The study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism found that four months of acupuncture treatment reduced the levels of testosterone in women with PCOS by 25 percent.
The study shows that both acupuncture and exercise reduce high levels of testosterone and lead to more regular menstruation. Of the two treatments, the acupuncture proved more effective.
Acupuncture combined with frequent physical activity is key to reducing hormonal imbalances in women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) according to the University of Gothenberg, Sweden.
The symptoms of PCOS are: irregular or no ovulation/menstruation and ovaries full of immature eggs. Other symptoms include low energy, extra body/facial hair, fairly overweight and high insulin and blood sugar. They also have high-elevated levels of testosterone.
Groups separately treated with exercise or acupuncture both experienced improvements in weight, testosterone levels, acne and menstrual regularity, according to the study.