Using TCM to Improve Your Fertility
March 14, 2023
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient practice used to improve fertility for centuries. One important aspect of TCM is diet and nutrition to support reproductive health.
Fundamental Principles of the TCM Diet for Fertility
- Balance Yin and Yang In TCM, fertility is believed to depend on the balance of Yin and Yang energies in the body. Yin represents feminine energy, while Yang represents masculine energy. A balanced diet should include both Yin and Yang foods to promote fertility.
- Yin foods include cooling, moistening, and nourishing foods such as vegetables, fruits, and beans.
- Yang foods include warming, strengthening, and energizing foods such as meat, fish, and grains.
- Focus on Blood Building Foods. Blood plays a critical role in female fertility, nourishing the ovaries and uterus. To build blood, TCM recommends consuming foods rich in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. These include leafy greens, red meat, liver, eggs, and beans.
- Avoid Dampness. Dampness is a TCM concept that refers to excess water retention in the body. Excessive dampness can cause infertility, impairing the circulation of Qi (vital energy) and blood. To avoid moisture, TCM recommends avoiding cold and raw foods, such as salads and raw vegetables, and focusing on cooked foods, like soups and stews.
- Incorporate Herbs and Spices. TCM uses a variety of herbs and spices to promote fertility. These include ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric, which have anti-inflammatory properties and improve circulation. Try this turmeric latte recipe to get started!
- Reduce Stress. Stress can harm fertility by disrupting the balance of hormones in the body. TCM recommends reducing stress through relaxation techniques like coloring, journaling, meditation, yoga, and acupuncture. Eating a balanced diet and regular exercise can also help reduce stress. However, many of the principles of the TCM diet, such as consuming a balanced diet, avoiding processed foods, and reducing stress, are widely accepted as beneficial for overall health and wellness.
Meet Beth Heller
Beth Heller is a co-founder and co-director of Pulling Down the Moon, Inc., where she specializes in Integrative Care for Fertility (ICF). With a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, she previously worked as a Nutrition Researcher on an NIH-funded study before discovering the powerful connection between mind and body through yoga. Beth's journey into yoga began in 1998, helping her regain her reproductive health, and she later delved into deeper practices, including meditation and breathwork. Despite experiencing the loss of a stillborn daughter, Beth found solace in yoga's ability to provide inner stability and hope. She co-founded Pulling Down the Moon and continued her personal fertility journey, eventually welcoming two sons. Beth's mission is to share the tools of yoga and traditional healing therapies with others facing fertility challenges, and she is an active member of relevant professional organizations while teaching yoga in the Chicago area.
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Spring arrives next month, and with it, more cold days (perhaps even snow)! But March also brings the promise of new life. We love this time of year. The ground starts to smell fresh and ripe. Small green buds begin to swell from the earth reaching up, up, up. Birds chatter in the trees. The sun stays in the sky a little longer each day. After a long, cold winter of hibernation, spring restores nature’s beauty. Spring inspires us to restore ourselves, too and these self-care techniques will lead you to restoration of mind, body and spirit. Hydrate. Drink a glass or two of water first thing in the morning. Keeping yourself hydrated helps boost your mood, improves brain power and protects you against disease. Make a gratitude list. Spending just a few minutes a day writing down what you are grateful for can dramatically shift your day. The more gratitude you have, the more open to abundance you become. Breathe. Set aside a few minutes each day to practice breathing. There are so many benefits! Among them, diaphragmatic breathing alleviates stress, reduces pain, strengthens internal muscles and moves blood to organs and tissues. If you’re not sure how to get started, try our Breathe & Restore Workshop or schedule an Soothe the Senses: Calm the Nervous System Fertility Enhancing Massage™ to receive some hands-on breath work coaching. Stretch. Five to 10 minutes of stretching in the morning increases energy levels, enhances circulation, reduces injury and centers your mind. Even better is a regular yoga practice. Get started by downloading the Fully Fertile App today to give you a jump start! Our next Signature Yoga for Fertility Series begins on Monday, February 24th to reduce anxiety and stress by 20% or more in just six weeks. Eliminate something from your diet that isn’t serving you. I nstead of overhauling your entire diet, start by taking out one food that doesn’t nourish your body. Replace it with a different item that supports your desire for restoration. Learn even more by working with scheduling a nutrition consult ! We look forward to seeing you virtually or in-person at one of our centers to help you get started. Many wishes for a beautiful spring!
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