Managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated hormonal/reproductive disorder that affects about 5 – 6 million reproductive aged women in the United States, and requires a multifaceted treatment to manage effectively. Acupuncture treatment involves a multiple-angle treatment that will aim to hot the condition from the inside out. PCOS patients should know and understand all of their options and success rates, and understand that a holistic option like acupuncture could be their missing treatment piece or even their go-to option. PCOS considerably influences woman’s overall health, and is important to provide treatment options like acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that work and can work alongside western medicine treatments as well.
Understanding PCOS
In simplistic terms, PCOS is a hormonal imbalance which causes women of reproductive age, technically 15 – 44 years old, to fail to ovulate properly. Although a seemingly fairly straightforward explanation of this condition, the reality is that this condition can come in many forms and can show itself with a variety of symptoms.
PCOS Symptoms:
- Irregular or no menstrual cycle
- Painful periods
- Acne
- Excess facial/body hair
- Weight gain/inability to lose weight
- Pelvic pain
- Mood swings
- Sleep apnea
- Infertility
- Darkened color on the neck as well as skin tags on the neck or armpits
- Elevated levels of androgens (male hormone levels)
- Ovarian cysts (10 or more small cysts on the ovaries)
- Insulin resistance
- Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system
All of these symptoms are not necessary to be diagnosed with PCOS, but many women do experience multiple symptoms. Although the exact cause is not known, PCOS can be influenced by environmental or lifestyle factors, and women can also be genetically predisposed to it. In fact, women that are daughters of PCOS women are 5 times more likely to develop PCOS themselves. However, the main 2 causes found in most women are excess insulin and excess androgens, and there are 4 variations of PCOS that a woman can be diagnosed with depending on the cause.
PCOS Types:
- Post Birth Control Pill – this is when women begin to experience symptoms after coming off of birth control pills due to withdrawal of the hormones contained in the pills. This withdrawal of hormones can produce a short-term surge in androgens, and women diagnosed with this type are often not insulin resistant.
- Adrenal – this occurs when the woman has an abnormal stress response causing elevated DHEA/DHEAS and androstenedione. Those women with higher stress have higher adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) hormone which stimulate the adrenal glands leading to excess production of androgens. This type is unique in that these women can be of normal body weight or underweight, developing PCOS later on in life.
- Insulin Resistant – this happens when the woman has high insulin levels in the blood, and is also called metabolic syndrome. Increased insulin causes an uptick in androgens, and this affects the majority of PCOS patients. This type of insulin resistance results in high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure.
- Inflammatory – this occurs when overstimulated ovaries make too much testosterone. Chronic inflammation can happen for a variety of reasons such as environmental, increased stress, and most often overexposure to certain foods. These women usually experience 1 or more inflammation signs like joint pain, skin problems, fatigue, or abdominal issues.
Although these issues may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, these symptoms can cause larger issues to occur if not treated. This can cause infertility in younger women, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even uterine cancer. In order for a woman to be diagnosed with PCOS, there are certain criteria medically that need to be met. The patient has elevated androgen hormones, a decrease or absence of ovulation or releasing an egg, and more than 12 follicles (small sacs of fluid on the ovaries) showing on the ultrasound. Fortunately, acupuncture for PCOS can aid in symptom management as well as improve chances of fertility all while avoiding the risks of conventional treatment in both the short and long term.
Acupuncture for PCOS
Acupuncture works for PCOS by decreasing symptoms and bringing balance and regulation back to the nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive system, and the menstrual cycle. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), PCOS is thought of as Kidney Yang Deficiency and Damp Accumulation. The goal with acupuncture in PCOS patients, in addition to regulating the systems in the body, is to decrease the number and size of ovarian cysts and regulating blood sugar levels.
Acupuncture Treats PCOS by:
- Increasing insulin sensitivity
- Decreasing cortisol levels
- Regulating the excess male hormones like androgens
- Aiding in weight loss
- Decreasing insulin levels
- Stimulating ovulation
- Increasing blood flow to the ovaries
- Decreasing ovarian cyst number and volume
- Normalizing estrogen activity in the body
In addition to this, acupuncture treatment can help in increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs allowing for an increase in egg quality, and since it also helps regulate the menstrual cycle, this can increase the probability of ovulation for those PCOS patients dealing with infertility. As with all other conditions, acupuncture will work to treat the symptoms as well as the underlying cause of the PCOS, and to do this, it is vital we look at the whole picture.
TCM PCOS Diagnosis Types:
- Stuck – Qi and blood stagnation, bad blood circulation or an excess of Qi and blood interrupting normal flow.
- Potential symptoms of this type – mood swings, irregular period, stomach pain or cramps, and irritability
- Potential symptoms of this type – mood swings, irregular period, stomach pain or cramps, and irritability
- Wet – due to lack of fluids, there is a buildup in the body.
- Potential symptoms of this type – gut problems, feeling of heaviness, weight gain, obesity, nausea, acne, and bloating.
- Potential symptoms of this type – gut problems, feeling of heaviness, weight gain, obesity, nausea, acne, and bloating.
- Cold – Spleen or Kidney deficiency with a lack of energy for a woman’s day to day
- Potential symptoms of this type – depression, infertility, sluggishness, and sexual dysfunction.
- Potential symptoms of this type – depression, infertility, sluggishness, and sexual dysfunction.
- Pale – Blood deficiency due to lack of fluids to nourish the organs.
- Potential symptoms of this type – depression, anxiety, vivid dreams, light periods, dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, and palpitations.
- Potential symptoms of this type – depression, anxiety, vivid dreams, light periods, dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, and palpitations.
- Dry – Yin deficiency due to lack of nourishment and fluids to nourish the organs and their functions.
- Potential symptoms of this type – infertility, hair loss, light or absent period, thin body, and anxiety.
Acupuncture Points for PCOS:
- RN4
- ST29
- ST36
- EX-CA1
- SP6
- GV20
- ST25
- CV6
- BL28
Herbs for PCOS:
- Zao Jiao Ci – rid the body of toxins and breaks down the waxy coating around the cysts in the ovaries.
- Bu Gu Zhi – boost the immune system, tonify Yang, and increase metabolism function.
- Dang Gui – balance the hormones.
- Xian Mao – removes dampness, decreases the effects of insulin resistance, tonifies kidneys, and strengthens Yang.
- Huang Jing – tonifies the kidneys, and moistens lung Yin.
Lastly, and in particular with PCOS, the women’s lifestyle, stress levels, and diet need to be a part of the conversation of their treatment.
It would be beneficial for PCOS patients to modify their diet to include:
- Lean proteins like fish
- High-fiber veggies like broccoli
- Foods rich in magnesium like almonds and pumpkin seeds
- Anti-inflammatory spices and foods like tomatoes and turmeric.
It would also be beneficial to advise patients to avoid refined cars like white bread and baked goods, sugary drinks and snacks, and inflammatory foods like red meat and processed foods. As with most conditions, we should also advise patients to incorporate moderate exercise, manage their weight, and get enough sleep. As their acupuncture provider, it is vital for us to understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all PCOS patient.
Most importantly, we must be patient and understanding as many women may have only just learned of their diagnosis or maybe still don’t know. Their journey with PCOS is a complex one, and acupuncture treatment can allow them to have a fulfilling life with effective management of their condition.