Areas of Expertise
Judy specialises in Women's Health (Fertility, Pregnancy, Gynaecology) and Paediatrics (babies and children)
Fertility
Maybe you’ve had enough of crossing your fingers and hoping, maybe you’ve experienced miscarriage, maybe you’re in the mass of people with “unexplained” fertility issues. Whether you’ve just started thinking about babies or you’re deep into multiple IVF cycles, then I have a lot to offer you.
Fertility is just a symptom of what is happening in your body overall. The root cause might be physical, emotional or spiritual – usually a combination of all three. My job is to work with you to look for the clues so we can figure out what your body is telling you. Then by understanding the root causes of fertility problems we can work to make targeted changes to allow your body to heal, support your long-term good health and improve your fertility.
It might be sufficient to work with acupuncture alone, or we may need a combined approach of acupuncture, medical intervention, mindset work and lifestyle changes - there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to fertility. But with knowledge and understanding of your unique body and needs comes power and control.
Because fertility isn’t just about a baby - it starts with healthy parents. And healthy parents make healthy babies.
Visit my report library for some tips on how to optimise fertility.
Male Fertility
Male fertility problems are massively unrecognised and go largely untreated. This is a disservice. The evidence shows a significant rise in male fertility issues. Typically you will be directed to IVF, ICSI, drug therapies or invasive surgical intervention. There is a time and a place for these but there are also huge benefits from a more holistic approach focussed on identifying and treating underlying causes. It takes roughly 100 days for sperm reserves to regenerate so I always recommend at least a 3-month course of treatment alongside detailed sperm analysis to monitor progress.
Do get in touch for an informal chat about how I can help.
Will I get pregnant?
Let’s be crystal clear here - I can’t guarantee you a baby. But I do believe, and I see every day, that by optimising your whole health we optimise fertility. I can promise you: a determination to get results, a listening ear, a compassionate and positive approach underpinned by specialist training in western and Chinese medicine approaches to reproductive health and twelve years of experience.
Contact me to discuss your fertility needs and how I can help you.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a special time, but often brings physical or emotional challenges, especially if it was a difficult road to become pregnant or there are other co-existing health issues.
Acupuncture offers a safe and effective support at all stages of pregnancy and for recovery afterwards. It can be a vital alternative for women who are unable to take their usual prescription medication during pregnancy. Extra care is taken to ensure gentle treatment that allows both the Mum-to-be and her growing bump to flourish.
You may also wish to use acupuncture as a preparation for labour – weekly treatment from 34 weeks is a great way to prepare your body and mind. Acupuncture and moxibustion can also be used to correct breech positioning – the optimal time for this is 34 weeks. When your pregnancy reaches 40 weeks we can use acupuncture to initiate labour.
Contact me to find out how I could help you during pregnancy. Or visit my report library to read more about how acupuncture can help during pregnancy.
Gynaecology
Many suffer for years with gynaecological issues, putting it down to bad luck or genetics, but rarely does it need to be like that. There is a lot we can do in order to get to the root cause and improve or resolve issues such as menstrual irregularities (no periods, light periods, heavy periods, painful periods, lack of ovulation, PMT), Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, fibroids, cysts, infections. The Chinese medicine approach to health views menopause as a positive landmark in life - relieving women’s bodies of certain tasks in order to protect and promote a fulfilling life in later years. Supporting body and mind during this important time of transition is invaluable in sustaining vitality for the future.
Often a combined approach of acupuncture, herbs and lifestyle advice is the key.
Contact me to find out how I can help your gynaecology issues.
A note about the evidence base
There is a significant international body of evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture, and it is continually growing. Large databases of acupuncture research in China and other East Asian countries remain largely inaccessible to the West. However, the body of evidence available elsewhere internationally is growing rapidly. Research studies now provide solid, quantifiable evidence of acupuncture's safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Traditional acupuncture's greatest strength is that it treats each patient individually. It focuses on all factors that contribute to disease, not just the presenting symptoms. Consequently, traditional acupuncture does not neatly fit the prevalent research protocols that have been developed in response to symptom-based treatments.
The British Acupuncture Council’s research strategy draws strongly on contemporary western scientific methods, adapting and developing them to better suit traditional acupuncture. This means investigating a therapy that offers holistic, individualised treatment and one that is embedded in the extensive history, theory and practice of East Asian medicine.
The British Acupuncture Council maintains a database of research fact sheets here.
