CHINESE MEDICINE

CHINESE MEDICINE AND INFERTILITY

by Christina Captain, DAOM, MSAOM, MSHN, MA

The need for reproductive medicine intervention is more common now than ever before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that 6.7 million women have an impaired ability to become pregnant or carry a baby to term. The percentage of married women who are infertile is 6% in the United States alone.

Couples are desperate to conceive, and in that desperation, look to reproductive and alternative medicines for safe, effective treatment. Chinese medicine is one of those alternatives that many future parents investigate. With recent studies published in Great Britain, Sweden and Germany, indicating that acupuncture can be beneficial as an assistive reproductive technique (ART), Chinese Medicine (CM) now finds itself at the forefront of the infertility scene.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has always had a firm grasp on women’s issues, including infertility. A main concept in CM, with regard to fertility, is constitutional strength. The blunt nature of CM information is sometimes hard to hear, but is frequently full of common sense. For example the concept of age and fertility is a challenge from conventional reproductive medicine, and is exceptionally important in CM as well.

The health of both parents at the time of conception plays a huge role in the ease of conception. Chinese Medicine dictates that hopeful parents should take one full year to become clean in mind, body and spirit before attempting to become pregnant. This includes healthy eating, abstaining from alcohol, appropriate exercise and meditation upon the intention to create life. This is a purposeful progression in the mind, body and spirit—one that builds on the foundation set by the couple.

In America, almost everyone seems to move at the speed of light, so with that in mind, another important concept in CM is that of overwork and excessive physical exercise. Overwork is defined as long hours without adequate rest which includes an irregular diet. Excessive physical exercise includes workouts, sports and excessive sexual activity which can cause difficulty in conceiving later in life.

Chinese Medicine also has a strong conviction with regard to various patho-

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genic factors. One of the most prolific of these pathogenic factors is the cold. It is believed in Chinese Medicine that cold can invade the uterus and create an inability to conceive. If you think about it, it would be hard to bake bread in an oven that didn’t have the ability to become warm.

This always reminds me of the cliché phrase, “a bun in the oven.” That concept also relates to the excessive consumption of cold or iced foods which can also lead to cold in the uterus and make conception really difficult. Another concept in CM that leads to infertility is the stagnation of energy (Qi). This is common in our modern world where women are under great amounts of stress. Women do not stop to rest during their menstrual cycles, even when they are losing what is considered the essence of their energy. Women continue to push to the point of mental, physical and spiritual exhaustion.

This stress and subsequent exhaustion leads to stagnated energy which causes all sorts of imbalances in health. If a woman is out of balance, pregnancy will become extremely difficult. Add in the factors of age, health, constitution and lifestyle, and viable pregnancy is sometimes impossible. As such, there are many factors that can contribute to infertility.

Energy levels, age, stress, lifestyle, diet and exercise can all affect how available the body is for conceiving and nurturing. It is easy to see that, while acupuncture can help with many of these issues, it is not the only modality that is required. Proper alignment and balance of the body, mind and spirit are essential for the desired result.

Acupuncture can be utilized as a sole therapy for fertility or as a compliment to reproductive medicine. Receiving acupuncture during conventional fertility treatment increases the chance of success. Remember to only seek out qualified board certified practitioners of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. You can find one near you through NCCAOM.org.

Dr. Christina Captain is nationally board-certified by the National Commission for Certification in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She is the lead practitioner at Sarasota Center for Acupuncture and Nutrition. Dr. Captain is also an expert Feng Shui practitioner and teacher who studied under Nancilee Wydra of the Feng Shui Institute of America, before originating her own style, Essential Balance Feng Shui. Since this discipline is a branch of Oriental Medicine, she often blends Feng Shui principles into her treatment plans. Her practice is located at 2650 Bahia Vista St., Suite 101, Sarasota. For more information, call 941951-1119 or email DrCaptain@SarasotaCenterForAcupunctureAndNutrition.com.

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