Research-based Fertility Acupuncture That Works by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

A 2003 study proved that acupuncture increases in-vitro fertilization success rates nearly two-fold.

Maybe you saw the October 2003 'Sex in the 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 the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) from 26.3% to 42.5%.

Is Fertility Acupuncture the Best Way?

If you have access to an acupuncturist, it's part of the solution. If you're doing in vitro fertilization, acupuncture before and after increases the 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 the 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 the topic of fertility. Let's understand theoretical basis of Chinese Medicine fertility.

1. The Uterus: Called 'bao' in Chinese, it is thought to be the reservoir of blood and nutrition needed by the woman's body to sustain a growing fetus. You need plenty of blood for fertility. Also, the 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 the Chinese view of 'blood'...

2. Blood: Called 'xue' in Chinese, blood is more than the plasma and serum of western medicine. It includes much of the 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, the uterus can't provide the 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 the flow of) the blood.

Fertility acupuncture can also address the condition of the blood by regulating its flow. Intertwined with blood is an extraordinary fertility acupuncture channel called the 'chong,' or penetrating vessel...

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BIO:

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carter founded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

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