Being faced with difficulties when trying to become pregnant can be a very disheartening time for those wanting to start a family, especially for the woman. Disappointments such as miscarriages, or being unable to conceive altogether, often exacerbate stress and further reduce the chances of becoming pregnant. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help support a woman through this pivotal time in her life, both emotionally and physically. There is growing evidence signifying the power of acupuncture to enhance fertility. From a TCM perspective, the intention of an infertility treatment is not just to get pregnant, but also to remain pregnant and to bring a healthy child into the world. Incorporating acupuncture into a fertility plan creates a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and carried to term.
Acupuncture For The Mind, Body And Spirit
Traditional Chinese Medicine, dating back thousands of years, contends that the disruption of the flow of energy in our bodies can lead to physical and emotional illnesses, including infertility. The mind and body are tightly interwoven entities. If one is off balance, our entire body system is agitated and thrown off balance, too.
The Chinese hold strongly to the philosophy that an individual is made up of spiritual, physical and mental principles that to them, are one in the same and cannot be separated. This explains why acupuncture can be so effective when treating infertility. The needling of an acupuncture point activates the nervous system. This action then sets off a sequence of biochemical signals that are known to improve blood circulation and hormones that directly influence our body’s ability to heal and function as nature intended. An example of this is the kidney network that extends the entire length of our body and supports the reproductive system.
A woman’s body is designed to bear children. Bringing the body back into balance by regulating spiritual, emotional, mental and physical elements is a key factor in encouraging this natural process.
Benefits Of Acupuncture On Fertility
In holistic circles, acupuncture is considered an art form as well as a science. It is ingrained in the unique and elaborate system of Chinese medicine that has been effectively used for centuries. Acupuncture has been revealed to have physical effects on our bodies and the reproductive system, and may benefit fertility in the following areas:
- Improve ovarian health and functioning
- Produce healthier, better quality eggs
- Regulate hormones and the menstrual cycle
- Mobilize larger numbers of ovarian follicles
- Increase blood flow to the reproductive organs (uterus and ovaries)
- Prepare uterine lining for implantation
- Promote healthy tubal environment
- Decrease miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rates
- Balance endocrine system
- Regulate thyroid
- Reduce stress and anxiety levels that promote infertility
- Morning sickness, nausea, aches/pains and insomnia upon conception
- Improve sperm count, mobility and quality in males
Some research suggests that ratios of infertility are caused equally by problems in the male and the female. Anovulation (failure to release eggs during menstrual cycle) and endometriosis (uterine tissue growing outside of uterine lining) are common for women, while low sperm counts or poor quality of sperm are often seen in men. However, a small proportion of causes of infertility are completely unknown. This can be a source of great frustration for couples trying to conceive. The good news is acupuncture infertility treatment can improve many of these causes of infertility, and at the very least help alleviate infertility stress on the whole.
Focus Of Acupuncture Treatment For Fertility
As mentioned, one of the incredible ways acupuncture treatment increases fertility is by reducing stress, which is frequently a significant factor in a woman’s inability to conceive. When our bodies are under stress, specific hormones are released. These hormones change the chemical balance in our brains and impede the pituitary balance that is crucial to the reproductive cycle. Understanding this is important. Women can find some comfort in the fact that not being able to conceive is not their fault, there are many outside elements involved in this complex biological process. Self-shaming only sends our bodies deeper into stress mode.
It has been said that acupuncture has the ability to reset our internal thermostat by working on certain points of the body to enhance blood flow and overall reproductive health. Acupuncturists specializing in fertility use the practice to influence energy channels in the body. They endeavor to harmonize those parts of the body that are weak with those that are being overworked. When our internal organs are balanced they are inclined to cooperate cohesively as a unit to help promote pregnancy.
Targeting acupuncture points that increase blood circulation to the uterus makes it a more hospitable home for a fertilized egg. The focal point of acupuncture for increased fertility is on addressing the root causes of infertility as opposed to the symptoms. This is the defining feature of Traditional Chinese Medicine — letting the body heal itself with the help of natural remedies and positive thinking.
Nourishing Our Soil
Creating another human being is stressful enough without the added complications of IVF treatments, miscarriages or other reproductive diagnosis. Acupuncture has become a sought-after form of alternative medicine and is a promising way to improve a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a happy and healthy baby. A common Chinese medicine proverb says that we must nourish the soil before planting the seed. This could not be truer when it comes to a woman’s remarkable ability to bring life into the world.
References
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Ancient baby booster Despite the resistance of Western doctors to acupuncture as a legitimate fertility treatment, studies show it just might work. (2006). MACLEANS, (4). 40.
Figura, S. Z. (2001). Hope for infertility. Washingtonian, (6). 62.
Howard, C. (2006). AN ANCIENT HELPER FOR MAKING A BABY. Maclean’s, 119(4), 40.
Peters, D. (2011). Brought to you by non-IVF methods!. Chatelaine, 84(10), 116.
http://www.thefertilityclinic.com/fertility-acupuncture.html
https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-does-acupuncture-help-fertility-1959899
