In the recent years, more and more people are turning to holistic alternative medicine such as acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The increasing interest and research in this 3000 year old art and science has revealed profound benefits to maximize your fertility.
In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture. The study found that acupuncture is an effective treatment for a variety of alignments such as depression, headaches, fertility challenges, pain, and many more. In essence, acupuncture helps to inhibit all types of pain, induce relaxation, and stimulate your body’s natural healing responses.
In TCM, we believe that physical and emotional challenges are associated with the imbalance or blockage of free flowing vital energy along your body’s energetic pathway known as meridians. This is also known as qi (pronounced “chee”). Acupuncture helps to resolve blocked qi flow and stimulate the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. By inserting fine thin sterile needles into different points along the body, acupuncture restores balance throughout the mind, body, soul, and spirit.
As practitioner and advocate of Eastern medicine, I practice what I preach. I used acupuncture and Chinese medicine during my own fertility challenges. Due to my blocked fallopian tubes, acupuncture helped to increase my ovarian and uterine blood flow. It also allowed me to manage my stress levels and minimize the side effects associated with the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) drugs such as bloating and emotional irritability. The use of acupuncture helped to keep me calm and relaxed throughout my journey.
Through my professional and personal experience, I have helped a countless number of patients in their own pathways to pregnancy. Sometimes TCM on its own with lifestyle and dietary changes was enough to create the balance that was necessary to realize the child of their dreams. Other times we integrated acupuncture into their medical fertility approach.
Regardless of their fertility treatments, it was always gratifying to see their tension melt away as they fall into a deep state of relaxation during and after their acupuncture sessions. Many patients commented that they go back to work feeling less reactive, less irritated and more tolerant of the stresses around them. They often felt increased mental clarity and focus which significantly improved their emotional wellness and physical health.
Acupuncture and Fertility
Combined with Chinese herbs, dietary and lifestyle changes, acupuncture carries enormous medical benefits and is capable of providing you with a renewed sense of hope.
According to Dr. Schoolcraft, founder of one of the world’s leading fertility clinics, Colorado’s Centre for Reproductive Medicine, states that “recent studies have demonstrated that ancient Chinese processes of acupuncture may assist with infertility”.
Acupuncture has profound effects addressing hormonal imbalances and regulating the menstrual cycle. It may help to restore your ability to conceive naturally. It also supports a positive fertile environment that allows your fetus to thrive and prosper naturally.
For thousands of years, acupuncture has helped women mitigate stress, alleviate pain, increase their ovarian and uterine blood flow, and enhance overall energy levels. This therapeutic treatment option has become increasingly popular and works hand-in-hand with modern fertility treatments, such as Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) and IVF. According to a study conducted by Wolfgang Paulus, acupuncture increased implantation rates by up to 60%. The study found that acupuncture treatments before and after embryo transfer helped to increase blood volume and relaxed the uterus to make it more receptive for implantation.
Another study by Lee Hullender Rubin on the Impact of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM) on IVF Outcomes in 2015 found that women who used acupuncture and TCM 3 months prior to and including at time of embryo transfer were found to have over 13% increase in live birth rates. This eludes to the fact that TCM helps to optimize and improve egg quality by making your reproductive organs healthier and juicier!
Acupuncture has the ability to not only optimize your physical health and emotional wellness. It also can maximize your fertility and minimize the side effects associates to hormonal drugs. Head over to ALIVE Holistic Health Clinic to learn more about this ancient art form.
The best part of your blog is when you said that acupuncture has the ability to address hormonal imbalances that will allow you to conceive naturally. This is something that I will remember because I have been wanting to have a child. My husband and I have been trying to conceive since 2015. Our dream is to have our own family. If I may share, my menstrual periods are irregular. Thanks!
Hi Ciara,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing. I completely understand the difficulty of this long and painful journey. If your menstrual periods are irregular, I do recommend acupuncture and herbal medicine to help regulate menses which may help to increase your chances of conception. If you’re not local to Toronto, it’s important to work with someone who is qualified and has a special interest in fertility. Lifestyle and dietary habits are also important factors to be addressed which may also impact your menstrual cycle. And we don’t want to forget about your partner. 50% of fertility challenges are due to male or male/ female factors combined. So if you haven’t already done so, a fertility work up at a fertility clinic would be advisable just in case there are structural or functional anomalies. Wishing you well on your journey.