There are four important components in women's life that determine our health.
These are:
Puberty
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Post-partum Care
Menopause
These stages and components influence one another, when out of balance, it would have an impact on health during the other later stages in life.
So, what exactly do acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine help to treat during each of these stages in life? At Origins Acupuncture, not only do we specialize in the Miso Cosmetic acupuncture treatments, but also we focus on treatment for Women's health, as a woman plays a vital role in a family and society structure.
Family Planning - Treating infertility, or preparation for fertility, IVF, IUI treatment support, menstrual cycle regulation, hormone balance, and support. (Research evidence shows that acupuncture boosts the success rate for IVF and IUI treatments.)
Irregular Menstrual Cycle/ Menstrual Disorders - This includes irregular periods, amenorrhea, chronic period pains, endometriosis, PCOS, etc.
Pregnancy Support - Morning sickness symptoms, miscarriage, threatened miscarriage, constipation, nausea, anxiety/stress support, breech baby, labour induction.
Post-partum Support -Emotional support (Stress management), night sweating, insufficient lactation, mastitis, and breast abscesses, pain relief, improve sleeping quality, and digestion support.
Other women's health concerns Prolapsed Uterus, menopausal symptoms and discomfort, obesity and weight management, hormonal imbalance, hormonal acne, and skin problems.
In the scope of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, we not only use acupuncture but also herbal medicinal supplements to support the main method of treatment to regulate the body functions and balance. "Rome wasn't built in a day" - We all know this, and by that, any treatment for any form of health concerns above requires patience and a course of treatment sessions, cooperation with the therapist's suggestions and advice, lifestyle change, and a positive attitude.
Proactivity and perseverance is the key.
In Eastern medicine philosophy perspective, there are three organs in the body that are largely responsible for women's health and fertility.
Spleen
Liver
Kidney
The spleen transforms nutritive essence (the food and drink that we ingest) into qi (energy) and blood.
The liver regulates the movement and direction of qi (energy) in the body and has the function of storing blood.
The kidney stores the reproductive essence, Tian Gui, a product of kidney qi, that allows women to conceive and men to fertilize.
Other than the three important primary organs, we also need to consider the meridian pathways that interconnect the different organs and pathways where it travels through to the physiological organs such as Uterus, vagina, and breasts:
Governing Vessel (Du Mai) "This meridian meets all the Yang meridians, and thus is called the "sea of the yang meridians." It is responsible for governing the qi for all the yang meridians of the body. This vessel has close relationships with the brain, spinal cord, and kidney respectively. Since it communicates with the brain, it can be regarded as a link similar to the pituitary-adrenal axis in Western medicine." (Shennong, 2005)
Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) This meridian pathway meets all the yin meridians, and thus is called the "sea of the yin meridians." In women, this meridian is thought to originate in the uterus where the fetus is nourished, thus there is a saying that "the Conception Vessel dominates the uterus and pregnancy." It provides yin nourishing substances for all women's physiological activities. (Shennong, 2005)
Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) This vessel is regarded as the “sea of blood," which is the place for the twelve regular meridians to converge and where it helps regulate the qi and blood inside them. This vessel influences the supply and proper movement of blood in the uterus and is closely related to menses. Compared to the conception vessel which controls more of the qi substances, this vessel controls the blood substances and is used to move qi and blood and to remove obstructions. (Shennong, 2005)
Girdling Vessel (Dai Mai) The girdling vessel passes through the uterus like a girdle. It retains and promotes the meridians of the whole body and their interconnected relationships. In women, it also takes charge of nourishing and lubricating the uterus and controls vaginal discharge.
How often should I have acupuncture treatments?
Treatments should be at least once a week to twice a week, over a course of 6-12 sessions at least, covering a 3 months cycle.
Depending on each individual's condition, purchasing and taking prescribed traditional herbal supplements during the treatment course can give you extra support and treatment effects other than clinical acupuncture sessions. Ask your therapist, Amy Chen, for more information.
For more acupuncture treatment information and self-care tips on women's health, subscribe to our blog or mailing list for updates. Feel free to contact us at info@originsacupuncture.co.nz or book online via our website for mesntrual cycle, or fertility treatments mentioned above.