Infertility: The Option of Using Acupuncture

Acupuncture: The Natural Way
 
Licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Sister Shengrong Liu of The St. Francis Natural HealthCare stresses the importance of improving whole body wellness through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating infertility. The United Nation’s World Health Organization supports the use of acupuncture to treat at least 70 conditions, including infertility.

Acupuncture, Sister Liu says, helps largely in keeping your Qi (energy, pronounced “chi”) balanced and centered. Sister Liu advocates the need to meet both the psychological and spiritual issues of a patient, not just the physical. “In Chinese medicine way, we treat the person as a whole, not compartmentalized,” she stresses. After acquiring a degree in Chinese medicine in China and in Oakland, California, Sister Liu decided to join the religious community. “I wanted to help more people get pregnant the natural way, but not for the financial gains,” she explains.
 
How it works
 
Acupuncture is believed to help bring down stress levels, making a person more conducive to conceiving, thus improving chances of success. She believes that acupuncture, herbal medicine, Oriental massage, regular exercise, and good nutrition all contribute to a body that is more well prepared for conceiving.
Before administering any treatment, Sister Liu requires a sit-down with the couple. She stresses the need to consult first and see their medical records. Vital information such as the sperm quality and the condition of the uterus and the cervix are necessary for her to know. “If there is nothing wrong with the sperm, I only focus on the wife. If there is, I treat the husband, too,” she explains.Treatment is usually set at one to two sessions per week for at least two months, and may vary on a case-to-case basis.
 
Condition
 
Many couples who come to the St. Francis clinic are those who’ve undergone several failed IVF procedures and feel like they’re missing a step. Sister Liu says she’s had a number of patients who ask to have acupuncture to prepare themselves for another IVF, and have reaped positive results. 
Some patients have dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, or polycystic ovaries, and these conditions, according to Sister Liu, which may be caused by harmony imbalance. “So you have to balance the body first. I’ve seen patients with polycystic ovaries, but with better body condition [through acupuncture], it became easier to hold the embryo after the transfer (IVF). Thus, it was easier [for her] to conceive.”
Sister Liu explains, “Our body is a small cosmos; the circulation has to follow the natural universal way. So if there’s something wrong, everything is disharmonized…the embryo cannot stay in place.” “Herbal medicine is sometimes necessary, but not all the time,” she clarifies. Usually, it’s a combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture that seals the deal, she adds.
Emotional stress from the “pressure” to conceive can be counterproductive. Have a trusted friend, a support group, or a professional to talk to before, during, and after your treatment. If you want to get pregnant the natural way, this could be it.
 
SOURCE:
Sister Shengrong Liu, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, St. Francis Natural Health Care, 19 Panay Ave., Quezon City, Tel. No. 373-5503