The TCM Perspective of Infertility
From TCM’s Perspective, if the mother and/or father-to-be are generally healthy, are in balance and have normal functioning reproductive organs, both mother and father should be fertile. If the couple experiences infertility, TCM theorizes that there are energy imbalances in their bodies.
Infertility
Definition of Infertility: an inability to conceive after 1 year or more of regular sexual activity without using birth control. These energy imbalances could be a result of:
unhealthy lifestyle
poor diet / improper eating habits
lack of exercise
stress, environmental factors
emotional / physiological issues
toxins / hereditary influences
TCM Physiology
For a normal conception to occur, the three criteria as follows:
Abundant Kidney Qi
Non-obstructed meridians around the uterus
A favorable environment inside the uterus
The kidney, spleen and liver are the three most relevant internal organs affecting the functions of female reproductive system.
Kidney essence (Kidney Jing)
According to TCM, the variation of kidney Jing supply produces significant physiological changes in a woman’s life every seven years. At 7, a girl starts to mature into a young woman; at 14, she has her first menstruation and is able to conceive; at 21 and 28, she reaches her most fertile years; at 35, her fertility starts to diminish; at 42, her fertility is mostly lost and at 49, a woman’s kidney Jing is depleted, and therefore, she has her menopause.
The kidney essence can be transformed into blood and kidney Qi, which becomes the source of human growth, development and reproduction.
Common treatment methods
Common treatment methods (Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine) revolve around:
For women:
Regulating the menstrual cycle
Relieving hormonal disturbances
Releasing stress-related dysfunction
For men:
Increasing sperm count and motility
Improving ejaculatory and erectile conditions
TCM Fertility Program for Women & Men
Start preparing both your bodies for parenthood 3 to 6 months before
During the period of trying to conceive, a combination of herbal medicine and/or acupuncture and/or moxibustion treatment methods are given according to menstrual cycle (for women) and according to your state of health (for men).
Recommended for couples to come together to seek consultation and treatment, in this way, it enhances joy and appreciation for both parties. Most importantly, both can treat this as a learning journey together and not as a stressful chore.
When you get pregnant, continual treatment (herbal medicine /acupuncture) can help you support pregnancy and to address the issues (stiff neck, water retention etc) faced during each trimester
Physician Poh Yu Min 傅瑜敏, is a TCM practitioner at
Comments