Acupuncture for Fertility

1. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels Acupuncture for Fertility

2. Acupuncture for Fertility • Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. About 84% of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex (every 2 or 3 days). Clinical studies in Chinese medicine have shown that acupuncture has complementary benefits in treating infertility, especially for those with infertility caused by ovulation and tubal problems. • There is also research in the West that supports the idea that acupuncture may be helpful for couples undergoing IVF. At present, in most Chinese hospitals, acupuncture is generally only used as an adjunct to infertility treatment. • Best Chinese acupuncture in London

3. • Acupuncture is based on the theory of 'qi', which is the ability to travel throughout the body along specific channels. By using acupuncture needles to stimulate certain acupuncture points along the channels, the "qi" in the body is balanced as much as possible, thus maintaining health. In 2002, German researchers studied 160 women undergoing IVF treatment and found that acupuncture significantly improved their chances of conceiving. 42% of the women treated with acupuncture became pregnant, compared to 26% of those who did not receive acupuncture treatment.

4. • Since then, there have been more studies demonstrating the benefits of acupuncture for women undergoing IVF treatment. A study (also conducted in Germany) showed that women who were treated with IVF or intracytoplasmic injections and received acupuncture during the second half of their menstrual cycle (i.e. the luteal phase) had higher rates of both conception and continued pregnancy. A Danish study showed that conception rates were maximised if acupuncture treatments were received on the embryo implanted in the uterus. • Their research also showed that neither the conception rate nor the continuation rate increased if acupuncture treatments were repeated two days later. The researchers believe that acupuncture may help to increase the amount of blood flowing to the uterus and relaxes muscle tissue, therefore increasing the chances of successful embryo implantation.

5. Acupuncture can increase sperm count and viability • Acupuncture may be helpful for male infertility as well. Regular acupuncture treatments have been shown to increase sperm count and improve sperm motility (i.e. the ability of sperm to travel) in men with fertility problems. • However, the results are not always as dramatic. To increase the likelihood of pregnancy naturally, acupuncture treatments need to increase a man's sperm count to a level sufficient for conception, which means that he should ejaculate at least 10- 12 million viable sperm each time.

6. • For couples considering assisted reproductive treatment, a study published in 2005 suggests that acupuncture does improve sperm quality. Researchers separately analysed the sperm status of men with unknown causes of infertility before and after acupuncture treatment, and they found that acupuncture was associated with both a reduction in sperm structural defects and an increase in the number of normal sperm.

7. There are other studies on acupuncture and fertility • Acupuncture may improve sperm quality and count the number of infertile men. • Acupuncture may improve the inner lining of the uterus, including increasing blood flow to the uterus. • Acupuncture may help regulate hormone levels, particularly gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn may improve ovulation rates. • Acupuncture can help women with PCOS and anovulatory cycles. • Acupuncture can help those with thyroid problems. (And thyroid problems can lead to fertility problems.) • Acupuncture may increase the number of follicles produced during IVF treatment.

8. Du Mai 督脉 • • • • • • • Du means to superintend, oversee. Tonifies Kidney Yang Strengthens the back Nourishes Brain and Marrow Strengthens Mind Expels Exterior Wind Extinguishes Think of Yang in excess what are the Yang Pathogens, Yang deficiency leads to Cold. Think about the location of the Du. Du Mai is also related to acupuncture for hay fever.

9. Ren Mai 任脉 • Meaning of Ren is to take up and official post, or let permit someone, to hold someone to the chest. Another meaning related to the character is the extreme of yin gives birth to yang. • Regulates the Uterus • Moves Qi in the lower Jiao. • Promotes descending of Lung Qi • Nourishes Yin Think about the nature of breathing when you do Qi Gong. Strong link to the Du Mai.

10. Chong Mai 冲脉 • Chong means thoroughfare • Controls Blood of the Uterus (round mouth/ beards eunuch) • Sea of Blood strong connection to the Stomach and Heart (production and movement) • Downward energy.

11. Gynaecology • Dr. Zhang Congzheng(1156－1228) was the first to believe that the Du,Ren and Chong Vessels are 3 branches of the same source. These vessels connect the uterus. • PCOS with weight gain • Chong and Ren channel obstruction • Dai Channel accumulations • Kidney Deficiency • Spleen Qi deficiency • Phlegm-Damp accumulation

12. Dai Mai 带脉 • Dai means belt • Resolves damp in the lower burner (bai dai leucorrhoea) • Regulates Qi in the legs. (sitting in water, shi above xu below) • Abdominal pain • Harmonises Liver and Gall Bladder

13. Yin Qiao Mai 阴跷脉 • Qiao means lift a leg or finger, originally stilt walker connection, qiao qiao ban seesaw • Sleep or too sleepy • Painful red eyes • Wei syndrome balancing Yin and Yang medial and lateral sides • Lower abdominal pain KI8 the xi cleft point is called jiao xin, xinshui means period • ST 9 connect to the Sea of Qi also think about Ren • Strongly connected to the kidney channel • BestacupunctureinLondon

14. Yang Qiao Mai 阳硗脉 • Sleep mental problem excess of Yang in the head • Sciatica and the hip • With Yin Qiao Mai useful for unilateral symptoms • Strongly connected to the bladder channel Yin Wei Mai 阴维脉 • Wei means to bind tie up, used to be the rope on a sedan chair, maintain, protect • Stagnation in the chest such as mental emotional • Headaches connect with Yang Wei Mai

15. Yang Wei Mai 阳维脉 • Intermittent fevers • Sides of the body • Ear problems

16. Extra Channel Paired Channel Master Point Coupled Point Ren Mai Yin Qiao LU-7 KI-6 Yin Qiao Ren Mai KI-6 LU-7 Du Mai Yang Qiao SI-3 BL-62 Yang Qiao Du Mai BL-62 SI-3 Dai Mai Yang Wei GB-41 SJ-5 Yang Wei Dai Mai SJ-5 GB-41 Chong Mai Yin Wei SP-4 PC-6 Yin Wei Chong Mai PC-6 SP-4

17. LU 7 GB41 KI 6 SJ 5 SI 3 SP 4 PC 6 BL 62