Women with erratic menstrual cycles can struggle with fertility, premenstrual symptoms, and difficulty planning life activities not knowing when the next bleed will start. Thankfully Chinese medicine can help regularize menstrual cycles so that women are more in charge of their monthly schedules, symptom management, and fertility.
Chinese medicine helps to reduce stress levels, which then enables the body to focus more on reproductive health. During times of “fight or flight” the body’s resources are directed towards immediate survival needs such as ability to rapidly use muscles, breathe deeply, and think fast. When the body is switched into a “rest and digest” lower stress mode, energy can be used towards immunity, reproduction, and digestion.
Short Menstrual Cycles
When menstrual cycles are short (generally about 21 days or fewer), your Chinese medicine practitioner will assess whether that is due to a weakness of the system or a high inflammatory state and will then provide acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment accordingly. When treatments are at least once a week, it will typically take about 2-4 months to see a longer cycle. Having a cycle that is closer to 26-30ish days supports fertility in that it gives enough time for an egg to fully mature and enough time for the uterus to be appropriately ready to receive a fertilized egg that can be supported into pregnancy.
Long Menstrual Cycles
When menstrual cycles are long (generally more than 35 days), your practitioner will assess whether that is due to stress/internal tension or one of various types of internal weakness, and will then treat it accordingly. While some women do not mind having longer cycles it can be difficult to plan for fertility and can also point to other possible underlying medical conditions such as thyroid concerns or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as PCOS).
Erratic Menstrual Cycles
Rather than continuously short or long menstrual cycles, you may have erratic/irregular cycles that are sometimes short, sometimes long, and/or sometimes approximately monthly. Again, there are several underlying Chinese medical diagnoses responsible for this pattern, so your practitioner will assess your particular constitution and provide appropriate treatment.
Regularized Cycles
Once your cycle is regularized, you may find that the symptoms associated with your cycle are much easier to bear. Cramps will likely lessen, pre-menstrual mood issues will often be less severe and of a shorter duration, and differences in blood quality and flow in your cycles will likely move towards a more moderate flow, color, and duration.
If you are ready to support your health with regular, smooth menstrual cycles, contact us at Inspire Family Acupuncture to get started with your Chinese medicine journey!
Lafayette, CA – Improve the Regularity of Menstrual Cycles with Chinese Medicine
SYNOPSIS: Women struggling with short, long, and/or erratic menstrual cycles can achieve more regular menstrual cycles and decreased menstrual symptoms using Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture helps regularize the menstrual cycle
BY: JANET THOMSON, Inspire Family Acupuncture
Women with erratic menstrual cycles can struggle with fertility, premenstrual symptoms, and difficulty planning life activities not knowing when the next bleed will start. Thankfully Chinese medicine can help regularize menstrual cycles so that women are more in charge of their monthly schedules, symptom management, and fertility.
Chinese medicine helps to reduce stress levels, which then enables the body to focus more on reproductive health. During times of “fight or flight” the body’s resources are directed towards immediate survival needs such as ability to rapidly use muscles, breathe deeply, and think fast. When the body is switched into a “rest and digest” lower stress mode, energy can be used towards immunity, reproduction, and digestion.
Short Menstrual Cycles
When menstrual cycles are short (generally about 21 days or fewer), your Chinese medicine practitioner will assess whether that is due to a weakness of the system or a high inflammatory state and will then provide acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment accordingly. When treatments are at least once a week, it will typically take about 2-4 months to see a longer cycle. Having a cycle that is closer to 26-30ish days supports fertility in that it gives enough time for an egg to fully mature and enough time for the uterus to be appropriately ready to receive a fertilized egg that can be supported into pregnancy.
Long Menstrual Cycles
When menstrual cycles are long (generally more than 35 days), your practitioner will assess whether that is due to stress/internal tension or one of various types of internal weakness, and will then treat it accordingly. While some women do not mind having longer cycles it can be difficult to plan for fertility and can also point to other possible underlying medical conditions such as thyroid concerns or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as PCOS).
Erratic Menstrual Cycles
Rather than continuously short or long menstrual cycles, you may have erratic/irregular cycles that are sometimes short, sometimes long, and/or sometimes approximately monthly. Again, there are several underlying Chinese medical diagnoses responsible for this pattern, so your practitioner will assess your particular constitution and provide appropriate treatment.
Regularized Cycles
Once your cycle is regularized, you may find that the symptoms associated with your cycle are much easier to bear. Cramps will likely lessen, pre-menstrual mood issues will often be less severe and of a shorter duration, and differences in blood quality and flow in your cycles will likely move towards a more moderate flow, color, and duration.
If you are ready to support your health with regular, smooth menstrual cycles, contact us at Inspire Family Acupuncture to get started with your Chinese medicine journey!
