A woman’s body goes through many cycles in the course of a lifetime. From the onset of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, with many years of menstruation in between, a woman’s body is in a constant state of change. Naturopathic medicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine work to restore balance and overall vitality to women along any stage of their journey. Some of the more commonly treated conditions include: loss of menstrual flow, irregular menses, painful menses, heavy uterine bleeding, pre-menstrual syndrome, infertility, pregnancy-related conditions, frequent miscarriage, and the shift into menopause.
Menstruation According to both the naturopathic medicine and the Chinese medicine the overall health of a woman can be judged by the regularity and harmony of her menstrual cycle. Achieving the correct rhythm, as well as a smooth menstrual flow, can prevent women from having to rely on artificial methods, such as the pill, to maintain healthy periods. Naturopathic medicine, Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can also help with the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome, which may be a result of both the emotional and physical stagnation, or blockage, that accumulates and builds during the time before menstruation.
Below is a list of menstrual disorders commonly treated sucessfully at Bayside Acupuncture and Natural Medicine;
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) Endometriosis Dysmenorrhea (papinful periods) Amenorrhea (no period) Menorrhagia (excessive bleeding) Irregular Menses Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Fibroids
Menopause Menopause is a natural life transition. We offer tools to reduce menopausal symptoms, improve the quality of life, and balance hormones naturally. Since the Women’s Health Initiative Study (July, 2002) found that standardized HRT can cause cancer, there has been increased interest in natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy.
Many herbal combinations offer relief of menopausal symptoms and promote healthy aging without side-effects. We have given lectures on herbs and gynecology and are well versed both in herbal medicine and the medical literature on this subject. Acupuncture also helps restore balance to the body/mind and treat many of the symptoms of menopause. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps decrease hot flashes. There are specific instances such as women with estrogen dependant tumors in which acupuncture alone can be effective to control hot flashes. Pre-conception Care & Pregnancy
Fertility: Pre conception care, IVF assistance, Pre & post transfer treatment, unexplained infertility, male infertility.
Pregnancy and childbirth: Morning sickness, heartburn, threatened miscarriage, carpal tunnel, back pain, labour induction, turning breech babies, fluid retention, fatigue, birth preparation, insufficient lactation, anemia, hypertension, post natal health. alternatives
As infertility rates increase across the country, more women are looking for natural options. Some choose to use alternative treatments in conjunction with their conventional care. Others start with natural treatments to avoid side effects. Regardless of where you are in the process of trying to become pregnant, it is important to think about the health of your whole body. Create the ideal conditions for pregnancy by removing the factors that may be interfering with your ability to conceive. At the Bayside Acupuncture and Natural Medicine we help create a healthy and supportive environment for pregnancy. We use acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine and specific lifestyle recommendations in combination with modern nutritional supplementation to prepare a woman to be pregnant whether trying on their own or in concert with modern assisted reproductive technologies.
How Does Acupuncture Support Fertility?
Acupuncture can influence many hormones including those that effect fertility. Studies have shown many of the effects of acupuncture are mediated by endorphins - naturally occurring opiates in the central nervous system that effect pain perception, neuro-transmitters and have neuro-modulatory functions. The endorphins influence the control of a wide variety hormones through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian axis.
Reduces Stress The stimulation of endorphins through acupuncture also helps to decrease the physiological stress response. That is why people feel relaxed after an acupuncture treatment. While one can exercise to get a “runners high” to effect endorphins specific acupuncture points have been shown through MRI research to effect specific organs and glands. Improves Endometrial Lining Studies have shown acupuncture improves blood flow to the uterus which may increase the success of embryo implantation by improving the quality of the endometrium. We Can Help with the Following Conditions that Impede Fertility: Hormonal imbalances Anovulation Luteal phase defect Unexplained infertility Recurrent miscarriage Unexplained or undiagnosed causes
Herbal Medicine for Fertility We provide herbal formulas to correct the menstrual cycle, balance hormones and maximize fertility as well as nutritional support. It is very important to have a consultation to see which products are appropriate for you.
Pregnancy-Related Conditions
There are not many times in your life when you may be forced to grin and bear it through a health issue, but pregnancy may be one. It is typically a time when most women just “live with it” rather then face the unknown of a drug or treatment that may impact the health of her baby. Pregnancy is a time of many adjustments and changes in a woman’s body, both naturopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine can help you move more easily through these changes. Some of the more common complaints that we treat are lower back pain, sciatica, morning sickness, uterine bleeding, colds/flus, hemorrhoids, pre-eclampsia, and turning breech babies. Naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine also be essential in the recovery of postpartum depression and exhaustion.
Acupuncture treatment for IVF clients
Acupuncture and to some extent herbal medicine are increasingly being used to assist and improve IVF treatment. While being a traditional therapy, this is one of the best examples of how it can be adapted to new situations. Also it shows how closely and successfully western and eastern medicine can work together.
A recent study suggests that acupuncture can improve ivf success rates by up to 65% Click below for link.
