Acupressure and inability to conceive

Inability to conceive

There are many reasons why there can be difficulty for a couple to conceive and have children. Low sperm count is one condition affecting males, while blocked fallopian tubes or hormonal inbalances can affect the female making conception impossible. The ability to produce children depends on more

than physiological readiness. It requires a combination of correctly timed physical and hormonal events, a suitable mental attitude by both partners and many other less under­stood factors that we can just call luck. The habit of throwing rice after the wedding cere­mony is based on ancient "fertility rites."

Yet even though no physical problems can be found that should stop a couple from having children, there are times when con­ception does not occur, Shiatsu helps to regu­late the indidivuals and may be useful.

Shiatsu

Have the receiver lie face down. Use thumb pressure to treat the lower back region near the lumber vertebrae. Press around the hip bones and on the buttocks.
Have the receiver turn over onto the back. Massage the lower abdomen. Beneath the navel, press and hold. Move the thumbs down to the pubic bone, press around the pelvic bones.

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Agitation

Acupressure can relieve agitation levels in older dementia patients, according to research reported last month in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

A study conducted at the National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan found that regular (15-minute) treatment sessions twice a day for five days a week over a period of four weeks, led to reductions in the patients' propensity to attack others, both verbally and physically.

Twenty patients were studied over a six-week period which began one week before treatment started and ended one week after treatment finished. All the patients lived in special care units in care facilities. Over half were classified as experiencing major behavioural disturbances.

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Ladies conditions and acupressure

Irregular menstruation
lack of menstruation (amenorrhea)
painful or difficult menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
menopause problems

The incidence of menstrual difficulty is extraordinarily common. The normal female cycle is disrupted from its average period of 28 days by a number of disturbing symptoms. Some women do not menstruate while others have extended or severe bleeding. Symptoms during or just before the monthly cycle can include pain in the lower abdomen, pain in the lumbar region, headaches, and nausea. The breasts sometimes swell and are painful. Many wom­en are unable to continue with normal day to day functions and must go to bed and rest.

The symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome can be even more debilitating than painful menstruation. The symptoms come on one to two weeks before actual menstruation. These can include mental tension, irritability, headache, depression, and edema (swelling). During this time admissions to psychiatric hospitals, suicides, and accidents are all found to occur more frequently for wom­en. Fortunately all of these symptoms are treata­ble with shiatsu, diet, and increased exercise.

Shiatsu

In many cases the symptoms associated with menstrual difficulties are aggravated by lack of sufficient exercise. A complete shiatau treatment stimulates circulation and removes the heavy, bloated feeling often associated with these female problems.

Specific shiatsu should be directed to the lower back, abdomen, and the inside of the legs.

Have the receiver lie face down. Stand over the person and place your thumbs about 1 1/2 inches on each side of the spine, breathe in and out with the receiver and on an exha­lation press down, leaning your body weight into the acupoint and hold for 2-5 seconds. Begin this press technique beneath the ribs at T^ and continue until the lower end of the tail bone. Repeat each point several times. With the palm of the hand massage in a circular movement over the kidney area.

Have the receiver turn over. Massage the lower section of the abdomen beneath the navel with the heel of the hand in a circular movement. Use care as this area may be tender and painful to the touch. Give the proper amount of pressure that will increase circula­tion and yet not create additional pain. Place one hand, palm down, on the navel and the other hand directly on top. You and the receiver should breathe in a deep full breath and on an exhalation press gently down until you find resistence. Hold for 1-5 seconds. Repeat at least 10 times. Finish by massaging the entire area again with the heel of the hand.

Massage the bottom of the feet and press with your thumb the lines on the inside of the legs. The channels found here are re-lated to the reproductive organs. Many times you will find tender­ness around the ankle and just below the knee on the inside. Any tender spots are worth massaging a little extra. Work up and down each line 2-5 times.

Moxibustion

Moxa treatment is very effective in re­laxing menstrual cramping and discomfort. Warm each acupoint from 2-5 minutes. Use the following acupoints: on the abdomen-—CV 6, CV 12; on the back—US 23, UB 31-34; on the legs—SP 9, SP 6, KD 3.

Diet

Foods that retard the circulation of blood and energy should be restricted when men­strual troubles are present. They include: fat­ty items such as beef, cheese, milk and other dairy products, avoca­do, potato chips, and other fried, greasy foods. Sugars, honey, and fruit juice should be avoided and, temporarily, fruits as well. Stay away from raw salads and other cold foods which tax digestion and cool down the inside making internal contractions severe and painful.

The diet should include energizing warm foods which will re­lax excessive muscle contractions. A high fiber diet, taken in the form of whole grains, vegetables, and beans, has the ability to re­move excessive estrogen from the body. The phytic acid present in fiber binds excess estrogen, thus removing this substance which is known to increase muscle cramping. This will help to establish the correct ratio of estrogen to progesterone (female hormones made by the ovaries) which is linked to the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

Miso soup taken daily supplies adequate protein and vitamins including "itamin Bj^- Wakame seaweed and daikon radish (or turnip) added to the soup add a delicious flavor and medicinal qual­ities.

Ginger Compress

Compresses can be placed on the lower abdomen and/or the lower back, whichever you feel is appropriate. The warm, stimulat­ing effect of the compress will help to alleviate pain rapidly.

Hip Bath

Prepare a hip bath in one of two ways. You may use dried rad­ish leaves (daikon preferred) and place 4-5 bunches in one gallon of water and simmer until the water turns brown. Add this liquid to a full bathtub.

The second method is to add a handful of seasalt to the bathtub.
Once the bath water is prepared, sit with the water level at least up to the waist. Cover the upper part of your body with a towel or blan­ket. Your body will become very warm and begin to sweat.This
takes about 10-20 minutes. Repeat this bath up to 10 days.

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Reproductive System

Reproductive System

The development of the reproductive organs is interesting. Early in embryonic development, germ cells of the testis in the male and of the ovary in the female appear. Sex therefore is determined from the very earliest days but sex characteristics cannot be recog­nized. At adolescence, these germ cells develop along with the changes which determine the sex qualities and characteristics of the male and female. The female reproductive organs are located in the pelvic region inside the body while the male organs are found mainly outside the pelvis.

The whole reproductive system goes through several changes in a lifetime. The first major change is puberty. This appears at ten to fourteen years and, in girls, is marked by the beginning of men­struation. The uterus and vagina enlarge, while the breasts enlarge with increase of fat and blood vessels. Later the secondary sexual characteristics appear. The curves of the body develop and fat tissue rounds off the contours of her limbs, with the appearance of hair in the underarm and pubic regions. The pelvis also widens. There are further important changes that take place as the girl matures men­tally and emotionally through adolescence to womanhood.

In boys, puberty is a little later. It is characterized by deepen­ing of the voice, enlargement of the sex organs, and the appearance of body and facial hair.
Further changes happen at the menopause period of a woman's life which occurs at about forty-five to fifty years of age, but may be earlier or later. Menstruation ceases. The ovaries become smaller and their secretions cease.

LADIES CONDITIONS

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Urinary System Kidney/Urinary Bladder and Acupressure

Urinary System

Kidney/Urinary Bladder


infection
inability to hold urine (incontinence)
bedwetting (enuresis)
kidney stone


The urinary system consists of the kidneys, which secrete urine; the ureters, the passages through which urine travels from the kidney to the bladder; the urinary bladder, which acts as a reser­voir; and the urethra, the passage tube through which urine flows from the bladder to outside of the body.


The kidneys regulate water balance. They also regulate the concentration of salts in the blood, as well as the excretion of waste products and any excess salts.


The volume of urine passed each day varies with the volume of fluid drunk, but about one to two quarts is average. Volume of urine passed increases when excess protein is taken, in order to pro­vide the fluid necessary to carry urea (a waste product from protein digestion) away in a solution. That is why doctors instruct those on a diet high in meat, eggs, and cheese to drink "plenty of fluids." Normal urine is a light color, like light beer, and is slightly acid (pH 6). Normally we should pass urine four to five times per day-more often depletes the body of minerals.


The most common kidney ailment which is surgically treat­ed is kidney (renal) stones. The formation of stones in the kidney can cause great damage. They can also be formed in the bladder or may pass from the kidney to the bladder. As the bladder contracts to pass urine, the stone is pressed against the bladder wall causing in­tense pain. Infection can result from this condition, as well as the


inability to hold urine. Excruciating pain and blood in the urine are signs of stones. Their removal does not guarantee a cure, accord­ing to medical sources. However it will deal with the immediate pain. Preventive diet is the only way to reduce the risks of recurrence.




Urinary stones usually form as a re­sult of abnormally high levels of calcium or metabolism problems. The combination of high calcium dairy products and certain veg­etables such as spinach, chard, and tomato (high in oxalic acid) acts to form calcium ox-alates, the most common materials found in stones.



In the case of kidney stone and infec­tion, prevention via diet is important. It is possible for small stones to dissolve and pass out of the body; however, some large stones can form in irregular shapes within the kid­ney. These irregular shaped stones will not pass and, if they are painful, must be removed. A prudent macrobio­tic diet will lessen the formation of all stones.


Shiatsu


For all kidney disorders, including swelling, water reten­tion, inability to hold and pass urine, and bedwetting, shiatsu thera­py can stimulate the system to function more efficiently.
Have the receiver lie face down. Stand over the person and ask him or her to breath in and out, as you do the same. On each ex­halation press the area near the spine from T^-Le with the thumbs. Press and hold the acupoints that make the two parallel lines of the urinary bladder channel. Press these acupoints several times.


Use barefoot shiatsu and walk on the soles of the inturned feet with your feet. Press the hips, upper thighs, and calves with the foot. Do the leg stretches. (See leg part of com­plete shiatsu section.)






Have the receiver turn over and lie face up. Massage the toes and press the bot­toms of the feet with your thumb. Press around the ankles thoroughly. (See page 91, leg section in shiatsu section.)


Moxibustion

Use moxibustion on several acupoints.
This stimulates the bladder and the kidney. Warm each acupoint for 2-5 minutes.
UB 23, UB 57, KD 3, ST 36

Diet





Our daily diet should supply enough calcium as well as other minerals and vitamins. However, some peo­ple receive more than enough and, with the addition of certain vegetables or because of some metabolic abnormalities, kidney or bladder stones form. In addition to a stan­dard macrobiotic diet, shiitake mushrooms and radish (especially daikon radish) can be eaten to dissolve stones and clean the blood so as to prevent future formations. Meat and dairy products produce uric acid during di­gestion; this acid is associated with stone for­mation. It is best to avoid these foods.

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Acupressure and kidney stone, acupressure and urinary infection, acupressure and urinary infection, acupressure and gallbladder, galbladder infection and acupressure, treatment for urinary infection and acupressure, acupressure and bed wetting, acupressure and inability to hold urine

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Heart Governor/Triple Heater

Heart Governor/Triple Heater

In addition to the body's ten major organs, traditional Chinese medicine recognizes the usefulness of two functions. These functions were given the names heart governor and triple heater. They are paired like the other organs.

The heart governor is considered the first line of defense for the heart. It functions much the same as the heart.

The triple heater helps with the administration of energy and the fluid metabolism of the body. It coordinates the functions of the three spaces of the trunk. The upper space helps the stomach take in and digest food. The middle space helps the small intestine absorb and transfer the essence of food for body energy and nutrition. The function of the lower space is to help the large intestine and the blad­der eliminate waste. From this it can be seen that these functions re­late to all the other organs.

Problems in the circulation of energy in these two channels can be seen as circulation trouble, cold hands and feet, body temper­ature troubles such as too hot or too cold, immune troubles, swelling and water retention, digestive disorders, mental disorders, and so forth.

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Acupressure and Anemia

Small Intestine

Inability to assimilate nourishment from food anemia

The functions of the small intestine are digestion and absorp­tion of the liquid contents from the stomach. These contents are al­kaline. Just before entering the small intestine two important di­gestive juices are added. They are bile from the liver (which is alkaline and neutralizes the acid contents from the stomach as well as digests and breaks down fat particles into smaller parts) and pancreatic juice which comes from the pancreas. This juice acts on carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in food. It too is alkaline.

The absorption of digested food takes place entirely in the small intestine through the capillary vessels and the lymphatics found on the surface of the small intestine walls. These products are carried by the portal vein to the liver, where more changes take place.

Shiatsu

A complete shiatsu treatment will enhance the functions of the digestive organs. The stimulus of shiatsu encourages movement and promotes the elimination of intestinal stagnation. Abdominal shiatsu is appropriate. (See pages 103-105, shiatsu section.)

Ginger Compress

Hot compresses placed directly on the abdomen over the um­bilicus promote nutrient absorption. Do the compress treatment for 15-20 minutes. Repeat everyday for 2 weeks. Rest one week, then re­peat for another 2 weeks.


Diet


The macrobiotic diet with its high vitamin and mineral con­tent promotes positive bacteria growth inside the intestines. Antibiotics, sugars, and other refined foods destroy the beneficial bacteria necessary for proper absorption.

The inclusion of fermented foods such as miso, pickles, and natural whole grain sourdough bread will furnish positive bacteria sources. Small portions of seaweed supply minerals necessary to keep the small intestine alkaline.

Properly functioning spleen, small intestine, and bone mar­row insure enough red blood cell production. Therefore clean intes­tines (cleansed daily by the fiber in whole grains) are essential so that the food nutrients can enter the body to keep systems working. The sweet taste of cooked carrots, parsnips, and onions affect the spleen to make quality red blood cells. This is your protection against anemia.

To treat anemia include miso soup daily. Cooked green leafy vegetables should be included also. The table seasoning Tekka can be used—1 teaspoon/day.

Anemia has been studied using garlic as the treatment. In one study, after eight weeks of treatment with garlic extract or cooked garlic, there was substancial improvement in the hemoglobin content of the red blood cell.

Many times the anemia connected with cancer is caused by the toxins of the cancer. In this case charcoal can be taken to remove the toxins. Take one tablespoon of charcoal mixed with 4-6 ounces of water, 3 times each day. Charcoal can be purchased at natural foods stores or you can make your own by charring any vegetable food and pulverizing it. The pits of the salted plum (umeboshi) have traditionally been used for this purpose.

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