Please click on topic headers for more information on topics discussed in theses articles. Thank you. Women's SpecialtiesWith a growing amount of research and patient success stories, more and more women are seeking holistic and alternative medicines to treat a multitude of medical ailments and conditions. With our knowledge base of eastern medicine rapidly expanding, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have become a top choice for numerous women seeking a solution to and relief from otherwise “untreatable” or difficult and even chronic situations. Among these, the most common conditions we treat and specialize in are Infertility, PCOS, Endometriosis, Menopause, and PMS. According to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is an extremely effective pain management solution with the placement of the needles releasing the body’s natural painkillers and endorphins. It actually changes your body’s messages to your brain, however, pain management is just one of the many benefits of TCM and Acupuncture. This is why so many women are now turning to the healing effects of acupuncture for relief. In particular, those who benefit most are women suffering from long-term conditions with seemingly unknown causes and purportedly untreatable conditions by western standards. MenopauseBased on a medical study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina, acupuncture and Chinese Herbs drastically reduces the frequency of symptoms during menopause, especially hot flashes. This study documented long-term relief for nearly half of the women treated. This means that those women experienced fewer hot flashes and other symptoms for up to one year after their first six months of regular treatment. Other benefits of acupuncture treatment for menopause are pain relief, improved circulation and less mood swings. PMSWomen suffering from PMS will be happy to learn that acupuncture can provide relief from symptoms as soon as 24 hours after a session. According to Women’s Day Magazine, acupuncture relieves some 78% of premenstrual symptoms! It does this by increasing circulation, alleviating pain, stabilizing your mood and releasing endorphins. Some symptoms it relieves most are: cramps, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, nausea, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, and sore or swollen breasts. It also helps to relax your muscles. For best results, we recommend that you seek treatment once a month in the week prior to your period and take herbs as instructed by your TCM practitioner. InfertilityRecently, many infertility doctors are referring more and more women to seek acupuncture treatments in conjunction with infertility treatments. This is because they not only complement each other well, but medical research confirms that acupuncture increases your chances for fertilization and success with your IVF treatments. Acupuncture actually prepares the body and maximizes the potential effects and success of IVF treatments. It also alleviates the stress, anxiety and depression that can be a potential cause of or an unfortunate side effect of those struggling with infertility. Numerous medical research studies from places such as the NYU Fertility Center and Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the NYU Langone Medical Center and The Domar Center for Mind/Body Health at Boston IVF confirm that there appears to be a direct connection between stress, anxiety, and depression all playing a major role in infertility. Studies reflect that chronic stress can cause irregular ovulation, making both natural attempts and IVF attempts at fertilization and implantation extremely difficult. This in turn creates more stress, anxiety and depression. This is where acupuncture shines as a huge success with fertility treatments. Acupuncture relieves stress by relaxing the mind and body. It does this by activating the brain to releasing endorphins and improving circulations. It helps prepare the body for fertility treatments by improving blood blow to the ovaries and uterus. This in turn, thickens the lining of the uterus, increasing chances of conception. TCM, Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture used in combination yield optimal results and success rates. This combination of treatment corrects the body’s neuroendocrine system, activates the brain to release hormones that stimulate reproductive organs and adrenal glands and other organs involved with the reproductive system. PCOSChief among infertility conditions is polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. This is the most common cause of infertility among women. This disorder affects 10% of women and can occur at any age after their first ovulation. It’s a condition in which the ovaries created too many follicles each month and fail to produce an egg. This creates not only a disruption in ovulation, causing irregular and even missed periods (followed by sudden heavy bleeding). Symptoms of PCOS not already mentioned above, include (but are not limited to): acne, high blood pressure, elevated hormone levels, facial and body hair, ovarian cysts, weight gain, constricted blood vessels (increasing the risk for diabetes and heart attack or stroke). Medications for this condition can have notably unpleasant side effects, such as malaise, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. Acupuncture helps to regulate these symptoms and side effects with high success rates. This is why so many women are turning acupuncture for treatment and relief. Acupuncture and TCM can regulate and manage periods, reduce headaches, and improve mood. It also improves circulation, stimulates the organs, balances hormones, and promotes healthy functioning of the entire reproductive system. It can also help manage healthy weight levels. EndometriosisAnd finally, another major and often very painful cause of infertility is Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disorder that occurs when the cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas of the body. When left untreated, endometriosis can cause infertility.
Typical symptoms are back pain, painful defecation, rectal bleeding, premenstrual spotting, sciatica, painful and frequent urination, vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling. Just one of these symptoms alone can be problem, but oftentimes; these symptoms present themselves in combination with one another, making the pain excruciating and often unbearable for many women. The good news is that Acupuncture and TCM can help most women with this condition achieve substantial relief and improvement. Acupuncture and especially the herbal formulas effectively treat and relieve: painful menstruation, irregular frequency and flow of menstruation, PMS, abdominal pain, infertility and the many other symptoms presented with this disorder. It typically takes patients one month of treatment per each year the problem has existed.
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Authors
Jing Shen, L.Ac., O.M. Archives |