Supporting women s health has been a key focus of Chinese Medicine for thousands of years and Acupuncture and herbs have a rich history of achieving impressive and far-reaching results.
Even chronic conditions like menstrual discomfort or infertility, for which conventional medicine often offers few or no affordable, lasting, and safe treatment options, can often be addressed effectively quite simply with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.
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.
Some conditions respond really well to acupuncture alone, while almost every condition benefits from the combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicine (herbal formulas).
Some of the conditions I most commonly treat are:
- PMS
- Heavy periods
- Fibroids
- Menstrual pain
- Ovulation pain
- Ovarian cysts
- Fibroids
- Endometrios
- Infertility
- PCOS
- Vaginal infections (or overgrowth conditions)
- Menopausal syndrome
- Irregular periods
- Libido issues
- Herpes
- Post surgical recovery
- Morning sickness
- Threatened miscarriage
- Recurrent UTI’s
- Overactive Bladder
- Pelvic Pain
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Fertility & Sterility Journal has included the utility of acupuncture in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology (like IUI, IVF) because of it’s proven ability to help women overcome reproductive health concerns and positively influence fertility.
Chinese herbal Medicine can be used treat women’s health concerns are: regulate function, break down stagnant uterine blood, regulate uterine temperature, build up menstrual blood, regulate production and distribution of fluids.
Typically for most of the health concerns listed above I will recommend a minimum of 3 months of Chinese Herbal Medicine as a part of your treatment plan.
There are literally HUNDREDS of different Herbal Formulas used specifically for addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of most of the conditions that affect women specifically.
Acupuncture has been shown to regulate hormone levels is by its effect on the release of endorphin levels in the brain, which improves the release of hormones by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries.
Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, which dramatically improves a woman’s response to hormones.
Acupuncture can improve immune response, which may be an important factor in autoimmune conditions and other conditions such as endometriosis.
Acupuncture improves stress response, and calms a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system response.
These are only SOME of the possible ways Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can address health concerns, treatment is tailored to the individual, so each persons treatment plan is unique to them and the details of their health picture.
What to expect:
- Individualized Treatment & Discreet Attention for Women
- Customized Chinese Herbal Blends
- Nutritional Support, Information, & Education
- Stress/Anxiety Reduction Support
Treatment
At your Initial Appointment, we will go over your health history and I will do an assessment to determine the root causes of your health issue.
This will help me to determine a concise treatment plan for you:
Along with regular Acupuncture, I typically recommend Chinese Herbal Medicine to most patients with internal disorders. The right Chinese herbal formula is selected for you after I do an assessment and determine what the best course of action is to get you better.
The formulas I use are in concentrated herbal granule format (all tested for heavy metals and pesticides, individual plant ingredients genetically identified), its similar to instant coffee and very easy to take, you dissolve into water and drink daily.
For most conditions I tell patients to expect to take herbs for at least 3 months, depending on the severity of the condition.
Once we’ve achieved consistent results with significantly reduced intensity of symptoms and less frequent flare ups, we will reduce the frequency of your treatments to ensure stable and lasting results.
One full course of treatment is 3 months of regular Acupuncture (1-2 times every 1-3 weeks, depending on the case). Some cases require more treatment than others, but generally we start out with your treatments spaced closer together (1-2 times per week) and then continually space them further apart as momentum is built and you start seeing improvement.
It depends on the severity of the condition. Some women feel instant relief but the symptoms might come back to some degree or at the same level it once was until one to two full courses of treatment is completed.
Recovery also depends on how often the patient can commit to treatments, self-care and levels of physical and emotional stress in life.
Significant relief from anxiety and depression due to living with chronic pain takes about two weeks or two to four treatments.
In the first two months, I recommend two weekly acupuncture treatments.
In the third month on I usually recommend once weekly acupuncture.
There is a saying in Chinese medicine, “Where there is pain, there is no free flow. Where there is free flow, there is no pain.” Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help to free the flow of qi/energy and blood. They activate your body’s innate healing ability.
Acupuncture releases serotonin, endorphins and enkephalins which are pain blocking, happy-making hormones. Acupuncture reduces the stress hormone cortisol which causes anxiety. Acupuncture also boosts energy and mood.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help stop pain, regulate the menstruation, help you to sleep deeply, reduce anxiety and mild to moderate depression, reduce or eliminate masses/growths and more.
Needles are commonly placed in the hands, feet and limbs and sometimes in the back or abdomen to work on functional regulation and to stop pain.
Points chosen away from the painful areas, will direct the energy and alleviate pain. There are hundreds of other points on the body to use.
In many cases, yes. It takes time to slowly lower the dose with the cooperation of your pain management doctor. I often suggest receiving at least six acupuncture treatments within three to four weeks before looking at reducing the medications.
Fertility Kelowna
Whether you are suffering from a serious health condition or working to maintain optimal health, we encourage you to visit us at our clinic.
This approach works in progressive steps that build on each other. Are you ready to start feeling better?
