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CHINESE
ACUPUNCTURE &
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HERBAL CLINIC
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Welcome
to Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal
Clinic
a division of
Chinesehealthway Ltd.
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Chinese Medicine
Offers Hope for
Infertility and
Dysmenorrhea
By Angela Gentile, BSW.
The Aquarian- Fall 1996
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Miracles do happen with a
little help from
alternative medicine.
Ever since I was fifteen
years old, doctors have told
me that I would probably
have trouble conceiving and
that I'd have to live with
the pain of my periods. With
the help from doctors of
Chinese Medicine and
acupuncture, I heard a
different story. They were
right and my prayers
answered. Ten months ago, my
husband and I were blessed
with a son, Lorenzo, and I
haven't had a painful period
since.
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I have suffered with a hormone
imbalance that has contributed to
dysmenorrhea (painful periods),
irregular cycles, infrequent
ovulation, and two and a half years
of infertility. Mainstream medical
measures such as painkillers,
(Panadol, Anaprox, Tylenol III with
codeine) could not stop the
excruciating pain of my ovulatory
cycles (which were few and far
between). Two years ago, I underwent
laparoscopic surgery, and I was
diagnosed with polycystic ovarian
disease, and mild endometriosis. At
that time, ovarian drilling was also
performed to induce natural
ovulation. My infertility specialist
recommended Provera to induce my
period and regulate my cycle and
Clomiphene, a fertility drug, to
induce ovulation. I also had to
chart my temperature every day.
After a year of drug therapy, I
still had severe dysmenorrhea and
lack of conception. The drugs were
only intensifying my pain,
physically and emotionally. The
roller coaster ride was too much for
me. I decided to look for an answer
in alternative medicine.
I have always been curious about
acupuncture so an ad for The Pain
Clinic caught my attention. It said
that acupuncture could help with
menstrual difficulties and the
control of pain. That's what I
needed! In November of 1994, I
attended The Pain Clinic on
McPhillips Street and saw Yanli Cao,
C.M.D. I asked her if she could help
me with my painful periods, which
occurred when I ovulated, about four
to five times a year. I explained
that I was infertile and that I had
always had irregular menstrual
cycles. She and another Chinese
doctor examined me by taking my
pulse, looking at my tongue, and
asking about other body functions
such as bowel movements, energy
level, and circulation in the hands
and feet.
Dr. Cao and colleague felt they
could help me to achieve a regular
ovulatory cycle. Dr. Cao explained
that my energy, or taichi,was
blocked but that it was a good level
of energy and that there was an 80
percent chance of success. I was
very optimistic. Finally, there was
hope! Dr. Cao said that regular and
more frequent cycles might enable me
to conceive. This was in contrast to
western medicine offering me only
temporary relief of my symptoms.
Even with the pills, the pain was so
bad that I felt like I would die
from the crippling, wringing,
knotting pain that would paralyze
me. Sometimes the pain would last
six hours. I had nothing to lose by
trying Chinese Medicine.
I attended four sessions of
acupuncture and took herbs for three
weeks. At the sessions, I would lie
on a table while six needles were
put into my legs. It didn't really
hurt much. Suction, which I was told
was used to get the energy moving,
was applied to my womb. Each session
lasted about half an hour.
I had one more painful period, which
was due to my taking Clomiphene
again. I decided to give up hope of
becoming pregnant in favour of
abolishing the pain.
On February 7th, 1995, I learned
that I was pregnant! Much to
everyone's surprise, I got pregnant
without a fertility drug. I wasn't
even consciously trying to get
pregnant. I truly believe that it
was the acupuncture and herbs that
enabled me to conceive. And as a
bonus, I haven't had any painful
periods since I stopped using
Clomiphene.
I now have a beautiful, healthy son,
and I am thankful for Chinese
Medicine. I don't feel that I have
to resort to modern medicine for my
hormone imbalance, and I don't think
there is anything they can do for
me. I recall one physician saying to
me, You'll just have to live the
pain. Chinese Medicine offered me
hope, and an offer that is hard to
refuse.
Note:
Angela Gentile, BSW, is the owner
of Woman to Woman Counseling. She
uses a woman-centered, holistic
approach to her counseling and
facilitates woman-focused
workshops. This article is
published on THE AQUARLAN
newspaper, a holistic publication,
1996 Volume 3, issue 4. During
1992 to 1996, Dr. Yanli Cao was
practicing at pain clinic in
Winnipeg.
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