Using Chinese Medicine to Treat PCOS
By: Jill Blakeway, M.S. L. Ac. | Author's Archive | Bio
Several recent studies have explored the use of acupuncture to treat polycystic ovary syndrome with encouraging results. We see quite a number of women who are suffering from PCOS at the YinOva Center and have found that a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be really helpful.
PCOS is a complex endocrine and metabolic syndrome that affects 5% – 10% of women of reproductive age and is characterized by small ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal hair growth, acne, and metabolic problems leading to weight gain. The cysts associated with PCOS cause a hormone imbalance that means that sufferers have increased male sex hormones. This can disturb ovulation and lead to infertility. Women who suffer from PCOS also have a higher risk of developing hypertension and diabetes and are at an increased risk of heart disease.
A study at Goteborg University in Sweden showed that electro-acupuncture may help some women with PCOS to ovulate. Electro-acupuncture was developed in China as an alternative to manipulating acupuncture needles by hand. It involves the application of a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles as a means of stimulating the acupuncture points, .
During the study, one group of women with polycystic ovary syndrome received acupuncture regularly for four months. A second group of women were provided with heart rate monitors and instructed to exercise at least three times a week. A control group was informed about the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, but was given no other specific instructions.
The study showed that activity in the sympathetic nervous system was lower in the women who received acupuncture and in those who took regular exercise than it was in the control group. The acupuncture treatment brought further benefits. “Those who received acupuncture found that their menstruation became more normal. We could also see that their levels of testosterone became significantly lower, and this is an important observation, since elevated testosterone levels are closely connected with the increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system of women”, says Elisabet Stener‑Victorin the lead researcher. 38% of women who received the electro-acupuncture experienced regular ovulation. However, the electro-acupuncture was not effective in the more severe cases (obese, highest waist-to-hip ratio, and highest testosterone and insulin individuals).
What causes PCOS remains a mystery, but we do know that PCOS sufferers have a higher sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity than other women so it may be that the acupuncture is calming the SNS and thus leading to a reduction in symptoms.
In Chinese medicine PCOS is usually attributed to Kidney Yang Deficiency (poor metabolism) and Damp Accumulation (fluid filled cysts) and has been treated for hundreds of years using a combination of herbs and acupuncture. Some herbs such as zao jiao ci (Spina Gleditsiae Sinensis) have the ability to dissolve the waxy coat around the ovarian cysts and at the YinOva Center we use them as part of a larger formula to reduce cysts. Other herbs such as bu gu zhi (psoralea) and xian mao (circuligo) help metabolic slowdown and insulin resistance and at the YinOva Center we usually combine them with herbs that calm an overactive system such as huang jing (polygonatum) and herbs that balance hormones such as dang gui (tangkuei).
In our book Making Babies we give the following advice to PCOS sufferers
Lose weight if you need to. Studies have shown that losing just 10% of your body weight can result in normal ovulation in women with PCOS- Cut down on animal fats and increase essential fatty acids
- Eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables and low fat protein such as chicken, fish and beans.
- Balance your blood sugar by limiting your carbohydrate intake. Don’t cut out carbs altogether, though, as that can lower serotonin levels and leave you feeling depressed. Instead eat healthy carbs such as whole grains.
- Take N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to help reduce circulating testosterone, cholesterol, plasma triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and insulin.
- Get plenty of anti-oxident nutrients from foods and supplements. They fight inflammation which can exacerbate PCOS.
- Get regular exercise to increase your metabolism. Aim for a half hour of brisk walking a day.
- Practice stress management. Stress stimulates the production of more hormones, including testosterone, which makes PCOS worse. Try yoga meditation or a warm bath.
- See an acupuncturist for help restoring ovulation.
- See an herbalist about creating a formula that reduces cysts and balances hormones.
- Allow at least three months of treatment before trying to conceive. Follicles exposed to excess androgens will be of poor quality and lead to higher risk of miscarriage.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. • The information on this website is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your condition. • Jill Blakeway, M.S. L. Ac. © October 2009
22 Responses to “Using Chinese Medicine to Treat PCOS”
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I suffer from PCOS myself and was having problems getting pregnant. My doctor gave me clomid but it didn’t help me conceive. I saw you and other acupuncturists at YinOva for 3 months and took the herbs (which taste really bad!) and started to ovulate on my own. Within 5 months I was pregnant and I now have a lovely baby boy. Thank you – all of you at YinOva for making my dreams come true and to anyone reading this with a similar problem run don’t walk to see these women. They know what they’re doing.
Thanks Eloise:) I remember you. I’m so glad you had your little boy. Send us piccies.
I just read your article.I want to find out where you are located.How can i contact you.
Thanks,
Have a nice day.
Can you please tell me who you would recommend in southwestern ohio?
Amy you can find an acupuncturists near you by going to http://nccaom.org/
I’m sorry I don’t personally know any acupuncturists in SW Ohio.
Good luck,
Jill
I have a healthy 17 month boy & have been trying to concieve for the past 5 months. My periods are all over the place (42-53days). I just got diagnosed with PCOS. My doctors want me to take clomid but I am not too comfortable with it ( I have a history of 2 miscarriages, MTHFR & had to take lovenox shots & baby aspirin throughout my pregnancy).
You seem to have all the answers ;)…so you think accupuncture can help me ?
Dear Kim,
In my experience patients with PCOS have better outcomes and a reduced risk of miscarriage it they take steps to address the hormone imbalance that leads to the PCOS and regulate their menstrual cycle. There are clinical trials that show that acupuncture can help women with PCOS ovulate and I have found in my practice that Chinese herbs can also be very helpful. If you have a copy of our book Making Babies you should follow the program for the “waterlogged type”. I like my patients to have a regular cycle for at least 3 months before they try to conceive. That way the follicles have been exposed to lower levels of androgens and they seem to be less damaged and more likely to lead to a healthy pregnancy.
My Best,
Jill
I have pcos and looking for a natural treatment do you know someone in orlando florida..
Hi Melissa,
I’m sorry I don’t know anyone in Orlando but this acupuncturist in Boca raton has a great reputation http://www.thezollcenter.com/
You recommend limiting carb intake both in the book and here. I was wondering what the right amount of carbs would be for someone with PCOS. I’m trying to follow the Tird/Stuck diet, because those are the categories I fall into, and want to make sure I’m doing the right thing.
Also, is there ever a circumstance where you would recommend combining acupuncture with medication to either bring on a period or ovulation?
Thanks!
HI Danielle,
Thank you so much for reading the book and for getting in touch.
Patients with PCOS usually do better following the diet for the waterlogged type. You’re right most people with PCOS do have elements of the tired type (kidney yang deficiency) and the stuck type (live qi stagnation) but the waterlogged program was designed to really treat the PCOS.
I would recommend limiting carbs without cutting them out all together because you need the energy they give you. What my patients sometimes do if eat whole grain carbs for breakfast eg oat meal and have a small amount of carbs with lunch eg 1 slice of whole grain bread then no carbs in the evening just veggies and protein.
Regular acupuncture can really help regulate the cycle of women with PCOS and I recommend doing it weekly even if you are taking medication. They medication and the acupuncture work in different ways so there is no conflict.
Jill
Hi Jill,
I have read your book and it really gave me a lot of helpful information, so thank you for that. I have PCOS, but I am not overweight, I do not have a glucose intolerance, my testosterone is normal, I do not have excess hair, but I do not ovulate and I have the “string of pearls” shaped cyts on my ovaries. I do not fit into the “waterlogged” type. We eat very healthy, mainly organic, no red meat or pork, no dairy, only small amounts of gluten. My husband and I just started accupuncture monday, we had our initial exam. She said my kidney function seems to be fine, but my heart and kindneys were not working together (sorry I do not know if that makes since, I’m still new to all of this). Do you think accupuncture will help me? I feel as though I am hard to treat because I do not have the typical PCOS. Do have any experience with patients like me, and if so was your treatment successful? My husband also has a varicocele that he had reapired in December, he will do another SA next month to check for any improvement, do you ever treat men with varicoceles?
HI Stefanie,
We do see patients like you at our center and we do find they respond well to acupuncture which helps regulate ovulation.
I’m so glad you’re seeing an acupuncturist because the herbal formula in your case can be quite complex. The diagnosis of heart and kidney not communicating does make sense and is a common diagnosis for women with your kind of PCOS.
Don’t worry about following the program for the waterlogged type. You are more likely to respond to the program for the dry type.
We do treat men with varicoceles and have blood moving formulas that we give them. However if the varicocele is large we usually suggest they follow their urologists advice when it comes to whether surgery is necessary or not.
Good luck!
Jill
I am 40 years old and was told last year that I am unable to conceive a child due to PCOS. My doctor said my eggs were “too old.” I am now in the process of purchasing donor egg and sperm, but I would like to better my chances of carrying my baby successfully to term. I made an appointment to meet with Nicole in two weeks for prenatal massage. Would acupuncture help as well? I am overweight and recently diagnosed with fatty liver (mild but still…). My doctor said that this won’t prevent me from carrying a child — it would have been an issue if I was trying to conceive on my own. I have found your website to be extremely helpful and since I am getting very close to getting all my ducks in a row, I want to do whatever it takes — consuming wheatgrass juice daily, eliminating red meat, stand on my head, whatever. Please let me know. Thanks!!!
Hi Alexandra,
Thanks for getting in touch. If you haven’t read our book Making Babies I’d like to suggest it. It’s a 3 month program that has lots of advice about how to get in shape for conception. We have copies in the office.
I’m so glad you’ll be seeing Nicole for massage. Acupuncture can help with circulation to the pelvic area and is also to reduce inflammation. It also seems to have a subtle but valuable effect on hormone balance. So if your budget allows it would probably help to add a weekly acupuncture treatment in the run up to your donor egg cycle.
Good luck!
Hi Jill,
I was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years back. I am not the typical PCOS patient as i do not have acne, excessive hair and i am not overweight. I also swing from periods of lengthy excessive bleeding to months of no periods at all, there are also no cysts on my ovaries. I am trying to conceive at the moment and currently reading your book. The fertility quiz describes my fertility type as tired and stuck.
I would like to use herbal treatments however i reside in Africa. Can you please advise on what to do
Thank you
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for getting in touch. In our clinic we see a lot of people who don’t have typical PCOS. Unfortunately when I wrote my book I wasn’t able to address those people because of the need to be brief. I would follow the program for the tired type mostly.
I don’t know much about getting hold of Chinese herbs in Africa, I’m afraid. I suspect it’s possible in large cities where there is a significant Chinese population. However a lot of the suggestions in the book are easy to adopt on your own and although they seem simple they really do help.
Good luck and let us know how you are getting on.
Hi Jill,
Thank you for the prompt response. I really do appreciate it. I was wondering if you did phone consultation and if you did how it works. However i will be traveling to the UK shortly and i should be able to get reputable Chinese shops there.
Thank you
Hi Jill,
Similar to others I have PCOS but do not have the typical symptoms, no facial hair, not overweight, etc. I have been going through acupuncture and using herbs for almost three months. My acupuncturist thinks that I might have ovulated last week so we are hoping that a menstrual cycle will follow in the next 10 days.
I was wondering if you typically see people (who aren’t overweight) gain weight in their hips and thighs while going through treatment. Most of what I have read deals with the need to lose weight but I seem to be gaining weight in my lower body.
Enjoyed the book!
Many thanks!
Margie
Hi Margie,
Thanks for getting in touch and thanks for reading the book. We do treat a a small subset of PCOS patients who don’t fit the standard symptom pattern. Mostly they don’t have symptoms of insulin resistance. In their case the diagnosis is different and we do treat with a specifically tailored herbal formula that is quite different from the normal PCOS formulas. None of our patients have reported back that they have gained weight on the hips and thighs whilst going through treatment so this is outside of my experience.
Good luck with everything you are doing. Let us know how you get on.
Jill
I’m 28 years old and I’ve always had irregular periods. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 21. I’m not trying to conceive, but I want to control my hormones without birthcontrol. I have been on birth control for years, and it has not helped. Would acupuncture help me?
Dear Nia,
Thanks for reading our blog. Most women with PCOS find that acupuncture is a good way of regulating their cycles particularly when combined with a specially tailored Chinese herbal formula aimed at regulating hormones. At the YinOva Center we find our results are similar to the clinical trials with most women benefiting.
Good luck,
Jill