If you are considering the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help treat fertility or menstrual issues, you may be feeling a bit intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious about the unknown. Like many people, you may wonder, will it hurt? Will it really work?

You may have already spent considerable amounts of time and money on other treatments that have yet to be successful. Or, you may be looking for an alternative form of medicine to help your body heal more naturally.

Regardless of your situation, learning about what to expect from a TCM treatment may help ease your anxiety and convince you to try this effective form of medicine.

Before you begin any treatment session, you will first consult with your TCM practitioner for a detailed analysis of your medical history. You will review your menstrual cycles and any symptoms needing attention, discuss any prior pregnancies and/or miscarriages and possible problems during those pregnancies, and review any previous assisted reproductive treatments and their drug protocols.

If you have medical lab reports, the practitioner will also examine those results, looking at  any other information pertaining to your condition.

Based on the answers and results of your consultation, your practitioner will then customize your TCM treatment to your specific needs. The practitioner may use Acupuncture, reproductive organ massage (ROM), or Chinese herbs to treat you; often using a combination of all three methods.

Each treatment session can last between twenty-five minutes to one hour depending on the type of treatment needed.

At the start of each session, you will remove your shoes and socks and lie down on a comfortable massage table. The practitioner will examine your tongue, which provides a full map of the body’s functionality, feel your pulses on both sides of your body to ascertain any disharmonies, and gently press your abdomen to temperature variations, blood flow issues, and any stagnations.

Your practitioner will then begin the Acupuncture treatment. With Acupuncture, only sterile, prepackaged, single-use disposable needles are used, ensuring no risk of disease transmission.

Acupuncture needles are about the thickness of a strand of hair and very rarely cause pain or discomfort. Oftentimes, patients will not even be aware of the needles’ insertion or retention and many people become so relaxed that they fall asleep during treatment.

Needles will be tapped into the skin at particular pressure points to remain for 25-45 minutes, and will trigger internal processes that help the body re-harmonize and heal itself.

Acupuncture helps rebalance hormone levels, regulate menstrual cycles and ovulation patterns, enhance blood circulation in the pelvic cavity to improve ovarian function and follicle production, thicken uterine lining, and ease many symptoms and pain associated with a wide variety of menstrual issues.

If you are also receiving reproductive organ massage (ROM) as part of your treatment, it is done through clothing or a sheet and works only with the abdominal area. There is no loss of privacy or personal space.

The purpose of ROM is to improve blood flow to the organs to make them healthier. With ROM, it’s possible to thicken uterine lining, reduce fibroid size, positively influence follicles and increase sperm mobility, motility, and overall quality for men.

Your session may end with a Chinese herb protocol to be used at home. Your practitioner will customize a formula, usually in powder form, specifically for you, enabling he/she to add and subtract herbs as your condition improves and changes. The powder easily mixes with water or juice.

Your practitioner will also recommend specific dietary changes since many foods can greatly aid in the healing process of your specific condition and enhance fertility.

There are many practitioners that are licensed to do Acupuncture, but as with any medicine, there are acupuncturists that specialize in Reproductive Medicine. It’s best to look for practitioners that are ABORM certified or hold a Doctorate in Chinese Medicine. Another great option is to ask your medical professional for a recommendation.

If you would like more information on TCM and how it can help you, please visit our website, or call us at 925-395-7823 or 408-287-1390 for a free 30-minute consultation.