Womens Health
The origins of acupuncture can be traced back over 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest health care systems in the world. Today, acupuncture supports the treatment of a wide number of conditions.
Womens Health & Acupuncture
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have a long history of working with Women’s health issues.
Historically, women have been pretty good at addressing their own health concerns. However, women are also good at accepting pain and change in their lives. Mothers, in particular, become too busy to reflect on the fact that the niggling pain and tiredness they are experiencing might not be necessary.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), women’s health encompasses looking after everything from general musculoskeletal conditions to more specific issues relating to the menstrual cycle or fertility.
Recent research papers such as the Acupuncture Evidence Project have provided us with more weight of approval for acupuncture as an intervention. Over 40 conditions have been shown to have high, moderate or some effect through the use of acupuncture (1). The body of research and evidence continues to grow.
Menstrual Cycle
Cycle length can vary quite a lot from woman to woman, but in general it tends to roughly follow the length of a lunar cycle (that is the cycle from full moon to dark moon and then back to full).
A woman’s cycle is a dynamic balance of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Oestrogen, Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Progesterone throughout the month.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be a great resource to help manage the symptoms of imbalance in the monthly reproductive cycle.
Such symptoms may include:
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Heavy painful periods
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Irregularities in cycle length (either short or long)
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PMS: eg mood swings, irritability, tender breasts, water retention, lower abdominal cramping, disturbed sleep
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Amenorrhoea (times when your period is absent all together)
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Hormonal acne
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Peri-menopause & Menopause: eg hot flushes, heavy bleeding, insomnia, mood swings
Are you expecting?
Find out how Acupuncture can assist you and your Pregnancy