Hormonal Imbalance Treatment with Acupuncture

Hormonal Imbalance is the homeostatic response in the body that is regulated by the HPA ( hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal ) axis. When this intricate neuroendocrine mechanism becomes dysregulated and hyper-activated, the body is no longer able to mediate the chronic stress response, which results in hormonal imbalance.

Thyroid Conditions & Menopause: Signs & Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

What does hormonal imbalance look like?

Clinically speaking, dysregulation in the pituitary and hypothalamus gland manifests physically as sub-optimal thyroid function. Hypothyroidism symptoms include feeling cold all the time, constipation, fatigue, and weight gain. In contrast, hyperthyroidism results in over-active metabolism which has the opposite effects of the symptoms listed above. Adrenal function dysregulation typically shows up as menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. As estrogen secretion from ovaries gradually declines, it leads to hot flush, night sweat, insomnia, anxiety, palpitation, hair loss, dry skin, and emotional disorder ( inability to stop crying ).

Get Help with Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs

From a Chinese medicine perspective, thyroid conditions often involve the Spleen, Liver, and Heart meridians ( energetic pathways where chi flows in the body ).

Traditionally, Acupuncture is used to stimulate Acupuncture points on these channels to balance these organs and assist the proper flow of chi within the body. Adrenal function, on the other hand, is regulated by Kidney energy, which according to the Five Element School of Chinese Medicine, belongs to the water element. This is why when Kidney chi is depleted and the water element becomes diminished, it leads to an over-abundance of fire energy, the end result being the body running too hot and hence exhibiting physical symptoms such as hot flush, night sweat, anxiety, dry skin, and hair loss.

To use an analogy, visualize the earth completely parched due to a lack of water/rain. As the yin fluids in the body get consumed by the overheated condition of the body, everything becomes bone dry, leading to restlessness and irritation.

Acupuncture along with Chinese herbs is very effective in restoring adrenal function as well as rebalancing healthy Kidney chi.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hormonal Imbalance

Why is Acupuncture and Chinese herbs so effective in treating hormonal imbalance?

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, all the symptoms presented by menopause are heat signs due to an insufficiency of Yin/water element. As a result, we see physical manifestations such as night sweat, insomnia, hot flush, as well as dry hair and skin.

Much like an overheated car engine which requires cooling, Acupuncture and Chinese herbs is extremely beneficial in restoring balance, helping the body to get back to a state of equilibrium. With all the controversy surrounding bio-identical

Why is hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue so common these days?

Hormonal balance is regulated by the HPA axis ( hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal ). The world we live in today is driven by the pedal to the metal mentality. The body is extremely resilient and is able to handle enormous abuse.

But if we continue to lead a helter-skelter lifestyle, the chaos soon catches up and drains the body of the essential elements which makes it function optimally. Thyroid function is related to metabolism. When you’re going a million miles a minute, at some point you have nothing left in the tank no matter how hard you step on the gas. Adrenal gland produces steroid hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline. Adrenal fatigue occurs when the gland is demanded to over-produce these hormones continuously in order to meet the daily stress of life over a long period of time, eventually this over-compensation becomes mal-adaptive and results in sub-optimal functioning.

Fix it Before It's Broke

The human body’s resiliency is both a blessing and a curse. At best, it’s an effective coping mechanism which allows us to self-perpetuate. At worst, it becomes a mal-adaptive stress response which when unheeded, leads to adrenal fatigue and chronic inflammatory disease if the body gets stuck in the sympathetic nervous system ( fight or flight response ).

The good news is that with the help of Acupuncture, hormonal imbalance can be rescued, and a new equilibrium can be restored. So whether you are actively suffering from hormonal imbalance symptomatically or want to get ahead of the problem preventively, Acupuncture stands out as an excellent treatment option. The key is to rebalance internally in order to ameliorate the symptoms externally.