Come see us for pain relief, stress and anxiety relief, fertility and hormone balance
fertility treatments
Fertility Acupuncture Treatments
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE FOR FERTILITY WORK?
Increase Chance of Conception without Side Effects
The overwhelming anguish and sense of loss experienced by women struggling with infertility issues is an unwelcome motivator, driving them to seek other treatment options to overcoming infertility. From home remedies, fertility drugs, and even surgery, to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and donor eggs and embryos, modern healthcare has vastly expanded the array of options available for couples struggling to conceive.
But not all can afford the financial costs of infertility which can range from hundreds of dollars spent on drugs to tens of thousands spent on advanced procedures such as Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and IVF. In the search for affordable and effective health care, alternative and holistic treatments are gaining wider appeal among the general public.
Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, has been practiced for thousands of years and includes techniques and practices such as tai chi, moxibustion, tui na, Chinese cupping, and acupuncture. Acupuncture in particular has rapidly grown in acceptance by the general public and practice among therapists today. Not only is acupuncture valued for stress-relieving and relaxing benefits, but also as a component of fertility treatments.
A recent study from Tel Aviv University reports, “When combining IUI with TCM treatments, 65.5 percent of the test group were able to conceive, compared with 39.4 percent of the control group, who received no herbal or acupuncture therapy.” For the 4.5 million couples experiencing infertility each year, acupuncture may be just what the doctor ordered.
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE HELP FERTILITY?
Acupuncture can increase fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system, according to several studies and medical research. A recent study found that acupuncture, when used in conjunction with Western fertility treatments, increases conception rates by 26%.
One of the ways acupuncture treatment increases fertility is by reducing stress, which is often a key factor in the fertility of both men and women. When people are under stress, the hormone cortisol is released in the brain. This alters the brain’s neurochemical balance, thus changing hormone levels and disrupting the pituitary balance that is key to the reproductive cycle.
If the thyroid is over- or under-functioning, acupuncture can help address the effects on fertility. Acupuncture can also “. . . be used to treat any type of fertility disorder including spasmed tubes. Spasmed tubes are often de-spasmed with acupuncture, though blocked tubes will not respond to acupuncture,” according to the American Pregnancy Association.
“Chinese medicine can help support a woman through this important time in her life—whether that is emotionally or physically, acupuncture can help with much more than just conception. It can help with morning sickness, nausea, aches and pains (low back pain, for example), anxiety preparation for birth, and insomnia, among many others,” explains Davies.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND INFERTILITY
Because of the delicate balance between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and reproductive glands, stress is capable of preventing a woman from ovulating entirely. This can contribute to the cause of female infertility. Stress can also create spasms in both the fallopian tubes and the uterus, which can interfere with movement and implantation of a fertilized egg. In men, stress can alter sperm counts, motility, and cause impotence. Acupuncture infertility treatment counters the effects of stress and cortisol by releasing endorphins in the brain. An herbal impotence cure is also an option for men and can reduce stress.
Hormonal balance does not have to be disrupted by cortisol to cause infertility. The most common cause of female infertility is an ovulation disorder, in which the release of a mature egg from the ovary is prevented, usually because of a hormonal imbalance. Without enough progesterone, for example, the fetus is unable to attach to the uterus. High levels of prolactin, the hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk, can also prevent ovulation.
Acupuncture for Male Fertility
An imbalance in reproductive hormones can also negatively affect male reproductive function, such as sperm motility and production. However, the fertility drugs that stimulate ovulation in women by regulating the hypothalamus and pituitary, the glands that control reproductive hormones, don’t perform nearly as well for men (success rates are about a third of those for women), nor have they been approved for men by the FDA. Male infertility treatment must take another track. An herbal impotence cure — if impotence is a factor in a couple’s infertility — causes no side effects and has a reported success rate when taken in conjunction with male infertility treatment.
The Potential of Acupuncture to Increase Conception
“The goal of an infertility treatment from a Chinese medicine perspective is not just to get pregnant, but to stay pregnant and to have a healthy baby,” says Deb Davies, LAc, a Pacific College alumnus. Among many other benefits, acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, creating a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and carried to term.
Modern acupuncture consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of thin, disposable sterile needles at strategic points near the surface of the body. Over 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body connect with 14 major pathways, called meridians. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that these meridians conduct qi, or energy, between the surface of the body and internal organs. It is qi that regulates spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. When the flow of qi is disrupted through poor health habits or other circumstances, pain and/or disease can result. Acupuncture helps to keep the normal flow of this energy unblocked, thereby increasing a couple’s chances of conceiving.
Acupuncture's Side Effects
Acupuncture for infertility treatment, by contrast, produces few or no side effects while performing the same function as the drugs do: stimulating the hypothalamus to effectively balance the endocrine system and its hormones and to get to the root cause of female infertility as well as male infertility.
The natural, time-tested alternative treatment used by eastern cultures just might be worth a try.
SOURCES
Tel Aviv University study
http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&;id=15808
http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/The_History_of_Acupuncture_in_China/1819
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bleeding.htm
hormone balancing
Balancing Hormones with Acupuncture
Though many tend to correlate hormone imbalances with the female population, that’s not always the case. Hormonal imbalances affect many people regardless of age. Affected individuals may experience life-altering symptoms like decreased energy and libido, infertility, and mood swings. Women specifically may notice irregular menstrual cycles including several symptoms which highlight a potential hormonal imbalance.
Some statistics estimate that 80 percent of women suffer from some form of hormone imbalance, and a little over 50 percent of those women turn to their doctor for solutions. However, many individuals seek the help of acupuncture, an effective and natural treatment for hormonal imbalances.
How Hormones Affect Your Health
When most people think of reproductive hormones, testosterone and estrogen come to mind. However, these two are just a small part of the system of reproductive hormones. Overall your body produces around thirty different hormones, each vital to your health in its own way. Then, through the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, the body releases these hormones to form what’s known as the endocrine system.
The combination of glands and hormones that make up the endocrine system can directly impact the functioning of other systems in the body and your overall health. An imbalance or blockage in the endocrine system affects natural systems within the body, such as sleep cycles, metabolism, body temperature, and reproduction. When these imbalances occur, you may encounter symptoms like low energy and libido, fluctuations in weight, depression or irregular moods, or irregular menstruation.
Using Acupuncture to Correct Imbalances
Many seek acupuncture as a natural method to improve hormonal issues and restore balance to the body, as opposed to other approaches that may cause additional side effects. Some Western medical approaches to menopause could increase the risks of stroke, heart attacks, and certain types of cancer. Acupuncture provides an answer for those seeking holistic healing, whether on its own or in conjunction with Western hormone therapies.
During a consultation, your licensed acupuncturist will go over a detailed health history and listen to the symptoms you’ve been experiencing to select the appropriate treatment plan for your specific needs.
An individualized treatment plan may also include suggested diet and exercise alterations and even may include the addition of herbal medicine in order to restore balance to the endocrine system. While it’s possible to experience positive results immediately following an acupuncture sessions, achieving overall balance throughout the body systems can take time.
Finding the Right Acupuncturist
Whether you are a young woman suffering from PMS, a mature woman dealing with menopause, or a man struggling with hypothyroidism, acupuncture can help restore the endocrine system to functioning properly by balancing hormones, reducing pain, and many symptoms related to these imbalances. However, as with any treatment, we always recommend talking to your doctor first.
Let Blue Lotus Acupuncture be the solution to your hormonal imbalances. Before your first acupuncture treatment, our licensed professionals will complete an extensive health intake, evaluate your symptoms, and prescribe a customized course of treatment just for you. For a consultation, please call or email our office or contact us through our online form.
