Acupuncture & Shiatsu in Exeter » Gynaecology

Gynaecology

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:40:42 +0000

Gynaecology has a very long history in Chinese medicine: the earliest writings date from the Shang dynasty (1500-1000BC), infertility was being discussed two thousand years ago, the earliest obstetrics text was written during the Tang dynasty (618-907AD), and probably the earliest medical school department devoted entirely to gynaecology and obstetrics, was that of the Imperial Medical College during the Song dynasty (960-1279AD). The subject occupies a very special place in traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture in the twenty-first century can assist with many problems for which women often feel there is a lack of really satisfactory solutions.

Some of the conditions I most commonly see include PMS, painful periods and other menstrual irregularites, infertlity, habitual miscarriage, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and menopausal symptoms. With most of these problems, the precise characteristics of your monthly cycle can offer a lot of clues about what lies behind your symptoms. I am likely to ask about your cycle length, its regularity, any variability, and other such matters, so it helps if you can consider these in advance. The history of your problem and any investigations and results are important too. As usual in traditional Chinese acupuncture, your health and well-being are looked at in the widest sense: any other health issues, aswell as the amount of energy you have to devote to both work and family, are all relevant to me.

For complaints related to your monthly cycle, I tell my patients as a rule of thumb, to be prepared to come for treatment more or less weekly, for three cycles ie. around three months. This gives acupuncture a proper opportunity to start to work, and is an appropriate length of time after which to review progress. We will usually track your cycle down to the day, because on each visit, treatment should be tailored not only to your main complaint, but also so as to harmonise with what your body is naturally trying to do at that point in your cycle; this way, acupuncture goes with the flow, and does not try to run counter to any perfectly natural aspect of your monthly rhythm.

I hope this has given you a little bit of background to Chinese medical gynaecology, but because this area spans so many different conditions, you are always welcome to just pick up the telephone and ask me more about anything specific. Meanwhile, we began this article with medicine 3000 years ago, and by contrast, you will find below the results of some modern research into acupuncture in the gynaecological sphere.

Acupuncture reduces Period Pain

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:40:25 +0000

A Cochrane database systematic review has concluded that current evidence supports the use of acupuncture to reduce menstrual pain.

Australian authors reviewed ten trials covering a total of 944 women receiving acupuncture or acupressure, to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture compared with placebo, no treatment, and conventional drugs eg painkillers or the oral contraceptive pill. They found that acupuncture gave an improvement in pain relief compared with placebo control or Chinese herbs. In two trials, acupuncture gave superior relief from other symptoms such as back pain, compared with standard medication. In another trial, quality of life was improved with acupuncture, compared with usual care. No significant adverse events were identified. The authors called for further, well-designed trials.

(Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Systematic Review, January 2011.)

Acupuncture helps Endometriosis Pain

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:53:11 +0000

Researchers in Austria have studied the effects of acupuncture treatment for the pain of endometriosis, and found it to be of significant benefit.

In a randomised controlled cross-over trial, 101 women were assigned to one of two groups, each group receiving two courses of ten acupuncture treatments. Group 1 received true acupuncture as its first course of treatment, while Group 2 received non-specific acupuncture. Upon completion of this first course of ten treatments, an observation interval of at least two menstrual cycles was inserted. The groups were then reversed such that Group 1 received non-specific acupuncture and Group 2 received true acupuncture.

Researchers found that Group 1 experienced a significant reduction in pain after its first course of treatment, but Group 2 only showed significant pain reduction after it too had been switched to true acupuncture.

(Is Acupuncture in addition to Conventional Medicine Effective as Pain Treatment for Endometriosis? A Randomised Controlled Cross-Over Trial. European Journal Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Biology, Nov 2010.)

Acupuncture Point has Immediate Effect on Menstrual Pain

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:34:11 +0000

Researchers in China have shown that the acupuncture point sanyinjiao (SP-6), traditionally used for a variety of gynaecological problems, does indeed have a specific and immediately beneficial effect on period pain.

Fifty-two women with period pain were each assigned to one of four groups: electroacupuncture at SP-6; electroacupuncture at a corresponding acupuncture point on the opposite side of the leg; elecroacupuncture at an adjacent non-acupuncture point; no acupuncture. They received 10 minutes treatment at a time when they scored their pain as 4/10 or greater, and a further 30 minutes treatment on the following two days. The SP-6 treatment group experienced highly significant reductions in pain scores, compared to the other groups.

(A Comparative Study on the Immediate Effects of Electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Xuanzhong (GB-39) and a Non-Meridian Point, on Menstrual Pain and Uterine Arterial Blood Flow, in Primary Dysmenorrhoea Patients. Pain Med, Oct 2010.)

Acupuncture alleviates Tamoxifen-induced Hot Flushes

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:02:46 +0000

British researchers have shown that acupuncture offers an effective way to manage the hot flushes and night sweats experienced by women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer.

Fifty patients with early breast cancer and who were taking tamoxifen, were given eight weekly, individualised traditional acupuncture treatments. By the end of treatment, the average frequency of hot flushes had been reduced by 49.8% compared with baseline. At 4 and 18 weeks after acupuncture ended, trends suggested longer term benefits aswell. The women also showed significant improvements in other areas of physical and emotional well-being.

(Using Traditional Acupuncture for Breast Cancer-Related Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Journal of Altern Complementary Med, Oct 2010.)

Additionally, Norwegian researchers have followed up women taking similar medication and assessed them two years after they originally had acupuncture treatment for hot flushes: 41 women had previously received acupuncture, and 41 had received sham acupuncture as a control, given as 15 treatments over ten weeks.

Whilst women previously treated with sham acupuncture, reported that hot flushes were still a problem, those who had traditional Chinese acupuncture found flushes less problematic and generally had a more positive outlook on life.

(Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients Medicated with Anti-Estrogens, Two Years after Acupuncture Treatment. Int Journal of Womens Health. Sept 2010.)