by Kim Juneja (She/Her/Hers)

As a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and a mom to a transgender son, I have a vested interest in suppling the best care possible for the unique needs of an individual’s gender transition. Three years ago, when my son began his journey, we spent many hours looking for health professions in the community that were trans/non-binary/queer friendly. It was not an easy task at that time, and it really opened my eyes to the shortcomings of our complementary health care system.

While we did have success finding bodyworkers such as RMTs and physiotherapists, I saw the gap in LGBTQIA+ friendly practitioners in TCM (Herbal Medicine) and Acupuncture and I knew then that this was the place for me to develop my practice.

Working in a western system can be a little awkward for a Chinese Medicine Practitioner – it reminds me of those ambiguous photos where some people see a face, while others see a vase. Often, we speak totally different languages, and our TCM approach is one that treats the whole person, not just their symptoms. The aim of Acupuncture is to find the “root cause” of someone’s health issues and in this, it often resolves so many “branch” symptoms. A patient could come in for treatments to help their menstrual cycle and as a bonus they find their lower back pain and sugar cravings are gone. It is with this model of going to the root of one’s health imbalances that makes this 3000-year-old medicine powerful. So, how does this apply for the special needs of a patient seeking gender-affirming support?

Acupuncture (and TCM) looks at the body as a series of meridians, I like to explain it to my patients this way; our body is made up for a series of rivers which flow throughout the body. When we have any kind of disruption or trauma (be in physical – a sports injury OR mental – the death of a loved one), our rivers get blocked. It’s as though a boulder has falling in and obstructed the flow. This blockage creates a problem for the body that often manifests as pain and a myriad of other symptoms. In Acupuncture we identify where these blockages are happening and use fine sterile needles to gently prompt the body to clear these away. Patients often feel relief right away depending on how chronic the issue.

The western medical model requires evidence-based research and while there are thousands of studies on how effective acupuncture is for everything from pain conditions to infertility to allergies, there is still very little research in Traditional Chinese Medicine on Gender Affirming care. However, there is much medical evidence for many facets of the gender transition experience in Acupuncture including Mental health (anxiety, depression), Menopause (Hormone Therapy) and Pain management (post-surgery).

Here are some of the ways that Acupuncture can support a gender transition:

Acupuncture can manage the side effects of hormone therapy such as hot flashes, acne, thyroid issues, menstrual irregularities, high blood pressure and fluid retention.
It can improve fertility and IVF treatments
It supports mental health and helps the body cope with stress, anxiety, depression, changes in mood and sleep problems.
For surgical procedures, it can help prepare the person by improving blood circulation and over-all well-being.
Post surgery, acupuncture is a fantastic tool for pain reduction and to improve recovery times.
Acupuncture is also very effective for healing scars by minimizing the size and thickness of scar tissue.

Navigating the system as an Eastern Medical practitioner I know there is much work to be done to educate the population around the specific needs or our LGBTQIA+ community. There is also a great need to share more information about the potent benefits of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine. I stand at the crossroads of this intersection, and it is my passion to support and welcome any gender diverse patient that walks through my doors.

If you are going through a gender transition or just at the start of your journey, I am here to give you a safe space to listen and to help you on your path. You can book an appointment here: https://cayahealthcentre.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/30

Kim Juneja (She/Her/Hers)

Registered Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

More about Caya Health Centre here: https://www.cayahealthcentre.com/

Resources:

https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754821000909

Acupuncture and Gender-Affirming Care