Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

At the Acupuncture by Andrea clinic, I have seen a steep increase in the number of pelvic floor issues in the last several years. These complaints have been increasing nationwide in such numbers that many new therapists and medical centers have opened to help with the volume of cases in the U.S.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) is a common problem that occurs when the muscles and connective tissues that support the bladder and bowel are injured or weakened, according to Western medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PFD is treated as spleen qi deficiency or liver stagnation. Because the affected muscles do not contract and relax as they should, painful symptoms are felt.

This dysfunction can be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, prostate cancer treatment, obesity, sexual trauma and the straining of chronic constipation. This uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing issue occurs in both men and women of any age.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor muscles are located between the tailbone and the pubic bone. In a very well designed system, the pelvic floor muscles contract and the internal organs are lifted to tighten the openings of the vagina, anus and urethra. When the muscles are relaxed, your body is able to release and eliminate waste easily.

When PF muscles are not functioning properly, your internal organs will not be supported as they should be. This is when PFD occurs and lack of urinary and bowel control, pain and other irritating symptoms become present.  

Symptoms of PFD

Symptoms of PFD may include bowel issues such as constipation and diarrhea, incontinence, sexual performance issues, fertility problems, and menstrual and erectile disfunction related problems.

  • Bladder or bowel incontinence

  • Inability to urinate and/or painful urination

  • Pain in the rectum

  • Painful sex and/or the inability to achieve orgasm

  • Lower back and/or hip pain

  • Feeling of heaviness in the pelvic region

  • Urinating when coughing, laughing, or sneezing

  • Recurrent UTIs

If you suffer from a prolapse, the bladder, the uterus, the rectum or the pelvic floor can “fall”. Long term digestive issues like Chron’s Disease, IBS or colitis can weaken the entire body and lead to adrenal deficiency and urinary incontinence. Blood flow issues related to the liver can make tendons tight and flexed . The liver has a contractile nature and helps to move the blood and qi of the body— feelings of tension and tightness are due to disrupted blood flow to this area. Erectile disfunction is both a falling and weakening plus dampness that stagnates circulation and is directly related to kidney and stomach function.

Treating Pelvic Floor Problems

Now for the good news: acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help with all of these issues!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), several channels or meridians interact with the pelvic floor. These are the ren and du, the lines that originally divided the single cell from which we came. These meridians travel up the front and down the back of the torso. The liver, kidney spleen and stomach meridians also have direct connections to the pelvic floor. In TCM, the liver is in control of the contractile nature such as tightening to not urinate; the spleen controls the strength of muscles when contracting, including the pelvic floor; the kidney is essential to the urinary system; and the stomach meridian helps with overall strength in the lower abdominal area.

Acupuncture treatments for PFD return support and lift the muscle functions in the pelvic region allowing normal contraction and relaxation of the muscles. For constipation I utilize points on the back and hands that address the pudendal nerve and pelvic floor. Areas of your head may be treated with needles to relax and heal the lower part of the body.

Pelvic floor problems can be embarrassing and stressful but they don’t need to be! Acupuncture in its essence is relaxing and stress relieving. A treatment session will alleviate tension and tightness throughout your body. Acupuncture also strengthens and boosts the spleen and kidneys in the prolapse of organs and post-delivery in pregnant women.

Herbal formulas utilized in pelvic floor disorders include herbs like dang gui and shu di huang that aid blood building and tonify the kidneys. Herbs such as fu ling and yi yi ren dispel dampness and warm or cool internal systems depending on your particular needs. For urinary dysfunction, formulas contain the cattail plant to facilitate elimination.

If Pelvic Floor Dysfunction symptoms are affecting your life, we can help. Traditional Chinese Medicine has successfully treated these issues for thousands of years. Get in touch and we will discuss the next steps in bringing you back to Wellness!

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