Jas Bansal Acupuncture

What is a Benchmark?

How do you know if you are progressing whilst having Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal medicine? Sometimes the results are significantly seen and felt, but in the cases where it may take longer, we need to set 'benchmarks', i.e. physical signs or symptoms, so that the patient can see the progression.

Menstrual Cycle

A good way to benchmark Womens health is via charting the Basal Body Temperature (BBT). This was traditionally used as a birth control method as ovulation could be seen and hence predicted. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors use this tool to confirm diagnosis as well as enabling patients to check their progression.

Rules for Charting Basal Body Temperature:

* Check and record body temperature upon awakening roughly the same time everyday

Factors Affecting Basal Body Temperature:

* Shiftwork
* Stress
* Alcohol
* Heated waterbed
* Illness
* Sleeping embraced with partner
* Antipyretic (lowering temperature) medication, e.g. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen
* Long term NSAID (anti-inflammatory medication) or sleeping aids
* Interrupted sleep - best to take temperature 3 to 4 hours after uninterrupted sleep since the pituitary gland (which regulates the reproductive hormones) becomes relaxed. Also snoring and mouth breathing by blocked sinuses may lower BBT.

Charting:

* Day 1 of your chart is when you start your 1st day of full menstrual flow

* Stage 1 (Follicular Phase in chart above) is the Yin stage of the cycle, hence everything becomes 'nourished' via the hormone Oestrogen (or Estrogen). This hormone is produced by the ovaries and is responsible for the following;

- lowering BBT
- generating fertile cervical mucus (stretchy, egg white in appearance) which is produced upto 5 days prior to ovulation
- softens, raises and opens the cervix
- follicular and egg development

Stage 1 ends with a temperature dip prior to ovulation which could occur from Day 12.

* Ovulation is the transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2 (change from Yin to Yang) and is marked by a surge in BBT (prior to a temperature dip) due to Luteinizing Hormone. It is this stage that ovulation predictor kits are used since the eggs can only live in the fallopian tube between 6 to 24 hours on average.

* Stage 2 (Luteal Phase in the chart above) is the Yang stage of the cycle, hence everything is 'warmed' and 'held in place' via the hormone Progesterone. This hormone is produced by the corpus luteum (left over follicle from egg, whether fertilized or not) and is responsible for the following;

- keeps BBT raised
- dries up cervical fluid
- closes cervix
- builds up uterine lining to prepare for implantation and gestation of fertilized egg

If fertilization and implantation of the egg in this stage has not occurred, Stage 2 lasts for approximately 14 days, but if it does occur then this stage can last for 3 months. The transition from Stage 2 to Stage 1 can be seen by a slight dip (about 0.2 to 0.4 degrees celsius) in temperature, followed by the 1st day of the period.

BBT Conclusion:

It becomes clear that the hormones involved have to be regulated and in sync. Also, the quality of the eggs produced is a major factor and is affected by the patients age, stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and genetic influences. TCM is the tool to influence and alter the gynae environment so that the transitions from Yin to Yang are balanced, hence providing optimal conditions in the pathway to pregnancy as well as an aid to techniques such as IVF.

*** Please visit my section on Fertility Cases and IVF Case for examples on how menstrual cycle problems are treated ***