Information sheets

Do you have the classic, painful signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI)—a burning sensation on urination, a constant urge to go, and cloudy or dark urine? In Chinese Medicine, this is known as Damp-Heat in the Bladder. It occurs when a combination of "Dampness" (from sugar, dairy, or greasy foods) and "Heat" (from stress, alcohol, or spicy foods) creates a hot, inflammatory environment in the urinary system.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Burning, frequent, and urgent urination.
• Cloudy, dark, or strong-smelling urine.
• Pressure or pain in the lower abdomen.

It is crucial to see a medical doctor for any UTI symptoms, as an untreated infection can become serious. Our acupressure treatments work as a powerful complementary therapy to clear the underlying pattern. The lifestyle advice is essential, focusing on flushing the system with water, a strict anti-inflammatory diet, and avoiding all triggers to help resolve the infection and prevent recurrence.

Do you experience UTI-like symptoms such as frequency and urgency, but instead of burning pain, you feel a dull, heavy ache in your lower abdomen? Is the pain better with a hot water bottle? This is a classic presentation of Damp-Cold in the Bladder, a pattern where Cold and Dampness have congealed in the urinary system, creating a "cold, stagnant bog."

Key signs of this pattern include:

• A dull, achy pain in the lower abdomen (not burning).
• Pale, cloudy urine.
• A feeling of cold in the body.

This condition is often caused by exposure to cold or a diet of cold/raw foods. Our acupressure treatments aim to warm the core and drain the dampness. The lifestyle advice is crucial and centers on a strict diet of only warm, cooked foods and the direct application of heat to melt the "ice" and restore comfort.

Do you struggle with frequent, copious urination, have to wake up at night to go, or experience leakage when you're tired? This is often a sign of Bladder Deficiency and Cold, a Chinese Medicine pattern that describes a weak and "leaky" bladder system, not an infection. It is rooted in a depletion of the body's core warming energy (Kidney-Yang).

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Frequent, copious, and pale urination.
• Waking at night to urinate (nocturia) or incontinence.
• There is NO burning pain, and a feeling of cold in the lower back is common.

This is a chronic pattern of weakness, not an acute excess. Our acupressure treatments aim to gently warm and strengthen the core. The lifestyle advice is paramount, focusing on a long-term, strictly warming diet and habits that conserve energy and protect the body's internal "pilot light" to slowly rebuild strength and function.

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a complex and frustrating condition. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, it's not a single disease but a state of profound imbalance in the lower abdomen. We see it as a combination of underlying patterns that can include inflammatory "Damp-Heat," stress-related "Liver-Qi Stagnation," chronic pain from "Blood Stasis," and a deep-seated "Kidney Deficiency."

Common presentations can include:

• Acute flares with burning pain (Damp-Heat).
• Symptoms strongly linked to stress (Liver-Qi Stagnation).
• Chronic, deep ache and weakness (Kidney Deficiency).

Our approach with acupressure is to identify and treat your specific combination of these patterns. The goal is to provide a personalized therapy that calms inflammation, soothes the nervous system, and rebuilds your body's core resilience. Our lifestyle advice, particularly regarding diet and stress management, is designed to empower you to reduce triggers and manage this challenging condition more effectively.

Do you suffer from nausea (especially after fatty meals), a heavy feeling under your right ribs, a sticky taste in your mouth, and a general "brain fog" or indecisiveness? This is a classic presentation of Dampness in the Gall Bladder. In Chinese Medicine, it occurs when "Dampness"—a heavy, sticky substance from a diet of greasy or rich foods—clogs the Gall Bladder system.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Nausea and poor digestion of fats.
• Fullness or a dull ache under the right ribs.
• A "foggy" head and indecisiveness.

This pattern is a result of obstruction, not heat. Our acupressure treatments aim to drain this dampness and restore the free flow of Qi. The lifestyle advice is paramount, requiring a strict, low-fat diet that eliminates greasy foods, dairy, and sugar to "unclog" the system and restore digestive and mental clarity.

Do you suffer from sharp pain under your right ribs (especially after a fatty meal), nausea, a bitter taste in your mouth, and possibly fever and chills? This is the classic presentation of Damp-Heat in the Gall Bladder, the primary Chinese Medicine pattern associated with gallstones and acute gall bladder inflammation (cholecystitis). It occurs when a "hot, toxic swamp" of Dampness and Heat clogs the gall bladder, often from a diet of greasy, spicy foods and alcohol.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Sharp pain under the right ribs.
• Nausea, vomiting, and a bitter taste.
• Fever, chills, and possible jaundice (yellow skin/eyes).

These symptoms, especially severe pain and fever, can be a medical emergency and require immediate evaluation by a doctor. Our acupressure therapy works alongside medical care to clear the underlying pattern. The lifestyle advice is paramount, requiring a strict, low-fat, non-spicy diet to "drain the swamp" and cool the inflammation.