1. Hormonal regulation:  Acupuncture helps re-balance subtle hormonal discrepancies and thus helps regulate menstruation and ovulation.
2. Increases Uterine Blood Flow:  Acupuncture enhances growth of the uterine lining (endometrium), making implantation more likely.
3. Relieves Stress:  Acupuncture calms & lowers stress hormones that can obstruct fertility.
4. Reduces Inflammation:  Acupuncture reduces inflammation, both systemic and local, which can inhibit or impair fertility odds.
5. Enhances Ovarian Blood Flow & Follicle Growth: Acupuncture helps follicles grow by sending nourishing blood flow to the ovaries (decreased ovarian blood flow is a common issue in women 35yo+).
6. Benefits Egg Release (Timing and Quality):  Acupuncture enhances ovulation.
7. Reduces Uterine Spasms:  Acupuncture improves implantation odds by calming spasms.
8. Immune System Regulation:  Acupuncture helps keep the immune system functioning properly- this is important because a hyper-active immune system can obstruct fertility. 
9. Boosts Sperm Quality:  Acupuncture enhances both sperm quality and motility.
10. Boosts Sperm Count:  Acupuncture increases sperm count (in men with low numbers).

This is the first in a series of several monthly blog posts related to fertility, IVF and acupuncture/herbal medicine.  Future posts will discuss topics such as the benefits of herbal medicinal formulas with fertility/IVF as well as discussing the optimal window of time to receive acupuncture before and/or after an Egg Retrieval or IVF transfer.  Stay tuned!

Written by Drs Aaron Cashman and Mary Gagliardi at Philadelphia Mind-Body Acupuncture

Sources:

1. Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine.  J Lyttleton

2. It Starts with the Egg. R Fett  

3. Making Babies. S David & J Blakeway  

4. The Infertility Cure. R Lewis

We warmly welcome our new massage therapist: Daniel Floyd, LMT (Bio below)

Daniel will join Gina Capizzi, LMT, on the Massage Therapy Team. Daniel will be here Sundays & Mondays. Gina continues on Wednesdays & Thursdays. They’re also available Saturdays.

2025 Mind-Body Massage Discounts & Packages (New):

To get Spring off to a great start, we’re offering:

20% off ALL massage appointments March 14-April 14 as well as

10% off ALL massage appointments from April 15-May 15.

Additionally, we will now offer packages for Massage Therapy at Mind-Body. Packages will allow you to purchase multiple massages at a discounted rate. More details on massage packages are available on the website.

We look forward to seeing you at the clinic soon!

Daniel Floyd, LMT

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Daniel enjoyed being a ‘wannabe’ masseuse for ailing family and friends for years (was a favorite hobby) before making the leap to becoming a true professional massage therapist. Drawing from a diverse array of bodywork disciplines such as Craniosacral Therapy, Thai massage, Swedish, and Deep Tissue, Daniel customizes his sessions to meet clients’ diverse needs. As a massage therapist, Daniel can easily maneuver from a more technical approach that focuses on pain relief and joint mobility, for example, to a more holistic, integrative approach, aimed at helping someone relax deeply so they’re able to get more restful sleep at night. Daniel, most of all, is passionate about helping people find calm and comfort in their bodies.

Written by guest blogger Andrea Hoshmand, Founder of the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia

If you want to enjoy a stress-free pregnancy as part of a generally healthy lifestyle, there’s plenty of good news. Why? Because there are dozens of easy, innovative ways to relax during pregnancy and make sure your baby gets the best of everything.

It’s no mystery that even a woman who’s in the middle of an otherwise healthy pregnancy can experience unusually high degrees of stress. Of course, a certain amount is natural, but when you let stressful factors pile up, they can lead to all sorts of inconveniences, physical discomfort, and even premature birth.

Women looking to relieve stress during pregnancy often turn to strategies like specific pregnancy diet recommendations from their doctors, physical exercise, prenatal massage, meditation, acupuncture, and more. But, first, it’s important to know about the unique manifestations of discomfort that are common to expectant mothers. They include the following:

• Backaches
• Irregular urination
• Mental concerns about the responsibilities of parenthood
• Swelling in limbs
• An intense bout of fatigue that comes and goes
• An upset stomach
• Emotional instability due to hormonal level imbalances
• General anxiety about the health of the child
• Worrying about the delivery day

Yes, carrying a child comes with plenty of common problems, and not all of them are physical. Of course, there’s probably never been such a thing as a stress-free pregnancy because all women undergo their own unique combination of difficulties.

Fortunately, there are all sorts of ways to relax during pregnancy and relieve stress during pregnancy, no matter your level of anxiety or physical unease. The trick is to begin early and do regular pregnancy exercises if you are able. Likewise, if your doctor recommends a pregnancy diet, give it a go and see how well it works to bring a bit of calmness to your life.

A General Rule?

If there’s a bit of advice that applies to everyone, it’s probably this: leading a healthy lifestyle usually leads to a healthy pregnancy. Your mileage may vary, as the saying goes, so be sure to add activities like a prenatal massage during pregnancy as a way to bolster your overall healthy lifestyle during the days leading up to delivery.

Tactics That Work

What can you do to decrease stress, acquire long-term relaxation, and boost your overall level of well-being during pregnancy? The great news is that there are lots of ways for women of all ages, shapes, sizes, fitness levels, and physical abilities to take control and introduce calming activities into their lives.

It’s not about becoming an exercise fanatic or devout meditation enthusiast. But, at least during pregnancy, there are several approaches that can deliver reliable, effective results in terms of stress reduction.

Experiment

Here are some approaches you can try. Don’t feel the need to do them all. Instead, experiment with the ones that attract your attention first, and then maybe delve into one or two that you don’t know anything about or have never tried before.

• Be smart: Don’t drink alcohol to excess, stop smoking if you currently smoke, only take drugs that your doctor prescribes to you, eat at least three well-balanced meals each day.
  
  Adjust your schedule to allow for more sleep than whatever your normal amount is, attempt to do some light exercise every day if you feel up to it, and maintain an attitude that taking care of yourself will pay major dividends in the long-run because it’s true.
• Monitor your personal reaction to stress: We all deal with stress in different ways. But, be careful to avoid the most common pitfalls of reacting in counterproductive ways.
  
  What does that mean? Common unwise ways of dealing with stress include consumption of junk food, sleeping too much (compared to your regular sleep habits) as a way of not dealing with issues that need your attention, becoming anti-social to the point that you avoid interacting with others, skipping one or more meals because you’re “too nervous” to eat, drinking more than a minimal amount of alcohol, and smoking.
• Build personal time into your daily schedule: Make it a point to give yourself enough time each day to do relaxing activities. Consider a short, daily yoga or stretching routine. Learn how to do basic relaxing meditation if you don’t already know. Get a weekly massage if your doctor approves.
  
  Practice deep-breathing sessions for a few minutes several times per day. Set time aside to listen to music that you find calming. Spend time reading one or two books by favorite authors. And don’t forget to plan some outside activities to add a bit of fun to your weekly routine.

Onward, in a Positive Frame of Mind

There’s no reason to let the very human side of pregnancy get you down, because healthy choices exist. Remember, billions of women have gone through the very same process, even if they didn’t all respond to it in the exact same way.

Keep a positive attitude and realize that there are numerous tried-and-true tactics for beating stress and keeping it at minimal levels. You can, with a little persistence and patience, turn your body into a relaxed, calm temple of restfulness during one of its major transformations.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/healthy-pregnancy#prenatal-care

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/new-prague/services-and-treatments/prenatal-care/healthy-choices-during-pregnancy

https://www.philadelphiasurrogates.com/prenatal-workouts-plan-by-trimester/

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/less-stress-for-healthier-mom-baby

by Dr. Mary Gagliardi, LAc, DACM

WHAT IS MICRONEEDLING?

Relying on the reparative cellular process of your own body, microneedling, also called Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), is a new natural treatment option to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scaring, hypo or hyper pigmentation–resulting in younger, more radiant looking skin. Microneedling subtly diminishes the signs of aging for a more natural youthful appearance—in a way that does not to produce the look brought by of chemical fillers and injections. Individual results depend on age, skin condition, environment, lifestyle, and more. Several systematic research reviews have found microneedling to be a safe and effective therapeutic treatment for scars, acne, melasma, and for skin rejuvenation.

WHAT TO EXPECT? 

The procedure usually takes about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the area being treated. Patients will receive acupuncture to help relax the body and minimize any potential pain during the microneedling session. Individual pain tolerance varies greatly: however, pain levels can be managed with different depth settings on the microneedling instrument. It is important to communicate your pain tolerance to your practitioner to have the most pleasant experience. Your comfort matters. If you find microneedling too painful, nanoneedling (a similar device without needles) can be used as an alternative. 

Before the microneedling starts, a thin layer of hyaluronic acid will be applied to the skin. The instrument will be gently pressed against the skin while gliding in a crosshatch motion until the entire treatment area has been covered (the face, into the hairline, and the neck). Finally, a cooling aloe-vera mask is applied to the face and the patient relaxes for 10 minutes before the treatment is complete. Immediately after treatment, most patients notice a bright redness to the skin, some compare it to the look of a mild sunburn. Healing time depends on individual sensitivity to the treatment, but redness typically subsides in 8-12 hours. Patients are advised to use sunscreen following treatment. To achieve optimal results, 4-6 sessions spaced three weeks apart is recommended. Visible changes develop over the course of several days and weeks as the natural healing process plumps and evens the skin, giving an effortless youthful glow. Results can last anywhere from 1-2 years. Treatment outcomes can be improved by bi-yearly maintenance microneedling sessions.

MICRONEEDLING FEE SCHEDULE AT PHILA MIND-BODY ACUPUNCTURE:

Initial Session: $185 (without follow up)

Package of 4 Treatments: $700 ($175 per session)

After Completing the Package, Follow-up Sessions: $175 

WHO SHOULD TRY IT?

Anyone who is interested in a holistic alternative to the more invasive skin care treatments on the market. Microneedling is an excellent natural remedy for acne scars and small wrinkles, while evening skin tone, texture, and pigmentation. For patients that want more facial lifting and sculpting, or who want to address deeper facial lines, a facial rejuvenation series with acupuncture needles is recommended. Inquire with your practitioner for a customized plan.

Microneedling is NOT suitable for those dealing with:

• Active acne 
• Pregnancy — (can use nano-needling)
• Moderate to severe chronic skin disease such as eczema and psoriasis 
• Blood disorders, or patients on anticoagulant therapy 
• Extreme keloidal tendency 
• Patients undergoing chemo radiation therapy

** Please tell your practitioner if you have any of the above conditions.

SCHEDULE:    To book your initial Microneedling session: www.acuforus.com

Trigger Point Acupuncture (aka ‘Dry Needling’) has gained traction in recent years in the US, becoming a more commonly-used acupuncture-based mechanism to relieve myo-fascial pain.  In Trigger Point Acupuncture (aka ‘Dry Needling’), hair-thin acupuncture needles are inserted into the body in areas where muscle tissue and fascia have become painful, knotted or compromised in some way.

Dry Needling, however,  is far from new.  For thousands of years, what is now known as ‘Dry Needling’ has been known in China as ‘Ashi’ or ‘Ashixue’ (阿是穴) acupuncture.  ‘Ashi’ style acupuncture has been but one simple technique within the multifaceted- and more complex- system of acupuncture.

What IS new about ‘Dry Needling’, however, is that modern science has begun to unravel the scientific basis behind how this type of acupuncture works.  Chinese Medicine Physicians- who had been performing this technique for millennia- could not have known on a chemical or molecular level how their practice of Ashi acupuncture was working.  Theories behind it’s efficacy were explained via Chinese Medicine diagnostic terms.

What we know today about how myo-fascial trigger points develop and how they are relieved through the use of acupuncture is largely based on the work of Janet Travell and David Simons.  There are many layers of explanation involved in illuminating the pathogenesis and alleviation of Trigger Points.  The following is a short summary of the basics.

Put simply, Trigger Points are constant/consistent sources of pain in specific areas of muscle and fascial tissue where tight bands of contracted or knotted tissue are found.  Normal muscle tissue is free of ‘contraction knots’ within the muscle fibers.  When these ‘contraction knots’ occur, the brain receives pain signals resulting in a somatic awareness of specific areas of physical pain.  There are two types of trigger points:  active and latent.  Both types can cause range of motion issues, muscle dysfunction or weakness.

According to Dommerholt’s research* found in the Journal of Manual Manipulation Therapy, “Dry needling can not only reverse some aspects of central sensitization, it reduces local and referred pain, improves range of motion and muscle activation pattern, and alters the chemical environment of trigger points.”

Another scientific journal** lists some of the common pain conditions that have been associated with myo-fascial trigger points.   These include:  migraines, tension type headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, disk pathology, radiculopathies, tendonitis, craniomandibular dysfunction, joint dysfunction, spinal dysfunction, computer-related disorders, whiplash-associated disorders, pelvic pain and other urologic syndromes, complex regional pain syndrome and post-herpetic neuralgia.

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific details behind the pathogenesis and alleviation of myo-fascial Trigger Points would require a much larger platform than a blog post like this can accommodate.  However, I hope that all of you have at least learned some of the basics regarding this very effective form of treatment for the numerous pain conditions that can be relieved through Trigger Point Acupuncture (aka ‘Dry Needling’).

A final note:  Since acupuncturists receive several years of acupuncture-specific training, they are very well-equipped to perform this type of technique.  However, not all acupuncturists perform Trigger Point acupuncture within their own practice, so it is best to inquire ahead of time when looking for an acupuncturist in your area.

May you all be healthy, happy and full of vitality!

Sources:

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3201653/

**https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508225/

Mind-Body Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine is kicking off a new video blog series called, “Two Minutes to Better Health”.   In this first video blog in the series, Dr Aaron tells the story of his first acupuncture treatment 23 years ago and how it changed the course of his life, leading to over 5 years in Asia and a career in holistic medicine.

Interested in learning more about holistic medicine, acupuncture and the world of natural health?

If so, please subscribe to Mind-Body’s YouTube channel, by clicking the “Subscribe” button located above the video.

May you all be healthy, happy and full of vitality!

To watch the video, please click on the following link:

Two Minutes to Better Health: Mind-Body Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine