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By Health Club Therapy , ,

Infertility And Acupuncture

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM for short) approach infertility from a different perspective than Western medicine. TCM views infertility as an imbalance, rather than a disease. TCM believes that the reproductive system (just as any other system in the body) is not an isolated organ. Thus, if the body as a whole is healthy, the reproductive system will function as it was meant to and will naturally carry and deliver a healthy baby.

What Causes Infertility?

The Possible causes of infertility for both males and females have different names in Traditional Chinese Medicine language (called ‘differentiation’) based on the signs and symptoms. Common causes/ symptoms include, but are not limited to:

  • Blood deficiency (weakness of the body, dizziness, short/late period and light blood flow)
  • Blood and phlegm stagnation (irregular thick-heavy blood flow, cramps before/ during the period and clots in the flow)
  • Qi stagnation (excessive stress, PMS, heavy flow and emotional up-and-down’s)
  • Kidney deficiency (lower back pain, cold hands and feet, low libido, sexual dysfunctions and low energy)
  • Deficient heat from lack of body substances such as blood, body fluid or essence (warm body and hyperactivity)

Did you know?

  • TCM has been practiced for over 2000 years.
  • The World Health Organization recognizes TCM’s ability to treat over 40 common disorders including allergies, anxiety, asthma, depression, infertility, insomnia, migraines etc.
  • A TCM practitioner uses over 350 herbs in creating medicine to treat imbalances and illness.
  • TCM is safe, natural and effective.

Treating Infertility with Acupuncture/ Traditional Chinese Medicine

Infertility is a devastating diagnosis for those wanting to have a baby and unfortunately, infertility rates are on the rise. Health professionals partly attribute this increase to the added stresses of modern life and the increase in pollution over the years. This has resulted in a boom for the infertility spend their efforts and finances in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as artificial insemination and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Yet research shows that the success rates of pregnancy and delivery through the ART are fairly low. For instance, IVF success rates are only around 20-30% and that rate decreases even further as the age of the woman increases.

In treating infertility, acupuncture and TCM utilize different strategies according to the causes and symptoms listed above. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work to clear the blockage of Qi or blood and phlegm stagnation if there is any, replenish any underlying deficiencies, and focus on relaxation, which is a vital component in fertility treatment.

For the female, menstrual regulation is also very important. The fundamental goal of acupuncture and TCM is to promote the health of a body as a whole, which in turn, allows for natural conception and healthy delivery.  Additionally, many gynecologists have recently acknowledged the effectiveness of acupuncture and TCM in treating infertility, and regularly recommend it to their patients.