Cathleen McCauley L.M.T.

By Cathy McCauley, LMT, NCTMB

Spring has officially sprung and a multitude of signs show the season is upon us. Take a walk through your neighborhood and you see crocuses blooming and green buds taking shape. The earth is fertile and bursting with life.

With spring here, it’s the time for rejuvenation and cleansing. The longer days bring a renewed boost of energy. With spring, you receive the opportunity to release any stagnation that has accumulated during the winter and start fresh in mind and body. You can look ahead and make plans for the coming year.

A Chinese proverb says, “Make your whole year’s plans in the spring, and your day’s plans early in the morning.”  The proverb comes from the fact that farmers sow their seeds in early spring to ensure a good harvest and highlights the importance of being proactive.  Applying this concept to fertility, you can see the importance of starting early in taking care of your reproductive health. When you begin to pay attention to your bodies’ rhythms, cycles, signs and symptoms, your chances can increase in creating a fertile environment.

If you haven’t been as proactive about fertility as you’d like, spring is the perfect time to make plans for the future. It might be time to talk to your doctor about a fertility blood work up to determine what’s really going on with your hormones. You could make an appointment with a nutritionist to overhaul your eating habits to be more fertility friendly or take a yoga class to learn some breathing and relaxation techniques for stress reduction.

Click here to learn about the Fertility Awareness Check-Up available from Fertility Centers of Illinois for just $90

Also, the concept of spring cleaning our bodies can become an important ritual. You need to clear out the toxins and rejuvenate any stagnate energy in the body to boost immunity and increase fertility health. Since spring is the time for new beginnings, it’s a good opportunity to experience something new. Acupuncture helps balance the energy in the body and stabilize the organs and bodily functions. Reiki, a gentle form of vibrational energy healing, helps restore harmony in the body, mind and soul and clears emotional blockages. Fertility massage focuses on opening up the abdominal and reproductive organs to promote the immune system and assist in blood flow. Massage also greatly reduces tension and helps you feel great.

In the spring, people begin to feel better as the temperatures increase, the sunlight shines and the world turns green. Pour some of that warmth and light into your reproductive health to invigorate and rejuvenate your personal fertility journey.

We’re here to guide you along your path and hope to see you soon!

 by Beth Heller, MS RYT

Chicago has had an amazing winter and a very early spring.  This past week has found us meditating on flip-flops…in March!

 While it’s super fun to slip on a pair of summery wedges and paint our toenails pink, open toed shoes and flip-flops aren’t the only reason to pay attention to our piggies.  When it comes to the holistic view of fertility  feet occupy a place of honor.  If you’ve ever had fertility acupuncture you know that many of the points that support the reproductive system are located in the feet and ankles.  Reflexologists assert that the feet literally provide a map of the body and that we can use foot manipulation to impact different physical organs.  Yoga, too, teaches that healthy feet are important for better menstrual function, dispelling toxins and improving immunity.

So what’s so special about our feet?  In yoga, the feet are seen as the foundation of our being that is connected with the earth.  The most basic of yoga poses, mountain pose, challenges us to simply stand and find balance from our feet to the top of our head.  If we close our eyes in mountain pose, we can visualize the outlines of our feet on our yoga mat…literally our footprint in the world.  One of the strangest things for the new yoga practitioner is exercising in bare feet rather than sneakers.   Postures are practiced barefoot to maximize our awareness of our feet.  Yoga postures also stretch and stimulate different points on the feet that are associated with different organ systems in the body.

Symbolically, the challenges of fertility lead us away from our feet into our head as we spin our mental wheels searching for the silver bullet that will blast us past “trying” time into mommy time.  Our feet, particularly when we practice yoga asana, bring us home from our imaginings and projections to the here and now.

On an energetic level, the feet are associated with our first chakra.  Chakras are energy wheels located along our spine and each chakra is associated with both physiological functions and spiritual life-lessons.  On a psycho-spiritual level the first chakra is associated with security, trust and our sense of belonging.  Physically, the first chakra governs our immune system, gut health and lower back.  The feet are also very important for the flow of apana energy, the energy current in our body that moves downward from the pelvis to the soles of the feet, governs the menstrual cycle and the ability for our body to dispel toxins.

So, be kind to your feet.   Try not to cram them into uncomfortable shoes and make sure they  are frequently touched or nurtured.   Here are some tips for fertility-friendly feet:

1.  Shake hands with your feet once a day.  To do this, take your fingers and thread them between your toes (pinky finger between pinky and second toe, ring finger between second and middle toe, etc.).  Once your fingers are threaded, gently squeeze and massage the ball of the foot.   Repeat on the other side.
2. Keep your feet warm.  Cold feet mean decreased circulation.  With summer coming we face “air conditioner freeze syndrome.”  Keep a pair of fuzzy socks in your bag or desk for the days when you feel like you work in a refrigerator!
3. Experiment with reflexology, the science of foot massage.  Either see a professional reflexologist or try out “reflexology socks,” that actually outline the different areas of the foot and their associated organ system.
4. Try yoga.  If you’re a runner or walker, your feet may need a good stretch.  Time spent in yoga class in bare feet can help feet become more flexible and improve circulation to these important fertility “organs.”  Click here to view our upcoming Yoga for Fertility schedule for DC Metro and Chicagoland.

Karisa Grudi, one of our licensed acupuncturists at Pulling Down the Moon Shady Grove, sat down with us to discuss a little bit about the German Protocol and why it is so important for women who have embryo transfers:

Q. Karisa, can you give us an idea of what the German Protocol is?

A. The German Protocol is a series of two acupuncture treatments that are performed on the day of IVF transfer.  The treatments are scheduled before and after the embryo transfer on the same day.  The German Protocol is based off of a study that was performed in Germany, 2006.  In the study of 160 participants, one group received IVF transfer only while the second group received IVF transfer with two acupuncture treatments (before and after transfer).  The pregnancy results showed 42% in the acupuncture group compared to 26% in the control group.

Q. How does this particular type of acupuncture help increase a couple’s chances of conceiving?

A. In the German study, a select number of acupuncture points were used to help with the efficacy of pregnancy.   Those same points from the study are used in the clinic.  Certain points on the leg have a direct connection to the uterus and ovaries.  Those points help to bring blood flow locally to the uterus to help lessen contractions associated with the actual implantation of the embryo.  Points are also selected to decrease stress and help relax the body and mind.  In addition, points are selected on the ear to further help with relaxation, uterine blood flow and endocrine functioning.

Q. Is it helpful for all types of cycles in which an embryo transfer is taking place?

A. Yes, it is definitely helpful for all IVF cycles, including those with donor egg and/or donor sperm.  Again, the focus is the same on the day of IVF transfer – to bring blood flow locally to the uterus, to help relax the body and mind, and to help with endocrine functioning.

At Pulling Down the Moon Shady Grove, Karisa and our other licensed acupuncturists strive to provide everyone with individualized care, whatever their circumstances may be. The German Protocol is just one of the many ways acupuncture can help you on your journey. We hope you will join us!

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We are thrilled to announce that TCM fertility and women’s health specialist Pamela Policastro LAc has expanded her hours to see patients at our River North center.  Pam will be working on Mondays and Saturdays in the City.  Pam has been a star practitioner at our Arlington Heights location for many years and we are excited to bring her strong clinical presence to our Chicago location.  Pam will continue to treat patient in Arlington Heights on Thursdays.

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

This beautiful quote is Pam’s motto.  Pam received her Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, N.M. She is nationally certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), and is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Illinois. She received her Bachelors Degree in psychology from SUNY (State University of New York) at Stonybrook, N.Y. Additionally, Pam 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.

Pam is also nationally certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Combining herbs with acupuncture, Pam strives to attain the best possible results with all her patients. She specializes in all aspects of fertility and pregnancy; female and male infertility, menstrual irregularities, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis. Pam works with each person’s individual needs to provide a personalized treatment plan to optimize natural conception and/or assisted reproductive therapy. She is also affiliated with Mercy Hospital.

Read some of Pam’s contributions to our blog here:

TCM Perspective of Physical Exercise

Acupuncture and Miscarriage Prevention

Fire Cupping and Fertility

What Are You Smoking??? Moxa and Fertility

by Anna Pyne LAc FABORM

One aspect of medical theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes the system of the five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. They can be used to differentiate TCM physiology, pathology, and treatment plan.  Each element corresponds to a specific emotion and an individual TCM organ.  The Earth element is affiliated with the worry or rumination emotion.  When our minds are busy over-thinking it hinders us from being grounded and impairs harmony between the mind-body connection.  The earth element is also associated with the spleen (not the same as Western medical spleen), which has to do in part with the digestive system.  A person with a poor digestive system usually cannot think clearly, hence the importance of a well functioning spleen.   When the spleen is working properly it means the earth element is being sufficiently nourished so that the mind can remain grounded.   This enables us to reduce stress, keep life in perspective when it gets tough, and can help maintain optimal physical health.

At Pulling Down the Moon we have numerous treatment modalities to ensure that the earth element comes into and stays in balance.  The therapies offered are acupuncture, herbal therapy, yoga, meditation, diaphragmatic breathing exercises, reiki, massage, and nutrition all of which can be used either individually or in combination.  If you have any questions regarding the earth element according to TCM, feel free to contact me via email (anna@pullingdownthemoon.com) or make an appointment for acupuncture/herbal therapy by calling the office.

Anna Pyne, LAc, MSOM, FABORM

A question I frequently get asked in my acupuncture practice is “Can acupuncture help improve egg quality?”  From my own clinical experience the answer is, it can.   Acupuncture and herbal therapy help improve the environment of the ovary enabling it to function optimally and properly, therein allowing it to make good quality eggs.  An example of this is with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) where the problem is a functional disorder of the entire system that is affecting the ovary.  In other words, the issue is not with that single organ alone.  Since the body systemically is not working properly it is not able to nourish the ovary.  Therefore many immature follicles develop within the ovary impeding the process to fully grow one or two healthy quality eggs, as is the case in a normal cycle.  There are many treatment strategies that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers to help regulate the body’s functioning in PCOS, so that the ovary is being supplied the energy and blood it needs to be able to produce an exceptional egg.

Another instance in which I have seen an improvement in egg quality is with endometriosis.  The explanation is a bit simpler to understand than in PCOS.  Generally speaking, with endometriosis the condition is one of blood stasis, a problem that can hinder fresh, oxygenated, nutrient rich blood from reaching the ovary thereby having a negative effect on its function of making a good quality egg.  Here again there are many options in which TCM can help treat blood stasis so that the ovary is being thoroughly supported to produce a good egg.

Though there is no data via research studies presently to support this claim directly, there is much that I have seen in my clinical experience to believe it to be true.  If you have any questions regarding egg quality and how TCM can help please feel free to contact me or book an appointment!

When you walk into our new River Walk center you will see mehndi designs on the walls.  Mehndi is the name for the temporary henna tattoos that women from India and Pakistan wear on their hands and feet at weddings and other celebrations.  The mehndi tradition is synonymous with women, community and joy.  Our new River Walk center is “tattooed” with mehndi designs as a celebration of women, their beauty and their innate ability to support and heal each other through community.  We thought we’d share this video, from the movie “Monsoon Wedding” because it is filled with that kind of joy.

We will begin seeing patients at our new space on Sunday, January 23.  Call 312-321-0004 to book your fertility acupuncture, yoga for fertility, FEM protocol or nutrition consult.  We are Chicago’s specialists for the holistic care of women’s health, fertility and pregnancy.

PDtM Acupuncturist Anna Pyne has this fabulous self-care suggestion for fertility.  Read her post on Pulling Down the Moon’s blog at Fertility Authority!

And for more about those sweet little piggies…check out this previous post on our FA blog about the importance of feet for fertility.