Obstetrics and gynecology

One of the first controlled studies of acupuncture treatment in the United States was by Joseph Helms, MD who treated patient s with primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is a terrible aberration of the powerful endocrine potential of a woman’s ovaries and uterus that can potentially shepherd the cell of the fertilized egg to a living breathing 5-9 pound individual at delivery. The stagnation of that pelvic energy causes painful abdominal cramps, headaches, bloating, and water retention. Some women are disabled for a few days per month.

There are other gynecological conditions that can be effectively treated with acupuncture like the mood swings of premenstrual syndrome, heavy menstrual bleeding and fibroids.

All of these conditions are the result of the normal body energy not flowing in the proper way to have a normal menstruation each month, normal pregnancy and reproduction. The energy can be called stagnant, staying in the pelvis to cause the painful discomfort. When the energy of a woman’s reproductive system is unleashed the patient feels considerably better. I have identified many women who present to the office complaining of painful conditions that have not responded to treatment. When their stagnation of energy is released their pain condition treatment becomes much more responsive to treatment.

infertility

Some women have difficulty conceiving a child because of other conditions like hyper or hypo thyroidism. some reproductive endocrinology/ fertility centers use acupuncture and herbal treatment in conjunction with the subtle hormonal manipulations, in vitro fertilization etc that are part of what modern medicine can offer for infertile couples. The addition of these traditional oriental medicine techniques to modern reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics increase the success rate of these modern fertility methods. Catherine Duggan, L. Ac has experience with acupuncture fertility treatments.