Yoga’s Stress Relief: An Aid for Infertility

There is a great article in the New York Times about Yoga and Infertility:

"KIMBERLY SORANNO, a 39-year-old Brooklynite undergoing an in vitro fertilization cycle as part of her quest to become pregnant, had gone to her share of yoga classes, but never one like that held on a recent Tuesday night in a reception area of the New York University Fertility Center. There were no deep twists or headstands; just easy “restorative” poses as the teacher, Tracy Toon Spencer, guided the participants — most of them women struggling to conceive — to let go of their worries." read more...

Foods for Fertility

Looking to get pregnant with the next year? Start now to boost your fertility with nutritious foods. This article is great! Foods For Fertility: Read more at: nourishedkitchen.com

Acupuncture and Reproductive Health

Current statistics state that one in five couples over the age of 30 have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples are turning to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for a safe, effective and natural solution to have a healthy baby.

TCM has a long history when it comes to enhancing fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD.

Fertility treatments were first recorded by Zhang Zhong Jing, a famous physician from the Han Dynasty, in his discussion of diseases in women in the Jin Gui Yao Lue or Essentials of the Golden Cabinet.

How Acupuncture Can Enhance Fertility

According to the principles of TCM, a person's health is determined by the quality of Qi, the vital life energy, and blood circulating through the body. When Qi and blood are circulating properly, the body is properly nourished and functioning optimally which, in turn, enhances fertility.

Researchers have confirmed TCM is beneficial in the following areas:

1. Regulate menstrual cycle.

2. Improve sperm count and motility.

3. Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility.

4. Normalize hormone and endocrine systems.

5. Improve blood flow in the uterus.

6. Decrease chance of miscarriage.

7. Increase the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Fertility treatments vary from person to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecutive cycles (twelve weeks). Treatments can include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction and dietary counseling. Treatments work alone but are an excellent addition to any Western intervention.

Please call for more information of to schedule a consultation!

Source: Qi Mail

The Silence of Infertility

There is a great article in Self Magazine this month about infertility. It describes why so many (one in eight couples) who experience infertility don't talk about it with friends and family. Read the article here.

Sleep and Hormones

Did you know our hormonal balance is affected by light? And hormonal balance is key for a healthy reproductive system and fertility. An important aspect of hormonal health has to do with being connected to night and day. Our bodies respond to a natural contrast in light and dark and we produce hormones accordingly.

A common, yet little known, issue for my patients who live in New York City, is exposure to light at night. Exposure to light while you sleep can set off a chain reaction within the pineal gland that can affect your circadian rhythms (your wake/sleep patterns). The pineal gland produces melatonin, a hormone that affects the reproductive system. At night, you want to make sure that your bedroom is as dark as possible when you sleep. This might mean covering your windows with thick light-blocking curtains.

Also, to balance the darkness at night, make sure you have an adequate amount of time outdoors during the day. As the weather is getting warmer, this is easier! You also need to get the proper amount of sleep for your body. Generally, 7 to 10 hours is a good range.

History of IVF in the NY Times

The New York Times has a great article today about the development of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Read it here. Many of my patients who are trying to conceive (TTC) may find it interesting to learn about this history of this relatively recent advance in reproductive medicine (around since the 1980s), which boasts around a 30% success rate.

Many of my patients get regular Chinese Medicine treatments to promote fertility and regulate hormones. This is helpful in making these assisted reproductive therapies (ART) potentially even more effective.

Infertility and Celiac Disease

The New York Times has a great series of blog postings in the "Consults" section about Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is becoming more common (perhaps as more people are getting tested) and can be a significant contributor to gastrointestinal issues and, more recently, is associated with infertility.

The most recent post answers the question: Can Foods Contribute to Infertility? Check out this post and others here.

Healthy Menstrual Cycle Tip #2: Your Basal Body Temperature

Another step towards Menstrual Health, is tracking your Basal Body Temperature (BBT). This entails taking your temperature first thing each morning (as soon as you wake up) and keeping track of your temperature on a chart.

Charting your BBT can provide useful information as to when you are most fertile, which is especially important if you are trying to conceive or trying not to conceive. You will also be more in tune with when your menstrual period should begin, whether you are ovulating, if you have successfully conceived or if there is a possibility of a hormonal imbalance. Taking your waking body temperature is the first step to charting. Read more about it here.

As a practitioner, I find it very helpful to see my patients’ BBT charts. Your temperature can indicate potential imbalances in your cycle, which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may be able to treat very effectively. For example, temperatures that are too high in the pre-ovulatory (follicular) phase, indicate excess heat, just as temperatures that are too low during the post-ovulatory (luteal) phase indicate deficiency.

A great resource for further reading is Toni Weschler’s book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which goes in depth into charting for natural pregnancy achievement or pregnancy avoidance as well as basic gynecological health.

A Good Foot Soak to Strengthen Your Kidneys

Many of my patients experience having cold feet, especially at night. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terms, this might be a symptom of Kidney deficiency, which can be the root of many conditions. Strengthening the Kidneys is especially important if you experience anxiety, difficulty sleeping, or difficulty conceiving.

Soaking your feet in warm water for 10-20 minutes per day is good for body and mind. It improves circulation throughout your body and especially to your pelvic organs and reproductive system. It is very grounding for our mind and spirit. A good foot soak can help to calm a racing heart or wandering thoughts. And it is, of course, very relaxing!

Nutrition for Fertility

Randine Lewis wrote a great book called "The Infertility Cure" which discusses the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for conception and a healthy pregnancy. The book is somewhat technical but also provides some great tips on how to prepare your body to conceive.

TCM recognizes food as a main source of energy for the body. Thus, nutrition plays a vital role in a woman's fertility. In particularly, it is important to nourish kidney energy, which is responsible for reproductive functioning. Here are some ways to nourish your kidney energy:

• Avoid ice-cold drinks, especially during menses. Cold has the effect of reducing blood flow, and we want lots of nutrient rich blood flowing to our uteruses!
• Eat lightly steamed veggies, rather than raw. Cooked foods tax our digestion less, so nutrients become more accessible to the body.
• Make the bulk of your diet come from organic plant sources (fruits & veggies).
• Limit caffeine and alcohol (some green tea is fine) which tend to be more toxic to our systems.
• Eliminate nicotine, which can make eggs resist fertilization.
• Avoid unnecessary medications and drugs, including over the counter medicines. Even non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs, like Alleve) can inhibit ovulation and antihistamines and decongestants can dry up cervical mucus, making it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.

For more information, check out Dr. Lewis's book, available here.

Resources to Manage Stress and Promote Fertility

I just reposted a great NY Times article from a couple years ago that makes the connection between stress and fertility. While there may be medical reasons that prevent pregnancy, stress levels and anxiety are not to be dismissed as factors. The process of trying to conceive can be stressful in itself, so any way to help calm the mind is helpful.

Below are some resources to get started on creating a regular relaxation practice:

• Meditation is the most solidly researched stress-reducing activity and triggers the relaxation response. There are many forms of meditation, but their goals are similar--to focus your mind on internal sensations and actions like breathing, while keeping out thoughts that are distracting. To learn more, visit www.learningmeditation.com or www.meditationcenter.com.
• Jennifer Bloome has created some specific meditations for fertility, available for a free download at www.anjionline.com. You will need to sign up on the front page with your basic information and then you will have access to free MP3 downloads of 10-15 minute guided meditations specific to the fertility journey.
• Yoga: there are many types, but hatha yoga is a great place to start. Yoga is a relaxing form of synchronized movement and breathing and, studies show, a 45-minute session twice a week can reduce the effects of stress and promote hormone balance.
• Mini-Meditation: Just a 2 minute break can calm you down and help your muscles relax when you're feeling particularly stressed. Here's one take on mini-meditating.

Repost: NYT Article Linking Stress to Infertility

"The truth is that if you are not in harmony with yourself and your culture, you are stressed," said physician-researcher, Dr. Sara L. Berga in a recent NY Times article highlighting the findings of her research linking stress to infertility. This 'truth' is the very foundation from which traditional Chinese medicine is built. Traditional Chinese medicine aims to restore health by creating a balance within ourselves and an equilibrium with the environment we live in.

Dr. Berga's research looks at how chronic stress alters brain signals to the hypothalamus--one of the four organs, including the pituitary, the ovary and the uterus--responsible for the intricate hormonal dance of fertility. "Chronic stress," she says, "whether emotional or physical, taxes the body."

In addition to treating the particular pattern of disharmony that may prevent a woman from becoming pregnant, acupuncture offers deep relaxation to the uterus as well as to the whole body-mind. By relieving stress and calming the spirit, acupuncture allows endocrine activity to proceed smoothly and effortlessly. And this helps balance the hormones necessary for fertility.

Often during an acupuncture session for fertility, points are specifically chosen to stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary-uterus axis. If you've ever had one of these treatments, you may notice a needle place on the top of your head, one between your eyebrows, a needle a few inches below your navel and a needle 3 or more inches lateral to this point. These points stimulate the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the uterus and the ovaries, respectively.

Thus, as the article proposes, getting pregnant naturally may be as simple as, "just relax." To read the New York Times article in full click here.

Foods to Promote Male Fertility

While countless magazines, newspapers, blogs and other media are littered with information on how women can watch their diet to stay healthy to protect and enhance their fertility, the male factor also plays a big role.

Men can promote fertility and increase sperm count by nourishing their jing, the essence of life, which is fundamental in fertility.

One of the easiest ways to strengthen jing is through diet. Men seeking to do this should make sure to eat nutrient-dense foods and consume plenty of the following:

eggs (birds and fish)
animal organs like kidney
oysters
seeds
nuts
seaweeds
algae
artichoke leaf
nettles, oats, raw milk

It is also important to get adequate amounts of certain nutrients, including:

folic acid, found in oranges, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale and broccoli
zinc, found in meat and beans
vitamin D and calcium, mostly in dairy products

Getting enough sleep and exercise are also important. Stress can be a big factor in infertility, and rest and a good workout are great ways to relieve both.

For more information on how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can also enhance fertility, visit Five Seasons Healing online.

Acupuncture and Exercise bring Relief to PCOS sufferers

According to a new study, exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common endocrine disorders. PCOS affects about 10% of women of reproductive age and is associated with health issues such as elevated levels of androgens (like testosterone), ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

This finding is especially important, since women with PCOS have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which can contribute to hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

The study also found that the electro-acupuncture treatments led to more regular menstrual cycles, reduced testosterone levels and reduced waist circumference.

While it may be too soon to say for sure that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise may be an alternative, non-pharmaceutical way to treat PCOS, the results of this study are promising.

Read the full article here, and for more information about how traditional Chinese medicine can benefit women's health, check out the Five Seasons Healing website.