Amanda Roe: Acupuncture and Clinical Hypnotherapist.
Call 087 6331898
Email: amanda@roehealth.ie
Pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence, prolapse, and chronic pelvic pain, affects millions of women – often silently. It can lead to reduced mobility, a loss of confidence, sexual dysfunction, and the need to stay close to home for fear of accidents. While conventional medicine offers treatments like kegels, pessaries, or surgery, Chinese medicine provides a holistic, body-mind approach that can be both preventative and curative.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, pelvic floor dysfunction is often linked to imbalances in the kidney, spleen, and liver organ systems. The kidneys govern the lower orifices and hold the body’s essence (jing), which weakens naturally with age or after childbirth. The spleen is responsible for holding organs in place, and when spleen Qi is deficient, prolapse or heaviness in the pelvis can result. Liver Qi stagnation, often due to stress or trauma, may also lead to tension, pain, or dffculty relaxing pelvic muscles.
Early signs of dysfunction – such as slight leakage during movement, vaginal flatulence, or heaviness in the pelvis – may seem unimportant, but over time, these can develop into more serious symptoms like prolapse, pain, or sexual dysfunction. Chinese medicine sees these symptoms not as isolated problems but as signs of broader disharmony within the body.
Acupuncture is a highly effective TCM modality for treating pelvic floor dysfunction. It can help tonify deficient organs, move stagnated Qi, and improve circulation to the pelvic area. There are over 36 muscles involved in pelvic function, and acupuncture can reset overly tight or weakened muscle fibres. It also helps reduce scar tissue pain from surgeries or childbirth and treats related conditions like endometriosis, vaginismus, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Chinese herbal medicine can also support recovery by strengthening the Kidneys and Spleen, improving energy and circulation, and addressing hormonal imbalances. Each formula is tailored to the individual, treating root causes rather than just symptoms.
Breath work is a natural complement to Chinese medicine. The diaphragm and pelvic floor should move in harmony, and learning to breathe properly helps regulate Qi and blood flow through the lower abdomen. When combined with acupuncture and herbs,
breath-centred movement and relaxation can restore tone and flexibility to the pelvic floor without strain.
Culturally, there is a need to normalise discussion about pelvic health, especially in young women. Chinese medicine emphasises prevention; educating girls from puberty about their pelvic anatomy and how to cultivate internal balance through lifestyle, diet, and movement to prevent dysfunction later in life.
Pelvic floor dysfunction does not have to be a life sentence. With the guidance of Chinese medicine, women can reconnect with their bodies, restore pelvic health, and improve overall vitality—naturally and holistically.
Amanda Roe is an acupuncturist and clinical hypnotherapist, who specialises in women’s health. She offers a range of therapies including acupuncture for pelvic floor dysfunction, pain and fertility. She combines this with clinical hypnotherapy to help people suffering with trauma, fears, phobias and eating disorders. For more information or to book a consultation visit www.roehealth.ie or call/text Amanda on: 087 6331898.
