by Pamela Policastro, L.Ac.

Miscarriage is the result of many possible factors during pregnancy.  These include genetic factors, environmental factors, circulatory factors, and immunologic factors.  Many of these conditions are a result of subtle imbalance within a very delicate internal environment.  Since acupuncture is used to bring the body back to balance, it is able to contribute to the prevention of miscarriage.  There are benefits to having acupuncture during each trimester of pregnancy.

During the first trimester acupuncture is used  to help prevent miscarriage and provide a stabilizing effect on the pregnancy, balance the endocrine system,  and regulate hormones.  Acupuncture helps to minimize nausea, morning sickness, fatigue, migraines, bleeding and spotting.

During the second trimester , acupuncture is used to regulate the digestive, nervous, and endocrine systems, all of which are necessary to maintain a healthy pregnancy.  Acupuncture helps to alleviate heart burn, hemorrhoids, edema, elevated blood pressure, and stress.

During the third trimester, acupuncture is used to regulate to musculoskeletal system to provide relief from sciatica, backache, pubic and joint pain, and carpel tunnel syndrome.  Treatment during this trimester also encourages the proper positioning of the baby for birth and helps normalize labor.  Research shows that women who use acupuncture experience shorter labor times with fewer complications, reduced rate of caesarean, and less need for the use of oxytocin, pain medications and epidurals.

Summer is the season for cookouts, al fresco dining and steaks on the barbie.  Yet, all that charred animal flesh may not be the best for you favorite guy’s fertility.  Read more here.

 By Anna Pyne, L.Ac.A TCM

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder and something we frequently treat at Pulling Down the Moon. Up to 75% of women with this diagnosis do not ovulate, which is hardly ideal when trying to conceive.   In fact, it’s not until they have trouble conceiving that many women learn they have PCOS, which in addition to causing infertility can also have negative long-term health consequences including heart disease and diabetes.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PCOS is considered an anovulation disorder related to ovarian insulin resistance.*  Chinese medicine initially acknowledged PCOS in the 1200’s describing it as a “Tian Gui” disorder, meaning a genetic disorder with the main symptoms being cycle irregularity and infertility due to anovulation.  There are a number of TCM patterns of diagnosis to describe PCOS, the main one being a (Chinese) Kidney Deficiency. The kidney in TCM is the organ system that is regarded with any genetic disorder and considered the root cause in PCOS.  The absence of the period, and therefore the absence of ovulation is a kidney pathology.  Interestingly, modern science has just recently identified a genetic component to PCOS and now think of PCOS as a hereditary problem in which symptoms often do not present until later in life.

A secondary pattern in TCM is Spleen Deficiency, which has to do with the insulin resistance part of the PCOS diagnosis. The Chinese spleen is responsible for the metabolism of nutrients from foods, as well as the transformation and transportation of fluids in the body. In patients with actual cysts in the ovaries, TCM considers the spleen to be dysfunctional. This is also the organ that relates to weight gain. Obesity is seen in 30%-60% of patients with PCOS. By improving the function of the spleen we help regulate blood sugar and resolve the excess fluid accumulation from ovarian cysts and/or fat from weight gain.  A third, related TCM pattern is Liver Stagnation, which can manifest as blood stasis or excess heat in the channels. Blood Stasis in the channels causes hair follicles to be nourished excessively creating coarse unwanted hair. This represents the hirsutism symptom, of which 70% of patients with PCOS have. Excess heat in the channels also promotes the acne component of PCOS.

When trying to improve fertility in patients with PCOS the primary focus is to induce ovulation.  According to TCM pattern diagnosis, the main organs treated for this condition are the kidney, spleen, and liver.  Treatment using TCM pattern diagnosis is greatly successful in inducing ovulation and a skilled TCM practitioner can use a combination of acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxabustion and herbal therapy to treat Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. 

*Different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome by Rotterdam criteria are differently steroidogenic but similarly insulin resistant. Fertil Steril. 2010 Mar 1;93(4):1362-5. Epub 2009 Sep 26.

Book an initial consultation with Anna Pyne in Chicago here.

Studies suggest that there is a relationship between exercise and male fertility.  Interestingly, men who have a ”moderate” exercise program (1 hour of exercise 3 times per week) have been shown to have better sperm parameters than men with heavy training regimens like marathoners and triathletes (Vaamond et al. 2009).  And gals, even if your guys isn’t a pro athlete he may still be working out in a way that’s not optimal for fertility.  Too much exercise, inadequate rest between workouts and “weekend warrior” bouts of intense activity could stack up to impair sperm count, morphology and motility. 

This may in part relate to the fact that habitual, moderate physical activity can act as an antioxidant because it “trains” our body to become a better producer of antioxidant enzymes.  However, when exercise becomes intense and exhaustive, or when we do not allow time for the body to rest and repair, cell damage due to oxidative stress can occur.  Here are some guidelines to pass along to your honey to make sure both he and “his boys” are staying fit:

Fertility-Friendly Exercise for Guys

1. About an hour of moderate intensity cardiovascular three times per week is optimal for fertility.  He should keep his heart rate around 65-75% of max and make sure there’s adequate time to rest and restore between workouts.   
2. Resistance training will help your honey maintain lean body mass, stay strong and look like a hottie.  Again, taking time to rest and restore is key.  Allowing for at least 48 hours of rest between resistance training sessions optimizes muscle repair and workout efficacy. 
3. Practice yoga.  When we say yoga is good for stiffies we don’t just mean tight muscles.  Stretching reduces chronic stress and releases tight muscles in the hips, back and groin.  Net result:  less tension and improved blood flow to the pelvic organs…natural Viagra! 
4. Avoid back-to-back strenuous work-outs.  Stagger cardiovascular training with resistance training and yoga/stretching routines to achieve optimal fitness with minimal side-effects. 
5. Keep the shorts loose and the “equipment” cool.  Avoid saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs. 
6. Practice relaxation training every day.  In the go-go world in which we live, our bodies and minds have forgotten how to relax.  Taking 15 minutes a day to practice meditation, conscious breathing or deep relaxation is imperative to combat the toll that stress hormones take on our health and fertility. 

With this exercise wisdom “under his belt,” (so to speak) your guy can do his part to make sure both he and his swimmers are in tip-top shape! 

 Vaamond et al. Response of semen parameters to three training modalities.  Fertil Steril 2009; 92:  1941–6.

By Pamela Policastro, L.Ac.

So, when you go for your weekly fertility acupuncture treatment and your practitioner breaks out the little cups, she’s not proposing a toast (unless you’ve just gotten a + Beta!).   When the cups come out, it’s likely she’s looked at your tongue, taken your pulse and identified excess heat or stagnant energy that needs to be shaken up or dispelled from your system. 

Fire cupping is a form of  traditional medicine found in many cultures around the world.  It involves placing cups containing reduced air pressure(suction)onto the skin.  The earliest record of cupping is in Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world.  It describes that in 1,550 BC, Egyptians used cupping.  Archaeologists have found evidence in China of cupping dating back to 1,000 BC.  In ancient Greece,  Hippocrates  used cupping for internal disease and structural problems.

In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum on the patient’s skin.  The therapy is used to dispel stagnation, stagnant blood and lymph, thereby improving qi flow.  Cupping is used to treat respiratory diseases such as common cold, pneumonia and bronchitis.  It is also used on back, neck, shoulder and other musculoskeletal  conditions.  Cupping  can be a very useful technique for women going through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), too.  I use cupping on fertility patients to release excess heat if overstimulation occurs during an IUI or IVF cycle. 

The cups themselves are of various shapes and sizes.  Plastic and glass are the most common materials used today, replacing the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times.  The low air pressure required may be created by heating the cup or the air inside it with an open flame or a bath in hot scented oils, then placing it against the skin.  As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts and draws the skin slightly inside.  Cups are normally used only on softer tissue that can form a good seal with the edge of the cup.  They may be used singly or in large number to cover a larger area.  They may be used by themselves or placed over an acupuncture needle.  Skin may be lubricated, allowing the cup to be moved across the skin slowly.

Depending on the specific treatment, skin marking is common after the cups are removed.  This can vary from a simple red ring that disappears quickly to a bruise that fades within a few days.  Gweneth Paltrow has been sighted with cupping marks on her back…smart girl!

About Pam: 

Pamela received her Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, N.M.  She is nationally certified by the NCCAOM in Oriental Medicine, and is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Illinois.  She received her Bachelors Degree in psychology from SUNY at Stonybrook, N.Y.  Additionally, Pamela has studied Chinese Herbal Medicine, Oncology Acupuncture at Memorial Sloan Kettering, N.Y.C., and fertility with Dr. Berkley from The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness, N.Y.C. 

Pamela is also nationally certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine.  Combining herbs with acupuncture, Pamela strives to attain the best possible results with all her patients.  Specializing in fertility, Pamela works to restore a mind/body balance to optimize natural conception and assisted reproductive therapy.  She is also affiliated with Mercy Hospital.

“There is a soul force in the universe which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”   Ghandi

If you would like to book an appointment with Pam for acupuncture, click here.

by Pamela Policastro, L. Ac.

Welcome back to our Fertility Acupuncture Tools of the Trade feature.  This week’s topic is moxibustion. 

No, moxibustion is not some sort of wacky-backy. 

 In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), acupuncture is often used together with moxibustion (some of you know it as that weird smelling cigar we use to heat your needles with).  Moxibustion is used for both prevention and healing of disease . It works through burning moxa or mugwort, which is an herb, to warm the meridians or acupuncture points.  It can help improve the flow of blood and qi, and achieve superior healing effects. 

The history of moxibustion began thousands of years ago in china.  Moxibustion originated after the introduction of fire into man’s life.  It is believed that while warming themselves by the fire, ancient people accidentally found relief from cold and pain when specific areas of the skin were subjected to burning.  Later on, they started using hot stones or hot sand wrapped in animal skins or plant bark, to press on local body areas to treat diseases.  Ancient people eventually learned to use ignited branches or hay to warm the sick part of the body.  From there, moxibustion was begun. 

Moxa leaves were later chosen as the best material.  These herbal leaves are easily ignited and produce a mild heat.  In addition, the aroma of the herb itself  can help enhance the effect of removing obstructions or stagnation of blood and qi.

The major ingredient used for moxibustion is Artemisia Vulgaris.  Moxa is pure yang (active & warm) in nature.  It has the ability to restore the essential yang from collapse (physical exhaustion).  It can regulate qi and blood, expel cold and dampness, warm the uterus, stop bleeding, warm the spleen and stomach to remove stagnation, and regulate menstruation.  When ignited, it can travel through all the meridians and eliminate hundreds of diseases.

The mild heat generated by moxibustion can also penetrate deep into the muscles of the body.  Moxibustion can be used for a variety of diseases, including asthma, common cold and flu, arthritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chronic fatigue, and, of course, help with fertility.  Wow..nature rocks it out!

When next we meet, I will discuss fire-cupping.  Peace, Pam

About Pam: 

Pamela received her Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, N.M.  She is nationally certified by the NCCAOM in Oriental Medicine, and is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Illinois.  She received her Bachelors Degree in psychology from SUNY at Stonybrook, N.Y.  Additionally, Pamela has studied Chinese Herbal Medicine, Oncology Acupuncture at Memorial Sloan Kettering, N.Y.C., and fertility with Dr. Berkley from The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness, N.Y.C. 

Pamela is also nationally certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine.  Combining herbs with acupuncture, Pamela strives to attain the best possible results with all her patients.  Specializing in fertility, Pamela works to restore a mind/body balance to optimize natural conception and assisted reproductive therapy.  She is also affiliated with Mercy Hospital.

“There is a soul force in the universe which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”   Ghandi

If you would like to book an appointment with Pam for acupuncture, click here.

Perhaps the most common question we get at the Moon is “where should I start?”  Women and couples are interested in doing everything they can to increase their odds of conceiving.  But among all the services available – nutrition counseling, acupuncture, yoga for fertility and massage – where to begin?  For the answer to this question, stay tuned to our blog this week as we discuss the different treatments we offer at Pulling Down the Moon and who will best benefit from these treatments.

The most important thing to recognize, though, is that using holistic treatment for fertility requires your participation.  Unlike a medical regimen, where you simply follow the directions your doctor provides, holistic treatment asks you to become involved in identifying and correcting physical, mental and emotional imbalances in your life.  In a sense, these treatments require you to be part of the treatment team.  This is true even if you are also using medical fertility treatments in addition to holistics.

The other point to make about holistic therapy is that it can take some time to work.  Treatments like acupuncture have shown short-term benefit (as few as two acupuncture treatments have been shown to increase IVF success rates), but studies using a longer treatment time frame actually have much more impressive results.  Nutrition changes can also be effective immediately, especially in terms of improving gut function, but other more long-term effects (potential improvement in egg or sperm quality, reduced inflammation, ovulation induction in PCOS) can take several months to achieve.   We feel great for a few hours after yoga or a massage – but longer term practice of these modalities actually leads to a lasting calm in which our body and mind can begin to heal themselves. 

So what’s right for you?  Stay tuned to our blog this week for a deeper exploration of what holistic fertility techniqes are right for you.   Also, feel free to post your questions.  We’ve got experts standing by. 

Be present, be positive!  Paige

  A Fertility Acupuncture Primer by Pamela Policastro L.Ac.

Even though it may seem like a new trend to the modern fertility patient, the use of the Chinese healing art of acupuncture to treat fertility is one that can be dated back at least two thousand years.   A lot of my patients are curious about the “tools of the trade,” because like a modern doctor, I do use an array of therapeutic instruments to treat my patients.  The tools I use to help restore my patient’s fertility may not require as much electricity as an RE’s, but since they have been passed down and perfected over a couple thousand years, I would definitey argue that they are pretty state-of-the-art. 

You may have heard that one of the most important concepts of Chinese medicine for fertility (or any other illness/symptom) is that of natural balance.  When proper balance of energy exists, the body has acheived  a healthy circulation of qi, or life force.  Qi flows throughout the body along channels called “meridians”.  When the flow of qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, illness may occur.  Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles (sometimes in combination with electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning specific herbs called Moxibustion – more about  this later)  into the skin at specific acupuncture points in order to influence the functioning of the body.  The choice of acupuncture points varies from patient to patient and treatment to treatment and relies on very careful diagnosis of different kinds (another topic!).

Let us first discuss the acupuncture needle.  The earliest primitive acupuncture instrument used in ancient China was the “stone needle” (ouch!).  This eventually developed into what is called “the nine needles” made of metal.  The nine needles were used for various depths of entry into the body and were of different shapes and sizes:  sharpened, round, elongated and miniature.  With the advance of manufacturing technology, acupuncture needles are being made with greater and greater precision.  Modern acupuncure needles are about the thickness of a hair brush wire and are designed to be virtually painless upon insertion.  The needles modern TCM practitioners use are single-use and sterile.

Today, like the acupuncturists of two thousand years ago, the acupuncture needle is used by the practitioner to unblock energy flow in order to restore health or reduce pain.  For example, the acupuncturist can move stagnation to relieve painful pms symptoms.  The needles are also used for supplementing various deficiencies; to treat a woman who has missed a period due to blood deficiency, for example.  Lastly, the needles can also be used to drain an excess which is creating imbalance as in the case of a woman who experiences extra-long periods and may have excess heat in the blood.

So now you know a bit more about acupuncture and needles.  Stay tuned for the next chapter of  “Tools of the TCM Trade.”  Please feel free to comment with any questions you may have about acupuncture and the treatment of infertility. 

To book an initial fertility acupuncture consultation with Pamela at our Arlington Heights office, click here.

By Anna Pyne LAc MSOM

You may have read my recent post about an Ann Arbor study* that found electro-acupuncture, in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern diagnosis, achieved IVF success rates double that of the national average.   Because the results of this study are so striking, we wanted to take a closer look. 

What makes this study interesting is that it adheres to a main tenet of Traditional Chinese Medicine – that treatment is individualized according to a patient’s specific diagnosis, rather than a standardized protocol.  In this study, acupuncture points, chosen according to a patient’s traditional Chinese medicine pattern, were combined with electro-acupuncture and the researchers found the likelihood of a conception was greatly improved.  

The study compared three different groups of acupuncture patients all going through a typical medicated IVF cycle.  The first group was a traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) group, which used selective points based on the individual’s presenting pattern.   There were five different Chinese medical diagnostic patterns recognized and three to five points were selected for treatment based on each patient’s specific pattern.   The second group used electro-acupuncture (EA) based off of points used in a previous Swedish study done by Stener-Victorin et al which was published in Human Reproduction**.  The third group used a combination of both TCA and EA. Acupuncture intervention for all groups consisted of a minimum of 12 treatments, two per week, prior to embryo transfer.  

The frequency of treatment in this study is higher than many other studies (including the Sterner-Victorin study which used 8 sessions)  looking at acupuncture and IVF.  Patients had a minimum of 12 sessions (2 per week) prior to transfer and about half of the patients had more than 13 treatments.   All groups had IVF conception rates higher than the national average, but it was the third group that had the best outcome with an 81% success rate. The first group (TCA only) had a 64% success rate and the second group (EA only) had a 63% success rate.

Now, in case you’re a bit freaked out by the term “electro-acupuncture,”  I’d like to take a moment to dispel your fears.  Electro-acupuncture is a technique where a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine is attached with small clips directly to acupuncture needles. When electricity is applied to the needles, the sensation is that of a light tapping.  Some patients have even asked me if I’m tapping them with my finger when I’ve used EA on them, but I’m not, that’s simply the sensation caused by the TENS machine.  It’s a comfortable feeling that is kept constant during the entire treatment session. By stimulating the points we are further enhancing their function, thereby intensifying the effect of treatment.

These results from the Ann Arbor study show the importance of using a differential traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis with the benefit of the added stimulation from the electro-acupuncture. I have seen this to be true empirically in my fertility practice so when this study came out it was especially exciting to see that it affirms my practical experience.

Please feel free post your comments and questions! 

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/acu.2009.0692* http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/6/1314**