How can Chinese Medicine Help with Fertility?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to treat fertility problems for over 3,000 years. TCM works to enhance fertility by restoring balance to the body and the internal systems responsible for regulating hormones. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York have concluded that acupuncture: • Increases blood flow to the uterus, thus thickening the uterine lining, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall. • Reduces anxiety, stress, and hormones secreted during stressful situations – such as cortisol – which significantly decreases fertility (see section on Stress below). • Normalizes the systems that regulate ovulation, especially in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). • Positively affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a major role in fertility. • Regulates the menstrual cycles. Several studies of Chinese herbal treatments to correct Luteal Phase Defect produced pregnancy rates from 33-56%, far greater
