Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that a woman’s body must be gently nourished and encouraged to bear fruit. Think about our bodies as fertile gardens for growing a healthy baby. The foundation soil – that is, the health of both mother and father – needs to be as balanced and nutrient-dense as possible to support a viable pregnancy. Therefore preconception care becomes an important aspect for fertility.
A Holistic Approach
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach, not only acupuncture and herbal medicine are important, but also diet and lifestyle. A healthy diet is an essential cornerstone to build the foundation of our health. In TCM food is considered our daily medicine. Recommended is a seasonal diet full of wholefoods if possible organic, reducing or avoiding processed foods is paramount. In regards to lifestyle; one of our biggest problems is chronic stress, which can negatively affect our health and bring our body and hormone household out of balance. Acupuncture is a great way to reduce stress and strengthen the ability to cope with stressful situations.
Male and Female Fertility
Studies have shown that acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs (TCM) can improve female fertility by regulating hormones to produce more follicles, regulate the menstrual cycle, improve egg quality and increase blood flow to the uterus to increase the thickness of the uterine lining. Furthermore TCM can reduce stress and boost the immune system, which can improve the implantation process and reduce chances of miscarriage. For male fertility TCM can improve sperm quality and quantity. It is important for men to start treatment 3 months ahead, since this is how long it takes for sperm to be renewed.
Recommended Treatment
Recommended are weekly treatments of acupuncture. Acupuncture is an energetic & accumulative treatment, enabling the body to get back into balance. Depending on each individual, it can take up to six menstrual cycles, with some women falling pregnant after only 1-2 cycles. Naturally there are also couples that don’t achieve conception with TCM, especially if there is a physiological condition present that needs medical attention.
The Gentle Approach
TCM can be used a stand-alone treatment to reach natural conception or it can be used in conjunction with assisted reproductive therapy (like IVF) to increase the chances of falling pregnant. TCM is a gentle approach without any unwanted side effects. The only side effect one might get to feel healthy and balanced.
