1. Average Cycle: 28 days, range 26 to 30 days.This is the number of days from the first day of your menses to the next first day of your menses, hence the word – cycle.
2. Average Length: 5 days, range 3 to 7 days. This is how long your period lasts, including any spotting or scantiness at the end of your period.
3. Normal Color: Pink, upon starting; Red, as flow gets stronger within a few hours. Brownish, toward end as the flow becomes scantier.
4. Clots: None
5. Flow: Slow at first up to half a day, then enough to soak a pad or tampon in 3 to 4 hours. Then slower the last day or so of your period.
6. Discomfort: None

It is normal to occasionally be early, or late, or have a heavier flow. You can usually attribute it to some stressor in your life. However, any deviation from normal that lasts for three or more periods is considered abnormal.

Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

can help with:

• Amenorrhea (no period)
• Dysmenorrhea (painful period)
• Early Menses
• Late Menses (associated with PCOS)
• Gastro-intestinal Problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating (associated with PMS)
• Scanty Menses
• Heavy Menses
• Endometriosis
• Irregular periods
• Fluid Retention
• Aches and Pains
• Anxiety
• Depression
• PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome
• PMS – premenstrual syndrome

The above seem to be the most common menstrual complaints that my patients report in my clinic.

How can Traditional Chinese Medicine
and Acupuncture
help you with your menstrual problems?

Acupuncture is based on the principle that our health is dependent on the balanced functioning of the body’s motivating energy, called Qi.  Qi flows throughout the body, but is concentrated in channels or meridians beneath the skin.  The aim of treatment is to restore the balance between the equal and opposite qualities of Qi, namely the Yin and the Yang.

Acupuncture stimulates specific points which are selected in accordance with your unique malady and basic constitution.

Herbal Formulas are often recommended based on your TCM diagnosis and have been proven to help in re-balancing the hormones.

The strongest feature of TCM is its ability to treat conditions for which
conventional medicine has no real answer, no treatment and no relief
other than those with potential unpleasant side effects.

You should expect to receive a series of acupuncture treatments and one or more herbal formulas for your menstrual related problems.

If you are interested in determining how I can help you with your
menstrual problems or other health problem, please call (727)771-7110.

Most of my clients are seen for pain relief. Acupuncture is a medical treatment that can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and it encourages the patient’s body to heal and repair itself thereby relieving pain.

It is a part of an ancient Chinese medical system that has been used for more than 5000 years. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has truly been tested by time.

Chinese or Oriental medicine is a slower, gentler system of health care. It aims at improving the overall health of an individual – This is what we call ‘bringing you back into balance’.

Pain relief with acupuncture occurs by stimulating the body’s release of natural painkillers. These are beta-endorphin and serotonin, which are opiate like substances made by the brain. Beta-endorphins and serotonin modify the way pain signals are received by the body.

Serotonin balance is essential for emotional and mental health and has been linked to healthy eating patterns, sleeping patterns, and the degree of pain in the body.

Beta-endorphins are analgesic and anti-inflammatory and are responsible for the ‘runner’s high’, which is why acupuncture can induce similar sensations, thereby reducing pain.

The following is an analogy I often use to explain how acupuncture helps to reduce pain . . .

Think of a garden hose that you use to water your plants. If there is a kink in it, the water will back up and even bulge out the hose at the kink.

Since the water is no longer flowing, only a trickle or nothing is coming out and the plants wilt, maybe even die.

The kinked area where the water is backed up correlates to where your pain is, this is called stasis or stagnation.

Once the kink or stasis is removed. . .The water or energy will flow normally again. . .The plants will flourish and you’ll feel better.

Acupuncture does much more than reduce pain. It has a beneficial effect on your overall health.

Patients often notice an improved sense of well being after treatment, even after only one treatment.  When pain is reduced, you find that you have more energy again, you’ll be less irritable and you’ll sleep better too.

For more information on how acupuncture can help you reduce and relieve your pain, please call Blue Orchid Healing Center at (727) 771-7110.

• Do you have trouble falling asleep?
• Do you have difficulty staying asleep?
• Do you wake up frequently during the night and
• Are you unable to fall back to sleep again?
• Are you a sound sleeper?
• Do you feel rested in the morning and ready to face the day?

Occasional sleep problems may be due to a situational factor such as anxiety over a big test, a job interview, or a public speech. Neither of these situations is cause for alarm. But, chronic insomnia, will certainly affect our health, and may lead to serious health problems.

How many of us awake refreshed every morning after a good night’s sleep?

Poor sleep is a concern that I hear frequently in my clinic. A night or two of restless sleep is generally only annoying and a bit tiring! You should be aware that chronic insomnia can lead to serious health problems.

If insomnia persists and begins to interfere with your ability to function efficiently during the day, you could benefit from seeking acupuncture.

Your sleep problems may have a number of causes, including:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irregular work schedules
• Medications
• Drugs
• Alcohol abuse
• Major life changes
• Chronic pain
• Hyperthyroidism
• Arthritis

You may have already tried prescription medications. These may be helpful for a short while, but after a week or two, they can lead to other problems. Such as:

1. Anti-anxiety drugs may interfere with the quality of sleep, and cause “rebound insomnia”, loss of appetite, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction.
2. Benzodiazepines has a high abuse potential and can be addicting.
3. Tricyclic antidepressants may have intolerable adverse effects including dry mouth, hypotension, urinary retention and cardiac conduction effects.

The use of acupuncture has been proven to be very useful in the treatment of chronic sleep difficulties. Acupuncture has an extremely calming effect on the nervous system. Within a few minutes of insertion of needles, the body starts releasing endorphins and other neurochemicals. Many people become very drowsy and even fall asleep during their treatment.

Studies have shown that some types of insomnia may be due to a deficiency of endorphins.

Endorphins are the body’s own natural painkillers, and this makes acupuncture a very useful therapy.

Herbs for insomnia are generally suggested as part of your care.

Testimonials:

“I had trouble sleeping for months, but now I’m sleeping like a baby.”
_{Mo Seiller; Clearwater, Florida}
“I slept only one or two hours a night for almost 10 years. After a few
weeks of treatments and herbs, I was sleeping for at least three hours.
And now I usually sleep for five or more hours a night. I feel so much
more rested and able to function better in my business.”

_{Deb DeVito; New Port Richey, Florida}

If you are interested in determining how I can help you find relief for your sleep problem , give me a call at (727) 771-7110.

Have you ever wondered what was wrong with you a few days out of the month, usually right before your period?

Do you ever feel you have a Jekyll and Hyde personality?

You could be suffering from PMS or premenstrual syndrome.

Symptoms commonly include some of the following:

• Irritability
• Easily Frustrated
• Quick to Anger
• Breast Tenderness
• Breast Swelling
• Bloating
• Weight Gain
• Abdominal Pain and / or cramping
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• or Alternating Diarrhea and Constipation
• even Nausea

Premenstrual syndrome is generally believed to be due to hormonal imbalances.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for several millennia to treat PMS symptoms with great success, and this was long before anyone knew about hormones!

Acupuncture treatments begin the process of bringing your system back in balance.  Herbal formulas are used to regulate the female endocrine system.

My patients consistently report a marked decrease in their pre-menstrual symptoms, along with an improvement in mental outlook and a decrease in irritability.

If you want to avoid taking drugs and relying on artificial hormones to control your PMS symptoms, you may want to consider acupuncture.

The strongest feature of TCM is its ability to treat conditions for which conventional medicine has no real answer, no treatment and no relief other than those with potential unpleasant side effects.

You should expect to receive a series of acupuncture treatments and one or more herbal formulas to balance the hormones thus reducing or even eliminating your PMS.

If you are interested in determining how I can help you with your PMS or other health problem with acupuncture and herbs , please call (727) 771-7110.

A large percentage of my patients come to my acupuncture clinic for relief of their peri-menopausal or menopausal problems, especially for hot flashes and night sweats.

Nine Facts About Menopause:

1. Technically, menopause indicates the permanent end of menstruation for at least a full year.
2. Perimenopause, menopausal syndrome or Climacteric indicates the transition period from a reproductive to a non-reproductive stage.
3. This time of declining ovarian function takes about 2-5 years to complete.
4. Age ofoccurance is usually between the ages of 48 and 55.
5. TCM has described menopause as beginning at age 49.
6. For centuries the median age has remained unchanged at age 51.
7. It is considered premature when the woman’s age is 35 or less.
8. It can occur earlier as the result of illness, trauma, or surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries or both.
9. The most common complaint at this time is hot flashes!

The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine or the Huang Di Nei Jing, written 300-500 AD notes in:

Chapter 1 of the Simple Questions – In a woman “at 49 the Directing Vessel becomes deficient, the Penetrating Vessel depleted, the Heavenly Gui dries up, the fluids in the channels are exhausted, her body becomes old and she can no longer become pregnant” Thus the most important change occurring around this age is a decline of the Kidney energy and the Directing and Penetrating Vessels, together with a general drying up of fluids and Blood. This is consistent with the symptoms of menopausal problems.

_{Source:  Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, 1998,p.28.}

Common Menopausal Complaints:

• #1 – Hot Flashes
• Night Sweats
• Changes in Menstrual Cycle
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Lethargy
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Inability to Concentrate
• Vaginal Dryness
• Stress Incontinence
• Bone Thinning
• Dry Skin
• Weight Gain

Traditional Chinese Medicine can help with your change of life symptoms!

Acupuncture treatments begin the process of bringing your system back in balance.  Herbal formulas are used to regulate the endocrine system and to relieve your symptoms. We believe in treating the root (underlying) cause of any problem.

Remember, Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is a separate medical system from Western medicine and therefore our view of the causes and diagnoses are different than what you may be used to hearing.

TCM has been used for thousands of years to treat peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms. My patients consistently report a marked decrease in their menopausal symptoms (especially hot flashes and night sweats), along with an improvement in mental outlook and a decrease in irritability.

Your treatment plan is based on the principle that our health is dependent on the balanced functioning of the body’s motivating energy, called Qi. Qi flows throughout the body, but is concentrated in channels or meridians beneath the skin.

The strongest feature of TCM is its ability to treat conditions for which conventional medicine has no real answer, no treatment and no relief other than those with potential unpleasant side effects.

If you want to avoid taking drugs and relying on artificial hormones to control your menopausal symptoms, you may want to consider acupuncture. In my clinic, I spend time with every patient to determine what dietary and lifestyle changes would benefit them the most.

You should expect to receive acupuncture and one or more herbal formulas to balance the hormones thus reducing or even eliminating your hot flashes and night sweats.

I also educate you on everyday things you can do on your own to start balancing your own hormones and body.

If you are interested in determining how I can help you with your hot flashes and night sweats or other menopausal related problem, please call (727) 771-7110.

Hot Flashes & Night Sweats

Keeping You Up At Night?

Women will often experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.

Frequently, these symptoms will interfere with a decent nights sleep, often for months on end. The hormone fluctuations of menopause and peri-menopause are a common cause of sleep problems and insomnia.

An estimated 75% of menopausal women suffer from hot flashes. The hot flashes can be mild to severe. Sometimes the hot flashes can be so severe, you feel as if you are burning up. This is called “steaming bones” in Chinese Medicine.

Night sweats tend to follow the hot flashes. Again these sweats can be mild to severe. I’ve heard of women complaining that their nightclothes are soaked or the bed linens are drenched in sweat. Many have to get up and change their nightgown or sheets in the middle of the night, and then have difficulty getting back to sleep.

Once a sweat passes, your body gets chilled and that’s what tends to wake most women up.

I frequently hear my patients complaining of insomnia without realizing that their hot flashes and night sweats are a major contributing factor in their poor sleep.

The hot flashes and night sweats can start years before the onset of menopause and generally are the first symptoms of your body changing. These can occur during the day as well.

Perimenopause are the years leading up to the cessation of the menses. Technically, menopause is said to have occurred when you have gone an entire year without a menstrual cycle. Usually this is in your fifties.

You can also have induced menopause from surgical removal of your ovaries or from severe trauma. Here the onset tends to be sudden and more severe.

Following are some things you can do to help cope with and reduce your hot flashes and night sweats.:

• Sleep in layers. Use thin blankets or towels underneath you, so you can toss them on the floor, as they get damp or wet. Dress in layers that are easily removed as needed. And use several layers of sheets and blankets on top so you can easily push them off or pull them back on as needed.
• Have a ceiling fan with a remote installed. You’ll be able to control
  the fan without getting out of bed. I can’t tell you how many women have told me that this is a lifesaver.
• During the day, dress in layers so you can peel them off as needed without soaking your clothes. Keep a change of clothes at work or in the car for those really tough days.
• If you are able, get some exercise every day. Exercise is a great for your body at any time of your life. It will help you sleep and help control some of the menopausal symptoms.
• Eliminate hot and spicy foods from your diet during this time. Many spices are very warming and contribute to the hot flashes and sweats. Some examples are hot peppers, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Pay attention to how much caffeine you’re drinking. Caffeine may be contributing to you being awake more than you need to be at night. You may need to reduce your intake to just morning or eliminate it entirely.

Fortunately menopause is a temporary condition. The symptoms generally last from five to ten years. If you are really bothered by your hot flashes and night sweats, seek some professional help. Your gynecologist will offer you HRT – hormone replacement therapy.

If you want a more natural and long lasting approach, look into acupuncture treatments and natural herbal formulas. Your acupuncturist will choose a suitable herbal formula for your particular problems.

Acupuncture will increase the movement of Qi or energy in our bodies. More than likely, your IBS symptoms are due to stuck Qi.

This means your energy is not flowing like it normally should. Acupuncture will find where the Qi is stuck and encourage the normal flow of Qi. When this happens, you start feeling better.

The acupuncture points chosen are based on your particular pattern of disharmony. Not everyone with IBS will be treated exactly the same way with acupuncture.

Herbal Formulas -

Herbal formulas are selected based on your particular pattern of disharmony.

Not everyone will receive the same recommendation for similar IBS problems, as you may have other health problems.

Herbal formulas usually have to be purchased from your acupuncturist as very few are available over the counter. I keep a selection of formulas in the office and can special order herbs and formulas as needed. _{(Please note – special orders require pre-payment).}

Stress Reduction -

I generally consider IBS as a stress related illness. Even Western medicine recognizes the role of stress in IBS. Usually, they recommend stress reduction, counseling or even psychotherapy.

Consider ways to reduce stress in your life. Such as:

• prayer
• meditation
• exercise
• making time to visit with friends and family
• doing something enjoyable like reading a book, watching a movie, going out.

Only you can determine what is stressful to you and what is not. If you feel your job is too stressful then you need to consider how to lessen or alleviate that stress. It’s always recommended to start with the small things first and if that doesn’t help then start tackling the big things.

Exercise -

Regular exercise helps to reduce stress and normalize bowel function, especially for those who are constipated.

The easiest exercise to include in your day is walking. Walking gets us out in the fresh air and you also get to meet your neighbors!

There are a number of studies out there that demonstrate that as little as a 10 minute walk is enough to change your mood! This always reminds me of my Grandmother who always advised us to take a walk when we would get mad at our spouse.

Dietary Changes -

Keep a Food Diary – using a notebook or a calendar, track everything you are eating and drinking. If you haven’t done this already, then this is a must.

You’ll see relationships to what you eat and drink and your IBS symptoms as well as to your mood. When you do experience an episode, make sure to consider everything you ate for the past 2 to 3 days, not just one day!

Rotation Diet – follow a Rotation Diet; eat one type of food only once every four days. Sometimes, eating the same food day in and day out will cause a food intolerance.

Elimination Diet – eliminate suspicious foods for 3 to 4 weeks, then re-introduce foods one at a time to see which ones cause problems. You may find that a certain food causes problems every time you eat it or you may find that a certain food only causes problems if consumed in excess.

Typical Foods to eliminate or reduce in your diet are:

• Foods from the cabbage family – any type of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts
• Most nuts
• Alcohol
• Highly spiced foods such as cayenne peppers
• Dairy – milk, cheese, yogurt

Lifestyle Changes – These are changes we make in our daily life hoping to reduce stress and improve health. It can include most of the above.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment about your Irritable Bowel Syndrome or other health problem, please give the office a call at (727) 771-7110.

Acupuncture & Herbs

I am happy to state that Irritable Bowel Syndrome responds very well to Oriental Medicine.

A combination of acupuncture treatments, herbal formulas, dietary, stress reduction and lifestyle changes are recommended based on your personal history and evaluation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not an Oriental medicine diagnosis. We use the western terminology only in the sense that someone tends to walk into the office requesting help for this problem. Most people have already been diagnosed with IBS by their MD.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers the relationship of each symptom to the whole body. The Acupuncture Physician directs attention to your complete physiological and psychological presentation, which includes all signs and symptoms of the body, mind and spirit.

Signs are objective. These are what the physician can see, hear, smell, taste or feel, and can be verified by another physician.

Symptoms are subjective. These are what you relate about what you can see, hear, smell, taste or feel. All the information is collected and woven together until it forms a “pattern of disharmony”.

Your particular pattern of disharmony will form the framework of your treatment plan. The plan of care is developed based on the ancient principles of TCM, one of the oldest holistic medical systems in the world.

My goal of care is always to bring your body back into balance or homeostasis, thereby, awakening your inherent ability to heal yourself.

Throughout all my years of working in health care, I have come to understand that the healing with acupuncture comes from the retention of the needles. This is how long the needles remain in you. The length of time you retain the needles depends on your response to treatment.

If you want to avoid taking drugs and relying on artificial means to control your irritable bowel symptoms, you may want to consider acupuncture. In my clinic, I spend time with every patient to determine what dietary and lifestyle changes would benefit them the most.

You should expect to receive acupuncture and one or more herbal formulas to balance the gastro-intestinal system thus reducing or even eliminating your IBS problems.

I can start you on the way and help you to bring your IBS problem under control and learn to manage it; but it’s up to all of us to incorporate healthy diets, activities and habits in our daily life to become and stay well.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to find out how we can treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome with acupuncture and herbs or other health problem, please give the office a call at (727) 771-7110.

You are considered infertile:

• When you have attempted to conceive with no success after one to two years.

This problem affects about 25% of the reproductive aged couples, especially in the 30 to 45 year old age group.

Some Causes:

• Anovulation
• Endometriosis
• Stress
• Low sperm count
• Low motility
• Auto-immune factors
• Unknown causes
• Clotting Factors
• Irregular ovulation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Extremely low sperm count
• Poor morphology of sperm
• Poor egg quality

How TCM Can Help You  Become Pregnant

The benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of infertility has been known to Chinese doctors long before it was ever studied in the west, with the first known publication on conception problems appearing around 350 A.D.

It is known, due to recent studies, that acupuncture affects the endocrine system. Acupuncture stimulates the pituitary and hypothalamus to balance the endocrine systems and its hormones, performing the same function as some fertility medications, but without the side-effects.

For the woman TCM will:

• Reduce stress hormones that interfere with ovulation
• Normalize hormones that regulate ovulation so an egg is released
• Increase blood flow to the uterus, improving the chances of a fertilized egg implanting
• Improve ovulation cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which makes getting pregnant difficult
• Improve pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)

For the man TCM will:

• Increase blood flow through out the entire body which will increase potency
• Improve sperm motility
• Improve sperm morphology or shape
• Reduce stress

If you want to avoid taking fertility drugs, have PCOS, are not eligible for invitro-fertilization (IVF), or want to improve the success rate of IVF, you may want to consider acupuncture.

The strongest feature of TCM is its ability to treat conditions for which conventional medicine has no real answer, no treatment and no relief other than those with potential unpleasant side effects.

You should expect to receive a series of acupuncture treatments and one or more herbal formulas to balance the hormones and enhance your fertility.

If you are interested in receiving infertility treatment with acupuncture and herbs or other health problem, please call  (727)771-7110.

Acupuncture is not magic, it does not work with one or two treatments – even though news reports may make it seem so.

Acupuncture works best when you receive it

often enough for your particular problem.

This is usually 2 to 3 times a week when you first start a course of treatment. If you want your acupuncture to work and help you with your problem, then you’ll expect this and plan on going to the clinic frequently at first.

Acupuncture is a cumulative treatment, each treatment builds on the previous one and eventually you’ll start noticing improvements, then the changes will start lasting longer and longer until you’ve reached a plateau or your problem has resolved.

A good rule of thumb to estimate how long it will take to treat a problem (this refers to one problem, not a slew of them) is a month of treatment for every year that you’ve had this problem. Of course, when I do an estimate, I add or subtract time based on your age, the severity of your problem, and your co-morbidities.

What I have learned in providing these estimates is that everyone is different. Not everyone will respond like I think they should. Often I’m surprised at how quickly someone will start experiencing improvement and recover from their problem.  I’ve also learned which problems take longer, and if you have one of these, I will tell you when I first see you.

I hope this article helps answer some of your questions about receiving acupuncture care and how often you should receive an acupuncture treatment.