PCOS and TCM – What You Should Know
PCOS is a chronic endocrine disorder that prevents ovulation. It affects 116 million people worldwide, or 1 in 10 women. PCOS is often associated with fertility, but it is more than a fertility issue. This condition comes with a variety of symptoms, makes you more likely to develop health issues such as diabetes, endometrial cancer or heart disease, and impacts individuals on a day to day basis.
PCOS can look different for every person and so we strive to tailor our treatments to the individual.
Applying TCM to PCOS
At our clinic we have developed our own TCM techniques for managing PCOS. This involves using BBT charting to identify your unique hormonal imbalances at the heart of your condition. We will confirm you are not ovulating and use your BBT charts to direct our treatment. Using TCM we work on both the root cause of your issue as well as the presenting symptoms.
In essence, we will treat you, not your PCOS. We find we get the best results this way.
Signs and Symptoms of PCOS
If you have a combination of the following symptoms then it is possible you could have PCOS.
PCOS and TCM
We are passionate in our clinic about helping people with PCOS. From our experience we find PCOS links with abnormal oestrogen levels leading to high testosterone and low progesterone. Essentially, the oestrogen levels stop consistent ovulation from happening.
As ovulation stops it further disrupts the balance of hormones in your system, impacting your next cycle. This problem continues to build, stressing the body which triggers inflammation. The stress, inflammation and malfunction of the endocrine system lead to the usual symptoms that occur with PCOS.
How We Track PCOS
The easiest way for us to identify whether you have PCOS and what your hormones are doing is through BBT charting. We love BBT charting in our clinic and recommend it to the majority of clients coming in with menstrual issues.
BBT charting monitors your base temperature every morning upon waking up. This temperature changes according to where in your cycle you are and what hormones are central in your system. A sudden change in temperature can show that you have ovulated, or a low temperature can mean you are oestrogen dominant. It means that if you have PCOS, a condition with abnormal levels of oestrogen and lack of ovulation, it will show on your BBT chart.
Why BBT Charting?
A benefit of BBT charting is it gives you a visual for what is happening inside your body; your unique hormone pattern every cycle. You can compare this to other people and your previous cycles. It gives you something to self-monitor and measure improvements. You can tell if your hormones are becoming more balanced or match up symptoms to parts of your cycle. You gain more insight and therefore control over your body.
TCM Treatment for PCOS
The other benefit of BBT charting is it gives us a plan of action for treatment. It means we can better cater our treatment to you as an individual. For example, if you are not producing enough progesterone we can work to support the body through that. Each time we see you we can check how your system reacted to the pervious treatment and make adjustments where necessary.
TCM for PCOS Symptoms
In TCM we treat symptoms and the root cause. For PCOS it is important to address the symptoms as they can have such a big impact on a person’s day to day life. Helping reduce pain, improve sleep, sooth anxiety and mood will help you feel better and function better, taking the pressure off your body so it can focus on the bigger and deeper issues going on. We often have clients tell us they feel more motivated, sleep better, and are generally happier after treatments.
TCM for PCOS Root Cause
While treating these presenting symptoms we also work on the underlying cause. For PCOS this includes regulating hormones and addressing the root cause of their imbalance. In TCM theory hormonal issues attribute to imbalances of organ function. By working to improve the organ functions related to the endocrine system it brings your body into balance and gives it the method and means to heal itself. In this case, balance your hormones, regulate your cycle and ease your symptoms.
Why AcuNatural Health for PCOS
Our AcuNatural Health team is here to support you – with the physical, mental and emotional sides of your condition. You will be treated as an indivial so if one week you come in sick or with a new symptom we adopt it into our treatment. Additionally our focus is on long-term maintenance and not simply a quick result.
We value information and education at our clinic so if you have questions we take the time to answer them, both during and outside of appointments. It is our belief that your journey to good health is as important as your arrival there.
If you or someone you know is struggling with PCOS then you can book an appointment with Jane Ma by using our online form or calling us on (07) 3162 6888.
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