PCOS Flashcards
When is PCOS diagnosed?
1) excessive androgens
2) cystic ovaries
3) persistently irregular or no ovulation
Long term health risks with PCOS are a result of:
Endocrine disorder - irregular insulin control = elevated risk of type II diabetes
Elevated androgens may lead to
Increased risk of heart disease, high BP, high cholesterol
Elevated estrogen may increase the risk of:
endometrial cancer
Symptoms of PCOS
Amenorrhea Hirsutism Obesity Ovarian Cysts Elevated Testosterone Elevated LH
Amenorrhea in TCM
deficiency of blood in Chong vessel; kidney
essence xu
Hirsutism in TCM
Disharmony between Chong, Qi and Blood.
Blood xu in Uterus leads to excessive Chong at skin level on the chin” (facial hair). This hair growth is contained by the period temporarily relieving some of that excessive Chong
and keeping it contained via the ensure cycle (why women don’t grow beards)
Obesity in TCM
Damp phlegm in Chong and Ren (penetrating and directing)
Ovarian Cysts in TCM
Abdominal masses are a result of damp
phlegm accumulating
Elevated testosterone in TCM
The reflection of dysfunction between
governing vessel, the yang phase of the menstrual cycle, the Chong and Ren vessels.
Elevated LH in TCM
Heat in Liver and Chong vessel
Which patterns are ALWAYS present in PCOS?
Damp phlegm
Kidney Xu, typically kidney yang
What governs the extraordinary vessels (Chong, Ren, du)?
Kidney Qi
How do we activate the water flow passages?
SJ4
Excess patterns of PCOS
Damp-phlegm obstructing Uterus
Accumulation of damp/heat
Blood stasis
Liver Fire with damp heat
