Can acupuncture offer a natural fertility aid to couples struggling to get pregnant?  Just ask the McSheffertys. Remember that expression, “Only your hairdresser knows for sure?” For Sean and Valerie McShefferty, what Valerie’s hairdresser knew provided valuable information about acupuncture and natural fertility programs. The McSheffertys, residents of San Diego at the time, were growing anxious about having a baby because of their age. At that time, Valerie was 38 and Sean was 40. Then one day, during a conversation at her hair salon, Valerie’s stylist told her about acupuncturist, Nicole McInerney, referring to her as a “fertility guru”. McInerney is currently owner of Remember to Breathe, a natural health center, and is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who is certified in natural fertility management and infant massage instruction. “I was immediately into it, especially because it seemed a lot better for my health and well-being,” Valerie says. Although she wasn’t discouraged about conceiving, she said she had a difficult time with her first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. “I was hyper-stimulated; a lot of fluid was in me. I looked like I was eight months pregnant. Even when Sean rolled over in bed, it hurt. I didn’t even go out. After going through that, I’m very sympathetic to people who have chronic pain.” Valerie proposed the idea of meeting with McInerney to her husband, who was supportive and open-minded. After their initial session, Nicole started the couple on a preconception program that was scheduled for a minimum of four months. The treatment is based on training McInerney received from Francesca Naish, a naturopath and owner of the Jocelyn Center for Natural Fertility Management and Holistic Health in Sidney, Australia. McInerney met with the couple once a week for nine months. Although she had already been treating women for natural fertility, this was the first couple she had worked with. She said that for both the woman and the man, a good reproductive program helps to increase their reproductive health, strengthen their immune system, reduce stress, and improve their body’s nutritional status. “The program is really about getting your body in the best shape possible before you conceive,” McInerney said. In addition to providing acupuncture and massage, McInerney also worked with the couple on their whole health history, diet, sleep, bowel movements, vitamins and nutrition, exercise, charting ovulation and lifestyle counseling. Valerie read books on natural fertility to gain a broader understanding of the program. Valerie and Sean were also seeing Jon H. Lischke, M.D., a Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist.   Lischke is a member of IGO (Infertility, Gynecology and Obstetrics) Medical Group in San Diego, which achieved the city’s first IVF pregnancy in 1983.   According to Dr. Lischke, it’s becoming quite common for infertility patients to see an acupuncturist. “People seem to be very interested in it, and are pleased with the results,” he says.  “We feel very enthusiastic about it.” Dr. Lischke said he thinks acupuncture helps reduce anxiety related to undergoing an IVF procedure.  “It [IVF] takes a great commitment both emotionally and financially for people. There are very positive reasons why people are doing this [acupuncture].” Seeking assistance from Eastern and Western medical practices just made sense to Valerie. “I said that no matter what, however I got pregnant, I wanted to bring the baby into the world in the healthiest way we could,” Valerie says. “You get an understanding of how everything you put in your body affects the baby.” Valerie said that her favorite part of the natural fertility program was the massage, but that her least favorite part was taking the Chinese herbs in liquid form. As for Sean, he liked both the acupuncture treatments and the massage. The diet component proved to be more challenging for him. “We had to chart everything we ate, our bowel movements . . .  and Sean wasn’t into that,” Valerie says. Concerned that the passage of time might make conception more difficult, Valerie and Sean decided to have IVF again. Although the second treatment was unsuccessful, the couple remained optimistic, and continued to see Nicole while they consulted with another fertility specialist in Los Angeles. Nicole even accompanied the couple to their doctor’s appointment twice. “Nicole was just a huge support for me,” Valerie said. She also said that the acupuncture Nicole provided helped her relax. With the third IVF treatment, Valerie conceived, and of John McShefferty IV arrived in December 2005. The couple also adopted a daughter, Grace. Now Valerie, 44, and Sean, 46, are planning to have another child. Valerie says they will be consulting with Nicole again. Even without infertility issues, Valerie said she would recommend acupuncture. “The biggest benefit is getting yourself in good health.”

By: Randine Lewis, Ph.D., L.Ac. for Acufinder Magazine It can be frightening, this yearning for a child – it’s hard to fathom the desperate urgency.” –Wendy Wasserstein, award-winning playwright and first-time mother at age forty-six, from Creating a Life by Sylvia Hewett  Susie’s Story  Susie had been diagnosed with “unexplained infertility.” This meant that her doctors could find no specific hormonal or physical reason for her inability to conceive. Her reproductive endocrinologist had put her on courses of hormone injections to stimulate her ovaries to produce more eggs, as well as intrauterine inseminations to bypass any potential cervical or sperm factors.  But nothing had worked. A friend had told her about my program, and Susie decided to try it. “What did I have to lose?” she told me later. When Susie first made the appointment at our clinic, she downloaded a set of forms, which we asked her to complete in advance and bring with her. These forms asked about her general health, diet, emotions, and specific menstrual and hormonal symptoms. Susie thought some questions were irrelevant to her fertility problem, but she filled in her answers and brought the forms with her on the appointment day.  When Susie walked in for her first appointment, she was frustrated, fearful, and skeptical. She knew a lot about what Western medicine had to offer in her quest for a child but was unfamiliar with more natural approaches to fertility enhancement. When she passed through the doors of Eastern Harmony, however, she knew she was in for a far different experience from her other doctor’s sterile clinic. When a patient comes into our clinic, she is surrounded by an atmosphere of tranquility created by music, water fountains, plants, scented candles, and incense.  My consulting room is also warm and inviting, a place of comfort and hope. I could see Susie start to relax as soon as she walked in the door. We chatted about her general health and the problems she had had conceiving, and I looked at her questionnaire to familiarize myself with her symptoms. Then I took Susie’s wrist and listened to her pulse – one of the primary methods of diagnosis used in TCM. (Practitioners of TCM are taught to read nine different positions of a patient’s pulse.) I looked at her eyes and her tongue for outward manifestations of internal energies. I wanted to see where the flow of Susie’s life force energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), was blocked or out of balance.  After I had assessed Susie’s condition, I told her, “I believe you have an energy imbalance in the meridians running to your reproductive organs. In traditional Chinese medicine, for the ovaries and uterus to be in balance the Kidneys, Liver, and Spleen must be also, as these energy systems are intricately linked to reproduction. The imbalance of energy is affecting your hormones as well as your overall health.”  “But my reproductive endocrinologist didn’t find anything wrong with my hormones,” Susie replied.  “Many hormonal problems occur because of slight imbalances in the endocrine system, altering the way the body produces hormones,” I told her. “Modern Western diagnostic techniques may not detect any abnormality, but even a slight aberration can throw the entire system off so it no longer functions smoothly. We need to get your hormones and the other systems in your body back into balance.”  “I’ve had my hormones stimulated, and it didn’t work,” Susie objected.  “I’m not talking about stimulating your hormones but rather restoring your body’s natural balance,” I reassured her. “Think of your body like a river. The health of the river depends upon the natural flow of water.” “When nature is doing its job, rain falls in the hills, runs downhill in rivulets into streams, then into bigger streams, then into the river. But if the river isn’t getting enough water – if there’s a drought, for example – the system won’t flow the way it’s supposed to. The Western solution to a drought is to open the floodgates of a dam upstream and release an enormous amount of water all at once. That will cause water to flow into the river, but it also may cause enormous problems because the river’s ecosystem isn’t equipped to handle that much water all at once. Hormonal stimulation can have the same effect on a woman’s body: it floods the system with a huge amount of stimulation that the body simply isn’t equipped to handle.” “The Eastern method is different. Instead of flooding the river with water from a dam, the natural approach is to seed the clouds and release just enough rain to restore the proper level of water in the river.” “Traditional Chinese medical treatments are designed to stimulate the body’s own natural production of hormones while restoring the health and harmony of the entire system. Once the body is in balance and its hormones are restored, conception can occur.”  “You’re sure it’s effective?” Susie asked.  “The first records of fertility treatments using traditional Chinese medicine date back to well before the Christian era,” I answered.  “I advocate a simple four-step program that can help you balance your energies and prepare your body to nurture a child. Each program is designed specifically for the individual patient. The first step is to diagnose what’s going on with your system and how your reproductive energies need to be harmonized.” “The second step is to change your diet. In the Chinese medical system, certain foods have specific properties – generating heat or dampness, for example. Depending on your Chinese medical diagnosis, you may need to choose foods that will help purify your Blood, or increase energy flow to your Kidneys, or eliminate stagnation in your Liver. And we’ll explore adding certain vitamin and mineral supplements to your diet, too.” “The next step is to clear your energy meridians. In your case, I believe a series of acupuncture treatments would be helpful. I may also prescribe specific exercises.”  “My friend swore that your acupuncture treatments helped her get pregnant,” Susie

A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen. In the research project, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin. Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on other abnormalities, such as sperm immaturity or premature death. Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility. Source: Fertility and Sterility, July 2005

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years. Amazingly, the first written gynecological records date back to the Shang dynasty (1500 BC- 1000 BC), but here in the U.S. and other Western countries, people are just beginning to understand and appreciate the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  It isn’t easy to compare Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine because there are profound differences that underlie the basic notions of your health, body and treatment. Western medicine often takes a more mechanistic view of people – your body may be treated as if it is a collection of machine parts rather than one whole, integrated system. Alternatively, Traditional Chinese Medicine sees individuals as personal ecosystems, with each part depending on, and influencing, all the other parts. This “whole body” approach means that treatment addresses the complete systems of your body rather than just attending to your symptoms. As a result of such a treatment strategy, most patients experience an improvement in their specific condition and also a better overall sense of health and well being.                 TCM and Fertility: The Research Let’s define infertility. The American Fertility Society defines infertility as occurring when “a couple has 1 year of regular intercourse without contraception and has been unable to conceive.”  There are many factors that may make your conception difficult to achieve and, even after conception, you may face problems bringing your pregnancy to term, which causes frustration, upset and increased stress. However, research using acupuncture to enhance fertility is providing reason for new optimism in the struggle with this old problem. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be used alone or in conjunction with Western medicine. A 2002 German study that received a lot of attention found significantly higher conception rates (42.5% vs. 26.3%) when acupuncture was used with IVF.  More recently, two studies published in May 2006, showed that acupuncture can improve IVF success rates. First, in Germany, 225 women undergoing in vitro fertilization participated in a study. Of these, 116 patients received luteal phase (the phase after ovulation) acupuncture according to the principles of TCM and 109 people received a standard protocol of acupuncture. The treatment group using TCM principles had a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate than the placebo group (33.6% vs. 15.6% respectively).  Second, a Denmark study published at the same time examined the effect of acupuncture received on the day of embryo transfer vs. no acupuncture, and they also found a significant increase in pregnancy rates (39% vs. 26%). The researchers concluded that acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer improved the outcome of IVF.  A third study published at the same time found the results too small to be considered clinically significant but these researchers also concluded that acupuncture was safe for women undergoing IVF. Other research is showing acupuncture’s effectiveness with men. A study published in 2005 demonstrated that sperm motility and quality improved after the men received treatment with acupuncture.   As further proof that TCM has gained acceptance and success, in September, 2005, the University of Maryland received $400,000 from The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institute of Health, to research the benefits of Acupuncture combined with IVF.  In Vancouver on May 18, 2007, Dr. Paul Magarelli, an infertility physician at the Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center, and Diane Cridennda, an acupuncturist at East Winds, both centers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, presented their research results which were published in Infertility and Sterility in April, 2007. This is one of several studies the two have completed. In the protocol, they used a minimum of 9 acupuncture treatments within 2 months before the embryo transfer. Since this was a research study, each patient received the same treatment. No modification in points was allowed. From a clinical TCM/acupuncture perspective, the treatment protocols were very limited compared to individulized treatment of each patient. What were their results? Lorne Brown, Doctor of TCM, founder and clinical director of Acubalance Wellness Centre, the first TCM clinic in British Columbia dedicated to reproductive wellness, analyzed the data Dr. Magarelli presented and has posted the following conclusions on his website:  Acupuncture does not cause harm to fertility or negatively interfere with an IVF outcome. Acupuncture can statistically improve the live birth rate from IVF to between 10-15%. Acupuncture reduces the number of ectopic pregnancies in an IVF setting. The acupuncture protocol (minimum of 9 treatments using set points) did not affect egg quality BUT it did improve the host. Therefore, it seemed to improve factors affecting implanation rather the egg quality itself. The mechanism by which acupuncture improves implantation and live birth rates results from acupuncture’s ability to regulate the body’s hormone levels (particularly prolactin and cortisol) to mimic these hormone levels in a natural cycle. Why Does TCM Work? Why? “Acupuncture provides better circulation and better blood flow to the womb,” said Dr. Raymond Chang, director of New York’s Meridian Medical Group, who has been incorporating acupuncture into fertility treatments for the past decade. “It will give a better chance for the eggs to be nourished and therefore carried.” Acupuncture seems to help some women because it improves circulation to your ovaries and to your uterus. It aids ovarian stimulation, improves the thickness of uterine lining, and therefore can help with implantation. Acupuncture is relaxing, which helps to lower your cortisol levels and increase progesterone output, important factors in decreasing your chance of having a miscarriage.  Western medicine works with an eye on the numbers. The main goal is to increase the quantity of eggs or sperm, thereby increasing your chances of a viable pregnancy. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine is holistic and cumulative. It will likely include suggestions about diet and lifestyle as well as acupuncture. TCM is very personalized. Your practitioner will needle specific points and may suggest specific herbs, all depending on your body and your situation. When your body is healthy and balanced, you increase your chances of getting pregnant and producing a healthy child. The goal

Paul Magarelli, M.D., Ph.D., an infertility physician at the Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center, and Diane Cridennda, L.Ac., an acupuncturist at East Winds, both centers in Colorado Springs, Colo., published their evidence of acupuncture’s demonstrable role in successful vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in the journal Infertility and Sterility. In the study, they used a minimum of nine acupuncture treatments within two months before the embryo transfer. Since this was a research study, each patient received the same treatment. Lorne Brown, CA, Doctor of TCM, founder and clinical director of Acubalance Wellness Centre, analyzed the data Dr. Magarelli presented and has posted the following conclusions on his website (www.acubalance.ca): Source: Infertility and Sterility, April 2007; www.acubalance.ca

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown.  The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal. Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – the moment when the embryo fertilized in the laboratory must attach itself to the wall of the womb to establish a pregnancy.  The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in America and the VU University Amsterdam in Holland. Researchers claim that because acupuncture costs only about $75 per session compared to $6000 to $10,000 per cycle for IVF, it would be a cost effective, safe and efficient way of boosting success rates in fertility treatment.  It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman’s ovulation.  Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax. Acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to regulate fertility. It has also been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain as well as many common and uncommon disorders.  You can find an acupuncturist on www.Acufinder.com. Conditions that are commonly treated with acupuncture Source: British Medical Journal, doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (February 2008)

By: Randine Lewis, Ph.D., L.Ac. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, has also been known by the name Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, and includes a multi system presentation, having its effects on the skin, hair, body weight, endocrine system, and reproductive system. It is said to affect up to ten percent of women of reproductive age, and up to ninety percent of woman with irregular menstrual cycles. PCOS was first recognized as a medical disease or syndrome in the West in 1845 in France. Its most distinctive sign is the pathologic appearance of sclerocystic changes on the larger than average ovaries, which appeared to have a thick, shiny, white coating overlying many rows of cysts on the surface of the ovary. These ovarian changes give PCOS its name. In 1990 a National Institute of Health conference decided the two most consistent elements which comprise the disorder of PCOS include elevated androgenic hormones and chronic lack of ovulation. Yet PCOS has a multitude of other symptoms as well, including obesity, acne, facial hair and increased body hair, and thinning of the hair on the head. Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by the state of the ovary. The capsule of the ovary is thickened and waxy. Multiple small cysts exist inside the ovary which are not the same as active follicles, but have been arrested in their development. These cysts and the connective tissue surrounding them, the stroma, produce male hormones called androgens. Testosterone is very similar in chemical composition to estrogen, but it causes the male type effects so often seen in PCOS. The brain detects circulating levels of sex hormone, and inhibits ovulation accordingly. Luteinizing hormone is often elevated higher than FSH in a woman with PCOS, and remains elevated throughout the cycle. LH stimulates the cells of the ovary to produce androgens, which block follicular development, causing the follicles to degenerate. This process is thought to be a result of an altered feedback mechanism within the hypothalamic – pituitary – ovarian axis, and makes ovulation unlikely. Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin abnormalities are also a factor in many cases of PCOS, and have to do with another endocrine gland, the pancreas. Insulin resistance affects ovulation by producing higher amounts of circulating insulin, which stimulates the activity of enzymes which help to manufacture androgens in the ovary. High insulin levels further may cause overstimulation of androgen receptors, leading to follicular atresia of developing eggs. The etiology of this disease remains unknown. Doctors and scientists have been unable to pinpoint the actual causative factor, and thus have been unable to treat it effectively. Woman with PCOS are at risk for other health hazards like disorders in lipid metabolism, obesity and its health concerns, vascular disease and cancer. So, how does PCOS affect fertility? By affecting the ability to ovulate. Less estrogen is produced, but more LH and testosterone. This affects not only the quality of the follicle, but also the state of the endometrium. As a result, menstrual cycles become more erratic and less predictable. Women with PCOS will often very long cycles and very heavy bleeding; or amenorrhea, or anovulation with scanty bleeding. (Each presentation, by the way, is addressed using different treatment protocols with Oriental Medicine.) When an egg is released, it is often released later in the cycle, and it is of poorer quality because of the surroundings in which it has been developing. Remember that follicular development is a process that takes approximately one hundred days within the ovary. Eggs are meant to develop in an estrogen and progesterone rich environment, not in an androgenic setting. Women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome historically do not respond positively to Western assisted reproductive techniques including in-vitro procedures; nor do they respond well to clomid alone, or any hormonal manipulation which does not address the state of the ovary’s endocrine milleau over the previous three or more months of development. If they do become pregnant, they are at higher risk of miscarriage, again presumably because of the health of the egg and therefore the developing embryo. Chinese medicine seeks to redress the entire hormonal milleau. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – The Traditional Eastern ViewIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is seen as a heterogenous disorder, consisting of quite a few possible pattern discriminations. They are broken down into two main subcategories: Vacuity     Kidney yang vacuity Kidney yin vacuity Spleen qi vacuity     Repletion Phlegm dampness Liver depression/depressive heat Blood stasis They all have manifestations in the way in which the body ovulates, however. Most women with PCOS ovulate later in the cycle, if at all. Going back to the diagnostic checklist, you may categorize yourself into any combination of the diagnostic categories. Treatment will be based upon these differentiations. TreatmentTreatment must first and foremost be based upon your individual diagnostic pattern. Follow the dietery guidelines for PCOS (below). Do the following exercise to increase blood flow to the ovaries: Femoral Massage –[This exercises increases the blood flow to the pelvic organs, providing more nourishment to the uterus and ovaries.] Compress (or have your partner compress) the large artery just beneath the crease in your groin between your thigh and lower abdomen. This is the femoral artery, which comes from the iliac artery. The iliac artery gives off branches which supply blood flow to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovary. (The ovary has an additional blood supply which branches off the same arterial section that supplies the kidneys.) When the flow has ceased and you feel the pulsation end at your finger tips, hold for 30-45 seconds. The blood is now backing up and increasing the pressure gradient in the iliac arteries and forcing more blood into the pelvic arteries, flooding the pelvic organs with more blood. When the hold is released, you should feel a sensation of warmth rushing down your leg as the blood supply returns to the lower extremity. Perform the femoral massage three times, twice daily. NOTE: Do not perform this exercise if you are pregnant. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease or circulatory problems including aneurisms,

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM Statistics show that one in five couples over the age of 30 have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples turn to acupuncture and Oriental medicine for a safe, effective and natural solution to having a baby. Oriental medicine 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 Successful conception is more likely when both partners are healthy.  With acupuncture and Oriental medicine, prospective parents can improve their health to create the most optimal environment for conception. According to the principles of Oriental medicine, 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. In addition to their ability to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are effective in treating issues that affect reproductive health and fertility including: regulating the menstrual cycle addressing pre-existing medical conditions or concerns improving sperm count and motility reducing stress and anxiety associated with infertility normalizing hormone and endocrine systems improve blood flow in the uterus decreasing the chance of miscarriage increasing the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) Fertility treatment approaches and time-frames can 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.   Please call an acupuncturist near you for more information of to schedule a consultation.  The best place to find a qualified and licensed acupuncture practitioner is on Acufinder.com. Acupuncture Increases IVF Success by 65% Women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture, a recent study has shown. The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in a February, 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal. Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – a step in the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) whereby one or several embryos are placed into the uterus. The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland in the United States and the VU University of Amsterdam in Holland. It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman’s ovulation. Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax. Acupuncture Improves Sperm Quality A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen. In the research project, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin. Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on other abnormalities, such as sperm immaturity or premature death. Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility. Foods for Fertility    “Your body is like a garden… As in all gardens, the seed we hope to plant in our bodies grows best when we cultivate the ground and plant and nurture the seed in harmony with the laws of nature. You wouldn’t put a tender plant in clay soil without first tilling and amending the earth – at least not if you wanted to give that plant its best start. You wouldn’t plant in the dead of winter, or in the dry season without water, or in a sunless place. Likewise, if we tend our bodies, minds, and spirits with an awareness of the laws of nature, we improve our chances of welcoming the gifts of Quan Yin, the fertility goddess.” Angela Wu, L.Ac., author of Fertility Wisdom. Black Beans According to Oriental medicine, the energy of the Kidney system is important for reproduction and fertility enhancement often starts with the Kidneys. A good example of a food that nourishes the Kidneys and promotes fertility is black beans. Health Benefits of Black Beans From an Eastern perspective, black beans are warming in nature. They are thought to tonify the Kidney Qi and nourish Yin and Blood. From a Western perspective, black beans are an excellent source of protein, folate, iron and fiber and are rich in antioxidants. Worlds Healthiest Foods reported on research published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicating that black beans are as rich in antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins as grapes and cranberries, fruits long considered antioxidant superstars. When researchers analyzed different types of beans, they found that, the darker the bean’s seed coat, the higher its level of antioxidant activity. Gram for gram, black beans were found to have the most antioxidant activity, followed in descending order by red, brown, yellow, and white beans. Overall, the level of antioxidants found in black beans in this study is approximately 10 times that found in an equivalent amount of oranges, and comparable to that found in an equivalent amount of grapes or cranberries.

Study finds acupuncture and exercise decrease a key marker for diseaseExercise and electro-acupuncture treatments reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) . according to a new study. The finding is important because women with PCOS often have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which plays a role in 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. Exercise had no effect on the irregular or non-existent menstrual cycles that are common among women with PCOS, nor did it reduce waist circumference. However, exercise did lead to reductions in weight and body mass index. “The findings that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise decrease sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS indicates a possible alternative non-pharmacologic approach to reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients,” said one of the researchers, Dr. Elisabet Stener-Victorin of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The findings regarding menstrual cycles and decrease in testosterone levels in the low-frequency electro-acupuncture are also of interest, according to the researcher. The study, “Low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in polycystic ovary syndrome” was conducted by Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Elizabeth Jedel, Per Olof Janson and Vrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir, all of the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The study is in the online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society. Common endocrine disorder Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting an estimated 10% of women of reproductive age. Among the problems associated with the condition are elevated levels of androgens (such as testosterone, the ‘male’ hormone found in both sexes), ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity in the blood vessels, part of the ‘fight or flight’ response that results in blood vessel constriction. Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. The Swedish researchers had previously found that PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity and said it may arise from the elevated testosterone level that is characteristic of PCOS. Three groups The researchers wanted to find a long-lasting treatment for PCOS that would have no adverse side effects, and so they looked at whether acupuncture or exercise could decrease the sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. The study included 20 women, average age of 30 years, divided into the following groups: low-frequency electro-acupuncture (9) exercise (5) untreated controls (6) The acupuncture group underwent 14 treatments during the 16-week study. Acupuncture points were located in abdominal muscles and back of the knee, points thought to be associated with the ovaries. The needles in the abdomen and leg were stimulated with a low-frequency electrical charge, enough to produce muscle contraction but not enough to produce pain or discomfort. The exercise group received pulse watches and were told to take up regular exercise: brisk walking, cycling or any other aerobic exercise that was faster than walking but that they could sustain for at least 30 minutes. They exercised at least three days per week for 30-45 minutes, maintaining a pulse frequency above 120 beats per minute. The researchers instructed the control group in the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, the same instructions the experimental groups received, but were not specifically assigned to do anything differently. Key Findings The researchers measured the muscle sympathetic nerve activity before and after the 16-week study. Following treatment, the study found the following:  Both the acupuncture and exercise groups significantly decreased muscle sympathetic nerve activity compared to the control group. The acupuncture group experienced a drop in waist size, but not a drop in body mass index or weight. The exercise group experienced a drop in weight and body mass index but not in waist size. The acupuncture group experienced fewer menstrual irregularities but the exercise group’s irregularities did not change. In the acupuncture group, there was a significant drop in testosterone. This is an important indicator because the strongest independent predictor of high sympathetic nerve activity in women is the level of testosterone. “This is the first study to demonstrate that repeated low-frequency electro-acupuncture and physical exercise can reduce high sympathetic nerve activity seen in women with PCOS,” according to the authors. “Furthermore, both therapies decreased measures of obesity while only low-frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual bleeding pattern.” The study has some limitations, including a small sample size, so further research is necessary, the authors wrote. To find the full study, 

The endocrine system is responsible for hormonal functions in the body and produces thirty distinct hormones each of which has a very specific job to do. This system controls your physical growth, mood, hormone output, reproduction, mental functionality, and immune system. When not working properly you become more susceptible to disease and your ability to fight off infection is weakened. Endocrine glands and their functioning impacts every area of your health. The keystone of acupuncture and Oriental medicine has always been awakening the body’s natural intelligence to heal itself and restore balance to the system of energy pathways (called “meridians”) that crisscross the body. If the meridians within your body have become depleted you can suffer from tiredness, infertility, weight gain, depression, digestive problems, hair loss, arthritis, and feeling chilled no matter the temperature.What are the endocrine glands and what do they do? The major endocrine glands include the adrenals, pancreas, pineal, pituitary, reproductive and thyroid glands. Adrenals – Adrenal glands regulate the body’s response to stress and are made of two parts, each of which secretes a separate set of hormones. The outer part produces corticosteroid hormones that regulate the balance of salt and water, stress response, metabolism, immune function, and sexual development and function. The inner part secretes adrenaline hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate in response to stress. Over time chronic elevated stress levels can lead to weight gain, decreased resistance to infections, fatigue, muscle aches and low blood sugar. Pancreas – The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon-two hormones that work together to supply the body’s cells with a constant supply of energy in the form of glucose. Pineal – The pineal gland is also known as the epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis or the “third eye”. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions. Hypothalamus /Pituitary – A collection of specialized cells that provide the primary link between the endocrine and central nervous systems. Nerve cells and hormones signal the pituitary gland to secrete or suppress the release of various hormone messages to the other glands. The pituitary gland is also responsible for secreting growth hormones. Reproductive – These glands secrete hormones that control the development of male and female characteristics. In males these glands secrete androgen hormones, most importantly testosterone. In females they produce estrogen, progesterone, eggs and are involved in reproductive functions. Thyroid – Thyroid hormones control the growth, temperature and function of every cell in the body. The gland acts as the metabolic engine of the body – if it secretes too little hormone the body slows and dies; if it secretes too much the body burns out and dies. A healthy endocrine system that continues to secrete adequate amounts of hormones will slow the aging process and keep you vibrant and healthy as you age. ​ When treating a suspected endocrine condition with acupuncture and Oriental medicine, the acupuncturist seeks the root cause of the patient’s imbalance. The endocrine system is closely tied to the internal balance of the Yin energy and the Yang energy. Imagine that the Yang energy is like gasoline that fuels a car, and the Yin energy is the coolant for the car’s engine. Without the coolant, the engine overheats and begins to burn out. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine work to make sure the Yin and Yang are equal within the body restoring your essential internal balance. The root of the body’s energy in Oriental medicine is the Kidney meridian. Treatment used to strengthen the Kidney Meridian also restores nourishment to your endocrine glands. Acupuncture can be used to restore hormonal balance, regulate energy levels, smooth emotions and help manage sleep and menstrual problems.  Treatments take all symptoms into account and are aimed at balancing the energy in your body, optimizing your health, restoring immune function and balancing the production and release of hormones through a variety of approaches ranging from acupuncture and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes and special exercises. Many patients benefit from an integrated Eastern and Western medical approach to endocrine health. The strong point of Western medicine is intervention in life-threatening illness, whereas the strong point of Eastern medicine is increased quality of life. Therefore it is optimal to have both Eastern and Western medicine options available for the most comprehensive care.