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Worry about Birth Control Pill Side Effects, Find Fundamental Body Balance with Herbal Medicine

Many women may be considering taking birth control pills or are already taking them due to female diseases such as irregular menstruation and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, concerns about various birth control pill side effects after taking them are not small. When uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, headaches, weight gain, or mood changes appear, doubts naturally arise as to whether this is the best method for one's body. While controlling symptoms is important, restoring the fundamental balance of the body and recovering a healthy menstrual rhythm is more important for long-term women's health.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of birth control pill side effects: ① Difficulty in physical adjustment due to hormonal imbalance / ② Differences in individual constitution and sensitivity / ③ Burden on liver function and circulation due to long-term use. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic helps the female body naturally recover its inherent healthy menstrual rhythm through a constitutional improvement approach.

Birth control pills mainly use synthetic hormones to suppress ovulation and regulate the menstrual cycle. While this method can be effective in alleviating immediate symptoms of irregular menstruation or PCOS, external hormones can conflict with the body's own hormone system, causing various discomforts. For example, nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness, weight changes, and mood changes are common symptoms during the early stages of or long-term use of birth control pills. Besides these, there are also possibilities of serious side effects such as increased risk of blood clots or burden on liver function, which makes many people feel burdened by long-term use.

Birth control pills are commonly used to regulate the menstrual cycle of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, but they focus on alleviating symptoms rather than resolving the root cause. In Korean medicine, PCOS is viewed not as a simple hormone problem but as a result of overall body imbalance and decreased function of the internal organs. In particular, it is often accompanied by obesity or insulin resistance, so it is important to consider metabolic function improvement together.

In a study by Susan Arentz's research team published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in 2018, as a result of administering herbal medicine (Magnolia flos, Glycyrrhizae radix, Cinnamomi cortex, St. John's wort, Tribulus terrestris) along with lifestyle improvements to 122 overweight PCOS women for 3 months, significant menstrual cycle improvement (average menstrual cycle length shortened by 43 days), weight loss (average 3kg), insulin level decrease (40% decrease), and increased pregnancy rate were confirmed compared to the control group that only improved lifestyle (p < 0.01). The researchers concluded that these results suggested that herbal medicine had a positive effect on hormone balance, metabolic function, and overall quality of life improvement in PCOS patients. This study shows that herbal medicine can act effectively on menstrual irregularity and metabolic abnormalities, which are core symptoms of PCOS. At Dalimchae Clinic, based on such deep understanding of women's health, we help resolve the root cause of diseases like PCOS and regain a healthy life through constitutional improvement treatment tailored to each individual's constitution and symptoms.

According to a clinical research trend analysis published in the Journal of Korean Oriental Pediatrics in 2024, as a result of analyzing 7 randomized controlled clinical trials conducted on adolescent PCOS patients in China, the herbal treatment group showed significant improvement in total effective rate, sex hormone levels, and ultrasound measurements compared to the control group. In particular, Ginseng, Salviae miltiorrhizae radix, and Angelica gigas radix were mentioned as one of the most used medicinal herbs for PCOS treatment. This study suggests that herbal treatment can be an effective alternative even for adolescent PCOS. As such, at Dalimchae Clinic, we provide customized treatment by approaching women's health issues across a wide range of ages from a Korean medical perspective for Incheon PCOS patients.

If the following symptoms appear while taking birth control pills, it may be a signal from the body beyond simple discomfort.

• Nausea and vomiting: Symptoms of feeling nauseous and like vomiting often appear after taking birth control pills.
• Headache: Experiencing more severe or frequent headaches than usual.
• Breast pain and tenderness: Breasts feel swollen or pain is felt when touched.
• Mood changes: Mood swings such as depression and anxiety become severe and sensitive.
• Weight changes: Increased appetite or weight gain due to edema after taking birth control pills.
• Changes in menstrual volume or cramps: Menstrual volume has become irregular or menstrual cramps have become severe.
• Decreased libido: Libido has noticeably decreased.
• Skin troubles: Skin problems such as acne have newly appeared or worsened.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3 or more apply: Hormonal imbalance due to birth control pills is suspected. We recommend considering combined Korean medicine treatment at an Incheon women's disease clinic.
• 5 or more apply: Immediate visit to a medical institution and review of the current treatment method are necessary.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we conduct constitutional improvement treatment that resolves the fundamental problems of the body for women struggling with birth control pill side effects. Constitutional improvement is not just about suppressing symptoms, but a treatment principle that raises the body's immunity and natural healing power by healthy-changing the internal environment that causes symptoms so that they do not appear again.

A woman's body undergoes a process of constant change such as menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth, and is greatly affected by hormones. At this time, if stress, wrong eating habits, and overwork overlap, the balance of the body is broken and abnormalities occur in the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to various female diseases such as ovarian function decline, irregular menstruation, and PCOS. In particular, in Korean medicine, these imbalances are diagnosed as 'Qi and blood circulation disorder', 'blood stasis', 'phlegm-fluid', etc., and are viewed as problems occurring because waste products accumulate in the body and circulation is not smooth.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we improve the fundamental state of our body so that it can naturally secrete hormones according to the cycle through various Korean medical treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping tailored to each individual's constitution and symptoms. For example, we promote Qi and blood circulation to the uterus and ovaries, remove waste products, and strengthen the function of weakened internal organs so that the female hormone system recovers its own healthy rhythm. This constitutional improvement treatment is not about just turning off uncomfortable symptoms, but a way to help the body maintain a healthy state on its own, playing an important role in creating a healthy life for women in the long run. Especially for those planning a pregnancy, it supports preparing for a healthy pregnancy without birth control pills by helping to create a healthy uterine environment and recover ovulation function.

Q. I want to stop taking birth control pills because of side effects. Can I start Korean medicine treatment right away? A. It is recommended to decide after consulting with an expert, considering the rebound phenomenon and body adaptation process that may appear when stopping birth control pills. At Dalimchae Clinic, we establish a treatment plan safely by comprehensively considering the patient's current state and birth control pill intake period.

Q. How long does PCOS herbal treatment take? A. The treatment period depends on the severity of the patient's symptoms, constitution, and lifestyle habits. Generally, if you combine steady treatment for 3 months or more with lifestyle improvements, you can expect significant changes, which is the minimum period required for the hormone cycle to stabilize.

Q. Is it okay to take other medicines during herbal treatment? A. Drug interactions may occur when herbal medicine and other drugs are used together, so you must inform the medical staff about all drugs you are taking. At Dalimchae Clinic, we meticulously check medication history and proceed with customized prescriptions for safe and effective treatment.

Q. Can I receive PCOS-related treatment at the Incheon branch? A. Yes, at the Incheon branch of Dalimchae Clinic, we provide professional diagnosis and Korean medicine treatment for various female diseases including PCOS. We help regain a healthy woman's life through customized consultation and treatment plans tailored to each individual's state.

Irregular menstruation and PCOS are not problems that are solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, the body reacts faster than you think. Bring your current symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Clinic will find the cause together.

The place where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, of course, Dalimchae Clinic. Check your similar symptoms through AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This health information was compiled by the Dalimchae medical team based on questions actually received in the consultation room. Medical Supervision | Women and Pregnancy Consultation Standards, Incheon branch of Dalimchae Clinic, Hanui Doctor Yang Yuchan (PCOS Column)