Treating Fertility with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Treating Fertility with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Treating Fertility with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine has become a common therapy in treating infertility, and it is for good reason.

A recent podcast interview on Everyday Acupuncture explains why. In this episode, Dr. Lorne Brown, an acupuncturist in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the “Acubalance Fertility Diet”, discusses the many aspects of health that relate to fertility. As Dr. Brown highlights, Chinese medicine looks at the body as a whole and can help couples conceive by addressing the root cause of infertility, which improves the “take-home baby” rate. In other words, the healthier the mom, the healthier the child.
In this podcast, Dr. Brown explains the specifics of how acupuncture can improve fertility. 4 key areas are discussed:
  1. Acupuncture can help increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries. In order to have this effect, most research suggests treatment twice a week for at least 4 weeks.
  2. Acupuncture helps reduce stress hormones. When we are stressed, our bodies revert to the “fight or flight” mode. During “fight or flight”, the body shifts into survival mode and less energy is available for making babies.
  3. Acupuncture helps balance hormones. Many women don’t realize that an egg takes nearly 3 months to fully mature. In order to get the best quality egg, a woman should be treated for at least 3 months prior to natural conception, IUI, or IVF.
  4. Studies have shown that acupuncture increases live birth rates when used with IVF.
Dr. Brown stresses the importance of “nourishing the soil before planting the seed”.  Chinese Medicine’s unique approach to viewing the body as a whole allows trained acupuncturists to see where imbalances lie and then treat the root of these imbalances. As a result, fertility improves, and many other symptoms may improve as well, from digestive issues to mood and sleep quality.
Click here to listen to the full podcast.
Article by Stephanie Duininck, L.Ac., Well Woman Acupuncture Education Outreach