Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Treatments for Gynaecological Conditions

Gynaecology Clinic

Gynaecology is a large field of specialisation in Chinese medicine.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is among the most common gynaecological disorders affecting women in their reproductive time. Treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can result in satisfactory outcomes, reducing pain, improving natural fertility, improving corpus luteum function and progesterone output, and reducing post-operative relapse/recurrence rate.

Chinese herbal medicine is a very safe long term treatment that allows women who want to continue trying to conceive to stay off cycle suppressing medication.

Case example

M, 38, suffers from severe endometriosis. Her pain levels are severe throughout her menstrual cycle, often so severe that she is unable to sleep or function properly or do her job well. She also feels extremely hot and steamy inside. After diagnosing her and prescribing her her own individual formula, she responds well showing a good improvement, limiting her pain to her period only. Soon her period pain is also reduced. She has been receiving treatment for over six months, during which time her prescription changes as her body changes.  She continues on a low dose prescription now to keep her endometriosis from flaring up. 

Dysmenorrhea 

Dysmenorrhea or painful periods is one of the most common menstrual disorders. It refers to lower abdominal pain or discomfort before, during and after menstruation. If it begins at the time of a woman’s menarche, it is called primary dysmenorrhea. If is starts some time after menarche, it is called secondary dysmenorrhea, which can be caused by a variety of other gynaecological disorders, for example by endometriosis or PCOS.

Women with primary dysmenorrhea typically have no structural abnormalities, treatment by both acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can result in a good outcomes, with much reduced or even pain free periods. 

Secondary dysmenorrhea can often also be successfully treated with the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine depending on the cause.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by a complex clinical picture with menstrual irregularities or no periods at all, subfertility, weight gain, excessive hair growth, acne and/or hair loss. It can lead to type 2 diabetes.  It is often a challenging disorder to correct and treat.

Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, diet and lifestyle advice can address the menstrual disorders and fertility issues and other related symptoms without causing side effects. When underlying imbalances in the body are corrected properly acupuncture and Chinese medicine can produce long-term health benefits for the person and help regulate and normalise their menstraul cycle.

In more complex cases herbs that have a direct influence on the ovaries are often used. For example if the enlarged ovaries have a thicker exterior layer from the cysts, herbs to soften hardness are used. Herbs to regulate normal hormonal processes are used as well as those to reduce blood lipids (fats).

Case example

P, 38, has PCOS and comes to the clinic with the aim of conceiving. She has been rejected for NHS funded fertility treatment due to her weight. Her periods are very irregular. We later find out that she often does not even ovulate. She is put on several different formulae after an extensive Chinese medicine diagnosis is carried out. This case is complicated, as herbs have to be used that regulate her cycle as well as herbs have to be chosen that work with her digestive metabolism. Diet changes have to be made, sugar and white flours reduced as much as possible. Her cycle slowly becomes more regular. After nine months she starts to ovulate well. She is also loosing weight. After 13 months she conceives, and has a gorgeous little girl now.

Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors which can be found in a variety of places within the uterus. They can cause heavy and painful periods, abdominal bloating and backache. Larger fibroids benefit from surgery and removal.

Chinese medicine is very effective for helping to control the symptoms associated with a fibroid. It can also slow the growth of the fibroid/s. If treated in time (before the fibroids grow too large), some fibroids can also disappear.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome refers to a collection of cyclical physical and psychological symptoms during the second part of the menstrual cycle, such as headaches, mood swings, frustrations, anxiety, insomnia, breast soreness, and/ or bowel and skin changes. Some women suffer severely with many of these symptoms, so much so that their normal behavior or health is severely affected.

Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective at improving premenstrual symptoms.

Menopausal syndrome

Menopausal complaints are frequently seen in clinic. Symptoms range from hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression or anxiety, sleep disturbances, palpitation, dizziness, lack of energy. Many women chose not to have HRT and doctors are now reluctant to place women on hormone replacement therapy due to an increased risk of breast cancers and heart disease.

Chinese medicine can achieve good results during the time of menopausal adjustment without any adverse effects. Studies have shown that both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be as effective as HRT at treating the variety of menopausal symptoms. 

For the latest research please see research, case studies and testimonials.

Conditions & Treatments