Acupuncture and Women's Health
Acupuncture is an excellent option for dealing with women-specific health issues and the various transitions in a woman's life, from hormonal changes to pregnancy and child-birth, to menopause. Acupuncture has a normalizing effect on the body's various systems and can help to regulate and balance hormone levels and metabolism, just one of the ways in which acupuncture helps with women's issues. Acupuncture is also very effective in relieving stress, anxiety, depression, and irritability, and mood-related symptoms that can accompany women's health issues.
Acupuncture is a safe and natural option for dealing with many women's issues and can help to improve health and well-being. Please explore our articles below to learn more about how acupuncture can help with various conditions. To book an appointment, please see our contact page for booking and for our downtown Kelowna location.
Menstrual Cramps / Dysmenorrhea
Most women have experienced menstrual cramps, or "dysmenorrhea," at one time or another. Menstrual cramps are dull, throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen and are often experienced just before and during a period. For some women, it is merely an annoying discomfort but for others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month. Dysmenorrhea can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, loose stools, sweating, and dizziness.
Menopause
Menopause is the transitional phase of a woman’s life when menstrual function ceases, which typically spans a 2-5 year period. During this time, hormonal levels in the body are fluctuating, as estrogen and progesterone levels gradually decline and the body responds by producing higher than normal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
PMS
Pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS, as it is often called, is the term used to describe the various emotional and physical symptoms occurring before the period. Symptoms can include depression and sadness, irritability, anxiety, lethargy, lack of concentration, aggressiveness, changes in libido, changes in bowel habits, skin eruptions, food cravings, crying, outbursts of anger, clumsiness, abdominal and breast distension, pain, water retention, weight gain, and insomnia. Symptoms vary in intensity, from mild to extremely serious, and duration, from one day to two weeks.
