Acupuncture For Infertility

In the past decade, acupuncture has gained wide acceptance in the United States as a safe and effective treatment for infertility. Major research projects have shown that acupuncture can increase the chances of conception and decrease the chances of miscarriage. Modern studies have shown that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the uterus while decreasing blood flow impedance. Despite these groundbreaking studies, many women remain uneducated and misinformed about how acupuncture can help them. In this article, I hope to explain how acupuncture can benefit women who suffer from infertility and how it can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments such as IVF.

Acupuncturists and Western doctors take a similar approach to treating infertility. They must first ask questions, examine the patient, and from this information deduce why the patient is infertile. Acupuncturists often rely on results from Western diagnostics to help them arrive at the correct treatment. For example, a patient may have been diagnosed with endometriosis and irregular FSH levels by their doctor. Armed with this information, the acupuncturist can aim to reverse the effects of endometriosis and take steps to correct FSH levels. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective for many of the major causes of infertility and has also been proven to be able to regular chemical balances in the human body. Where many western treatments often focus on reducing symptoms, acupuncture aims to fix the root of the problem.

One of the greatest advantages of acupuncture treatment is that it is especially effective when used in conjunction with traditional western treatments for infertility. Many women receive acupuncture treatment in conjunction with IVF and ICSI. A research study showed that women who receive acupuncture in conjunction with IVF doubled their chances of conception from 15.6% to 33.6%. In the same study, it was found that in the women who became pregnant after IVF treatment, those who received acupuncture treatment had a smaller chance of miscarriage.

In my personal experience, acupuncture brings many intangible benefits as well. Infertility is stressful, embarrassing, and frustrating. Many of the patients I have seen have found acupuncture to not only be an effective tool in overcoming infertility, but also to reduce stress. The endorphin inducing abilities of acupuncture help patients relax and ultimately provides better conditions for conception. Below are some testimonials from my patients:

“My husband noticed changes in my body during the first month of acupuncture, and we both felt more able to enjoy making love, and less stressed about "that time of the month” (ovulation). I drank the herbs regularly that Dr. Chen recommended. I saw changes in my basal body temperature at each cycle. In that I would not respond well to medications, based on my past history and medical test results. But I did respond well to the daily injections, produced a number of mature eggs, and got a positive pregnancy test. I feel of course extremely grateful to both Dr. Chen and to the IVF program and doctors at New York Hospital for my pregnancy. In my case the combination seemed to be essential, and opened my mind in a very positive direction about both acupuncture and the possibilities of western medicine.” -J.Y

“In July 1998, I was diagnosed with severe dysplasia of the cervix; to rule out any possibility of cervical cancer I had to go through surgery, a procedure called cone biopsya, where basically, a cone-shaped piece of my cervix was removed.

After that, my chances of getting pregnant were reduced. My cervix was not producing enough of the mucus where my husband’s sperm was supposed to survive prior to conception. At the same time we also learned that John has a very high percentage of ‘immature’ sperm, making things even more complicated. My doctor recommended to start a fertility treatment right away after we saw the results of a post-coital test: five hours after sex, there were no surviving sperms.

We wanted to have a baby very much, but we also wanted to try to conceive ‘naturally’ first. My gynecologist thought that would be a waste of time. Then, I went to visit Dr. Zhao Yang Chen, who I met a year before when she helped me to quit smoking. That was October, three months after surgery. Her diagnosis was that, at that point, I would not be able to get pregnant because my "pelvis was too crowded, there is no room for baby.”

We started a treatment based on acupuncture, massages, pelvic exercises and herb infusions. In the meanwhile, my first Pap-smears after surgery came back normal, with no sign of dysplasia. It was about December when she finally announced that my body was in a ‘perfect condition’ and ready for pregnancy.

In January, three months after starting treatment, we got pregnant (and we should not count December, as my husband was in a two-week business trip during my ovulation). Indeed it has been a stress-and-frustration-free fertility treatment. Dr. Chen helped us to ‘pleasantly’ conceive this baby and we can only be grateful to her.”
-J.G

Eileen Chen

Benefits Of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest oriental forms of disease treatment that has been successful at treating different types of health conditions. One of the benefits of the process is the identification of many medical conditions that need attention. The benefits of acupuncture are immense and so many health practitioners are increasingly advocating this as a successful form of treatment. In fact the world health organization better known as WHO has recognized more than 40 forms of disease that can be effectively treated through acupuncture.

The benefit of acupuncture is not only about successfully treating a health condition, but it is also a very economical way of treating a health condition. There are many health conditions that can be successfully treated through acupuncture. Some of the health conditions are asthma, indigestion, high blood pressure, gynecological conditions and pains in different body parts. Acupuncture has also been found to be effective for helping people who are recovering form severe health conditions.

Treating of any disease through acupuncture is not all about needles. Yes, needles are an integral part of the treatment procedure but there are many more things to it then this. The theory behind this treatment process is that are two opposing forces in the human body. Traditional Chinese healers believed that the two forces are Yin the passive female force and Yang the active male force. For the body to function normally it is important that the two forces exist side by side in proper harmony. Any disturbance in the balance can lead to certain health problems.

Acupuncture has also been found to be immensely beneficial for weight loss. Studies and research have shown that there are more than 2000 acupuncture points in the human body. For treating any condition through acupuncture it is important to identify the proper pressure points in the body. Not identifying the proper point can make the condition more severe and can also create other medical problems. Make sure to seek treatment form a professional who has a proper knowledge about identifying the trigger points correctly.

Acupuncture is one form of treatment that has been found to be effective for successfully treating infertility. The process of acupuncture treatment differs from person to person. Consult a professional acupuncturist and he will perform certain tests to determine what exactly the condition is that you are suffering from. It can be due to low sperm count, blocked fallopian tubes or bad quality of eggs. After the condition is determined the professional can start the treatment procedure and give relief to the person.

Treatment results can vary from person to person. Also the duration of treatment can also differ from one person to another depending on various conditions. Any person can qualify to be treated through acupuncture. Your acupuncture therapist will need to know your health history properly if your condition is to be treated successfully.

There are many benefits of acupuncture, but that does not mean that you can seek treatment from anyone and everyone. Make sure that the acupuncture practitioner is professionally qualified before you seek treatment. After all, you are putting your life in their hands and do not want to be in a situation where there can be any risk to your health in general and most importantly, your life!

Marlin Shome

Do People Still Use Acupuncture?

Acupuncture; the most widely known alternative medicine treatment, has been the primary method of treatment in China for over 5000 years. Other countries are slowly catching on and are applying this technique, like China, for the treatment of almost all medical ailments known to mankind. Acupuncture treatment ranges from relieving pain to giving anesthesia to patients. It is probably the best treatment known till this day without any side effects to our bodies.

People following Chinese method of treatment, especially acupuncture, guarantees a long and healthy life. The older and probably one of the first few acupuncture transcripts was found back in 200 BC. The collection of these medical transcripts forms the most comprehensive medical text books used today.

Acupuncture needles were introduced by Pien Chueh in the fourth century. He used stone acupuncture needles, moxibustion and herbs to bring a prince out of coma. The Chinese still celebrate this day every year on April 28th.

Acupuncture is basically a treatment that accelerates the body’s natural healing process and improves biological functioning. There are numerous nerve endings in our body. Acupuncture is the practice of stimulating these points via acupuncture needles and electric current in extreme cases. These nerve endings are also called acupuncture points.

Functionality and success of acupuncture is something not known to many people. In our body, many channels of energies flow in regular patterns. These channels like the river irrigate the muscles and tissues of our bodies. Any pain or disorder in our health influences these channels. Acupuncture regulates them back to their courses through needles. With the use of special herbs applied to the tips of needles, acupuncture stimulates the body when touched at the correct points. Any obstruction in the energy channels is then removed and the process starts again normally.

Acupuncture creates a remarkable biochemical balance in our body and stimulates the natural healing process of our body. This promotes physical and emotional well being.

Acupuncture is often associated with the treatment and relief of pain, however many experienced practitioners are capable of using acupuncture in a much wider area of health curing many other biological disorders. It treats all sorts of digestive, respiratory, urinary, neurological, muscular and reproductive malfunctions.

Acupuncture treatment is given in a number of sessions to the patients. The number of sessions depends upon the severity of the cause. The number of session may range from 1-2 per week for a few months or even over a number of months. One must keep in mind that acupuncture is a natural treatment and thus the effects are slow but long lasting. Patience and relaxation is the key to long term cure in acupuncture.

Eric Cho

Can Acupuncture Cure Me?

Acupuncture has been used by millions of American patients and performed by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of health conditions. After reviewing the existing body of knowledge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently removed acupuncture needles from the category of "experimental medical devices" and now regulates them just as it does other devices, such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes, under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.

Over the years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded a variety of research projects on acupuncture, including studies on the mechanisms by which acupuncture may produce its effects, as well as clinical trials and other studies. There is also a considerable body of international literature on the risks and benefits of acupuncture, and the World Health Organization lists a variety of medical conditions that may benefit from the use of acupuncture or moxibustion. Such applications include prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting; treatment of pain and addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; treatment of pulmonary problems such as asthma and bronchitis; and rehabilitation from neurological damage such as that caused by stroke.

Efficacy of a treatment assesses the differential effect of a treatment when compared with placebo or another treatment modality using a double-blind controlled trial and a rigidly defined protocol. Papers should describe enrollment procedures, eligibility criteria, description of the clinical characteristics of the subjects, methods for diagnosis, and a description of the protocol (i.e., randomization method, specific definition of treatment, and control conditions, including length of treatment and number of acupuncture sessions). Optimal trials should also use standardized outcomes and appropriate statistical analyses. This assessment of efficacy focuses on high-quality trials comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture or placebo.

There is clear evidence that needle acupuncture is efficacious for adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and probably for the nausea of pregnancy.

Much of the research is on various pain problems. There is evidence of efficacy for postoperative dental pain. There are reasonable studies (although sometimes only single studies) showing relief of pain with acupuncture on diverse pain conditions such as menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, and fibromyalgia. This suggests that acupuncture may have a more general effect on pain. However, there are also studies that do not find efficacy for acupuncture in pain.

There is evidence that acupuncture does not demonstrate efficacy for cessation of smoking and may not be efficacious for some other conditions.

Although many other conditions have received some attention in the literature and, in fact, the research suggests some exciting potential areas for the use of acupuncture, the quality or quantity of the research evidence is not sufficient to provide firm evidence of efficacy at this time.

Jerry Hall

Weight Loss With Acupuncture|Can Acupuncture Help You Lose Weight?

In recent years, more and more people are trying out acupuncture to lose weight. Just what is acupuncture? How can acupuncture treatment help you lose weight?

Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been around for about 5,000 years. It is the practice of inserting very thin needles to stimulate pathways or meridians in the body to treat many illnesses and diseases especially to relieve pain from chronic disorders.

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners or TCM physicians claim that acupuncture can help you to lose body fat by making you feel full and so will eat less. This curbs excess caloric consumption in the patient treated with acupuncture and is a great help in the patient’s weight loss program.

Acupuncture treatment can also be used to raise your metabolic rate and help you to burn more calories to speed up weight loss. Some Chinese medicine practitioners say that acupuncture stimulates the production of a hormone called endorphins and this hormone helps to lower body fat, insulin and lipid levels in the bloodstream thus less insulin is converted into body fat.

Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for obesity. TCM physicians often stress that to achieve good weight loss results from your program and maintaining your weight, acupuncture treatment alone is not enough. To lose weight effectively and keep the fats off permanently, acupuncture treatment must be combined with healthy eating habits and regular exercises.

Before you begin your acupuncture treatment, your Chinese physician will conduct a medical examination on you by checking your pulse and examination of your tongue to ensure that you are suitable for acupuncture weight loss treatment. This is because TCM is a holistic branch of health care and do not just specifically target the ailment or medical complaint. So an investigation into other reasons why a patient is obese is necessary to solve the problem holistically.

If you want to lose weight naturally and without drugs, why not try TCM acupuncture for your weight loss program?

Chris Chew

Acupuncture - Quit Smoking Via Acupuncture

Acupuncture is known to be an effective treatment for most of the diseases. However, what most people don’t know about is that the technique that has the power to cure several serious disorders can also help quit smoking. Yes, it is true and has been proved that one can quit smoking via Acupuncture therapy.

In fact, acupuncture is a highly effective method widely used for quitting smoking. Now, people who have not been successful in quitting smoking can now achieve success with acupuncture. However, the patient should be willing to quit smoking. The acupuncture therapy promises you quick relief from chronic smoking habits.

The technique of acupuncture is based on the popular belief that ‘Chi’ or the vital energy force usually flows via 12 key channels situated inside the body. There are about 365 acupuncture points available inside the body. Sometimes due to certain problems, these channels can sometimes get blocked and prevents the smooth vital energy flow.

This ultimately leads to chronic habits. Smoking is one of these habits. Acupuncture can act as a great support and effective medium for stopping smoking habits.

When providing this treatment to the patient, the expert inserts about five needles into the ear, especially in the cartilage avoiding the ear canal part. Some needles are also inserted on the hands and wrists. When the needs are pricked in to the skin, the patient is left to relax for about thirty to forty five minutes. All the needles pricked inside the skin works towards providing great impact on reducing craving for smoking.

There are several treatment methods followed when treating excessive craving for smoking under the category of acupuncture. In order to be a complete non smoker, you need to follow a series of sessions. All these sessions emphasize on physical as well as emotional withdrawal symptoms that occur in the patients during the treatment.

Most patients are advised to undergo treatments with herbs while undergoing needle-pricking or acupuncture treatments. All you require to do is to apply a mixture of clove oils, evodia fruit extracts, oil of wintergreen and Sichuan lovage rhizomes in the acupuncture points in order to get faster results.

Acupuncture not only helps you to quit smoking permanently but also brings you a lot of advantages.

Once the acupuncture series treatment is over, your cigarettes start tasting foul. It takes an almost nesty burnt taste. Once this is the case with you, you can proudly pronounce yourself as a ‘non-smoker’.

The acupuncture therapy carried out for quitting smoking tends to reduce several side effects of nicotine withdrawals such as cravings to smoke, anxiety and depression. Blood circulation of the body improves with this therapy. This decongests the lungs and allows you to think positive and carry an optimistic attitude towards life.

Acupuncture is truly beneficial in cases where the patients require emergency treatment for quitting smoking. The treatment will help you to quit smoking within matter of a few days.

However, you need to first check out whether the acupuncturist is experienced and reputed in order to gain maximum benefits.

Bertil Hjert