Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 2/22/2011

Question
A few years ago after stopping birth control, I've had irregular periods (late ovulation every time) and most of the time, short luteal phase as well. Blood test showed elevated testosterone, which made the doctor suspect PCOS. I am thin, unlike the typical PCOS patient. I have had some problem with thinning of hair. At the advice of another herbalist, I have been on Rehmannia Six formula (Lei Wei something), for over a year now, but with only moderate improvement (still late ovulation though not as late as before - moved from day 29-30 to day 21-22.) Off and on others including Dong Quai (full dose made my period come very early), False Unicorn, Saw Palmetto (for the testosterone problem), Ginseng.

I wonder why after so long, the full dose of the Rehmannia Six isn't regulating my ovulation more? I've already been for acupuncture a few years back, that and whatever formula she was giving me (she said it was to warm my uterus) actually made me WORSE so I stopped going, and took the advice of a different herbalist to try the Rehmannia Six.
Ideas?

Answer
Hey Allison,

My first question is, was your herbalist trained in acupuncture/herbal medicine?
Did you have an intake and diagnosis or did you explain the problem and get get an herbal formula without a diagnosis?

Liu Wei De Huang Wan is used for building yin or fluid in the body.
There are many reasons for irregular or late cycles.
Qi stagnation, cold in the uterus, kidney yang deficiency and blood deficiency can cause late periods,
while liver qi stagnation and either kidney yin or yang deficiency can cause irregular periods.

If you've been taking the formula for over a year and it hasn't helped, I think you are looking at the wrong formula for your problem.

When we first got married, my wife was diagnosed with PCOS and told she couldn't have a baby because of that. It took us 5 weeks to balance her out and conceive.

Most of the time I have been able to regulate a cycle within 2 months, with great improvement during the first month. Any good acupuncturist can do this.
If you like, send me an email to dt.acup@gmail.com and I'll send you an intake. Fill it out and I'll give you the best diagnosis I can without actually seeing you. You can take that information and make a more informed decision. There is no charge for that btw. If you do fill out an intake, please leave off any address or telephone #.

Herbal medicine is not a cookbook symptomatic approach. There can be many, many reasons for your issue and if you haven't gotten a proper diagnosis, then you are getting a cookie-cutter answer to a very specific imbalance.

Don't just take Rehmannia or Dong Quai, (Shu Di and Dan Gui in Chinese), just because they are "female"
herbs that might help. Get a proper Chinese diagnosis, and you'll get the formula that addresses your specific imbalance.

It's always a good idea to have acupuncture to regulate the body as well, again with the proper diagnosis, you'll get the proper point prescription to regulate your specific imbalance.

Take care,

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.