Are you experiencing these symptoms?
Missed periods (less than 10 menstrual cycle a year), No period
irregular periods, or scanty periods (very little bleed and light colour)
hair grow under your chin, upper lips, abdomen, or chest (hirsutism)
Weight gain, especially around the belly (abdomen)
moderate to severe Acne or oily skin
Hair loss, Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
Dandruff
Infertility
Trouble conceiving, or take long time to conceive
Depression or Anxiety
Small pieces of excess skin on the neck or armpits (skin tags)
Pigmentation in the fold of your skin - Dark or thick skin patches on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts
Sleep Apnea, snore
Fatty Liver
Problem with Breast milk production
Ovarian Cysts
What is Poly Cystic Ovaries?
PCOS is a complicated Endocrine and Metabolic disorders which affects 1 in every 10 women in the UK at their child bearing age. It is caused by hormone imbalance and metabolic abnormality that affects overall health and body appearance, increase risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases.
Polycystic, means accumulation of many cysts (fluid filled sac) gathered in the ovaries, which rarely grows or matures into fertile eggs.
It is usually diagnosed by Ultrasound - Cystic fluid filled sac in the enlarged ovary; and blood test - high level of androgen and other hormones - LH and FSH imbalance. Your care provider may also test your Blood Glucose level, Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels.
Metabolic abnormalities in PCOS increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Treatment of PCOS requires a good nutrition, change of lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and getting lots of exercise are crucial to the management of cycle regulation and fertility of women with PCOS.
PCOS Pathology in Chinese Medicine
PCOS categorized as Zheng Jia [癥瘕], Zheng non-substantial masses from stagnation of Qi, accumulation of damp, heat and phlegm manifestation of an abdominal masses.
In Chinese medical diagnosis, we look into individual's body constitutions.
There are different pathological patterns in PCOS, I will talk about the typical one here.
In Chinese medicine, there is no fixed pattern for everybody, the diagnosis always made according to the individual's body constitution, this is the most difficult part of Chinese medicine and the reason I spend my time in further training to master the diagnostic technique of Chinese medicine. I will share few common pathlogical patterns here.
1. Damp Phlegm type
Women with damp and phlegm type have trouble with their metabolic functions, shows symptoms of insulin resistant, excess androgen and imbalance testosterone.
In Chinese Medicine, we call this the 'Damp' or Phlegm type because the body creates excessive mucus which can clog up the inside of the ovaries. This makes it hard to mature and release an egg so they get 'stuck' and too many end up in there.
Infertility, difficult to conceive
Excessive mucus, phlegm can also clog the fallopian tubes making falling pregnant more difficult.
Weight gain, difficulty losing weight
Caused by abnormal high androgen level and severe disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism.
Hirsutism - hair grow under the chin, upper lip, abdomen
Brain fog, phlegmy nose, throat and chest
Smelly, sticky stools, soft sometimes
Leukorrhea - excessive vaginal discharge
snore, sleep apnea
2. Kidney qi deficiency with phlegm blockage symptoms
The physiology of this pattern usually is Qi (energy) and Blood deficient (yin fluid).
Fatigue, tiredness; irregular period, scanty period or no period
insufficient Qi distribution, Qi stagnation: This means the body doesn't have enough energy to keep you going and mature your eggs properly. The eggs get 'stuck' and the number of follicles builds up inside the ovaries making it even harder to release an egg.
It also affects the quality of the eggs released.
Emotional disturbance: anxiety, depression, palpitation, trouble with sleep
The shao yang (heart-kidney channel) heart-kidney work together to maintained through the dynamic descending and ascending movements of yin fluid and yang qi, when one is insufficient, any disturbance to such coordination could lead to disharmony between the heart and kidney therefore manifests these symptoms.
Hair loss, male pattern baldness,
3. Yin deficient type : inflammation
PCOS often associate with ongoing inflammation, Yin is coolness and moisture in your body. A lack of Yin in your body makes it dry, inflamed and a perfect home for autoimmune conditions.
Common symptoms of Yin deficiency are:
Light sleeper, difficulty get to sleep
Slim figure
Dry throat, dry skin, tendency to have skin rashes
Dry eye, hay-fever
What we offer for Treatments?
At White Tara Clinic, we offer natural and integrative treatment to support you. PCOS is a lifelong conditions. the cause of PCOS are environmental, genetic, epigenetic, which has no "cure". However, we can improve and balance the PCOS associated symptoms.
Acupuncture -
“The Kidney stores essence, the essence generates marrow, and the brain is the sea of marrow”. This “congenital kidney essence” is the nourishment and source for acquired constitution which maintains the basis of life.
The kidney’s part in the development of the brain also includes the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary relationship in regulating hormones for normal reproductive functions.
The above texts from CCM classical literature dedicated to explaining the importance of kidney qi and essence in assisting growth, development, puberty and reproduction.
Based on this idea, modern acupuncture research also find relevant evidence in resolving TCM Kidney patterns in PCOS, can alter the epigenetic, congenital symptoms like insulin resistant, altered the DNA methylation.
Treatment with Electro acupuncture -
In a study by (Benrick A et al The FASEB journal 2017) he finds electro-acupuncture can improve insulin sensitivity in obese women by using low frequency electro stimulation in acupuncture points (SP6, ST36, Zi Gong, CV4, CV12, CO4).
Another study run by (Kokosar et al. Scientia Report 2017) proof that electro acupuncture changes DNA methylation and gene expression in adipose tissue,
Treatment with Low Level Laser Therapy (Photobiomodulation therapy) -
Low Level Laser therapy is a treatment that utilizes specific types of light to interact with tissue. It is used to eliminate pain and promote healing for a variety of medical conditions.
The light source is placed in contact with the skin allowing the photon energy to penetrate tissue, where it interacts with various intracellular biomolecules resulting in the restoration of normal cell function and enhancement of the body’s healing processes.
Applying LLLT treatment in PCOS, will improve the ovarian activity, Decreased BMI and insulin resistance is crucial for hormone balance, specifically making sure androgens don’t get too high, which impedes follicular development and causes multiple underdeveloped follicles/cysts to sit on the ovaries causing further hormone disturbance, absent ovulation and long, irregular cycles.
Treatment with Bodytalk
Our mind plays a big part of our physical conditions, our emotions, thought pattern that we hold onto contributes to the manifestation of symptoms.
The behavioral patterns and our subconscious mind associated with PCOS are:
Discounting the feminine aspect of self;
holding on to old hurts and rejection, mother issues, feeling depleted, ungrounded, unsupported, neglected, and unbalanced. Over-concerned with other people's problems. Lack of appreciation and nurturing for self. possible contributing factors in PCOS sufferer,
Our thought and feelings could be pass down from our mother, grandmother, Bodytalk helps to break these patterns by working on the depth of the conscious mind, to help you to unfold the inner struggle, allowing you to become more of who you truly are to live a more happier, balanced life.
Functional Nutrition
Getting the right nutrition for your body types can rebalance the body, shift the presenting symptoms dramatically.
Call now for a free consultation at 01273 956845
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