Studies show PCOS effectively treated with Acupuncture
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that four months of acupuncture treatment reduced the levels of testosterone in women with PCOS by 25 percent. For women with PCOS, high testosterone levels are commonly found and often lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as acne and excess hair growth. They also typically suffer from irregular menstrual periods, weight gain, high insulin levels and blood sugar levels (insulin resistance), and also report feeling very fatigued. PCOS is one of the top reasons a women will have trouble conceiving. In addition to the uncomfortable symptoms, women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
My PCOS protocol generally consists of acupuncture treatments, supplements, a low-gycemic diet (to balance blood sugar levels and insulin levels) and exercise. However, for many women who suffer from PCOS, exercise can be very difficult initially due to being overweight or from the fatigue that comes with the syndrome. This recent study is exciting in that it showed that acupuncture can be as effective in reducing high levels of testosterone associated with PCOS as exercise. I do not think that acupuncture is a long-term replacement for exercise, as exercise has many other benefits too, including helping to balance blood sugar and insulin levels, de-stressing, and improving cardiovascular health. However, acupuncture may help a woman lose weight, feel more energetic, and control some of her symptoms enough in order for her to start an exercise routine.
The study also showed that acupuncture helped to regulate the menstrual cycle in women with PCOS, and also helped to calm down the over active sympathetic nervous system that is often seen with PCOS.
