If you have been trying to conceive for more than a year without getting pregnant, you may have been given a diagnosis of infertility. Your doctor has probably ordered many tests for you and your partner, and you may be considering medical treatment.

Many women with fertility concerns decide to try acupuncture. When a woman is trying to get pregnant, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used at any stage, from helping to regulate the menstrual cycle to aiding the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you are considering acupuncture treatments, this article will provide you with information to help you plan how best to use acupuncture in your journey.

Before an Infertility Diagnosis
Not everyone who comes to acupuncture for fertility treatment has received a diagnosis of infertility. Some women may have concerns because their periods are irregular or they don’t think they are ovulating. Others may just want to be as healthy as possible before trying to conceive. In either case, it is never too early to start acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture can be especially effective at regulating menstruation, and its stress-reducing and balancing effect can help to improve your overall health.

After an Infertility Diagnosis
If after a year of trying (or less in certain circumstances) you haven’t conceived, there are many options for your next step. Some people want to try medical interventions as soon as possible. Others prefer to wait and try to improve their health naturally. Acupuncture can be used at this stage, either on its own or in conjunction with Western medical treatments. If you chose not to begin Western treatments, you should still get a full medical work up done by your doctor to rule out any underlying conditions (for example, low thyroid function). Make sure that your partner gets a work up as well.

Homework
I strongly suggest that any woman concerned about fertility use a basal body temperature (BBT) chart to track her cycles. Not everyone ovulates on day 14, and if you are “trying” during the wrong time of the month, that might explain why you haven’t gotten pregnant. The new ovulation testing kits can be helpful, but I prefer the BBT chart because it provides more information and allows you to see patterns. A very good book that explains charting and other methods of tracking fertility is Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Charting is great if you are trying to make sense of your cycles. However, if you are experiencing a lot of stress and pressure around trying to conceive, charting may only add to your anxiety. In that case, take a few months off and just enjoy yourself. You can always start charting again at the beginning of the next cycle.

Timing
As with most conditions, acupuncture for fertility can take time to work. The needles are sending signals to your body and it may take several treatments before your body picks up on those signals and responds. This is why we recommend that anyone coming in for fertility or menstrual disorders commit to treatment for 3 cycles. If your cycle is regular, treatment once a week for 3 months is a good period of time. However, if your cycle is long, that time frame will be extended. If you are experiencing amenorrhea (absence of a period), you will need to come in for treatments 2-3 times a week until your period begins, and then start the 3-cycle schedule. Certain other conditions may require more treatments or a longer time frame (this will be determined after your initial intake with the acupuncturist).

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is sometimes best to take a break from trying to conceive to give your body a rest. Circumstances like recently giving birth, miscarriages, heavy menstruation, and even fertility treatments can put a strain on your body. You can still continue acupuncture to improve your health while your body recovers.

There are very specific protocols for acupuncture treatment to improve IVF success. Although a recent clinical study showed mixed results, prior studies have found that that acupuncture increased IVF success rates. If you decide to undergo IVF, you should schedule an acupuncture treatment within 24 hours before the procedure, and another within an hour after the procedure.

Other Thoughts
Acupuncture can help functional issues (for example, irregular menstruation) more than structural issues (like scar tissue in the uterus). For this reason, a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility” is often a good sign.

Although a diagnosis of infertility can be devastating, try not to create an identity for yourself as an “infertile” person. Stress is counterproductive to your health and may even impede conception. Do whatever you can to manage stress during this time. Luckily, acupuncture is a great stress reliever!

Do you have other questions about acupuncture and Chinese medicine for infertility? Contact us or give us a call at (508) 890-8899.

Please take the time to watch this 8-minute video from the Community Acupuncture Network (CAN). CAN represents 150 community acupuncture practices across the United States, Canada, and Israel (there is also a similar organization in the U.K.). As CAN members, we all treat in a group setting and charge affordable rates ranging from $15-$40.

The video is great at explaining why community acupuncture is necessary. You get the chance to hear from several community acupuncture patients about how the treatments have impacted their lives, and catch a glimpse inside a few different community acupuncture offices.

If you enjoy the video, I hope you will pass it along!

River Valley Acupuncture now has T-shirts for sale!

Men’s are light blue with dark blue writing and are available in Large and Extra-large. Women’s are lime green with darker green writing and are available in Medium and Large.

Show your support for community acupuncture with the phrase “We heal better together.” Just $12!

The first veterans clinic was great.  We treated 8 people and even got our first donation!  The space at Dodge Park worked beautifully. 
 
We will open again on April 14.  Please keep spreading the word!

** Please share this information with anyone who might benefit**
 
This Wednesday, March 10 from 5:30-7:30pm will be the first Veterans Acupuncture Care clinic in Worcester.
 
The walk-in clinic provides free stress-relief acupuncture to veterans, active military, and their families.  It runs on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and is located at:
Dodge Park Rest Home (rear entrance)
101 Randolph Rd.
Worcester, MA 01606
 
For more information call: (508) 890-8899

Many of my patients have seasonal allergies. Sometimes the allergies are just a minor annoyance, other times they really interfere with the person’s daily life. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be helpful for many allergy sufferers, even if they have tried a number of different treatments (like prescription medication, homeopathy, etc.) without results.

If you experience severe allergies, there are several things you can do to increase the likelihood that your acupuncture treatments will be successful. Below are some of my top recommendations.

· Scheduling acupuncture treatments: It is always best to begin treatment before allergy season. For people with year-round allergies, you can start treatment at any time, but preferably before the season that is worst for you. Plan to start acupuncture treatments once a week for 2-3 months (depending on the severity of your symptoms) before your allergies normally begin. During allergy season, increase your treatments to twice a week, if necessary.
· Nasal rinse: For almost all of my patients with allergies, I recommend that they use a neti pot nasal rinse. This can be helpful even if you don’t generally have sinus symptoms because the nose is the way most environmental allergens enter your system. Neti pots are a safe, natural product (just like acupuncture!). To be effective, neti pots need to be used regularly during allergy season. You can find them in most drug stores. Neti pots are not the same as nasal mists, which only moisturize the sinuses without getting rid of the allergens. Experiment with the level of salt you use in the net pot, to find what is comfortable for you. Many people find that it is easier to use their neti pot in the shower.
· Chinese herbs: There are several herbal formulas that can help with seasonal allergies. Jade Windscreen is a formula that needs to be started several months before allergy season to be effective. It helps to prevent allergies rather than just treating the symptoms. There are also short-term herbal formulas that can alleviate nasal congestion and itchy eye symptoms temporarily. Some formulas I carry in the office, others can be special ordered.
· Food journaling: If you have food sensitivities, they can make your seasonal allergies worse. Foods like dairy and citrus can be mucus-producing in some people. Other foods are relatives of common allergens (for instance, the apple family and birch family are related) and may set off allergies. By keeping a food diary where you track what you eat along with your symptoms, you can get a sense of which foods are triggers for your allergies.

Now you know how to get the most out of acupuncture for seasonal allergies. The time to start treatment for spring allergies is now, before the pollen begins. Contact us to make an appointment.