Women & Pregnancy

Why Birth Photography? by Caren Hespeler, doula and birth photographer www.heartworkdoula.com Why birth photography? The birth of a baby is one of the most amazing experiences of our lives, some would say more so than getting married. To allow our body to grow a human being and then work to bring that human into the […]

Urinary Tract infections are categorized as a bacterial infection of the urethra, bladder or kidney. This infection is usually from a bacteria in the intestinal tract such as E.coli and can infect both males or females. What are the symptoms of Urinary Tract infection? Strong and frequent urges to urinate Painful or burning sensation when […]

What is acid reflux? Also commonly known as heartburn, acid reflux can range from mild and infrequent to severe and constant.  There are many causes of this painful problem.  Some cases are diet sensitive, meaning the issue is caused or exacerbated by the intake of specific foods and drinks.  Some common culprits are coffee, alcohol […]

Acupuncture is extremely beneficial for pregnant women.  At Light & Joy, we specialize in caring for you during this special time.  We often get questions about how it can help and how often patients should be treated throughout pregnancy.  Our basic protocol for pregnant patients is as follows: Weeks 0-14 Weekly treatments are invaluable to […]

Craniopathy is used to determine and adjust misalignments of the separate cranial bones.  The cranial bones each have their own movement pattern with each breath as the CSF surges in the skull with each breath. The movement should be equal and free on both sides. One side or both sides of a particular cranial bone […]

So the holidays are coming or your neighbors annual BBQ is around the corner, but all of these events just give you heartburn, gas, constipation or diarrhea.  This may be a sign that you have some food allergies, our gut needs to heal from something, or it may be as simple as needing some digestive […]

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years but are recently a popular natural healing choice for many families. The most common ways they are used is aromatic diffusion, as a topical application, and a dietary consumption. These methods can help achieve a healthy balance in the body and aid in healing. The following […]

How can Chinese Medicine help with fertility? Acupuncture brings the body back into balance. Difficulties couples may be facing while trying to get pregnant are often manifestations of these imbalances. Acupuncture and herbs can help prepare your body for a successful pregnancy. Furthermore, studies have shown that women undergoing western fertility treatments have a higher […]

Our body has a built in detoxification system that allows us to get rid of unwanted particles that build up from our own natural processes – examples include using our muscles, hormones and other naturally occurring duties that our body performs. The goal of a detox is to reduce the amount of toxins we put […]

Before I was pregnant, I had volunteered at an event called Jenny’s Light and it is NOT named after me. It is a foundation created to bring awareness to postpartum depression something that affects 1 in 7 women and can range from very mild to very severe. In the case of Jenny, she took her […]

Exercise does a lot to keep you healthy and some of those benefits are also true for pregnant women. Exercise will: reduce blood pressure decrease cardiovascular risks like the formation of clots help to maintain an ideal body weight help to manage stable diabetes Additional benefits specific to pregnant women include: Improving the labor process […]

The holiday season that starts from Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and ends with the New Year. A common holiday feast condition is indigestion – full and burning sensation, upper abdominal pain, bloating or nausea. In Chinese medicine, indigestion is known as food stagnation. Symptoms include a lack of appetite and a bloating feeling in the stomach. The […]

Adding to the Peace of the World Did you know that anthropological studies show that the majority of the world’s most peaceful cultures, use touch prominently during pregnancy and early childhood? Bodywork, including therapeutic massage, can have a tremendously soothing effect – physically, mentally and emotionally. In pregnancy, this is true for mothers and their […]

What is Baby Mal-Position? It’s when the baby’s head position isn’t engaging with the pelvis, by either turning around in a way or tipping asymmetrically so that birth and labor are not optimally positioned. OB/GYN’s and Midwives will typically notice and classify a baby as Mal-Positioned somewhere between weeks 32-37. This may seem late but […]

What is Carpal Tunnel? This is a condition that is defined by tingling and numbness in the hand and arm which usually occurs gradually over time.  It eventually leads to hand weakness and is due to an impingement of the median nerve which runs down the center of the forearm (when you are looking at […]

First Trimester: Week 1-7:  Baby’s heart and face as well as the placenta are taking shape and forming. Symptoms: Fatigue, breast tenderness and perhaps morning sickness. To do: Eat well Take Prenatal Vitamins Schedule first pregnancy check-up with an OB/GYN or Midwife Schedule first Chiropractic visit to prevent major back pain during pregnancy Be excited […]

By definition menopause is the cessation of menstrual flow for more than 12 months, at which time a woman can now be defined as menopausal.  In our culture there is a lot of negativity surrounding being in menopause. However some cultures view it as the time when women become enlightened and can now share their […]

Homeopathic Labor Kit 37 Weeks to Labor:   Cimifuga Racemosa Gelsemium Sempervirens Coulophyllum Thalictroides Arnica Montana Pulsatilla Take each 1x per week on separate days and use 30ch dosage, do 4 pellets each. This combo has been associated with reducing difficult labors when the research was done versus a placebo group. The placebo group had […]

  The most common vitamin deficiency in America is Vitamin D. However, in a study done by William Shive at University of Texas at Austin, they found that 50% of people taking supplements are still deficient in some vitamins.  The deficiencies are because the supplements and vitamins may or may not be bio-available; meaning that […]

Eat Low Mercury Fish Salmon Tilapia Polluck Don’t eat raw fish, alfalfa sprouts and unwashed vegetables as these can be areas of bacterial storage and getting a bacterial infection can be very damaging to a baby growing inside of you. Drink safer water which means less chlorine and may require purchasing a filter such as […]

  If that resolution of hour-long daily workshops is long forgotten, don’t despair! New research shows that you can reduce the risk of heart disease by adapting your workout and spending less, yes we said LESS, time at the gym! Just remember these three keys to heart fitness: Cardio, Strength and Stretch Cardio Interval training […]

  How well are you sleeping?  Your sleep is an important health indicator so it’s important to determine if a disruption in sleep patterns is an isolated incident or a symptom of something more serious. In today’s busy world, most people believe that feeling tired is just part of life and something they have to […]

Dates don’t have to be in the evening!  Make a day of it. Start the morning with a latte and then head out on one of our beautiful Bay Area back roads. Stop for a romantic lunch at a fine restaurant. It will cost less than dinner and be less crowded. On the drive home […]

Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?   “There are no contra-indications to chiropractic care during pregnancy,” according to the American Pregnancy Association.  And when you think about how long chiropractics has been around, it could be considered one of the safest procedures that can be performed during your pregnancy. While all chiropractic professionals receive some training […]

   What is Libido? Libido is a person’s sex drive or interest in sexual activities. It is usually determined by a combination of hormones that our body secretes as well as neurotransmitters that cause us to desire sex in the first place.  Neurotransmitters are chemicals released in our brain and nervous system that stimulate different […]

Struggling With Infertility? Infertility describes a couple that has not been able to conceive after having unprotected sex for at least one year. The cause of this emotionally draining problem can be one of many physical or chemical factors. At inHealth Clinic we’ve found that fertility is negatively affected by extreme stress which can wreak […]