The Ancient Wisdom of Acupuncture: Empowering Women’s Health

Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine with its origins reaching back 2000+ years. Chinese medicine grew from Chinese and East Asian culture and Daoist philosophy to create a sophisticated and holistic way of viewing the body, true health and the whole world around us.

Acupuncture is a branch within Chinese medicine. The other branches include Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, lifestyle and dietary therapy, tui na (therapeutic massage) and Qi Gong (physical & mental self cultivation practices).

Gynaecology has long been a strong focus of Chinese medicine with a rich history of clinical practice and thousands of years of observation & treatments devoted to this very topic.

The understanding in Chinese medicine is that our baseline is to be healthy, happy and vibrant. When symptoms arise and we have deviated from this, it’s a sign from the body something deeper is going on, a disharmony is present that is giving rise to symptoms.

For menstrual health in particular, Chinese medicine views the menstrual cycle as an integral and vital aspect of a woman’s health. The period should come and go with ease, with minimal to no disturbing/life interrupting symptoms. If and when symptoms arise, it’s a sign to look deeper at what is driving this and how to course correct to get back to symptom free, easeful periods.

Acupuncture involves placing sterile, single use, fine needles into acupuncture points. Each organ system has it’s own associated channel in the body, along each channel are acupuncture points that have different and specific effects on that organ system and the body as a whole.

An acupuncture treatment done by a Chinese medicine practitioner will use a selection of acupuncture points specific to the individuals current needs, health history and treatment goals to elicit a therapeutic effect.

So why use acupuncture for supporting your menstrual cycle? Let’s dive into some key reasons why this is a supportive modality you need a part of your health care team.

• Your Chinese medicine practitioner/acupuncturist views you and your health holistically. The focus isn’t just on a label (eg. Endometriosis, PCOS) but on you, your health history, your current state of health and what underlying factors specific to you have led to a certain diagnosis and state of being.
• Appointments with a Chinese medicine practitioner are typically an hour, with the first appointment in particular having a focus on taking a detailed case history. Many patients appreciate the time and care their practitioner takes with them to tell their story, be fully heard, as well as having ample time for questions and creating a treatment plan for you moving forwards.
• Acupuncture can be beneficial for period pain. If you are someone who has experienced ongoing, chronic menstrual pain, acupuncture may be for you! Acupuncture can help to relax muscles and reduce body tension, reduce inflammation, increase circulation through the reproductive organs, release pain-killing endorphins and reduce stress hormones – a combination of which can be a powerful antidote to recurring menstrual pain. A 2018 study showed a significant reduction in menstrual pain including associated PMS symptoms such as headaches, mood changes, tiredness, nausea and vomiting.
• If you have endometriosis, we all know that more methods of supporting and managing endometriosis are in high demand. A 2023 study found that acupuncture is a safe and effective method for relieving dysmenorrhoea associated with endometriosis, shortens the pain duration as well as improving wellbeing and quality of life with women with endometriosis associated pain.
• Acupuncture can help to support ovulation. Have you been struggling with missing periods, long menstrual cycles or PCOS? Acupuncture has been shown to have a regulating effect on the HPO (hypothalamic – pituitary – ovarian) axis and can help to support the production and regulation of hormones such as FSH, LH, estradiol (E2), SHBG, testosterone and progesterone. A 2013 study found acupuncture helps to increase ovulation frequency in women with PCOS and supported hormonal regulation.
• If you are beginning the transition of moving out of your reproductive years, acupuncture can still be of benefit to you. Moving through perimenopause and menopause is often characterised by symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbance and mood changes. Acupuncture can help to support all these symptoms to improve quality of life and make this life transition more supported and easeful. A 2019 study found acupuncture had a fast and clinically relevant effect on reducing menopausal symptoms with no adverse effects.

As well as receiving acupuncture, your practitioner may also provide you with dietary and lifestyle recommendations, herbal medicine, supplements and meditation/breathing techniques to help reach your desired goals quickly, effectively and sustainably. Depending on your history and main concern, your practitioner may also recommend specific relevant testing (eg. blood tests, ultrasounds) to put together a wider, detailed picture of how to best support achieving your treatment goals.

Acupuncture can be a wonderful, supportive modality when navigating and supporting menstrual health and fertility. Here at Femtek we always recommend seeking out an experienced practitioner with a strong focus on women’s health.