Most people with fertility problems have never even thought about trying out traditional Chinese medicine as an alternative therapy for their infertility.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches a condition always based on a holistic approach. It believes that there are specific factors that play a role in a person’s health all the time. These forces must be always in balance with each other in order to maintain good health of a person.

So, when you decide to avail of traditional Chinese medical cure for infertility, you may see the reason why acupuncture is combined with Chinese herbal medicine as both therapies are essential for helping you treat your fertility problem successfully.

Acupuncture and Herbs

Before trying out any type of acupuncture therapy or any type of modality you should talk to your doctor first to see if these modalities are really applicable for you.

With regard to conventional treatment, if your infertility is due to a structural problem in your body (organ damage or blocked fallopian tubes, as examples) then the treatment may require a surgical approach. These types of problem may be difficult for acupuncture or herbal medicine to rectify.

However if your infertility stems from an unknown cause or due to functional problems, then traditional Chinese medicine can be a very good option for you.

TCM for infertility focuses on three organ systems of the body: the liver, spleen and kidney systems.  These systems have a direct effect on the reproductive organs of the body.  To rectify their imbalances, acupuncture in conjunction with herbal medicine is utilized although there are cases wherein another TCM modality called Qigong is also integrated into the treatment plan.

Acupuncture and Infertility

For hundreds of centuries, acupuncture has been a widely used type of medical care in China and East Asia.  The idea of inserting needles into the skin is not usually something desired by a person; these days, however, we see more and more people now considering acupuncture for the resolution of their illnesses since it has consistently been shown to deliver wonderful results for people. The main premise of acupuncture is that it helps assist a person’s body to restore the free flow of blood and vital energy the Chinese call qi or chi throughout the body and stimulate the release of the body’s natural painkilling chemicals called endorphins to help treat conditions and relieve pain.  In the case of infertility, acupuncture helps relieve stress and helps relax tight muscles allowing more blood to flow in the reproductive organs thus enabling these organs to function optimally.

When to Use Acupuncture with Infertility treatments

Acupuncture therapy for infertility is at its most potent when the patient’s infertility stems from hormonal imbalances. It is least effective when the infertility is caused by structural aberrations such as damaged fallopian tubes. When acupuncture improves the flow of chi and blood, the body systems, especially the endocrine system become well-nourished causing the increase of hormone levels which helps to improve fertility.  There is evidence that acupuncture combined with conventional infertility treatments work best together when acupuncture therapy comes first before the conventional treatments.

As you might have gleaned, acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin acupuncture needles in certain parts of the body called acupuoints.  You might think that the needling process is a painful one; it is definitely not, especially when it is performed by a qualified and certified acupuncturist. Depending on your skin type and muscular condition, the most you can experience from the needle insertion is a slight numbness or a tiny bruise at the area.

Herbal Remedies

If you really think about it, all the drugs and supplements we are taking all come from herbs.  For the treatment of infertility, certain herbs will be given the patient based on the specific cause of her infertility.

Unlike the medications we are taking, these herbal remedies have very few side effects as they are all natural, not like the synthetic drugs that are prescribed by doctors.

Interestingly, the herbs that are given by an acupuncturist or herbalist are different for males and females. Hence, it is important to follow the instructions of your TCM practitioner instead of choosing an herbal remedy on your own.

TCM states that the Yang principle is for males (positive energy, light, heat) while females are associated with the Yin principle (negative energy, cold, dark). All herbs are classified based on these two opposites. Therefore, if a female woman has excess Yang energy, an herbal formula composed of Yin herbs will restore her hormone levels and vice versa for the males.

Exercising for a healthy you and a healthy baby

Qigong is a pattern of movements and a set of meditations that is practiced by tens of millions of adherents worldwide. It is an ancient healing art that helps restore the person’s energy back into balance.

Basic movements of Qigong include movements on how to breathe while you walk, how to sleep and how to sit. More complicated movements involve certain body stretching movements among many others.

You can find Qigong classes near your area by searching online or through the yellow pages. Qigong classes always have qualified teachers teaching this art and if there’s one near your place, it may be a good idea to visit and check it out. One advantage of this healing exercise over that of western exercises is that Qigong is gentle on the body where not only your muscles are worked out but your internal organs as well.

Traditional Chinese Medicine the rundown

If you are seriously considering trying any type natural alternative therapies, consult with your doctor first.  Still, try to keep your options open as your doctor might not know much about the therapy you want to try out.

Apologists for conventional medicine may not admit it but statistics reveal that natural alternative treatments are usually as effective if not even much better in treating infertility. There’s no harm in trying out acupuncture and herbal medicine if you think you have fertility issues.