In Oriental Medicine, the feminine is considered yin. Yin is part of the concept of yin and yang, which is the interconnectedness between opposing or complementary energies. These energies form an interactive, dynamic system greater than the parts. Examples of yin and yang are shadow and light, male and female, hot and cold. These are all interdependent with each other.
Women have a unique physiology, which must always be taken into account when diagnosing and treating medical conditions. A woman’s hormonal balance is a dynamic equilibrium that shifts from day to day, week to week, and through the years. When the female body is supported, it can effectively reset itself, because of the body’s natural tendency towards balance.
At Integrative Japanese Acupuncture and Wellness Center, we approach women’s medicine from an understanding that hormones affect many systems in the body from skin to immune system. Our approach is to use the most natural approach first and foremost. We use Integrative Japanese Acupuncture first to see if the body can reset itself. Often that is the only protocol needed. If there are further complications, then we can add herbs or nutricueticals.
We also can test for hormonal imbalances using saliva tests to see if hormones are out of balance. Then a bio identical hormonal prescription can be formulated for the patient.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR INFERTILITY
We specialize in treating infertility of any cause. Using a combination of modern and classical acupuncture, our treatments have an outstanding success rate when other methods have failed, including cases in which western medicine has not determined a cause of the infertility.
Acupuncture can boosts the effectiveness of high-tech reproductive medical procedures. Small studies have found that adding acupuncture to traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments increased pregnancy success. There is also evidence that acupuncture stimulates blood flow and egg production in women who can’t — or don’t want to — use fertility medications to help them get pregnant.
Acupuncture affects three areas critical to egg production and ovulation: two areas of the brain that control hormone production (the hypothalamus and pituitary glands) as well as the ovaries. Acupuncture changes the blood supply to the ovaries, possibly dilating the arteries and increasing blood flow, so ultimately, the ovaries are receiving greater amounts of hormonal stimulation.
Acupuncture also boosts the uterine lining when it is too weak to sustain a pregnancy, a problem known to increase the risk of miscarriage.
Our treatments are safe, gentle and effective; most patients find them painless and deeply relaxing.
Menopause
EVERY WOMEN IN THE WORLD WILL EXPERIENCE MENOPAUSE. It is a natural process of aging when the ovaries begin to decrease the amount of hormones produced. Menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period and marks the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States.
Before menopause there is perimenopause. Periods become irregular with the cycle either shortening or lengthening and blood flow either heavier or lighter. Every woman is different and so is her menopause. The physical symptoms of menopause can be vaginal dryness, change in bowel habits, weight gain, brain fog, emotional symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, insomnia, lower energy. Then there are the dreaded hot flashes witch can lasting 30 seconds to 10 minutes, range from moist to severe sweating, shivering, and reddening of the skin.
Treating Hot Flashes
AT INTEGRATIVE JAPANESE ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNESS CENTER, Dr. Duckworth has many protocols for treating hot flashes.
If the hot flashes are mild and tolerable, a series of Kototama Japanese acupuncture can balance the complex of hormones and quiet the flashes.
Wellness counseling also is a component in the management of menopausal symptoms. Simple changes in diet and reduction of stress can help as well as avoiding excessively hot environments, hot spicy foods, caffeine and cigarettes. Exercise is often recommended because of its ability to increase serotonins and reduce stress. Even catching a virus may deregulate the body’s temperature control mechanisms and precipitate hot flashes.
If the hot flashes are severe you will still benefit from lifestyle changes and acupuncture but you may also need support from herbal remedies and/or prescription of bioidentical hormones. Before prescribing bioidentical hormones, your hormonal levels are tested so that the right prescription can be compounded for you.
If the patient is having anxiety or panic attacks, then the adrenal glands need to be diagnosed and support with acupuncture and herbal supplements.