Chinese medicine. Does this work or doesn't it?

[Maghribia]

Right, desperate calls for desperate measures and all that, so have now had 2 sessions of Chinese fertility medicine. I have a friend who swears this works. Apparently my problem of PCOS is caused by "coldness" "blocks" and "toxins". The clinic tells me I will "never have a baby" if I don't book a course.

I know a lot of people use this - it's not acupuncture but acupressure apparently, and I really will go along with this if it works, but I can't get over my doubts. It just seems, to be honest, like a lot of mumbo jumbo.

So far I have had these weird cup things attached to my skin and then screwed on, been spanked all over by a bloody paddle (yes, really!) and been told to drink cups of warm water. Is this normally what goes on? Today, at the end of the session, the woman who does it lifted my legs in this weird position and told me it "unblocks the toxins" - it was like this yoga position that was a bit awkward since I was told to strip down to nothing but knickers and what with me being on my (quarterly!) period!! I can't see for the life of me how this helps with PCOS.

I told them I would be in touch on Monday, and I will pay the money if it works (400 quid) but I just am not convinced!

Maghribia,

I have PCOS and it is NOT caused by coldness, blocks and toxins (sigh) Its irresponsible of them to tell you all this. Charlatans like this can do a great deal of damage apart from rip you off.

Seek proper conventional medical help for your PCOS instead (it does require careful medical management) and avoid being further taken in by such quacks and charlatans who see you as a mug and just want your cash.

GP should refer you to a gynaecologist for further evaluation.

BTW who originally diagnosed you with PCOS?.

I am that they had the gall to say you'd never gave a baby without coughing up for their course! That's utterly disgusting!

Alternative therapies can help some people but they are in no way a replacement for conventional medicine.

If you did want to use a complementary therapy like acupuncture, reflexology, etc I would make a point of avoiding this particular clinic like the plague and reporting them to the local health authority and any organisation they claim to be a member of.

awful, stay well away from them. No reputable practitioner would say 'you will never have a baby unless you do our course'. I'm horrified at this . I've had acupuncture twice and both practitoners - (the first was away on holiday the next time i wanted to have a session and they have a local team here who work together to provide continuity of care so i saw her colleague) , both said I should consider getting hormonal tests, they both knew which were available (probably) on the NHS and which definitely weren't, going on to tell me the names of the two local fertility clinics for the tests i would have to pay for. It was most definitely seen that they work in conjunction with others- including your GP.

I went as I had endless bleeding after an ERPC. The bleeding stopped but i can't say if it did that just because enough time has passed and my hormones settled naturally (as my GP said they eventually would) or whether that process was sped up by having acupuncture. Acupuncture is supposed to be very good at regulating periods. Both sessions have been relaxing, both women were professional and kind and knowledgeable.

Hi Maghribia, I've had Traditional Chinese Medicine on and off for most of my adult life. I've never been spoken to in this way, I've had the cupping but not the other things you have mentioned. I just finished a course to help with ttc and happily I am now 8 wks pregnant. Obviously I think it is worth a try especially if you have got to the desperate calls/measures stage. My practitioner has practiced for 30 years, gyne area being a specialist for her, I would encourage you to give it a try, but perhaps somewhere else and contact a regulatory body or look for a personal recommendation. If you are in the south west then by all means pm me and I will happily put you in touch with the person I seen.

Thanks for all your replies v. helpful. I was diagnosed 4 years ago by the GP and it has been confirmed by a zillion consultants, this is something I thought I'd try alongside all the conventional stuff just in case it worked!

I did get a period straight after the first session but this could have been coincidence or it could have been the norethisterone I have been given, although a bit early if it had been the norethisterone I've been told. Of course when I told them I got my period they said it was because of the cupping!

They also claimed it would lead to "fat no more" - complete with lots of stomach prodding and that the cups would suck out the fat (!)

Somehow I don't think I'll be going back there on Monday! I am going to see Zita West on Wednesday, though, and she does a bit of acupuncture alongside all the conventional stuff so I will ask her what she thinks.