My first real introduction to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was in the nineties, early on in my acupuncture practice. While I had enough rudimentary information gleaned from the standard medical school curriculum, it merely touched upon how to diagnose this obscure and misunderstood “disorder” and medically control it, as there was no cure. The remedies at the time included the following:
Clomiphene was the only recommendation if infertility was part of the cascade. Rarely was this effective, and sometimes it worsened the presentation. There was no mention of dietary changes, modifying exercise, nutritional and supplement recommendations, or the effectiveness of acupuncture or herbs.
When my first atypical PCOS patient consulted me for help, I was at a loss. The Chinese medical literature did not address this scenario. I consulted other “experts” in the field of Oriental reproductive medicine, and none had success. There was nothing out there on treating this condition naturally. I scrambled. I researched, researched some more, and as my practice was getting busier, I started seeing the myriad presentations of different women who were diagnosed with PCOS. Some were thin. Some were heavy. Some had regular periods. Some had none. Some had other health conditions associated with their endocrine disorder that were being managed pharmaceutically. None were happy with their medical care. Each was trying to conceive.
A challenging environment presents itself for a pioneer in the field of natural reproductive medicine: You’re on your own, and your laboratory is made up of patients who have no other options. You come to understand what the components of the health condition are. You apply different natural remedies (none proven). Some work. Some don’t. Sometimes I could get patients who were not menstruating to menstruate, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop! Then I’d have to try to control their bleeding before we could move on to encourage ovulation.
Months and years of trial and error gave rise to eventual success: The women who modified their diets, nutritional supplementation, and exercise regimens; took herbs; and received acupuncture were beginning to change. They no longer needed to take the troublesome drugs for insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Their blood sugars were normalizing. Their periods become somewhat regular, and they started ovulating on their own. They even became pregnant.
While this approach was very effective, it wouldn’t adhere to the medical criteria of double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeatable studies that would validate it with scientific research. Each woman had to be treated differently, based upon her unique presentation; thus, it was considered anecdotal.
PCOS is not a fixed diagnosis. It includes myriad presentations. It takes great dedication and interest in your patient to be able to find out what her unique cluster of systems consists of, and great patience, on both of your parts, to be able to find the remedy that will work for her.
Today the Internet abounds with information on natural care and PCOS management. Some work. Some do not. Much of my time has been spent conducting retreats and teaching Chinese medical professionals some of the nuances of natural reproductive care. I met Dr. Fiona McCulloch early on in my teaching career. She stood out among the rest of those working in her field. The first thing I noticed during one of our practitioner retreats was the depth of her empathy. She carried a profound wisdom that comes from having done her own healing work, which is unmistakable in a health-care professional: You naturally trust them, because you know they’ve been in the trenches and have come out better for it. They touch you in a place where the educated mind can’t reach. She was honest, and she cared. The second thing I noticed about Dr. McCulloch was her uncanny knowledge. These are the types of people that you love having as students: the ones who almost know more than you do. They challenge you to stay on top of your game, because they are so sharp. As soon as she learned a new concept, she would master it, incorporate it into the wealth of knowledge she already had, and devour the next piece.
When Fiona asked me to evaluate her book, I couldn’t wait. I was already beaming with pride and excitement. I sat down with her manuscript and was humbled. In fact, I was floored. There is nothing she hasn’t covered. I went through her very detailed, easy-to-understand explanation of how to identify, address, and reverse PCOS. No longer do I consider her my student. Instead, she is the expert in the field of PCOS, whom I will consult when I encounter a challenging case.
There is nothing this book does not cover. Dr. McCulloch’s easy-to-follow therapeutic guidelines are a must for anyone suffering from the effects of PCOS. The relationship with this condition has come a long, long way in just twenty-some years. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, or if you carry the suspicion that you may have some of the symptoms of PCOS, start with this book. Learn to understand yourself first. Take charge of your own health and save yourself perhaps years of frustration in ineffective treatment cul-de-sacs. PCOS can be reversed. And Dr. McCulloch will show you how.
— Randine Lewis, PhD, L.Ac, author of The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies and The Way of the Fertile Soul: Ten Ancient Chinese Secrets to Tap into a Woman’s Creative Potential