Chinese Medicine and Women's Health

Chinese Medicine’s greatest diagnostic tool is observation, particularly that of the tongue and pulses, to understand what is taking place inside of the body. It is the intention of harmonizing the energy and blood of the body that creates health. Deficiency of energy or blood can cause a break down in the body’s ability to maintain health. If energy or blood is not moving properly it can cause a break down in the body’s ability to function properly, leading often times to pain. Chinese Medicine is so profound at treating women’s issues because of this intention of balance. Symptoms that present before or during menstruation like cramps, breast tenderness, and irritability that many women consider normal is actually the body’s way of trying to send a message that an imbalance is taking place. Later in life when menopause begins hot flashes and insomnia are other so called normal processes in the eyes and bodies of western women. These experiences are not necessary and when balanced can bring about a higher quality of life that most women can not even fathom.

It is my personal experience and belief that stress impacts a women’s cycle very intimately. I don’t know one woman not impacted by stress. Women are most family’s caregivers and most women put the needs of the family before their own needs.

While going through graduate school and running a private practice my body began to fatigue more and more easily. I did not get quality sleep yet slept more and more because my body never got the opportunity to recover from my long days. Then my period started doing a strange thing, I would bleed for 10 days profusely and then stop for 10 days and start again. I started to sleep more and function less over a 2 month period. My gynecologist did a routine exam and gave me a clean bill of health. This left me confused and frustrated so I sought eastern medicine practices. Fortunately, I was studying Chinese Medicine in grad school and had access to an Acupuncturist I trusted. I received a weekly acupuncture treatment and took an herbal formula prescribed by my acupuncturist for a full menstrual cycle. I continued my herbs for another month after this. My bleeding stopped after my first acupuncture treatment and at the end of my month of treatment I resumed back to my normal period: a 4 day medium flow period with no PMS symptoms before or during my cycle. This meant no breast tenderness, no cramps, no cravings, no bloating, or constipation. My sleep cycle also returned back to normal and I was able to make it through my days without napping and had energy to do more then just make it through my day; my life began to thrive again. I no longer had dizziness or fatigue and feelings of depression lifted in the first 2 weeks.

This experience also gave me a greater awareness of myself. When I am in a period of life where I have more stress I know my sleep is the first thing that is affected and leaps directly into my menstrual cycle function. Chinese Medicine is a gift that offers one the time to pay attention to what the body is saying. Everyday your body subtly tells you what it needs; the problem is if you don’t listen then your body has to start yelling for you to pay attention. The quicker you can recognize what your body is trying to say, the quicker you can return back to health. Illness starts with a single cell that is out of balance and then starts to grow quickly affecting every aspect of your body and life. The quicker the attempt of balance is made the faster the recovery process.

Herbal medicine is not something that is meant to dabble in. Because regulation is scarce and research limited there are many products available over the counter. When working with an herbalist she will formulate an herbal decoction to fit your specific needs in addition to looking at your diet and lifestyle to see what has caused imbalances in the first place. Diet is often times the easiest preventative and yet hardest change to make.

Acupuncture is not a silver bullet that can cure all. It is, however, a tool that can assist in the process of healing and can move you in the right direction. Acupuncture is one component of Chinese Medicine. Massage therapy, exercise/movement, nutrition, herbal medicine, meditation, and how organized your material possessions are all contribute to maintaining health. In my case and with the assistance of my Acupuncturist I took some time to evaluate my diet and made it a priority to eat more mindfully and added foods that nourished blood. I also restarted my yoga practice that had fallen by the wayside as my life became busier and made it a point to recognize when my body was telling me I was moving past what my “best” was. As women we are often taught to put our needs last, however if we aren’t functioning optimally we won’t be able to take care of everything else that needs our attention optimally either. Chinese Medicine offers a tool of empowerment where suffering in any capacity is optional.

Sarah Zender LAc LMT
Co-founder of Whole Health Acupuncture Ltd
60 Turner Ave
Elk Grove Village IL 60007
847 357-3929
to learn more about Sarah's approach to wellness visit: www.wholehealthprograms.com or email: Sarah@wholehealthprograms.com