Female Health

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a rich history in treating Gynecological issues. Over 3,000 years, TCM has developed a sophisticated, specialized approach to women’s health. TCM has long recognized the unique physiology of women—centered on Blood, Qi, the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney systems, and the vital role of menstrual regulation and treatment of disorders, for fertility enhancement, pregnancy support, postpartum health and recovery, as well as overall vitality through perimenopause and menopause.

Gynecology evolved as a distinct specialty during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), with landmark works such as Chen Ziming’s Compendium of Good Remedies for Women (1237 CE), the first text devoted solely to gynecology and obstetrics. This emphasized menstrual harmony as key to successful pregnancy and collected centuries of clinical experience, formulas, and practices still relevant today.

Dr. Hackett’s protocols are rooted in holistic principles of balance, prevention, and individualized care, TCM gynecology integrates herbal medicine (e.g., classic formulas like Si-Wu Tang), acupuncture, moxibustion, and lifestyle guidance. It addresses root causes rather than isolated symptoms, offering time-tested insights that continue to support modern integrative women’s health.

Dr. Hackett integrates functional medicine as well for a truly holistic personalized approach to women’s health. Functional medicine offers a holistic, systems-based framework focused on lab work, that addresses the root causes of health imbalances rather than simply managing symptoms. The constant flux of hormonal changes that influence reproductive cycles and life stages—from puberty and fertility to perimenopause and menopause must be delicately adjusted as needed over time.

Dr. Hackett avoids stacking and high dose continuous supplementation protocols when usually your body only needs minimal interventions at intervals. Those intervals change over time. By integrating advanced laboratory testing (e.g., hormone panels, gut microbiome analysis, nutrient levels, and inflammatory markers) with detailed a health history, and differential diagnosis she creates individualized plans that consider genetics, environment, lifestyle, and unique physiology along with other data.

Core support areas include hormonal balance (optimizing estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, and cortisol through nutrition, stress management, and targeted supplementation), reproductive health (addressing PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, and menstrual irregularities via anti-inflammatory diets, gut healing, and detoxification support), and metabolic optimization.

The obvious emphasis on foundational pillars like nutrient-dense whole foods, quality sleep, movement, and mind-body practices to enhance resilience, energy, and vitality are tailored to your lifestyle and coupled with a personalized protocol while reducing risks or flares of chronic conditions and autoimmune diseases.

Ultimately, Dr. Hackett’s TCM and functional medicine combined approach (Lonjiva Method: East-West Functional Medicine) empowers you to listen to what your body needs on this health journey. It bridges conventional care with evidence-informed natural therapies, promoting prevention and long-term wellness through sustainable lifestyle changes tailored to your individual “why” behind symptoms. This patient-centered model fosters lasting balance in an interconnected body system.

Cycle Regulation

Whether your periods are irregular, heavy, too short, or too long, there are highly effective ways to get your cycle back on track. Specifically, TCM gynecology has been successful in treating women’s health safely for thousands of years. Additionally, Functional Medicine offers target hormone precursors, compounded BHRT, and distinct botanical medicine that can address whatever symptoms you’re experiencing. There are many unique lab tests that can help us understand the root causes of your health issues. For example, DUTCH tests are a great place to start to gain more clarity on your hormonal health with a comprehensive map of your cycle helps us target where changes across your ‘month’ need support. If you experience cramps, migraines, mood swings, GI issues, body pain, or other PMS symptoms, Dr. Hackett usually has a solution. There’s absolutely no need to suffer.

Perimenopause

At around age 35, your body typically experiences a “hormone cliff”. You progressively stop making as much hormone as you did in earlier years, and the symptoms can ensue quickly. There are matriline genetic components to this pattern. Your female ancestors can give you a good idea of what you are to expect.
Common perimenopause symptoms are: period length, interval, and bleeding changes; sleep dysregulation with hot flushes, lower libido, and night sweats. Your mood regulation is more difficult and you may feel more irritable or “put upon” by small things. “Wired but tired” cortisol dyregulation is a common hormonal imbalance that shows up as your progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone levels change.

GI health issues can start occurring since estrogen is key in your digestive regulation as well as your bone and joint health. Now is the time to start maintaining bone health and address dry hair, skin, and nails before they become seriously problematic and more difficult to treat. Thyroid dysregulation and autoimmune disease commonly start or become worse as hormone cycling becomes irregular. Welcome to aging. Face it head on and give your body the nutrient ammo to stave off as much as possible, for as long as possible.

Life is complex enough, so there’s no need to suffer through monthly agony on top of it. Why suffer? Come in and let’s get it taken care of.

Menopause

Menopause is clinically diagnosed after you have gone at least six months without a period. Your ovaries stop functioning, so the adrenals must quickly pick up where they leave off. Balanced cortisol regulation can be the key to a more comfortable menopause journey plus supporting natural hormone levels with herbs, orthomoleculars (supplements), or compounded HRT.
Your symptoms of hot flashes, abnormal sweating, joint pain, prone to injury, dryness, skin laxity, digestive problems, constipation, sleep dysregulation, weight gain, changes in your hair, skin, and nails, and mood imbalances can all be addressed with Dr. Hackett’s Lonjiva Method (East-West Functional Medicine). Bring in your most recent labs or we can go over which values you may need if you’ve not had any tests for awhile. hot flashes There is a way to feel better and age more gracefully.

Fertility Support

Whether you are currently in ART/IVF treatment or want to go completely natural, Dr. Hackett can support your path with her proprietary protocols. Another factor that is difficult to manage is that C19 and the associated injections have made unexplained fertility problems increase. Therefore, your immune system plays a massive part in conception and implantation.

Fortunately, there are natural solutions to support your family goals. Dr. Hackett carefully reviews your labs and any treatment you’ve had previously to determine the best protocol for you. Ultimately, she has helped dozens of couples with their fertility health, and there are over 42 (to date) happy children to show for it!

Fertility treatment is running a difficult gauntlet on its own. Dr. Hackett ensures you are heard and supported through this sometimes cold IFV/ART process. Simply give Dr. Tracy a call or send an email with your specific questions. Ultimately, she’s helped hundreds of women live happier, healthier lives.

Pelvic Floor Health

Childbirth, post-partum complications, physical trauma, and aging can complicate your pelvic health significantly. Therefore, Dr. Hackett has developed proprietary acupuncture treatments to reduce pain, re-establish urinary regulation, and rebalance muscle engagement for better control. UTIs and other chronic infections can be safely eliminated through proper care with targeted acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Diastasis recti is a common complication with pregnancy. Cases wherein surgery has not been recommended can respond well to acupuncture. Specifically, tissue knitting can be accelerated with electroacupuncture and other advanced, natural treatments. These treatment plans are determined carefully on a case-by-case basis.

Hormone Regulation

Dr. Hackett has been a practicing clinical herbalist for four decades. Consequently, she can develop a custom herbal formula for you or have hormone or peptide support compounded directly for your needs.

Endometriosis

Chinese medicine is extremely effective in treating endometriosis, for which Dr. Hackett has many years of clinical experience treating. Specifically, her custom herbal formulas and functional medicine protocols and acupuncture help treat pain, migraine, excessive bleeding, and anemia.

TCM and Functional Medicine Approaches to Endometriosis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views endometriosis primarily as a pattern of Blood Stasis often complicated by Qi deficiency, Cold, Dampness, or Heat accumulation in the lower jiao, leading to pain, masses, and menstrual irregularities. Treatment focuses on invigorating Blood, regulating Qi, resolving stasis, and warming or clearing as needed through individualized herbal formulas, acupuncture to promote circulation and reduce inflammation along the Liver, Spleen, and Ren channels, moxibustion, and dietary/lifestyle guidance. TCM aims to alleviate dysmenorrhea, regulate cycles, shrink lesions, and support fertility/longevity by addressing root imbalances holistically.

Functional medicine complements this by identifying and targeting underlying drivers such as chronic inflammation, estrogen dominance, gut dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, and environmental toxin burden through comprehensive testing (hormones, microbiome, food sensitivities, and nutrient status). Interventions typically include an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich diet (often emphasizing cruciferous vegetables, omega-3s, and fiber), gut healing protocols, stress reduction via adaptogens and mindfulness, targeted supplements, and lifestyle optimization. This root-cause strategy works synergistically with TCM’s pattern differentiation to reduce lesion progression, manage pain, and restore systemic balance for sustained relief and enhanced fertility potential. Most patients find significant pain relief and improved quality of life when integrated over time with Dr. Hackett’s Lonjiva Method personalized treatments.

PCOS/PMOS

PCOS is a graded category of symptoms that has finally been recategorized as a metabolic regulation spectrum of dysregulation rather than a distinct column of symptoms called PMOS. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome reflects the multisystem reality of the disorder. This means you may have some or all of the indicators and still be within the diagnosis category. It is important to address this throughout your life to ensure better metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Unexplained infertility is often related to a PCOS/PMOS-type dysregulation and immune system imbalance. For instance, if you have thyroid regulation issues, abdominal pain mid-cycle, a history of cystic ovaries, abnormal hair growth, chronic acne, or irregular menstruation, you may have clinical PCOS. Therefore, Dr. Hackett carefully adjusts her protocol to address your unique situation.