More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Chinese Medicine and Women's Health
Women's bodies are beautiful and complex. The cycles we experience in our anatomy and physiology connect us to the rhythms of the natural world. Chinese medicine, with its emphasis on holistic health and prevention, excels in treating women's health in the most gentle and least invasive manner possible.
The people who developed this highly sophisticated medicine thousands of years ago lived in agrarian societies, where fertility was of the utmost importance. Therefore, much Chinese classical literature was written on the subject of gynecology. This ancient knowledge paired with a contemporary scientific understanding gives us the best tools available for treating a wide variety of disorders. Rather than artificially manipulating hormones with synthetic chemicals, which can cause unpleasant side effects, acupuncture and herbal medicine gently re-establish the natural flow inherent in a woman's cycle, and can be used at any stage of a woman's life to achieve optimum health.
For women in their childbearing years, Chinese medicine effectively addresses a variety of menstrual problems including irregular periods, menstrual pain, breast pain, endometriosis, cysts and fibroids, PCOS, and recurrent miscarriage. Additionally, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine enjoy increasingly widespread success as ancillary treatments for infertility, and are both compatible and complementary when used in conjunction with western medical treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Chinese medicine can also benefit older women by addressing conditions such as difficult menopause, osteoporosis, and urinary problems. Because Chinese medicine is effective for treating mental and emotional as well as physical health, it can help a woman transition through sometimes difficult and overwhelming changes.
Women today live increasingly complex and demanding lives, and our own health often takes a back seat to work and family obligations. Gradually and inevitably, we burn through our reserves of energy and relatively minor issues, when unaddressed, become more serious conditions over time. The proper functioning of our reproductive system is integral to our overall health, and should be attended to regardless of whether or not we decide or are able to have children. Chinese medicine is a natural way for women to regain and maintain lasting wellness and vitality that radiates from the inside out.
