Women's Health
Michelle specializes in treating women at all ages and stages of life, by providing customized treatments for the individual and the whole person. Healing sessions may involve a combination of Acupuncture, Reiki, and Herbs.
Menstrual Cycle Regulation
From an Oriental Medicine standpoint, the menstrual cycle provides a microcosmic view of health and can reflect general imbalances within the body. Therefore using Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine to regulate the menstrual cycle helps to align the body with a state of health and wellbeing. Michelle treats adolescents and women at all ages and stages of life.
Natural Fertility Support
Whether you are just beginning to contemplate starting a family or have been trying to conceive for a while, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine can enhance fertility by promoting a beneficial environment for conception and implantation. Michelle is experienced with enhancing fertility using Acupuncture and customized Herbal treatments to reduce inflammation, increase blood supply to the pelvis and uterus, offset the effects of stress, and balance hormones to optimize your ability to conceive.
Three months prior to conception is generally a good time to get in shape, clean up lifestyle habits, tune-up your health, and promote an optimal environment for welcoming a baby into your life. Many women find that a few months of monitoring, careful timing, regular acupuncture, personalized herbal formulas, and fertility-enhancing lifestyle choices are effective, even if they’ve already had trouble conceiving. If not, Michelle will work in complement with your medical team to help you through assisted reproductive techniques with supportive care and advice.
Michelle will work with you to create a customized fertility treatment plan.
IVF and IUI Support
Clinical research shows that when acupuncture is used in conjunction with IVF, there is a 50 percent increase in success rate. If you are doing IVF, Michelle will see you twice a week during the stimulation phase of your IVF cycle. You will receive one treatment before retrieval, one between retrieval and transfer, one just after transfer, and one a week after transfer. If you are doing IUI, Michelle will see you approximately once a week throughout.
Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine increases the success rate of IVF and IUI by increasing blood flow to the ovaries during the stimulation phase of IVF or a medicated IUI cycle, therefore boosting the effectiveness of the medication. Acupuncture also relaxes the uterus and addresses uterine spasm after embryo transfer or IUI. As an added benefit, Acupuncture also reduces stress and offsets side effects from the fertility drugs.
Prenatal Care and Labor Prep
Acupuncture offers a natural and holistic approach to healthcare during pregnancy, without the use of medication or chemicals. As an experienced Acupuncturist and Doula, Michelle has over 10 years of experience working with pregnant women and will provide a safe and supportive space to guide you through each trimester.
In the final weeks leading up to your due date, Michelle will help you get in shape for labor. Acupuncture treatments focus on softening your pelvic muscles and ligaments as well as giving you an energy boost in preparation for the big day. If you need assistance turning a breech baby, Michelle will use moxa, a non-invasive traditional Chinese technique that research shows has a 67% success rate (note: the optimal time for turning a breech baby is between 30 and 36 weeks).