ACUPUNCTURE & WOMEN'S HEALTH Oriental Medicine is a complete system of health care that works well as a complement to Western Medical practice and procedures. The use of acupuncture, herbs and attendant therapies can bring great relief to women in their reproductive years. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but will give you an idea of the types of complaints we can address with Chinese Medicine. GYN / Pre-conceptional Period Pre-menstrual Syndrome Dysmenorrhea Amenorrhea Irregular periods Habitual miscarriage Depression / Anxiety Infertility / Support for infertility procedures Pre-natal Period Morning sickness / Hyperemesis Anxiety Sciatica / Back pain Threatened miscarriage Breech presentation Post-dates: Assistance in starting labor Post-partum Period Back pain Insufficient lactation Post-partum blues / Post-partum depression Post-partum thyroiditis Re-regulating menses Stress / exhaustion Menopause For more specific information, please read on or click on one of the following: PMS & abnormal periods Pre-conception Planning Infertility treatments Pregnancy & Post-partum Menopause PMS AND OTHER ENDOCRINE DISORDERS Many gynecological problems result from imbalances in the endocrine system. This is the body system responsible for the production of hormones. Even slight shifts away from normal can throw off the entire system (the body) so that it no longer functions smoothly. Treatment of PMS and abnormal periods requires a commitment of three cycles (generally about 12 weeks) to determine the exact imbalance and the most effective course of treatment. Even symptoms that appear to be the same from patient to patient may be caused by different underlying root problems. The approach of Chinese Medicine is to determine that root disharmony and provide individualized care, specific to each patient, to address that problem, decreasing the chances of recurrence of symptoms. Use of acupuncture and herbs is very successful in treating: PMS Painful and/or irregular periods Amenorrhea (lack of periods) Menorrhagia and Metrorrhagia (excessively heavy bleeding) Emotional stress Endometriosis Uterine fibroids Chronic yeast infections It is very important to treat these issues, as well, because they are often contributing factors to infertility. Furthermore, as compared to taking prescription medications, my experience suggests that this approach to treating these types of problems is more cost-effective, easier on the body and more likely to create long-lasting results. Contact me to find out how I can help. PRE-CONCEPTION PLANNING We've all known women who have had unplanned pregnancies. They make it look so easy! If you are reading this, though, it's likely that you have had to work a little harder at getting pregnant. Regardless, the most important time for any couples trying to conceive is the three to four months prior to actually getting that positive pregnancy test. This is the time to start making the changes that will help you to have a healthy pregnancy. Most people have heard that they should stop smoking, eat a healthy diet consisting of high quality protein and lots of fruits and vegetables, eliminate toxins and take a good prenatal supplement with extra folic acid. Many, though, don't know why these changes are so important. Sperm maturation takes between 70 and 90 days, so it is important for the man to make the diet and lifestyle changes that will support this process. Chinese Medicine can help male patients improve both the quality and quantity of sperm and improve the overall quality of the semen. This, in turn, improves the likelihood of creating a healthy, viable embryo and increases the chances of a secure implantation. Follicular development (the maturation of the egg) is also a process that takes about 4 months. The health of the egg depends upon diet and nourishment (of the body in general and the ovaries in particular), proper hormone levels and blood flow to the ovaries throughout this time. Acupuncture and herbal treatment, as well as the appropriate dietary changes, can substantially increase the likelihood of developing a high quality egg and a healthy, viable pregnancy. (See article: Turning Back the Reproductive Clock, by Randine Lewis, L.Ac.) All of this underscores the need for pre-conception planning, and indicates that 3 to 4 months prior to planned conception is the ideal time to utilize the time-tested strategies of Chinese Medicine. Please contact me to discover how I can help. INFERTILITY TREATMENTS The treatment of infertility with acupuncture and herbal therapies usually requires a fairly substantial commitment to treatment - enough time to rebalance the body's systems. It takes at least three cycles to normalize a woman's menses; longer if she has taken fertility drugs, has a history of sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or polycystic ovaries. I personally took herbal formulas and had acupuncture treatments on a weekly basis for 15 months before I was ready to become pregnant. If you have menstrual problems, treatment must continue until you have at least three normal menstrual cycles. Depending on your age and general level of health, you should then plan on 6-18 months from that point to achieve pregnancy. There is much that can be done to preserve, enhance and increase our fertility at almost every stage of life. When skillfully applied, acupuncture and herbal treatment is effective in helping to correct the imbalances that underlie the complex physical and hormonal disorders leading to infertility. In the event you choose to utilize assisted reproductive therapies as well, treatment with acupuncture and herbs can only contribute to their success - increasing your chances of pregnancy by up to 60%. Please contact me to set up your first appointment or arrange for a free consultation to see how I can help. (See article: Raising Your Fertility Quotient, By Roger Hirsh, L.Ac.) PREGNANCY AND POST-PARTUM Once you have achieved pregnancy, you will continue gentle acupuncture treatments (and herbs as needed) on a weekly basis throughout your first trimester. This can help alleviate fatigue and "morning sickness" as well as other common first trimester complaints. We can also help prevent threatened miscarriage and treat any anxiety you may be feeling, particularly if you have had a history of previous pregnancy losses. Once into the second trimester, most patients are seen every 2-3 weeks as long as all is going well. If there is a specific complaint or something that becomes more acute during that time, more frequent treatments may be warranted. By 34-36 weeks gestation, weekly treatments are resumed to prepare for the transition to labor. Techniques exist that can turn a breech baby, and if this is necessary, it requires a series of 5-7 treatments over the course of a week at around the 35th or 36th week. Some women even choose to use acupuncture to promote labor and/or as a way of helping a difficult labor to progress. Contact me to find out more. MENOPAUSE Menopause is a normal process, one of life's natural (even revered) transitions. Try telling that to the woman with her head in the freezer, or to the woman who has just soaked through her second t-shirt of the night, right?! While it is not a disease, in our time and our culture, it is often disturbing and uncomfortable. It can come on suddenly (i.e. after hysterectomy) or start with just some minor changes in your period, mood and sleep. Some women begin the peri-menopausal process as young as their mid-30's, but for most women it starts somewhere between the ages of 40 and 50. This marks the approach of the end of the childbearing years. Especially in our culture where women are waiting longer to have children, there are varying emotions which can accompany that realization. This plus the physical symptoms can sometimes make for a pretty wild ride. Physicians often attempt to treat menopausal symptoms with potent artificial hormones, sometimes with serious side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine views the process as a redirection of energies - a woman's journey is guided from a reproductive cycle toward a more spiritual destination. It is a transition and most transitions involve some amount of discomfort. We can help smooth the way to menopause and soothe the associated symptoms by helping your body seek its own healthful balance. Regardless of your age or stage in life, treatment with acupuncture and herbal medicine can help facilitate balance, health and wellness for all women. Please contact me to discover how I can help.