Acupuncture in the Park » Women’s Issues

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Urinary Tract Infections

Your Acupuncture Specialist — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:43:53 +0000

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are miserable things. If you’ve ever had one, you’re no stranger to the lightening bolt of pain you feel every time you go to the bathroom. You don’t know what to do because it will hurt if you go, but holding it hurts, too. One thing you do know is that you want it to stop hurting.

While what’s going on may seem like a simple bladder infection, in Chinese medicine they’re anything but simple. Like headaches, colds, or back pain, bladder infections (or UTI’s) have a distinct personality. Symptoms can run the gamut from urinary urgency, frequency, difficulty, dribbling, sharp urethral pain, spasms in the lower abdomen, and pain radiating to your lower back.

In Chinese medicine, UTI’s generally fall into a pattern of excess or depletion. Excess patterns are due to an accumulation or too much of something. Bladder infections that are excess tend to be a combination of dampness (an accumulation of fluids) and heat. The most notable symptom of this kind of pattern is a burning pain during urination. A damp heat UTI can be the result of too much alcohol, hot spicy food, sweets, or poor hygiene.

UTI’s that are caused by depletion are usually the result of being run down from aging, not sleeping well, poor diet, and…um, too much sex. Living life a little too fully can wear down your Chinese Kidney and/or Spleen to the point that you’re unable to metabolize water or control the mechanism of the bladder very well. The end result can be incontinence or dribbling, dull and achy pain, and a sore lower back.

To further complicate the diagnosis, in Chinese medicine, bladder infections are grouped into six different types:

Heat. This is the typical bladder infection, with sharp, burning pain. You may also run a fever; have constipation, thirst, or a bitter taste in your mouth.

Stony. This one really hurts with the kind of pain that can bring you to your knees. This is essentially kidney stones, and the symptoms include severe low back or abdominal pain, cramping, difficulty urinating, urinating blood, and passing stones in the urine.

Qi. This is all about your energy, or Qi, and can be either excess or deficient. An excess pattern means that your energy is stagnating and causing symptoms, which include difficult urination, a feeling of fullness or pain in your lower abdomen, and possibly chest tightness or rib pain. A depleted Qi pattern is caused by not having enough energy for your bladder to metabolize water. Symptoms in this case may include a feeling of heaviness in your lower abdomen, dripping or incontinence, possibly a pale complexion, feeling tired, shortness of breath, and an achy lower back.

Bloody. This pattern can also be from either an excess or depletion, but either way, there will be blood in your urine. An excess pattern is essentially heat causing you to bleed, with symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, sharp burning pain, and of course, blood in your urine–usually a fair amount. Being depleted can also cause blood in your urine, but there typically won’t be as much blood, or the bleeding will occur over a long period of time. Also, if this pattern is from being depleted, it won’t generally be as sharply painful, but you may feel tired and you may have a weak, achy low back and/or knees.

Cloudy. Like the bloody pattern, this one can come from either an excess or a depletion. The common denominator however, is cloudy or milky looking urine. If caused by an excess, this type will have very cloudy urine with urethral pain and burning. If from a depletion, your symptoms may include dribbling of cloudy looking urine, mild urethral pain, dizziness, ringing ears, and again, a weak or achy lower back and knees. This pattern tends to affect people who have a thin, weak, or depleted body type.

Taxation. This is a total depletion pattern, and comes from overdoing it or being totally wiped out. The symptoms include periodic dribbling of urine, stress incontinence (leaking after jumping or sneezing), fatigue, and an achy, weak low back or knees.

Each type of UTI has a specific method of treatment in Chinese medicine. However, in general, an excess pattern will involve clearing heat and resolving the dampness. This may be done through a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and food therapy. A common herbal formula for bladder infections is Ba Zheng San, (also called Eight Herb Powder for Rectification). This particular formula works to clear heat and drain out dampness, and in some cases can be used for UTI’s where there is some blood in the urine.

For UTI’s that are caused by being depleted, the first line of treatment may involve Chinese herbs to supplement Spleen or Kidney Qi (energy). Acupuncture and foods chosen to build up your strength may also become part of your treatment. It’s important to remember that it usually takes longer to treat a depletion pattern than an excess pattern. That’s because when you’re depleted, the treatment involves nourishing or rebuilding your body, and this can take time. However, with the proper treatment and time, you can rebuild your body and prevent your symptoms from recurring.

Eating Disorders and Chinese Medicine

Your Acupuncture Specialist — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:44:30 +0000

From time to time we’re asked whether acupuncture can help someone with an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia, or obsessive overeating. As with any condition, there is no one size fits all—everyone is different and heals at their own pace and in their own way. That said, at Acupuncture in the Park, we have worked with a number of patients who have suffered with eating disorders and who have been helped—sometimes dramatically so—from acupuncture.

Each person with an eating disorder comes with a unique set of circumstances, and can have one (or more) of a variety of imbalances in Chinese medicine. However, whether the condition is anorexia, bulimia, overeating, pathological food restriction, or night eating, in Chinese medicine the following organs are affected by eating disorders:

Heart. While you tend to think of your Heart as something that primarily pumps blood and is prone to heart attacks as you get older, the Heart organ system in Chinese medicine houses something called the Shen. The Shen is the home to your mind, memory, consciousness, and spirit. While these functions are attributed to the brain in Western medicine, we tend to intuitively know that the Heart is also an organ of feeling. (Think valentines, having a “broken heart” or heartfelt thanks.)

As an organ of emotion and spirituality, there is always some level of Shen imbalance in people who are struggling with an eating disorder. We believe that your approach to eating mirrors your approach to life, and if you’re binging, vomiting, not eating, or unhealthily restricting your food intake, your heart and spirit are as out of balance as your physical body. In Chinese medicine, an eating disorder would be considered a Shen disturbance.

Liver. Your Chinese Liver system is also concerned with emotions. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of everything in your body, including your emotions. When what you desire is very different from the reality of your life, it can evoke strong feelings of anger, frustration, and low self-worth. When those feelings are constantly suppressed, Liver energy becomes stuck and can show up as irritability, angry outbursts, and yes, pathological eating. In some people, especially those with eating disorders, strong emotions are turned inward and may also become depression and anxiety. In the patients we’ve treated with eating disorders, there is always some element of Liver stagnation.

Spleen. The organ system most damaged by eating disorders is your Chinese Spleen. Paired with the Stomach, your Spleen is responsible for the process of taking in food, digesting it, and converting it into the energy and nutrients your body needs to function on an everyday basis. Your Spleen is also in charge of holding things in and up in your body.

An eating disorder can damage your Spleen in a couple of ways. First, the digestive process can be impaired, even years after an eating disorder, causing symptoms such as stomachaches, gas, heartburn, constipation or loose stools, and even lack of energy or fatigue.

In addition, we have seen in a couple of women in our clinic who have recovered from their eating disorder, but who have damaged the holding function of their Spleen. This has shown up in an ability to become pregnant, but a tendency towards miscarriages (an inability to “hold” the fetus). Another sign of damage to the Spleen is easy bruising, as the blood isn’t being “held” in the vessels very well, and chronic diarrhea as…well, you get the point.

Kidney. Your Chinese Kidney is the home to all the vital substances in your body—Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood, and Essence, which is kind of like your DNA and body constitution all wrapped into one. Your body constitution is a gauge of how healthy you are, and it’s affected by how you live your life. For example, you may be a big, strong and healthy person who damages your health by partying, eating poorly and skimping on sleep—all things that can deplete your body constitution. In contrast, you may be smaller and not be as strong, but if you guard your health by eating well, sleeping, etc. you may live to reach a ripe old age.

My point is this—eating disorders damage your body constitution, and as a result, the health of your Chinese Kidney.

The good news is that if you are suffering from an eating disorder or have a history of an eating disorder, all is not lost. First, you need help from a mental health professional who is skilled in treating people with eating disorders. Then, when you are ready to get your body back into balance and repair the damage, Chinese medicine, through the use of acupuncture and herbs, can help by calming your Shen, soothing your Liver, strengthening your Spleen, and rebuilding and strengthening your Kidney.

Will Acupuncture Get Rid of My PMS

Your Acupuncture Specialist — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:15:18 +0000

By: Shelley Conn

Yes. In fact, gynecological conditions are some of the most successfully treated problems by acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Premenstrual Syndrome covers a broad spectrum of symptoms before a period. Symptoms may be emotional, such as depression, irritability, sadness, anxiety, or poor concentration. PMS may also involve physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness, a change in bowel habits, acne, or loss of libido. Symptoms can vary widely in terms of severity, and may change from month to month.

Within the framework of modern medicine, problems associated with PMS are treated as any other disease. Its “symptoms” are treated with over-the-counter or prescription drugs or hormones. Severe PMS is considered an indicator that an underlying imbalance exists. Treatment is focused on correcting the imbalance, or the source of the problem, not just treating outward “symptoms”.

Imbalances can arise from a variety of factors, including poor diet, too much work physical or emotional trauma, constitutionally weak Qi (energy) or stress. These imbalances ultimately cause a blockage of Qi or blood in one of the body’s organs or energy pathways. When Qi and blood become blocked, they stagnate and are unable to properly nourish the body. This stagnation frequently manifests in women in the form of PMS.

Your practitioner may use a variety of modalities to treat your PMS. Depending on your specific imbalance, he/she may use Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy, bodywork and lifestyle changes. When performed by a Licensed Acupuncturist, acupuncture is a safe, natural, drug-free, and effective way to treat PMS.

Acupuncture and Menopause

Your Acupuncture Specialist — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:05:10 +0000

By: Lynn Jaffee

Can problems associated with menopause be treated with acupuncture?

Yes. In fact, gynecological conditions are some of the most successfully
treated problems in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Practitioners of TCM may
use a variety of modalities, including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, diet therapy,
and a form of massage called Tui Na.

How are the symptoms of menopause treated differently in Traditional Chinese
Medicine than in modern medicine?

Within the framework of modern medicine, problems associated with menopause
are treated as any other disease. Its “symptoms” are treated with prescription
drugs or hormones. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause is a natural part
of the aging process. Any problems associated with menopause are considered
indicators that an underlying imbalance exists. Treatment is focused on
correcting the imbalance, or the source of the problem, not just treating
outward “symptoms”.

What exactly is out of balance?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine longevity is associated with essence. Essence
is given to us by our parents at the time of conception, and provides us with
the basic energy to power all life functions, including growth, maturation, and
reproductive function. When essence is plentiful, we are able to easily recover
from illness and adapt to change. When we age, we slowly drain essence from our
body. When essence is completely depleted, we die. Some people use up essence
more quickly than others, depending on their constitution and lifestyle. Signs
that essence is declining include graying hair, loss of libido, backache,
fatigue, and of course the end of the menstrual cycle, or menopause. If a woman
has lost an inordinate amount of essence, she may experience problems during
menopause.

Another imbalance that may create problems during menopause is the slowing of
the flow of Yin. Yin is a cooling and nourishing substance in our body. Often
Yin in low in women who are experience menopausal problems such as hot flashes,
night sweats, heart palpitations, insomnia, and dry skin.

In some women, problems associated with menopause are caused by a decrease in
Yang, which is the warming and transforming substance in our body. When this
happens, women may experience water retention, weight gain, edema, indigestion,
high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Can low Essence or Yin be replaced?

Yes. While we receive essence from our parents, it can be replaced to a
certain extent. A deficiency of Yin or Yang, actually an imbalance between the
two, can also be rectified. Correcting any of these imbalances may require
acupuncture, Chinese herbs and diet and lifestyle changes.

Is acupuncture safe?

Yes. When performed by a Licensed Acupuncturist, acupuncture is safe. It is
also a natural, drug-free, and effective way to address menopause.