Thousands of years ago, the ancient Chinese described women’s hormone cycles. They knew what modern medicine is just coming to understand: women experience variations in hormone levels, both throughout the month and throughout their lives.
These changes are as natural and inevitable as the sun rising and setting each day. The ancient text, Huang Di Nei Jing, which was authored over 2,000 years ago, describes how women’s bodies shift every 7 years, from the age of 7 through age 49. This classical text also outlines treatment strategies for women who have difficulty with the aging process.
As an Integrative Medicine physician, I include a variety of hormone measurements in my diagnostics. I utilize basal body temperature charts, cycle day 3 and 21 blood tests, saliva panels and classical diagnostics such as pulse reading to assess where a woman is in her monthly and life cycle. Acupuncture, diet and lifestyle counseling, nutritional supplements, and Chinese herbal formulas are the tools I use to guide women back to health.
The following is a sampling of issues that I treat. This is by no means an exhaustive list:
- Amenorrhea (absent periods)
- Dysmenorrhea and endometriosis (painful periods)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Fibroids, heavy bleeding and associated symptoms
- Estrogen dominance
- Progesterone deficiency
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Premature ovarian failure (POF)
- Genital warts, herpes and cervical dysplasia
- Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)
- PMS symptoms such as: headaches, mood changes and digestive issues
- Chronic yeast and bacterial infections
- Urinary tract infections and cystitis
- Loss of libido
- Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia
- Breast Issues
- Unexplained infertility
- Pregnancy related concerns such as back pain, breech presentation, blood sugar support, cervical ripening, etc.
- Postpartum care-including healing vaginal tearing, postpartum depression, lactation support, etc.
There are numerous studies supporting Oriental medicine’s efficacy in supporting women throughout their lives:
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- A 2002 study published in The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine focused on women diagnosed with painful periods due to endometriosis. The results showed that 81% of the women had significantly less pain with their periods after receiving acupuncture.
- A 2002 study published in The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine focused on women diagnosed with painful periods due to endometriosis. The results showed that 81% of the women had significantly less pain with their periods after receiving acupuncture.
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- A 2008 study of 649 women with dysmenorrhea (painful periods) found that a significant number of the women reported a large decrease in pain and an improvement in quality of life after 3 months of acupuncture.
- A 2008 study of 649 women with dysmenorrhea (painful periods) found that a significant number of the women reported a large decrease in pain and an improvement in quality of life after 3 months of acupuncture.
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- A 2002 study on women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) found that 78% of participants who received a four-week course of acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, irritability, headache, breast pain, insomnia, bloating, nausea, and gastrointestinal disorders.
- A 2002 study on women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) found that 78% of participants who received a four-week course of acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, irritability, headache, breast pain, insomnia, bloating, nausea, and gastrointestinal disorders.
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- A 2005 Chinese study looked at women with ovarian cysts to determine the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxabustion combined with Chinese herbs. In the treatment group, 54% of the women had enough improvement in their condition to be considered cured. In the control group, which did not receive TCM therapies, only 15% of the women were considered cured. In 2000, a Swedish study on women with PCOS found that acupuncture treatments over a three-month period regulated ovulation in 38% of the women.
What are you waiting for? Discover how healthy you can be, now and throughout the rest of your life!