Common women's health issues that can be supported by complementary medicine
Women’s health issues are unique, and when they begin to interfere negatively with daily life, they can be distracting, painful and even debilitating. Some women require medical intervention to relieve the symptoms of issues like PCOS, endometriosis and menopause and many are choosing complementary medicine, in conjunction with treatment from relevant specialists such as an OB/GYN or GP, for extra support when they need it.
At Canning Healthcare, we’re passionate about women’s health. Here are the most common women’s health issues that we can support with complementary medicine
How acupuncture may help with menstruation pain
A large percentage of women in Australia experience period pain. There are two types of period pain (also known as dysmenorrhoea). These types are primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhoea is period pain with no underlying condition in the uterus (womb) while secondary dysmenorrhoea is pain caused by conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Anyone who has experienced period pain knows how debilitating it can be and sometimes medication can’t relieve it. It has become increasingly recognised that inflammation is involved in such menstrual cramps, and recent studies have further shown that the anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture are helpful in its control. While more research is needed, a 2021 study in China found that ‘Acupuncture and its related therapies achieve satisfied analgesic effects on primary dysmenorrhoea via the downregulation of a wide variety of inflammatory cells and cytokines’(1). Another 2017 study showed ‘that acupuncture treatment significantly reduces period pain intensity, duration and symptoms over time, with improvements being sustained up to a year after treatment’(2).
Speak to our acupuncturist Jasmine to see if acupuncture might help you find relief from period pain.
How massage may help with pregnancy and fertility
There is good evidence that shows stress can affect the reproductive system and thus the ability to conceive. In women, stress can increase the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) which inhibits oestradiol production by “affecting the granulosa cell functions within the follicle”(3) which leads to a deterioration of the quality of the oocyte (a developing egg) and, in IVF, a reduction in the number of retrieved oocytes.
While more study is needed to support the benefits of massage for fertility, we know that massage can help you relax and reduce stress (4) which can only be beneficial for our bodies.
Complementary therapies such as massage have also become popular with pregnant women and women in labour. In one study, ‘women who received massage therapy reported decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased and, in turn, excessive foetal activity decreased, and the rate of prematurity was lower in the massage group’(5). Our pregnancy massage in Perth is designed to help relieve the aches and pains felt through pregnancy, but it gives you a moment to connect your mind and body and build a relationship with your growing baby.
How acupuncture may help with menopause
Women going through menopause can experience many unpleasant symptoms including
hot flushes
night sweats
aches and pains
forgetfulness
headaches
Irritability
A small 2019 study found that 5 weeks of acupuncture reduced hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleep disruptions in women dealing with menopause symptoms (6). This is because acupuncture affects our central nervous system and may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being. Our acupuncturist Jasmine can talk you through your symptoms and decide if acupuncture could help.
Women’s complementary medicine in Perth
Canning Healthcare is passionate about helping women manage their health with complementary medicine. If you would like to know how massage or integrated acupuncture services can help you, get in touch with us today!
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Jean Hailes (Period pain), NPS MedicineWise (Managing period pain)
(1) Yu WY, Ma LX, Zhang Z, Mu JD, Sun TY, Tian Y, Qian X, Zhang YD. Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Potential Mechanism from an Anti-Inflammatory Perspective. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 3;2021:1907009. doi: 10.1155/2021/1907009. PMID: 34899943; PMCID: PMC8664518.
(2) Armour M, Dahlen HG, Zhu X, Farquhar C, Smith CA (2017) The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial. PLOS ONE 12(7): e0180177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180177
(3) 3. Prasad S, Tiwari M, Pandy A, Shrivastav TG, Chaube SK. Impact of stress on oocyte quality and reproductive outcome. J Biomed Sci. 2016;23:36. doi: 10.1186/s12929-016-0253-4. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
(4) University of Konstanz. "Ten minutes of massage or rest will help your body fight stress." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 September 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200918104305.htm>.
(5) Field T. Pregnancy and labor massage. Expert Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar;5(2):177-181. doi: 10.1586/eog.10.12. PMID: 20479957; PMCID: PMC2870995.
(6) Lund KS, Siersma V, Brodersen J, et alEfficacy of a standardised acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms: a pragmatic randomised study in primary care (the ACOM study)BMJ Open 2019;9:e023637. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023637