By Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Qineng Tan, L.Ac. Ph.D.
Sharp pain lower abdomen? Feeling bloated or heavy? Pain during intercourse? These can all be signs of an ovarian cyst. Acupuncture and TCM can help relieve pain in lower left abdomen or sharp pain lower right abdomen, while also addressing the root cause of ovarian cysts.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on or within an ovary. These cysts are quite common and often form naturally during the menstrual cycle. While many ovarian cysts are harmless and resolve on their own without causing symptoms, some can lead to pain and may indicate underlying health issues.
TCM has centuries-old methods of helping to regulate women’s hormonal health and offers natural solutions for reproductive care, especially focusing on ovarian health.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
Many people may have ovarian cysts without knowing it, because they do not always cause painful symptoms. However, sometimes a cyst can cause a lot of pain, or may cause pain and bloating that comes and goes during different phases of the menstrual cycle, or due to other factors.
- Pelvic Pain, dull or sharp ache in the lower abdomen, often on one side: ache in lower left abdomen, lower left hand abdominal pain, pain in lower right abdomen.
- Bloating, feeling of fullness or heaviness in the abdomen.
- Pain During Intercourse, discomfort during sexual activity.
- Menstrual irregularities, unusual bleeding patterns, including heavier or lighter periods
- Frequent urination, increased urge to urinate due to pressure on the bladder.
- Constipation, difficult bowel movements.
- Nausea, vomiting, especially if a cyst causes the ovary to twist (ovarian torsion)
Ovarian Cyst Diagnosis and Treatment
In Western medicine, ovarian cysts are typically diagnosed through a pelvic examination followed by imaging studies such as ultrasound, which helps determine the cyst’s size, shape, and composition. Additional tests like blood work may be conducted to assess hormone levels or rule out malignancy.
Sometimes the ovary and/or fallopian tube becomes twisted and is pulling on surrounding tissues; this is called ovarian torsion. This cuts off circulation to the ovary, which not only can cause severe pain, but can lead to the “death” of the ovary. This is a serious condition, which requires surgery to untwist or remove the ovary and sometimes the fallopian tube.
When there is no ovarian torsion, the treatment for a cyst will usually involve a wait and see approach, monitoring the cyst over time to see if it resolves naturally, especially if it’s small and asymptomatic.
Hormonal contraceptives may be prescribed to prevent the formation of new cysts, though they won’t shrink existing ones.
In cases where cysts are large, persistent, or causing significant discomfort, surgical removal may be recommended. Procedures range from minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to more extensive laparotomy, depending on the cyst’s characteristics and suspicion of malignancy.
TCM and acupuncture offer alternative approaches to treating ovarian cysts, focusing on restoring balance.
Can Acupuncture Help Ovarian Cysts?
If you are experiencing serious pain in the left lower quadrant or right lower quadrant, it is important to seek urgent medical care and diagnostics, because ovarian torsion can, in some cases, lead to a rupture and even possibly life-threatening sepsis.
However, in many cases, an enlarged cyst can be helped with complementary therapy with acupuncture and other TCM treatment for cysts.
In TCM, we do not just look at treating the symptoms of a cyst that has already formed. We dig deeper to look at the reasons why cysts are developing on the ovaries. Acupuncture offers a multifaceted approach to treating ovarian cysts by addressing underlying imbalances and promoting the body’s natural healing processes.
A comprehensive treatment protocol for ovarian cysts may include:
- Electro-Acupuncture: By identifying the precise location of the cyst through palpation or medical imaging, practitioners can apply electro-acupuncture directly to the affected area. This involves inserting needles into specific abdominal and lower back points and administering electrical stimulation for approximately 30 minutes, aiming to reduce the cyst’s size and alleviate associated symptoms.
- Meridian Point Stimulation: Targeting points along the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians helps to relieve stagnation and promote the smooth flow of Qi. Additionally, points will be used to address dampness and phlegm accumulation, which are often associated with cyst formation.
- Auricular Acupuncture: Placing a tiny seed or needle to target acupoints in the ear can help support reproductive organ health and balance hormonal levels.
In addition to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine plays a crucial role in the treatment of ovarian cysts. Specific herbs are known for their properties in invigorating blood circulation and resolving phlegm stagnation. These herbs can be integrated into formulas tailored to the individual’s specific pattern of disharmony, considering factors like Spleen dampness, Liver Qi stagnation, and internal heat.
Implementing lifestyle modifications is also essential in managing and preventing ovarian cysts. Your acupuncture practitioner will talk with you in-depth about dietary changes that may help combat Spleen dampness. Meditation and movement practices like Qi Gong and Tai Qi can help alleviate stress and promote the smooth flow of Qi. Some simple changes in physical habits, like crossing the legs or walking with pronated feet can help with contribute to Qi stagnation in the pelvic region.
By integrating these acupuncture techniques, herbal remedies, and lifestyle adjustments, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic and individualized approach to treating ovarian cysts, aiming to restore balance and promote overall reproductive health.
Acupuncture Near Me for Ovarian Cysts in West Los Angeles
Acupuncture treatment can help relieve the pain of ovarian cysts as well as help balance hormones and organ system health, so that cysts don’t keep coming back again. If you are experiencing any menstrual pain, PCOS or infertility issues, please do not hesitate to come in for a consultation. Dr. Cai is a reproductive health specialist, with training in both TCM and Western gynecological medicine. She has helped many hundreds of people here in Los Angeles with women’s health issues of all kinds.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
