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As far as what I see in my office, the patients who come in for Acupuncture usually 1 time per week for 12 weeks plus 1 treatment right before the IVF procedure and 1 treatment right after the IVF procedure have the best success conceiving.
I do have patients that call me for the first time right before the IVF procedure and have the 2 treatmnets (1 before and 1after IVF procedure.) I can say that if this is their second or third time to have IVF, the Acupuncture often seems to have a positive effect. It is difficult time to know if it is their first time through IVF, because you don’t really know if they would have conceived or not.
What I can say is that it often really helps the patient relax stay calm and feel good about the process. Which in turn can’t help but increase the patients odds. I also believe that the Acupuncture will either help or not, but has no negative effects.
Women come to me all the time who have either already gone through IVF several times, or considering IVF. They wonder if they made the right decision, or not.
My questions to these patients are –
1. Have you changed your diet to a fertility friendly diet?
2. Are you working on reducing your stress level?
3. Do you exercise?
4. What is your age?
5. Have you kept a basal body temperature chart to see if your body is doing what is suppose to do?
Depending on these answers I give them my thoughts. My thoughts are based on what I have learned, and what I have experienced with other patients. So often, when women come in for acupuncture, change their eating habits, exercise, and understand that pregnancy often occurs when their bodies are working as they should they conceive. Sometimes they do not. But, why not try the natural way first. Why take all the drugs to make your body do something, it is perfectly capable of on its own.
It is always up to the couple what they feel the best about. Acupuncture has been shown to improve the fertility rate while going through IVF. Acupuncture has been shown to help couple conceive on its own. It is really a personal decision. But, I am always willing to share with couples what I have learned and experienced.
Do you have more questions? Email me: katiemc@ancientartsaustin.com
Occasionally someone calls me to say they have been receiving acupuncture treatments for 6 months and still are not pregnant. They are wondering what is wrong, and should they continue to receive treatments?
I advise them to look at their bbt charts, how are they feeling, are the charts improving, do they feel healthier now than before. Do they feel that acupuncture has done all it can for them. Have they made all the necessary changes in their life to help them self.
If someone feels that the Acupuncture is not helping then why continue to pay for it. I am a firm believer that you must feel good about what you are doing. There are many types of treatment that may or maynot help you, so why not try the one you feel the best about. It is a personal choice.
Acupuncture does not always work. Clinics of all types of infertility treatments give out statistics which may or may not be true. You must not only believe in acupuncture but in the Acupuncturist you choose.
With my patients I do reviews with them every time they come in. We look at their current chart and look at their past charts. We talk about how they have felt, what all is going on in their life’s, etc., etc. If we get to six months and they have not conceived we do a big overview of their case together and make a decision.
Make sure the person you choose has the time you deserve.
Ok, I am getting this question daily. Is it ok to drink out of plastic containers?
My answer is why do it when there is a possibility that it puts toxins into your body. Some have done research that shows it increases the chance of PCOS, diabetes, and other health issues. There are so many couples facing infertility issues, and so many people using plastic to eat and drink from, and it is so easy to change to using glass and/or metal containers, why not make the change.
A quick note–This weekend I was at the beach in Port Aransas, Texas . There was tons of stuff washing up onto the beach, which was from Hurricane Ike. There was tons and tons of stuff, but from what I saw 90% of it was plastic. It is incredible to see how much plastic we use, and how little plastic deteriorates. If it doesn’t deteriorate outside of our body, what leaches out of it could stay in our bodies and cause problems. If you need more plastic, go to Port Aransas this week. It is amazing and sad.
In Chinese Medicine the fetus is formed from the jing and is nourished by the mothers blood. So the pregnancy can be detected at cun position of the left hand. The beats will fill sort of slippery and will come and go smoothly. The pulse will also feel like that at the chi and guan positions.
The cun position is that of the heart, and it controls the blood vessels. The chi positions belongs to the kidney which stores the jing.
Do you think you may be pregnant? Come by and let me check your pulse.
512-653-6131
Yes, this is a common formula for liver qi stagnation, with heat signs. Xiao Yao Wan is for liver qi stagnation without excess heat. Both are very good for liver qi stagnation, but sometimes it is better to make a custom formula. It all depends on the signs, symptoms, pulse and tongue diagnoses.
I would recommend a professional diagnoses before just trying a formula. You must remember we are trying to help you balance your body. If this is the wrong formula for you, it may make your body more out of balance.
Sometimes, your body may appear to have liver qi stagnation, but instead you may have qi deficiency, leading to liver qi stagnation, or blood deficiency leading to qi deficiency, etc. It is important to have a correct diagnoses.
Liver Qi Stagnation can usually be taken care of with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. It is a diagnoses I am always ok with, because I know the patient will see improvement very quickly, and the results of treatment will be great.
Western Medicine doesn’t even acknowledge Liver Qi Stagnation. In fact when people to to the doctor they are told pms symptoms are normal. Breast tenderness, irritability, clotting etc. are all normal. Well, I will tell you, you don’t have to put up with those symptoms, and you will feel better when you don’t have them.
Usually it just takes a couple of cycles before you begin to see a difference. Your period should really just happen without signs or symptoms. The blood should be bright red without clotting or cramping. Your breast should not feel sore and you do not need to feel like a bear during your period.
Would you like to have the symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation disappear? Is your husband tired of you having pms? Are you tired of PMS (liver qi stagnation)? You don’t have to have it, you have a choice.
512-653-6131 or katiemc@ancientartsaustin.com
In Eastern Medicine no menstruation (amenorrhea) is most often a sign of blood deficiency Most of the time when women come to Ancient Arts Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and say they rarely have periods, I find that their tongue is very pale, and pulse is very week.
Most always I will begin using herbs to increase the amount of blood, and sometime supplement those herbs with spleen qi herbs, kidney yin herbs and/or kidney yang herbs. This varies depending on the time of cycle that the patient is on. Sometimes they have no way of knowing since it has been so long since the last menstruation.
My favorite herbs I use for blood deficiency are: Dang Gui, He Shou Wu, Bai Shao, Shu Di Huang and Nettles. Used together adding Gan Cao I usually see timely results.
There are also some great acupuncture points I use weekly or sometimes twice weekly while the patient is taking the herbal remedies.
For more information check out our website: www.austininfertility.com or give me a call 512-653-6131.
I would recommend that you never just start taking herbs on your own, because they may not be what you need. Check with a practicioner of Oriental Medicine first.
Personally, I would choose a Acupuncturist, just I would choose a Doctor. If they are so busy they cannot take the time to see me as a individual, I would not waste my time. They need to take the time to talk to you about diet, exercise, stress, etc. You need to be able to talk to the Acupuncturist, not a receptionist before you come in for a visit. You need to feel that the Acupuncturist has the time for you, that you need.
Making a connection with your Acupuncturist is very important, because of the way we treat people. It is important that you talk to him/her every visit about your diet, exercise, and stress level. The Acupuncturist needs to adjust your herbs and points used for treatment according to your symptoms, period, bbt chart, stress level, etc.
Make sure you get the time you deserve. If you don’t? It is time to change. Most patients know after their first conversation, if they will connect with the Acupuncturist. If you aren’t able to talk to the Acupuncturist before you come in? They may not have time to talk to you when you are their in person.
I have been getting a lot of questions about how often someone who wishes to receive Acupuncture treatments will need to come in. Please feel free to continue the calls, and emails, because the more you know the more relaxed you will be.
First the most important part is that you know coming in that it usually takes between 3-6 months before a females body is balanced. Can you shorten this time? Sometimes, if you make diet changes, are within 20 pounds of your perfect weight, exercise enough but do not over exercise, and practice relaxation techniques to help calm your body.
It is important for patients to understand, that the timing of the treatments can be important, so don’t expect to see results, if you cancel your appointments. Your Acupuncturist will determine, when you need to come in. I personally have women come in 1 x per week at least the first month. This way I can watch the basal body temperature chart which you will be keeping. If i see the temps are up and down, throughout the entire cycle, I may want to continue to treat you weekly. If I see you have a shorten luteal phase I may want to treat you 2 x per week during the luteal phase and may not need to see you the rest of the month.
These are just some examples. There are many issues we can see by using the basal body temperature chart. It varies from patient to patient. If the patient is doing herbal medicine along with the acupuncture she/he may not need as many acupuncture treatments. Can some women come in less? Listed below are the ways to help yourself.
1. Diet. Read the the entry below for some suggestions. Don’t be someone who makes excuses not to change your diet.
2. Exercise at least 20 min. 4 days per week. More is ok if you do not over-do-it.
3. Stay within 20 lbs. of your perfect weight for your height, and body type.
4. Take supplements as directed everyday.
5. Practice relaxation techniques.
6. Come in for your scheduled Acupuncture Treatments.
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