5 ways to support your Fertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine

5 Ways to Support your Fertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine ~

1 November, 2024

Elizabeth Cullen

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years to support all stages of hormonal health and fertility.

Fertility is seen as a pillar of health with the Energetic Kidney organ and Meridian being directly associated. The Kidneys, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, influence hormone production of Oestrogen, Progesterone, Luteinising Hormone and Follicular Stimulating hormones which impact fertility, Ovulation and menstrual cycle health.

Jing, which can be translated in English to Essence or Vitality, is stored in the Kidney organ and, and reproductive organs of both females and males in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is responsible for our genetic inheritance and the strength of our constitution.

Jing is one of the three treasures in Traditional Chinese Medicine along with Qi and Shen and it is imperative that the Jing is nourished and preserved for a long, quality life for all pillars of health.

Jing directly impacts and is affected by Ovulation, Menstruation, Fertility, Pregnancy, Postpartum and Menopause. There are many ways that both females and males are at risk of losing Jing including overwork, lifestyle choices in addition to the three most significant hormonal transitions a female will go through in their life which are known as the three golden opportunities. You can read more about the three golden opportunities in Chinese Medicine here – The Three Golden Opportunities.

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a number of approaches to support both female and male fertility and improve pregnancy rates. Here are five practical ways that Traditional Chinese Medicine can be implemented into your daily life to support Fertility:

1. Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment is a beneficial therapy that can begin at any stage of one’s fertility journey. From supporting one’s hormonal health and regulating the menstrual cycle to preconception care to supporting unassisted conception or through an IVF cycle, Acupuncture is a low-risk adjunct therapy that can be used use along or alongside pharmaceutical and/or hormonal medication.

From a biomedical perspective, Acupuncture supports fertility in a number of ways:

  • Regulates Hypothalamic Ovarian Axis
  • Supports efficient Ovulation
  • Regulates Menstrual Cycle
  • Regulates Hormones
  • Improve Uterine blood flow
  • Supports blood flow to Reproductive Organs
  • Calms Central Nervous System
  • Reduces Stress

Acupuncture dose is also important when it comes to Fertility support. Your practitioner will discuss a treatment plan with you at your initial appointment. This will be tailored to your menstrual cycle to encourage efficient Ovulation and support implantation.

2. Warm feet

If you are preparing or currently undergoing IVF treatment you would have heard about keeping your feet warm by wearing socks post transfer.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is imperative for all menstruating people to keep their feet warm, not only for fertility but for hormonal health as well, especially during the menses.

This is due to the main meridians responsible for reproductive health including the Kidney meridian beginning on the foot. By keeping the feet warm supports Qi and Blood circulation in the Kidney, Spleen and Liver meridians which are connected to the pelvic region and affect the function of the reproductive organs including the Uterus and Ovaries.

Practical ways to keep feet warm include:

1. Wearing slippers at home rather than bare feet
2. In the cooler months, wearing closed shoes with socks
3. Adding socks when possible. We love socks and sandals!
4. Ensuring you have your feet covered and warm during the Luteal Phase when open to conceiving

3. Bao Mai breathing exercise

Incorporating a Bao Mai breathing exercises into your daily meditation or as a grounding technique is a beneficial way to connect through to the Bao Mai channel. For Fertility, Traditional Chinese Medicine recognises a strong connection between the Heart, Uterus and Kidneys. The Heart, governing Blood circulation, nourishes the Uterus via the Uterus Vessel (Bao Mai).

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we view the Hypothalamic Ovarian Axis as connecting the Bao Mai and Bao Lou axis by connecting the Heart, Bao Gong (Heart and Ovaries) and Kidneys (influencing hormonal production and nourishing Jing). For hormonal health and fertility, it is imperative that there is an energetic flow between the organs with no stagnation or blockage. There are a number of causes that can disrupt this flow including emotional imbalances.

When supporting fertility patients at The Dao Health, there is an emphasis on keeping an open flow of Qi and Blood on the Bao Mai through using Acupuncture points on this channel.

For Fertility patients, I encourage the focus on keeping the Bao Mai channel open at home through a breathing exercise:

1. Place the right hand is placed on the heart and the left hand is placed on the lower abdomen, below the navel and above the Uterus.

2. Picture a highway connecting your right hand to the left-hand

3. Visualise the breath travelling from the left hand to the right hand on the inhale and on the exhale, travelling from the right hand to the left hand

4. Add an affirmation that resonates here with you such as “I am prepared” on the inhale and “I am capable” on the exhale

5. Repeat this exercise a minimum of three times or continue to use the Bao Mai breath through meditation. I recommend Sarah Blondin’s meditation on Insight Timer.

Throughout your day, if you need grounding come back to your Bao Mai breath. This is a simple exercise that can be done anywhere and at any time.

4. Chinese Dietary Therapy

Supporting a balanced diet with a focus on 80% warmed foods and 20% raw promotes a warm uterus in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Here are two foods from a Chinese Dietary Therapy perspective that support hormonal health and fertility that can introduced into your daily food intake:

Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi)

Goji Berries or Gou Qi Zi a dried red fruit and are one of the most well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredients. This sweet berry tonifies the Kidney and Liver Yin and its nutritional properties include containing antioxidants, making the Goji Berry a supportive food for fertility and hormonal health.

How to use:

1. Use to make tea
2. Add to a room-temperature smoothie
3. Add to The Dao Health’s Period Porridge (https://thedaohealth.com.au/period-porridge/)

Dosage: 10 to 20 grams per day

Black Sesame (Hei Zhi Ma)

Black Sesame Seeds or Hei Zhi Ma are black seeds. There are two common varieties of sesame seeds, white and black although in Traditional Chinese Medicine, only the black variety is considered medicinal. Black Sesame Seeds nourish the Liver and Kidney Yin, Blood and Jing as well as moisten the Large Intestine. Its nutritional properties include containing healthy fats, antioxidants, Vitamin B, Calcium and Magnesium. Black Sesame Seeds are a Chinese Dietary Therapy ingredient to not only support hormonal health and fertility but also hair and nail health and digestion.

How to use:

1. Add to sweet or savoury dishes including yoghurt, salads (80% warm) or eggs
2. Add to a room-temperature smoothie
3. Add to The Dao Health’s Period Porridge
4. Use Black Tahini as a condiment

Dosage: 15g per day

5. Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine can support patients throughout each chapter of Fertility from menstrual cycle and Ovulation support, Preconception care and preparing leading up to assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. Chinese Herbal formulas are individually tailored for the patient depending on their underlying pattern of diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine rather than their Western medical diagnosis. Chinese Herbal can be used as an adjunct therapy to Acupuncture or alone.

It is essential to work with an AHPRA-registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner when considering Chinese Herbal Medicine support for fertility as there is risk of interaction with certain medications. At The Dao Health, Chinese Herbal Medicine is not prescribed during an IVF cycle or Pregnancy.