Menstrual Disorders

Irregular bleeding, cramps, mood swings, irritability, and hot flushes are common – especially in the peri-menopausal years. They all are extremely effectively treated by medical acupuncture.

Quite complex hormonal changes occur during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are the two dominant hormones involved, but there are many more – including controlling pituitary hormones like FSH, precursor hormones, thyroid, and ACTH/cortisol. Changing hormone levels are responsible for symptoms. These all need to work together smoothly – like a symphony – or problems occur.

Conventional medical treatment can be very effective for many women. Witness the effectiveness of birth control pills and estrogen/progesterone for menopausal bleeding. The problem often is diagnosing what the problem is, then determining proper dosage of hormone controlling medication.

Medical acupuncture “normalizes.” When I treat as a conventional Family Physician, I need be concerned about giving too much or too little. With medical acupuncture, I can never give too much. (However, sometimes I cannot give enough – if you do not have a thyroid, your body will need replacement thyroid. Ovaries are not the only place your body produces estrogen, so usually estrogen can be normalized even without ovaries.) Another nice features of medical acupuncture is that it normalizes several hormones at the same time – probably including some we know nothing about.

Treatment consists first of French Auricular Medicine to remove blockages to your body working normally, then a different French Energetics/Japanese Curious Meridian approach to balance hormone levels. A pleasant side-effect is that this also increases a person’s general energy as well. Sometimes for particularly severe cramps, an array of abdominal electrodes (such as are used for treating irritable bowel syndrome) are needed.

Every individual is different. A few resolve in 2 treatments, but typically 4 – 6 treatments resolve symptoms for a sustained period. For some, this is a permanent cure. For others, one “tune-up” every 3-6 months if symptoms begin to return. I have not found it necessary to use herbs, homeopathics or hormone pills, but my treatment is effective for those who wish to continue those medications and enhances their effect.

“Specializing in Difficult-to-Treat Medical Conditions”