Radiant Health and Vitality for Women

Use natural methods to support your fertility as you prepare for pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Decrease monthly pain, bloating, and moodiness that often accompany menstruation.

Manage weight fluctuations, reduce stress, build bone strength, and optimize breast health.

Create a comprehensive plan to support every phase of your transition through menopause.

Duke Integrative Medicine offers a wide array of therapies and services that can help women experience radiant health and vitality through every stage of their lives. Our services are based on the latest research that demonstrates the proven effects of a multidisciplinary approach and the powerful connection between body and mind.

Our expert providers include physicians, integrative health coaches, nurses, acupuncturists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, integrative massage therapists, yoga therapists, and health psychologists. Working together as a team, they can help you evaluate the pros and cons of tests and treatments so you can address the health concerns that affect you throughout the many transitions in your life:

Pre-menstrual Syndrome
Breast health
Fertility
Pregnancy, labor, delivery, and post-partum
Menopause and its common sympoms: hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, changes in mood and libido
Weight management
Stress management
Fatigue, changes in energy levels, and sleep difficulties
Heart health
Bone density and strength

Experience the many benefits of an integrative approach to your health such as acupuncture and massage for joint and muscular discomfort, hypnosis for unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness and labor pain, stress reduction techniques to improve energy and sleep, nutrition for breast health and weight maintenance, yoga and exercise for heart and bone health.

The Evidence

Conception, Pregnancy, and Reproductive Well-Being

Extensive research demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrative approach to obstetrical health. Here is a sample:

Acupuncture has been shown to increase fertility by 60% in patients using assisted reproductive techniques. (1)

Managing stress is of significant importance during conception and pregnancy. Increased stress is associated with decreased fertility and an increased risk of gestational diabetes, preterm labor and delivery, and prolonged labor. (2)

Massage can reduce the pelvic and back pain that may occur with pregnancy, and it has also been shown to reduce anxiety, improve mood, sleep, and reduce stress hormone levels throughout pregnancy. (3, 4, 5)

Research has shown the importance of omega-3 supplements for infant brain development and birth weight. Supplementation with probiotics in mothers has been shown to decrease infant eczema, atopic skin conditions and decreased ear infections in the first 2 years of life. (6, 7, 8)

Acupuncture and acupressure are safe and effective treatments to improve digestion and reduce nausea associated with pregnancy. (9)

Hypnosis may t;mce:script type="text/javascript" mce_src="/plugins/editors/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">shorten the length of labor and improve pain and the need for medication during labor. (10)

Menstruation, Menopause, and Gynecological Health

An integrative medicine approach to women’s health has been shown to result in dramatically improved outcomes for women throughout their lives. Here is a sample of the research:

Complementary therapies including acupuncture, dietary supplements and herbal supplements, nutrition, and exercise have been shown to decrease menstrual symptoms of pain, bloating, moodiness, and breast tenderness and to improve overall well-being. (1,2)

Breast health has been linked to adequate vitamin D levels, weight maintenance, exercise and decreased alcohol intake. (3)
Dietary supplements and herbs, acupuncture, and nutrition can be options to hormonal or surgical therapy for heavy, painful periods. (4)

The symptoms of menopause can be improved using acupuncture, herbal therapies, yoga, and relaxation practices. (5, 6)

The incidence and intensity of hot flashes have been reported to significantly decrease with the use of mind-body therapies, including hypnosis, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques. (7)

Hypnosis, exercise, herbal therapy, nutrition, and acupuncture have all been shown to improve sleep during the physical transitions in a woman’s life. (8)

Choose Your Experience

Select from one of these services to support you throughout your life.

Individual Services
Enjoy a personalized mind-body session (guided imagery, hypnosis--with a personalized CD for your ongoing use--or relaxation training), an acupuncture session, massage, individual yoga therapy, or one of our many experiential classes to enhance your overall health.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course
This proven method of using meditation and yoga to cultivate awareness and reduce stress is taught in an eight week/eight session course by trained experts. In addition to the sessions, you receive a workbook containing handouts, reading lists, support materials, and a set of guided meditation and yoga practices on CD.

Day Packages
Choose one or two therapeutic treatments, participate in a class, enjoy lunch, and relax in our healing environment including mediation spaces, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, walking labyrinth, and library.

Membership
We offer customized health experiences tailored to your specific needs.

The Health Immersion Membership
This in-depth three day experience--working closely with our integrative physicians and practitioners, integrative health coaches, and teachers--is the optimal way to jump-start your journey to increased joy in your life.

Annual Membership
Over the course of a year, partner with a personal integrative health care team. We work with your caridologist and other providers and guide you through treatments that ensure you have the greatest opportunity to reduce stress and to obtain your optimal health.

CONCEPTION, PREGNANCY, AND REPRODUCTIVE WELL-BEING

1. Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L et al. Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2008 Mar8;336(7640):517-8.

2. Gaudet, T. Complementary and alternative medicine. Clinical Updates in Women’s Health Care. 2004 Oct. (3, 5) 30

3. Ee C, Manheimer E, Pirotta MV, et al. Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy : a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2008 Mar;198(3):254-9.

4. Pennick Ve, Young G. Interventions for preventing and treating pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2002;(1):CD001139.

5. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Hart S et al. Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol, 1999 March:20(1):31-8.

6. Greenberg, JA, Bell, SJ, Van, W. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Drugin Pregnancy. Rev Obstet and Gynecol, 2008 Fall; 1(4):162-169.

7. Wicken K, Black PN, Stanley TV et al. A differential effect of 2 probiotics in the prevention of eczema and atopy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2008 Oct;122(4):788-94.

8. Kukkonen K, Savilahti E, Haahtela T et al. Long-term safety and impact on infection rates of postnatal probiotic and prebiotic (synbiotic) treatment : randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics, 2008 Jul;122(1):8-12.

9. Ezzo J, Streitberger K, Schneider A. Cochrane Systematric Reviews examine P6 acupuncture-point stimulation for nausea and vomiting. J Altern Complement Med, 2006 Jun;12(5):489-95.

10. Smith, CA, Collins CT, Cyna AM et al. Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2006 Oct 18;(4):CA003521.

MENSTRUATION, MENOPAUSE, AND GYNECOLOGICAL HEALTH

1. Girman A, Lee R, Kligler B. An integrative medicine approach to premenstrual syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2003 may;188(5 Suppl):S56-65.

2. Fugh-Berman A, Kronenberg F. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in reproductive-age women: a review of randomized controlled trials. Reprod Toxicol, Mar-Apr;17(2):137-52.

3. Cummings SR, Tice JA, Bauer S, et al. Prevention of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women: Approaches to Estimating and Reducing Risk. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2009 101(6):384-398.

4. Witt MC, Reihhold T, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrheal: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2008 Feb:198(2):166.e1-8.

5. Kronenberg F, Fugh-Berman A. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Review of Randomized, Controlled Trials, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002 137(10):805-813.

6. Uebelhack R, Blohmer JU, Graubaum HJ et al. Black Cohosh and St. John’s Wort for Climacteric Complaints : A Randomized Trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2006 Feb:107(2, Part 1):247-255.

7. Gaudet, T. Complementary and alternative medicine. Clinical Updates in Women’s Health Care. 2004 Oct. (3, 5) 42-43

8. Attele, AS, Jing-Tian X, Yuan, CS. Treatment of Insomnia: An Alternative Approach. Altern Med Rev 2000:5(3):249-259.