A 2003 study proved that acupuncture increases in-vitro fertilization success rates nearly two-fold. Maybe you saw
October 2003 'Sex in City' episode that talked about fertility acupuncture. It's true, there is now a good research study from Germany that showed how a specific acupuncture treatment could raise success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) from 26.3% to 42.5%.
Is Fertility Acupuncture Best Way? If you have access to an acupuncturist, it's part of solution. If you're doing in vitro fertilization, acupuncture before and after increases success rates (according to a 2003 German study that received a lot of press).
Of course, there are many causes of infertility, and you should review them and specifics of your medical case with your medical doctor and with your acupuncturist.
The best solution would be to combine acupuncture with a natural fertility drug (herbal combination). Make sure you partner with a trained and licensed acupuncturist/herbalist - they can help you immensely!
Chinese Medicine Fertility Chinese medicine has some wisdom and research to add to topic of fertility. Let's understand theoretical basis of Chinese Medicine fertility.
1. The Uterus: Called 'bao' in Chinese, it is thought to be reservoir of blood and nutrition needed by woman's body to sustain a growing fetus. You need plenty of blood for fertility. Also, uterus needs to be free of heat (inflammation, etc.). Fertility acupuncture can clear heat from this area. To understand this better, we have to understand Chinese view of 'blood'...
2. Blood: Called 'xue' in Chinese, blood is more than plasma and serum of western medicine. It includes much of nourishing aspects of yin (all things passive, cool, and fluid). It is hard to correlate Chinese and western medical concepts exactly, but some hormones, vitamins, and neurotransmitters may be included in 'blood.' All of these are important in fertility.
If there's not enough blood, uterus can't provide fetus with enough nourishment to survive. Blood can be deficient, leading to paleness, insomnia, and memory loss. There is an entire category of chinese herbs that can help with this. Blood can also stagnate, leading to symptoms like late menstruation, menstrual clots, dark menstrual blood, sharp stabbing pains (especially before menstruation). To fix that, there's another category of herbs that moves (regulates flow of) blood.
Fertility acupuncture can also address condition of blood by regulating its flow. Intertwined with blood is an extraordinary fertility acupuncture channel called 'chong,' or penetrating vessel...
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3. The Penetrating Vessel: The 'chong' acupuncture channel is also known as 'sea of blood.' It links 4 acupuncture channels (Spleen, Kidney, Conception, and Governing) that correspond to digestive function, some endocrine functions, menstruation, some neurological functions, and heredity. It is often involved with gynecological disorders. It also helps protect chest, abdomen, and back from disease. The qi and blood must flow properly within Pentrating Vessel for optimal menstruation and natural fertility. Certain herbs can boost sea of blood and others regulate flow of blood witin Penetrating Vessel.
