Given all the research about pesticide dangers and diseases it has been attributed to such as Parkinson’s it  still amazes me that foods grown with chemicals still make up the vast majority of foods consumed. This is probably largely due to the fact that  chemical companies have a ton of money and political lobbyists.   The vast majority of commercial farmers only know the way of the past 60 years and are of the false belief that organic farming is out of their reach.     Not only are we exposed to pesticides from foods, but also those nice green lawns.  Read the rest of this entry

You have probably seen the recent headlines about a study just released that correlated calcium supplementation with an increase risk of heart attacks and strokes.  This certainly confuses people because it has been drilled into us through the media and many doctors that calcium can only be good for us.   I find that some people are afraid to stop taking calcium because of what they have learned.   When I suggest to my patients that they stop taking calcium because it is probably causing their digestive issues and constipation their response is usually  “where am I going to get my calcium?”   A very understandable response given what we have been told.

There are a couple of problems with the mantra of “take a calcium supplement”.   One is the form of the calcium.    A large number of people buy calcium from GNC or CVS and it is most often partially (or fully) comprised of calcium carbonate.  This can be a gastrointestinal nightmare for some.   Also it isn’t the best way to get the calcium to where it needs to go?  You may have read it is very absorbable, but is it bioavailable?  Most likely it is not very usable by the body except for the most calcium deficient individuals which is often the elderly.   Sure research shows taking calcium is beneficial, but it is not without its unwanted side effects.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic imbalance of a woman’s hormones. This imbalance can cause changes in the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea, irregular periods, dysmenorrhea), skin changes, small cysts in the ovaries, infertility, hair growth and other problems. In a woman’s normal menstrual cycle one (or more) eggs are released from the follicles in the ovaries. In PCOS the eggs do not mature and instead form small cysts in the ovaries. This can lead to infertility. Read the rest of this entry

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a female endocrine disorder where too much androgen hormone (testosterone) is being made in relations to estrogen.  It affects up to 10% of all women.   It is thought that improper insulin  regulation is a common cause and shows up in girls as young as 9 years old through post menopausal women. PCOS is one of the main causes of infertility, but PCOS is a symptom of an underlying endocrine imbalance not the reason for the infertility.

Common symptoms of PCOS include:

• Irregular or no menstrual periods (for women of reproductive age)
• Irregular ovulation, with or without monthly bleeding
• Acne
• Excess hair growth on the face and body
• Thinning scalp hair
• Accumulation of un-ruptured follicles on the periphery of the ovaries (mislabeled as “cysts”, often called polycystic ovaries)

It is not necessary to have all of these symptoms to have PCOS. In fact it is not necessary to have “polycystic ovaries” to have PCOS.  PCOS manifests itself differently in each woman.

I believe that Chinese Medicine is the best medicine on the planet to deal with PCOS and any hormonal imbalances.  Using acupuncture, herbs and nutrition we can regulate the hormonal levels sometimes within a few cycles.

There have been a couple of recent studies which show what has been known clinically for 2000 years.  Below are some of the articles written about the studies:

• Acupuncture and Exercise Relieve PCOS In this 16 week study from 2009 the once a week acupuncture group had fewer menstrual irregularities and a significant drop in testosterone.     Here is another article regarding this study.
• Acupuncture relieves PCOS better than exercise alone - In this similar study to the one above the acupuncture group had more menstrual regulation and a higher drop in testosterone than the exercise group.

In addition these studies only used acupuncture and exercise.   There was no dietary intervention or herbal medicine used as treatment.  Once we add in these modalities the success rate increases dramatically!

So if you have been diagnosed with PCOS absolutely consider using Chinese Medicine as a treatment modality.

Yours In Health,

George Mandler CNS LDN LicAc