How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances Fertility
Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China, Nancy Rakela, L.Ac., O.M.D.,
Article:
How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances
Fertility
Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China;
http://www.FertilityAcupuncturist.com
Nancy Rakela, L.Ac., O.M.D., China;
http://www.NancyRakela.com
TCM describes the female reproductive system as a network of
energy systems. Each energy system has complementary organs and
hormonal responses. This network responds to stress, chemicals,
lack of exercise, poor diet and excess emotions all of which can
put the body 'out of balance'. A TCM practitioner will carefully
determine the state of your imbalances and prescribe an
individualized program of herbs, acupuncture and diet to help
you create the correct environment for fertility and pregnancy.
Stress Reduction
Psychological stress can have a negative effect on couples
facing fertility problems. Stress leads to the release of stress
hormones and causes detrimental effects on mechanisms
responsible for a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle. The success
of acupuncture for reducing stress and anxiety is due to its
beta-endorphin release and sympathetic calming effects.
Stress causes the sympathetic nervous system of be over
stimulated. Thus, the blood flow is diverted away from the
ovaries and uterus to the adrenals (stress coping gland)
instead. This can cause irregular cycles, lack of ovulation, and
infertility. Electro acupuncture and Femoral Artery Massage
redirect the blood flow back to the ovaries and uterus,
enhancing fertility and regulating your cycle.
Acupuncture Strengthens The Immune System
Many women with immunological factors hostile to pregnancy have
been effectively treated with TCM prescription of diet, herbs,
and acupuncture. When an acupuncturist treats the root problem,
the immunological markers correct themselves.
Fertility Hormone Regulation
Acupuncture has been known to control pain through stimulating
the release of beta-endorphin. In addition, beta-endorphin works
to influence the source of women's ovulatory and fertility
hormones (the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis) and control
hormones that regulate a women's ovulation and fertility that
includes gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle
stimulating hormone (F.S.H.), luteinizing hormone (L.H.) and
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Regulates Hormones Creating Better Egg Quality
Acupuncture normalizes the dysfunction of the Hypothalamus-
Pituitary - Ovarian Axis. This improves ovarian function
creating more follicles, and better egg production. It has also
been suggested that the concentrations of central opioids may
regulate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
via the central sympathetic system, and that a hyperactive
sympathetic system in anovulatory patients could be normalized
by ElectroAcupuncture (Chen and Yin, 1991). It has been assumed
that various disorders in the autonomic nervous system, such as
hormonal disturbances, may be normalized during auricular
acupuncture (Gerhard and Postneck, 1992).
www.acubalance.ca/res_medical_reduction.php.
Acupuncture Lessens Side Effects From Clomid
Clomid often causes the uterine lining to thin, which is
detrimental to becoming pregnant. Acupuncture causes the uterine
lining to thicken and become more uniform. This is a result of
increased blood flow to the uterine arteries, as proven in the
article referenced just below.
I.V.F. Assistance With Acupuncture Treatment
This study shows that acupuncture increases blood flow to the
uterine arteries, creating a thicker and more regular lining,
allowing for IVF to be more successful. Acupuncture also
improves ovarian blood flow to increase ovarian response.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of
infertile women with Electro Acupuncture Stener-Victirin,et
al., Human Reproduction, Vol 11, no6. pp. 1311-17, 1996.
Decreases Uterine Contractility at Implantation
Study: Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in
patients who undergo ART.
Fertility a& Sterility Vol77 April 2002
"Acupuncture May Improve Success Rate Of IVF Pregnancies:
Patients in the acupuncture group received two acupuncture
sessions - the first treatment 25 minutes before embryo
transfer, the second treatment 25 minutes after. In the
acupuncture group, the pregnancy rate was "considerably higher"
- 34 women (42.5%) were carrying a fetal sac at the time of
examination."
"Relaxing the uterus with Acupuncture treatment allows for
more successful IVF."
www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html,
www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html
Acupuncture Decreases The Chance Of Miscarriage
Acupuncture relaxes the uterus, increases blood flow to the
uterus, warms the uterus, increases the immune system, regulates
the hormones and decreases stress, all creating less of a chance
of miscarriage.
Study: Acupuncture Improves Fertility In Men, Too
According to statistics from the National Infertility
Association (an organization also known as RESOLVE), between 35
percent and 40 percent of infertility problems among couples are
actually caused by male conditions. A recent trial published in
Fertility and Sterility has shown just how effective
acupuncture can be in the treatment of this condition, leading
to significant increases in the number of normal sperm and
equally significant reductions in structural defects. Thus,
Acupuncture improves sperm count, motility, and morphology.
www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2005/oct/10infertility.html
For more information, see www.fertilityacupunc
turist.com or www.acupuncture-works.com
About the author:
Robin Hays is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and a
Diplomate of National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics. She
specializes in fertility and complications of pregnancy. She
practices in Los Angeles, CA.
Nancy Rakela is a licensed acupuncturist, is certificated in
Acupuncture Orthopedics, enabling her to provide speciali
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