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Restored fertility

Restored fertility

by | 2929,Apr, 2023 | medical

Chinese medicine to help infertility

According to recent WHO figures, one in six people worldwide is affected by fertility problems, and the numbers are growing. They affect men and women equally. Of these cases of infertility, 20% are caused by both partners at the same time.

These fertility problems are a source of concern and even stress for many couples. And yet, there are solutions!

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), fertility problems are due to energy dysfunctions. It is therefore sufficient to restore the energy balance in the partner(s) concerned so that the organs involved in procreation have all the energy they need.

A study carried out in the gynaeco-obstetrics department of the maternal and child clinic in Gan Shu province, China, demonstrated the effectiveness of TCM in this area. Two groups received two different treatments. One group was treated with ovulation stimulators from Western medicine, the other group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. The acupuncture group had 65% higher success rates than the group treated with chemical medication.

In addition, doctors were able to observe a 35-45% higher chance of success for patients receiving IVF – in vitro fertilisation – while being treated with acupuncture at the same time.

Causes of female infertility in TCM

Chinese medicine lists several causes that may be involved in these fertility issues. These will be identified through a personalised diagnosis. Here are the main causes of infertility in women.

  • The accumulation of “Mucus-Moisture”:

Like Blood Stasis, the accumulation of “Mucus” can interfere with fertilisation. This accumulation can also be the cause of overweight, abundant and viscous leucorrhoea, or even mucus in menstruation.

  • A deficiency of the “Kidneys”:

The Kidney belongs to the water element, which is also responsible for the genitals. It is considered as the battery of the body. Therefore, if the energy of the Kidney is low, the body does not allow pregnancy in order to avoid further loss of energy. Or, if the pregnancy starts, it may be interrupted by a miscarriage. In the case of a weak Kidney, menstruation may be rare and libido may be reduced.

fille verifiant son test de grossesse.
  • A deficiency of “Xue” (Blood):

Blood is involved in the conception of the foetus. If there is a lack of Blood, the pregnancy cannot take place. A deficiency of Blood results in a pale complexion, dizziness, lack of strength, weakness and general fatigue.

  • A blockage of the Liver qi:

The function of the Liver is to store and distribute Blood. When Liver qi is stagnant, it causes Blood stasis. This type of blockage is very common. It is notably generated by anger, frustration, or by states of stress. It is generally accompanied by premenstrual syndromes (breast pain, painful periods, not very abundant but with dark blood, and sometimes blood clots).

The cold womb

  • Cold accumulation in the uterus and blood stasis:

The “cold womb” is very common. There is too much “cold in the womb and in the uterus”, which prevents fertilisation or implantation. This is because the embryo needs warmth to implant. The majority of women who come to us for fertility advice have this syndrome. The cold also causes a slowdown which can create “blood stasis” preventing pregnancy. These stases are manifested in particular by dark red periods, clots, pain in the lower abdomen which is aggravated on palpation.

Un homme avec sa femme enceinte
  • Blockage of the “Shen” (spirit):

In some cases, everything works well, the conditions are right for procreation… but the woman, even if she wants a child, suffers from unconscious fears. These fears can be related to work, family, financial situation, …

In this case, the “Shen” (Spirit) is agitated, and the woman can unconsciously block fertilisation.

​A significant improvement in sperm quality

Chinese medicine is equally effective in improving male fertility. It helps to generate an increase in the production of spermatozoa; it improves their morphology and increases their motility. Finally, it helps to resolve hormonal imbalances that can affect fertility. Here again, we take care to re-establish the overall energy balance, and in particular that of the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.

A study was conducted by the College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Shanghai TCM University on sperm abnormalities. The patients were treated with acupuncture, and it was found that there was an improvement in the quantity and quality of sperm and sex hormones in the following levels:

  • FSH (follicle stimulating hormone): + 33
  • LH (luteinising hormone): + 35.3
  • Oestrogen: + 57.1
  • Testosterone: + 65.1

Acupuncture, like Chinese herbs, increases blood flow to the pelvic cavity, strengthens the kidney and thus optimises the functioning of the sexual organs and stimulates the body’s natural hormone production.

This has the effect of increasing the quantity and quality of semen.

gamète mâle et femelle

Of course, any fertility treatment will need to take into account environmental factors and the lifestyle of the partners. The stress caused by various factors, including the difficulty of procreating, can only increase the energy blockages. The couple can then become trapped in a vicious circle.

Chinese medicine – acupuncture and pharmacopoeia – can also significantly improve the management of stress and disturbing emotions. This is an equally important factor in allowing the couple to release the pressure… and to put themselves in a state of serenity and welcome conducive to procreation.

Healthy living and fertility

In addition to the energy imbalances mentioned above, certain environmental factors are harmful to fertility in both men and women. These include

  • Being overweight or underweight,
  • extreme working conditions such as prolonged exposure to heat or long transport times,
    stress,
  • lack of sleep,
  • use of stimulants such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, including coffee in excess,
  • exposure to pesticides (endocrine disruptors),
  • exposure to other toxic substances (arsenic, lead, aluminium, mercury, parabens, bisphenol A etc.),
  • too intensive sport,
  • prolonged exposure to mobile waves (wifi, 4G, bluetooth…).

But above all, fertility requires that both parties in the couple take care of their state of being and accept to trust Nature. When their overall balance is good, and their state of mind serene and confident, then they are available to welcome Life… when the time comes. For despite the progress of science, procreation remains a mystery and a grace.

La fertilité retrouvée

La fertilité retrouvée

by | 2929,Apr, 2023 | Traditionnal chinese medicine

​La médecine chinoise au secours de l’infertilité

Selon des chiffres récents de l’OMS, une personne sur six dans le monde est touchée par des problèmes de fertilité ; et ces chiffres ne cessent de croître. Ils concernent à taux égal hommes et femmes. Parmi ces cas d’infertilité, 20 % sont dûs aux deux partenaires en même temps.

Ces troubles de la fertilité sont source d’inquiétude voire de stress pour de nombreux couples. Et pourtant, les solutions existent !

Selon la Médecine traditionnelle chinoise (MTC), les empêchements à la fertilité sont dus à des disfonctionnements énergétiques. Il suffira alors de rétablir chez le (ou les) partenaires concerné(s) cet équilibre énergétique afin que les organes impliqués dans la procréation disposent de toute l’énergie nécessaire à celle-ci.

Une étude menée dans le service de gynéco-obstétrique de la clinique maternelle et infantile de la province de Gan Shu, en Chine, a démontré l’efficacité de la MTC dans ce domaine. Deux groupes recevaient deux traitements différents. Le premier groupe était traité avec des stimulateurs d’ovulation de la médecine occidentale, l’autre groupe était traité en acupuncture et moxibustion. Le groupe traité en acupuncture a eu des taux de réussite 65 % supérieurs au groupe traité par la médication chimique.

Par ailleurs, les médecins ont pu observer des chances de réussite supérieures de 35 à 45 % pour des patientes recevant une FIV – fécondation in vitro – tout en étant traitées en même temps en acupuncture.

Causes de l’infertilité féminine en MTC

La Médecine chinoise répertorie plusieurs causes qui peuvent intervenir dans ces questions de fertilité. Celles-ci seront identifiées grâce à un diagnostic personnalisé. Voici les principales causes d’infertilité chez la femme.

    •  L’accumulation de “Mucosités-Humidité” :

    Comme la Stase de Sang, l’accumulation de “Mucosités” peut entraver la fécondation. Cette accumulation peut être à l’origine également d’un surpoids, de leucorrhées abondantes et visqueuses, voire de glaires dans les menstruations.

    • Une déficience des “Reins” :

    Le Rein appartient à l’élément eau, qui est responsable également des organes génitaux. Il est considéré comme la batterie de l’organisme.

    Donc, si l’énergie du Rein est faible, l’organisme ne permet pas la grossesse afin d’éviter une perte d’énergie supplémentaire. Ou, si la grossesse démarre, elle risque d’être interrompue par une fausse couche. Dans le cas d’un Rein faible on peut observer des règles rares, et une baisse de libido.

    fille verifiant son test de grossesse.
    • Une déficience du “Xue” (le Sang) :

    Le Sang participe à la conception du fœtus. En cas de manque de Sang, la grossesse ne peut avoir lieu. Une déficience de Sang se traduit par un teint pâle, des vertiges, un manque de force, une faiblesse et une fatigue générale.

    • Un blocage du qi du Foie :

    Le Foie a pour fonction de stocker et de distribuer le Sang. Quand le qi du foie est stagnant, cela engendre des stases de Sang. Ce type de blocage est très courant. Il est notamment généré par de la colère, de la frustration, ou par des états de stress. Il s’accompagne généralement de syndromes prémenstruels (douleurs des seins, règles douloureuses, peu abondantes mais avec un sang foncé, et parfois des caillots sanguins).

    L’utérus froid

    •  Accumulation de froid dans l’utérus et stase de Sang :

    L’«utérus froid» est très fréquent. Il y a alors trop de “froid dans le ventre et dans l’utérus”, ce qui empêche la fécondation ou la nidation. En effet, l’embryon a besoin de chaleur pour s’implanter. 

    Un homme avec sa femme enceinte

    La majorité des femmes qui nous consultent pour la fertilité présentent ce syndrome. Le froid engendre également un ralentissement qui peut créer des “stases de Sang” empêchant la grossesse.

    Ces stases se manifestent notamment par des règles rouge foncé, des caillots, des douleurs du bas ventre aggravées à la palpation.

    • Blocage du “Shen” (l’esprit) :

    Dans certains cas, tout fonctionne bien, les conditions sont réunies pour la procréation… mais la femme, même si elle désire un enfant, souffre de peurs inconscientes. Ces peurs peuvent être par exemple liées au travail, à la famille, à la situation financière, …

    Dans ce cas, le “Shen” (l’Esprit) est agité, et la femme peut inconsciemment bloquer la fécondation.

    ​Une amélioration significative du sperme

    La Médecine chinoise est tout aussi efficace pour améliorer la fertilité chez l’homme. Elle permet de générer une augmentation de la production de spermatozoïdes ; elle améliore leur morphologie et accroît leur motilité. Enfin elle permet de résoudre les déséquilibres hormonaux qui peuvent affecter la fertilité. Là encore, nous veillons à rétablir l’équilibre énergétique global, et en particulier celui du Rein, du Foie, et de la Rate.

    Une étude a été menée par le collège d’acupuncture et de moxibustion de l’Université de MTC de Shanghai sur les anomalies du sperme. Les patients ont été traités par acupuncture, et il a été constaté une amélioration de la quantité et de la qualité du sperme et des hormones sexuelles dans les taux suivants :

    • FSH (hormone folliculostimulante) : + 33 %
    • LH (hormone lutéinisante) : + 35,3 %
    • Oestrogènes : + 57,1 %
    • Testostérone : + 65,1 %

    L’acupuncture, comme les herbes chinoises, permettent en effet d’augmenter le flux sanguin dans la cavité pelvienne. Cela a pour effet de renforcer le Rein et donc d’optimiser le fonctionnement des organes sexuels, tout en stimulant la production hormonale naturelle du corps.

    Il en résulte une augmentation de la quantité et de la qualité du sperme.

    Bien entendu, tout traitement de la fertilité devra prendre en compte les facteurs environnementaux et l’hygiène de vie des partenaires.

    Le stress engendré par différents facteurs, y compris la difficulté à procréer, ne peut qu’augmenter les blocages énergétiques. Le couple peut alors s’enfermer dans un cercle vicieux.

    gamète mâle et femelle

    La médecine chinoise – acupuncture et pharmacopée – permet aussi d’améliorer significativement la gestion du stress et des émotions perturbatrices. Ceci est un facteur tout aussi important pour permettre au couple de relâcher la pression… et de se mettre dans un état de sérénité et d’accueil propice à la procréation.

    Hygiène de vie et fertilité

    Au-delà des déséquilibres énergétiques évoqués ci-dessus, certains facteurs environnementaux sont néfastes à la fertilité, tant chez l’homme que chez la femme. Parmi ceux-ci :

    • un surpoids ou un sous-poids,
    • des conditions de travail extrêmes comme une exposition prolongée à la chaleur ou des temps de transport trop longs,
    • le stress,
    • le manque de sommeil,
    • l’usage de produits stimulants comme le tabac, l’alcool, les drogues, y compris le café consommé en excès,
    • l’exposition aux pesticides (perturbateurs endocriniens),
    • l’exposition à d’autres toxiques (arsenic, plomb, aluminium, mercure, parabènes, Bisphénol A etc.),
    • le sport trop intensif,
    • l’exposition prolongée aux ondes mobiles (wifi, 4G, bluetooth…).

    Mais par dessus-tout, la fertilité requiert que les deux parties du couple prennent soin de leur état d’être et acceptent de faire confiance à la Nature. Quand leur équilibre global est bon, et leur état d’esprit serein et confiant, alors ils sont disponibles pour accueillir la Vie… quand ce sera le moment. Car malgré les progrès de la science, la procréation reste un mystère et une grâce.

    Sleeping disorders

    Sleeping disorders

    by | 3030,Mar, 2023 | medical

    Soothing the shen for a peaceful rest

    Between 10 and 30% of adults worldwide suffer from chronic insomnia. This disorder particularly affects women. But it can also be found in older people, or in people suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.

    The need for rest varies greatly from one person to another, but sleep is a vital need for every human being. Fatigue disrupts our internal balance and affects our mood and therefore our well-being.

    Yet most of us have experienced disturbed nights, or simply difficulty in getting to sleep. This results in waking up in the morning feeling tired despite resting.

    For some people, these problems can be very serious and last for a long time. The list of these sleep disorders is long. One of the main culprits is stress. This is increasingly present and even pervasive in our daily lives. Exposure to screens also plays a role. Few people experience the three to five 90-minute sleep cycles that neuroscientists believe we should experience.

    A look at traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

    According to TCM, disturbed sleep can cause exhaustion and even weaken our immune system. Sleep disorders are caused by an energy imbalance. Normally, before going to bed, the Yang decreases to make room for the Yin. Yin then corresponds to rest and immobility of the body and mind.

    Conversely, if there is a fullness of Yang or an emptiness of Yin, the mind or “Shen” cannot find calm and rest… Sleep is then disturbed.

    Certain factors are known to be unfavourable to falling asleep or sleeping:

    Intense physical activity at the end of the day or in the evening can disturb sleep.
    Eating too many rich meals, especially in the evening, degrades the quality of our sleep.

    Finally, emotional instability, stress, torment, overwork and nervousness have a heavy impact on the Shen (Spirit), which is housed in the Heart.

    A good night’s sleep to fill up with energy

    The kidneys, as we have already explained in our articles, are the fundamentals of vital energy. In addition to the ancestral energy given to us by our parents at the time of conception, the kidneys store the energy that we recover day after day through, among other things, our food. As you probably already know, ancestral energy is a fixed and limited capital that is gradually depleted.

    Fortunately, there is a way of not drawing on this ancestral capital and therefore of regenerating the kidneys: sleep. 

    It is often socially frowned upon to go to bed before midnight. However, it is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. that the kidneys are restored. Everyone should learn to know their sleep requirements.

    Some people need 6 hours, others 9 hours; some people need to go to bed early, others need to get up later. And let’s not neglect naps, which play a major role in energy recovery.

    The Yǎngshēng or the importance of a healthy lifestyle

    Traditional Chinese medicine proposes through yǎngshēng to avoid sleep disorders. Firstly, it encourages a light diet (easy digestion). It advises against heavy meals before bedtime, late dinners, consumption of tonics (teas, coffee, soft drinks); also advised against strong flavours likely to disturb the Heart and therefore by extension the Shen.

    It is essential to take care of our emotional health. The heart must fall asleep first. We should make sure that we have a good meditation before going to sleep, especially if we are feeling a little excited. It is preferable to listen to music that is known to be relaxing. Finally, we should avoid passionate or even confrontational discussions before bedtime, which put a strain on the emotions. Finally, in the evening we choose the company of loving and compassionate people, or simply people who do not need psychological support.

    The solutions of Chinese medicine

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture for people who suffer from sleep disorders helps to restore a good circulation of Qi. It promotes the harmonisation of Yin and Yang as well as that of body and mind, which are inseparable in the treatment of illnesses.

    By stimulating specific points, we can treat the causes of these disorders and regulate the energy flow to facilitate sleep.

    The frequency of the sessions is inherent to each individual, but close sessions, of the order of 2 to 3 times a week, generally give very conclusive results.

    Plants as a natural alternative

    The health benefits of herbs help to relax the body and mind and facilitate sleep to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep. We choose recipes with soothing and calming properties to prevent and relieve sleep disorders.

    Indeed, Chinese pharmacopoeia proposes, by prescribing natural plant-based preparations, to: calm the Shen, nourish the Yin, and calm the excess of Yang at the origin of sleep disturbances.

    We will find among other plants:

    • Suan zao ren which nourishes the Blood of the Liver, soothes the Heart and calms the Mind.
    • Ye jiao teng which nourishes the Yin of the Heart and calms the Spirit to find tranquillity and a deep and restful sleep.
    • Mei gui hua for its calming and soothing virtues on the nervous system and favourable to sleep.

    In no case are these plants consumed alone, in an herbal tea for example. If necessary, they will be included in a recipe composed according to a personalised diagnosis.

    For a complete and revitalising cycle

    1. Regular physical activity to improve the flow of energy in the body.

    2. Avoid heavy meals, alcohol and caffeinated drinks before bedtime.

    3. Create a calm and relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom, avoiding bright lights and noise.

    4. Avoid working or using electronic screens before bedtime, so as not to over-stimulate the brain.

    5. Follow a regular sleep pattern by going to bed and getting up at similar times each day

    6. Practise relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing before bedtime to calm the mind

    7. Avoiding negative emotions such as anger, anxiety or stress, which can disrupt sleep by affecting the flow of energy in the body

    Do not hesitate to consult us in case of persistent sleep disorders, in order to obtain a precise diagnosis and an adapted treatment.