How can Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs Enhance Fertility?

Numerous clinical trials have entered the mainstream demonstrating increased rates of conception with IVF, decreased miscarriage rates and shorter labors with fewer medical interventions with the help of acupuncture & herbs.

Many people ask me exactly how and why this happens. Although there are no definitive answers, I will try to explain how Chinese medicine works to increase fertility in everyday terms.

Conception (and life in general) is based upon numerous factors in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

• Jing-Essence (eggs and sperm)
• Qi (digestion, energy)
• Blood (menstrual cycle, uterine lining, lactation)
• Yin and Yang

Jing:
In Chinese medicine we are taught that a person is born with a certain amount of Jing or essence. This is likened to a battery reserve or genes in western thinking. Jing can be translated into sperm and eggs. There are few things in the universe that increase one’s jing although some argue that meditation, Qi Gong and some specific herbs have the ability to increase one’s jing. Even if we cannot change the DNA of the egg or sperm, Chinese medicine can improve the quality of the follicle, sperm motility and volume.

Qi:
Qi can be likened to energy or life force. Qi manifests in numerous ways; your stride, your facial color, your skin tone, your outlook on life, how you feel in the morning, etc. It is important to get your Qi from food and not draw upon your reserves ie. Jing and save your jing for aging. Dietary therapy and exercise increase and move Qi which, are intrinsic elements of fertility enhancement.

Yin & Yang:
Yin: can basically be described as the aspect of your body that is calm, nourished, fluid, moist, calm, dark, sleeping, blood, female. Yin is imperative for a thick uterine lining, moist cervical fluids and rest at night.

Yang: can be described as the sunny side of the mountain, energetic, bright, masculine, awake, boisterous. Yang is imperative for retaining a pregnancy.

From a fertility standpoint Yin and Yang are equally important. The Yin describes the first half of the reproductive cycle, when the endometrial lining thickens and prepares for ovulation. The second half of the cycle is characterized by Yang-the spark that releases the egg from the follicle, the movement of the fallopian tubes to capture the egg, the rhythm of the tubes to help move the egg down into the uterus. The lining itself also becomes more yang as it no longer builds blood it starts to secrete hormones to keep the embryo alive. It is important to look into everyone’s specific menstrual cycle to see how Chinese medicine can individually improve aspects your cycle. Acupuncture points and herbs can be targeted to either boost yin & yang functioning.

Blood:
Blood is very much like yin in that it provides a material basis for the qi to move through. Blood keeps one stable, calm, nourished, invigorated and healthy. From a fertility standpoint blood is crucial for conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy. Treatments including acupuncture, herbs, dietary therapy and exercise can help nourish the blood to help create a thicker uterine lining to nourish the fetus once pregnant.

Is your cycle heavy, dark, scantly, clotty, painful, irregular, bright? All of these factors offer insight into your blood stores.

Tangible ways Chinese Medicine enhances fertility:

* Regulate the menstrual cycle.
* Increase cervical fluids.
* Increase blood flow to the reproductive organs.
* Regulate hormones.
* Thicken and improve the quality of endometrial lining.
* Boost ovarian function.
* Increase the number of follicles.
* Reduce uterine contractions that may interfere with implantation.
* Reduce stress.
* Reduce the rate of miscarriage.
* Manage the side-effects of IVF medications.
* Improve sperm count, motility & morphology.


For more information about how acupuncture can help you to enhance your fertility schedule a complimentary 20 minute phone consult.