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What We Help With

Women’s Health & Hormone Balance


From your first period to menopause and everything in between. Chinese medicine support for the symptoms and changes that can come with every stage.

Hormonal symptoms can shape your day-to-day life in ways that are easy to dismiss and hard to live with, and they often shift as you move through different stages of life.

Periods that are painful, heavy or unpredictable. PMS that affects more than a few days of the month. Changes in your cycle that seem to come from nowhere. Or the hot flushes, disrupted sleep and shifts in mood or energy that can arrive with perimenopause and menopause. And it’s rarely just one thing. When several symptoms overlap, it can be hard to know what to address first, especially when the effects are emotional as well as physical.

Our team of women’s health practitioners, led by internationally renowned Chinese medicine practitioner Dr Lily Hua Yu, brings decades of specialist experience across gynaecological, hormonal and sexual health. That expertise spans painful, heavy or irregular periods, PCOS, endometriosis and fibroids through to perimenopause and menopause.

Your health doesn’t fit neatly into one box. We look at how your symptoms connect, what’s changed for you and what matters most in your day-to-day life, then decide together whether acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine or both are the right fit.

Trying to conceive? You can find more about our specialist fertility care on our Fertility & IVF Support page.

What We See

Conditions We Commonly Help With


The conditions listed are not exhaustive. Contact us if you’re unsure whether Chinese medicine may be suitable for your situation.

How We Work

A Whole-Person Approach


Good care starts with understanding the wider picture. Your health history, lifestyle, current symptoms, and what you’re seeking support for all help inform what we recommend and, just as importantly, what we don’t.

Your Health Comes First

We only recommend what we believe is appropriate for you. Our practitioners are not paid on commission, so you’ll never be advised to have treatments or medicines you don’t need.

Clear, Honest Advice

Chinese medicine can often feel unfamiliar. We’ll explain what we find, what we recommend and why, answer your questions and help you make informed decisions about your care.

Who Treats You Matters

Our practitioners are selected for their clinical expertise and professional standards. We follow the codes of conduct of the Chinese Medicine Council and CMIR, and use carefully sourced, high-quality herbs and sterile single-use needles.

Ready to talk through what changed?

Start with an initial consultation to discuss what you’re experiencing and what kind of support may be right for you.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions


Women’s Health & Hormone Balance

What women’s health concerns do people come to AcuMedic with?

Women visit AcuMedic at many different stages of life. Common concerns include painful or irregular periods, PCOS, endometriosis and symptoms linked with perimenopause or menopause.

You don’t need to decide whether your symptoms fit one neat label before booking an appointment. Your practitioner will discuss what you’re experiencing, review your health history and consider any diagnosis or treatment you already have. They can then talk through which approach may suit you.

Can I book an appointment for period pain or irregular periods?

Yes. AcuMedic sees people with painful periods, irregular or absent periods, heavy bleeding and other changes to the menstrual cycle.

During your appointment, your practitioner will ask about your cycle, including its timing, the symptoms you notice and any recent changes. If you’ve received a diagnosis or are having medical tests, share those details so they can take them into account.

Can I have acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine while using hormonal contraception or HRT?

In some cases, yes. Using hormonal contraception or HRT doesn’t automatically rule out acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine.

Tell your practitioner about any medicines you’re taking, including the name and dose where possible. They can then consider this when discussing suitable options. Don’t stop or alter prescribed medication unless the healthcare professional managing your care tells you to do so.

Can I visit AcuMedic for perimenopause or menopause symptoms?

Yes. Women come to AcuMedic during perimenopause and menopause with concerns such as hot flushes, disrupted sleep and changes in mood, energy levels or menstrual cycles.

Your practitioner will ask how these symptoms affect you and discuss your general health before considering whether acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine or another option may be suitable.

Can Chinese medicine support conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis?

People with diagnosed conditions, including PCOS and endometriosis, do visit AcuMedic for support. Some also attend alongside conventional medical care.

These conditions can affect each person differently. For that reason, your practitioner will consider your symptoms, health history and current treatment rather than applying the same plan to everyone with the same diagnosis.

What menstrual cycle information should I bring to my appointment?

You don’t need to prepare a perfect cycle diary. However, any information you already have can help. Useful details include the dates of recent periods, your usual cycle length, changes you’ve noticed and symptoms that appear at certain points in the cycle.

If you track your period with an app, you can show it to your practitioner during the appointment. Recent test results, medical letters and a list of your medicines can also give your practitioner useful context.

Treatment

Can Chinese medicine help with my condition?

That depends on more than the name of the condition. Your practitioner will consider your symptoms, medical history and wider Chinese medicine assessment before recommending treatment.

Chinese medicine can also be used alongside conventional medical care where appropriate. If it doesn’t seem suitable for you, we’ll explain why and suggest the next step instead.

How does my practitioner choose a treatment?

Chinese medicine doesn’t assume that the same symptoms always need the same treatment. Your practitioner will look at the pattern that emerges during your consultation and assessment, then choose the approach that best fits your needs.

As a result, two people with similar symptoms may receive different acupuncture points, herbal formulas or treatment plans. Your practitioner will talk you through their recommendation and explain the reasoning behind it.

Will I need acupuncture, herbal medicine or both?

It depends on what your practitioner finds during your assessment. They may recommend acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine or a combination of the two.

You won’t automatically receive both. If herbal medicine is recommended, your practitioner will explain why, and you can decide whether you want to take the prescription. Herbal medicine is charged separately.

How many treatments will I need?

There isn’t a fixed number of appointments that suits everyone. A recent health concern may need a different approach from something you’ve been experiencing for several years.

Your practitioner will consider what you want help with, how long you’ve had the symptoms and how you respond to treatment. After your assessment, they can suggest an initial plan and review your progress as you go. You won’t be asked to commit to a long course before you know how you respond.

Can Chinese medicine be used alongside conventional care?

Yes. We’re happy to work alongside the medical care you’re already receiving, so you don’t have to choose between the two.

Tell your practitioner about any medication, supplements or other treatments you’re having. This information helps them make appropriate recommendations.

Keep taking prescribed medication as directed. Don’t stop or change it unless the healthcare professional responsible for your care advises you to do so.

Will I receive diet or lifestyle advice?

Possibly. Where relevant, your practitioner may suggest practical changes to your diet, sleep, exercise or daily routine.

There isn’t one standard Chinese medicine diet or lifestyle plan for everyone. Any advice will be shaped around your health, circumstances and what is realistic for you.

Appointments

How do I know whether Chinese medicine may be suitable for me?

You don’t need to decide that before booking. During your consultation, your practitioner will ask what you’d like help with, review your health history and assess whether Chinese medicine is appropriate.

If another type of care would suit you better, we’ll tell you.

Do I need a medical diagnosis before booking?

No. You can book a consultation without a formal medical diagnosis.

If you have test results, medical letters or other health information, bring them with you. They can give your practitioner useful background alongside their own assessment.

I can’t find my condition on the website. Can I still book?

Yes. The conditions listed on our website are examples of concerns people commonly bring to us. They aren’t a complete list of everything our practitioners can assess.

If you’re unsure whether we can help, use our Free Health Advice service before booking. Tell us a little about what’s going on, and we’ll help you decide on the most appropriate next step.

What happens during my first consultation?

Your practitioner will begin by asking what has brought you in and taking a detailed health history. They may also ask about your sleep, digestion, energy and lifestyle, even when those details don’t seem connected to your main concern.

A traditional Chinese medicine assessment may include looking at your tongue and checking your pulse. Your practitioner will then explain their assessment, recommend an approach and explain why they recommend it.

If treatment is appropriate, it can often start during the same appointment.

Will I definitely receive treatment at my first appointment?

Not always. Treatment can often begin at the first appointment, but your consultation comes first.

If your practitioner thinks another type of care would be more appropriate, they’ll explain that rather than recommending treatment simply because you’ve booked an appointment.

How long will my first appointment last?

The length depends on the appointment you choose. An acupuncture appointment with a consultation usually takes around 60 minutes. A consultation without acupuncture generally lasts around 20 to 40 minutes.

If you’re unsure which appointment to book, our team can help.

Are consultations private and confidential?

Yes. Your consultation takes place in private, so you have space to discuss your health and concerns openly with your practitioner.

We treat the information you share confidentially and handle it according to our privacy and clinical record-keeping procedures.

Have a question that isn’t answered here? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Find us

Visiting Camden Today?


  • Walk-ins welcome daily

    Subject to practitioner availability

  • Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00 · Sun 10:00–18:00

    Open 7 days a week

  • AcuMedic

    101-105 Camden High Street
    Camden
    London
    NW1 7JN