Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) — recently renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect its whole-body impact — is a common hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age. Symptoms include prolonged or absent menstrual periods, excess hair growth (hirsutism), acne, weight fluctuations, and difficulty getting pregnant. These symptoms are driven by hormonal imbalances involving insulin, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH).
The good news is that PCOS is very treatable with acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine. At our NYC acupuncture practice, we take a whole-person approach to PCOS treatment, addressing the root hormonal imbalances rather than just managing individual symptoms.
Traditional Chinese medicine isn’t about suppressing symptoms. It’s about restoring balance so the body can heal itself. Acupuncture for PCOS works by “resetting” the body- regulating hormones, improving blood flow to the reproductive organs, and supporting communication between the nervous and endocrine systems.
Signs & Symptoms of PCOS
PCOS can look different from person to person, which is part of why it’s so often missed or misdiagnosed. Common signs include:
- Irregular, infrequent, or absent menstrual periods
- Difficulty getting pregnant or unexplained infertility
- Acne, particularly along the jawline and chin
- Excess facial or body hair growth (hirsutism)
- Thinning hair on the scalp
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Fatigue, brain fog, or low energy
- Skin tags or darkened patches of skin (often on the neck or underarms)
You don’t need to have all of these symptoms to have PCOS, and you don’t need visible ovarian cysts either — in fact, many people with PCOS never develop cysts at all.
Note: PCOS was recently renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) by a global consensus of medical societies, to better reflect that it’s a whole-body hormonal and metabolic condition rather than one centered on ovarian cysts. The diagnosis and treatment approach remain the same — only the name has changed.
How Acupuncture Helps PCOS
Acupuncture helps PCOS by identifying which underlying imbalance is driving your specific symptoms, then using targeted acupuncture points and herbal formulas to correct that pattern directly — rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol. This is why two patients with a PCOS diagnosis can receive very different treatment plans.
To determine your pattern, we perform a detailed assessment during your consultation, including an in-depth health history, pulse and tongue diagnosis, and abdominal or channel palpation.
The most common patterns underlying PCOS include:
- Qi Stagnation: Qi, the body’s energy, circulates throughout the body. Stress, anger, frustration, or injuries can cause this energy to slow or stagnate, which in TCM theory can affect menstruation and contribute to irregular cycles.
- Qi Deficiency with Dampness: Digestive Qi governs digestion and the transformation of food into Qi and Blood. When digestion is weak, it can lead to a buildup of “Dampness” — a TCM concept linked to fatigue, brain fog, bloating, cyst formation, and excess weight. Dampness is also thought to obstruct the reproductive system and disrupt hormonal balance.
- Kidney Qi Deficiency: In TCM theory, Kidney Qi governs reproductive health, hormonal regulation, and ovulation, so a deficiency here is a common contributor to PCOS symptoms.
Once we’ve identified your pattern, we build a treatment plan — combining specific acupuncture points with customized herbal medicine — designed to correct that root imbalance. (See below for some examples of how we use different acupuncture points for each pattern.)
Personalized Acupuncture for Each PCOS Pattern
Treatment focuses on restoring balance to the specific pattern identified in your diagnosis, using acupuncture points selected for their traditional function in TCM theory.
For Qi Stagnation, we commonly use points such as Liver 3 (Taichong) and Gallbladder 34 (Yanglingquan), traditionally used to promote the smooth flow of Qi and ease emotional tension — both of which are associated in TCM theory with more regular menstrual cycles.
For Qi Deficiency with Dampness, we may use Stomach 36 (Zusanli) and Spleen 9 (Yinlingquan), traditionally used to strengthen digestion and transform dampness — supporting improved energy, reduced bloating, and hormonal balance.
For Kidney Qi Deficiency, points like Kidney 3 (Taixi) and Ren 4 (Guanyuan) are selected to tonify the Kidneys and support reproductive function. Ren 6 (Qihai) and Zigong (the Uterus point) are also frequently used to support fertility and cycle regulation.
Because your pattern can shift throughout your cycle and as treatment progresses, your point selection is reassessed and adjusted at each visit — not fixed from the first session.
Electroacupuncture for Hormonal Regulation
Electroacupuncture — gentle electrical stimulation applied to specific acupuncture points — is one of the most well-studied acupuncture techniques for PCOS. Clinical studieshave shown it can improve ovulation rates and menstrual regularity in women with PCOS.1
Research suggests one reason for this is its effect on the HPA axis which is the body’s central stress-response system. This system governs the release of cortisol and interacts closely with the hormones that regulate ovulation and androgen levels. In women with PCOS, an overactive HPA axis has been linked to elevated cortisol and worsened hormonal imbalance. A growing body of research indicates that electroacupuncture can help modulate HPA axis activity, which may be one pathway through which it supports hormonal regulation in PCOS.2
Most patients describe the sensation of electroacupuncture as a mild, rhythmic pulsing or tapping. It’s incorporated into a broader treatment session alongside standard acupuncture and, when appropriate, herbal medicine.
We’ll discuss whether electroacupuncture is a good fit for your treatment plan during your initial consultation, based on your specific PCOS pattern and treatment goals.
What the Research Says
The mechanisms discussed above are backed by a growing body of clinical research. Beyond its effects on the HPA axis, acupuncture has been studied more broadly for its impact on ovulation, hormone levels, and menstrual regularity in women with PCOS with results that are especially consistent when treatment is performed regularly over a series of sessions.
In one randomized controlled trial, women who received acupuncture had a significantly higher ovulation rate compared to a control group, along with reduced testosterone levels.3 Beyond its effects on the HPA axis, research also points to acupuncture’s influence on the broader nervous and endocrine systems: studies suggest it can enhance communication between the two, reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, and increase blood flow to the ovaries, all of which may contribute to improved ovarian function and hormone regulation.4
Herbal Medicine for PCOS
Chinese herbal medicine is used alongside acupuncture to reinforce the same goals: regulating the menstrual cycle, supporting ovulation, reducing inflammation, and clearing the patterns of dampness or stagnation discussed above. Formulas are customized to your specific pattern and are adjusted throughout treatment based on your cycle and evolving symptoms.
Research on specific Chinese herbal formulas has shown promising effects on hormone regulation, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and ovulation. Rather than only addressing individual symptoms — such as irregular periods or elevated androgens — herbal medicine is intended to work alongside acupuncture to support the underlying imbalance driving them. Formulas such as Cangfu Daotan Decoction and Liuwei Dihuang Wan have been studied for their potential to support ovulation, hormonal balance, and metabolic health.5
Dietary and Lifestyle Support
Diet plays a meaningful role in supporting the pattern we identify in your PCOS diagnosis. In TCM nutrition theory, certain foods — particularly greasy, heavy, and overly sweet foods — are thought to contribute to the buildup of dampness described earlier, while reducing refined carbohydrates can also support hormonal balance and insulin sensitivity.
For a deeper look at how TCM nutrition principles work and how to apply them to your own diet, see our full guide, Eating with Yin and Yang: Understanding Chinese Medicine Nutrition.
Beyond diet, we’ll also look at stress management, sleep, and movement practices as part of your treatment plan, since all three play a role in hormone regulation and overall healing.
A Holistic Approach to PCOS
At Alban Acupuncture, we take a whole-person approach to PCOS (or PMOS) treatment. Rather than treating your symptoms in isolation, we work together to identify your underlying pattern and build a plan that combines acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary guidance, and lifestyle adjustments — tailored to you and adjusted as your treatment progresses.
Whether your goal is to regulate your period, clear hormonal acne, improve energy, or support fertility, Chinese medicine offers a natural, personalized path forward.
Ready to get started? Call us at 212.319.5757 to make an appointment, or schedule your appointment online.
By Joseph Alban, D.Ac. M.S, L.Ac. Last Updated July 20th, 2026
References:
- Jedel E, Labrie F, Odén A, et al. Impact of electro‑acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jan;300(1):E37–E45. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00495.2010. Epub 2010 Oct 13. PMID: 20943753.
- Liu YX, Han YH, Jiang Y, Zhang J, Zhang YH. Experimental analysis of acupuncture’s effects on hyperandrogenemia and related symptoms in PCOS patients. Frontiers in Medicine. 2025;12:1531506. doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1531506
- Johansson J, Stener‑Victorin E. Polycystic ovary syndrome: Effect and mechanisms of acupuncture for ovulation induction. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013:762615. doi:10.1155/2013/762615
- Manni L, Lundeberg T, Holmäng A, Aloe L, Stener‑Victorin E. Effect of electro‑acupuncture on ovarian expression of α(1)- and β(2)-adrenoceptors, and p75 neurotrophin receptors in rats with steroid-induced polycystic ovaries. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2005 Jun 7;3:21. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-3-21. PMID: 15941472; PMCID: PMC1175857.
- Huang Z, Liang Y, Xie Q, et al. Effects of Chinese herbal medicine on endocrine and metabolic functions in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Cell Mol Med. 2021;25(5):2200–2214. doi:10.1111/jcmm.16233