Olympians Spot On About Benefits of Cupping

Cupping is a therapeutic treatment that has been used for thousands of years. Still very popular and in common use today, it has grabbed the attention of many people in the United States that are not familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Professional athletes, such as MLB players and many competitors at the 2016 Olympics, have been using this treatment for years. Some athletes are using cupping as a singular therapy, and while they may be experiencing relief, the benefits would be more profound when using TCM as a Whole System. If you are experiencing pain, looking for relief and would like to find a place that offers cupping in Brooklyn that is safe, you have come to the right place. We highly recommend cupping therapy only be administered by a properly trained professional that also understands Whole Systems TCM and the energy system to avoid adverse effects and reactions.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Traditional Chinese Medicine was developed in China thousands of years ago. It is a healing system based on the life energy called Qi which flows through specific meridians and pathways in the body. The relationship between our mind, body and spirit with the world around us should be in harmony and we are healthy when all energy is balanced. Our habits, diet, lifestyle, stress, emotions, genetic constitution, seasons and environment all play a role in the free flow of energy.

Obstructions in the flow of energy in our organs and the meridians will cause imbalance, manifest symptoms and develop to disease. Using an extremely comprehensive method of identifying patterns of disruption and having a deep understanding of the relationships between organs and energy pathways, a skilled TCM practitioner will use food as medicine, lifestyle and nutritional counseling and herbs to help bring back balance. The most popular physical treatment in the TCM toolbox is acupuncture, which involves the insertion of fine needles at very specific points located on the organ/energy meridians. At these points, the energy in the meridians can be accessed and stimulated. Each acupuncture point has very specific, defined actions. Other effective treatments in this toolbox are gua sha, tui-na, moxibustion, electric stimulation, acupressure, tai qi, qi gong and cupping.

What is Cupping?

Acupuncture and Acupressure are not the same treatment but both part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They both follow the same energy meridians and points but have different applications and different effects on the body, blood and energy. Acupuncture uses needles to stimulate these points and Acupressure uses pressure at these points. Cupping is a form of acupressure.

Instead of the practitioner using their hands a device is used; in the case of cupping, a glass or bamboo spherical cup. A flame is placed inside the cup and quickly extinguished when it is turned over to be placed on the skin, creating a temperature change inside the cup. This action creates pressure downward around the lip of the cup and suction at the center where the skin is slightly lifted off the body into the cup. This vacuum effect can be achieved via a few different techniques. The combination of heat, pressure and suction at specific points on the energy/organ meridians is what brings about balance and therapeutic outcome.

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What are the benefits of cupping?

Top athletes strive to be in optimal physical and mental condition so it is no surprise that cupping is front and center at the 2016 Olympics. Here are just a few benefits Cupping has to offer:

Encourages free flow of qi and fresh blood which may be blocked or obstructed by overuse, injury, diet or environmental factors.
Loosens muscles and affects muscle and connective tissue up to 4 inches below external application site. Commonly used for muscular pain in the back, neck and leg & pain and obstruction at the joints.
Engages the parasympathetic nervous system which reduces stress and anxiety, reduces blood pressure and stimulates digestion.
Releases toxins and decreases inflammation.
Clears congestion in the lungs.

Is cupping scientifically proven?

All Traditional Chinese Medicine recommendations and treatments (including cupping) are completely individualized which means every application of treatment, diet recommendation and herb may differ from person to person based on the pattern causing imbalance. Even if symptoms or diagnosis are similar from a Western perspective, how a person reached that diagnosis is absolutely not the same from an Eastern perspective and therefore treatment is not the same. This proves to be problematic in Western scientific studies as the test groups are not controlled. The treatment would need to be identical for each individual and this simply is not how TCM works. This is basically the issue when attempting to isolate acupuncture, cupping or any singular aspect of TCM for studies. Until scientific studies are conducted in a manner that is in alignment with how the medicine and treatments are actually administered, relevant and accurate studies will not exist here in the United States. Also, Western medicine has yet to figure out how to measure the presence or flow of Qi. That doesn’t disprove anything and that does not relegate results to placebo effect even though they try to do so. It just means Western Science does not have the answer and is not designing studies correctly in the first place which seemingly they have a hard time admitting.

That said, a 2012 study has shown that cupping may be more than a placebo siting the following: “Meta-analysis showed cupping therapy combined with other TCM treatments was significantly superior to other treatments alone in increasing the number of cured patients with herpes zoster, facial paralysis, acne, and cervical spondylosis. No serious adverse effects were reported in the trials.” There have been a number of studies showing that acupuncture can reduce pain by up to 50% without the use of pharmaceuticals and many citations about its effectiveness for pain relief.

Why does scientific proof seem to be such a roadblock? Honestly, we don’t know. If the people with funding for large scale studies really wanted to study TCM they could. If the public needed less medication and procedures, that would be a potential threat to the bottom line of certain industries.. First thing, understand that acupuncture or cupping alone are hardly ever the only part of the treatment for a presenting pattern. For example, if you want to know if TCM works for reducing headaches, you can’t only test people solely receiving acupuncture and only stimulating the same two points. That is just as useless as inserting needles at random points that may or may not even be acupuncture points. You would have to use all TCM methods together and use all acupuncture points that are indicated for the individual and all recommendations that would be indicated for the individual, as you would in real life application, and measure outcome from there.

This method doesn’t fit in the western paradigm where a standard medicine is given at a standard dose to treat the symptom of pain. TCM treats the pattern of imbalance that is causing the pain versus just blocking the message of pain that your body is sending. (To get a feel for the difference in theory and application of eastern and western medicine, we encourage you to read our article on headaches here.)

The effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been determined by THOUSANDS of years of recorded patient observations and reported outcomes by patients. We don’t understand how anyone can dispute that much data, basically being the largest and longest study ever conducted in medicine. It is disheartening when practitioners who are supposed to “cause no harm” are ignorant to the evidence because it doesn’t fit into their flawed system of belief. While Western medicine is extremely effective and can save many lives, it has a limited scope of understanding. Alas it is still a young medicine, much like a teenager that thinks they know it all.

Whether or not positive outcomes are “scientifically proven” and understood from a western perspective…Whether or not the positive outcomes are anecdotal…Whether or not the positive outcomes are placebo… Does it really matter if it works? Isn’t that the whole point; that it works? People should not be discouraged from therapies that are effective and have no harmful side effects. All patients would benefit from open minded practitioners embracing an integrative approach that is less pharmaceutically aggressive when it is not necessary.

For more information about treating Pain, Injuries and Fibromyalgia with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, visit our specialty page here.

Our team at Garden Acupuncture has over 50+ years of combined experience utilizing the Whole System of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We are your source for all the tools in the TCM toolbox including acupuncture and cupping in Brooklyn.

By Alex Goldberg|August 10th, 2016|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Pain Meds Killing Your Bowel Movements? Opioid Induced Constipation.

How Acupuncture for Opioid Induced Constipation Can Help.

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What is Opioid Induced Constipation (OIC) ?

Opioid Induced Constipation (OIC) is a side effect that millions of people suffer with. At least 8 million of the 38 million people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain have reported this side effect according to the US Pain Foundation. That number could be low because bowel habits are not a subject anyone likes to talk about. The prescription of opioids has increased in numbers over the last decade despite concern and evidenced risk of side effects such as Opioid Induced Constipation, tolerance to the medication leading to increased dosages as well as opioid addiction. Because of the severity and discomfort of the constipation experienced, people will skip doses of their opioid medication which is not advised.

Opioids bind to mu-opiod receptors in the central nervous system and pain relief is experienced. However, these receptors are also found in the gastrointestinal tract. When opioids bind to the mu-opioid receptors in the GI tract, it inhibits the muscle contractions of the intestines called peristalsis which slows transit of waste material in the large intestine and colon.

How is OIC treated?

Chronic Pain is experienced by millions and is classified by unresolved pain lasting more than 3 months. Typically it is caused by tissue or nerve pain, often from acute injury or repetitive motion injury, though that is oversimplifying as chronic pain often has many layers with overlapping, combination factors. Opioids such as hydrocodone and oxycodone as well as combination drugs like percocet have become commonplace for treatment of chronic pain including things like headaches which typically can be addressed in other ways. Constipation arising from these medications many times goes unaddressed for many reasons. Some doctors are not aware of the side effect at all or the severity of the side effect. Some prescribing doctors may know that opioids can cause constipation and even mention it to the patient but they are often unaware when constipation is being experienced due to lack of reporting.

When a physician is aware that their patient is experiencing OIC, stool softeners and laxatives are suggested. There are two problems that arise with this. One, if the patient continues to have a problem it is possible they won’t bring it up again due to it already being an embarrassing subject; the doctor will remain in the dark. Two, laxatives become long-term and may cause a lazy bowel on top of the already inhibited GI tract.

Next up are relatively new medications that have come out to address OIC such as Relistor and Movantik. The commercials for these medications are quite controversial. Regardless of my personal feeling of the drugs themselves or the advertisements, the fact is that they have been successful in drumming up conversation about an otherwise unspoken topic.

These medications address the issue by blocking the opioid receptors in the gut. Combination therapies such as harsh laxatives may also be suggested to produce bowel movements. Besides the already known potential risk and side effects of the opioids themselves, the medications for OIC also have their own side effects such as gas, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, increased sweating and more severe side effects such as abdominal pain and blood in the stool.

Acupuncture by itself has shown to decrease pain by up to 50% without the use of medications. When utilizing all parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine together, which includes herbs, food as medicine and nutritional counseling, lifestyle recommendations and acupuncture treatments, that percentage of pain reduction has the potential to be much higher. The benefits of TCM are not widely known about in the public and traditional medical world. We are working to change that so people have access to TCM and Acupuncture as a first line of defense before moving to a serious drug like opioids for pain relief. If already on opioids and experiencing OIC, acupuncture for constipation is a viable and safe solution.

Acupuncture for Constipation.

Constipation is caused by a few factors but it is the muscular contractions (peristalsis) that occur to move stool through the colon that opioids are inhibiting. Once stool is not being moved along, heat builds up drying the stool making it even more difficult to pass. In addition to the ability to reduce pain that opioids were prescribed for in the first place, Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, can help relieve constipation. It also can help restore and retrain the GI tract and associated organ systems to function properly.

Chinese Herbs to produce a bowel movement quickly, naturally and safely.
Address deficiency in Spleen and Stomach systems caused by habitual and chronic constipation induced by pain killers.
Proper nutritional counseling to help restore healthy composition of stools.
Opioids affect cytokines which activate the immune inflammatory response and acupuncture has shown to modulate cytokines decreasing this response.
Traditional Chinese Medicine can help significantly reduce pain and may be an alternative to your opioid medication which is causing constipation. We can work closely with your prescribing physician if this is an appropriate option for you.

Our goal is not to have you avoid seeing your physician but rather embrace an opportunity to work together to help alleviate pain and associated side effects of opioids. This natural and integrative approach is a way to hopefully help avoid medications like this or at least start reducing dosages. Optimally we would like to start seeing chronic pain managed in a less medication aggressive manner as a first line of defense since TCM has shown to be effective for the relief of chronic pain conditions.

By Alex Goldberg|June 6th, 2016|Acupuncture, constipation, medication, opioids, pain, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The Effect of Weight and Fertility

A Guest Post by:

You overslept this morning, so grabbing a coffee and breakfast sandwich at your local place was a necessity. Someone brought donuts to the office – yay! A quick “pick me up” is just what you needed mid-morning. Take-out for lunch (remember that crazy morning you had?). Around 3 o’clock a trip to the vending machine keeps you from falling asleep at your desk. You finally get home – so what’s for dinner?

Does any of this sound familiar?
If so, you’re not alone.

But knowing you’ve got lots of company doesn’t make the scale rising any less depressing. You know you should be eating better and exercising more, but who has the time for that? Plus there’s all these celebrations – holidays, birthdays, anniversaries – and we just love to share the joy with family and friends (not to mention we LIKE LOVE chocolate!). Besides, you’re happy, in love and trying to have a baby. It hasn’t happened as quickly as you hoped, so treating yourself to some comfort foods, well they’re just comforting!

But did you know that being overweight (or underweight) affects your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby?

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, one of the easiest ways to determine if you are underweight or overweight is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). A BMI between 19 and 24 is considered normal; less than 19 is considered underweight. A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, a BMI greater than 30 is obese, and a BMI of 40 and above means extreme obesity.

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How weight and fertility affects women

Women who are underweight often have irregular menstrual cycles and may stop ovulating completely. Women who are overweight, or obese, require higher doses of fertility medications. They also have fewer eggs retrieved when undergoing IVF, a lower pregnancy success rate, and higher miscarriage rates. Obese women are at an increased risk for developing pregnancy-induced (gestational) diabetes and high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia). Obese women also have a higher chance of delivering by cesarean section. Obesity is also associated with PCOS – a common cause of infertility, affecting 5-10% of women of reproductive age.

How weight and fertility affects men

Overweight or obese men may have low sperm counts and low sperm motility.

EXTRA WEIGHT COSTS YOU PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY!

BMI Calculator

Determining your BMI is crucial not only for pregnancy, but for your health as a whole. CLICK HERE for a free online BMI calculator from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Knowing where you stand is the first step in making progress. Now that you have your BMI – develop a healthy plan!

On your way to a healthy new you!

With a healthy eating plan and regular exercise, you’ll be on your way to a healthy weight. You should always consult with your doctor before beginning a new diet or exercise plan. Once your doctor gives you the ok to begin, save yourself time (and money) and skip the fad diets; their results don’t last. A good rule of thumb for a healthy eating plan is to “Eat less CRAP and Eat more FOOD”.

Eat Less CRAP:
C – Carbonated drinks
R – Refined Sugars
A – Artificial sweeteners & Colors
P – Processed Foods

Eat More FOOD:
F – Fruits & Veggies
O – Organic lean protein
O – Omega 3 Fatty Acids
D – Drink Water

If you need a bit more guidance, consider meeting with a nutritionist. Based on your health goals or medical needs, the nutritionist can provide guidance on how to safely and effectively reach your goals.

Double up your dieting efforts by starting an exercise plan. It doesn’t need to be anything extreme – to start can be as simple as walking regularly. It requires no special equipment besides a good pair of sneakers (pretty much a wardrobe essential!). It can be done outdoors or indoors – in fact, many malls offer free walking programs, so you’re indoors and no costly gym membership needed.

However, any physical activity you can do on a regular basis could work. Maybe take that ballroom dancing class you wondered about; grab your significant other and a few friends for a competitive game of paint ball – or laser tag – or beach volleyball. The point is to make exercise fun!

To optimize success of fertility treatments, your weight should be in the normal BMI range (19-24)

BMI Policy at GENESIS

We recommend weight loss, to a BMI of less than 30, for all women trying to conceive. However, if you are obese, even a 10% weight loss can increase your fertility. Ideally, for the best possible outcome of your fertility treatments and your future pregnancy, your goal BMI should be 19-24.
Women, whose BMI exceeds 40, and are seeking fertility therapy, may be asked to see a high risk obstetrician or MFM before starting treatment.
To undergo IVF treatment at Genesis, your BMI needs to be less than 35. This is to ensure your safety and health while undergoing anesthesia.

Your doctor will discuss with you the importance of your weight as part of the overall review of your medical records and history. We will encourage, or as necessary, require a program of weight loss combining diet and exercise, prior to embarking on fertility therapy and conception.

If you’re trying to have a baby and would like to learn more about GENESIS Fertility or are ready to schedule an appointment,

please speak with one of our New Patient Specialists at 718-283-8600.

References

https://www.asrm.org/FACTSHEET_Weight_and_Fertility/

http://yourfertility.org.au/for-women/weight-and-fertility

http://www.webmd.com/diet/lose-weight-fast-how-to-do-it-safely

http://walking.about.com/od/weightloss/fl/How-to-Walk-for-Weight-Loss.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/284404-what-is-the-role-of-a-nutritionist/

By Alex Goldberg|March 1st, 2016|Fertility, Infertility, Nutrition, pregnancy, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Acupuncture for Pain in Brooklyn

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Acupuncture for Pain in Brooklyn

Garden Acupuncture is located in Park Slope and we specialize in acupuncture for pain in Brooklyn as well as the surrounding NYC areas. We’re conveniently located on Union Street very near to the 7th Ave B and Q train. There is also metered street parking available and a parking garage on Garfield Place between 6th and 7th Ave. Our team has over 50+ years of combined clinical experience and can address many pain conditions caused by a variety of factors such as:

Low Back Pain
Knee Pain
Hip Pain
Shoulder Pain
Arthritis & Chronic Joint Pain
Sprains & Strains
Muscle Spasms
Migraines & Headaches
Vulvodynia Pain
Female Pelvic Pain

We also specialize in pediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine which is a safe and effective option for kids experiencing pain.

Does Acupuncture provide real pain relief?

Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, has been successfully treating pain conditions for thousands of years.

“If there is free flow of qi, there is no pain.”

Whether or not the relief and pain management provided by acupuncture is real has been a hot topic debated by the western medical community. However, while MD’s were busy debating, patients were reporting positive results and experiencing less pain. So much so that it is recognized as an effective treatment by the military and one of the limited number of “alternative” treatments covered by many health insurance plans. You can read more about the 14 million Americans that have tried acupuncture and a quote from the director of integrative pain management at Mt. Sinai Hospital here.

If you seek acupuncture for pain in Brooklyn, patients of Garden Acupuncture consistently report a reduction in, or resolution of pain. But you don’t have to take our word for it. We’re excited that Traditional Chinese Medicine and the use of acupuncture are starting to be diligently studied providing proof in the effectiveness for pain and even reported on traditional medical sources such as the Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School.

What We Do Is So Much More Than Acupuncture.

At Garden Acupuncture we practice Whole System Traditional Chinese Medicine. This means we utilize all aspects of this medicine in the entirety that it is meant to be practiced. Acupuncture along with nutrition and chinese herbology are components of this complete system along with additional adjunct therapies. It is this complete system that has provided the benefits that have been reported and documented over thousands of years and it is this complete system that we hope future studies will be based upon when seeking further proof of effectiveness in the western paradigm. In order to receive the full benefit of this very powerful, time tested healing option, we believe that offering only acupuncture or partial acupuncture, such as in a community setting, would be providing a disservice. While acupuncture alone or abbreviated use of acupuncture may indeed provide some level of benefit, and we are thrilled that it is available and utilized demonstrating an openness to this modality, we truly believe in and have seen the greater effectiveness of employing the comprehensive and individualized approach of Whole System TCM.

If you are looking to receive acupuncture for pain in Brooklyn, along with complete acupuncture treatments offered in private, tranquil rooms, we also use food and herbs as medicine that have proven to be effective in reducing pain. Once your patterns have been identified, we will make the proper dietary and lifestyle recommendations as well as prescribe herbal formulas if needed.

“I first started going to Garden Acupuncture about 7 months ago for what I thought was a foot problem. Alex & Lisa promptly and accurately diagnosed that it was really a back problem and started “attacking” it immediately with acupuncture, herbs and cupping. They also referred me to an amazing spine specialist to get a more accurate diagnosis with an MRI because of their belief that some problems can benefit from the mix of both acupuncture and Western medicine.
Turns out that I have 2 herniated discs as Alex thought in our first meeting. Alex & Lisa have worked with my spine doctor to get a better understanding of my issues so they could treat me better. Needless to say, I feel a lot better now. Both emotionally and physically - they’ve been a fantastic support network for my chronic pain. They’re knowledgeable and explain anatomy and the reasoning behind what they’re doing very clearly. And they’re just awesome people to be around, very helpful when suffering from chronic pain!” - Martha

“I have been using acupuncture to treat a wide variety of my aches and pains, but recently after moving home to Brooklyn, NY I was stuck having to find a new acupuncturist. After looking on several sites I thought I would try Garden Acupuncture and I could not be happier! I started to see them after my German Shepard pulled on his leash and I slipped and fell on my right knee. Both Lisa and Alex have offered an extreme amount of information, support, and guidance and after 4 treatments I was able to comfortably navigate by beloved Brooklyn without any more pain. I would definitely recommend Garden Acupuncture to anyone needing pain relief.” -Ida

By Alex Goldberg|February 2nd, 2016|Uncategorized|0 Comments

How To Treat PCOS Without Birth Control

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How to Treat PCOS Without Birth Control

It is very possible to treat PCOS without birth control if you go beyond the limitations of western medicine. That is not to say that Western Medicine is bad. In fact, it saves many lives. However, Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine are based on entirely different medical systems and principles. Each modality is different and embracing the knowledge of both would be a benefit to women seeking to treat PCOS naturally.

Western Medicine doesn’t always aim to fix the underlying problem as seen in TCM and often forces the body to behave in the desired way with pharmaceuticals. For instance, a common symptom of PCOS is irregular menstrual cycles and the common solution is birth control. Western Medicine stops at knowing the hormones are out of balance and looks to directly and artificially alter them with additional hormones. This medication looks to force a normal period by introducing hormones instead of addressing the root cause of why an irregular menses is occurring in the first place which may have other unintended effects and stresses on the body.

Yes, hormones are out of balance, but why? TCM understands that the expression of a symptom or group of symptoms may be similar but the cause may be different from person to person. Traditional Chinese Medicine looks for the TCM pattern that is causing irregular menstrual cycles specifically within your body. TCM Patterns such as Qi or Blood Deficiency, Blood Stasis, Phlegm-Dampness, Spleen Qi Deficiency, Liver Blood stagnation or Kidney Deficiency can all cause menstrual complications or irregularities. By addressing the pattern directly using Chinese herbs and acupuncture, making the needed adjustments in your diet, lifestyle, environment and addressing stress and emotions, the body in turn may re-calibrate naturally. This individualized approach is how TCM can help treat PCOS without birth control.

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PCOS affects approximately 5-10% of all women in the United States. It is estimated that less than 50% of women are diagnosed and that it may contribute to up to 70% of infertility issues.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, abbreviated PCOS, is an endocrine system disorder that has become a common problem for many women. This sometimes painful and frustrating disorder affects approximately 10% of all women in the United States and affects those attempting to conceive. Some symptoms of PCOS can include irregular or absent menstrual cycles, cysts on the ovaries, acne, weight gain, high insulin and blood sugar, excess facial or body hair, pelvic pain, decreased sex drive, stress and anxiety among many others. While conventionally there is no “cure” and the cause of PCOS is unknown, three factors are considered major contributors:

Insulin Resistance
Increased Androgen hormones
Genetic Predisposition

Do we really not know what causes PCOS?

While it is said the cause of this syndrome is unknown in Western medicine, TCM has a very different point of view. Typically PCOS is caused by an excess pattern but for many women a combination of excess and deficiency patterns are present and must be addressed. Here are some example patterns that may be contributing:

Phlegm Dampness (excess)
Spleen Qi Deficiency (deficiency)
Liver Qi Stagnation or Stasis (excess)
Blood Stagnation or Stasis (excess)
Kidney Yin or Yang Deficiency (deficiency)

Factors such as inflammation in the body, excess insulin, genetic predisposition, excess facial/body hair, irregular menses, weight gain, along with all the other possible symptoms are clues. Using observation, a comprehensive collection of health information, tongue and pulse diagnosis and diet and lifestyle assessment, TCM can identify which pattern is the root, underlying cause of PCOS for you.

Nutrition is also an important factor in PCOS. It is no surprise that PCOS has a strong link to body weight and Type 2 Diabetes. Specifically following a Traditional Chinese Medicine nutritional approach can be a very beneficial part of treatment for this condition and essential in how TCM can help women seeking options to treat PCOS without birth control.

Tips for treating PCOS without birth control.

Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, lose some weight…These recommendations are typical but don’t quite give enough information from a TCM perspective. The kind of exercise you do, when you do it, the properties of food such as whether they are hot , cold or damp and the organ system they support/hinder are all taken into consideration. If you need to lose a little weight, how you do it makes a difference in whether or not you are doing it in a way that exacerbates a pattern that is already causing a problem for you or not. There are many intricacies in TCM recommendations and treatments that are extremely individualized for your body. For this reason, we recommend getting properly assessed by a licensed and nationally board certified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine that specializes in women’s health conditions, PCOS, Pelvic Pain and Fertility.

What you can start doing:

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Get properly diagnosed by a TCM specialist and begin receiving weekly treatments. You will receive proper advice on diet and lifestyle designed specifically for your needs as well as custom herbal formulas to support healing and balance. Length and duration of your treatments will be dependant on the severity of your case and the types of symptoms you are presenting with. Typically, a 3 month regimen is recommended.

Say no to processed foods and avoid sugar. A good rule of thumb when you are in the grocery store is to stay in the perimeter of the store. This is where the most fresh food is! Almost anything in an aisle is in a box, can, jar or bottle, all of which contain terrible additives, sugars and preservatives and all promote inflammation in the body. Step away from the pasta, white bread and soda pop and watch our video on nutrition.
Avoid Cold Food and Drinks. Warm food is good food. From a TCM perspective, when you put cold/raw food into your body, not only do you use energy to digest the food, but in order to do it, extra energy is needed to “cook” it; putting extra stress on that system. Ice water, cold beverages and raw veggies are more difficult for the body to warm and metabolize. Instead opt for room temperature water and steamed veggies.
Avoid Dampness. Dampness can invade the body through internal or external factors caused by food and your environment. Dairy should be avoided as well as avoid staying in wet clothes or spending a lot of time in damp environments such as basements. Watch our video on dampness.
Exercise in a way that doesn’t overwhelm your body. While exercise is good and very important to your health, overdoing it may be counterproductive. Heavy exercise and excessive cardio pushes blood to the muscles so you can be fit but takes blood away from the uterus, which is where it is needed for regulating your cycle. Gentle, consistent exercise that addresses the mind and body is what we recommend such as Yoga (not hot yoga), Qi Gong and Tai Chi.

Clinical Evidence & Studies

Our team has over 40+ years of clinical experience and specializes in women’s health issues such as Fertility, Pelvic Pain and PCOS. Not only have we seen clinical evidence of successful PCOS treatment within our own practice and with our peers, studies are also supporting the value of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, in ovulation induction, reduction of hyperandrogenism and improves oligo/amenorrhea.

Ready to address PCOS naturally? Make your first appointment today!

By Alex Goldberg|October 19th, 2015|Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Infertility, PCOS, pelvic pain, Uncategorized, women|0 Comments

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Olympians Spot On About Benefits of Cupping

Acupuncture For Opioid Induced Constipation

Pain Meds Killing Your Bowel Movements? Opioid Induced Constipation.

How Acupuncture for Opioid Induced Constipation Can Help.