Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Article: How Chinese Medicine Can Balance Your Mood, Hormones, and Sleep

Woman in red shirt holding a slice of watermelon, smiling in a green park

How Chinese Medicine Can Balance Your Mood, Hormones, and Sleep

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

First thing first, let’s demystify Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach to health that dates back over 2,500 years, encompassing a range of practices from herbal medicine to acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, and more. Rooted in the belief that nature functions best in a state of balance, practitioners focus on guiding the flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body.

The Pillars of Women’s Health

All women have to contend with a symphony of hormones playing within them. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are just the headliners. However, when one instrument (or hormone) is out of tune, it affects the entire performance. This is where Chinese Medicine shines.

1. Stabilizing Mood

One common ailment many of us face is mood instability. One moment, we’re on top of the world; the next, we're carrying it on our back like the Titan Atlas. Chinese Medicine identifies this as a disruption in our Liver Qi. When our Qi stagnates, it creates emotional imbalances. With the right herbal prescriptions and treatments like acupuncture, we can smooth out this flow, helping to alleviate symptoms like irritability and emotional volatility.

2. Regulating Hormones

From menstrual cycles to pregnancies, abortions, births, and menopausal transitions, our biological rhythms are all influenced by hormonal harmony (or lack thereof). Specific Chinese herbs, such as Dong Quai and Chaste Tree Berry, have been shown to regulate hormones, promoting more predictable cycles and reducing PMS symptoms.

3. Enhancing Sleep

Ah, the elusive good night's sleep! Who among us hasn't laid awake counting sheep or worrying about tomorrow’s tasks? In Chinese Medicine, sleep disturbances are often linked to imbalances in the Heart and Kidney energies. We can drift into deeper, more restorative sleep patterns by targeting these channels with specific herbal concoctions and treatments. 

Embracing the Ancient in the Modern World

Diving into Chinese Medicine might seem like stepping into unfamiliar territory. But remember, these practices have stood the test of time, offering relief and restoration for countless generations. And as modern science continues to validate many of these traditional treatments, we find that the bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary practice isn’t so long after all.

If you're considering Chinese Herbal Medicine or any other Chinese Medicine modality, it's vital to consult with a professional. Our body's symphony is unique, and finding the right notes (or herbs) requires expertise.


Here's to balance, vitality, and rejuvenation.

5.0 ★★★★★ | 100+ Google Reviews

Schedule A Free Consult

The studio is located in Newport, Rhode Island. Available for phone consultations Monday through Friday, with appointment times available all day.

Woman with blue eyes blond hair and beautiful skin without makeup

Learn About your body's detox system

Take the Lymphatic Quiz →

Good Words From PROFESSIONALS

Stephanie Hartselle, MD

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

There are few professionals I feel are brilliant enough for patient and family member referrals. Dr. Catherine is the first name I discuss when sending anyone for acupuncture.

Laura Whiteley, MD

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dr. Catherine is a true professional. She makes all her clients feel comfortable and her ability to heal is exceptional.

Kristine Mortel, MD

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The most visceral compliment I can give though is this; I am a doctor and I'm truly grateful and at ease to be a patient under her care.

James Rayner, MD

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I was lucky enough to discover Dr. Catherine’s beautiful space at a very stressful time. Her warmth and skill were outstanding. So relaxing and definitely the best acupuncture I’ve ever experienced.

Notes From Dr. Catherine

Knowledge to Help You Further Enhance Your Results at Home

A practitioner pressing acupressure points on a woman's forehead during a facial treatment
Acupuncture

Facial Acupressure Points: The Complete Guide to a Lifted, Glowing Face

A practitioner's guide to facial acupressure: the points, the real benefits, and a simple daily routine for brighter, firmer, calmer skin.

Read more
Smiling woman holding a heavy weight plate at her chest in a dim gym
Menopause & Perimenopause

Is Your Bone Density Quietly Declining? What Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know

Women can lose up to 20% of bone density in early menopause. Here's the honest, evidence-grounded guide to protecting your bones through perimenopause and beyond.

Read more
Dr. Catherine laughing in a chair in a bright room with pink lilies and artwork
Acupuncture

Acupuncture Demystified: What I Tell Every Patient Who Asks

What actually happens when an acupuncture needle goes in? A practicing doctor of Chinese medicine explains the TCM framework and the modern science—fascial planes, the interstitium, and what your b...

Read more
Woman with eyes closed and arms raised behind her head against a clear blue sky
Digestive Health

What Is the Estrobolome, and Why Not Pooping Is Jacking Up Your Hormones

The estrobolome is a collection of gut bacteria that controls how your body processes estrogen. Learn why regular bowel movements matter for hormone balance in perimenopause and menopause.

Read more
Woman sipping golden kombucha from a glass in natural light
Chinese Medicine

The Ancient, Fizzy, Slightly Slimy History of Kombucha

Kombucha traces back 2,000 years to ancient China, where it was called the Tea of Immortality. Here's its winding journey to your local grocery store.

Read more
Radiant woman outdoors with natural windblown hair against a backdrop of trees
Chinese Medicine

Stuck Energy, Spring Body: The Ancient Science of Moving

Feeling stuck, angry, or restless this spring? Chinese medicine calls it liver qi stagnation — and movement is your best medicine. Here's why.

Read more
Dr. Catherine in a black turtleneck seated with her hand on her chin in a bright room
Menopause & Perimenopause

The Rocky Road to Hormone Balance — Even for Someone Who Should Know

Dr. Catherine shares her honest menopause journey — five doctors, patches, compounded hormones, and Chinese herbs. Why even a Menopause Society member struggles to figure this out.

Read more
Confident woman with silver hair gazing thoughtfully by a sunlit window
Menopause & Perimenopause

The Sexual Wellness Conversation Women Over 40 Deserve

Your OB-GYN probably isn't asking about your libido. Here's what midlife women need to know about sexual wellness, from vaginal estradiol to finding the right provider.

Read more
Woman with curly hair in a white lace top smelling red flowers outdoors
Chinese Medicine

Second Spring: What Chinese Medicine Knows About Menopause That Western Culture Forgot

Chinese medicine calls menopause Second Spring — a renewal, not a decline. Here's why the end of your reproductive years might be the beginning of everything else.

Read more