My experience with acupuncture and reflexology

[elc19]

So yesterday I met with a Chinese acupuncturist who specialises in ancient Chinese medicine.

I had accupuncture, he told me my womb is very cold and this is before he knew my history of miscarriage and endometriosis.
He has sent me away with some herbal tea he has made using Chinese herbs and I will see him once a week for the next four.

After doing lots of research, I found a lady local to me who specialises in fertility issues, IVF, miscarriage, PCOS, endo etc and uses reflexology and fertility massages to help relieve these symptoms and relax you.

I had my first session today and I absolutely loved it! I felt so warm inside, the foot massage was an hour of absolute heaven and she has made a detailed plan for me to help me through this mentally and physically.

I will report back in a month or so and write how I feel they’ve helped or if I feel they haven’t helped me at all and if any of you are weighing up holistic options, please feel free to ask away 💕

Be careful taking the herbal medicines if you are doing ivf. Definitely run it by your consultant. I went to acupuncture and I was also told womb cold however we have male issues and all my tests have come back completely normal and I have a normal cycle. When we were doing ivf one side was lagging on growth of follicles and he said acupuncture would sort it out but it didn’t make a difference. So just be wary. This guy was also highly accredited.

I started reflexology with a lovely lady just before Christmas and I am also loving it. Lovely and relaxing and almost like a mini counselling session. I think it’s really going to help with stres relief.

Hi @Crumpets124 thank you for your reply.

No IVF for us right now so figured it can't hurt, it's quite nice actually like a fragrant herbal tea.

Reflexology is amazing and I cannot believe I haven't been before! X

I love the idea of reflexology, but I have sensitive feet! I can stand a pedicure for short amounts of time, if I really concentrate. Would reflexology be enjoyable, or an absolute nightmare for me?

@HJF84 I promise you, I have the tickliest feet ever and can't bare pedicures because as soon as they start scrubbing the underneath my legs jerk and I can't keep still yet I found it so relaxing that I fell asleep! They use warm oils, gentle touches but not light touches so it doesn't tickle, they press with their fingertips on certain points of your feet and toes and it's genuinely the most relaxing thing I've ever had done, give it a shot and explain that you have sensitive feet, the lady I went to is based in Surrey if that's anywhere near you and can fully recommend xx

@elc19 Thanks - and I'd love the recommendation please - I'm in Surrey 😁

I would also like the recommendation Of your lady if you don’t mind?

@HJF84 and @Crumpets124 she is called Alison Fuller and if you google her with reflexology she comes straight up. She was so lovely, welcoming and her space was relaxing and had a lovely atmosphere. She takes a lot of time listening to your history and writes down all of the important stuff. Feels like she really listens and cares and wants to help. I was really taken by surprise at how at ease I was within seconds of being there. I really do recommend. I filled in her email page on her website and had an email back and a date within 10 days x

I’m a reflexologist. It is really really good for infertility. Likewise acupuncture.

It is really really good for infertility.

Based on what scientific evidence?

It’s a nice foot massage and if you find it relaxing, fine. It’s wrong to claim it can cure (or even help) infertility.

No it isn't a nice foot massage. It's far more than that. I think there are people who claim to be reflexologists who may offer 'just a foot massage' but they aren't proper reflexologists. If you do a proper training, it is necessary to learn about the whole body systems, organs, and there is a lot of anatomy and physiology. The principle is ancient, and there are depictions of reflexology in ancient Egypt.

There are meridians running through the body which connect all parts of the body, like train tracks. These meridians run through the whole body including the feet. Each area of the body is represented on the sole of the foot, and with proper stimulation regulates the body systems and energy flow. My course took ten months and was a lot of hard work. It is insulting to suggest it is 'just a foot massage'.

My course took ten months and was a lot of hard work.

My medical degree took a lot longer than that.

Can you point me to any scientific study that shows reflexology has any effect on infertility?

Oh right, because your medical degree took longer reflexology must be a load of hokum. Really broad minded . I have the evidence of many people I have treated and colleagues have treated, articles I have read, friends I know who have benefitted from it hugely. The case studies of fellow students and lectures on the subject.

Come on. You’re not seriously comparing your reflexology course to a medical degree? It’s not a scientific field.

People do pay for it and that’s up to them. It doesn’t cause any harm. To state that it’s “really, really good for infertility” without a shred of proper, peer reviewed scientific evidence is taking advantage of people struggling with a horrible situation. Acupuncture is exactly the same.

If you want to argue on this thread please remove yourself @PurpleDaisies.

This isn't for negativity, I wanted to share my experience for others that may find it beneficial to them mentally or physically.

Reflexology is very well researched and proven links to different parts of your body. If you don't agree that's fine, but please don't come onto my post with negativity.

I have had 8 miscarriages and no successful pregnancies, I'm not naive, I don't believe this will magically make me pregnant with the healthiest baby and get my happy ending.

What I do know is I found it relaxing and enjoyable and mentally I was able to zone out from my grief and sadness for a while whilst focusing positively on my womb area as advised by my reflexologist.

I have the evidence of many people I have treated and colleagues have treated, articles I have read, friends I know who have benefitted from it hugely.

That’s not evidence, that’s anecdotal data at best. Evidence is peer reviewed scientific studies preferably in the form of randomised controlled trials.

I agree with @PurpleDaisies.

And this People do pay for it and that’s up to them. It doesn’t cause any harm. To state that it’s “really, really good for infertility” without a shred of proper, peer reviewed scientific evidence is taking advantage of people struggling with a horrible situation. Acupuncture is exactly the same. is completely true.

There’s a difference between negativity and stating the facts which is all @PurpleDaisies has done. If you want to try alternative treatments to help with relaxation or to help you deal with the stress of infertility or for your mental wellbeing that’s absolutely fine. But to claim it’s really really good for infertility is nonsense and misleading, potentially and there is no good evidence that it makes any difference to fertility.

Not sure about reflexology, but acupuncture has been shown to help with a number of conditions, such as chronic pain as well as infertility. Just because its claims can't be verified with the scientific method doesn't mean it's ineffective as a treatment. Don't underestimate the placebo effect.

Maybe I should never of even started this thread in the hopes to share some experience and talk to other women who are using acupuncture/reflexology.

I think the comments are uncalled for and every single person on the infertility board has more than likely done enough research, medication etc to know that these treatments won't cure infertility but even if they can help mentally, it could be good for them.

Sorry to anyone I've upset, wasn't intentional and because people can't just keep their noses out or stuff that doesn't relate to them because they don't believe in it or they think it's a load of shite, why they bother involving themselves on threads that they are not interested in is behind me, but I'm a drama free person so I'd rather bow out now.

If anyone is interested in how I get on with it, feel free to message me personally x

Just because its claims can't be verified with the scientific method doesn't mean it's ineffective as a treatment.

...I'm just going to repost this sentence, in all its glorious absurdity.

Acupuncture trials have been done on various conditions which proved that it helped.
I don’t know if this has been done for reflexology but I have no doubt that these alternative eastern medicines work for many people.

I much prefer the likes of that or reiki, kinesiology or Bowen therapy to having injections or taking hormones to solve my problems.

I feel sorry for those who have not had a chance to experience the difference these things can make, as sometimes it’s so immense that you need to see if (have it) to believe it!

My acupuncturist is in Stirlingshire in Scotland and is awsum. She can do things my gp cannot do with his nhs medicines. With no side effects.

Chainsaw bear, why do you think it's absurd that something that cannot be verified by science may not still be effective? I don't personally believe that acupuncture or reflexology are effective treatments because of the assertions they make, but nonetheless a benefit can be observed in the treatment of certain conditions. Again, never underestimate the placebo effect. Just because it may not work the way it claims to, doesn't mean it doesn't work.

But continue being oh so patronising if it makes you feel better about yourself.