Acupuncture for Each Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
Maintaining good health is about understanding what the body needs and providing it to support a fine balance. In women’s health hormonal imbalances can result in a range of symptoms from decreased skin condition, through weight gain or loss, anxiety, insomnia to menstrual cycle and fertility difficulties. Here we are going to focus on the latter. A regular cycle comprises of four phases
1. Menstrual flow/Bleeding
2. Preovulation/ Follicular
3. Ovulation
4. Postovulation/Pre-menstrual (from ovulation to menstruation)
Each of these phases has an important role in fertility. In Oriental medicine, we see the first 14 days as the Yin phase, nourishing part of the cycle where the body is working to produce blood, strengthen follicles, build a healthy endometrium and increase cervical mucous. It’s all about preparing the body for pregnancy. Here Acupuncture helps to move all blood from the uterus to prepare the endometrium with fresh blood and tissue to improve egg quality.
The second 14 days (from ovulation to menstruation) is the Yang phase, after ovulation. The Yang phase is all about movement and energy, to move the egg through the fallopian tubes unobstructed, to increase energy required to begin the growth of a fetus if pregnant or to move blood freely at menstruation. At ovulation, we use acupuncture to unblock any energy stagnation so we can encourage a smooth pathway for the egg to travel down fallopian tubes. At post ovulation, we then focus on improving Yang energy to help the beginning stage of pregnancy.
For an ideal environment for pregnancy, the menstrual cycle should consistently be between 28 and 32 days. We use acupuncture to move your body’s natural rhythm as close to this as we can to ensure each phase of the cycle is working
If you are having difficulty falling pregnant, there may be a problem with one or more of these phases. Acupuncture we can help with getting your menstrual cycle back on track.
Infertility
Infertility is one of the most common health issues assisted by Acupuncture. It is a treatment in its own right as well being integrated in with Western fertility medicine particularly as part of the IVF process. Acupuncture is often sought by people who have unexplained infertility – where everything is normal from a Western medicine perspective yet the patient cannot conceive despite 12 months of trying. Oriental medicine treatment centres around improving the reproductive environment by increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and by strengthening the Kidneys. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the release of the hypothalamus’ gonadatrophin-releasing hormone, the pituitary gland’s follicle-stimulating hormone and the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the ovary. Acupuncture also reduces the impact of stress on the body and the menstrual cycle. It is important for patients to feel relaxed and unstressed as they try to conceive.
We collaborate with an awarded IVF centre based in Barcelona where patients seeking treatment can be supported throughout the full procedure including post implantation support in conjunction with our Wright Acupuncture clinic.
We also use Acupuncture to bring a balance to the following:
•Amenorrhoea
•Dysmenorrhoea
•Menopause
•Menstrual Problems
•Fibromyalgia
•PremenstrualProblems (PMS)
•Excessive Bleeding
•PostpartumRecovery
•Postpartum Depression
•Cramps
•PCOS
•Endometriosis
Acupuncture can help alleviate many of the symptoms of these womens’ health issues by restoring proper blood flow to the uterus, liver and other affected areas of the body.