Here’s a tip – theres a great chance your belly ring is causing your body more harm than you may realise. The conception vessel is the meridian than runs through the centre of your body – connecting you from top to bottom. From a TCM perspective, this is where all the communication occurs for the events involved in reproductive health including hormone regulation, ovulation, menstruation, implantation, and all your lady (and man) inner workings (think egg and semen quality, hormone interaction…. you get the drift right?) Now the belly ring poses two major issues from my perspective. Firstly, it creates a permanent obstruction in the acupuncture point CV (or REN) 8. This acupuncture point is never needled in a clinical situation. It is in fact ‘forbidden’ to do so in TCM practice. And secondly, as I’ve outlined, being on the conception vessel, it is one of the most important meridians influencing fertility.

When a piercing is placed in CV 8 (or anywhere for that matter) it creates a physical blockage – meaning that the energy flow is compromised and can’t pass freely (if at all) through the channel. If it all sounds a bit hippy – there is now research that confirms acupuncture channels exist. Now, obstruction of energy flow around the body may not sound like a big deal to you – but for me as an acupuncturist, it kinda makes me grimace – a lot. And here’s some news for you – I was a victim to the channel blocking belly piercing too. Mine spat itself out within the first 2 months of my first pregnancy. Seems my body was clever enough to realise it wasn’t on my best ideas list.

So if you’re suffering from amenorrhea (no periods), dysmenorrhea (period pain), heavy periods, irregular periods, fertility issues, endometriosis, poly cystic ovarian, syndrome, fibroids or you just resonate with what I’m saying – it may be time to take it out. It’s especially relevant to those trying for a baby without too much luck. Just because you don’t already show signs of it being an issue doesn’t mean they won’t develop.

It’s just another way we can help take another step toward a more fertile, healthier you.

Oooh and whilst I’m on the topic of being more fertile and healthy, don’t forget – today is the last day to register for the February round of my gentle body cleanse. Come join in the fun – there’s another big group of us doing it again next week. Find out the full list of details here, how to register and why it will have you hi-fiving your computer screen because it is seriously the best thing going!