Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is the practice of inserting very thin needles into specific body points in order to improve the circulation of vital energy (qi) throughout the body. Acupuncture encourages a body’s natural healing abilities, thus promoting overall health and well-being. In addition to inserting very fine needles, acupuncturists use heat, pressure, friction, suction and vibrational energy to stimulate specific points.
Acupuncture can be used to boost fertility, during pregnancy for general health + well being, and for assisting with breech presentations. It can be safely used throughout a woman’s lifetime to promote wellness, balance, and enhance the body’s ability to heal.
Acupuncture is a safe, cost effective, and non-invasive way to promote well-woman and child health and wellness.
With more and more couples seeking acupuncture and herbal medicine to boost fertility, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is quickly becoming a standard in the treatment of infertility.
This is no surprise to TCM practitioners who have been helping couples conceive for thousands of years. Used together, acupuncture and herbal medicine can increase blood flow to the uterus, regulate hormone levels and the menstrual cycle, balance the body’s systems and reduce stress, thus boosting fertility and promoting overall health.
It takes two to tango, and Chinese medical theory applies equally to male and female factor infertility. TCM can address low sperm count, poor motility, morphology, sexual dysfunction and other imbalances leading to reduced male fertility.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be used on their own or in conjunction with Western medical fertility treatments. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture greatly boosts a couple’s chance of conceiving when used in conjunction with IVF. Many fertility clinics, including CCRM, have even gone as far as recommending and providing acupuncture treatment before and after IVF embryo transfer.
Acupuncture has also been used to turn breech babies in China for centuries, and some practitioners claim high success rates. Traditionally, Moxa, an ancient Chinese herb, is formed into sticks which are then burned by the acupuncture points on the foot. When hot moxa is held near the skin , it stimulates the acupuncture points, altering the flow of energy into the uterus. The sticks are held by the little toes on both feet – a point which has a deep pathway to the uterus. It is understood that the increased placental estrogen and prostaglandins caused by the heat from the burning moxa increases uterine contractions as well as increases baby’s heart rate both encouraging the baby to move into the desired position for birth.
To make an appointment with our acupuncturist, please visit Tara Faith-Brockman