I am a licensed acupuncturist with a private practice just south of Gramercy Park in New York City. I focus on women's health issues and my passion is post partum care. It was my own personal experience as a new mother that first attracted me to Traditional Chinese Medicine and why I know that TCM effectively treats post partum conditions. Once upon a time there were strong cultural traditions designed to care for a new mother. This was particularly true in ancient China, where a new mother was expected to stay in bed for a period of at least one month and do nothing but rest and feed her new baby. All other responsibilities were left to extended family. Even visits from friends were discouraged because socializing was deemed too taxing.

Today this is not the case. We now have careers to manage, other children to look after and our own grown up identity to respect. Clearly some of these changes are for the better. However, the fundamental wisdom and understanding that new mothers need to be nurtured has been all but forgotten. Just because it is possible to multi-task while in the delivery room, does not mean it is a good idea, of that I can attest.

Pregnancy and childbirth are exhausting. In Chinese Medicine terms, the joyful events leave the new mother depleted of both Qi and Blood, TCM terminology for two vital substances essential to our health and wellbeing. I work with patients to rebuild Qi and Blood using acupuncture and Chinese dietary principles as main healing modalities. Post-partum concerns that respond particularly well to treatment include insufficient milk production, anxiety, depression, night sweats, sleeplessness, agitation, back pain and general exhaustion.