Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure With Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

This article presents the way in which acupuncturist conceptualize and treat premature ovarian failure (POF) within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is common to have women present with POF in our clinic as a reason for infertility and it responds very well to acupuncture intervention. The author concludes by saying:

TCM is the most effective and beneficial treatment for POF, which relies on precise diagnosis and differentiation, appropriate acupuncture and herbal prescription. However, we must individualise the treatment programme according to their conditions in order to achieve the best results.

Once the women’s ovarian function is restored, and FSH dropped to normal level, they generally have great chances of conceiving naturally if they continue TCM treatment . . .

Menopausal Hot Flashes Respond to Acupuncture

It seems like every month or two a new study is published which demonstrates the utility of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for hot flashes. One would think this would be common knowledge in the Western medical community, by now. The most recent study, reported on in Business Week, showed that, "After 10 weeks, the women in the traditional acupuncture group had significantly less severe hot flashes and mood swings than those who'd gotten the fake treatment."

There have been literally scores of studies which demonstrate the benefit of acupuncture and Chinese herbology for hot flashes (see here for a few more). Of course, this is nothing new to those of us who work with menopausal symptoms each day in our clinics or for the women treated by those acupuncturists over the last few thousand years. Still it is reassuring to see so many studies being performed which back up our empirical experience with results that will help to convince a gradually thawing western medical audience that we can offer substantial benefit to their patients.