Bringing Classical Acupuncture to Hospitals to treat High Risk Pregnancy

Speaker: 
Zena Kocher L.Ac
Lecture Type: 
Breakout Session
Lecture Day: 
Day 3
Room: 
Labatt Hall
Credits: 
1.50

Over the past 11 years, Zena has been able to use classic ‘threatened miscarriage’ treatments in conjunction with Western medical care to treat high risk pregnancy at a large metro hospital. Due to the diversity and breadth of the population seeking care, this lecture will can examine the myriad causes of admission to an antepartum unit: preterm labor (PTL), preterm premature ruptured membranes (PPROM), preeclampsia, placenta previa, hypertension, uterine bleeding, kidney failure and cholestasis, and Zena will show how she has applied classical training to these conditions. Demonstrations include self-care techniques that are useful to teach patients and family members such as Qi Gong exercises, Korean hand therapy (KHT), acupressure points, aromatherapy and guided imagery to sustain pregnancy. This talk includes data and patient cases collected from her hospital, illuminated by current research and the classics. 
 

Learning Objectives 

1.Understand causes of admission to antepartum unit in a hospital
2. Become familiar with classic treatment strategies for typical antepartum patients
3. Learn the art of bringing acupuncture into a hospital setting
4. Take home techniques to teach family and birth partners for sustaining pregnancies

Zena Kocher L.Ac

Since 1995, Zena Kocher has been a practicing traditional Asian medicine provider with clinical experience in women's health.  In 2006, she expanded her practice to also serve as an Integrative Medicine (IM) provider for MotherBaby Center at Abbott Northwestern hospital, which is a part of the Allina Healthcare system in Minnesota. As an IM inpatient provider, she uses acupuncture, massage, mind body techniques and aromatherapy to support women during their pregnancies, births and postpartum periods in the hospital. She has had the unique experience of working with high risk pregnancies in the antenatal unit, helping women to stay pregnant and happy longer. In the last few years, Zena has been enjoying training other acupuncturists to work in the MotherBaby Centers at other Allina Health hospitals and has created a MotherBaby collaborative to strengthen and inform our Integrative work.

 

Zena's introduction to natural medicine came at the heels of her Swiss grandmother, who would forage herbs and use them to treat her family.  In 1995, she expanded upon this knowledge by studying directly under Dr. Duc Kieu, a Vietnamese Herbalist and Master Acupuncturist for three years. Then she went to receive her Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine from the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University and became NCCAOM certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. She utilizes various bodywork modalities, Shiatsu, Reiki, guided imagery, NLP, and hypnosis in her work.  She enjoys teaching individuals, families, and groups of caring people and hopes to share this work internationally.

Integrative Fertility Symposium

Healthy Seminars 6th Integrative Fertility Symposium will be held exclusively online. The IFSymposium is geared towards Chinese medicine and naturopathic physicians who have an interest in treating reproductive health issues using an integrative approach. IFS 2021 date TBA

Symposium Location

Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada

778-861-3826