Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has a lot to offer couples who are trying to enhance their fertility or overcome reproductive obstacles. Men and women of all ages can benefit from acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, greatly increasing their fertility and improving their overall health.

Acupuncture regulates hormones in the body and increases blood flow to the reproductive organs. Acupuncture also helps the body to shift from the stressful sympathetic mode (fight or flight) to the relaxed parasympathetic mode (feed and breed), which is essential to female receptivity. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has been shown to improve sperm counts, motility and morphology (form).

Stress is a major factor in infertility for both men and women and it can be addressed with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Thai bodywork and lifestyle changes. A good way to start is by reducing caffeine intake (I call caffeine a stress-enhancer). It is also important to get enough rest and relaxation. In our busy world we can become overwhelmed and depleted by working too much and having too much going on in our lives. Simplify.

Other conditions blocking fertility include irregular menstruation and ovulation, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovaries, thin uterine lining, elevated FSH and other hormone imbalances. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be helpful in all of these conditions, as well as in cases of “unexplained infertility” and “advanced maternal age.”

Assessment and Treatment
With each client, I inquire about eating and sleeping habits, physical symptoms and emotions. I do a thorough assessment and create a treatment plan specific to your presentation and needs. In most cases, I make suggestions about what you can do to help yourself – including dietary changes, nutritional supplements and exercise recommendations. Please see my Recommendations for Promoting Female Fertility (pdf) and Male Fertility (pdf) for more information.

For example:
If I assess that your system needs to be strengthened – I choose acupuncture points and/or herbs to build your body’s energy, specifically the Qi, Blood, Yin or Yang energies. A thin uterine lining is an example of depleted Yin energies.

If I assess that your Qi or Blood is not moving well, causing congestion – I choose acupuncture points and/or an herbal formula to help move the Qi smoothly and circulate Blood. Fibroids and endometriosis are examples of this category.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is usually due to Damp-phlegm obstructing the reproductive organs. It is essential to reduce damp-forming foods such as sugar, dairy and refined foods (white flour products specifically). Acupuncture and herbal medicine can greatly enhance the process of clearing the dampness and improving the functioning of the ovaries.

Thai bodywork may also be helpful for you – it relaxes the mind and body, balances the energy and circulates the Qi and Blood. It also feels great!

Charting the Basal Body Temperatures (pdf) is very important. The BBT charts demonstrate energy and hormone levels and are helpful in clarifying diagnosis and treatment. They also serve as a clear guide to your progress. Take your temperature every morning and bring your charts when you come for treatment. See the BBT link for a downloadable chart and directions.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Acupuncture
Western and eastern medicines complement each other very well. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can support assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intra-uterine insemination (IUI), donor egg transfer and other treatments. Studies have been done on the use of acupuncture in conjunction with IVF procedures and the results demonstrate that acupuncture improve pregnancy rate by 40-60%.

Recommended Reading
Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis