Chinese Medicine and Assisted Reproduction: Two Peas In a Pod
For some, integrating Chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle recommendations) into Western reproductive care can seem a little intimidating at first. Today, I am going to tell you what you can expect from your first treatment with a practitioner of Chinese medicine, and how using Chinese medicine can help you on your reproductive journey.
At your first appointment, your provider should thoroughly review your health history, including your reproductive health. Your provider will most likely then assess your tongue and take your pulse, and based on those findings, will insert (very thin) needles into specific points on your body. You may feel a little bit of a pinch as the needles are inserted, depending on your sensitivity, but most people do not feel anything at all. Once all of the needles are in, you may feel some warmth or mild achiness, but it shouldn’t hurt.
At our clinic, we give our patients dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on our findings at the initial consultation. These recommendations are based on your Chinese medical diagnosis, and current research in the fields of reproductive and environmental health. The acupuncture points that are chosen by your practitioner are selected to promote blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, stimulate a healthy uterine lining, regulate hormonal activity and promote ovulation. Simply though, the goal of any practitioner of Chinese medicine is to try to return your body to an optimal state of balance.
One of the many reasons why I feel that Chinese medicine and Western fertility treatments work so well together is that having providers that can assess you on multiple levels can provide the patient with comprehensive, holistic care. Western reproductive medicine consistently refines and improves diagnostic and treatment techniques with regards to infertility. That being said, stress and other factors (subtleties that may sometimes get overlooked or can be difficult to treat with Western medicine alone), can negatively impact the body’s ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Research consistently suggests that diet, stress, and lifestyle factors can impact sperm quality, conception and live birth rates, and overall reproductive health.
As any couple or individual who has struggled with fertility issues knows, the field of reproductive health is very complicated. Just as you go to a Reproductive Endocrinologist and specialized fertility clinics dedicated to that sole purpose, I recommend that you find an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility and reproductive medicine so that you can feel confident in the care that your are getting. The website www.aborm.org lists practitioners who are Board Certified in Oriental Reproductive Medicine. However, some practitioners are not board-certified but still treat mostly fertility patients, and are very good at treating fertility. The board-certification ensures that practitioners have taken a certain amount of continuing education credits, and have also passed a competency exam in both Western and Eastern reproductive medicine. As with any practitioner, being comfortable with your provider is the most important thing!
Chinese medicine is a wonderful complement to Western medical care, and by developing a holistic wellness strategy that includes Chinese medicine, you can feel physically and emotionally stronger throughout the process of trying to conceive.
Elisabeth (Libby) Horesh, Lic. Ac., MAOM, Dipl.OM, FABORM
Elisabeth Horesh became interested in Chinese medicine after being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome in her twenties. After using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and making dietary changes, her symptoms resolved, and she decided to pursue her Master’s degree in Chinese medicine. Elisabeth founded Nurture Whole Health and Reproductive Acupuncture in Concord, MA, with the goal of supporting patients in their pursuit of better health and wellness. She is one of only three acupuncturists in Massachusetts board-certified in Oriental Reproductive Medicine. She lives in Bolton, MA with her husband, two children, and a dog.