Michelle Smith believes your cycle is a monthly report card, not an inconvenience. Through acupuncture and Chinese medicine, she helps women understand PCOS, stress and hormonal patterns with clarity. Here she shares the patterns she sees, the clues that matter and the simple shifts that change everything.

 

Name: Michelle Smith

Pronouns: she/her

Day job: Fertility Acupuncturist & Director of Ova Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Location: Brisbane

 

Describe your work in one sentence.

I help women feel more at home in their bodies and to learn how to live in harmony with their hormones, not against them.

 

How did you land in acupuncture and women’s health?

My journey wasn’t typical. I was living and working in Dubai as a Corporate Comms Manager for Emirates after leading the marketing team for Flight Centre in the Middle East and Africa. It was a high-stress environment, and the culture was very much work hard, play hard. On a trip to Lebanon, I got sick and contracted glandular fever. It was a culmination of overwork, undernourishment and burning the candle at both ends. What came next was six months of total chronic fatigue.

I had already been diagnosed with PCOS and was dealing with acne, weight gain, anxiety and irregular cycles. The combination of PCOS and chronic fatigue became too much, and after my doctor said there was nothing left to do other than move to the countryside for two years and rest, I turned to Chinese medicine out of desperation. What happened next was life-altering. I began seeing an acupuncturist once a week, and she slowly brought me back to life. Over time, my acne cleared, my cycle returned, and I finally felt like myself again. I started borrowing books from her and reading more about Chinese medicine until I eventually asked if she thought I would make a good TCM doctor. At 2am on a midweek night, feeling deflated by my corporate career, I applied to acupuncture school in Melbourne. I think I was always destined to work in women’s health. It just took some detours to get there.

 

What common threads do you see in period-related issues?

The most common thing I see is a lack of education around our menstrual cycles and how to live in a way that supports them. I see this shifting the longer I practise; however, a huge part of my role remains education. I often wonder how the lives of women and AFAB folks would be different if we were taught at a younger age how to support our hormonal health and live in harmony with our cyclical nature.

How does TCM view the menstrual cycle? Is it a vital sign of health?

I treat my cycle like my monthly report card because it gives me so much feedback on how I’m managing stress. In TCM, stress can contribute to period pain, and burning the candle at both ends can show up as heavy periods due to qi deficiency. I also look at the colour of my blood, whether clots are present and whether spotting occurs before or after. We say your period should arrive and leave as the sun rises and sets. There should be little to no pain, the colour should be bright red, no clots, energy should be steady and emotions even. The modern world is not exactly set up for this period utopia; however, I believe that with more attention on how we support ourselves, we can reduce symptoms and maybe even come to love our cycle.

 

With irregular cycles or breakouts, what signals PCOS to you?

I observe patients from the moment they walk into the clinic, immediately assessing skin tone, facial and body hair, nail quality, hair thickness and whether dark circles are present under the eyes. A visual assessment can already point toward a diagnosis. I’ve been trained to assess the tongue in detail. I then ask a lot of questions and finish with pulse diagnosis, looking for traits that may nudge me toward suspecting PCOS. I practise in a very integrative way, so I also refer patients I suspect might have PCOS for extensive blood tests and, if required, investigations such as a pelvic ultrasound.

 

Can you explain TCM concepts like phlegm-damp and stagnation for beginners?

Phlegm-damp is best described as a turbid fluid that obstructs the proper flow of blood and fluids throughout the body. It is often a manifestation of impaired digestion, usually from eating a very cold diet such as lots of smoothies, salads and raw food. In Chinese medicine, we have a saying that translates to ‘when there is no free flow, there is pain, when there is no pain, there is free flow’. We want to optimise movement and avoid stagnation whenever possible. Acupuncture has a regulating effect, so if there is stagnation, it can help move it. There is also a lot we can do from a lifestyle perspective to optimise qi and blood flow, including movement, breath work and eating warm foods to keep our digestive fire burning and avoid the accumulation of damp.

Once you suspect PCOS, what’s the next step?

I work in an integrative way, and I always want to understand my patients' insulin, inflammation, and hormone levels, so I work closely with their GP or OBGYN to run blood tests. Ideally, they will also have a pelvic ultrasound performed by a specialist imaging centre. I marry our Western medicine findings with my Chinese medicine diagnosis to create a specialised plan for each patient. This often includes targeted supplement support, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. PCOS can present in many ways, so it always requires an individualised approach.

 

What does a typical PCOS treatment plan look like over time?

I typically like to see my patients weekly for three full menstrual cycles. During this time, I want to see positive progress toward our end goal: a regular, ovulatory cycle without symptoms. This is the sweet spot for facilitating change. However, healing happens on everyone’s own timeline.

 

How do acupuncture and herbs work together for hormonal balance?

Acupuncture has a regulating effect on the body; however, we often need more than regulation to effectively support symptoms associated with PCOS and endometriosis. These typically fall under the categories of deficiency or excess. In cases of deficiency, we need more than acupuncture alone to restore the body's balance.

MY CYCLE

• My period in 3 words: Connection, release, feedback
• Period self-care toolkit: Magnesium flake bath, loco love chocolate, heat pack, slow walks with my pup and rest!
• Favourite herb for hormone balance: Impossible to say! Herbs should always be individualised. I do love the herbal couplet dang gui and bai shao (peony), which we use to soften and nourish the liver, which stores blood.
• Most underrated period self-care ritual or hack? Orgasm! The blood flow and release can be amazing for easing cramps. We need to normalise period sex because libido can be higher at this time of the month, too.
• What’s your ultimate period outfit? On day one, I like to go incognito. Picture an oversized linen set with a basketball cap and sunnies. Oestrogen is our social lubricant hormone, and as it drops during menstruation, I tend to go undercover when I’m out and about to avoid running into people.
• Contraception of choice: Temperature tracking. I haven’t taken hormonal contraceptives in more than ten years and have relied on my Oura Ring and the Natural Cycles app for the last five years for contraception. I love that there are so many more wearables on the market now to track your cycle.
• On day 1 you can find me: Sleeping in, a slow walk, slow cooking some meat and taking it easy. I’m very aware this isn’t always accessible, but one of the perks of working for myself is that I can prioritise day one to be slow and restful. On these days when I am seeing patients in the clinic, I make sure I am well-nourished and apply acupuncture press tacks to help manage pain and ease flow.
• What is your favourite period comfort food? I have a go-to slow-cooked lamb ragu that I love to make during my period. I like getting cosy, having a meal simmering away, watching a movie, snacking on some Tony’s chocolate and burning my favourite candle.
• What is the best way to move your body when you’re on your cycle? I am a huge advocate of listening to your body and deciding what it needs on any given day. Personally, I don’t like to do anything too high intensity during my period. I will typically go for a slow walk and do a simple yoga practice at home, think slow sun salutations followed by low bridge pose, reclined butterfly, simple twists and pigeon. These can increase blood flow to the pelvis, which can help with cramps.