Life Medicine Clinic - Acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine clinic

Jo was inspired to pursue her chosen career by Baan Nit, an 87-year-old grandmother who taught her traditional Thai Massage in Thailand in 1994.

Since then Jo has obtained professional qualifications in Swedish Remedial Massage, Aromatherapy and Reflexology.

After several years in practice, Jo trained for a further 3 years on a full time BSc (Hons) Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture Course at the University of Westminster. This training allowed her to integrate her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and clinical diagnostic skills.

Following her graduation she completed further clinical Acupuncture training at various hospitals in HangZhou, China.

On her return to London she studied for a further two years at The University of Westminster on the Post Graduate Degree course in Chinese Herbal Medicine, gaining a first class distinction. During this time she also spent one month in clinical training in Australia with Jane Lyttleton and Steven Clavey who specialise in Chinese Gynaecology and Infertility.

Gynaecology and Obstetrics are areas of particular interest for her. She conducted some research which asked British women what treatments they perceived to be effective for PMS symptoms. She has written articles on the findings for Positive Health (Nov 2000), and the National Association of Premenstrual Syndrome (NAPS).

In recent years she has completed a year's course in Neuro linguistic Programming (NLP), with International training Seminars UK, which she finds particularly useful in combination with acupuncture for food, and alcohol addictions.

Currently (2007) she has completed another short study trip in HangZhou, China and is completing her Master of Science (MSc) and PhD in Chinese Medicine at Middlesex University, London. Her research aims to explore Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility.

Jo is also an artist www.jogeorgeart.co.uk, founder and managing director of the Inspired Art Fair www.inspiredartfair.com, a small not-for-profit, London based contemporary arts organisation that curates and manages projects. Since its establishment in 2003, work has included 4 annual Inspired Art Fairs (IAF), The Aprilia Art Challenge and Prelude, a series of monthly showcasing visual art events in Spitalfields for emerging UK artists.

Press coverage

Ten to 15 per cent of British couples a year have difficulty conceiving. Common responses include IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilisation), with drugs to encourage ovulation.

However, a report published last month claimed acupuncture can raise IVF success rates by as much as 65 per cent.

The benefits are obvious: reduced side effects and practitioners who take a holistic view of patient health – so sitting down with them is like chatting to your best (informed) friend.

The comfort factor is something that has led conventional medicine to pooh-pooh encouraging results; it also makes those results hard to quantify – but conventional medicine is opening up to possibilities.

The IVF unit at Hammersmith Hospital, west London, combines complementary and mainstream medicine. For example, Gidon Lieberman, a fertility specialist at north London's Whittington Hospital, says: 'We know that some people manage spontaneous pregnancies [with complementary therapy] and we often don't know why.

'But the fertility journey is hard, so anything that eases it is worthwhile.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Jo George specialises in Traditional Chinese Medicine and gynaecology at the Life Medicine Clinic, combining acupuncture and Chinese herbs to treat infertility.

'The people I meet have usually been through Western medicine to the extent they're thinking about or have had IUI and IVF,' she says.

According to TCM, says Jo, unexplained infertility (18 per cent of all cases) always has a cause.

'Premenstrual symptoms, for example, or slightly late ovulation – these wouldn't be picked up in Western medicine. In TCM, we'd see that as an imbalance that needs treating. We look at these cases holistically – diet, environment, stress levels, what's happening in that person's life.

'In response, the herbal treatment can get very sophisticated. I may blend three formulas for the same month, one for pre-ovulation, another for ovulation, and another for post ovulation depending on the issues.'

She boasts some startling success stories, although there are always cases that neither Western nor Chinese medicine can treat. 'Sometimes some people's systems are just better suited to a more holistic route.'

Healthy magazine, July 2007 Holland & Barrett stores. Review on Dang Gui its uses in female gynaecology.

Evening Standard, Jan 2007. 5 Chinese medicine tips for a good nights sleep.

Daily Mail, Feb 2006 Complementary medicine, Michelle Stanistreet asks if her claim has a scientific basis. Will Acupuncture really help women to conceive? Amanda Bush, 36, after trying for four years to conceive, and failed conventional fertility treatment turned to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at the Life Medicine Clinic, London. Following a combination of Chinese Herbal Medicine and acupuncture she was successful within three months.

Sunday Express Magazine, 15th Jan 2006 Treatment of the week-Life Medicine Clinic by Louise Walker. How regular treatments helped Louise Walker to gain a healthy body and mind, through improved digestion, sleep, and genearl well being.

Daily Mirror, 17th Feb 2006 How we got pregnant, apart from the obvious 'Acupuncture got my ovary working' By Kim Jones. Click here to read.

Pregnancy Baby and You Magazine, Dec 2005 Single page feature. Sharp response. Could the ancient practice of acupuncture really improve Thalia gray's fertility and help maintain a healthy first preganacy? As a sufferer of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Thalia Gray, 40, had irregular periods for most of her life. A month of weekly treatments with Jo at the Lifemedicine clinic managed to get her monthly cycles back on track. Just after five months after her treatment started she became pregnant at the first attempt. She continued throughout her pregnancy tomaintian acupuncture treatments, which reduced nausea, removed sciatica pain, and helped her recover from Post natal depression once her son was born.

Zest Magazine, Sept 2005 'Acupuncture helped me get pregnant' Alison Hammond 37, IT analyst, London started trying to conceive at 34, but after a year nothing happened. She suspected endometriosis, which was confirmed. They also picked up a large blood filled cyst on her ovary. She had keyhole surgery to remove it, but still after 8 months she wasn't pregnant. After consulting Jo, she followed her recommendations to reduce sugar, and dairy intake, and to eat as much organic as possible and as well as take Chinese herbal medicine and receive regular acupuncture. Within 3 months she was pregnant, and continued with regular acupuncture throughout her pregnancy which helped reduce nausea. She had no complications throughout, and gave birth to Henry, 7lbs 6oz, after two hour labour with no pain relief.

Independent, Tuesday 1st March 2005 'I was desperate to start a family' Double page Health review. A combination of Chinese Medicine and conventional IVF treatment is showing promising results in helping infertile couples by Hester Lacey. Mary Stewart had several eptopic pregnancies, and had her right ovary removed. Mary, 31 tried IVF, which was unsuccessful. After seeking alternative treatment with Jo at the Life medicine clinic, Mary's left ovary was stimulated into action. She continued with a course of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and conceived naturally after another failed IVF attempt. At 36 weeks her son was in breech position, and jo turned the baby using Moxa (a dried herb), and Mary avoided a caesarean.

Men's Health Magazine, Will acupuncture or hypnotherapy help you stop smoking? Alex visited Jo George - a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. Click here to read. How Alex staved off his withdrawal symptoms with acupuncture sessions from Jo.

All of the above have strict codes of ethics.

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Safety reviews

Members of the British Acupuncture Council UK follow its Code of Safe Practice, to ensure a high standard of hygiene and safety, which is "approved by the Department of Health, and provides protection against the transmission of infectious diseases."

In 2001British Medical Journal completed a review which concluded "that acupuncture is a very safe intervention in the hands of a competent practitioner seems justified on the evidence available. Certainly the dangers of many orthodox procedures are greater, though no easy comparisons can be made."