by Anna Pyne LAc FABORM

One aspect of medical theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes the system of the five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. They can be used to differentiate TCM physiology, pathology, and treatment plan.  Each element corresponds to a specific emotion and an individual TCM organ.  The Earth element is affiliated with the worry or rumination emotion.  When our minds are busy over-thinking it hinders us from being grounded and impairs harmony between the mind-body connection.  The earth element is also associated with the spleen (not the same as Western medical spleen), which has to do in part with the digestive system.  A person with a poor digestive system usually cannot think clearly, hence the importance of a well functioning spleen.   When the spleen is working properly it means the earth element is being sufficiently nourished so that the mind can remain grounded.   This enables us to reduce stress, keep life in perspective when it gets tough, and can help maintain optimal physical health.

At Pulling Down the Moon we have numerous treatment modalities to ensure that the earth element comes into and stays in balance.  The therapies offered are acupuncture, herbal therapy, yoga, meditation, diaphragmatic breathing exercises, reiki, massage, and nutrition all of which can be used either individually or in combination.  If you have any questions regarding the earth element according to TCM, feel free to contact me via email (anna@pullingdownthemoon.com) or make an appointment for acupuncture/herbal therapy by calling the office.

A new study compared the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA), physical exercise and no intervention on testosterone levels, menstrual frequency, acne and hirsutism in women with PCOS.  After 16 weeks of treatment, the researchers found both EA  and exercise lowered testosterone and increased menstrual frequency, with EA having a significantly greater impact than exercise.  After a further 16 weeks of EA treatment or exercise,  improvement was noted in hirsutism and acne symptoms, again with electro-acupuncture having a greater impact than exercise.

Lifestyle treatment including diet, exercise, stress reduction and Traditional Chinese Medicine for PCOS makes sense.  If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, we encourage you to come in for a consultation and work with our expert practitioners.  Our comprehensive and targeted approach to PCOS includes specific dietary recommendations and supplementation, yoga and relaxation for stress reduction  and Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture treatment.  You do not need to be struggling to conceive to benefit from our expertise.  In fact, getting a handle on PCOS before you are “trying” is essential. PCOS is often under-diagnosed in teenage girls and the acne, irregular periods and weight gain are chalked up to puberty.

For more information about PDtM’s comprehensive approach to PCOS, call 312-321-0004 to book a complimentary face-to-face or phone session with our Patient Advocate.

Anna Pyne, LAc, MSOM, FABORM

A question I frequently get asked in my acupuncture practice is “Can acupuncture help improve egg quality?”  From my own clinical experience the answer is, it can.   Acupuncture and herbal therapy help improve the environment of the ovary enabling it to function optimally and properly, therein allowing it to make good quality eggs.  An example of this is with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) where the problem is a functional disorder of the entire system that is affecting the ovary.  In other words, the issue is not with that single organ alone.  Since the body systemically is not working properly it is not able to nourish the ovary.  Therefore many immature follicles develop within the ovary impeding the process to fully grow one or two healthy quality eggs, as is the case in a normal cycle.  There are many treatment strategies that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers to help regulate the body’s functioning in PCOS, so that the ovary is being supplied the energy and blood it needs to be able to produce an exceptional egg.

Another instance in which I have seen an improvement in egg quality is with endometriosis.  The explanation is a bit simpler to understand than in PCOS.  Generally speaking, with endometriosis the condition is one of blood stasis, a problem that can hinder fresh, oxygenated, nutrient rich blood from reaching the ovary thereby having a negative effect on its function of making a good quality egg.  Here again there are many options in which TCM can help treat blood stasis so that the ovary is being thoroughly supported to produce a good egg.

Though there is no data via research studies presently to support this claim directly, there is much that I have seen in my clinical experience to believe it to be true.  If you have any questions regarding egg quality and how TCM can help please feel free to contact me or book an appointment!

We hope you will take the time to read this wonderful article by Jenny Rough from Bethesda Magazine.   In the article Jenny shares her personal journey, interviews Reproductive Endocrinologists and speaks to women who used techniques like yoga, nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support their fertility journey.

We’re also excited to share that Jenny will be offering a FREE writing workshop at Pulling Down the Moon in Rockville on Saturday March 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Read more about this event here.

by Beth Heller, M.S.

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is one of the most frustrating fertility challenges a woman can experience.   One loss is devastating enough but the cycle of  expectation and disappointment that accompanies RPL can create feelings of despair.  But from both a medical and a holistic perspective, though, couples who experience RPL have plenty of reason to be hopeful.

“In practice we will initiate a work-up for RPL after two losses in a row,” says Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Christopher Sipe of Fertility Centers of Illinois.   A medical work-up is important since common conditions such as hyper/hypothyroid, PCOS, luteal phase defect , infection and diabetes can cause RPL.  Once there is a better understanding of the causes of miscarriage, steps can be taken to choose a treatment plan that will optimize the chance of a healthy pregnancy.

There are also holistic strategies for addressing potential root causes of miscarriage.

1.   Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

From the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective much of miscarriage prevention occurs in the months leading up to pregnancy. Regular fertility acupuncture treatment prior to conception can help to manage stress, potentially regulate the menstrual cycle and improve the uterine environment  by increasing blood flow – key elements promoting a healthy uterine environment and pregnancy.   In cases of  threatened abortion, several studies show that treatment with TCM herbs has been shown to be beneficial and may relate to an impact on endocrine hormones and abnormal maternal-fetal immune interaction.  While herbs are NOT appropriate during a medicated fertility cycle,  woman who are not using ART may wish to explore acupuncture and herbal therapy.  However, if you choose to consider this route, we recommend that you check with your OB before beginning any herbal regimen and ALWAYS work with a licensed TCM practitioner who specializes in fertility and pregnancy.

2.  Nutritional Support

Studies have linked conditions like hyper/hypothyroid, obesity, PCOS and oxidative stress to early pregnancy loss and each of these conditions has a nutrition connection.  Assuring that a woman’s diet is rich in antioxidant nutrients like Vitamin A, C, E and selenium can reduce oxidative stress.   In some cases, food allergy or intolerance may be causing gastro-intestinal inflammation which in turn may negatively impact the uterine environment or impair the absorption of nutrients that are vital to reproductive function, as in the case of celiac disease.  RPL is also more prevalent in women with  diabetes and PCOS. Working with a nutritionist to learn how to eat an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in antioxidant nutrients, and supports good blood sugar regulation and  GI function not only supports overall fertility but may address root causes of pregnancy loss.

3.  Stress Reduction

Giving yourself time to grieve, finding community and surrounding yourself with positive people can make a huge difference for a woman who has experienced RPL and is “trying again.”  Researchers hypothesize a link between stress and poor pregnancy outcomes , so techniques like support groups, yoga and meditation not only help you feel better but may help you stay pregnant.

If you would like more information about holistic support for miscarriage or would like to meet with a Pulling Down the Moon Patient Advocate to discuss your particular experience, please call us at 312-321-0004 (Chicago-Area) or 301-610-7755 (DC Metro) or email us at info@pullingdownthemoon.com.

Cathleen

By Cathleen McCauley, LMT

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I encourage you to take the opportunity to reflect on your Heart Chakra, and your openness to its energy in your life.

Known in Sanskrit as Anahata, the Heart Chakra resides in the center of your chest. It is the fourth major energy center in the chakra system from where love, understanding, compassion and forgiveness emanate. Oftentimes, it is described as the center of your being, where the lower and upper chakras of the body and spirit unite. It teaches that love is the most powerful energy you have; it is the Divine within.

When open, balanced and realized, the fourth chakra allows you to experience unconditional love for yourself and others. It gives way to compassion, being in touch with your feelings, a desire to nurture others and empathy. In times of loss, a balanced Heart Chakra guides you to acceptance. It gives you the opportunity to grieve fully and experience your pain, anger and sadness so you can continue living with an open heart. At its core, the fourth chakra coincides with emotional development and being able to live “by heart.”

An unbalanced fourth chakra may manifest as fear—of loneliness, commitment, letting go, getting hurt or following your heart. It can be characterized by negativity, anger, moodiness, being demanding, possessive or overly critical. Pain between the shoulder blades, tension, high blood pressure, heart pain, fatigue and difficulty breathing are common ailments associated with an unbalanced fourth chakra.

When meeting with a client for fertility massage, the first question I usually ask is, “How are you feeling?” Most times, clients tell me what they are doing to become pregnant. Often they mention stress and the areas of the body that are physically painful; less frequently do they mention emotional feelings.

The Heart Chakra shows us how emotions play a vital role in our lives. And while exploring your heart can be a difficult process, taking gentle steps towards conscious awareness can bring greater love, healing and balance to your journey toward conception.

Pulling Down the Moon offers you many options as you open your heart energy, including yoga, meditation and Reiki. I also encourage you to contact us for more information or make an appointment for the Open the Breath massage session. This interactive treatment helps clients breathe more fully, clears stagnation and bathes the belly and organs in oxygen. As you release certain breathing patterns, you may also release emotions, helping you to delve into the depths of your Heart Chakra.

Questions?  Please contact me at cathleen@pullingdownthemoon.com.

The Heart’s Role in TCM & Conception

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) “Heart”, totally different than our Western Science Medicine (WSM) definition, encompasses the mind and the activity of the hypothalamus and pituitary, the glands which control the entire cycle.  Of course, there are a number of TCM organs that play a role together in the healthy functioning of the cycle, but my focus for today is on how special the Heart organ is in TCM and conception.

In old Chinese medicine texts the description of the Heart is “the master controller” or “the Emperor” of the other organs.  It is interestingly similar to the hypothalamus and pituitary in WSM which often refers to these glands as the master controllers of other glands in the body.   It is imperative that the Heart function properly, in other words that the mind is stable, in order for the hypothalamus and pituitary to work normally.  This then will lead to a healthy ovulatory cycle, and hopefully in the end a conception cycle.

Acupuncture, herbal therapy, yoga, meditation, reiki, and massage can all help impact a stable mind or healthy Heart in TCM, which can in turn benefit the cycle.  This is only one aspect of one organ system in TCM that participates in a very intricate process with many other organ systems to make a healthy cycle.  If you have any questions about the Heart please feel free to contact me via email or call the office to make an acupuncture appointment.

Anna Pyne LAc, MSOM, FABORM

by Breea Johnson, MS RD

About 70-90% of women report having uncomfortable symptoms before their period. Most women are very familiar with the symptoms of acne, anxiety, backache, bloating, breast tenderness, cramps, cravings, depression, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, nervousness, mood swings, and personality changes. The list it seems includes most everything negative a woman feels on a monthly basis, although some women seem to have it much worse than others. Many women complain that these symptoms last for 2 weeks before menstruation – which equals up to about half of their lives!

Cramps, backaches, breast tenderness, and headaches are some of the common PMS symptoms that actually cause physical pain. What they have in common is the relation to prostaglandin production and balance. Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals derived from fatty acids that have a number of different roles in the body. They help promote smooth muscle contraction and blood vessel dilation – essential for a normal menstrual cycle. They also aid in inflammatory processes in the body – causing swelling, stiffness, warmth and pain.

Research has shown that anti-inflammatory prostaglandin production is lower in the luteal phase and higher in the follicular phase of women with PMS versus those without. The key with prostaglandins is for your body to produce more of the anti-inflammatory and less of the inflammatory prostaglandins to prevent PMS pain.  So, instead of popping a pain-killer why not try to balance your prostaglandins naturally? How, you ask? One strategy is to balance your intake of essential fatty acids – the precursors to prostaglandins.

Essential fatty acids are just that – fats that the human body cannot produce so must be taken in from the diet. There are only two essential fatty acids – alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid (LA), an omega-6 fatty acid.  All other fatty acids can be synthesized in the body from other fats, making them non-essential. ALA is of such extreme importance because it is the substrate for the very important omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. DHA is, of course, most known for its role in neurological development and is found in most prenatal vitamins. EPA is lesser known but has become more popular for its anti-inflammatory properties for heart disease and diabetes prevention.

Balancing fatty acids is all about decreasing intake of the “inflammatory” omega-6 fatty acids versus “anti-inflammatory”omega-3 fatty acids in order to have a better omega-6:omega-3 ratio.

Of the two essential fatty acids, ALA is usually the one that is consumed in lower amounts than LA, because the typical American diet includes a lot of heavily processed and fried oils.  ALA is a plant-based fatty acid, so dietary sources of ALA include flaxseed oil, walnuts, hemp seeds, soybeans and some dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and chard. The body can convert a small amount (about 5-10%) of these fats into EPA and DHA but the conversion rate is low. EPA and DHA can also be found in cold-water fish such as wild salmon, tuna, halibut and herring.  DHA is also found in some algae, so vegetarians and vegans can eat algae-based products to get increased levels of DHA.

LA is also a plant-based fatty acid, and found primarily in oils – such as corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil and sunflower oil. These fats are consumed in abundance in the typical American diet as they are found in fried, fast and processed foods.  Ideally, the ratio between LA and ALA is 3:1, however, the standard American diet is much higher at about 15:1 which can contribute to inflammation and chronic disease.

By altering the kinds of fatty acids that you eat to more Alpha Linolenic Acid (omega-3) and less Linoleic Acid (omega-6), it may be possible to effectively produce more anti-inflammatory prostaglandins than inflammatory prostaglandins – thus decreasing some of the pain caused by PMS.  For more information about utilizing nutritional strategies to manage PMS, please call (312) 321-0004 or visit www.pullingdownthemoon.com for more info on booking a nutrition appointment. Or, consider our PMS Primer: Holistic Strategies for PMS seminar on November 3 taught by a nutritionist, acupuncturist and a yoga teacher:

Are you a craver or a crab? Headache-y or crampy? Chocolate or potato chips? Join PDtM Practitioners Breea Johnson MS RD, Anna Pyne LAc and Beth Heller, MS for an essential survival guide to PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). At this seminar you will learn how to manage – and potentially even eradicate – the headaches, bloating, mood swings, anger, cravings and general foulness that many women experience just before menstruation. We explore our individual “PMS personality,” and create strategies using nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine and yoga to tame the PMS beast within. The class includes nutrition lecture, yoga and pranayama (breathing) practice and a 30 minute group acupuncture session. Please visit www.pullingdownthemoon.com or call (312)321-0004 to sign up.

Anna Pyne LAc MSOM FABORM

This question comes up quite a bit in my practice.  According to my knowledge and experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) I recommend our patients wait at least one year after the arrival of the first baby, in order for the body to be healthy and ready to conceive again. Strengthening the body during this period will consist of enriching the “jing” (essence), “yin” (nourishing fluids), and “blood”, according to TCM medical theory, all of which had been greatly depleted at the time of labor and delivery.  These are the three primary substances which nourish the follicles in order to produce better quality eggs, and in the end another healthy baby.  The patient should start acupuncture again (with herbal therapy if they are not going through a medicated fertility treatment cycle) to nourish the jing, yin, and blood.

I had a recent conversation with Dr. Brian Kaplan, a reproductive endocrinologist we greatly respect and work very closely with, about this subject.  His recommendation to his patients was similar to mine, which was to wait at least 8 months to a year before trying to conceive again.

Ultimately we work with the patient’s comfort level and the doctor’s recommendation as to how soon after a patient waits to try to conceive a second baby. Combing Western and Eastern medicine for our patient’s benefit is the ideal way to practice and it’s how we practice at Pulling Down the Moon.  My philosophy has always been integrating both medical theories and practices to arrive at a superior medical treatment plan.

To book an initial consultation with Anna, click here!