Dr. Ivy J. Wang, MSc. TCM
Gynecological diseases have always been disturbing problems for women. They severely decrease the women’s life quality and affect the family’s happiness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history to deal with gynecological diseases. After thousands of years’ experience accumulation and theories’ development, traditional Chinese medicine has become one of the most important treatment methods for gynecological diseases. But also different diseases will receive different effects with TCM treatment. So what diseases are most suitable for TCM?
Infertility:
① Abnormal ovulation causing infertility; According to TCM theory, menstruation and ovulation is dominated by the transformation of the kidney yin and kidney yang. Irregular menstruation is usually caused by disharmony between the kidney yin and yang which could also leads to abnormal ovulation, luteal dysfunction. So TCM treatment is mainly based on the natural rule of the transformation between the kidney yin and yang. In the postmenstrual period the kidney yin grows quickly so the treatment will focus on nourishing the kidney yin, promote the growth of ovum; in the middle cycle of ovulation period the kidney yin become vigorous and the kidney yang begin to grow fast, ovum become mature. So in this period the method should focus on soothing the liver qi for ovulation and promote the kidney yang to grow. In the premenstrual period, the kidney yang grows fast so the treatment should be strengthening the kidney yang strongly and maintaining the luteal body’s function to help the fertilized egg’s implantation.
② Tubal occlusion of infertility; Tubal occlusion is mainly due to acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, pelvic surgery caused pelvic adhesions. These diseases can cause the pathological changes of tubal congestion, edema, inflammatory infiltration, empyema, stagnant water and granulation hyperplasia. And ultimately it leads to tubal occlusion. In this way the egg and sperm can not conceive. TCM believe it is caused by blood stasis obstructed in the uterine vessels, or accompanying with qi stagnation, cold dampness or heat dampness. The treatment is based on activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, clearing heat and freeing vessels. This treatment can promote the release and absorption of the tubal adhesion, free the obstructed fallopian tubes.
③Immune infertility; Sperms, seminal plasma are specific antigen causing immune response, producing antibodies, and then obstruct the combination of sperms and egg and leads to infertility. TCM practitioners believe it can be caused by the kidney deficiency, blood stasis as well as damp heat. So the treatment is mainly based on nourishing the kidney, removing blood stasis and clearing damp heat to restrict immune response. At the same time suggest the couple to wear condoms for 3-6 months to prevent the contact of semen with cervical and vaginal.
Abnormal menstruation:
Abnormal menstruation is the abnormal change for the cycle, volume, color and characteristic of bleeding and some accompanying symptoms, which manifests as preceded menstruation, delayed menstruation, irregular menstruation, heavy or scanty menstruation and dysmenorrheal. TCM practitioners treat menstrual diseases according to the abnormal change of color and characteristics as well as the accompanying symptoms to differentiate cold, heat, deficiency or excess syndrome. With different syndromes, different treatments should be used such as warm the meridians, clear heat, strength the deficiency, and reduce the excess. TCM can receive satisfying treatment effect for menstrual diseases.
Menopause syndrome
During 45-55 years old, many women may suffer menopause syndrome, such as irregular menstrual cycle, change of bleeding volume, tidal fever, night sweating, dizziness, palpitation, insomnia, restlessness and irritability. TCM practitioners believe it is cause by the kidney deficiency. The kidney is the congenital root for people. When people grow older the kidney will become deficient and cause menopause syndrome. TCM practitioners use herbs and acupuncture to regulate the harmony inside the body and activate the ovary’s function, harmonize the kidney yin and kidney yang’s function to help release the menopause syndrome.
4. PMS
5. Profuse or scanty leucorrhea
6. Chronic pelvic inflammation
7. Uterine prolapse
Dr. Fu earned his doctor degree of TCM in 2005 from the Chengdu TCM University with a specialty in acupuncture. Dr. Fu also practices wrist and ankle acupuncture, massage and reflexology. Dr. Fu has 6 years clinical experiences as a physician and acupuncturist and also is a board member of Sichuan Reflective Association. He is experienced in teaching TCM students in China and from overseas and has earned wide acclaim in his field.