Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - PCOS

The goals of the Acubalance 16 week treatment program for women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) include:

*      Restoration of ovulation and helping women with anovulatory infertility to achieve pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

*      Weight loss for fertility.

*      Stress reduction and regulation of cortisol for thin type PCOS

*      Lowering of elevated male hormone levels that cause hyperandrogenism and its associated symptoms, such as hirsutism, acne and an androgenic uterine environment that is less receptive to implantation.

*      Reversing insulin resistance and, thereby, restoring normal metabolic and hormonal function.

*      Preventing the long-term health complications that can occur as a consequence of PCOS. (Healthy mom)

*      Lowering the chances of you passing this metabolic disorder on to your next generation - preventing your unborn daughter from developing PCOS

It is important to know that PCOS not only affects your fertility but it carries several risk factors such as:

    * Increased incidence of Type II diabetes
    * Gestational diabetes
    * Increased risk of cardio vascular disease
    * Unfavourable lipid patterns (usually high triglycerides)
    * Low bone density.

Acubalance 16 week treatment program includes:

1. Detailed diagnosis including:

    * Recommended western lab tests for PCOS provided by a Reproductive Endocrinologists
    * Comprehensive Chinese medicine diagnosis
    * Heart Rate Variability test to determine your level of physiological stress and the functioning of your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system

2. Coaching and wellness support surrounding

    * Diet
    * Exercise
    * Sleep
    * Stress reduction

       3. Supplement recommendations to improve insulin sensitivity and lower excess androgens (male hormones)

       4. Optional Hypnosis and guided imagery designed for PCOS

       5. Acupuncture - 16 weeks of evidenced based acupuncture treatments designed for reversing PCOS

       6. Biomat therapy while receiving acupuncture

       7. Individualized Chinese herbal formulas and suggestions where you can fill your herbal prescriptions.

To book a full hour initial in-person consultation click here or call 604-678-8600.  If you are unsure about how Acubalance may be able to help you, then take advantage of our free 15 minute Q&A phone consults by calling the clinic now at 604.678.8600 (or email) to check availability of appointments.

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS): AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as annovulation androgen excess (AAE), affects five to ten percent of women in North America and is the leading cause of infertility.

Women with PCOS or AAE have high levels of male hormones (androgens). These hormones play a role in blocking the release of the egg from the follicle and in the overproduction of the female hormone estrogen. As a result your ovaries fill with cysts or create immature follicles that are unable to generate eggs.

Both obesity and insulin resistance increase androgen levels thereby interfering with normal ovulation.

Environmental pollutants can also act as endocrine disrupters causing dysfunctional follicles.

WHAT IS THE CAUSE?

No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with the condition but there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem. So researchers are looking at the relationship between PCOS and the body's ability to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body's use or for storage. Excess insulin causes a rise in male hormones, which can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems.

While PCOS is not a traditional disease category in Chinese medicine, it has been described by Chinese physicians for centuries by its symptoms such as infertility, blocked menses, miscarriage, acne, weight gain and excessive hair growth.

This condition can have a number of linked patterns of deficiency and excess that have an impact on the way the body ovulates--which may result in lack of ovulation all together or a long follicular phase (first half of cycle) and short luteal phase (second half of cycle – after ovulation).

HOW IS PCOS TREATED?

The good news is that PCOS is treatable. From a Chinese medicine perspective, it is always important to look at the individual and their unique individual presentation of the condition. Your Acubalance practitioner will do a thorough evaluation of physical and emotional signs and symptoms as well as analyzing your diet and lifestyle.  We also include a Heart Rate Variability test to analyze your current level of physiological stress. This is especially useful for the thin type PCOS.

For both Western and Chinese medicine the first line of treatment is a PCOS diet and, if necessary, weight control. With some women, reducing insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity through weight loss, a low glycemic diet and exercise may restore normal ovulation.

For more severe cases, Western treatment may also include fertility drugs, insulin regulating drugs and, in some cases, assisted reproductive therapies like superovulation or IVF.

In Chinese medicine we aim to restore ovulation by treating the underlying imbalance and thus improve your overall health and optimize your reproductive health.

In addition to diet, exercise and life style changes, your practitioner may prescribe acupuncture and herbal formulas. Some promising studies have shown Chinese herbs to be more effective than Western medicine in stimulating ovulation.

How does Acupuncture Help Treat PCOS?

There is plenty of clinical evidence that acupuncture help in the control of PCOS. Increasingly studies are showing that acupuncture may help treat PCOS by:

    * Facilitating weight loss
    * Increasing insulin sensitivity
    * Reducing blood glucose and lipid levels
    * Regulating endocrine, neuroendocrine and metabolic disturbances
    * Increasing endorphins
    * Boosting immune function
    * Improving blood flow to the ovaries

Research supports acupuncture 3-5 times per week over 16 weeks.  The Acubalance PCOS program incorporates evidenced based acupuncture protocols that have demonstrated restoration of ovulation and fertility when acupuncture is received 3-5 per week.

Supplements

We recommend that you get your nutrients from eating a wide variety of nutritious whole foods. However, there are some are some supplements you can take that appear to improve insulin sensitivity. These include:

·       Chlorophyll: reduces symptoms of hypoglycemia without raising blood glucose level

·       Chromium pilconate: increases sensitivity of insulin receptors to fluctuations in blood sugar levels

·       B vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoeic acid and conjugated linoleic acid: improve insulin resistance

·       N-acetylcysteine , anti oxidant (in TCM would be classified as a liver clearing and phlegm resolving substance )

Diet and PCOS

In general, lifestyle changes which include weight loss, insulin control combined with acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas have proven to be very effective in the treatment of PCOS.

Just losing five to ten percent of your body weight, if you are overweight, can restore your menstrual periods and reduce distressing symptoms like facial hair and acne. Studies have shown that exercise is more powerful than drugs like Metformin in reversing pre diabetes and improving insulin sensitivity.

TEN TIPS TO KICKSTART YOUR PCOS DIET

   1. Eat low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains. It is very important for women with PCOS to avoid refined carbohydrates including sugar, white flour, whole wheat flour and products made from them (eg pasta, breads, desserts, pop, and candy)
   2. Keep your blood sugar stable with a daily schedule of meals and snacks every three to five hours that includes some protein and good fats (for example some nuts/nut butter, seeds/seed butter, hardboiled egg, hummus dip)
   3. Eat at least five servings a day of vegetables including two of leafy greens
   4. Have a daily serving of legumes like black beans or lentils.
   5. Eat at least three daily servings of fruits like berries --which have a lower glycemic impact.  Eat fruit as part of a meal or with a protein.
   6. Limit or eliminate milk and dairy as these can aggravate internal dampness.
   7. Pay careful attention to portion sizes in order to moderate glucose load and minimize insulin resistance
   8. Add one or two Tbsp of cinnamon on cereal each morning to help increase insulin sensitivity.
   9.  Get your heart rate up with at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise six days a week
  10. Incorporate stress reduction and deep relaxation into your everyday routine—journal, listen to relaxing music, self-hypnosis, practice yoga, acupressure and massage and spend time in nature.

Some other ways to keep your blood sugar steady and balance your hormones:

    * Have a Low GI  with protein for breakfast
    * B vitamins if you are vegan (and B12 if on Metformin)
    * N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) - anti oxidant (in TCM would be classified as a liver clearing and phlegm resolving substance )
    * Bitter melon, cinnamon and fenugreek - Regulates blood sugars
    * Saw Palmetto and nettle root - Lowers Androgens
    * Chinese Herbal Formulas - Customized to address individual needs

After a couple months of treatment you should begin to notice signs of ovulation like increased mid-month vaginal discharge and elevated Basal Body Temperature (BBT). You may notice, if you have very long cycles, that ovulation comes earlier in the cycle indicating healthier egg production. As well your skin should clear up and you should have less excess hair.

To book a full hour initial in-person consultation click here or call 604-678-8600  If you are unsure about how Acubalance may be able to help you, then take advantage of our free 15 minute Q&A phone conversations by calling the clinic now at 604.678.8600 (or email) to check availability of appointments.