TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

OFFERS HOPE FOR

COMMON GYNECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS 

We all know that women experience a variety of physical disorders that are unique to women. And different women experience symptoms differently. There are millions of women who contend with some sort of gynecological disorder day after day, month after month: premenstrual bloating, mood swings, tender breasts, depression, cramping, irregular periods, excessive bleeding, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, menopausal symptoms and more. Modern Western medicine, for all its many great benefits, has very few choices to offer these women, treating most women just like others, with painkillers, birth control pills, surgery and hormone therapy. These methods offer only temporary symptomatic relief or are invasive, expensive and have potentially serious side effects. It seems that Western medicine can do nothing to treat the root of the problem (short of surgery), with symptoms improving only as long as the medication is taken.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a rich history of treating gynecological disorders, dating back to the Shang Dynasty (16^th Century – 1066 BC), when the first records about sterility and herbs were recorded. Over one hundred generations of Chinese doctors have proven empirically that Chinese medicine works. Now this is supported by modern clinical research from China. Recent research from the People’s Republic of China shows that TCM can eliminate or effectively treat a number of common gynecological problems, without expensive drugs or surgery.

A report in the Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #5, 1993, p. 24-5, discusses treatment of 90 women with premenstrual breast distention, pain and lumps who were given Chinese herbal formulas before each period for 3 months. At the end of that time, 97.8% of the patients in this study were either cured or significantly improved. In another study reported in the Shandong Journal, #6, 1992, p. 27-8, 50 women with premenstrual breast distention and pain were treated with herbal formulas for 3 months, with a cure and improvement rate of 98%.

The Henan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #2, 1993, p. 226, reports on the Chinese medical treatment of 50 women with dysmenorrhea (painful periods) due to a variety of structural and functional causes. These women were treated from 1 cycle to six months with Chinese herbal medicine and all 50 were cured.

The Sichuan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #9, 1993, p. 41, describes the treatment of 40 women with endometriosis using Chinese herbal medicine. In that study, 92.5% of the women were either cured or significantly improved. And an article in the Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Medicinals, #1, 1992, p. 16, reported that 92.6% of 54 cases of endometriosis responded favorably to a combination of body and ear acupuncture.

These are only a small sampling from the 30 or more Chinese medical journals published in the People’s Republic of China each month, and the treatment of endometriosis and dysmenorrhea are regular topics in all of these.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats common gynecological problems with a combination of acupuncture, herbs, diet, exercise and lifestyle changes in order to bring the body back to a balance. In TCM, disorders such as dysmenorrhea (painful periods); premenstrual breast distention, pain and lumps; premenstrual syndrome (PMS); benign breast lumps; fibrocystic breast disease; endometriosis; irregular periods; and menopausal symptoms are caused by imbalances in energy (qi), body fluids or blood flow as well as improper diet, insufficient exercise and a disordered lifestyle. The treatments are individually designed to help bring the woman’s body back into balance.

At her first appointment with a TCM physician, the patient is asked to complete an extensive history, which, along with information gained during the interview, is used to create a treatment plan specifically for her. Two women with the same problem (for example, dysmenorrhea) are likely to receive two different treatments, with individually selected acupuncture points and herbal formulas. Each woman is unique and many factors in her life are analyzed and reviewed in order to arrive at the root and cause of her problems. The treatment for each patient is designed especially for her, taking into account any imbalances detected by the TCM physician.

Several organ systems come into play in gynecological disorders and a skilled  practitioner assesses each one when treating a patient. For example, in TCM gynecology, the functions of the Liver, Spleen and Kidney all have a role in reproductive health. An imbalance in any of these functions may cause a gynecological disorder, as well as a number of other health problems. Vital energy (qi) not moving freely can cause PMS, irregular periods and painful periods. Blood not flowing smoothly, due to a deficiency of blood or qi, or a blockage of energy, may cause irregular periods, painful periods, excessive menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea (absence of periods). Improper flow of qi can also be responsible for benign breast lumps, bloating and pain. Menopausal symptoms may arise from an imbalance of Kidney yin and yang or a deficiency or blockage of qi, or a combination of any of these problems. All of these disorders can be treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture are low cost, non-invasive and have no side effects when properly applied by trained professionals. Using a combination of Chinese herbal medicine taken internally and applied externally (in the case of lumps), acupuncture, exercise and diet and lifestyle modifications, the same results Chinese women have experienced can be achieved here. Often these herbal medicines are available as pills, powdered extracts and tinctures, making treatment even easier than in China.

What’s more, Chinese medicine and acupuncture work by restoring balance to one’s entire organism. Thus, not only is your major complaint brought under control, but your whole sense of health and well-being is improved. In addition to providing you with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, your practitioner will also counsel you on such important health issues as diet, exercise, lifestyle and stress reduction.

One of the strengths of Traditional Chinese Medicine lies in treating each woman as an individual, taking time to understand the impact of each one’s complex life. With its roots in ancient times, TCM is a less invasive, less dangerous treatment choice for a wide variety of common gynecological disorders shared by millions of women today. If you are suffering from any of the problems discussed here, you owe it to yourself to at least investigate this “new” old medicine.