Throughout the rest of the world and Asia including Singapore, the use of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is growing in popularity as many couples who are having trouble conceiving, seek to treat infertility using natural TCM methods.
In recent years, TCM has adopted an alternative therapy to complementary therapy to treat common fertility problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis through qualified and licensed practitioners.
Studies have shown that TCM treatments can help improve fertility and reproductive health in many ways. It can stimulate ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and anovulatory cycles. Treatments can also help those to regulate hormone levels which in turn improve ovulation rates.
Here are 8 effective ways to boost your reproductive health from the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine:
Undergo Acupuncture Treatment
Research has found that acupuncture plays an effective role to help balance hormones to regulate ovulation, improve blood circulation to increase the changes of a fertilised egg inside the womb and also improves the rates of success for women who undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
You are advised to go for weekly follow-up TCM acupuncture treatment for at least 2-3 months. Acupuncture points can be stimulated to reduce stress, maintain blood flow to the uterus which can help to regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation. From 4-6 months after treatment, your egg quality will see an improvement.
Get a TCM Fertility Diet
Here is the list of TCM foods (grouped into three categories) to bring your body into balance which can improve your fertility rate.
Yin (Cooling) Food
Apple
Bamboo Shoots
Banana
Barley
Broccoli
Buckwheat
Button Mushroom
Cauliflower
Celery
Clams
Coconut Juice
Cod
Cottage Cheese
Crab
Cranberry
Cucumber
Duck
Duck Eggs
Eggplant
FlaxSeed Oil
Kiwi
Lettuce
Mango
Melon
Millet
Mung Beans
Octopus
Orange
Pear
Peppermint
Pork
Rabbit
Salt
Scallop
Seaweed
Sesame Oil
Spinach
Strawberry
Tofu
Tomato
Turnip
Watercress
Watermelon
Wheat
Wheat Grass
Whitefish
Wild Rice
Yellow Soy Bean
Yogurt
Yang (Warming) Food
Anchovy
Basil
Beef Kidney
Black Bean
Butter
Cherry
Chestnut
Chicken
Cinnamon
Coconut
Coconut Oils
Dates
Eel
Fennel
Ginger
Ham
Kale
Leaf
Litchi
Liver
Lobster
Mussels
Mustard Greens
Nutmeg
Oats
Parsnip
Peach
Pheasant
Pine Nuts
Rosemary
Shrimp
Soy Bean
Squash
Sweet Potato
Sweet Rice (Mochi)
Trout
Turkey
Turmeric
Vinegar
Walnut
Neutral (Neither Cool or Warm) Food
Aduki Beans
Asparagus
Beef & Pork Liver
Beets
Bison
Black Soy Bean
Brown Rice
Cabbage
Carp
Carrots
Cheese
Chicken Eggs
Cold Ocean Fish
Corn
Cow Milk
Duck
Goose
Green Beans
Herring
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Mackerel
Olive Oil
Oysters
Papaya
Peanut Oil
Peas
Pineapple
Pomegranate
Pork
Pork Kidney
Potato
Pumpkin
Quinoa
Radish
Raspberry
Red Bean
Rye
Salmon
Sardines
Shitake Mushroom
String Beans
Taro
Tuna
White Rice
Yam
Achieve a Healthy Weight
Remember, weight is the most influential factor when it concerns fertility. Being either underweight or overweight is linked to increased infertility. The reason is the amount of fat stored in your body can affect menstrual function.
Try to focus on organic vegetables, fruits, legumes, fruits, lean proteins and whole grains. Do minimize processed foods, alcohol, sweets and caffeine.
Maintain a Proper & Healthy Lifestyle Choices
In fact, there are lifestyle practices that can increase the risk of infertility. For example, consuming too much alcohol, smoking, poor diet and mental stress are known causes to affect fertility.
Prolonged alcohol consumption can also cause imbalances in the hormones of the reproductive systems of women.
The study suggests that a high caffeine intake may affect fertility. Women who are trying to get pregnant are advised to limit their caffeine intake.
Active Exercise to Improve Fertility
Keeping more active exercise is also a key to increasing fertility. Research has found that those women who get into a good fitness routine get pregnant more quickly. You can incorporate exercises into your daily routine such as yoga, gardening, dancing or walking the remaining distance to work or home.
Seek a Qualified TCM Practitioner to Help You
You can also ask for a referral from your doctor or friends or google on the Internet. Ideally, find a qualified and licensed practitioner who has successfully treated patients with infertility issues.
Reduce Your Carb Intake
Studies show that carb intake increases which can lead to the risk of infertility. So maintaining a low carb diet can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce insulin levels and aid in fat loss while helping to regulate menstruation.
Eat More Fiber
In fact, fiber does have beneficial effects on fertility. Eating fiber such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains can help your body get rid of excess hormones and regulate blood sugar level.
Most importantly, TCM emphasizes the overall balance among the various organ systems such as liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs and heart. Otherwise it will affect your chance of getting pregnant.
