Dancing Crane Acupuncture

28/05/2026

Is it ‘Just Perimenopause’ or could it be something more sinister?

May is Women’s Health Month. I have been meaning to write all month, but it has not been easy to start. This May, I could not end this month without honouring my dear late friend Fiona Stewart – who died of an aggressive cancer on January 30 this year, just 5 days after her 44th birthday survived by her partner and her two beautiful young children.

It just so happened that I had to clear out my message bank last Wednesday and I got to hear her voice again, she was checking in on me after my last cat had died. This was Fiona, she had a deep appreciation of the bond between humans and their animals, and she was always picking up strays – I was blessed to be one of those strays when living interstate in VIC, she took me under her Earth-Angel wing, befriended me and cared for me like a sister.

For several months before her diagnosis, Fiona experienced heavy, relentless bleeding – flooding, as we call it in Chinese medicine. She, like many women assumed it was just a normal part of perimenopause. She believed it too. Who wouldn’t? Perimenopause has become the cultural catch-all for any woman in her 40’s who feels unwell: irregular periods, flooding, sleeplessness, weight gain, low mood, brain fog, cysts, fibroids.

But here is the truth I must speak for Fiona: not everything is “just perimenopause”. And confusing the two can cost a life. This article is for her. And for every woman who has been told, “It’s just your hormones.”

What actually is perimenopause? (Western medicine view)

Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause, typically beginning in the mid‑40s, sometimes earlier. It lasts anywhere from 2 to 10 years. Ovarian function fluctuates and can lead to:

- Irregular menstrual cycles (longer, shorter, heavier, lighter)
- Heavier bleeding (menorrhagia) but rarely true flooding for months at a time
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Sleep disturbance
- Mood changes (irritability, low mood, anxiety)
- Weight gain, especially around the waist
- Breast tenderness
- Worsening of pre‑existing PMS
- New or changing fibroids, ovarian cysts

Perimenopause is real, and it is challenging. But it is also a diagnosis of exclusion – not a dustbin for every pelvic or systemic symptom.

When ‘perimenopause’ hides something more sinister

Your symptoms matter. As women we are conditioned to believe that pain is just a normal part of everyday life for us – to suck it up and push on – but all symptoms are a sign of disharmony and Women’s Health is one of the areas where Chinese medicine really shines – we can address the earliest signs of disharmony before they have the opportunity to develop into something worse.

Fiona’s cancer likely started in her pelvis. Her prognosis was terminal upon diagnosis, so, as an ex-nurse with too much knowledge for her own good she chose not know, preferring to spend her numbered days with her children and partner.

Her flooding was not heavy periods – it was profuse and went on and on for months leaving her exhausted and anaemic. That is not typical perimenopause. I saw her in August while visiting my acupuncture guide in VIC, when she explained to me what had been happening and I encouraged her to seek help from a Chinese medicine practitioner, her GP was already aware, but due to living in regional VIC and not close to major biomedical health centres, her symptoms were not fully investigated in a timely fashion.

The following symptoms demand further investigation. Please do seek answers and medical imaging if you are experiencing any of the following:

Western medicine red flags (do not ignore)

Symptom / Possible sinister cause

- Flooding (soaking through a pad/tampon every hour for several hours): Endometrial cancer? large fibroids? Adenomyosis? cervical cancer?
- Intermenstrual bleeding (bleeding between periods): Cervical or uterine cancer? Polyps?
- Postcoital bleeding (bleeding after sexual in*******se): Cervical cancer?
- Pelvic pain that is constant or worsening: Ovarian cancer? endometriosis with adhesions? pelvic inflammatory disease?
- Bloating, early satiety, urinary urgency together: Ovarian cancer? (often called the ‘silent killer’)
- Unexplained weight loss: Malignancy?
- Night sweats that are drenching and persistent (not cyclical with your period): Lymphoma? Infection? TB? or cancer?
- New, severe fatigue not relieved by sleep: Leukaemia? colon cancer? chronic blood loss from uterine pathology?

A note on flooding: In Western medicine, flooding (menorrhagia + abrupt heavy flow) is never ‘just perimenopause’ without an ultrasound, biopsy, or hysteroscopy if persistent.

Classical Chinese medicine perspective: Blood, Qi, and the sinister shadow

In Chinese medicine, we do not have a direct word for ‘cancer’, but we describe malignant processes as accumulated stasis, toxin, and rebellious Qi that fail to transform. Perimenopause is a natural decline of Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) – the Sea of Blood and the vessel of Yin. Slight irregularities are expected. But flooding (Beng Lou) is a collapse of the body’s ability to hold blood.

Normal perimenopausal signs and symptoms in Chinese Medicine terms:
- Slight irregularity of cycle
- Mild heat signs (night sweats, irritability)
- Gradual decline of Kidney Jing (essence)
- Some damp accumulation (weight gain, phlegm)

Signs that something could be more sinister (from a Chinese Medicine diagnostic lens):

Sudden, profuse, dark purple flooding with large clots: Blood stasis with toxic heat? Malignancy? fibroids with necrosis? or endometrial hyperplasia?
Fixed, stabbing pelvic pain worse at night: Severe blood stasis? Ovarian or uterine tumour?
Purple‑black tongue with petechiae and dry yellow coating: Stasis with toxic heat consuming fluids? Cancer with inflammation or necrosis?
Wiry, choppy pulse in the left lower position: Extreme stasis in the lower abdomen? Pelvic mass?
Emaciation with abdominal distension: Spleen failure + Qi stagnation + yin/thoroughfare vessel blockage? Late‑stage ovarian or gastrointestinal malignancy?
Five‑day bleeding that returns heavily after stopping: Collapse of Chong Mai (Thoroughfare Vessel) – not just Kidney deficiency? Organic lesion (polyp, cancer, retained products of conception) ?

In the classics, “sudden flooding in a woman of forty with fixed abdominal pain is not a simple decline; stasis with toxin must be ruled out before tonifying.” Too often, well‑meaning practitioners tonify Qi and blood before clearing stasis – and that can feed a malignancy.

My firm, caring warning: If a woman in her 40s presents with flooding, intermenstrual bleeding, or persistent pelvic pain – do not automatically give Gui Pi Tang or Wen Jing Tang without modern imaging or a gynaecological referral. Chinese medicine is brilliant for functional disorders, but we must know when a mass or malignancy is present.

What Fiona taught me

Fiona dismissed her flooding as “perimenopause gone wild”. She was too young, too busy, too vibrant for cancer. By the time she sought further help, the disease was advanced.

I am not writing this to frighten you. I am writing to empower you.

If you are between 35 and 55 and any of the following applies, demand a second opinion, an ultrasound, a CA‑125 blood test (for ovarian cancer), an endometrial biopsy, or a referral to a gynaecologist:

- Flooding (changing a pad/tampon every hour)
- Bleeding after in*******se or between periods
- Persistent pelvic pain or bloating for more than 2 weeks
- Unexplained fatigue with heavy bleeding
- A family history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer

Perimenopause is not a diagnosis of laziness. It is a clinical transition. And it coexists with other conditions – some benign, some not.

How I can help – in person

I offer Chinese medicine consultations for women’s health: period problems, perimenopause support, post‑cancer recovery, and fertility. But my first question to any new patient in her 40s with irregular bleeding will be: “Have you had a recent ultrasound or gynaecological exam?”

If the answer is no, I will help you find one before we begin herbs or acupuncture. That is the ethical, life‑saving path.

If you have already been cleared of sinister pathology, Chinese medicine is exceptional for managing real perimenopausal symptoms – calming flooding, lifting fatigue, cooling night sweats, and stabilising mood through diet and lifestyle adjustments, acupuncture and herbs.

To book a consultation or a 15‑minute chat with me about your symptoms, contact: Biophilia Health on 0489 015 747 or Stirling Holistic Health on 8339 4322

This Women’s Health Month, please listen to your bleeding. It is your body speaking. Sometimes it says “hormones”. Sometimes it says “help”. Don’t guess. Get checked.

*In loving memory of Fiona Stewart (25 January 1982 – 30 January 2026)*

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult a GP or gynaecologist for abnormal bleeding. Chinese medicine should be used alongside – not in place of – conventional diagnosis when serious pathology is suspected.

29/04/2026

Thank you .prescott
For generously sharing your healing space with us ✨️

03/04/2026

"No." is a complete sentence.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/187ezwGLhG/

😥Sinéad’s plea for "quiet" was a revolutionary act of self-preservation. She understood that for those with sensitized nervous systems, noise and chaos aren't just annoying - they are physically painful. By advocating for a quiet life, she validated the "homebodies" and the "recluses" who choose peace over the spotlight to maintain their health. 🤫🏠

She spent years explaining that her withdrawal from the public eye wasn't a sign of weakness, but a requirement for her survival. Her words serve as a guide for anyone feeling pressured to "keep up" with a world that doesn't stop. She reminded us that there is profound dignity in choosing a smaller, quieter life if it means living without agony. 🌿🕊️

22/02/2026

Feeling the effects of the late summer heat and sluggishness in Late Summer in Adelaide?

In Chinese Medicine, Late Summer is considered a special "fifth season" all about harvest and nourishment. It's a time when our digestive system (our Spleen, Stomach and Pancreas complex) is front and centre, and the lingering summer-heat can sometimes leave us feeling heavy, sluggish, or just a bit "off" after meals.

Let’s talk about a little red berry that can help!

Shan Zha (Hawthorn Berry) is a fantastic herb in Chinese medicine, especially useful this time of year when our appetite can wilt in the warmth.

Here’s the lowdown on this powerful little fruit:

- It’s a Digestive Hero: Shan Zha is most famous for helping to break down rich, heavy, and fatty foods. Think of it as a gentle reset button if you’ve overdone it at a weekend BBQ.

- It gets things moving: In Chinese medicine, late summer heat can sometimes cause stagnation. Shan Zha is fantastic for invigorating blood flow and moving stagnation in the digestive system, helping to relieve that feeling of fullness or bloating.

- Specifically for Meat and Grease: It's particularly good at helping your body digest meat and oily or deep-fried foods. If a rich meal has left you feeling heavy, this herb is our go-to.

- Sour & Sweet: It has a mildly sour and sweet flavour, which naturally stimulates digestion and awakens the palate.

A little reminder from your CCM practitioner: Shan Zha is generally very safe, but it’s always best to check with a qualified professional, especially if you are pregnant or have a chronic health condition. In classical Chinese medicine it is rare that we will use a herb on its own, they are generally prescribed in a formula for that person’s individual constitution and current condition.

www.dancingcrane.com.au

Enjoy the last of the warm weather, Adelaide! 🌞

22/02/2026

Right on point Angela. When I talk to any patient, I always ask: "When did this start? What was happening in your life at that time?"
The patient is often filled with memories of that time, and something clicks, they get it - they inately understand the connection between their pain, injury, illness and the events that preceded or coincided with it.
www.dancingcrane.com.au

For most of my career as a psychotherapist, I believed what we were taught to believe.

That regulation was something people learned.
That calm was something you trained.
That if a client wasn’t settling, we just hadn’t found the right tool yet.

Breathing.
Grounding.
Cognitive reframes.
Somatic tracking.
Mindfulness.
Insight.

And then — after thousands of clinical hours, and just as importantly, after living inside a woman’s body for over five decades — I saw the gap.

Not in the people.
In the framework.

Because many of the women I worked with weren’t failing at regulation.

They were responding accurately to the conditions they were living in.

And no amount of nervous system “skills” could override that truth.

⸻

Nervous System Regulation vs. Sensory System Regulation

A distinction therapy culture often misses

Let’s start with something foundational.

Nervous system regulation is about state.

Through the lens of Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges), our autonomic nervous system continuously shifts between:

• Ventral vagal (safety, connection, social engagement)
• Sympathetic (mobilization: fight or flight)
• Dorsal vagal (immobilization: shutdown, collapse)

Regulation, in this sense, means the capacity to move flexibly between these states and return to safety when threat passes.

But here’s what’s often overlooked:

Sensory system regulation is about conditions.

It’s about:

• light
• sound
• pace
• proximity
• emotional intensity
• cognitive load
• bodily surveillance
• constant evaluation

And here’s the hard truth I learned clinically:

You cannot regulate a nervous system that is living in ongoing sensory and relational threat.

You can train compliance.
You can increase tolerance.
You can teach override.

But that isn’t regulation.
That’s adaptation.

⸻

When “Dysregulation” Is Actually Precision

Working with neurodivergent clients — autistic women, ADHD women, highly sensitive women, deeply intuitive women — changed my clinical lens permanently.

What I saw again and again was not fragility.

It was precision.

These nervous systems detected subtleties others missed.
They responded quickly to incongruence.
They reacted honestly to overwhelm.

Research supports this.

♥️ Autistic and highly sensitive individuals often show heightened sensory processing and altered autonomic patterns, including differences in vagal tone and stress reactivity.

♥️ Sensory overwhelm reliably triggers sympathetic activation or shutdown — not because the system is broken, but because the system is doing its job.

♥️ Studies on sensory modulation show lower parasympathetic activity at baseline, meaning the body is already working harder to maintain safety before additional stress even arrives.

In other words:

The body isn’t overreacting.
It’s reacting accurately to conditions it was never designed to endure continuously.

⭐️And women — neurodivergent or not — are living inside some of the most dysregulating conditions imaginable.⭐️

⸻

The Conditions Women Are Regulating Inside Of

We cannot talk about regulation without naming context.

Women are asked to regulate inside:

• constant body surveillance
• weight stigma and moralized appetite
• productivity culture that punishes rest
• emotional labour that goes unacknowledged
• relational expectations to remain pleasant, available, and agreeable
• spiritual spaces that bypass anger, grief, and boundaries
• wellness cultures that commodify self-care while ignoring systemic harm

Of course the nervous system is vigilant.

Of course the body braces.

Of course rest feels unsafe.

Of course pleasure carries guilt.

Of course slowing down feels like failure.

And yet we keep teaching women techniques to calm themselves instead of asking:

What is their body being asked to tolerate in order to stay “regulated”?

This is where therapy — and spirituality — often collude with harm.

Because when we ask women to regulate without changing conditions, we are teaching self-abandonment with better language.

⸻

Weight, Body, and the Nervous System

Let’s name something directly.

A body that is constantly evaluated is not a safe body.

Weight stigma alone has been shown to:

• increase cortisol
• elevate sympathetic arousal
• worsen health outcomes independent of weight itself
• increase dissociation from bodily cues like hunger, fullness, and pleasure

So when women say:

“I don’t feel at home in my body”
“I don’t trust my hunger”
“I can’t relax”
“I don’t feel safe being seen”

That is not pathology.

That is contextual nervous system wisdom.

You cannot teach embodiment in a body that is under surveillance.

You cannot teach regulation while reinforcing shame.

You cannot heal what is continually being violated.

⸻

Pleasure Is Not a Reward — It’s a Regulatory Function

One of the most damaging myths women internalize is that pleasure is indulgent.

Earned.

Conditional.

But from a nervous system perspective, pleasure is regulatory.

Pleasure:

• activates ventral vagal pathways
• supports parasympathetic dominance
• increases safety signaling
• restores social engagement
• reorients the body toward life

When pleasure is moralized or delayed,
the nervous system stays in effort.

When pleasure is reclaimed — slowly, without performance —the body remembers how to soften without collapse.

This is why so many women feel disoriented when they stop striving.

Why boredom, grief, tenderness, and spaciousness arrive together.

The system is reorganizing.

⸻

Remembering Is Not Healing More

This is where my work has fundamentally shifted.

What many women need is not more healing.

They need remembering.

Not remembering as nostalgia.
Not remembering as transcendence.
Not remembering as spiritual bypass.

Remembering as orientation.

Remembering:

• that the body is not an object to manage
• that regulation arises from safety, not discipline
• that rest is not laziness — it’s the nervous system exhaling
• that pleasure is information
• that sensitivity is not weakness
• that pacing is wisdom
• that sovereignty is relational, not performative

Remembering is what happens when survival urgency loosens its grip
and the body begins to lead again.

⸻

What I Know Now — Clinically and Personally

Here is what decades of psychotherapy — and living — have taught me:

♥️You cannot regulate your way out of misaligned conditions.
♥️Nervous systems organize around truth, not technique.
♥️Many women are not dysregulated — they are exhausted from adaptation.

♥️Sensory mismatch masquerades as anxiety.
♥️Suppressed grief masquerades as depression.
♥️Chronic self-monitoring masquerades as “high functioning.”
♥️Rest often arrives before clarity.
♥️Loss of motivation often precedes reorientation.
♥️Slowing down is not collapse — it’s information.

And perhaps most importantly:

When the conditions change, regulation follows.

Not because the woman tried harder.
But because her body was finally listened to.

⸻
My heartfelt wisdom for you.

If you are less interested in striving.
Less motivated by approval.
More protective of your time.
More honest about capacity.
More sensitive to noise, pace, and pressure.
Less willing to override yourself…

Nothing is wrong.

Your system is remembering.

And remembering is how we stop asking women to adapt to what harms them —
and start reorganizing life around what allows them to stay.

With love,
Angela xo

⸻

(This piece blends peer-reviewed research, clinical observation, and lived experience. It is not medical advice, but an invitation to reconsider what we call regulation — and who it has been serving.)

17/02/2026

Tonight, the Snake sheds its skin. At 10:31 PM ACDT, the New Moon in Aquarius rises alongside a "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse—ushering in the true Lunar New Year and the Year of the Yang Fire Horse (甲午).

In Chinese Medicine, this is a year of blazing Heart Fire. Momentum, courage, and passion are yours—but so is the risk of agitation, burnout, and restless Shen (spirit).

Three things to ground you tonight:

1. Eat bitter. Bitter melon, or dandelion greens drain heat and cool the blood.

2. Protect your Yin. Sip water, rest early, and avoid overstimulation.

3. Write your intentions. The New Moon is the seed; the 13 moons ahead are the harvest.


Locally, celebrate with community this Saturday 21 February at the Chinatown Adelaide Lunar New Year Street Party on Gouger and Moonta Streets.

For the deeper wisdom—the 13 moons, the Fire Horse's meaning, and how to ride this year with resilience—read our new blog (link in bio).

- see the Full blog for parenting strategies for children due to be born in the year of the Fire Horse

www.dancingcrane.com.au

ChineseMedicine

14/02/2026

Happy Valentine's Week! While the world is buzzing with romantic clichés and commercialised notions of love, we wanted to take a moment to share a different, perhaps deeper, perspective on the heart—one rooted in the ancient wisdom of Classical Chinese Medicine.

In this tradition, the Heart is far more than a physical pump. It is the residence of your Shen—your spirit, consciousness, and the very essence of who you are. Think of it as the wise Emperor or Empress of your inner world. And just as any good ruler has a trusted protector, your Heart has the Pericardium: an energetic shield that guards this sacred space from emotional overwhelm. The highest love is about honouring this sacred space, not losing yourself in another...

For the full article, click the link below 🥰

https://dancingcrane.com.au/Beyond-the-Red-Heart-The-Sacred-Seat-of-the-Shen-the-Wisdom-of-Gemstones-and-Her~582

14/02/2026

This Valentine's Day, we're looking beyond the Hallmark cards, the lingerie, and the commercialised 'sexy times'. Let's go deeper.

In Classical Chinese Medicine, the Heart (Xin) is not just a pump; it is the residence of the Shen (Spirit) – our consciousness, mind, and the radiance that makes us uniquely who we are. True love, the highest kind, is about honouring that radiance in ourselves and others.

It's said that the Heart is the 'Emperor' of the body, housing our most precious essence. In ancient times, this ruler channel was considered too sacred to be needled directly. Instead, acupuncturists treated its devoted protector and ambassador: the Pericardium (Xin Bao), the 'Heart Protector' channel.

The Pericardium acts as a shield, the first line of defence against emotional invasions. It allows us to be intimate and vulnerable while maintaining the integrity of our inner Shen. True love, in this sense, isn't about losing ourselves in another, but about two sovereign beings choosing to connect, protect, and honour each other's spirit. This is the love of *philia* – the deep, abiding friendship that forms the foundation of any lasting relationship. Friends are, after all, the family we choose.

Emotions are the weather of our energetic world. While the Heart houses joy, an excess of it can overstimulate the Shen, just as prolonged sadness can constrict the Lungs, and anger can make the Liver rebellious.

How can we honour the Heart and Shen this season? ✨

1. Nourish the Protector: Spend time with people who make you feel safe and seen (your chosen family!). This supports the Pericardium.

2. Cultivate Calm: A few minutes of quiet meditation or deep breathing allows the Shen to settle and anchor.

3. Sip Heart-Nourishing Herbs: In the Chinese herbal tradition, we have sweet, warm herbs that act as a direct tonic for the Heart and Shen. Try a tea of Longan Fruit (Long Yan Rou) to nourish the Blood and calm the spirit, or Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), the five-flavour berry that anchors the Shen and protects the Heart.

26/01/2026

Beat the 45°C heat with ancient herbal wisdom.

This isn't just any iced drink—it's Chrysanthemum & Goji Berry tea, a classic Sheng Jin (生津) or "fluid-generating" formula from Chinese medicine.

On a day like today, the extreme heat can deplete your body's vital Yin fluids, leaving you parched, overheated, and fatigued. Chugging ice-cold water can sometimes shock the system.

Instead, this tea works with your body:

Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua): Clears Summer Heat and Liver Fire—the irritation and redness from too much sun. It gently guides heat outward to cool you from the inside.

Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi): Nourishes the Liver and Kidney Yin, the deep reservoir of your body’s moisture. It replenishes the fluids lost to the sweltering heat.

Pro Tip: Brew it strong, then let it cool to room temperature. Sipping it at this temperature is most harmonious with your digestive Spleen energy, allowing for optimal absorption of those precious fluids.

The Beauty Bonus: In Chinese medicine, beauty is a reflection of internal balance. By clearing heat (goodbye, inflammation!) and nourishing Yin (hello, hydration!), this tea supports clear skin, bright eyes (Goji is famous for this!), and a calm, radiant glow from within.

Your Summer Ritual: Steep a handful of chrysanthemum + goji berries in hot water for 5 mins. Let it cool, sip mindfully, and feel the balance return.

Have you tried this classic cooling combo? What’s your go-to summer tea?

Happy sipping!

For a personalised diet therapy, herbal medicine or heat reducing acupuncture session, you can visit me at Stirling Holistic Health in the hills or at the Bodyworx in North Adelaide

www.dancingcrane.com.au

dancingcraneacupuncture

19/12/2025