Hormonal Help: Acupuncture to the Rescue!

Hormone balance is an integrative process — for this reason assessment and treatment of hormones are integrative in nature. Hormone imbalance can be relatively simple or more complex. Human bodies are unique and have their own unique constitutions; not everyone will manifest the same symptoms, or the same intensity and frequency of symptoms.

For instance, I commonly see sleep quality affected by hormonal imbalance; or clients complain of hot flashes and/or intensity of hot flashes; their menstruation may be irregular or very heavy; they may present with mood changes; often clients mention fatigue; undesirable weight gain; changes in reproductive health; and even digestive changes. In Eastern medicine, these concerns can be explained by imbalances in the spleen, kidneys, liver and heart. Imbalances in kidney health, for instance, may present with changes in body temperature (always hot, always cold), urinary frequency or urgency, low back weakness, knee weakness, low libido, anxiety, exhaustion, desire for salty foods and several more symptoms.

Acupuncture is streamlined to support kidney health and improve kidney efficiency. After assessing your unique hormonal presentation, acupuncture treatment will help to balance out expression of kidney, liver, heart or spleen weakness and boost a balanced you. I often discuss other ways to augment the overall hormone balance with my clients. For example, the food you eat, and how you consume it, can also be a factor! Vegetables and fruits are healthy but can be contributing to the hormone symptoms you’re complaining of! Eastern medicine considers vegetables and fruits as “cold” natured. If your dietary regimen is heavy with vegetables and fruits, it can disrupt your stomach’s optimal efficiency. It’s important to eat a balanced diet of food that is “warm” and the right food for your unique digestive needs. If your stomach function is weak, you will notice gas and bloating - see my article on that for a full breakdown.

In general, your body can manifest organ weakness which can present as hormonal fluctuation. Conservative therapy with acupuncture is an excellent way to improve body health. Neglecting hormone changes won’t help you feel any younger! Compared to western medicine, and hormone therapy, there are very few side effects to improve hormone health with conservative acupuncture therapy.

It’s time to take charge of your hormone health instead of letting your hormones control you.

– Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)