Gynecology
The Chinese have known for over 3000 years that at the root of a woman’s health is her menstrual cycle. Even if no “symptoms” exist, if a woman’s cycle is irregular than all other elements of her health will be disrupted. Specific herbs and precise acupuncture protocols have been developed to address her particular concerns. Over the last 3000 years the depth of knowledge has grown and expanded while continually being reworked and refined, rendering today’s applications thorough and effective.
One of Chinese medicine’s greatest strengths is the understanding that as a woman grows and develops, her body continually undergoes new changes. Young teenagers often face challenges around the start of their menstrual cycle such as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and PMS. The next stage of life is one in which a woman is ready to begin a family and have children. In this time of life woman often need support around fertility as well as pre-natal and post-natal care. This is also a time when they are under tremendous stress from social responsibilities, and this stress can easily exacerbate challenges they are already facing. As women move into peri- and post-menopause their needs once again shift. With a change in hormonal activity comes a whole new set of symptoms, such as dryness, night sweats, hot flashes and headaches
All of these imbalances can be addressed by acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Chinese medicine works to generate sufficient amounts of Qi (pronounce “chee”), the vital energy of the body, and blood to help nourish a woman and help her remain vital and vibrant. Acupuncture focuses on three organs in particular. The first is the Kidneys, a source of a woman’s essence which is bestowed to her by her parents. If this is insufficient to begin with, or taxed by high amounts of stress and low amounts of rest, it can disrupt a woman’s cycle. The second is the Liver, whose energetic qualities promote growth and development. This organ system is also extremely susceptible to the stresses of modern society, and when imbalanced leads to terrible PMS and irregular and painful menses. The last is the Spleen, the grounding foundation of her daily activities and her inspiration for motherhood. Like the previous two organs, it can be assaulted by poor diet and high levels of stress. By supporting these three organs and bringing them into harmony with each other, a woman is able to shift into a cycle of health and fertility.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the pharmacopeia from which we practice is all natural, with little to no side effects. We prescribe formulas that consist of 6-10 herbs, and which work in an elegant and gentle manner. Many women have found relief using Chinese herbs after abandoning HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and are finding it a natural alternative to western pain medications.
Below is a list of conditions that we treat at Inner Gate Acupuncture:
PMS, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Irregular Cycle, Infertility, Threatened Miscarriage, History of Miscarriage, Morning Sickness, Breached Fetus, Over Due on Delivery (we can induce labor), Endometriosis, UTI, Leukorrhea, Menopause, Night Sweats, Hot Fashes, Dryness, Itching
Links:
What is Dysmenorrhea and how can it be treated?
Natural Ways to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy
American Doctors study Acupuncture Technique to induce labor
Acupuncture treats nausea during pregnancy
Acupuncture to reduce back pain during pregnancy
Acupuncture treats side effects of Major Breast Surgery
