Integrative care for polycystic ovary syndrome — addressing hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, inflammation and fertility with acupuncture, Chinese herbs and naturopathy.
Book a PCOS Consult Fertility SupportPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women of reproductive age — estimated to affect between eight and thirteen per cent of women worldwide, with many cases undiagnosed. Despite the name, not all women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries; rather, PCOS is a complex metabolic and endocrine condition characterised by three key features: irregular or absent ovulation, elevated androgens (male hormones) and polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound.
PCOS presents differently in different women. Some women experience primarily metabolic features — weight gain, insulin resistance, blood sugar dysregulation; others present with predominantly reproductive features — irregular cycles, anovulation, infertility; and others present primarily with androgenic features — acne, excess hair growth, hair thinning. Many women experience a combination of all three clusters.
At Health Therapies Clinics in Lane Cove, we provide a multi-practitioner integrative approach to PCOS that addresses the underlying drivers — not just the symptoms — through acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy and nutritional medicine. We support women from Chatswood, Artarmon, Willoughby, Neutral Bay and across the North Shore.
Fee: $200 / 90 minutes
Follow-up: $175 / 60 minutes
Herbal/Telehealth: $95 / 30 minutes
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Location: Suite 1, Level 1, 141 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Private Health: HICAPS — Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM
Please bring blood test results (FSH, LH, AMH, testosterone, DHEAS, fasting insulin, glucose) and any ultrasound reports to your first visit.
Book OnlineTraditional Chinese Medicine approaches PCOS through the lens of pattern differentiation — identifying the underlying disharmony and tailoring treatment accordingly. The most common TCM patterns seen in PCOS include:
The Kidney in TCM governs reproductive function and hormonal balance. Kidney Yang deficiency is associated with cold pattern PCOS — irregular or absent periods, cold intolerance, fatigue, fluid retention, low basal body temperature. Kidney Yin deficiency presents as shorter cycles (when they occur), night sweats, anxiety and dryness. Treatment focuses on tonifying Kidney Qi, Yang or Yin as indicated.
Phlegm-Damp in TCM is associated with the metabolic PCOS phenotype — weight gain, insulin resistance, sluggish metabolism, heavy and infrequent periods, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound, brain fog and fatigue. Phlegm-Damp obstructs the Uterus, preventing the normal development and release of eggs. Treatment aims to resolve Phlegm-Damp through herbal medicine, dietary modification and acupuncture.
Stress-related or emotional PCOS often manifests as Liver Qi Stagnation in TCM — with premenstrual tension, breast tenderness, irregular cycles that worsen with stress, irritability and anxiety. The Liver's role in regulating Qi flow and hormone metabolism makes it central to cycle health. Acupuncture at LV-3, LV-14 and GB-34, combined with stress management, is a key component of treatment.
Research on acupuncture for PCOS has been conducted primarily by Swedish researcher Elisabet Stener-Victorin and her team, as well as collaborating groups in China and Australia. Key areas of investigation include the effects of electro-acupuncture on LH/FSH ratios and ovarian blood flow; the impact of acupuncture on sympathetic nervous system activity in the ovary; and the effects of acupuncture on androgen levels and insulin sensitivity.
Studies have found that low-frequency electro-acupuncture may reduce LH/FSH ratios, lower testosterone levels, improve insulin sensitivity and increase the frequency of regular menstrual cycles in women with PCOS. While results vary across studies, the mechanistic plausibility is well supported — acupuncture demonstrably influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis through both direct neuroendocrine and indirect autonomic nervous system pathways.
We use these findings to contextualise our clinical approach while acknowledging that individual results vary. PCOS is heterogeneous — what works for one woman may require significant modification for another.
Insulin resistance is present in the majority of women with PCOS, including those who are lean. High insulin levels drive ovarian androgen production, disrupt ovulation and exacerbate the hormonal cascade underlying PCOS. Dietary strategies to improve insulin sensitivity — including reducing refined carbohydrates, optimising meal timing, and including specific nutrients such as inositol, berberine, chromium and magnesium — are a central part of our naturopathic protocol.
Basal body temperature (BBT) charting is a practical tool we use with PCOS patients to track ovulation, assess cycle phases, monitor treatment progress and identify the fertile window. Regular BBT charting provides invaluable information about how the menstrual cycle is responding to treatment and helps guide decisions about herbs, acupuncture timing and lifestyle modifications.
Chronic low-grade inflammation is a feature of PCOS and amplifies insulin resistance and androgen production. An anti-inflammatory dietary approach — emphasising whole foods, colourful vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, reduced processed foods and alcohol, and adequate protein — provides the foundation for hormonal rebalancing.
PCOS is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility — the inability to conceive due to absent or irregular ovulation. However, PCOS does not mean infertility. With appropriate support, many women with PCOS conceive naturally or with minimal intervention.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine and naturopathic support can help regulate the menstrual cycle and induce more regular ovulation in women with PCOS — reducing the need for pharmaceutical ovulation induction in some cases, or complementing it when it is medically necessary.
Beyond ovulation, egg quality is a key fertility factor. Nutritional medicine targeting mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory burden supports the optimal environment for follicular development and oocyte maturation — relevant whether you are conceiving naturally or through IVF.
For women with PCOS undergoing IVF, we provide acupuncture to support ovarian stimulation, reduce the risk of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), prepare the endometrium for transfer and support early implantation. We coordinate with your fertility clinic throughout.
Menstrual cycles typically take three months to show meaningful change with consistent treatment, because a follicle takes approximately 90 days to mature from primordial stage to ovulation. Early improvements in energy, mood and symptom severity are often noticed within four to eight weeks. Patients who commit to consistent acupuncture and herbal medicine for three to six months tend to achieve the most significant and lasting results.
Many Chinese herbs can be taken alongside Metformin and other medications used in PCOS management. However, herb-drug interactions must be carefully considered on an individual basis. Your practitioner will review all medications at your first consultation and select herbs that are safe in combination. Please disclose all medications and supplements you are currently taking.
Yes. Lean PCOS (PCOS in women with a normal or low BMI) is increasingly recognised as a distinct phenotype with its own characteristics. Our approach addresses the specific drivers of lean PCOS — which often features greater neuroendocrine dysregulation and stress-related factors — with targeted acupuncture and herbal protocols distinct from those used for metabolic PCOS.
Integrative PCOS care at Health Therapies Clinics, Lane Cove. Open seven days, 9am–9pm. Serving women from across the North Shore.
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