PCOS and Acupuncture

For many women, losing weight is a never-ending struggle. No matter
how hard they try, the pounds just won't come off. All the dieting and
endless hours in the gym leave them feeling fatigued, hungry and
infinitely frustrated with lack of progress. Well, guess what? It
might not be your fault. You may have a hormonal condition call
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), making it all but impossible to
lose the weight you want to lose. There are many possible symptoms for
PCOS and treatment options are available from both Eastern and Western
medicine. Western treatments involve different types of hormone
therapy, while Eastern treatments rely on acupuncture and herbal
therapy.Women with PCOS develop numerous cysts on their ovaries, which
is how it gets its name. Other signs and symptoms include weight gain
(very often in the abdomen), obesity, excessive hair growth on the
face, thinning hair on the scalp, acne and irregular periods. For
women, with PCOS, who exercise rigorously, the weight in the belly
just never seems to go away and is a constant source of frustration
for them. Very often women with PCOS will have delayed cycles or even
miss a period completely and when the period comes, it is usually
quite painful. This disruption in the cycle also makes it very
difficult for women with PCOS to get pregnant. In fact, PCOS is one of
the leading causes of infertility in women, yet many women don't even
know they have it. Many of these symptoms can be associated with a
high level of testosterone, which women with PCOS have. Chinese
Medicine can help to balance the body, regulate the natural cycle and
restore ovulation.While Western medicine looks at illness in a linear
way, Eastern Medicine takes a holistic approach. What this means is
that having a specific illness doesn't necessarily mean that everyone
gets the same treatment. We treat the root cause of the problem and
not just the symptoms. In Traditional Oriental medicine, PCOS can be
attributed to three different diagnoses. A patient may have one, a
combination of two or all three syndromes (having all three is the
most common). These three diagnoses are: Accumulation of Phlegm and/or
Damp, Kidney Yang deficiency and Stagnation of Qi and/or Blood. If the
patient has all three going on, one of the syndromes is usually
predominant, but all three need to be addressed. Acupuncture
treatments to resolve phlegm and damp, move Qi and Blood, and Tonify
Kidney Yang are used, along with Chinese herbal formulas. Studies have
shown that electro-acupuncture treatments are the most effective for
patients with PCOS. The low electrical current (machines are run on
9-volt batteries) can help lower testosterone levels.Women with PCOS
should take this condition very seriously. Besides the obvious
physical signs, PCOS can lead to some even more serious conditions
such as diabetes, obesity, stroke and cardiovascular disease. A
treatment plan involving acupuncture, natural Chinese herbs and a
regular exercise routine can keep your hormone levels in check and
help you avoid going on hormone therapy.