How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally with TCM

In today’s fast-paced world, both men and women struggle with hormonal imbalances. Research reported that 47% of women aged 30 to 60 in the US experienced the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance and had a negative impact on their well-being (Haaland, 2019). In the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the concept of Yin and Yang is closely tied to hormonal imbalance. Like our hormones, yin and yang depend on the overall balance of our bodies.

Dr. Carolyn Cook, Miami Acupuncturist, MSOM, AP, Dipl Canonical Chinese Medicine, LMT, has unlocked the healing pathways to ease hormonal imbalance. Read further to find out how she works and her client’s testament to her wonderful services.

Signs and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are our body’s chemical messengers. They are produced in the endocrine glands and then travel around our bloodstreams, communicating what to do to our tissues and organs. Too much or too little of them can lead to major changes to your body and conditions that require treatment—this is what you call hormonal imbalance.

For some people, hormonal imbalances can be temporary, while others are chronic (long-term). Several different symptoms depend on which hormonal imbalance you have. Below are examples of hormonal imbalances people experience.

• Slow heartbeat or rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea or more frequent bowel movements.
• Numbness and tingling in your hands.
• Higher-than-normal blood cholesterol levels.
• Depression or anxiety.
• Being unable to tolerate cold temperatures or warm temperatures.
• Dry, coarse skin and hair.
• Thin, warm and moist skin.
• Irregular body fat distribution.
• Darkened skin in your armpit or the back and sides of your neck (acanthosis nigricans).
• Skin tags (small skin growths).
• Extreme thirst and frequent urination.

Due to hormone issues, individuals can have hormone-related conditions, which include the following.

• Irregular menstruation (periods), including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and amenorrhea.
• Infertility and low testosterone levels (hypogonadism).
• Acne due to hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty, and adult acne.
• Diabetes.
• Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels) and hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone levels).
• Obesity is due to an imbalance of certain hormones resulting in weight gain in the form of fat storage.

Balancing Hormones with TCM

The first step to treating hormonal imbalance is knowing the cause. By taking your pulse, TCM can help determine your Yin-Yang ratio, which is the area where you have too little or too much energy. Dr. Cook locates the crucial pulse points, thoroughly taking your history and background for an in-depth consultation.

Once finished, a personal treatment plan will be drafted for you to rebalance your hormones. This could be a single treatment or a combination of the following TCM therapies. All of these mentioned techniques are safe and effective forms of treatment.

1. Acupuncture: This involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to access your nervous system and help regulate an over or under-active response from organs. Clinical studies show acupuncture’s effectiveness in managing symptoms of hormonal imbalances.
2. Herbal medicines: These carefully selected herbal formulas aim to treat the root cause of the imbalance rather than just symptoms. Dr. Cook uses herbs like Dang Gui, Cinnamon, and Ginger in her personalized prescriptions. However, take note that a trained and skilled TCM practitioner should properly diagnose you to treat your hormonal imbalance. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as it is different for each person.
3. Cupping: This involves creating a vacuum inside a cup and placing it on selected acupuncture points on the client’s skin, and the vacuum draws the skin into the cup. In this way, the low pressure inside the cup frees the flow of qi, removing any toxins.
4. Diet/Nutrition therapy: Nourish your liver by eating more leafy greens and bitter foods so you can regulate your hormone secretion. You may add soy to help balance estrogen levels. Add more cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower to your diet.

Dr. Cook also suggests changes to your lifestyle, nutrition, and daily routines to maintain your hormonal balance. Book a consultation with us and experience what this client said about Dr. Cook.

“I came to Carolyn’s office in a state of exhaustion and burn out. I thought I must be getting old or that stress and my six children had finally gotten the better of me. Headaches, PMS, and poor digestion were wearing me out too.

But in my four(?) months in Carolyn’s care, I truly feel better than I thought possible. The combination of acupuncture treatments and her herbal tea recipes, designed personally for my needs have given me a new energy and sense of health.”

Miami Acupuncture and Classical Herbs to the Rescue

Ready to integrate TCM into your health journey? You don’t have to wait until your hormonal imbalance symptoms worsen. Consider getting treated at Miami Acupuncture and Classical Herbs with a caring and licensed TCM practitioner like Dr. Carolyn Cook. To get started, message or call us at (305) 665-9711. You may send your inquiries to cc@miamiherbs.com.