Research-based Fertility Acupuncture That Works
A 2003 study proved that acupuncture increases in-vitro fertilization success rates nearly two-fold. Maybe you saw the October 2003 'Sex in the City' episode that talked about fertility acupuncture. It's true, there is now a good research study from Germany that showed how a specific acupuncture treatment could raise the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) from 26.3% to 42.5%. Is Fertility Acupuncture the Best Way? If you have access to an acupuncturist, it's part of the solution. If you're doing in vitro fertilization, acupuncture before and after increases the success rates (according to a 2003 German study that received a lot of press).

Of course, there are many causes of infertility, and you should review them and the specifics of your medical case with your medical doctor and with your acupuncturist.The best solution would be to combine acupuncture with a natural fertility drug (herbal combination). Make sure you partner with a trained and licensed acupuncturist/herbalist - they can help you immensely!Chinese Medicine Fertility Chinese medicine has some wisdom and research to add to the topic of fertility. Let's understand theoretical basis of Chinese Medicine fertility. 1. The Uterus: Called 'bao' in Chinese, it is thought to be the reservoir of blood and nutrition needed by the woman's body to sustain a growing fetus.

You need plenty of blood for fertility. Also, the uterus needs to be free of heat (inflammation, etc.). Fertility acupuncture can clear heat from this area. To understand this better, we have to understand the Chinese view of 'blood'... 2.

Blood: Called 'xue' in Chinese, blood is more than the plasma and serum of western medicine. It includes much of the nourishing aspects of yin (all things passive, cool, and fluid). It is hard to correlate Chinese and western medical concepts exactly, but some hormones, vitamins, and neurotransmitters may be included in 'blood.' All of these are important in fertility. If there's not enough blood, the uterus can't provide the fetus with enough nourishment to survive. Blood can be deficient, leading to paleness, insomnia, and memory loss.

There is an entire category of chinese herbs that can help with this. Blood can also stagnate, leading to symptoms like late menstruation, menstrual clots, dark menstrual blood, sharp stabbing pains (especially before menstruation). To fix that, there's another category of herbs that moves (regulates the flow of) the blood. Fertility acupuncture can also address the condition of the blood by regulating its flow. Intertwined with blood is an extraordinary fertility acupuncture channel called the 'chong,' or penetrating vessel...

Join the PulseMed mailing list Email: 3. The Penetrating Vessel: The 'chong' acupuncture channel is also known as the 'sea of blood.' It links 4 acupuncture channels (Spleen, Kidney, Conception, and Governing) that correspond to digestive function, some endocrine functions, menstruation, some neurological functions, and heredity.

Zimbabwe: Pregnant Women Under Threat As Health System Crashes
Many of Zimbabwe's pregnant women and their unborn babies are facing an almost certain death, after the country's only two government maternity hospitals in Harare have been closed.
Nigeria: Maternal Health Care Launched in Nsukka
The recent introduction of free mobile maternal and child care services in Enugu State by the state ministry of health has been formally launched in Nsukka Local Government Area.
Uganda: Pregnant Women to Get Kits
PREGNANT women in rural areas will soon access safe delivery packages to reduce deaths during and after child birth.
Nigeria: Akunyili Cautions Mothers On Breast Milk Substitutes
Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dora Akunyili, has cautioned mothers on excessive dependence on breast milk substitutes.
Uganda: Embrace Family Planning, Religious Leaders Told
The Reproductive Health Uganda has been urged to sensitise religious sects opposed to family planning. Bushenyi district chairman Longino Ndyanabo said some religions had to change their attitude towards family planning.
Nigeria: FG Tasked On Excessive Bleeding After Birth
The federal government should be decisive in reversing the current high maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria.
Nigeria: Lagos Restates Commitment to Maternal, Emergency Healthcare
Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to improving the state of maternal and emergency healthcare services for the benefit of the people.
South Africa: Where Babies Are Busy Making Babies
A mother of one has invited me out for a weekend. Scary! Scary! Run! If this was happening in Arusha, I would have surely earned myself some 30 years in one of those filthy prisons.
Nigeria: Rivers Earmarks N650 Million for Women
About N650 million has been set aside to empower women in Rivers State, while all pregnant women would henceforth be given free medical attention in government-owned hospitals as 150 health centres are being built across the state.
Nigeria: Hajj - 'Babies Will Be Retained in Saudi Arabia'
Pregnant Nigerian women who deliver in Saudi Arabia while performing the 2008 Hajj would not be allowed to return with their babies.
Nigeria: Wonders, Praises As Eight-Year Pregnancy is Delivered
Bizarre and unimaginable! Yet that was what happened last Friday when Mrs. Helen Oluwatoyin gave birth to a bouncing baby girl after eight years of pregnancy.
Namibia: Who Steps in to Curb Maternal Mortality
Concerned about the appalling maternal mortality rate in the country, a high-ranking official from the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters is in the country to assess the type of assistance Namibia would need in order to rescue the situation.
Nigeria: 50,826 Pregnant Women Benefit From Free Maternal Health Programme in Delta
Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, says the state's free maternal health programme, which was launched last year, has, so far, recorded a turnout of 50,826 pregnant women across the various health centers in the state.
Uganda: Pregnancy Policy Unfair to Girl-Child
The New Vision of November 10, carried a story in which the Minister of Education, Namirembe Bitamazire, stated that her ministry was planning to introduce a stringent policy that forbids pregnant students from sitting UNEB examinations ("Pregnant Students Policy to be Reviewed").
Nigeria: Father of Quadruplets Pleads for Assistance
Mr Emmanuel Ogiga whose wife recently gave birth to a set of quadruplet in Uda Community of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State has appealed to Nigerians to come to the aid of his family.
Kenya: Catholic Experts Back Cardinal's Anti-Abortion Crusade
Four Catholic professionals have said that making abortion legal in Kenya will have serious implications for the family, religion and society in general.
Kenya: Is the Country Experiencing a Baby Boom?
The number of women giving birth in public and private hospitals has increased in the last nine months with the figures expected to rise, a survey conducted by the Saturday Nation has shown.
Uganda: Private Players in Reproductive Health
Dr Anthony Mbonye is among the 105 individual scientists worldwide who have won grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to explore bold and largely unproven ways to improve global health.
Nigeria: Maternal Mortality . . . High Rate Unacceptable
The problem of maternal mortality has, over the years, been a source of serious concern to health practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa. The problem reached a gargantuan proportion in the last four to five years, with number of women dying at child birth quadrupling from figures available 10 years ago.
Ethiopia: Saving Lives With Trained Birth Attendants
Like many teenagers in rural Ethiopia, Shekuria Mume, 19, became pregnant, quit school and got married at 15. The birth of her first baby remains one of her most traumatic experiences, as an untrained traditional birth attendant (TBA) delivered her.
Nigeria: EU to Construct Permanent Cold Store in Plateau
The European Union (EU) prime project is to construct a permanent cold store for the state to reduce infant and maternal deaths in the state.
Somalia: 'One Message' On FGM/C in Somaliland
Hawa* is determined her young daughter will not undergo female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), which is widespread in Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland.

It is often involved with gynecological disorders. It also helps protect the chest, abdomen, and back from disease. The qi and blood must flow properly within the Pentrating Vessel for optimal menstruation and natural fertility.

Certain herbs can boost the sea of blood and others regulate the flow of blood witin the Penetrating Vessel.Acupuncture can also optimize the condition of the Penetrating Vessel. The two main acupoints of the chong channel (Sp4, P6) are great fertility acupuncture points. 4. Yin and Jing (Essence): Yin, mentioned with blood in #2, is a fundamental aspect of the body. It includes blood, is cool, and is closely related with jing.

Jing is the fundamental potential of the body and mind. We are given a limited amount at conception, and we protect it by eating and digesting properly. A lack of jing or yin can impair menstruation, gynecological function, conception and fertility, and make for a miserable menopause later in life. There are herbs that specifically boost yin and/or jing.Acupuncture can boost yin and jing somewhat, but herbs are even better. Many acupuncturists believe that herbs are better at supplementing deficiencies than acupuncture is.

One exception to this is moxibustion, the heating of acupoints. In fertility acupuncture, we can moxa the acupoints that nourish yin and jing. Putting it all togetherAs European Chinese medicine scholar Philippe Sionneau summarizes, "The penetrating vessel originates in the uterus. It is the sea of blood. It moves qi and blood in the twelve channels and is connected to the liver.

The conception vessel also originates in the uterus. It moves qi and blood in all yin channels. Woman's fertility is directly linked with it, 'The conception vessel governs uterus and fetus.' It is connected to the kidneys. Furthermore, the spleen is the root of later heaven, the origin of qi and blood production and transformation. Thus, if kidneys qi is flourishing, liver qi is harmonious, spleen qi is productive, and then the pentrating vessel and conception vessel are abundant and flow freely, disposed to favor birth (fertility)." Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K.

Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril. 2002 Apr;77(4):721-4. Maciocia G. Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine.

Wiseman N, Ellis A. The Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. Sionnea, P. Xin Fang: Modern Chinese Herbal Formulas (In Process)..