DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

Acupuncture could be the answer for many who are looking to conceive. Many patients have found acupuncture to be beneficial in their quest of becoming pregnant.

Acupuncture can be very effective in cases of infertility. It is important in fertility issues to get as much information as we can. It is helpful to have both you and your husband at the initial visit, when we will discuss your medical history in detail. There are many causes of infertility in both men and women. You may both benefit from acupuncture treatments.

What causes it?

Causes of male infertility can include poor sperm quality, low sperm count, altered sperm shape, sperm allergies (normally after reversing a vasectomy), male tube blockages, and scarring caused from sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Causes of female infertility can include endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, poor egg quality, irregular or no ovulation, female tube blockages from pelvic inflammatory disease, sperm allergies (to partner’s sperm), scarring from sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, or previous sterilization procedures.

These are all issues that are treatable with acupuncture and Oriental medicine (TCM).

We may ask you to monitor your basal body temperature if you are not already doing this. This can help you determine whether you are ovulating. We will discuss your menstrual cycle. This gives us valuable insight into how your body is functioning.

Acupuncture has worked for many women who want to have children; a Memphis mom who wants a 2nd child has also turned to acupuncture for help.

Starting a family wasn’t easy for Belinda Henry.

It took years of hormone therapy and procedures for the Lakeland mom to conceive her son, now 2 years old.

Hoping for a second child, Henry recently returned to the fertility clinic ready to repeat the in vitro fertilization regimen.

But in addition to the familiar medical routine, this time she was offered a very different treatment — acupuncture.

In an out-of-the-box approach to how medicine has been practiced in the Mid-South, Fertility Associates of Memphis has partnered with Chinese acupuncturist Dr. Mark Xu.

“The practice between the Chinese and Americans is totally different,” said Xu, pronounced “Shree,” who is a third-generation acupuncturist.

Xu’s patients recline under heat lamps in a room with soothing music, where tiny needles are used to increase blood circulation.

Meanwhile, patients at Fertility Associates receiving IVF are typically given medication to produce mature eggs or stimulate

sperm production. The eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish and the embryo is transferred to the uterus.

“Chinese medicine looks at you as a whole person, and Western medicine looks at the exact individual problem,” he said.

Combined, the two approaches to fertility have been very successful, he said.

Henry began using both treatments in tandem several months ago and is now more than six weeks’ pregnant.

She’d heard about the fertility benefits of the ancient Chinese practice that uses needles to balance the body’s energy.

Already spending a lot of time and money on fertility treatments, however, made the thought of finding another fertility method just too exhausting, she said.

But when her doctor offered a convenient consultation with the acupuncturist at the East Memphis clinic, she couldn’t resist.

“I was like, ‘Why not?’ ” she said.

For the last six months, Xu has been traveling from his Cordova practice to give consultations to women at the clinic.

It’s part of a longer treatment plan that includes patients coming to his office for regular acupuncture sessions before and after their IVF procedures.

Stress is a key factor that plays into whether IVF is successful, said Dr. Raymond Ke, director of in vitro fertilization services at Fertility Associates.

Traditional Chinese medicine has helped many infertile couples conceive and with it, the joy that comes from having a baby!

Baby joy via TCM

SOME couples struggle to conceive, especially when infertility might be an underlying problem.

And besides undergoing Western fertility treatments, some are turning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for help.

TCM treatments include herbal remedies and acupuncture, which are meant to bring the body into balance and thus facilitate conception.

But those who turn to TCM should know that TCM isn’t a quick fix, said physician Loh Kim Gek, 55.

As with Western medicine, a substantial amount of time and patience may be required before a couple sees a successful result.

With TCM, couples need to undergo at least nine to 12 months of consistent treatment, said Ms Loh, who is one of four physicians at the fertility unit in free clinic Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution.

Ms Loh, who has more than 20 years of experience, added: “I feel a sense of satisfaction when my patients bring along their babies to meet me. It makes me very happy.”

She has helped about 30 per cent of some 900 couples to conceive.

She said that the success rate could have been as high as 50 per cent if some of those couples had stuck to their treatment without giving up halfway.

Although women are traditionally blamed for fertility problems, Ms Loh said that, in seven out of 10 cases, the problem actually lies with the male.

She will give a talk on Saturday to explain how TCM can help to boost fertility, and how one can improve one’s constitution. my paper gets her to answer some questions from readers.

Why would TCM be better than Western medicine in fertility treatments?

MS JOEY GWEE, 25

Ms Loh: TCM treatment for gynaecological problems has a long history in China, and has proved to be effective.

To me, TCM and Western medicine serve complementary needs. TCM treats the root problem, while Western medicine tackles the symptoms.

For instance, if you have ovulation problems or problems with the quality of your ovaries, TCM treatment – which comprises Chinese medicine as well as acupuncture – can improve the function of the ovaries. TCM can also help strengthen men’s sperm to enable a higher chance of conception.

But if you have problems such as a blockage in your fallopian tube due to ovarian cysts, then I would recommend Western treatment to remove them. My wife and I have been trying to have a baby for two years.

What can we do to improve our chances of conceiving?

MR J. Y. QUEK, 31

Ms Loh: Firstly, you should learn how to be free of worry. When people are anxious, it will affect the quality of a woman’s ovaries and the effectiveness of sperm. In my talk, I will share some simple methods for relieving stress.

Secondly, you need to build up your constitution and prevent development of illnesses. Illnesses during the ovulation period can greatly affect conception.

You can improve your general health by drinking teas, such as chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea, boiled dried longan, American ginseng and red dates, or wolfberry and lily tea with some brown sugar. But do consult your TCM physician to see if these are suitable for your condition, and seek treatment as soon as possible.