Fertility

As practitioners of Chinese Medicine, we view infertility as an imbalance of Qi and blood affecting one or more of the organ systems. In studies reviewed by Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York*, researchers concluded that Acupuncture helps to:

To conceive and have a healthy pregnancy, you must have a free flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. An adequate supply of blood is required by a woman’s body to sustain a normal menstrual cycle, to successfully implant an embryo within the uterine lining, and to support a growing fetus and a healthy pregnancy.

Through Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, we can raise your fertility potential by affecting the quality, quantity, balance, and flow of Qi and blood.

Treatment of infertility with Chinese Medicine dates back 2000 years with techniques that improve fertility rates and support a woman’s whole body, unlocking unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing.

Fertility Types:

DRY

SYMPTOMS:

       Dry skin, eyes, and hair
       Often thirsty
       Thin
       Tends to be constipated
       Often feels hot: flushes easily, night sweats
       Short cycles or light periods
       Insomnia
       Often restless, fidgety, jumpy, or anxious

WESTERN MEDICINE:

       Estrogen and progesterone imbalances, particularly estrogen
       Elevated FSH
       Recurrent miscarriages
       Poor response to stimulation drugs

TCM PERSPECTIVE:

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) name for this type is kidney “yin” deficiency. Yin describes the functions of the body that are cooling, nourishing, moistening, and substantial. Without enough yin, the body gets hotter and dries out. This is reflected in low estrogen levels, thinner uterine lining, and less cervical fluid. Yin naturally depletes with age, but some people use up their yin faster with energy-consuming lifestyle choices: not enough sleep, eating poorly, and exercising in short, intense bursts.

ADVICE:

       Hydrate
       Consume nutrient-rich foods: dark leafy greens, soy products
       (for phytoestrogens), healthy fats
       Avoid alcohol and spicy foods
       Reduce stress
       Avoid excessive aerobic exercise: try yoga, tai chi, or qi gong

SUPPLEMENTS:

       Essential fatty acids
       L-carnitine
       Royal jelly
       Liquid chlorophyll

TIRED

SYMPTOMS:

       Often feels weak or lethargic
       Prone to getting sick
       Gets out of breath and sweats easily, gains weight
       Poor appetite
       Prone to bloating, gas, and loose stools
       Low sex drive
       Short luteal phase
       Feels cold: hands, feet

WESTERN MEDICINE:

       Hypothyroid
       Low progesterone
       Luteal phase defect
       Metabolic disorders

TCM PERSPECTIVE:

This type is called kidney “yang” deficiency in TCM, and reflects a broader hormonal imbalance going beyond reproductive hormones and encompassing the thyroid, adrenals, and pituitary gland. Weakness in these systems affects metabolism, circulation, and thus reproduction.

ADVICE:

       More animal Protein
       Avoid raw and cold foods
       Alcohol in moderation
       Consume warming soups and stews, and spices: cinnamon,
       ginger, cayenne, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, cumin
       Regular moderate exercise

SUPPLEMENTS:

       Royal jelly
       Wheat grass
       Chromium (boosts metabolism by enhancing the action of insulin)
       L-arginine
       Chasteberry (helps sustain post-ovulatory progesterone)

PALE

SYMPTOMS:

       Physically pale
       Nails chip easily
       Vision problems
       Hair loss
       Lighter or missed periods
       Trouble falling asleep; tired
       Physically inflexible
       Undernourished (vegetarians and vegans are often Pale)

WESTERN MEDICINE:

       Amenorrhea
       Thin endometrium

TCM PERSPECTIVE:

Pale people are considered to have blood deficiency, which can reflect anemia or more minor undernourishment. The blood nourishes the endometrium, making it a welcoming, healthy home for an embryo. Sometimes blood deficiency is caused by anemia, but it can also be caused by poor diet or heavy periods.

ADVICE:

       Regular meals of nutritional foods
       Iron from plant and animal sources
       Foods rich in vitamin C (to help the absorption of iron)
       Lots of plant and/or animal protein

SUPPLEMENTS:

       Wheat grass or liquid chlorophyll
       Floradix (iron with herbs)
       L-carnitine

STUCK

SYMPTOMS:

       Stressed out, easily angered
       Tension headaches, nervous stomach, high blood pressure, or muscle tightness
       PMS Symptoms including breast tenderness and mood swings, painful periods, irregular cycles, clotted menstrual blood.

WESTERN MEDICINE:

       Endometriosis
       Fibroids
       Uterine polyps
       PMS
       Mittelschmerz (pain during mid-cycle)

TCM PERSPECTIVE:

The tightness of the Stuck type stems from poor energy and blood flow throughout the body, or what is referred to as qi and blood stagnation. Over time, it can lead to stagnation in the reproductive system, which can cause ovulation problems and inflexible fallopian tubes. Blood stagnation can cause painful or stop-and-start periods, and can lead to reproductive system obstructions such as endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, and cysts.

ADVICE:

       Regular aerobic exercise
       Plenty of fiber
       Stress reduction
       Hot water with lemon in the morning
       Complex carbohydrates
       Avoid soy products
       Avoid alcohol

SUPPLEMENTS:

       Zinc (especially premenstrual)
       B-complex vitamins
       Magnesium
       Calcium

WATER LOGGED

SYMPTOMS:

       Problems metabolizing fluids (swelling, inflammation)
       Painful joints, aching legs, or headaches.
       Craves sugar
       carries excess weight
       Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are common
       Sinus and lung congestion, asthma, allergies

WESTERN MEDICINE:

       Chronic yeast infections
       Metabolic disorders
       PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
       PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)

TCM PERSPECTIVE:

This type is called “phlegm damp” in TCM, where the body produces excess fluids and mucus. Stagnant fluids lead to poor transitions, including the many tricky hormone shifts involved in the menstrual cycle, conception and implantation. This type might have excessive vaginal discharge or cervical inflammation, and my be prone to reproductive system obstructions.

ADVICE

       Exercise
       Limit dairy
       Avoid alcohol, sweets, and greasy foods
       Avoid soy, especially if you have endometriosis or fibroids
       Keep your environment mold-free

SUPPLEMENTS:

       Chromium
       Pro-biotic

Fertility types are discussed in full in Jill Blakeway’s book, “Making Babies”