Dragonheart Herbs & Natural Medicine
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Margaret Hammitt-McDonald, PhD, MSOM, ND, LAc
Seth Goldstein, DC, Independent Medical Examiner
Janae A. Smith, LMT, DC
1355 S. Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach, Oregon
Call for an appointment: 503-436-2255
Men's Health, Women's Health, Fertility
First a few words about understanding acupuncture and Chinese herbs...
An acupuncturist is going to talk about health in terms of Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, Jing, the Zong-Fu (organs), the Five Elements, and so forth. Western science is still trying to understand how acupuncture works and has theories in terms of the nervous system, neurotransmitters, immune response, blood chemistry changes, and so on. The good news is that you do not have to believe in acupuncture or in any special belief system, nor to understand the science for acupuncture to work. In fact, Oriental medicine has been successful with animals through veterinary acupuncture and Chinese herbs for thousands of years.
Men's Health
Some of the most common conditions that men face are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction (ED), male depression, androgen decline (also called male menopause/MM), and infertility. About 50% of men over 60 will experience BPH, one in six men in the United States will be affected by prostate cancer, and most men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.
Symptoms of these conditions can include frequent, urgent or hesitant urination; dribbling; frequent night-time urination; burning with urination; premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, or retro-ejaculation; lower back, hip, pelvic or genital pain; blood or semen in the urine; poor concentration or quality of sperm; fatigue; weakness; irritability; or lack of mental focus.
Men often have side effects from cancer treatments or prostate and hernia surgeries that can be corrected with acupuncture treatments. Other causes of common men’s health concerns include heart disease, clogged blood vessels, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and medications. For men with erectile dysfunction, causes usually include stress, anxiety, or depression and its additional symptoms of difficult sleep, lack of concentration, feelings such as guilt or grief, and loss of interest in activities and work.
Because acupuncture and Oriental medicine balance the whole body, men receiving acupuncture care for any health issue often also benefit with improved sleep, reduced stress, less overall aches and pains, better digestion, clearer thinking and more energy available to enjoy life. In instances of infertility, acupuncture has been shown to improve sperm quality and production, as well as success rates of other medical reproductive technology.
Additional information:
Women's Health
A woman goes through several physical stages in life and each has its own potential challenges. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help along the way through all of them. Female sexual and reproductive health is related to menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and cancers. Urinary issues such as incontinence and urinary tract infections (UTI) can also be addressed.
A women’s menstrual cycle gives a wealth of information regarding her overall health. She may experience such monthly symptoms as pain, cramping, gastro-intestinal distress, bloating, extreme moods, fatigue, breast tenderness, and appetite changes. At the natural transition out of the childbearing years, a women may also experience complications such as changes in libido, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory problems, and mood swings. Other symptoms women may experience related to gynecological disorders include long heavy periods, lack of periods, bleeding outside of the normal period, pain during sex, fullness and pressure in the abdomen, low back pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. While some symptoms suggest the need for examination by a Western medical doctor, many symptoms and underlying causes can be addressed through acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
Women exploring fertility, pregnancy and childbirth can also benefit tremendously from Oriental medicine. Acupuncture has been shown to increase the rates of success of other medical reproductive technology such as invitro fertilization (IVF). Acupuncture and moxibustion are often used to maintain health and well-being during the pregnancy even for such specific things as decreasing morning sickness and proper fetal positioning. During labor, acupuncture may reduce the need for pain medications. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help with mind and body as part of postpartum care. In the event of an uncompleted pregnancy, acupuncture and herbs can help in recovery for mind, body and spirit.
Because acupuncture and Oriental medicine balance the whole body, women receiving acupuncture care also benefit with improved sleep, reduced stress, less overall aches and pains, better digestion, clearer thinking and more energy available to enjoy life.