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What Does Acupuncture & Traditional
Chinese Medicine Treat? |
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Sports-Related Injuries/Orthopedics
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Menstrual Disorders Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition wherein endometrial menstrual blood grows outside of the uterus, causing severe and almost debilitating pain. The cause of endometriosis is unknown, but most understand it to be hormonally driven, and conventional treatment is usually the birth control pill, a progesterone-mimicker (Depo Provera), or in extreme cases, Lupron, a drug that reduces the amount of estrogen or testosterone in the body. Lupron causes women to enter a drug-induced menopause, with all the signs and symptoms of regular menopause. For some women, a partial or total hysterectomy is the solution, and many women with endometriosis are unable to conceive.
Endometriosis can be controlled and in some cases cured with traditional Chinese medicine, in particular Chinese herbal medicine. Certain Chinese herbs have a hormone regulating or balancing effect which can be very beneficial. (Note: it is imperative that you obtain herbal medicines from a licensed practitioner and not at a health food store, because certain herbs with hormone effects can be dangerous for this condition).
Traditional Chinese medicine can ease the menstrual pain associated with the condition, or treat the side effects from bio-medical treatments. For example, in the case of Depo-Provera, many women find themselves fatigued, as the drug mimics pregnancy. Chinese medicine can help with energy levels and other side-effects of biomedical hormone treatments.
Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea, or painful menses, is due to a number of different reasons. Your TCM practitioner will help you determine the root cause. Often women think dysmenorrhea is simply their cross to bear. As menstruation is a natural process for women, difficult and excessively painful menses denotes an imbalance that can often be resolved with acupuncture alone, or acupuncture and herbs. Modification of diet can also be helpful in reducing painful periods.
PMS: Premenstrual Syndrome Premenstrual syndrome is sometimes now called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) which is a fancy name for severe PMS. The Western medical health community believes that PMDD is a result of low serotonin levels before menses. Classic PMS symptoms are irritability, breast distention, mild depression, migraines, bloating, fatigue, and low back pain one to two weeks before the menses. Most women experience some form of PMS, and for many women, their symptoms can be debilitating. Because many Chinese herbs have a hormone regulating effect, Chinese herbal medicine is quite effective in dealing with this condition. There is a “new” drug on the market called Sarafem that is prescribed to women who complain to their M.D.’s about PMDD. Sarafem is actually Prozac disguised under a different name. If you suspect that you do not have clinical depression but PMS, please get a second opinion or see a practitioner of alternative medicine. For more information about Sarafem, you can go to http://www.medicinenet.com/fluoxetine-oral/article.htm. |
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Traditional Chinese Medicine
Monica Bloch, M.S., L.Ac. |
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