| One
of the most talked about areas of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) is its positive role in the
treatment of infertility  where
it has been proven in
numerous studies to
be so effective that acupuncture treatments have also become
an integral player in Western fertility centers.
With knowledge of Chinese Medical theory, a licensed acupuncturist
is able to use standard effective points and also points that tailor
treatments to exactly what is keeping a couple from becoming pregnant.
To diagnose a patient within the Chinese system, it’s critical
to consider all aspects of the woman’s Endocrine system (hormones
and menses), the Enteric Nervous System (digestion), the musculo-skeletal
system (bones, muscles & tendons), and the Central Nervous
System.
Each of these systems has a physical nature as well as a Shen,
(energetic or spiritual nature) and as the skilled practitioner
gets to know the patient, the pieces of her particular puzzle fit
together. It is this picture that will guide the needle selection
and herbal formula recommendations.
At it’s most basic: Patients with infertility are treated
for either excess or a deficiency.
For women being treated for deficiency, diet, rest, and exercise,
along with acupuncture and moxibustion (a heated herb treatment)
will slowly but surely bring their bodies back to health.
Other women are suffering from a condition of excess. Excess can
manifest in various phases of the menstrual cycle, such as late
ovulation, cysts, severe menstrual cramps and clots. For these
women, regular acupuncture treatments are vital, along with gua
sha, exercise, and diet. Herbs, useful in all cases, have proven
beneficial.
Our clinical experience:
Within the two very simple classifications of excess and deficiency,
there are as many variations of a TCM diagnosis for western infertility:
A woman came to the clinic with complaints of migraines, and after
her migraines resolved, she become pregnant. The TCM diagnosis
for her was Disharmony in the Liver Meridian where the blockage
was causing both the migraines and the infertility. Treatments
moved the qi in the Liver meridian so the patient’s menses
became regular, there was proper qi and blood flow in the lower
abdomen, and the reproductive system as a whole worked efficiently.
Many of our fertility patients are associated with a western fertility
clinic where they are using IUI, IVF, Donor Sperm or Donor Eggs.
One of our patients added TCM to her fertility treatments where
she was using Donor Sperm. After several failed IUI’s, this
woman added weekly acupuncture treatments, initially to help her
manage the stress she was feeling. When she learned that acupuncture
could also enhance her ability to maintain a pregnancy, she made
a plan to include an additional treatment per week, plus herbs,
based on her menstrual cycle. Her diligence in adhering to her
treatment plan worked! Today she is carrying twins.
Another of our patients, after chemotherapy and a hysterectomy,
used an egg donor and surrogate to carry her baby to term. Treatment
for her focused on emotional support and healing her body from
the cancer treatment so she had the energy to keep up with the
children (they had twins!) that joined the family.
Our commitment to our fertility patients: All
the healers at Heavenly Bodies Clinic focus on each fertility patient
with the single-minded goal that all treatments--acupuncture, herbs,
dietary training, and exercise classes--will heal the pattern of
disharmony, the imbalance, or the physiological breaks that are
preventing pregnancy.
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