Maru Clinic of Chinese Medicine

Concentrated granules are used. These have been shown by research to be at least as effective as the traditional raw herbs and have a higher absorption rate. They are prepared simply by dissolving in hot water, and because they are concentrated, a single dose is only about 50-100mls.

In the hands of a qualified practitioner of Chinese Medicine safety is assured. Only sterilised, single-use needles are used and there is no chance of cross-infection. Herbs are selected appropriately for the client and do not have the side effects associated with some modern drugs and it can be used safely on a regular basis.

Courses of treatment vary according to the person & the complaint. Children usually respond very quickly. Acute illnesses, such as a recent cold, sore throat or urinary tract infection may only need one consultation and a few days of herbs. Acute sports injury usually only requires a few acupuncture treatments (3-5 on average). Long term conditions and chronic illnesses usually require a longer course of treatment. Generally speaking, the older the illness and the more complex the condition, the longer the course of treatment required. Usually, treatment will be more intense during the first few weeks, following which, intervals between treatments will gradually become longer. The period of treatment can vary greatly. Often there is no recurrence of symptoms but in some cases maintenance treatment is required.

The initial consultation entails a comprehensive interview with tongue and pulse diagnosis to establish what factors are contributing to the problem & to understand the individual constitution of the client. This initial consultation & treatment may take up to an hour & a half. Follow-up treatments generally take forty-five minutes. Most people feel relaxed afterwards and report improvements in sleep, energy and general well-being.

Although practitioners of Chinese Medicine study western medical science and understand disease processes from the western viewpoint, diagnosis in Chinese Medicine is not made according to a disease name, but according to patterns of the relative balance of Yin and Yang in the various organ systems. The appearance of the tongue and its coat and 28 different pulse qualities in 6 positions are fundamental in identifying patterns and diagnosing which organ systems are implicated. These patterns tell us the underlying cause of the disease, known as the root, and it is the root that the treatment will chiefly focus on. It is possible for two people to present with the same 'disease', for instance, 'ulcerative colitis', but fall into different 'patterns' and be treated quite differently. Conversely, two people may present with different diseases, one with asthma, the other with dysmenorrhoea, for example, but be diagnosed with the same pattern and have very similar treatment.

Illness occurs when the body’s natural functions are disturbed. Chinese Medicine uses herbs, acupuncture, cuppng, guasha & tuina to stimulate and regulate the natural functions of the body to restore health. For instance, it does not work by introducing replacement hormones, enzymes, blood cells, but instead, it assists the body to resume its normal function of producing them. This process takes more time than some modern therapies which might introduce foreign substances to the body to control the body’s reactions. However, although the results of Chinese Medicine are not always instant, they are safe, effective and long-lasting.

Chinese Medicine had its origins over 4000 years ago. In the last 2000 years, it has evolved into a highly sophisticated form of healing which is both science and art. It recognises the interaction of various physiological systems and focuses on the underlying cause of illness as well as the symptoms. Chinese Medicine not only treats serious illness but can also treat it at the early stage before it becomes serious. Some patients come regularly for a tune-up to maintain good health. There are not the side effects associated with some modern drugs and it can be used safely on a regular basis. It is effective used alone or when used in conjunction with other therapies.

Acupuncture can be used to facilitate labour in many ways: it is used at the time of delivery to promote the descent of the baby, to establish labour, to moderate (but not weaken) the contractions and to ease back pain. Best results are obtained when the mother has had treatment prior to the birth, where acupuncture can prepare the perineum and enhance cervical ripening. As described above, the best outcomes come for a mother in good health. Prolonged labour can be the result of deficient 'qi'. A Chinese medicine practitioner can determine if this is so quite early in the pregnancy and prescribe herbs to take during the pregnancy.

Chinese medicine is highly effective in caring for both mother and baby during pregnancy. Acupuncture gets excellent results for morning sickness, even where there is constant, countless episodes of vomiting, and with a foundation of 200 years of clinical observation, Chinese herbalists and acupuncturists are the experts when it comes to knowing what is safe and beneficial for mother and child alike. It is used in cases of threatened and recurrent miscarriage, for the numerous common problems which can arise during pregnancy. Closer to the due date, acupuncture is used to prepare the perineum and enhance cervical ripening.

Chinese medicine can care for maternal health while avoiding antibiotics and other strong drugs, and by caring for maternal health and building the mother's strength, has been found to improve labour outcomes. The best outcomes occur when the mother's health and 'qi' are at optimum levels. Prolonged labour is often the result of deficient 'qi'.

Chinese medicine has a long history of treating women. It views them as having special attributes which must be accommodated in treatment, and does not accept that irregular menstruation, period pain or menopausal symptoms are normal and something that a woman should simply put up with. It understands the toll that pregnancy and childbirth (not to mention child-raising) take on a woman's health and has strategies to address these both by treatment and by preventative strategies.

Amongst the conditions treated are: menstrual pain, endometriosis, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), depression, anxiety, insomnia, short cycles, long cycles, missed periods, excessive menstruation, acne, headaches, fatigue and other problems that occur with the menstrual cycle, abnormal vaginal discharge, breast pain, nipple discharge, insufficient lactation, constipation, haemorrhoids, prolapse and cervical dysplasia.

Chinese medicine is wonderful for children: it offers a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics and corticosteroids and, because it can strengthen the immune system, it is very useful in the treatment of recurrent or lingering infections. Robin bonds naturally with children and is able to put them at their ease. If acupuncture is used, tiny paediatric needles are inserted in only one or two points for a very short time. In babies, usually one needle is used for just a few seconds. It is certainly not as frightening or painful as immunization with a hypodermic syringe. Special paediatric herbs are used which are palatable and well accepted by the young patients.

Chinese medicine has been shown by modern research and by 2000 years of clinical evidence to effectively treat a broad range of common illnesses. In bygone days it was often used as a last resort when Western medicine had failed - even in those circumstances, results were good. These days, however, more and more people are seeking Chinese medicine as a first port of call. Chinese medicine supports the immune system and can be used for health maintenance. It effectively treats a broad range of acute and chronic conditions, including coughs and colds, asthma and bronchitis, headache and migraine, skin disorders, chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, stress, stomach disorders, constipation, diarrhoea, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and other intestinal disease, premenstrual syndrome, irregular or painful menstruation, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, morning sickness, haemorrhoids, and many other disorders. It can be used in conjunction with Western medicine and is used in cancer treatment to enhance outcomes and counter the uncomfortable effects of chemo and radiotherapy, as well as being used for health maintenance in the remission period. Robin specialises in using Chinese medicine to support pregnancy and childbirth, where Chinese medicine offers drug-free solutions to the various problems which can arise. Acupuncture can get labour started when it stops and starts and fails to become established, or can give an alternative to the use of medical induction by promoting labour when there are overdue dates. Acupuncture has also been shown to be safe and to have the best results in managing breech presentation.