Unexplained Infertility in Chinese Medicine

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Being diagnosed with ‘unexplained’ infertility can feel worse than being diagnosed with any functional problems. From a medical point of view, it means there are no more avenues to go down to ‘fix’ anything. Hormones are working as they should, sperm is working as it should but conception is still not happening.

One of the great things in Chinese medicine, is that we don’t have ‘unexplained’ conditions. Every single person has a diagnosis or an energetic explanation for why their desired health outcome is not being achieved. Sometimes patterns are more difficult to explain than others depending on clinical history. However, there will always be a possible solution. It just may not meet your time goals and it may mean you need to change some dietary and lifestyle habits, but there will be a treatment plan for you.

Sometimes the reason can be as simple as a concern with body fluid production for women. The only sign could be a lack of cervical mucous at midcycle and symptoms of dry mouth. Often, I see emotional causes of infertility especially in women who are under a lot of stress. Liver Qi gets stuck when we have any serious emotional changes, and Liver Qi is responsible for moving blood through the body (to the uterus and ovaries) and encouraging the egg’s smooth journey down the fallopian tubes. Acupuncture treatments can help both of these conditions plus many more.

Sometimes the most difficult problems, have the simplest solutions.

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Your Daily Juice Could Be Causing Your Period Pain

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In Chinese medicine, the temperature of the food we eat can play a huge role in our overall wellness. Unfortunately in the Western world, we follow too many ‘food fads’ which move as quickly as the seasons and don’t promote ideal health (despite what they tell you). If you’ve seen me in clinic for help with hormones, period pain, weight loss or fertility, you know I’ve told you to stop with juicing and smoothies and instead start having warm, nutrient dense foods, especially for breakfast.

To understand why this might be a problem, let’s imagine your digestive system is like a boiling pot on a stove. Your Kidneys are the fire/heat under the pot, the pot is your stomach, the contents of the pot are what you eat and the vapour escaping the top of the pot is the energy that goes to all your organs to maintain wellbeing.

If you continually put icy cold food into the pot, the Kidneys have to use more heat/energy to turn the cold food into something your body can use as energy. As blood for your menstrual cycle is formed from your Kidneys, placing too much pressure on the Kidneys to warm your cold food, can slow blood production resulting in weak blood flow, long bleeding times and pain.

Because the cold food can take so much longer to digest, it can sit in the Stomach for longer fermenting and giving off a type of ‘dirty’ energy that goes to the rest of your body, making you feel lethargic.

Over time, this internal cold slows down blood and contracts blood vessels which is why it is a main cause of period pain and infertility. Our bodies are designed to be warm, to move blood and energy easily and consistently, to incubate an embryo and fetus and to digest our food quickly and efficiently for energy and health.

So stop with the daily juice, smoothie or Acai bowl for breakfast. If this has been your diet for quite some time, you may also need warming up, which is where acupuncture and moxibustion can come in. Ensuring your low back and low abdomen are covered and keeping your feet warm will also help.

Turning a Breeched Baby…Naturally!

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If, at 32-34 weeks, bub hasn’t turned, it’s a great time to start looking for natural options to encourage this to happen. Acupuncture and moxibustion are great because they are non-invasive, easy, painless and have minimal side effects especially when performed by a trained practitioner.

There are quite a few reasons why a baby won’t turn on its own; not enough room, tone of uterine muscles weak and unable to support bub head down or possible cord obstructions. With acupuncture, we use points to warm and stimulate blood flow, move stuck energy and support muscle tone to assist with turning a breech baby. We send you home with moxa and instructions for stimulating a point on your pinkie toe every day for at least 10 days. Walking, keeping your back, feet and low abdomen warm and finding ways to relax will all help too.

One thing I always stress is that acupuncture and moxibustion are used to enhance your body’s natural ability. They will not cause your body to do something it is not ready to do. If there are major obstructions or there is not enough room (especially if left to 37 weeks), it will not be as effective, not impossible but definitely more challenging. So be proactive for the best results.

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Ovulation Myth

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It is still widely understood that all women ovulate at day 14-15 or ‘mid cycle’. Whilst for some women, this may be true, for a large and growing number of women, this is not. Ovulation is best calculated as 14 days PRIOR to your period. So for women who have 28 day cycles, day 14 (and therefore midcycle) is the average day of ovulation. However, those with 32-36 day cycles could be ovulating as late as day 18-22. The trouble is, you won’t know until you get your period if you’re using this method to predict ovulation. It may take a couple of months of tracking to understand your best fertile days. Keep in mind too that you may have slightly different cycles depending on which ovary has released an egg. The first half of your cycle is all about ripening a follicle for release. If you have decreased blood flow to one ovary you may find it can take longer for the follicle to be ready. The month you ovulate from this side may have a longer first phase. Keeping record and looking for patterns is the best way to know your own body.

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IVF Partner – What You Can Do to Help

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In over three years working with IVF clients, I have never been asked by a partner, “what can I do to help”….until two weeks ago. So I’ve had a couple of weeks to think about it and to get feedback from women going through their first, second or even fifth cycle about what they loved about what their partners have done for them and what they really didn’t need. Here are the result so far…

Things to avoid while supporting your partner through IVF

  • Don’t attempt to ‘fix’ how they are feeling, just listen
  • Don’t take it personally if they do not wish to have sex between transfer and the blood test – between the hormones and the increased attention (not to mention pain) down there, don’t be surprised if sex is not their top priority
  • Hormones are crazy! Don’t take anything personal said through an IVF cycle
  • Don’t compare your situation to other couple’s on the internet

Ways you can support your partner through IVF

  • Ask what you can do to help….and do your best to help with this request
  • Cook warm, nourishing food
  • Serve warm, herbal teas
  • Check they always have their feet covered – wearing slippers or socks for example
  • Ask how they are feeling and just listen
  • Be at as many appointments as you can – getting yourself a good book will quicken waiting times
  • On the day of the blood test, plan a date day together which occurs whether the result is positive or negative. A movie is a great way to pass time quickly
  • Encourage laughter and fun
  • No pressure for gifts, but a plant would be a great option – something to nurture
  • Try to be informed about the process – ask if you’re unsure
  • Help with calming any anxious thoughts where possible
  • Lots of hugs, belly touching and positive talk aimed towards your partner’s uterus, try not be be disconnected from the physical process

I will update this list as I get more feedback. Please email me if you have anything to add. Often partners feel completely out of the loop but encourage them to be involved as much as possible.

Much love. Px

You are my anchor

Unexplained Infertility and Lingering Pathogens

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Unexplained infertility is one of the most devastating diagnoses. This usually means Western medicine has no idea why you are not pregnant and perhaps worse still, no idea how to help you.

One thing I LOVE about Chinese medicine, is everyone has a diagnosis. There is no ‘idiopathic’ diseases when it comes to treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

If you have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, you may be suffering from the remnants of a previous disease your body was unable to eliminate….a lingering pathogen. Over time, a lingering pathogen consumes energy and fluids, leaving your body depleted and unable to muster the necessary energy to grow and develop a baby.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’ve never felt well since….”, then you may just be suffering from a lingering pathogen. You may have had a previous diagnosis of glandular fever, chronic viral infections, Ross River fever, Lyme disease, candida, poor reactions to immunisations, chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, thyroid conditions or chronic fatigue and felt like you’ve never fully recovered.

Symptoms of a lingering pathogen can include; chronic flu like symptoms, abnormal sweating (night sweating, palms constantly sweating, sweating with mild exhaustion) or heat sensations especially in your hands, feet, chest and head, sudden allergies or food intolerances, muscle joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, chronic tonsilitis and fatigue which worsens with stress.

You may have noticed also a change in your menstrual cycle, more irregular, less volume of blood, a tiredness just before your period, low back pain or a reduction in amount of cervical mucous at ovulation.

The wonderful news is, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help! We work to support the body in eliminating the remnants of the disease, alleviate sweating and fever as well as restore energy and body fluids to the body so it can develop and grow a new life.

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