Dudley Kent MBAcC MRCHM
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Acupunture & Herbs For Womens Health

Menstrual Problems

• acne
  
• amenorrhea
  
• bloating
  
• breast distention
  
• cramps
  
• mood swings
  
• heavy periods
  
• irregular period
  
• irritability
  
• skipped periods
  
• premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can treat both premenstrual syndrome and painful periods both safely and effectively. The menstrual cycle can be comfortable and regular so that it won't interfere with normal activities. PMS symptoms can begin to disappear quickly with treatment. TCM can also helps with other problems at period time such as headaches and acne.

Menopausal symptoms

• dryness
  
• hot flashes
  
• night sweats
  
• poor sleep

For women in menopause, hot flushes and night sweats can be greatly reduced to make this time of transition much more comfortable. Treatment focuses on stopping excessive sweating and restoring restfulness.

Pregnancy

• low back pain
  
• morning sickness
  
• postpartum depression and exhaustion
  
• sciatica
  
• constipation
  
• haemorrhoids

During pregnancy many women have found acupuncture beneficial for a variety of problems, such as morning sickness and lower back pain. After childbirth, acupuncture and herbal medicine are very helpful in restoring and replenishing the new mother's energy.

Miscellaneous Women’s Health

• endometriosis
  
• fibroids
  
• cystitis
  
• vaginal discharge/thrush/candida
  
• Infertility

Chronic menstrual problems such as fibroids respond well to more long-term care. Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine restrains heavy bleeding associated with fibroids and relieves the pain of endometriosis,

Acupuncture Chinese medicine and Infertility

For women who are trying for a family, acupuncture and/or herbs sometimes helps solve problems of infertility.

Endometriosis

Disorders of ovulation

Polycystic ovary synndrome

Tubal blockage

Inflamation of the pelvic organs

Fibroids

Implantation issues


Treatment of the conditions that may lead to sub-fertility is based on the the individual presentation of the patient. There is no standardised treatment of biomedical illness.
Obviously some conditions may require more long term management or may not be suitable to
treatment with acupuncture or herbs.

Patients will be given information on how to monitor their own fertility, and what they can do for themselves to improve their chances of conception.
This may include referral to other practitioners such
as nutritionists or counsellors.

Acupuncture Used to Improve IVF Success

Acupuncture is frequently used to improve conception rates.
According to a German study published by the National Library of Medicine in April of 2002, acupuncture may also increase a
couple's chance of conception when used in conjunction with more contemporary types of infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this study, 160 participants were divided into two groups, each receiving a standard IVF procedure. One of the groups, however, received acupuncture before and after implantation. The standard in-vitro group had a 26.3 percent pregnancy rate, while the acupuncture group showed a 42.5 percent success rate.

Other studies have also showed positive outcomes. Although many studies were performed only on the day of embryo transfer, I would recommend treatment starts as soon as possible.

No definitive answers exist as to how acupuncture may work biomedically. Many believe that it improves blood supply to the uterus, relaxes the womb and regulates hormones.