Specializing in Reproductive Acupuncture - Why I Love What I Do!
#1 Acupuncture works really well for women’s health, and I love to see the results! Acupuncture taps into our hormone system quickly and beautifully, gently regulating our cycles and tuning into our nervous systems to align the communication between the brain and the reproductive centers of our bodies. The most powerful points for women are on the wrist and around the feet and the ankles. Did you know that there are acupuncture points in the ear? I use the ovary and uterus point every day in my practice for conditions like hormone imbalance, PCOS and irregular cycles.
#2 Chinese herbs work at the level of our blood and they offer very powerful support for women. They can move blood (painful periods), stop blood (heavy periods), break blood (fibroids, endometriosis), nourish the womb (fertility) and anchor our emotions (PMS). Chinese herbs are given at different parts of a woman’s menstrual cycle to work with our ever changing landscape. This approach is so fascinating to me and most importantly it works which is why I love what I do!
#3 I like to talk about hormones. And periods. The last time most of us had formal education about our bodies was decades ago and were we really paying attention? The truth is, conception and hormones can get complicated quickly and I love to spend time with my patients diving into the details. When was the last time your doctor asked you about your period? I want to know what color the blood is - is it red at first and then brown? Or is it brown first and then red? Are there clots or tissue in the blood? I want to know it all because it helps me to get to the root of the problem.
#4 I love to give my patients hope. One phrase I hear a lot in my practice is “I don’t feel myself, but my doctor tells me I’m normal.” We need our doctors when we are sick, but when we are OK but not well, that’s where integrative medicine comes in. When I combine comprehensive lab testing and the ancient principles of Chinese medicine my patients begin to see the possibility of feeling well again, and this gives them hope.
#5 I love checklists (can you tell?). My friends call me Anner the Planner because I can easily see the big picture in any situation and I can organize the action items quickly to get the job done. When it comes to my practice, I enjoy holding space for all the details of a woman’s treatment plan - the lab results and next steps, the supplements, connecting the dots with other practitioners. Taking some overwhelm out of one’s health journey is deeply satisfying to me.
Anne Chiaramonte, M.S., L,Ac., FABORM is a board-certified reproductive acupuncturist in Santa Cruz, California. She specializes in treating infertility, period problems and mom burnout. With over twenty years experience integrating treatment plans with IVF protocols, Anne is well-versed in how acupuncture and functional medicine (lab testing and targeted supplements) dovetail with modern fertility and hormone treatments for the best outcome. She is passionate about giving her patients information to understand their health challenges and expanding the often limited set of tools doctors have for addressing the root of those challenges.
