A review study was recently published that evaluated 13 trials which included 1,986 women and found that acupuncture during labor was associated with:
Acupuncture studies using the standard “Evidence Based Medicine” are difficult to conduct as there are limitation to how an effective placebo can be carried out. Even studies that use so called “sham” acupuncture may not necessary be a placebo as the sham can have physiological effects beyond just the mind. I know from a clinical perspective that acupuncture works, but showing it within the confines of the current research model is difficult. Anyone that says acupuncture is only a placebo effect I suggest they talk to someone that brought their animal (dog, cat, horse) to someone that does animal acupuncture. The results are often outstanding so if it is a placebo effect these creatures are experiencing then they are a lot smarter than we think.
An interesting study was just released that looked at acupuncture’s efficacy for preventing migraines. Read the rest of this entry
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:
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:
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
I always tell my patients that Chinese Medicine has a lot more to offer than allopathic medicine for the treatment of many gynecological issues. I feel that most cases of menstrual irregularities can be succesfully treated with Chinese Medicine and there is 2000 years of clinical data to back it up.
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Chinese Medicine which includes acupuncture, herbal medicine and nutrition can often treat conditions concerning poor egg quality. Often when a woman is labeled with poor egg quality they have other signs of poor circulation such as cold extremities, low energy and maybe skin conditions. Most often the cause does not lie with the eggs, but the overall health of the body and poor circulation to the uterus and ovaries.
The quality of the eggs depend on the DNA and the environment in which they are developing. The lifecycle of an egg is upwards of 150 days, but the 3 months prior to ovulation is the most critical time of cell division.
During this critical time we want to increase blood flow to the ovaries and work on getting supportive nutrition to the body. This may include herbal medicine and nutraceuticals such as minerals and vitamins if necessary. We also want to make sure we aren’t causing additional inflammation in the body (and thus preventing reproductive blood flow) by eating foods which are causing immune reactions.
Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs which can thereby provide more blood flow to the ovaries and improve egg quality over time. With any fertility treatment strategy besides using Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, herbs, shiatsu) we always want to make sure nutrition is sound. Nutraceuticals such as powerful antioxidants like ubiquinol and alpha lipoic acid can help reduce an inflammation response. Blood tests can uncover and food sensitivity issues.
In addition to the services we offer your home treatments of castor oil packs on the abdomen are used to increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries. Self massage and visualization are also important tools and we will provide information and resources on these techniques.
Each patient will follow a different treatment protocol based on their Chinese Medical Diagnosis. Some women conceive naturally after a couple of months of treatments for poor egg quality. But many go on to have a successful IVF or IUI as the chances of conceiving improve greatly after a treatment protocol.
Yours In Health,
George Mandler CNS LDN LicAc
A recent study showed that uterine lining health may be more important than egg quality in creating a healthy birth weight baby and carrying to term. (Click here for the Time article about this published research). This was a large study out of Baylor that reviewed over 300,000 IVF cycles with specific interest in birth weight and gestation. What they found was that IVF cycles that stimulated the uterus (which is the majority) had lower birth weight and less chance of carrying to term than ones that were unstimulated such as donor egg, surrogate or frozen transfer.
A recent small pilot study (36 participants) with dry eyes demonstrated that acupuncture can increase increase tear wetting. (click here for study) In my practice I do not use acupuncture as a first line therapy for dry eyes. I look to nutrition first, as often increasing essential fatty acids, especially Omega-3 can resolve dry eyes. I usually suggest patients use flax seed oil for dry eyes. If that does not resolve the dry eyes then often individualized herbal medicine quickly brings relief.
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A rare painful cancer that can develop in individuals with long term asbestos exposure is called malignant mesothelioma. Its name originates from where the cancer develops – in the linings of the body’s organs known as the mesothelium. The most common form of the disease occurs in the lung and is known as pleural mesothelioma. Read the rest of this entry
Integrative Oncology is the combination of “mainstream” care and evidenced-based complimentary therapies to control cancer-related pain and symptoms [source: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine]. Complementary therapies, while not given the attention that more traditional cancer therapies may receive, are perhaps equally important while undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients diagnosed with difficult to treat malignancies will often use these types of therapies in conjunction with traditional treatment options, which include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiology, to form a more comprehensive and effective treatment regimen. Among the most effective alternative therapies utilized by those diagnosed with cancer is acupuncture. Read the rest of this entry
