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Author:
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

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Acupuncture... Acupuncture Eases Tension Headache Pain Copyright 2005 Daily News Central The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has proven to be an effective treatment for tension headache. It not only relieves pain, but also cuts rates of recurrence by almost half, a recent study indicates. Traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy involves insertion of needles up to 3 inches deep into the body at prescribed acupuncture points, according to licensed acupuncturist Rong Zeng of the New York Good Health Clinic in Manhattan. However, a new, randomized blind study in Germany involving 270 patients with a similar severity of tension headache has shown that a minimal course of acupuncture works almost as well as the traditional method. Fewer Headaches After Treatment Researchers divided the patients into three groups. Over an eight-week period, one group was treated with traditional acupuncture, another received minimal acupuncture (needles inserted only superficially into the skin at non-acupuncture points), and the control group had neither treatment. The subjects were monitored for four weeks after their period of treatment. Those who had received traditional acupuncture care subsequently experienced seven fewer headaches. The group that had been given minimal acupuncture therapy had surprisingly similar results -- 6.6 fewer headaches. The control group did not fare as well, with only 1.5 fewer headaches. Improvements in headache rates continued for months after the acupuncture treatment, though they began to rise slightly as time went on. Results Subject to Interpretation Such a negligable difference in results between traditional and minimal acupuncture treatments possibly indicates that the location of acupuncture points and depth of needle insertion do not make a major difference...