Acupuncture,
as a practice, has been used by the Chinese to treat a
large range of illnesses and ailments for thousands of
years. At first reviled by the doctors from the west, it
is now being accepted more and more as a suitable,
beneficial and a holistic form of therapy, especially
for couples having infertility problems. It has been
observed that acupuncture and
infertility complement each and many couples who
have turned to acupuncture have gone on to have healthy
babies.
How
it works
Acupuncture
was founded in ancient China with a belief that the
body’s qi and chi, or the energy flow, need to be
balanced for the whole body to be healthy. The body is
affected negatively when something blocks that flow.
There are twenty main paths (meridians) that qi travels
along and there are 400 points from which these
meridians can be accessed. Depending on the patient’s
complaint, acupuncture needles of different sizes are
used on a combination of points to stimulate them and
re-balance the body’s energy flow allowing it to heal by
itself.
Modern
medicine has not really been able to explain just how
acupuncture works but it has been around for 3000 years.
In the 17th century, Jesuit monks introduced it into
France from where it spread to other European countries.
In the USA, however, it has been in vogue for just a
couple of decades. Some people in the west are still
skeptical as acupuncture’s meridians don’t correspond to
any known system in the human body. However, research
has shown changes in the nervous system after blood
pressure and temperature has been regulated. It also
helps the brain release neurotransmitters and
neurohormones which help the body self-heal. Acupuncture
also helps ease pain by helping the body release
endorphins into the nervous system.
Acupuncture
and modern treatments
Acupuncture
is an alternate treatment method for both men and women
with infertility problems. Nowadays, it is used more and
more in combination with modern infertility treatments
like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). On its own, it can
help couples who have functional problems like erratic
ovulation or low sperm count and motility, rather than
structural ones like damaged fallopian tubes or blocked
sperm ducts. Chinese herbs are also sometimes
recommended as a supplement to acupuncture and any other
treatments the couple could be under but the doctor
treating the couple should be made aware as some herbs
can hamper IVF procedures.
Acupuncture
helps boost sperm production in men, while it helps
regulate hormonal and endocrine functions in women. Its aim is to
nourish the organs by balancing out the body’s
meridians. Studies show that acupuncture has helped
raise the rate of pregnancy amongst women using IVF, and
also lower the rate of ectopic pregnancies. Treatments
differ according to the condition of the person
receiving the treatment. The acupuncturist could
recommend a combination of herbal and dietary therapy,
exercise and lifestyle changes.
Couples
using in-vitro, artificial insemination and donor egg
transfer treatments are advised to start acupuncture at
least three months before. For women, acupuncture should
be used both before and after the transfer of the embryo
and up to 12 weeks of the pregnancy as it helps prevent
miscarriages. However, miscarriage may occur if
incorrect pressure points are
used.
Low
risk and painless
Acupuncture
for infertility is painless and the risks are low,
especially when done by a trained professional. If not
done properly, common risks include getting an
infectious disease and broken needles being accidentally
left in. The main risk is puncturing an organ. Using the
expertise of a trained and board-certified professional
is highly recommended. It is important to note that
acupuncture should not be used by people who suffer from
bleeding disorders or those who need to use blood
thinners.
Acupuncture
and the holistic approach
Like all holistic treatments, acupuncture helps lower stress levels and harmonizes physical and mental health. These days, many couples who have infertility problems turn to the holistic approach, while using modern medical treatments too. Acupuncture and infertility go hand in hand, the former helping to treat the latter by taking the wellness of whole body into consideration rather than isolating and treating just the symptom. The holistic approach encompasses all aspects of the individual — mental, physical, spiritual — and tries to understand him or her as a sum of these parts. Besides acupuncture, the holistic approach also offers herbal remedies, advice on lifestyle and diet and exercises like yoga to reduce stress.
