By xiacheng

Alternative Woman’s Health – A Look at Traditional Chinese Medicine   

By Dr. Xia [...]]]>

By xiacheng

Alternative Woman’s Health – A Look at Traditional Chinese Medicine
  

By Dr. Xia Cheng, owner of BodyMind Synergy Health Centre

    When it comes to addressing women’s health, hormone replacement, antibiotics, painkillers and surgery are commonly used in conventional medicine for gynecological treatment. However, if you are interested in an alternative approach, you might consider Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

    TCM (acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine) has a long history of treating women’s diseases. As early as 200 BC, Bian Que was recorded as being the first gynaecologist in Chinese history. For generations, TCM has played a very important role in improving and maintaining women’s health in China and around the world. TCM is rich in knowledge for treating women’s illness, and emphasizes education to prevent disease.

    According to TCM, many women’s health problems are caused by poor diet, emotional disorders, stress, overwork, multiple childbirths and abortion. TCM practitioners will tell you how these factors play a role in gynaecological disorders. Commonly given advice includes avoiding cold food or drinks to prevent menstrual cramps, proper nutrition or herbs after childbirth for faster recovery, or for prevention or treatment of post-partum illnesses such as depression, arthritic pain, prolonged vaginal discharge or prolapse of the uterus. At all times keeping a balanced diet, emotions levelled, and minimizing stress are keys to maintaining health and wellness.

    Menstrual disorders can manifest as abnormally heavy periods, early or delayed periods, prolonged periods, missed periods or menstrual cramping. In TCM, each one may have different causes. For example, heavy periods can be caused by ‘excessive heat’ in the blood, which happens most often in young girls with raging hormones or, in TCM terms, strong body constitutions, people who like to eat hot spicy foods, or people with emotional disorders. It can also happen because of ‘empty heat’ which happens often in pre-menopause or menopause, or because of a deficiency in spleen Qi (energy) after a severe illness, miscarriage, abortion, overworking or other stressful life events. In TCM, the treatment may differ for each individual, however the objective will be the same: regulating and balancing the hormone system to restore a normal period.

    Chinese herbs are used for many disorders of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, threatened miscarriage, as well as abdominal pain, uterine bleeding, edema, and hypertension during pregnancy. Herbs used for pregnancy are safe for both the mother and baby, though you should be aware that there are herbs that are contraindicated in pregnancy. Also, if your pregnancy is healthy, there is no need to take herbs.

    Breast-feeding is very important for the newborn baby. After delivery, if your breasts are congested, tender to touch, release very little milk, or are very soft and lacking lactation, Chinese herbs can help. If you have mastitis (breast infection) and you still wish to breast-feed, there is help from Chinese medicine. There are many Chinese herbs that treat infections that are safe for the baby.

    Some women can get through menopause without any discomfort. However, many women will experience a period of time with the following symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, depression, insomnia, fatigue, vaginal dryness, decreased sexual drive, menstrual disorder, memory loss, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. According to TCM theory, all these symptoms are related to ‘kidney deficiency’ because the kidney is the organ from which our primary energy comes. It stores essence that is closely related to our hormone system. It dominates the bones and is in charge of development and reproduction. Therefore, the main treatment for menopause in TCM is to ‘boost the kidney’. Boosting the kidney clears the menopause symptoms and slows down the aging process.

    In TCM theory, the liver ‘stores blood’. The liver is the organ most closely related to our emotions. Good emotional balance comes from the smooth flow of liver Qi, and the normal flow of liver Qi depends on sufficient blood nourishment. New mothers commonly lose blood during and after delivery. Post-partum depression is related to blood deficiency in the body and stagnation of the liver Qi due to lack of nourishment. Therefore, soothing the liver Qi, boosting the blood and boosting Qi to generate blood with acupuncture and Chinese herbs are the general principles of treatment for post-partum depression.

    The formation of cancer in the body is a complicated process. In TCM, it is thought that the major cause is that the body’s vital energy is low; the pathogen has stagnated and blocked the normal flow of energy. Phlegm and blood stagnation lead to the formation of nodules and masses. Therefore, the treatment principle is to boost vital energy, soothe Qi, move blood, and resolve phlegm. According to research, acupuncture and Chinese herbs help to enhance our immune system and improve blood count, boost body energy, stop nausea, promote hair growth, improve appetite and protect the body from radiation injury. Some Chinese herbs also have anti-cancer affects. The application of acupuncture and Chinese herbs depends on the different stages of the cancer and the symptoms of each individual. TCM therapy helps to prevent cancer recurrence as well as to improve or maintain a good quality of life.

    In summary, TCM has been used for all kinds of women’s health problems. However, self-medication or buying herbs over the counter is not recommended. TCM diagnosis and treatments are very individualized and herbs are often used in combinations to enhance their effects and overcome side effects. An assessment by a knowledgeable practitioner is absolutely necessary for a safe and effective treatment.

    Dr. Xia Cheng, M.D. (China), Ph.D., Registered Acupuncturist, & Chinese Medicine Physician, is the director of BodyMind Synergy Health Centre and Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her major focus is women & children’s health. For more information

By Dr. Xia Cheng

  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a medical system developed in China between [...]]]>

By Dr. Xia Cheng

  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a medical system developed in China between 3000 – 5000 years ago. It has played a important role in promoting and maintaining health for Chinese people and people around the world. TCM is getting more popular because of its effectiveness in treating a broad range of illness; it is free of chemicals, and has no or very minimal side effects.

    There are two distinct characteristics in TCM. First, it holds a holistic concept. This holistic concept refers to emphasizing the holism of our body to the environment, nature and universe, and emphasizing the holism of body, mind, and spirit as well as the systems, organs, tissues, and functions of our body. Second, it has a fundamental treatment concept as treatment is based on differentiation of syndromes. A syndrome is a TCM diagnosis, which comes from an assessment of all information gathered from five diagnostic techniques: inquiry, inspection, listening, smelling and palpation. In this diagnosis process, factors of age, gender, constitution, season, weather, geographical area, as well as emotions, stress, diet, lifestyle and all aspects of symptoms and signs (tongue picture and pulse) of the body are taken into consideration to form a syndrome for a patient. This syndrome is the reflection of the root course of the illness. The treatment strategy is given according to what syndrome it is. Take the common cold as an example. According to TCM, a common cold is due to exogenous pathogenic factors attacking the body surface. It is differentiated as seven syndromes. There are three excessive syndromes that happen more often in people who are healthy with a strong constitution. The other four deficiency syndromes often happen in elderly people, people with chronic illnesses, weak constitution or post-partum. The treatment in each case is very different. This syndrome-based treatment, or treating the root concept, is one of the major differences from conventional medicine, which is a mostly disease or symptom-based treatment.

    TCM has a broad range of applications; it is commonly used for internal, gynaecological, paediatric, dermatological and infectious diseases. Although treatments of particular diseases and for each individual are different, in TCM practice the following are the general principles:

    1) Preventative. For healthy people or people with early signs of illness, TCM practitioners guide people to have a healthy lifestyle, good diet, proper exercise, and good emotions to maintain health and prevent illnesses. For people who are ill, the treatment is not only to restore health, but also to prevent further development of the illness (i.e., to prevent bronchitis when a patient has a cold or flu; to prevent further development of MS, rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss and so on).

    2) Strengthen the body’s vital energy to dispel pathogens. TCM believes if the body has a strong vital energy, pathogens will not be successful in attack. Therefore, strengthening the vital energy to prevent and treat illness is always a principle for promoting and maintaining good health.

    3) Open meridians and stop pain. According to TCM, meridians are the channels in which energy and blood flow smoothly to nourish the body. It’s believed that when pain occurs, there is an obstruction. In other words, the obstruction of energy and blood flow causes pain. Therefore, to remove stasis and unblock the meridians, thus promoting the normal flow of body energy, is a principle for pain syndromes.

    4) Balance Yin and Yang. From the TCM perspective, the balance of Yin and Yang is the reflection of health. Illness happens when there is the loss of the Yin-Yang balance in the body (i.e., hot flushes in menopause are often due to Yin deficiency, which comes from declining levels of estrogens. Intolerance to cold or cold hands and feet, which happens in hypothyroidism, is a Yang deficiency of the body).

    There are two major treatment components in TCM; one is acupuncture and the other is Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture regulates the body functions towards a normal (healthy) point. For example, acupuncture promotes the peristalsis of the intestines to relieve constipation, as well it inhibits the peristalsis to stop diarrhea. For a patient who has hypertension, acupuncture decreases blood pressure. However, for a patient with low blood pressure, acupuncture increases it. It is believed that there is a natural healing ability in our bodies, and acupuncture stimulates this process to help the body to recover. With that in mind, acupuncture is beneficial for almost everyone and is used to treat a wide variety of health conditions.

    Chinese herbal medicine includes thousands of herbs. There are about 800 commonly used ones. These herbs are divided into 20 categories, and their functions are described in TCM terminology. Research has showed there are herbs having the following functions: anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antivirus, anti-clotting, and antibacterial. There are also herbs that boost immunity, promote digestion, and so on. The clinical use of Chinese herbs is mostly as combinations or so-call formulas. In a formula, herbs are combined together to strengthen/ broaden an effect or overcome a side effect. A formula is a group of strategically balanced herbs used to achieve the best results with the least amount of side effects. Again, the application of the formula is syndrome-based or addresses the root of the illness.

    Since the application of herbal formulas are syndrome based and the determination of a syndrome has to be done by a person well trained in TCM, if you are considering using Chinese herbal medicine it is recommended to consult with a formally trained TCM practitioner. Although most Chinese herbs do not have same side effects as drugs, self-medication or improper use may cause serious problems.

    TCM is a very unique medical system. In comparing western and Chinese medicine for health care, it’s said, “Western medicine is a fire fighter; Chinese medicine is a housekeeper.” Obviously, Chinese medicine has an important role in the field of health.

    Dr. Xia Cheng, M.D. (China), Ph.D., Registered Acupuncturist, & Chinese Medicine Physician, is the director of BodyMind Synergy Health Centre and Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her major focus is women & children’s health. For more information, call 403.520.5258.

Seven “turning point” theory:

You may know that Chinese medicine has been practiced for thousands of years. Do you also know that the first Chinese medicine book written 2000 years ago is called Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperors Internal Classics)? Would you [...]]]> Women’s Health–a point of view from Traditional Chinese Medicine
–Learning Chinese medicine from Dr. Cheng (1)
 

Seven “turning point” theory:

You may know that Chinese medicine has been practiced for thousands of years. Do you also know that the first Chinese medicine book written 2000 years ago is called Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperors Internal Classics)?
Would you like to learn about how female’s physiological changes were described as seven “turning points” in Yellow Emperors Internal Classics? The following detailed description may amaze you that how ancient doctors recognize these specific female physiological characters and apply these characters into women’s health maintenance and treatment, you may find it is more amazing that this theory is still guiding TCM gynecological practice.

Here is what written in Yellow Emperors Internal Classics in regarding female’s physiology:

1st “turning point”
 
Female reaches 7 years old, kidney Qi full, teeth start to change and hair starts to grow.

Remarks from Dr. Cheng: girls at this age need good nutrition for them to grow healthy, but do not over dose on nutrients to avoid early puberty.

2nd “turning point”
Female reach 14 years old, “Tian Gui (Hormone) comes, Ren meridian opens, Chong meridian is full, period starts and able to conceive and give birth”

Remarks from Dr. Cheng: when girls are going through puberty, female hormones start to secrete and they experience physical and mental/emotional changes. It may lead to symptoms like: acne, agitation, breast tenderness, mood swings, and heavy periods for which birth control pills are often given for treatment. In my opinion, this is a very important period of time for body’s hormone secretion and the hormone promotes the normal development of sex signs and reproductive system. In this period of time external hormones may interfere in the body’s natural hormone secretion and affect normal growth and development.

3rd “turning point”
female reaches 21 years old, kidney Qi reaches the plateau level, all teeth grow out.

4th “turning point”
Female reaches 28 years old: tendons and bones are strong, hair grows to maximum and body is at full growth.
Remarks from Dr. Cheng: female from 21 to 28 years old, the body develops to its peak and it is the best period of time to start family and give birth to children. If in this period of time females experience menstrual disorders and /or infertility, prompt treatment is essential if planning to have a family.

5th “turning point”
Female reaches 35 years old:  Yangming meridian (distribute to face) decline, facial appearance started to show aging, hair loss starts.
Remarks from Dr. Cheng: for female, aging starts from late thirties, some people can experience early ovary decline.  Good nutrition, supplements, sufficient calcium intake and exercises are important to prevent early menopause or early osteoporosis.

6th “turning point”
Female reaches 42 years old, the three Yang meridians all declined, face is withered, and hair turns to grey.
Remarks from Dr.Cheng: since female hormone start to decline at this period of time, it is recommended to take some natural supplements to support and help to maintain body hormone system, which will be helpful to delay aging.
 
7th “turning point”
Female reaches 49 years old, Ren meridian empty, Chong meridian decline, Tian Gui (hormone) finished, meridian blocked, reproductive system dysfunction, no longer able to conceive.
Remarks from Dr.Cheng: For females after menopause, it is very important to stay active, positive and eat nutritious foods. Again, natural supplements will help to maintain health and good energy and appearance.
Blood is women’s root (foundation):
In TCM, the reason we think blood is the foundation of the body is because that during a women’s life all the physiological stages are related to blood: ie. period, pregnancy, child birth as well as women’s appearance such as beauty and aging. We think that only if female has normal blood function, such as normal smooth flow, sufficient blood in the meridians that will leads to a normal physiological functions of period, conceive and pregnancy, and it gives women beauty and delayed aging.

 
Recipe for blood: Wolfberry, Chinese dates and dragon eyes with egg soup.
Wolfberry 10g,
Chinese dates 10g,
Dragon eyes 10g,
Add 150 ml water, cook for 10 minutes, add in one egg, boil as whole for 3 minutes, peel the shell, cook for another 2 minutes.
Good for: balance hormone, regulate period, calm the mind and maintain luster of facial appearance.

 
Liver is the congenital energy of female.
Liver is very important for female is also due to the fact that blood is very important to women. In TCM, we think that liver stores blood, and regulate blood flow in the meridians. Liver is also very closely related to emotions, if female has an emotional attack, often leads to liver Qi not able to flow smoothly (stagnation), that will leads to blood not flow smoothly-often manifested as menstrual cramps, infertility and cysts or fibroids.
Recipe for liver: Rose buds and wolfberry tea (Be Happy tea)
Ross buds 3 pieces,
wolfberry 5g.
Good for: lifting mood, relieve menstrual cramps.
 
Heart and liver relationship dominates women’s emotions:
In TCM, the heart  dominates the mind, the liver is in charge of emotions. Both heart and liver need sufficient blood to nourish them in order to perform normal heart and liver functions. Also, stress and emotions often affect both heart and liver, leading to emotional disturbance which manifest  as insomnia, depression, absent minded, poor memory and so on.

Formula for liver and heart:
Xiao Yiao Wan (easy wondering pill): soothe liver, nourish blood, tonify spleen, number one formula for depression.

Heart and spleen relationship dominate women’s mental and physical health:
We mentioned above that blood is the foundation of females physiological health, in TCM, we think that the heart is in charge of blood and mind, and spleen in charge of thinking and produces blood. Therefore, healthy spleen and heart gives women normal physiological and mental health. If heart and spleen is deficient it often will leads to insomnia, anxiety, poor memory, poor concentration, fatigue, infertility, withered complexion, heavy period and so on.
Formula for heart and spleen
Gui Pi Wan( return spleen pill)
Tonify Qi and blood, calm the mind. Improve energy. Use for insomnia, anxiety, poor memory, poor concentration, fatigue, infertility, withered complexion, heavy period.

Liver and kidney relationship dominate women’s aging process
Liver stores blood, related to period and emotions, kidney stores essence, related to growth, fertility and aging. When liver and kidney is deficienct, it may leads to delayed puberty, infertility and early menopausal symptoms and early aging. When female hormone drops, in TCM, we often see Yin energy declines which leads to symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, poor memory, hair loss and so on.
Formula for menopause:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
tonify liver and kidney Yin to relieve menopause symptoms.

Auricular Medicine

Auricular medicine is an energetic reflex technique that uses the ear to treat different diseases which represent healthy tissue to detect treatable points on the ear. Auricular medicine uses the ear for healing purposes. The external ear is a highly sensitive organ that contains many nerves, each of [...]]]>  

Auricular Medicine

Auricular medicine is an energetic reflex technique that uses the ear to treat different diseases which represent healthy tissue to detect treatable points on the ear. Auricular medicine uses the ear for healing purposes. The external ear is a highly sensitive organ that contains many nerves, each of which connects to the central nervous system of the body. Auricular Medicine is a complete scientific medical system, which can diagnose and treat many different diseases of the human body and the mind solely through the ears.These points that are identified on the ear represent the location of specific imbalances within the body. The ear becomes the vehicle through which the imbalances can be detected and the body can be treated. It allows for the identification of and effective treatment of the cause of a person’s health concerns — not just the symptoms.

Auricular medicine can diagnose and treat more then 200 disease of human body

Auricular Medicine can be helpful for:

• Functional disturbances:  liver, gall bladder, kidney and intestine
• Stomach and pancreatic conditions
• Endocrine problems
• Allergies
• Nervous system disturbances:  depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and mood swings and neuro ophthalmology diseases
• Pain disorders:  headaches, migraine, herpes zoster
• Fatigue, sleep disorders, amblyopica, Hypermetropia, vision defects
• Infections:  sinus, ear, bladder
• Skin problems
• Autoimmune and chronic diseases
• Yeast, viral, bacterial and parasitic overgrowth

• Compared to Acupuncture

Dr Imran Khaliq

Physician, Ophthalmologist Auricular medicine Practitioner

Dr. Imran Khaliq holds a MD/ MBBS Degree in medicine and postgraduate training in ophthalmology with more then 14 year of experience in diseases related to neuro ophthalmology

Dr. Imran is currently teaching Western Medical courses in CITCM and practise auricular medicine at BodyMind Synergy Health Centre. Dr Imran got his training in Auricular Medicine with Dr. Li-Chun Huang, an internationally renowned physician with more than 40 years of research and practice in Auricular Medicine. With the background in Ophthalmology, Dr. Imran started to treat diseases related to eye such as Astigmatism, Myopia, Hypermetropia, glaucoma, etc. and neuroophthalmological disorders . He is now keenly involved in diagnosing and treating patients with such diseases with Auricular Medicine and continues his post-graduate training in this field of medicine.    More about Dr. Imran…

Fees for auricular medicine treatment (subject to GST)

Consultation and treatment for auricular treatment first visit: $ 60

Auricular treatment Second visit: $ 45

Auricular and Acupuncture treatment: $90

Please call 403-520-5258 for appointment

Location: 138 17^th Avenue NE Calgary

www.bodymindsynergy.com

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 [...]]]> 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