Since 1997, the professionals at 6th Sense Health & Wellness Center have guided clients on their health and wellness journeys, using an array of results-based holistic wellness practices.
Through massage, acupuncture, healthy weight management, and nutritional counseling, the 6th Sense team strives to counteract the effects of day-to-day stress, injuries, and overall body pain, while sending every client home feeling relaxed, happy, and enthusiastic about a healthy future! For women especially, there are two services that focus on their needs as hopeful – and expectant – mothers.
Pregnancy Massage
Nikki Ferguson-Roach is a massage therapist at 6th Sense, who began her career in health and wellness on the administrative side. She took a leap of faith and pursued the medical route, although tentative at first about having such personal contact with clients.
“Then I realized it’s all in the intention,” she says. “We are healers, and once your intentions are pure and for the good of the client, it gets so much easier. I really enjoy doing pregnancy massages because of my own experience. I feel I’m better able to assess where a client’s discomfort originates, and alleviate some of that discomfort.”
Pregnancy sessions are typically done in the second trimester, in hour-long sessions, with the client in a prone or side-lying position.
“We have pillows specifically designed to allow the mother to lie face down without putting pressure on her growing stomach,” explains Nikki. “Once she is turned over, we take care to make sure she’s in a comfortable position for the entire treatment. Certain areas are avoided during the session for the safety of the mother and her unborn child.”
Not only does pregnancy massage gently help the discomforts of the mother’s changing body, it also promotes overall wellness during pregnancy. Post-pregnancy, massage can help reduce swelling during breastfeeding – and as a welcome bonus for new parents – promote better sleep!
Fertility Acupuncture
After obtaining a degree in nutrition and completing pre-med courses at Winston-Salem State University, Dr. Chelsea Wynter felt drawn more to the naturopathic medical field, instead of traditional medicine. She received her master’s degree in acupuncture and doctorate in naturopathic medicine, then studied acupuncture more extensively in China, focusing on fertility and prenatal health, pain management, addiction recovery, and emotional rebalance.
A first-time mom, Chelsea brought her own daughter into the world by a water birth, and she loves passing on her instincts to clients via acupuncture. An initial visit generally lasts one hour, with return visits lasting 30 to 45 minutes.
“A typical acupuncture visit includes a series of questions, an evaluation of pulse and tongue if appropriate, Chinese diagnosis, and treatment based on the individual’s diagnosis,” explains Chelsea.
Besides acupuncture, treatment techniques may include herbs, fire cupping (an ancient technique that uses glass or plastic jars on the skin to enhance circulation and remove toxins from the body), e-stim (electrical stimulation), Gua Sha (a rubbing motion to relieve pain and tension), hydrotherapy, and tuina massage (a traditional Chinese medicine technique often used along with acupuncture)– every session is completely individualized!
While we know acupuncture benefits include stress relief, improved sleep, increased energy, and a calmer mind, it can also provide a natural and safe alternative therapy to assist women in conceiving naturally, while undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection.)
“Studies consistently conclude that acupuncture treatment on the day of embryo transfer results in more effectiveness,” says Chelsea. “On average, acupuncture has shown to improve IVF success rates by 40% when compared to the placebo group.”
Infertility, acupuncture is thought to affect the blood supply to the uterus, as well as improve egg quality. Treatments can also affect the release of neurotransmitters, which may influence the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Acupuncture’s top benefit of reducing stress is a win-win, as diminishing stress has been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of conception.
Besides assistance with infertility issues, women find success in weight management through acupuncture, as well as helping chronic pain from uterine fibroids, with heartfelt testimonials praising the Sixth Sense team’s compassionate care.
Located at 1012 Brookstown Avenue in Winston-Salem, 6th Sense Health & Wellness Center sees clients on weekdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Reach them at 336-723-4400 or make an appointment online at 6ths.com.
