If you’ve been experiencing problems with irregular menstruation, getting acupuncture in Santa Barbara may be able to help you. Whatever the nature or cause of your issues may be, there’s a large possibility that acupuncture can help you out.

 

Menstruation looms pretty large in the life of a woman. After all, it does come every month — or, at least, it’s supposed to. While many women have regular menstrual cycles, there are also those who get irregular periods. This can be a problem in itself, since an unpredictable period has the potential to give rise to a number of issues.

 

An imbalance in the body’s sex hormones can lead to irregular menstrual cycles. Acupuncture is a natural and healthy way to help the body stabilize the production of hormones and thus increase the chances of regulating the menstrual cycle.

 

 

An overview of irregular menstruation

A menstrual cycle begins on the first day of the period and ends on the day before the next period starts. A regular menstrual cycle is about 22 to 35 days long, and each cycle’s length should be in that range. Periods, meanwhile, normally last five to seven days.

 

Women with regular cycles can predict when their periods will come — some can even nail down the exact day of their next period. However, for some women, things may not be as cut and dry. Their cycles can last longer than 35 days, and they may not get their periods on some months.

 

 

The causes of irregular periods

There are several reasons why a woman has an irregular cycle. Some may not be a cause for worry, while some may require more attention.

 

A young girl that has just started her period has a higher chance of having an irregular cycle for up to the next few years. A woman who is also about three to five years away from menopause may begin experiencing irregular periods. In these cases, it’s likely that the irregular cycles are nothing to worry about.

 

However, an irregular period can also be an indicator of another health issue. There are a number of things that can cause irregular menstrual cycles, like stress, medications, and medical conditions.

 

Certain kinds of medical conditions and medications have been found to be able to cause irregular menstruation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, eating disorders, and medications for epilepsy and mental illness can affect the hormones that regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle.

 

Oral hormonal contraceptives can cause issues as well. In fact, irregular menstrual cycles have been cited to be the leading cause in women deciding to stop taking oral contraceptives.

 

Things such as extreme changes in weight as well as excessive exercise can also affect a woman’s cycle. Stress can also be one of the culprits. Fortunately, the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic can help you relieve stress as well as help you have more regular periods.

 

 

Why irregular periods can be a problem

Girls who are still going through puberty or women who have always had slightly unpredictable periods typically don’t have to worry about irregular menstrual cycles. However, irregular cycles may also be symptoms of an underlying medical condition that needs medical attention. Sudden changes in a previously regular menstrual cycle, periods that last over 7 days, and having overly long or short menstrual cycles are indications that a checkup may be in order.

 

Irregular menstrual cycles can also make things more difficult for women who are trying to get pregnant. This is because it may be more difficult to tell when you’ll be ovulating.

 

Learn about how acupuncture can help improve fertility.

 

 

Acupuncture and menstrual health

 

Acupuncture can work very well with Western medicine in the treatment of irregular menstrual periods. You can undergo certain treatments to address the specific causes of irregular periods, and in the case of irregularity caused by oral contraception, changing contraceptives can be an effective solution. However, acupuncture can complement and enhance these treatments, and it can benefit you in other ways as well.

 

Traditional Chinese medicine, which includes acupuncture, has been helping treat and maintain women’s health for millennia. When it comes to reproductive health, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. The Santa Barbara Herb Clinic’s owner and Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram Pham, can take into account your individual issues and provide you with a treatment program that fits your specific needs.

 

 

How acupuncture works

One of the foundations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture, is the presence and balance of a person’s qi. Qi (pronounced “chee”), according to TCM, is the life force that flows in each of us. When this flow is disrupted or thrown off balance, illness, pain, and other issues can occur.

 

Acupuncture helps restore the proper flow of qi by stimulating the various acupuncture points on the human body. To stimulate these acupuncture points, your Licensed Acupuncturist will insert fine needles into your skin.

 

 

Possible side effects

Generally, acupuncture is safe and low-risk. The worst of the possible side effects of acupuncture is due to unsterilized needles and unqualified practitioners. Even so, very few side effects have been reported.

 

We at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic also make sure that the needles we use for each patient are new and properly sterilized. Tram, meanwhile, has years of experience under her belt, as well as a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University.

 

You may feel a tingling or heavy sensation in the needle insertion spots, but that’s to be expected. In fact, it’s considered to be an indicator that the treatment is working.

 

 

 

Restoring the balance

There is currently a growing body of research on the ways that acupuncture can help treat irregular menstrual cycles and infertility issues. Generally, research shows that there is evidence that acupuncture is indeed effective in helping treat irregular menstrual periods. However, it’s important to remember that you should not postpone going to your general practitioner or gynecologist in favor of acupuncture.

 

Before you book an acupuncture appointment, you should also prepare details of your medical history, as well as the medications you’re currently taking. TCM and acupuncture don’t design treatment regimens based on the particular health issue, but on the individual instead. Thus, it’s best to be informed about your medical history to make sure that the acupuncture treatment is fitted to your specific needs.

 

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

Tram took over the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic in 2016, but the clinic has actually been around since 1986. Since it was founded, the clinic has been Santa Barbara’s prime go-to spot for herbs, acupuncture, and natural healing. Tram specializes in women’s health, but she can also help you with a other health issues beyond irregular menstruation.

 

You can make an appointment and make your inquiries by calling us at 805-563-0222 or emailing us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com. If you are not in the Santa Barbara or Goleta area, but you still want to have a consultation with Tram, you can do so over the phone or a video call. No need to drive long distances for a consultation! We at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic want to provide you with stress-free, all-natural healthcare as well as we can.

 

 

 

 

References:

Irregular periods

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irregular-periods/

 

Heavy, Prolonged or Irregular Periods — Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

https://www.med.unc.edu/obgyn/Patient_Care/specialty-services/MIGS/our-services/heavy-prolonged-or-irregular-periods

 

When Should You See a Doctor for Irregular Periods? – Penn Medicine

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/womens-health/2015/april/when-should-you-see-a-doctor-for-irregular-periods

 

Acupuncture: In Depth

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction

 

Acupuncture and women’s health: an overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in women’s reproductive health

Suzanne Cochrane

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962314/

 

The effect of acupuncture treatment on female infertility : an evidence-based literature review

Monique Marie Abela

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/18842

 

Fertility Enhancement

http://www.advancedacupuncture.com/fertility/

 

Weight Loss & a Late Period

Michelle Zehr

https://www.livestrong.com/article/339959-weight-loss-a-late-period/