Can Chinese medicine help gynaecological conditions?
Posted by Eamonn Brady on
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Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
Can Chinese medicine help gynaecological conditions?
For over 3000 years Chinese Medicine has promoted specialised treatments for women. In China, Chinese Medicine is not an alternative medicine; instead it is used in hospitals daily. From its very earliest beginnings, Chinese medicine has looked at women’s health in a serious way. With knowledge of the specific conditions that can develop in each stage of a woman’s life, Chinese medicine has created effective strategies that can build and balance her health and well-being in both body and mind. Chinese Medicine should not be seen as an alternative to treatment form your doctor or other health professionals; however there is a growing belief in Western societies that it can complement conventional medicine.
In relation to women’s health, Chinese medicine has been used traditionally to help menstrual Irregularities and pain; P.M.S; Endometriosis and Fibroids; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Infertility; Anxiety; Migraines; Nausea during pregnancy; Muscular and skeletal pain during pregnancy and Menopause
Can it help menstrual pain?
It would not be possible in the scope of this article to discuss how Chinese medicine can help all the conditions listed above. Thus I will mention the condition that occurs in roughly half of women suffer from at some stage of their lives, this is recurring menstrual pain, ranging from mild to debilitating symptoms (usually for one-to-three days a month). Although women often take menstrual pain as a normal part of being a woman, from a Chinese medicine perspective the symptoms point to underlying imbalances that in many cases are easily corrected.
As with all branches of Chinese medicine, traditional gynaecology and obstetrics have a long history. The earliest records of gynaecological medical writings date from the Shang dynasty (1500–1000 BC). Over the centuries since, modern diagnostic and imaging equipment has been developed, but there is still a place for traditional diagnostic techniques. In many cases there is no obvious cause for menstrual pain (or other common gynaecological conditions) when looked at from a western medical viewpoint; but with Chinese medicine’s unique insights into human physiology, a cause and more importantly an appropriate solution can often be found. Treatment can take many forms, with acupuncture, herbal medicine or dietary therapy or combinations thereof being the most common. When practiced by a qualified practitioner, Chinese medicine offers a safe and effective approach to treating women's health that has been practised and refined for thousands of years.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy
Eddie Dowd is one of Ireland’s leading lights in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Eddie runs an Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy. Call 0831229363 to book or to enquire how Eddie’s therapy may benefit you. Clinics are Monday 8:30am-2pm and Thursday 8:30am to 6pm.
Upcoming talk on Chinese Medicine and Women’s health
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Eddie Dowd will hold a talk on women’s health and how Chinese Medicine can help. The talk will take place on Tuesday May 28th in the Annebrook Hotel in Mullingar at 7pm. There is no cover charge. Book your free place by calling Whelehans at 04493 34591
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine should not be considered as an alternative to treatment from your doctor; however it can complement conventional medicine.
Thanks to Eddie Dowd for his help with this article. For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591.