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What
is it?
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
Chinese medicine recognizes multiple growth cycles, they begin prior to
conception and end after death. Understanding the cycles of life enable
practitioners to diagnose and treat imbalances that may occur.
Inherited factors, organ system weaknesses, external causes and immoderate
lifestyle choices (diet, sexual conduct and overdoing) all play a role
in developing a particular disorder.
Emotional/mental and spiritual imbalances are also well described over
the centuries in contributing to gynecological problems. Making wise choices
in the areas over which you have control can prevent most of the problems
from developing.
TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE (TWM)
Females have very specific developmental, reproductive and post fertility
changes to both their internal and external anatomy. All of the changes
are governed by a complex array of hormones involving different parts
of the brain and the targeted sexual organs. The hormones also influence
many other important physiological mechanisms throughout the body. All
age groups can develop problems anywhere along this very intricate system
of organs, hormones and feedback mechanisms.
Other factors which induce diseases include infections, genetics and tumors.
Examples: painful periods; heavy flow; premenstrual syndrome (PMS); irregular
cycles; endometriosis; uterine fibroids; infertility; menopause and so
on.
What
are the symptoms?
TWM & TCM
Both medical sciences agree to the symptoms each disease or problem can
exhibit. The main difference is how many different symptoms are considered
to belong to one disease or one pattern of imbalance.
TCM is more inclusive than TWM regarding the ability to identify symptoms
common to the same disorder. This is quite natural because Chinese medicine
is holistic in its theoretical design. It will always include mental/emotional
and spiritual symptoms into the pattern of imbalance that is being diagnosed.
The main symptoms are related to abnormal changes to the normal cycles
producing pain, heavy or scant flow, abnormal discharges, infertility,
hot flushing and so on.
How are they treated?
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
Chinese medicine seeks to reestablish a normal, healthy functioning of
each person in a holistic way. Even a relatively simple, uncomplicated
problem will create some level of imbalance and symptoms beyond the physical
manifestations and into the emotional and spiritual components. All three
areas must be treated to encourage complete recovery. Most disorders represent
some degree of imbalance occurring in more than just one organ system.
If this is your situation, then it becomes imperative to diagnose and
treat the imbalance in all of the basic categories of nutrition, stress,
lifestyle and external (environmental) factors.
Acupuncture and herbal therapy greatly benefit gynecological imbalances.
By addressing the combination of factors that created the imbalance, and
its associated symptoms, acupuncture and herbs act to strengthen the weakened
organ systems. As these weakened organs regain their balance the symptoms
diminish and normal physiological functioning returns. Reestablishing
normal function avoids the hardship of long term dependence on drugs associated
with
TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE (TWM)
The primary focus is on hormone production and its impact on organ function.
Extensive endocrine testing is done to determine how best to regulate
the hormones via synthetic hormone drugs. If hormonal manipulation fails
some form of surgical intervention may be attempted to correct the problem
or alleviate the symptoms (D & C, hysterectomy). Infections are treated
with antibiotics and tumors require one or more of the following: surgery;
radiation or chemotherapy. All of these interventions seek to attack the
symptoms of the disease and will require staying on certain drugs indefinitely
to avoid a return of the disease.
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