Acupuncture

Chart of hormonal changes in women's monthly cycles- shows fluctuations of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone.

Women’s Hormonal Health And Acupuncture

Women’s menstrual cycles are directly related to a series of changes of three key hormones: estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. In the first two weeks of the cycle, estrogen and testosterone rise significantly. This can result in an increase of social interest and libido.

Following ovulation, estrogen and testosterone plunge, progesterone rises. As estrogen levels fall, there is a concurrent drop in serotonin, which is closely related to mood regulation. This change helps to explain why in the third week of a women’s cycle, there may be an increase of irritability, an increase in appetite and a decrease of social interest, libido and sleep.

During the fourth week, estrogen and testosterone plunge. It is at this time that some women experience PMS.

Hormonal imbalances are not an uncommon problem for women. Health challenges including migraines, infertility,  irregular periods, sleep problems, irritability, and, hair loss are often linked to a hormonal imbalance.

Acupuncture is an important tool that can help regulate hormonal imbalances for both sexes. My studies with Kiiko Matsumoto, Japanese acupuncturist have helped me develop a comprehensive approach to supporting hormonal balance.

During palpation, discomfort from slight pressure applied to reflex point shows me which hormonal systems are out of balance. For example, a person that has chronic exhaustion could be suffering from an adrenal imbalance or a thyroid problem. With the use of palpation, I can find which system is out of balance. As the treatment progresses I use the reflex points to monitor progress. As a Five Element Acupuncturist, my goal is to resolve these issues by treating the whole person, not just the symptom. Regular treatments lead to increased vitality and health.

The contents in this article are not meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive. Women’s hormonal problems are often complex and a physician should always be consulted before choosing a course of treatment.

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Woman,Falling,Asleep,In,The,Office.,Tiredness,Because,Of,Sleep

Acupuncture for Post-COVID Syndrome

Acupuncture can play an important role in treating post COVID syndrome. About a third of people who have had COVID develop long-term symptoms. Lingering effects of COVID can include headaches, fatigue, insomnia, loss of taste and smell, brain fog, heart palpitations, body aches and shortness of breath. Also common are psychological challenges including anxiety, irritability and depression.

In the early 70’s, acupuncture became known as a powerful tool for pain management. It is now common knowledge that acupuncture can strengthen the immune system, manage inflammation, help regulate the autonomic nervous system, and improve organ function. It has also been shown that acupuncture can be a valuable treatment for mental and emotional health challenges.

How does acupuncture help with post-COVID syndrome? COVID can challenge many different systems in the body including the airways, lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. Additionally, the immune and autonomic nervous systems can become dysregulated.

A recent client suffered from persistent insomnia between the hours of 11PM and 5AM. For this patient, I used the Chinese body clock. The ancient Chinese observed that each organ enjoys a two-hour energetic peak at the same time every day. In health, the Qi transits from one organ to the next every two hours. Sometimes with illness, the energy can become blocked. Energetic blocks are often found with health problems.

Chinese Body Clock

I treated my client with acupuncture to remove the energetic block and support his recovery from post-COVID syndrome. His sleep pattern improved and he is now able to get a good night’s rest.

We have also had post-COVID patients struggling with exhaustion, headaches, SOB, irritability, and loss of smell. Each of these problems is linked to an energetic imbalance that can be addressed with acupuncture. Acupuncture is not meant as a substitute for other treatments. Rather, it can be used as a powerful adjunct in addressing the problems faced by long COVID.

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Female Pelvis - Female pelvis including bladder, urethra, vaginal canal, vagina.

Avoiding Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are a significant health issue.  This problem affects hundreds of millions of women around the world each year. On average, these infections tend to last six days.

Women’s UTIs tend to be recurrent.  Chronic UTIs can lead to inflammation of the urinary bladder called cystitis. Is this problem inevitable? Not for most women.

First, let’s look at women’s anatomy and microbiology. The female bladder drains through the urethra, exiting the body in front of the vagina. Similarly, the uterus opens to the vaginal canal and into the vagina. The vagina is host to the healthy bacteria lactobacilli, more famously known as the friendly bacteria of the intestines. In the vagina and urethra, these bacteria provide protection against bacterial intruders. A healthy colony of lactobacilli in the vaginal region can not only prevent UTI’s and but also prevent yeast infections in the vaginal canal.

More than two thirds of all UTIs are caused by E-coli or staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria. To complicate this picture, the antibiotics prescribed in the treatment of UTIs often destroy the lactobacilli colony. The E-coli or staph take up residence in place of the lactobacilli. Recurrence of infection almost becomes inevitable.

What can you do? For hundreds of years, women have used a folk remedy which today, is being shown to have a scientific basis. You can cultivate healthy bacteria in the vaginal region. This can be done in several ways. One simple method is to implant lactobacilli in the vaginal canal by using a tampon or sponge soaked in plain yogurt with an active culture. Alternatively, a lactobacillus suppository can be used to cultivate healthy flora in the vaginal region. These methods are sometimes used as treatment where antibiotics are not available. For those who do take antibiotics, lactobacillus implants can also be used to re-establish a healthy microbial environment and prevent the recurrence of UTIs.

In addition to the home remedies we listed, acupuncture is a powerful tool to assist the body to heal from infection. Unlike antibiotics, with acupuncture there are no rebound effects and the treatments will strengthen the immune system, helping you to prevent recurrence. A one year study in Norway  of 100 women  showed that acupuncture reduced the incidence of cystitis by more than half. Call us now (973) 509-8464 or schedule online for your next appointment.

The contents in this article are not meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive. Urinary tract infections are sometimes complex, and a physician should always be consulted before choosing a course of treatment.

 

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Man walking with dog.

Hormones and Men’s Health

We all know that men and women are biologically different, but perhaps less different than you think. While there is limited evidence for a male monthly cycle, a man’s hormonal balance changes greatly throughout the span of a lifetime. These hormonal changes can affect  mental state, mood, muscle mass and sexual function. A couple of key hormones to watch in men are testosterone and cortisol.

Testosterone affects male fertility, libido and aggression. Testosterone also declines as we age. Normally, testosterone production peaks in adolescence and early adulthood. Starting at around age thirty, men’s testosterone diminishes by about one percent a year. Diminished testosterone may contribute to reduced energy, strength, endurance, sex drive, erectile function, enjoyment of life, and performance at work.

Cortisol is the stress hormone. In crisis situations, (when you are about to be eaten by a tiger,) cortisol and adrenaline help us to respond with the fight – flight response. If stress becomes constant, which seems all too common in our modern times, cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. As Cortisol becomes elevated, testosterone drops. And a drop in testosterone can cause other things to drop. According to experts at The Cleveland Clinic, erectile dysfunction affects over 40% of men over the age of 40 and 70% of men over the age of 70%.

Acupuncture can be highly effective in helping to regulate hormonal imbalances and maintain healthy testosterone levels in men.  Hormonal reflexes are palpated to reveal which hormonal systems are out of balance.  For example, someone who has chronic exhaustion may have an adrenal imbalance. Chronic exhaustion could also be due to a thyroid imbalance. 

Through palpation, I can pinpoint where the problem is, and monitor how the patient is responding to treatment. It is particularly important to tease out and treat the underlying issues that are creating the patient’s symptoms. The reproductive system works in concert with the heart – on both physical and emotional levels. When men are plagued by erectile dysfunction, a successful treatment utilizes a holistic approach to address the overall health.

Treatment is focused on the underlying cause or fundamental weakness within your constitution (your unique energetic makeup.) In Five Element Acupuncture, we call this weakness the Causative Factor (the one element which is most out of balance).

Think of each of the Five Elements as a member of a team (wood, fire, earth, metal, water.) If one of the players has a problem, the whole team has a problem. If the team member or element is supported well, she can overcome her problems and become stronger. Everyone on the team benefits from the renewed health of this player. By providing the appropriate support to the weakest element the whole system improves.

So, if you are experiencing hormonal problems, fear not. Acupuncture can help to reduce these imbalances and improve your overall health. As your hormonal balance improves, you can develop more strength, energy, endurance and sex drive.

 

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Body Memory

The body stores memories of trauma in the soft tissue.  We may re-experience the sensations of our injuries when we are touched.  Certain parts of our bodies may be tightly held, affecting our breath, structure and movement.  When trauma  occurs, the nervous system carries a message to the muscles  to tighten.  The traumatic experience becomes part of the body memory – a relationship between the fascia and the nervous system.

ImageFascia, a connective tissue, is the packing material of the body.  Fascia envelopes the muscles, bones and joints, holds us together and maintains our structures unique pattern.  The nervous system is a network of specialized cells (neurons) which, in it’s most basic form, receives information from the outside world, processes it and allows us to respond to the stimulus.

Ideally, if we have a traumatic experience, we process the information and can get on with our lives.  Sometimes this information overwhelms the system and gets stuck.  We may feel fear all the time, or perhaps our breath is shallow.  The trauma becomes part of the body memory.

Rolfers use deep pressure through their hands to release chronic tensions within the fascia.  As the tensions in the myofascia become more balanced, not only does alignment, breath and movement improve, but the nervous system has a chance to heal.  As the muscles are released from their shortened state, the physical remnants of trauma are cleared.  Rolfing or Structural Integration can help the nervous system to integrate the traumatic event.

Acupuncturists also work through the fascial system. Specifically, needles are inserted into points along energetic pathways called meridians.  These pathways correspond to fascial junctions (where muscle joins with muscle or bone) and forms lines of stress within the soft tissue.  Through these energetic pathways, acupuncturists work to regulate the nervous system and organ function.  Acupuncture can also be used to regulate the tensional forces within the fascia and organize the structure.  As the balance within the fascia and the nervous system are restored, body memories can shift and we can heal from trauma.  Structural acupuncture is a relatively new practice, and David Frome is among the pioneers of this field.

In the healing arts, no one can erase traumatic experience, but we can create the opportunity for healing.  At Frome Physical Therapy, we are committed to supporting you in Caring For Your Health. Call us now  (973.509.8464  212.529.1901)  or schedule online for your next appointment.

 

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