Women's Health

---

• Decreased Libido
• Endometriosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Fibroids (Breast and Uterine)
• Infertility
• Menopause
• Menstrual Cramps, Excessive or Irregular Bleeding, and Amenorrhea
• Ovarian Cysts
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Postpartum Depression
• Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Yeast Infection

Treating infertility with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine has been recorded in our ancient texts, and even on the backs of turtle shells, for thousands of years. How can this age-old medicine make such a difference? In the last five years, modern empirical scientific research methods have validated these results and science behind many studies reveal that:

• Chinese medical theory states that Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, which dramatically improves a woman’s response to the hormonal therapy.
• Acupuncture has been shown to regulate hormone levels by moderating the release of beta-endorphin levels in the brain, which improves the release of gonadatrophin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus, follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, and estrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary.
• Acupuncture reduces stress and a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system response.
• Acupuncture has been speculated to moderate cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin levels in the uterus, reducing uterine motility to improve implantation rates.
• The American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Fertility & Sterility Journal has included the utility of acupuncture in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology

Among the most common complaints that we treat daily are menstrual disorders. Whether the problem is amenorrhea (no period), excessive bleeding, or pain and cramping during menses, these are all problems easily remedied with Chinese herbal medicine.

Pain at period time is almost always due to vessel blockage in the lower abdomen. This can be caused by vaso-spasms in the vessels of the lower abdomen, excessive cold in the in the lower abdomen, fibroid cysts, or a disease known as endometriosis. All of these conditions are usually improved through a series of acupuncture visits and the use of Chinese herbal medicine.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a wide range of physical or emotional symptoms that typically occur about 5-11 days before a woman starts her monthly menstrual cycle. In Chinese medicine, PMS is almost always attributable to poor blood flow through the liver at the time of menses. Encouraging better circulation through the hepatic artery, which delivers 70% of the blood to the liver, can be very effective in helping with these problems. The Chinese discovered almost 2,500 years ago that emotional upset, in most cases, is a result of poor circulation through the liver. Over the centuries, the Chinese developed several methods for increasing blood flow to and through this vital organ. Once the liver is functioning properly, the emotional ups and downs are greatly reduced. 

Childbirth is by far the largest strain on the human body for most women. The loss of blood and fluid at childbirth combined with sleep deprivation during the first year of the child’s life leaves most women tired, anxious and depressed. Western Medicine usually treats the problem with iron supplements if there is measurable anemia, counseling, and hormone replacement, along with anti-depressants or serotonin re-uptake drugs.

Chinese Medicine takes a different approach. One of the gifts that Chinese Medicine gave the world is the knowledge and use of what are known as tonic herbs, such as ginseng, astragalus and many more. With this class of herbs a well-trained Chinese herbalist rebuilds the vitality and strength of a woman suffering from postpartum depression. The results are usually better than the Western approach and help restore the patient to their former level of vitality, prior to becoming pregnant.