|
Post-Partum
Care with Traditional Chinese Medicine
By Andrew Orr
(Adv Dip Health Sc(Acup & Ch Herbs),Ac China(Guangxi),Dip Rem
Ther)
Post-partum
refers to the time after childbirth. Following childbirth a women's
condition is very vulnerable and much care should be taken to eat
well and rest. Unfortunately in our western society the trend is
for women to leave their beds shortly after childbirth and even
go back to work only days after this vulnerable time.
Because
of the demands of childbirth much blood is lost during and after
labour. This definitely leads to deficiency of blood and therefore
leads to chronic tiredness and fatigue. This leaves the immune system
very susceptible to disease. In a lot of cases it is the main cause
of Post-Natal depression.
So
much emphasis is put on what you should and shouldnít do
while you are pregnant, but not enough information is given out
about how to look after yourself after labour. A mother needs to
be healthy in order to look after her new addition.
In
China every women knows how important it is to look after their
condition after childbirth. It is drummed into them from a very
young age and passed down from each generation. After childbirth
in the Chinese culture, the women are made to stay in bed and basically
do nothing but feed baby. This is done for a period of one month.
They are not allowed to do any work of any kind so that they have
every chance of regaining their energy after the demanding period
of childbirth.
During
this time their mother stays with them and basically does every
thing for them. Cooking, washing, change baby, wash baby, everything.
All the resting mother does is feed baby and regain her health.
Mother and baby do not leave the house in this time and demanding
visitors are not allowed for a month either. Baby sleeps next to
mother at all times and is not put into a separate cot until at
least six months old.
Every
effort is made to settle the new born soul. Chinese believe that
if the new soul is not allowed to settle into its new home it may
leave. Everything is introduced very slowly and at different stage
after the month settling period.
This
is one reason the Chinese believe we have a high incidence of SIDS.
They believe that most of us here in the west don't give the new
soul enough time to settle and like its new home. Instead we rush
baby here there and everywhere. Everyone comes over to see and unsettle
the new soul. We unsettle the new soul by taking them to shopping
centres shortly after birth. These places have very bright lights
and are very cold and are unsettling to the new soul. We seem to
try to do too much for mother and child so shortly after such a
physically draining ordeal.
With
Chinese Medicine, childbirth is seen as a deficiency of QI (Vital
Energy) and Blood. In Chinese terms all women suffer from Post-Partum
QI and Blood deficiency. This is due to obvious reasons. Women lose
a lot of Blood and QI during and after childbirth. Also organ such
as Spleen (producer of blood), Liver (storer of blood), Heart (commander
of Blood), are deficient because of this loss. This can then cause
many disharmonies in the body
The
Signs and symptoms of Qi and Blood deficiency are:
1. Tiredness, fatigue
2. Pale skin, complexion
3. Weakness of limbs
4. Dizziness, light-headedness
5. Poor appetite
6. Blurred vision
7. Depression
8. Poor memory
9. Insomnia
10. Loose stools
11. Pale tongue
12. Weak pulse
If
this Qi and Blood is not replaced it can lead to many serious problems.
These problems can either manifest early on or years later and can
have a serious effect upon having more children.
As I said before one of the serious side effects is Post-Natal Depression.
This can lead to far more serious effect such as suicide and violent
behaviour.
So
how do we restore our QI and Blood using Chinese Medicine?
Here ís how:
1. Chinese Herbs
2. Acupuncture
3. Eat blood rich foods
4. Eat only warming foods (No Cold, Raw foods or foods and drinks
cold out of the fridge)
5. REST REST REST..REST
6. Avoid cold places and draughty conditions
7. Eat plenty of soups (Chicken, Beef, Ox Tail, Vegetable etc
8. Avoid greasy, fatty foods
Blood and QI Rich foods:
Black boned chicken (found at any butcher in China Town)
Beef
Lamb
Eggs
Offal (Liver, heart, kidney etc)
Plum
Black Grapes or Black Grape Juice
Tomato
Cherry
Yam
Chinese vege (All)
Beetroot
Kidney beans
Black beans
GINGER..GINGER..GINGER
Spinach
Black Soya Bean
Lotus seed
Herbs
are by far the quickest way to restore much needed sources of QI
and Blood. Because we are all different in constitution and our
symptoms, herbs have to be tailored to each individuals needs.
Chinese
Medicine is not like Western medicine with one pill fixes the one
condition for everyone. Chinese Medicine tailors its medicine to
fix your own needs at the time. With Chinese Herbs we have to be
very specific with each persons signs and symptoms for them to work
effectively. While one formula could be good for one person the
same formula for someone else could make their condition worse.
Andrew
Orr is a fully Qualified Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine
and is a member of the Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Association LTD (Membership No.1283). Andrew has just returned from
Guangxi, China, where he has been working extensively in two major hospitals.
Andrew also specialises in care for pregnant women and writes an article
for the Natural Birthing Centre, at the Royal Women's Hospital (Brisbane),
every two months. Andrew has great success in treating the many common
ailments caused by pregnancy. Andrew has had great success using Acupuncture
during childbirth and has even used Acupuncture to turn babies in breech.
All care is done while keeping close contact with the patients family
Doctor or Midwife. Andrew
has an excellent knowledge of traditional Chinese Medicine and is involved
in research both here and in China.
|
