Acupuncture by Dr. Susan Hathaway


Will you help my condition?



Treatable Symptoms



Here are some symptoms we have helped treat:



Chinese Medicine has been documented as being successful in treating many conditions. Here is a partial list of conditions we commonly treat here:

Anxiety

Addictions

Allergies

Arthritis

Canker Sores or Mouth Ulcers

Lower Back Pain

Colds/Flu

Diabetes

Digestive

Disorders

Fever Blisters

Gallbladder

Problems

Gynecological

Disorders

Headaches/Migraines

High Cholesterol

Hot Flashes

Infertility

Insomnia

Irregular Cycles

Menapausal Symptoms

Menstrual Cramps Pain (all kinds)

PMS

Sciatica

Sinus and Sinus Headache

Sports Injuries

Stress

Stop Smoking

Weight Loss ...and many more



cANKER SORES OR MOUTH ULCERS





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



Recurrent canker sores are one of the most common inflammatory conditions of the mouth, affliction about 20 percent of the general population. The medical terms for canker sores are aphthous stomatitis or aphthae. Canker sores begin as small oval or round reddish swellings, usually on the movable parts of the mouth such as the tongue and the inside linings of the lips and cheeks. These swellings usually rupture within a day, are covered by a thin white or yellow membrane, and become edged by a red halo. The size of the sores varies from being an eighth of an inch wide in minor infections to an inch and a quarter wide in more severe cases. Fever is rare and there rarely is an association of canker sores with other diseases. Usually a person will only experience a single or a few canker sores at a time. These sores generally heal within 2 weeks. Severe forms of the sores may leave scars. Most people experience their first bout with canker sores when they are between the ages of 10 and 20 although children as young as 2 years of age may develop the condition. The frequency of canker sore recurrences varies considerably. Some people may only experience one or two episodes a year, whereas others may have a continuous series of canker sores. Most people experience tingling or pain in the area of the mouth where canker sores later develop. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the symptoms associated with Canker Sores with herbal combinations.



Lower Back Pain





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



While 80% of the population will experience lower back pain at some time during their lifetime, only 1% to 3% is treated surgically. The most straight forward cases treated with surgery are those with back pain associated with one disk because the treatment is clear and the success rate is well-documented in surgical journals. The remainder of the population suffering from lower back pain that do not fall within the above category are often treated with a variety of pain medications or therapies often with limited success. Acupuncture has been shown by National Institutes of Health to be a successful method of treatment for certain types of lower back pain.



Fever Blisters and Herpes





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



Fever blisters are caused by a contagious virus called herpes simples. There are 2 types of herpes simplex viruses. Herpes simplex 1 primarily causes blister-like sores on the mouth, lips and face, although these blisters can be caused by herpes simplex 2, the virus that usually causes genital herpes. Most people experience their first infection with herpes simples 1 when they are less than 10 years of age. In these primary infections, the virus usually invades the moist membrane cells of the lips, mouth, or throat. The majority of persons infected have no symptoms, but about 15 percent develop many fluid-filled blisters in side and outside the mouth three to five days after they are exposed to herpes simplex 1. The blisters may be accompanied by fever, swollen neck glands, and general aches. Fever blisters tend to merge and then collapse. Often a yellowish crust forms over the sores, which usually heal without scarring within 2 weeks. The herpes virus, however, stays in the body. Once a person is infected with oral herpes, the virus remains in a nerve located near the cheekbone. The virus may stay permanently inactive in the site or occasionally may travel down the nerve to the skin surface where it causes a recurrence of fever blisters. Recurring blisters generally erupt at the outside edge of the lip or the edge of the nostril, and take almost as long to heal as the initial fever blisters. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats fever blisters/herpes with herbal combinations and acupuncture.



Infertility





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



As mentioned in other woman's health pages on this website, our bodies are programmed at conception to be self-repairing as well as to carry the ability to reproduce. If a woman's body is in balance, pregnancy should occur without difficulty. However, most American women are no longer in balance. The inability to become pregnant or to sustain a pregnancy is seen more and more often in the Industrialized Nations, America included. There can be numerous causes of infertility, the most common are:Deficiency of Jing EssenceCold in the UterusBlood Stasis in the Uterus
Deficiency of Jing Essence Jing Essence is a particular type of Qi with which we are born. We receive Jing Essence from our mother and father. The amount individuals have is directly related to what they were given. This means if our mother or father depleted their Jing essence, they would have less to give their children. Jing Essence can be depleted through excessive sexual activity, poor diet, stressful conditions, aging. Jing Essence is necessary for proper development and reproduction. Daughters of older parents might inherit less Jing Essence thereby decreasing their fertility. Jing Essence is inherited but it is stored in the Kidney. If a woman's kidney is deficient, Jing Essence can not be stored properly and infertility can result. Anything that depletes Jing Essence or does not allow proper handling of the Jing Essence will decrease a woman's chance of becoming pregnant. If a woman has sufficient Jing Essence but her Kidney is weak, a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant will also be decreased. Therefore abnormal Kidney function can also result in infertility. A true congenital deficiency of Jing Essence will be seen in delayed development, physical and mental. Sometimes girls, who are late starting their periods, may be suffering from Jing Essence deficiency. Kidney Deficiency usually has symptoms of lower backache, tiredness, urinary problems, mental confusion, and memory impairment. Stress, improper exercise and excessive sexual activity can damage the Kidney. Excessive consumption of sweets can also cause problems with the Kidney function. If the Kidney is not able to work properly, it is not able to store and transport Jing Essence, resulting in reproductive difficulties. If a man, proper sperm development can be affected if Jing Essence is deficient if a woman, the egg will not mature. Without a mature egg and/or properly developed sperm, fertilization and conception cannot occur.

COLD IN THE UTERUS The Uterus has to provide a hospitable environment for the developing embryo. There has to be sufficient warmth and nutrition available for proper growth and development. If conception has occurred, the embryo has less than a week to implant into the uterus. Implantation into the uterus provides a direct link to blood vessels, which supply vital nutrients to the developing embryo. This link has to be maintained until the placenta is formed at about 3 months into the pregnancy. The Uterus has to be able to support the development of the fetus directly in the beginning and then by supporting the placenta for the rest of the entire pregnancy. Any weakness in the Uterus will result in miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) of the fetus. But first the Uterus has to be able to allow for implantation to occur. A very common cause of Infertility of modern women is invasion of Cold into the Uterus. Modern American women have a fondness for cold drinks and cold foods. We are a Nation of people who put ice into every thing we drink. Even if we live in warm climates, we can still be exposed to Cold pathogens, even in summer! This happens quite frequently because Americans don't like to sweat or to be hot. If we are outside in the summer months and work up a sweat what do we do? Jump into a swimming pool, go into air-conditioned cars or houses, drink cold drinks immediately subject our bodies to extremes of temperature. If we are sweating, our pores are open and our body is cooling down naturally. If we enter into the Cold or drink Cold drinks, our pores will slam shut trapping moisture under the skin. ( This leads to other problems discussed elsewhere). However, if a woman is menstruating, a channel has been opened directly into her womb. Cold has an easier time entering the body and going deep inside. Cold that invades the womb, will prevent an embryo from implanting or remaining the time needed to fully develop. Even though fertilization may occur, a pregnancy won't come to term. A woman usually can tell when she has Cold in the Uterus because heat feels very good when pressed against her abdomen. This can be heating pads or hot baths. She might also have a craving for hot drinks.

BLOOD STAGNATION As mentioned above, blood has to move freely within the Uterus in order for nourishment of the embryo to occur. Anything that stops or slows the Blood will result in Blood Stagnation. Blood stagnation can produce masses in the abdomen. These masses can be very painful to the touch. Pressure on the abdomen makes the pain worse. Masses can interfere with implantation of the embryo, by physically blocking the area where implantation can occur. If the blood isn't moving, proper nourishment won't be available even if implantation occurs. Blood stagnates from a number of causes. Proper circulation of blood according to Chinese Medical Theory depends upon the presence of Qi. The Qi has to circulate throughout the meridians, collaterals, muscles and vessels of the body in order for Blood to follow. The Liver controls Qi circulation.

HOW TO GET BACK INTO BALANCE AND STAY THERE After an examination by a Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioner, the cause of the infertility will be determined. Treatment will be tailored to the individual woman. Jing Essence If the cause of the infertility appears to be from a decrease in Jing Essence caused by Kidney weakness, herbal formulas to strengthen the kidney will be prescribed. Sometimes, the Kidney weakness can be from a condition called Excess, which is easiest thought of as Kidney stones. Sometimes Diagnostic Imaging can see these stones , but sometimes the stones are not radiopaque and consequently do not show up on x-rays. If the stones are gravel-like substances, they may not even show up on Ultrasound images. But the Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioners here can check you to determine if this is a cause of your infertility. Treatment can consist of herbs and acupuncture. If the insufficient Jing Essence is from a Kidney deficiency, herbal formulas can help restore normal kidney functioning. It is important that lifestyle changes be effected at the same time. A woman should be careful of excesses in exercise, especially during her menses. Follow a proper nutritious diet. Any type of breathing/physical exercise program that builds Qi will also aid a woman who is deficient in Jing Essence. If the practitioner determines that the deficiency is in Congenital Jing Essence, herbal formulas will be prescribed to strengthen the Kidney to conserve the inborn Essence. Cold In the Uterus After an examination, if the Traditional Chinese Practitioner determines that the woman is suffering from Internal Cold, herbal formulas to warm the Uterus will be prescribed. To prevent cold invasion, women should be very careful not to consume cold drinks or cold food during the menses. Cold food are raw fruit and vegetables. If you are a vegetarian, you must be very careful to balance your consumption of Cold foods with warming soups, teas and high quality protein. We recommend consumption of warming meats or meat broth during menses to those who can eat meat, fish or fowl. If a woman contracts a flu or cold during her period, immediate attention is required to prevent the pathogen from going deeper into the body. Blood Stagnation After an examination, if the Traditional Chinese Practitioner determines that the woman is suffering from Blood stagnation, acupuncture and/or Herbs will be prescribed. Blood stagnation in the Uterus can result in menstrual cramping. If a woman comes to the practitioner during menstrual pain, acupuncture can be done to relieve the cramps. Herbs are prescribed to break up the stagnation. Normally, herbal formulas must be taken for a couple of cycles to insure cleansing of the stagnations (clots). A woman should take the herbs a day or so before her menses starts and continue throughout the period. She might notice a heavier than normal bleeding the first couple of cycles after starting the herbs as the stagnations are removed. This is why some women's cramps decrease after childbirth, the stagnations come out with the afterbirth. Once the stagnations are removed, it is important that the woman not produce more. There can be many causes of stagnation, but the most common one in America is Liver Qi Stagnation. Anger and toxins can damage the Liver producing Qi stagnation. Careful attention to what we eat can help reduce toxin intake. Avoid foods with high levels of additives. Decrease the burden on the Liver by consuming alcohol in moderation and use Liver-cleansing herbs to assist the Liver in detoxifying the blood. Vitamin and Mineral supplements can also be a burden to a Liver that has Qi Stagnation. We recommend proper exercise to reduce the stresses of modern life. Proper exercise is a combination of breathing and movements to stimulate Qi production and movement. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Meditation, Yoga are all forms of exercise designed to decrease Qi stagnation and cultivate Qi. It will also help if stressful situations can be avoided. If one can not avoid stress, herbal formulas will be needed to assist the body in preventing Liver Qi Stagnation.


IRREGULAR CYCLES





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



A woman's menstrual cycle is part of the normal programming of a healthy body that is hard wired into her genetic makeup. If a woman is in balance, her cycles should start so that by fourteen years of age she can become pregnant. Beginning cycles might not be as regular or last as long. The Ren and Chong Meridians must open and then the flow of Qi and nutrients will start. The Tian Gui is the menstrual flow that stems from the nutrient passing up the Ren meridian to the Breasts where milk production occurs. The Milk moves down the Chong Meridian to the Uterus passing by the Small Intestine where the heat changes the white milk to red menstrual blood. Once the meridians are mature and open this cycle takes every month. Then every lunar month, a menses (period bleeding) should occur. The menses should be preceded by a fullness in the breasts that disappears as the period blood appears. There should not be cramping or bloating or PMS. The menses should last 4-7 days. The bleeding should not be so heavy that hemorrhage is feared. These cycles should continue on a regular basis every 28 days until interrupted by pregnancy or nursing until around the age of 44 to 49 when the cycles may start to change because of impending cessation of cycles called menopause. Menopause is defined by the absence of cycles for 1 year. But sometimes the menstrual cycle does not come on a regular basis or bleeding is excessive or scant. Alterations in the menstrual cycle indicate that the woman's body is out of balance. Interruptions or blockage of the normal flow of Tian Gui can result in excessive milk remaining in the Breast, or entering the Blood, Heart or Lungs. Traditional Chinese Medical Theory believes that improper flow of Tian Gui can result in Breast masses, Lupus, Leukemia or Lung Cancer. So it is vital to ensure proper flow of the Tian Gui and normal menstrual cycles in women. Discussion of the all the possible irregularities of the menstrual cycle is beyond the scope of our treatment here. If you have a menstrual cycle problem not mentioned here and would like to know more, please contact us. However we can discuss some of the more common menstrual cycle problems.


IRREGULAR CYCLES These are defined as menses that does not appear every 28 days. (27-30 day cycles are not abnormal). The Traditional Chinese Medical Theory believes that cycles that start normal but become shorter (menses starts a week early) indicates either excessive Heat in the Blood or Qi Deficiency. Cycles that become longer apart (week late or becoming as much as 45 days apart) indicate Cold in the Blood, Blood deficiency or Qi Stagnation. Cycles that have no consistency, late one month early the next may be due to Qi Stagnation in the Liver or Kidney Deficiency.


HEAT IN THE BLOOD Generally the woman with shorter cycles due to Heat would demonstrate other heat signs such as dark scanty urine, dark red blood which is thick and profuse. We would also expect the woman to experience other heat signs such as fullness in the chest area and thirst. Heat in the Blood can arise from many different causes such as Internal Heat conditions from over indulgence in spicy foods or overdose of warming drugs or herbs.


QI DEFICIENCY A woman suffering from shorter cycles because of a Qi Deficiency would have a profuse, thin and light red menses. She would also be generally tired with some shortness of breath and maybe palpitations of the heart. Qi can be depleted from over exertion and improper diet, which affects the Spleen. Spleen normally is able to control blood, but if Spleen Qi is deficient, the Spleen is no longer able to control blood and bleeding occurs.


COLD IN THE BLOOD A woman suffering from cycles that become longer and longer apart with scanty dark colored blood may be suffering from cold in the blood. Generally she will also experience abdominal pain which feels better with a heating pad. She would also probably suffer from cold feet and hands. This usually comes from internal invasion of cold, or overeating cold, raw foods or exposure to cold during a period. BLOOD DEFICIENCY A woman suffering from cycles that become longer and longer apart with scanty light red blood may be suffering from Blood Deficiency. She might also have dizziness, blurred vision and an empty feeling in her abdomen. Blood deficiency can occur from chronic disease, multiple pregnancies in a short time frame. A woman that follows an irregular diet with improper exercise, mainly overexertion, can damage the Spleen and Stomach and cause a decrease in Blood.


QI STAGNATION Delayed cycles or irregular cycles with scanty dark red blood may be caused by Qi Stagnation. Generally the woman will also have mood alterations, usually depression along with distension or pain under the ribs, and pressure in the chest relieved by belching. Qi Stagnation occurs in the Liver and is usually caused by emotional upheaval that produces anger or depression. If Qi stagnates, blood will not flow, delaying the cycle.


KIDNEY DEFICIENCY Irregular cycles with scanty light red blood can indicate a deficiency of the Kidney. The woman might also experience dizziness and ringing in the ears. Her lower back might be sore and her knees weak. Usually she will have to get up frequently at night to urinate. Starting to have sexual relations at an early age is one way to harm the Kidney. Use of alcohol during sexual activity is another way to damage the Kidneys. We are born with a certain amount of innate essence. We can actually use it up too fast and begin to age sooner than expected. If the Kidney essence is used up or the Kidney becomes weakened, Tian Gui will not be conducted through the Ren and Chong meridians and normal menstrual cycles will not occur.


HOW TO GET BACK INTO BALANCE AND STAY THERE If you suffer from irregular menstrual cycles it is important for your Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioner to determine which type of syndrome is the cause . As you can see, there can be different causes of irregular cycles. Generally, acupuncture treatments and herbal formulas can adjust an irregular cycle. Sometimes, herbal formulas will need to be taken for a couple of months to assure that normal cycling has returned. More important it is necessary for a woman to understand what to do in order not to get back out of balance and return to irregular cycles once her balance has been restored. Here are some important tips to remember regarding the menstrual cycle: Do not drink cold drinks during your menstrual cycle. Most Americans love cold drinks. We put ice into everything. If you cannot drink hot drinks during your cycle, drink your drinks without ice. Do not eat cold foods during your menstrual cycle. Cold foods include what we think of as cold, ice cream, slurpees, snow cones and it also includes foods that have a cold nature. These foods are generally raw fruits, fruit juices, raw vegetables. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, make sure they are cooked and that you balance them with hot soups and teas. Do not immerse yourself in cold water during your period. Don't swim or walk in cold rain. This is another way for Cold to invade your Uterus during your period. Some Chinese practitioners caution against bathing at all during your menstrual cycle, because your body is open during this time and prone to invasion of pathogens. Do not over exert yourself during your period. Tone down your exercise program during this time so not to over burden your kidneys. Especially don't work up a sweat and cool down too rapidly. This is a good way to drive pathogens deep inside your body and cause problems with your periods for years to come. Eat sensibly and regularly. Improper amounts of food at irregular times can damage the spleen. This can lead to period problems. Do exercises that will help to alleviate stress and negative emotions. These two things can lead to Liver Qi Stagnation and period problems. Tai Qi, Qi Gong, mediation, yoga are some of the ways we can help our bodies adjust to the stresses of modern life. Moderation of sexual activity will aid the body in conserving Jing Essence. Women are less susceptible to Essence depletion than Men, but women can overdo sexual activity and deplete the Kidney essence. Ancient Chinese Scholars caution against early sexual activity and sexual activity while intoxicated. Jing Essence is depleted faster during these times. 02/07/01 Susan Hathaway PhD, AP



Menopause





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation (a woman's period). Menopause usually begins around age 40 and is complete by age 55. Women will experience changes in their cycle, usually fewer cycles per year, longer and longer apart, until no more periods occur. The Western Science explanation is the normal decline in the number of follicles (immature eggs) in the ovaries become insufficient to produce high enough levels of Estrogens to trigger the hormonal cycle and menses. The drop in the blood level of Estrogens produces withdrawal symptoms in the woman. These symptoms can vary from woman to woman. Not all women will experience withdrawal symptoms as the Estrogens level begins to drop. Symptoms that women might experience while the body is adjusting to the new levels of Estrogens might include: Hot flashes. 60% of women may experience the sensation of intense heat spreading in the body some only experience it in the upper portion, some all over. Night sweats. Although with the hot flashes, some women will experience sweating as well. This can be a light sheen of sweat to a bed soaking sweat. Mood swings, irritability, depression Panic attacks, difficulty breathing, Dizzy spells, tachycardia (racing heartbeats) Worsening of pre-existing mental conditions Urinary bladder problems (cystitis, frequency, incontinence, burning) In Traditional Chinese Medical Theory, menopause occurs because of the drying up of the Tian Gui, The Divine Water. As mentioned earlier, period blood originally comes from Breast Milk. The Breast Milk came from the Tian Gui, which originated in the Kidneys. Both men and women have Tian Gui. In men, Tian Gui becomes Sperm/Semen. The Tian Gui travels up the Ren Meridian to the face and becomes the Beard. It must travel normally down through the Chong meridian to become Sperm/Semen. For women, the Tian Gui travels up the Ren meridian to the Breasts, where it then moves down the Chong Meridian to the Uterus leaving the body as Menstrual Blood. This is why menstrual Blood isn't exactly like regular blood. Sometimes regular blood will mix with menstrual blood and produce abnormal cycles. But normally, the Tian Gui is not considered blood. The ancient texts of Traditional Chinese Medical Theory states that a woman changes every seven years, a man every eight. At the age of seven, a girl has her permanent teeth, her kidneys become strong and her hair grows long. At fourteen, the Tian Gui matures, the Ren and Chong meridians open, her menstrual cycle begins and she can conceive. At 21, the kidney is healthy, the Wisdom teeth appear, and the body is vital and flourishing. At 28, a woman reaches her peak of her female development. Her bones and tendons are well developed and her hair and secondary sexual characteristics are complete. At 35, the meridians governing the facial muscles (Large Intestine and Stomach) begin to deplete and muscles will atrophy, sag, facial wrinkles start and hair begins to thin. At 42, all three Yang meridians deplete and the hair turns white. At 49, the Ren and Chong meridians are completely empty, the Tian Gui is depleted, menstruation ceases, fertility ends and menopause occurs. This is considered normal. As Tian Gui becomes depleted, the Uterus will shrink in size. The Uterus receives heat from the Small Intestine. Normally, this heat turns the White Breast Milk to the red menstrual blood. But as the Uterus shrinks, heat from the Small Intestine may escape producing hot flashes. If the Uterus can shrink normally, there may be minor heat escaping or none at all. However, if the Uterus is abnormal, full of blood stagnation or Cold pathogen, then shrinkage does not occur, as it should, so a woman will experience major hot flashes. The blood stagnation can be a symptom of Qi stagnation, which can produce the typical signs of menopause in Western women.

HOW TO GET BACK INTO BALANCE AND STAY THERE If a woman is experiencing menopausal symptoms, the Traditional Chinese Practitioner will determine where the problem is arising. Typically the woman will be treated for the menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, mood swings, abnormal bleeding) in a way that assists the body in completing the natural process it has begun. Blood stagnation needs to be cleaned out of the Uterus so that natural collapse can occur. Abnormal Heat will be treated until the collapse is completed. We have many different herbal formulas available to treat the various symptoms Western women experience as they enter menopause. We assist your body through this process that should be relatively symptom free. We will also recommend diet and lifestyle changes to further assist your body. As our body ages, changes will occur. Ancient Chinese Medical practitioners believed that we could live to be well over 100 years and still maintain health and vigor. Some suggestions to assist you through the process of menopause and beyond are the following: Consume soy products. It is important to give your body an assist until a new balance is achieved. We recommend soy products as one way to help the body. It is important however not to consume soy extracts, powders or capsules. We recommend one helping of soy per day. Some women enjoy a soymilk shake in the morning adding fresh fruit. Others enjoy soy as Tofu and add it to their meals. Soy yogurt is another possibility or just drink a glass of soymilk once a day. Proper weight bearing exercise is important to maintain healthy bones. Walking, dancing, biking, etc. will benefit your bones. A normal diet should contain calcium products to further assist the body in maintaining bone strength. Calcium in large amounts is contained in dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables and whole fish (sardines, etc). We don't recommend calcium supplements as that can be a burden to the kidney. Exercises that produce Qi such as Tai Qi and QiGong are easy to do no matter what your age or physical abilities. These will also help in reducing your body's negative response to stress. Support your Kidneys with a daily intake of an herbal formula designed over 2000 years ago to strengthen the kidneys. Drink purified water that does not promote the formation of Kidney Stones. Here in Florida, everyone is prone to Kidney stone formation because of our hard water and temperature. Anything that decreases Kidney function will cause you to age faster. Keep your digestive system working properly. Do not eat after 8:00 PM. Do not consume sweets before bed. Food in your stomach rots as you sleep. Rotting food can produce gas, bloating, indigestion, gastric reflux, bowel movement irregularities, and impairment of nutrient absorption. Take the Good Health test. No matter what your age, you should have good health. If you don't pass, maybe you need to come in and have a physical by one of our Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioners.


Cramping Before or During Menses





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



Dysmenorrhea is the term used to describe pain during or before menstruation. The pain can be located in the lower back, abdomen or legs. For some women, the pain is so bad that the woman cannot carry out normal everyday activities. 10% of girls absent from school each month are due to painful periods, and it is estimated that 140 million work hours each year are lost to cramps. Western Science attributes cramps to either self-limiting disorders that seem to clear up on their own or some underlying condition that requires intervention. The most common cause is over production of a substance called prostaglandin. This substance is important for normal contraction of the uterus during labor and delivery. Too much appears to result in cramps. Endometriosis is another cause of Dysmenorrhea. This is a condition where uterine tissue migrates outside the uterus and produces cramps. Traditional Chinese Medical Theory divide Dysmenorrhea into two basic types Excess pain and Deficiency pain.

EXCESS SYNDROME The Dysmenorrhea is caused by blood stagnation. Just like a bruise hurts where you can see it, a bruise (stagnated blood) can hurt deep inside. In order for blood to flow freely, Qi must guide it. This means that any thing that stagnates Qi can result in blood stagnation. Cold can also cause blood to stagnate. If you have a cut and want the bleeding to stop, ice can stop or slow the bleeding down. Internal cold will do the same to menstrual blood. A woman experiencing excess pain will find that the pain in the abdomen will be worse with pressure. Warmth will make the pain better. During the menstrual flow, cramping will increase until clots (stagnated blood) are passed and then the pain will decrease.

DEFICIENCY SYNDROME The Dysmenorrhea in this case is caused by lack of blood and Qi depriving the uterus of nutrients. The pain is usually dull and appears at the end of menstruation or even after the bleeding has stopped. A woman experiencing deficiency pain will feel better with pressure on her abdomen. Her menstrual flow will be pale and thin. She might be dizzy and weak. HOW TO GET

BACK INTO BALANCE AND STAY THERE Women experiencing menstrual pain can benefit from acupuncture. Acupuncture can alleviate or greatly reduce the pain she is experiencing during the Dysmenorrhea. Herbal treatment is necessary to correct the imbalance producing the pain. Herbs usually need to be taken for a couple of months in order to ensure the imbalance is gone. Excess Syndrome If the woman’s cramps are from stagnated blood, after acupuncture to relieve the pain, the woman will need to take herbs during her period. Herbs then will need to be taken at the start of her next period and possibly the next couple of cycles until stagnation is eliminated. The cause of the stagnation might be from Liver Qi Stagnation or Invasion of Cold. In that case, the woman will need to take herbal formulas in between cycles to correct the imbalance. After Liver Qi is flowing or the Internal Cold is banished, the woman will need to prevent them from occurring again. The biggest cause of Liver Qi Stagnation is anger and improper response to everyday stress. We recommend proper breathing and Qi exercises to assist the woman in maintaining proper Qi flow. Tai Qi, Qi Gong, Yoga are some of the ways women can help their Qi remain balanced. To prevent against invasion of Internal Cold, it is important to balance consumption of cold foods and drinks with warm soups, drinks and food. Protect yourself in cold weather wear a scarf on your neck. Be careful going from hot environments to cold environments especially if you are sweating. In Florida, we see many cold invasions because of sweating outside then jumping into a cold pool or going inside to air-conditioned rooms. Women are especially susceptible to cold invasion during their periods. Deficiency Syndrome. This type of Dysmenorrhea usually occurs because of a woman is weak from a chronic illness or weak body-build. Treatment consists of building the body up by nourishing herbs and diet modifications. Women who are strict Vegetarians (no meat or animal products of any kind) have to be very careful with their diet. Since they lose blood every month, they must find a high quality protein to replace the nutrients they are losing. Acupuncture may not be as effective in decreasing the menstrual pain, because acupuncture uses the person's own Qi. If the Qi is decreased, there is less to work with. Herbal formulas will be needed both during and between periods to build up the woman's Qi and Blood.


Sinususitis and Sinus Headaches





Susan Hathaway, PhD, AP



Current estimates are that 35 million Americans each year experience at least one episode of sinusitis. Acute sinusitis may present as an apparent viral upper respiratory infection that persists longer than expected, or unilateral or bilateral tenderness under the eyes, fever, and a dull headache. Chronic sinusitis commonly presents with more subtle symptoms, such as nasal congestion with morning sore throat and without fever. Symptoms may be limited to intermittent hoarseness, sore throat and expectoration of mucus. Factors which may predispose to sinusitis include allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory infections, septal deviation, tooth extractions, nasal polyps, swimming and smoking. Many patients will have nasal exams that are within normal limits. Western Medicine may treat with antibiotics, decongestants and even surgery. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats symptoms associated with sinus congestion and infection with herbs and acupuncture.



Dr. Susan Hathaway, Ph.D., A.P., DAOM
4951 Babcock St. #3
Palm Bay, FL 32905
321-723-3017



Acupuncture by Dr. Susan Hathaway