A complete natural fertility treatment encompasses the best of ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions. Acupuncture for fertility has been used by Chinese women for centuries. In recent years acupuncture has become more widely practiced in the west due to greater awareness of eastern healing modalities and scientific research proving the existence of energy channels called meridians. Meridians run along our body and are covered with small energy points which when stimulated by pressure (acupressure) or by a tiny needle (acupuncture) promote the flow of life force or energy called Qi.
You’ve probably heard of yin yang and seen the beautiful black and white symbol which represents the old saying: “In everything good there is something bad and in everything bad there is something good”. Rather than thinking along the lines of ‘good and bad‘, what it really represents is the balance between duality everywhere in nature. For example; hot and cold, night and day, male and female, summer and winter etc… Ancient healing modalities such as acupuncture teach us how to find the balance between opposing areas in our lives. Our bodies reflect what is going on in our lives, so it pays to find and maintain the balance within so it can be reflected without.
Acupuncture and Fertility
Yin (the black half of the yin yang symbol) represents nourishing, cooling energy and in terms of fertility stands for estrogen and the first half of the cycle – the follicular phase. Yang (the white half of the yin yang symbol) represents growth and warming energy and in terms of fertility stands for progesterone and the second half of the cycle – the luteal phase. When you go to a Chinese medicine practitioner he or she will evaluate your fertility in terms of how much Qi (life force), yin and yang you have in your body and in your reproductive system.
If an imbalance is diagnosed, acupuncture needles will be used along with Chinese herbs to restore the balance between yin and yang and get the Qi – or life force moving through your ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.
Some of my clients who see Chinese medicine practitioners are often diagnosed with a ‘cold womb‘. What this means in terms of energy is that there is too much yin present in the womb and not enough yang. An interesting point to note here is that the second half of the cycle is dominated by progesterone which raises the body temperature. If you’re charting your BBT (basal body temperature) you would have noticed that your temperature goes up in the second half of the cycle after you ovulate. This rise in temperature and progesterone release is viewed as yang in Chinese medicine. According to Chinese medicine in order for the embryo to implant, the womb must be hot. hence the term ‘cold womb’ if you’re not producing enough progesterone.
Acupuncture is a natural fertility treatment which can be used together with IVF (if you decide to go down that path) and is a good adjunct to naturopathic treatments.
Here are some of the ways Acupuncture can help boost your fertility
- Corrects subtle hormonal imbalances in the body to restore ovulation and menstruation.
- Improves blood flow to the uterus and improves the quality and thickness of the endometrium to help the embryo implant.
- Enhances the blood flow to the ovaries and helps nourish the developing follicles (eggs).
- Stimulates the pituitary to produce more follicles (same as Clomid, but a lot gentler and without the harmful side-effects).
- Facilitates the release of the egg and it’s movement down the fallopian tube.
- Reduces uterine spasm to assit with embryo implantation.
- Reduces stress associated with infertility and IVF treatments.
- Regulates the immune system and can cause inflammation which may impair fertility.
- Improves low sperm count, sperm quality and sperm motility (ability to swim).
If you haven’t tried acupuncture yet I’d encourage you to consider booking an appointment with a certified acupuncturist who specializes in fertility. Utilize the many benefits natural fertility treatments can offer you before you opt for more invasive, potentially harmful and often less effective assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments.
Are you using acupuncture or Chinese herbs? I would love to hear your thoughts on acupuncture!
© 2010 Iva Keene and Natural Fertility Prescription
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About Iva Keene
Iva Keene ND is an internationally recognized natural fertility specialist and naturopathic physician who has helped thousands of couples with fertility problems on their path to pregnancy.
A complete natural fertility treatment encompasses the best of ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions. Acupuncture for fertility has been used by Chinese women for centuries. In recent years acupuncture has become more widely practiced in the west due to greater awareness of eastern healing modalities and scientific research proving the existence of energy channels called meridians. Meridians run along our body and are covered with small energy points which when stimulated by pressure (acupressure) or by a tiny needle (acupuncture) promote the flow of life force or energy called Qi.
that’s interesting.. that was really nice to read that.. that was really a great post.. it seem really nice helpful information about that….. that’s great…
Thanks a lot! Glad you like it!
Thanks Iva. I have been going to acupuncture for quite a while now and really enjoy it. It has really helped me. I’m lucky because last year I went to a physiotherapist that did acupunture and now this year a homeopath that does acupuncture so I get refunded from the medical aid (which in South Africa still doesn’t recognise it). Also the homoepath can now give me vitamins also that can get refunded!
I totally agree about being “cold” and I have been having this problem.
Thanks also for the thyroid article, I have recently discovered this problem and your article was very helpful.
Thanks Heather! All the best! Iva