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INTRODUCTION

I see a lot of women in my practice of Chinese Medicine who are suffering from gynecological disorders. Not that my practice is at all unusual. Most practitioners, regardless of the type of medicine they practice, also report similar observations. In fact, the general consensus among practitioners is that the [Continue reading...]]]> By Larry Tepper, M.S., M.Ac.

INTRODUCTION

I see a lot of women in my practice of Chinese Medicine who are suffering from gynecological disorders. Not that my practice is at all unusual. Most practitioners, regardless of the type of medicine they practice, also report similar observations. In fact, the general consensus among practitioners is that the incidence of PMS has risen dramatically over the past 50 years. Since it is reasonable to conclude that women’s bodies have not changed much in the last 50 years, the cause must be rooted in changes in the social milieu. Now according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the root cause of PMS is a condition referred to as Stagnant Liver Qi (SLQ), the primary cause of which is stress. To understand the increase in occurrence of PMS, we need only identify the social factors responsible for the increased stress that women are obviously experiencing today. However, before discussing these factors, I need to explain some basic concepts of Chinese Medicine.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the concept of vital energy. Vital energy is what separates you from a corpse. It governs all of your physiological and psychological functions. When vital energy flows smoothly through the body, a person feels at one with their environment, a state I call Wellness. However, when the vital energy is not able to flow freely, energetic imbalances occur, and a person feels separate from their environment, a state that I call Dis-ease. Dis-ease can range from a vague feeling that one’s life has no meaning to tissue damage (a condition referred to by Western Medicine as disease). Thus, TCM does not distinguish between emotional and physical pain. Both are indicative of an underlying energetic imbalance.

From this perspective, the secret to health and happiness is simply to nourish and treasure your vital energy or Qi (pronounced chee as in CHEEse). Thus, TCM considers lifestyle and dietary modification to be an essential part of a comprehensive and successful treatment plan for PMS.

SOCIAL FACTORS

Based on my own experience and that of my clients, I have generated the following list of social factors that are causing stress levels to increase in today’s world:

•   Environmental Stress. We live in a toxic world. According to EPA estimates, the amount of chemical pollutants released into the environment  in the U.S. during 1989 alone was enough to fill a line of semi-trailers, parked bumper-to-bumper, stretching from Los Angeles to Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to air and water pollution, we also suffer from electromagnetic, microwave, and noise pollution.

•   Nutritional Stress. Most of our food today comes from corporate farms, where the emphasis is on production. To achieve maximum production, farmers use artificial fertilizers that are deficient in trace minerals. Over time, this has resulted in anemic soil, which in turn has inevitably produced anemic food. In addition, any women who works a full time job is unlikely to have the time or energy to cook meals on a regular basis. Many women have thus been forced to rely on fast, frozen, or artificial food to feed their families. These have had much of the original nutrition removed through processing. This would be bad enough, but the frantic pace of Western society causes many people to skip meals or eat on the go, which causes digestive problems. Not only are Americans eating a poor quality diet, but we are not properly digesting a lot of what we do eat! A woman cannot possibly have a healthy menstrual cycle when she has nutritional deficiencies.

•   Occupational Stress. As our society becomes more automated, people find themselves having to adapt themselves to the needs of machines. Spending long hours interacting with a computer or constantly flying between time zones and/or seasons will inevitably result in a dysfunctional menstrual cycle. I personally know of a case where a flight attendant has stopped having periods. They are not likely to resume until she stops flying.

•   Drug Stress. Recreational drugs are a fact of life in American society. Most of my clients have experimented with them at one time or another during their life. These include heroine, cocaine, PCP, LSD, etc., They incorrectly assume that because they no longer use these drugs that there is no longer a problem.  In reality, these substances can cause energetic imbalances in the body that will persist until they are cleared therapeutically. In addition, many women cope with the stress in their life by using alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine, all of which generate SLQ.

•   Medication Stress. When used appropriately pharmaceuticals can be life-savers, and oral contraceptives (OCs) have given women a sense of sexual freedom unknown in the history of womankind. However, they do have a down side. Both pharmaceuticals and OCs can have both short and long term side effects. To make matters worse, some people have come into my clinic taking several medications at once. As far as I know, there is virtually no information available on the synergistic effects of taking pharmaceuticals and OCs simultaneously.

•   Emotional Stress. In our society women are caught between a number of irreconcilable goals such as motherhood versus career or sexual freedom versus familial commitment. In addition, the feminist movement has instilled in many women a recognition of male dominant injustice, resulting in a pervasive sense of frustration and anger. These are difficult and complex issues. However, every women needs to take responsibility for the contents of her own mind and let go of such negative emotions. This is not the same as repressing or invalidating these feelings. Rather she should do what she can to ameliorate her situation and relax in the face of what she alone cannot change. I am reminded of the prayer: “Lord, grant me the strength to change that which I can, the serenity to accept that which I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference”.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING GYNECOLOGICAL DISORDERS

So what is a busy woman to do? Fortunately, there are some simple things women can do for themselves to alleviate gynecological distress. These include:

•   Daily Relaxation. Daily deep relaxation for at least 20 minutes is one of the most important things that we can all do to nourish our Qi. Without calming the disturbed mind, the efficacy of TCM or any other therapy will be greatly reduced. This can take the form of meditation, listening to a relaxation tape, or even taking a bath.  Do whatever works for you.

• Avoiding vigorous exercise during menstruation. Excessive exercise can cause Qi and/or blood to flow erratically, resulting in various gynecological problems. This is a timely reminder, given the popularity of aerobic exercise these days. We all need adequate exercise to maintain health, but too much is just as bad as too little.

• Eating and drinking moderately. This means not eating too little or too much. The overwhelming majority of patients with eating disorders are female. This is the result of the overemphasis that our society places on women’s bodies coupled with the individual’s lack of self-acceptance. When people feel grounded and centered inside, they naturally eat just enough food to maintain their optimum weight.

• Maintaining regular waking and sleeping hours. Maintaining a regular schedule implies a well-regulated lifestyle with adequate exercise and rest. One’s daily schedule should also be in harmony with the larger macrocosmic cycles of day and night and the seasons of the year.

• Avoiding stimulating foods. This means avoiding alcohol, caffeine, sugar, chocolate, excessively spicy foods, and so-called recreational drugs, all of which can disrupt the functioning of the energetic liver by generating stagnation. In addition, if a woman suffers from bloating or edema, she should refrain from eating dairy foods or drinking citrus juices, as both of these will generate additional dampness in the body.

• Cultivating equanimity. This means cultivating a positive attitude that emphasizes the good in life, in others, and in oneself. Every cloud has a silver lining. The choice is ours as to whether we wish to focus on the positive or negative aspects of our lives. One can consciously cultivate joy, generosity, and loving kindness, which in turn promote the free and easy flow of Qi and blood.

BIOGRAPHY

Larry Tepper, M.S., M.Ac. has a private practice in Oriental Medicine in Frederick and Smithsburg, MD. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 301-471-4196.