Research-based Fertility Acupuncture That Works
By Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc, Thu Dec 8th

A 2003 study proved that increases in-vitrofertilization success rates nearly two-fold.

Maybe you saw the October 2003 'Sex in the City' episode thattalked about fertility acupuncture. It's true, there is now agood research study from Germany that showed how a specificacupuncture treatment could raise the success rate of in vitrofertilization (IVF) from 26.3% to 42.5%.

Is Fertility the Best Way? If you have access to anacupuncturist, it's part of the solution. If you're doing invitro fertilization, before and after increases thesuccess rates (according to a 2003 German study that received alot of press).

Of course, there are many causes of infertility, and you shouldreview them and the specifics of your medical case with yourmedical doctor and with your acupuncturist.

The best solution would be to combine with a naturalfertility drug (herbal combination). Make sure you partner witha trained and licensed acupuncturist/herbalist - they can helpyou immensely!

Chinese Medicine Fertility Chinese medicine has some wisdom andresearch to add to the topic of fertility. Let's understandtheoretical basis of Chinese Medicine fertility.

1. The Uterus: Called 'bao' in Chinese, it is thought to be thereservoir of blood and nutrition needed by the woman's body tosustain a growing fetus. You need plenty of blood for fertility.Also, the uterus needs to be free of heat (inflammation, etc.).Fertility can clear heat from this area. Tounderstand this better, we have to understand the Chinese viewof 'blood'...

2. Blood: Called 'xue' in Chinese, blood is more than the plasmaand serum of western medicine. It includes much of thenourishing aspects of yin (all things passive, cool, and fluid).It is hard to correlate Chinese and western medical conceptsexactly, but some hormones, vitamins, and neurotransmitters maybe included in 'blood.' All of these are important in fertility.

If there's not enough blood, the uterus can't provide the fetuswith enough nourishment to survive. Blood can be deficient,leading to paleness, insomnia, and memory loss. There is anentire category of chinese herbs that can help with this. Bloodcan also stagnate, leading to symptoms like late menstruation,menstrual clots, dark menstrual blood, sharp stabbing pains(especially before menstruation). To fix that, there's anothercategory of herbs that moves (regulates the flow of) the blood.

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

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3. The Penetrating Vessel: The 'chong' channel isalso known as the 'sea of blood.' It links 4 acupuncturechannels (Spleen, Kidney, Conception, and Governing)

thatcorrespond to digestive function, some endocrine functions,menstruation, some neurological functions, and heredity. It isoften involved with gynecological disorders. It also helpsprotect the chest, abdomen, and back from disease. The qi andblood must flow properly within the Pentrating Vessel foroptimal menstruation and natural fertility. Certain herbs canboost the sea of blood and others regulate the flow of bloodwitin the Penetrating Vessel.

Acupuncture can also optimize the condition of the PenetratingVessel. The two main acupoints of the chong channel (Sp4, P6)are great fertility points.

4. Yin and Jing (Essence): Yin, mentioned with blood in #2, is afundamental aspect of the body. It includes blood, is cool, andis closely related with jing. Jing is the fundamental potentialof the body and mind. We are given a limited amount atconception, and we protect it by eating and digesting properly.A lack of jing or yin can impair menstruation, gynecologicalfunction, conception and fertility, and make for a miserablemenopause later in life. There are herbs that specifically boostyin and/or jing.

Acupuncture can boost yin and jing somewhat, but herbs are evenbetter. Many acupuncturists believe that herbs are better atsupplementing deficiencies than is. One exception tothis is moxibustion, the heating of acupoints. In fertilityacupuncture, we can moxa the acupoints that nourish yin andjing.

Putting it all together As European Chinese medicine scholarPhilippe Sionneau summarizes, "The penetrating vessel originatesin the uterus. It is the sea of blood. It moves qi and blood inthe twelve channels and is connected to the liver. Theconception vessel also originates in the uterus. It moves qi andblood in all yin channels. Woman’s fertility is directly linkedwith it, 'The conception vessel governs uterus and fetus.' It isconnected to the kidneys. Furthermore, the spleen is the root oflater heaven, the origin of qi and blood production andtransformation. Thus, if kidneys qi is flourishing, liver qi isharmonious, spleen qi is productive, and then the pentratingvessel and conception vessel are abundant and flow freely,disposed to favor birth (fertility)."

Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K.Influence of on the pregnancy rate in patients whoundergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril. 2002Apr;77(4):721-4. Maciocia G. Obstetrics and Gynecology inChinese Medicine. Wiseman N, Ellis A. The Fundamentals ofChinese Medicine. Sionnea, P. Xin Fang: Modern Chinese HerbalFormulas (In Process).

About the author:Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carterfounded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of OrientalMedicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of thebook "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself withFoods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks onradio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed byReal Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.