin conditions such as eczema and acne
- migraines and headaches
- allergies
- PMT, fibroids and endometriosis
- menopausal symptoms
- infertility
- pregnancy and post-natal support
- Urogenital problems
- Respiratory disorders
- Bell’s palsy
- Diabetes
If you would like to know more about a specific health concern then please contact me.
How it works
Traditionally acupuncturists explain its effects in relation to the flow of ‘qi’ in the body and the balancing of Yin and Yang – a framework of health which maps very closely to the Western concept of homeostasis. The way that we ingest, store and transform qi and the balance and harmony of its flow within the human body is the basis on which acupuncturists practise Chinese medicine.
From a modern perspective acupuncture has been shown to stimulate nerves and connective tissue resulting in profound effects on the nervous system including regulation of key areas of the brain.
Is it safe
All members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) must observe a Code of Practice, which lays down stringent standards of hygiene and sterilisation for needles and other equipment. The Department of Health have approved these procedures which provide protection against the transmission of infectious diseases.
Transform your health
Posted on February 27, 2014
CORONA VIRUS UPDATE
Unfortunately Katy Bradshaw Acupuncture is temporarily closed so that I may keep my patients and my family safe and well. I look forward to supporting you during the recovery period, which hopefully won’t be too long away.
Welcome to Katy Bradshaw Acupuncture. You are in the right place if you are:
- Fed up with feeling tired, unhappy or in pain
- Need help to conceive naturally or support during a assisted reproduction treatment
- Unable to manage your health due to a busy and stressful life
- Suffering with ill-health but have been unable to find the cause or a solution
- Think there may be an emotional cause to your illness
- Struggling to work because of neck, back or shoulder pain
- Desperate to play sport but stopped by knee, groin or elbow pain
- Want a natural approach to managing your health
- Would like a treatment that is supported by a strong evidence-base
- Expect to feel listened to, supported and understood
Acupuncture is increasingly recognised as a treatment option for a wide range of conditions and many health professionals are happy to recommend acupuncture to their patients. Katy Bradshaw is able to treat whatever you need help with in her Brighton Acupuncture clinic.
Find out what acupuncture can treat.
If you would like to know more about a specific health concern then please contact me.
What patients say:
“I have crippling pain from severe arthritis in my hip which makes life with two small children difficult and distressing. Katy brought me so much pain relief and released my limbs so much the first time she ‘pinned me’ that I burst out crying. She keeps me moving and smiling. She is magic. And lovely” JH
“Katy was vital in keeping my morning sickness at bay when I was pregnant. I loved the fact that the treatments incorporated plenty of time to talk about how I was feeling, both physically and emotionally, as this allowed Katy to tailor what she was doing to meet those specific needs. I always left a treatment feeling much more relaxed and the use of acupuncture seemed to have a tangible impact on my nausea” SL
“Throughout our three courses of IVF Katy was an incredible support. She tailored our treatment according to our needs and we reaped the benefits; emotionally and physically. We are pleased to say we are now expecting our first baby and we can’t thank Katy enough for all the support she’s given us both. Fertility treatment is a roller coaster but Katy’s been with us every step of the way. She’s wonderfully caring, calming and reassuring and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to others” CF & JF
“Just to say a big thank you for the way you helped me to get a good nights sleep” JW
