Chi is the life force of the Universe.  The flow of chi in the body makes the body alive.  That is why it is not hard to comprehend why fertility and chi go hand in hand.  In some cases of infertility, stagnant chi in some parts of the vital organs can lead to the cause of infertility.  What causes the chi to stagnate?  The lifestyle, especially the urban lifestyle greatly contributes to the chi’s slow circulation and eventual blockage. Stress, fatigue due to overwork, intake of medications stymie chi flow and create blockages in the body’s meridian system.  Liver, spleen, kidney chi stagnation are main factors of women’s (and men’s) infertility since the poor flow of chi in those regions can lead to irregular or no ovulation, low sperm count,  miscarriages and low libido among others.

Acupuncture concomitant with Chinese herbal therapy can treat some cases of infertility.  These may include spasmed tubes, elevated follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), which means difficulties in getting pregnant, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which causes irregular ovulation, and luteal phase defect among others.

In the case of spasmed tubes, the uterus is a muscle that is susceptible to spasms (tightness of the muscle) now and then.  Miami infertility acupuncture relaxes the uterine muscles thus enabling the free flow of the egg from the fallopian tube to the uterus.  Needles are applied in the stomach together with the application of herbs to de-spasm the tubes.

For elevated FSH, needles and herbs are similarly applied.  With high FSH, kidney yang deficiency is the cause (which just means that the chi stagnates in the kidney area).  The acupuncture points are in the groin, back and coccyx area.  The herbs associated with this treatment are:  Ba ji tian (Morinda root and vine); Rou gui (Cinnamon bark); Du zhong (Ecommia bark); Rou chong rong (Broomrage stem) and Bu gu zhi (Psoralea Fruit).

For PCOS, chi stagnation is in the spleen and kidney area or in the liver.  Acupuncture needles are applied to the abdominal muscles and to the back of the knee, which in traditional Chinese medicine, were believed to be associated with the ovaries.  Herbs such as Gui zhi (Cinnamomum cassia), Fu ling, Mu dan pi (Tree Peony Root Cortex), Tao ren (Peach Kernel) and Shao yao (Peony root) are used with the acupuncture.

For luteal phase deficiency, needles are placed in the same areas as those applied for PCOS.  Herbs like Dang Gui ((Angelica sinensis root), Shen Di Huang (Rehmannia) and and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix rubra) are given to the patient specifically to nourish the kidney where chi has stagnated.

A pregnant woman must inform her acupuncturist before getting acupuncture treatments so the practitioner can use acupoints away from the abdomen. Otherwise, unlike conventional medicine where side effects go hand in hand with the palliative treatment of the symptom, not the disease, acupuncture is 100% safe for treating infertility.