[Christine Guirguis]

Hi Susan & Sarah – congratulations on this summary. It’s so well-written!! I’d also like to observe your process. Thanks for the opportunity.

[Christine Guirguis]

Hi Anisa,

This is such interesting question. Did you have the opportunity to prescribe a poultice? Would love to hear about the progress of this case.

[Christine Guirguis]

Thoughts for papers: (*acupuncture =acupuncture/acupressure/moxa)

1. Literature review of acupuncture in pregnancy (mostly accumulated … I think), including mechanisms of action, and theories of mechanisms of actions.

– survey question given a summary of the review: would you use acupuncture during pregnancy? Yes/no

*patients

*primary care physicians

* Ob/gyn specialists

2. Identifying conditions reported by midwives that are helped with acupuncture in Debra’s 2016 paper which have not been researched. Proposing a pilot study compiling data from several centers/practitioners via Acutrack (similar to the long-covid project they’ve got).

3. Survey of pregnant patients in primary care setting:

– number of treatments

– was it valuable?

– conditions it was helpful for

– would you recommend acupuncture in pregnancy

– what would you like to see being done differently in terms of acupuncture treatment during pregnancy?

[Christine Guirguis]

christine.y.guirguis@gmail.com

[Christine Guirguis]

Hi Carmen –

I’d love to see that outline too! I’m thinking along the similar lines about the writing project, a vague direction of integration of acupuncture for pregnancy and measurement of it’s impact in primary care. We should brainstorm together!

If you haven’t already checked it out already, have a look at the Hospital Handbook Project AND get in contact with it’s creator Megan Gale. She’ll know the easiest way to get credentialed and the pitfalls to avoid.

[Christine Guirguis]

Sarah – thanks for sharing your approach! I’ll be taking your advice on learning Leopold’s maneuver. The cups that you use – are they only in the lumbar area or do they cover the sacral area as well?

[Christine Guirguis]

CV2 with a short needle for PSD has worked like magic for me every. single. time.

For groin pain palpate the lower back, around GB29, and front of the thigh for hints on what mechanics may be contributing the pain.

[Christine Guirguis]

Hi Renee – this case is so interesting. I’m so sorry for your friend’s circumstances and am happy that she is leaning on you for support. Her presentation seems to point to contradicting patterns. This is my take, please let me know if I’m completely off track. (I’m working on my fear of being wrong!). Firstly, her period seems relatively normal, she’s able to maintain a full time practice, exercises a lot and has good Shen shining in her eyes. But her tongue, pulse, spider veins & demeanour betray these signs and indicate deficiency – unsurprisingly. I wonder if that in her grief/shock/stress it’s her Jing that is fuelling her ability to function as usual, because it doesn’t seem like the organs could be providing this. So my approach would be treating her Kidney & Spleen qi & yang to support Qi & Blood production in the hope that this be sufficient to nourish Liver & Heart Blood also. Herbally perhaps a formula like Shi Quan Da Bu Wan. Acupuncture wise – back shu/ font mu treatments, alternating with GV/BL channel treatments, or CV + 1 other meridian treatments – all including moxa/heatlamp. I would do this throughout the cycle until her signs indicate recovery, then I would tweak the treatments to the cycle (Jane Lyttleton style).

[Christine Guirguis]

Thanks Ciara! I have to say even after 20+ years I am acutely aware of this possibility each time I needle over the thorax and that it’s not just a problem for new practitioners. It never crossed my mind that a patient would roll over the needles though – so I appreciate this post! Yes – sitting seems like the a good standard for induction and those whose contractions have started.

[Christine Guirguis]

Thank you! Such a great name – how could I forget??

[Christine Guirguis]

Carmen, apologies! I didn’t put this in my diary, believing I would remember it. And I thought this was tomorrow – Can we meet tomorrow at 11:30am or 1:35pm? My number is (917) 488 8903. Much better to communicate directly!!

[Christine Guirguis]

I know – it doesn’t work for all articles, but it does work for many. If there are final drafts or other versions out there, it’s very good at finding them. In this case just ask Kate for a copy!

[Christine Guirguis]

Thank you all!

[Christine Guirguis]

Thanks Sarah – I read through the whole thing which was an education in itself BUT no mention of acupuncture. I’ll wait for Healthy Seminars to link 2a …I’ve got PLENTY to catch up on in the meantime. Your response is appreciated!!