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Are you cautious when sneezing, laughing, or when bending over to pick up heavy objects or your children? Do you struggle with incontinence and the inconveniences and stress associated with it? These setbacks can impose restrictions on your lifestyle and daily activities, but they are not untreatable. Acupuncture has the ability to help manage symptoms which are a result of leaky bladder.
There are many reasons why individuals may experience incontinence. Issues may arise in response to:
- Childbirth
- Surgery
- Chronic renal conditions
- Aging
First off, let’s start with Chinese Medicine’s explanation of what causes these symptoms and problems to occur. In order to do that we have to take a look at both Qi and Yang energies, and understand how they influence our body’s daily functions.
Qi Energy
In Chinese Medicine, the urinary system is regulated by the kidney organ system and assisted by the Bladder. Each organ in Chinese Medicine has its own Qi and energetic function in the body. Qi can be loosely translated as life force or energy. If an organ has good Qi in Chinese Medicine, it is able to accomplish all its functions in the body. If the Qi is deficient for an organ, it means that the organ has less energy to perform its functions; as a result, the organ may struggle with certain tasks, causing physical symptoms to occur—these are termed “patterns” in Chinese Medicine. Kidney Qi is involved in controlling the start and stop of the urinary stream. So, in the case of weak kidney Qi, incontinence, dribbling, or frequent urination may occur.
Yang Energy
In addition to Qi, there is also a Yang aspect to the kidney energy. Yang energy is considered as a naturally warm and rising energy. In Chinese Medicine, kidney Yang is thought to regulate the quantity and concentration of urine. If the Yang energy is depleted in the kidneys like with certain chronic renal conditions, frequent urination will occur because the kidneys lack the energy and warmth needed to efficiently function. This means that after drinking a small amount of water, for example, patients will complain about having to go urinate rapidly after, and in quantity greater than what they consumed.
How can acupuncture be used to treat leaky bladder?
Whenever there is a health symptom in Chinese Medicine, the Qi flow or health of the Qi of the organ(s) is considered compromised, Acupuncture is used to help re-establish harmony. The Qi flows along different pathways in the body called Meridians. Meridians form a network throughout the body which help to coordinate activities and communication between organ systems. The major Meridians in the body are typically associated with an organ system, such as the kidneys. Acupuncture points are located on meridians. By activating these points, an acupuncturist can change Qi flow, influencing the function of various organs.
In the case of incontinence due to weak kidney Qi, acupuncture points will be stimulated during treatment; those can be situated on the kidney or bladder meridian, which are located on different parts of the body. For example the acupuncture point kidney-3 is a point that boosts kidney Qi and Yang energies. It is found along the kidney meridian in the ankle region. Points along the Bladder meridian, such as Bladder-23 can be found in the lumbar area. A number of Meridians pass through the pelvic and groin region including the kidney, liver, spleen and ren meridians.
Surgeries to the lower abdominal area (such as hysterectomies, C-sections or even traumatic births) can impact the smooth flow of Qi in the region since the meridian pathways may have been compromised; this may cause weakening of the kidney’s Qi in addition to other symptoms (inflammation, gynecological symptoms, water retention/fluid build-up). Treatment in these cases may involve work on different meridians to re-establish harmonious Qi flow in the lower abdominal area in addition to points to boost the kidney’s Qi.
In addition to acupuncture, there are a number of Chinese Herbs that can assist in boosting kidney Qi and/or Yang. Each patient is unique in the health history and a customized herbal remedies can be formulated when needed to help you get back to a healthier state.
If this sounds interesting to you or you would like to learn more, consider booking an appointment or a 15 minute “Meet-and-Greet” with me where we can discuss your particular concerns. You can book those by calling us during our business hours a 403-452-0029 or by booking online.
Also: I happen to be offering a special Pelvic Floor Promotion this month. Here are the details (click or tap to enlarge):
In any case, I hope you have found this article useful!