Regulating menstruation with Chinese medicine
Period health is one of the areas in clinic that I am most passionate about. This is because I believe that a healthy period is important for our overall wellbeing. The period can tell us a lot about the state of the body, both from a Chinese medicine and Western medicine perspective. Changes can occur to the period throughout life due to many causes including hormonal imbalances, nervous system dysregulation, malnourishment, stress and poor sleep.
Many people will go through life not paying much attention to their period, even if it is causing pain or disruption in their lives. This is often because we might be taught that pain and disruption is just part of menstruating. However, Chinese medicine believes that pain and disruptions to periods are signs that something needs addressing.
Common disruptions to periods may include irregular periods, short or long cycles, skipped periods and amenorrhoea. Disruptions in the menstrual cycle can include pain, PMS, discomfort, mood changes, irritability, breast tenderness, fatigue, headaches… the list is endless!
If pain and disruptions in our periods go unaddressed, it can lead to issues later in life. Many of the conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS that cause pain or disruption to periods can be key indicators for difficulties with infertility. Clinically they are also commonly seen to be associated with other health issues, including anemia, weight gain or weight loss and hormonal imbalances.
Regulating the menstrual cycle—and any symptoms that may accompany it—may assist with many areas of your health including energy and general wellbeing, digestion, sleep, mental and emotional health. So no matter where you are on your menstruation journey, it is important to look at the state of your cycle and seek support when you need it!
Chinese medicine is well placed to assist you with menstruation regulation due to it’s long history in women’s health based on 2,000 years of observation and practice. This means that our systems for understanding menstrual issues are nuanced and highly refined. Importantly, Chinese medicine treatment can be administered alongside Western medicine treatment which may include hormonal therapy, surgery and other interventions.
Your Chinese medicine practitioner will work with your menstrual cycle, administering different treatments at different points in the menstrual cycle. This means that we work with your natural cycle and help your body regulate itself.
Chinese medicine also provides individualized care, with each acupuncture treatment and herbal medicine script being made uniquely for each patient. Causes for menstrual difficulties are never universal. Even if the symptoms are similar, they can have a different cause.
So what does menstruation regulation with Chinese medicine entail?
When I work with a person who menstruates about any aspect of their health, I will always take a thorough history of their menstruation. This is because menstruation can help us identify the type of imbalance that might be causing their symptoms and may be interrelated with their other issues. If it becomes apparent that the cycle needs regulating, treatment will vary depending on the type of disruption that is occurring. It will usually include some advice about lifestyle and diet based on their unique constitution (see my blog on period pain for some suggestions). It also may include tracking of their menstrual cycle via recording their basal body temperature (see blog on BBT tracking here), especially if they are concerned about fertility. Referral to a GP for hormone testing may also be required if they do not come into clinic with a diagnosis, or if a hormonal imbalance is suspected.
I will then look apply treatment with acupuncture and herbal medicine based on their cycle and imbalance. It usually takes three menstrual cycles for long lasting regulation of the menstrual cycle, or longer depending on the severity of the problem. However, with this approach we work with the body, improving not only menstrual health but strengthening the whole body. After working with me I hope that the person feels empowered, with a deep understanding of their menstrual cycle and a toolbox full of tools to help facilitate smooth and easy menstruation,
Are you interested in what Chinese medicine can do for your menstrual cycle? Come and see me in clinic to find out more!
References:
Li PS, Peng XM, Niu XX, Xu L, Hung Yu Ng E, Wang CC, Dai JF, Lu J, Liang RN. Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2023 May;119(5):815-823. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034. Epub 2023 Jan 27. PMID: 36716811.
