| The Chinese medicine approach to fertility is all about | | | | Qi Gong. |
| balance. An ancient Chinese proverb advises couples | | | | 3) Correcting imbalances: Conditions like pre menstrual |
| planning to have a baby to "nourish the soil before | | | | syndrome, endometriosis, irregular periods and |
| planting the seed." The critical time to begin preparing | | | | polycystic ovary syndrome are all signs that your |
| your body for a baby is three months before | | | | reproductive system is out of balance. A doctor of |
| conception. You can do this by: | | | | Chinese medicine, experienced in reproductive health, |
| 1) Nourishing your body. Proper food is key to | | | | can diagnose the exact nature of your imbalance and |
| addressing deficiencies and restoring balance. Eat | | | | prescribe acupuncture and herbal formulas that will |
| plenty of organic fruits, lightly steamed vegetables | | | | address your specific condition. Recent studies have |
| (especially cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, | | | | shown that Chinese medicine can reduce stress |
| broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower) and | | | | hormones, balance reproductive hormones and |
| hormone free- meat. Alkaline food like noncitrus | | | | increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. This |
| fruits, vegetables, sprouts and cereal grasses like | | | | also applies to men. |
| wheat grass create the right PH for conception to | | | | By following the Chinese medicine approach to |
| occur. Also important are essential fatty acids found | | | | balancing your body, mind and spirit you will not only |
| in cold water fish, flaxseed, eggs and raw nuts and | | | | boost your fertility but you will feel more energized, |
| seeds. Don't forget to take a high potency vitamin | | | | sleep better and experience a greater sense of |
| with iron, folic acid and b vitamins. | | | | wellbeing. |
| 2) Nourishing your mind and spirit: Reducing stress is | | | | References: |
| critical. When your body is under stress the | | | | The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness |
| reproductive hormones shut down or become | | | | Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy |
| imbalanced. Take time everyday to "unplug" from | | | | Babies author Dr. Randine Lewis |
| your daily business and meditate, listen to music, read | | | | Human Reproduction Journal, Volume 11, Number 6, |
| a book, write in your journal, take a walk in nature-or | | | | 1996. |
| just daydream. | | | | Fertility and Sterility, Volume 78, Number 6, |
| Although exercise is key for health and wellbeing, this | | | | December 2002 |
| is not the time to be building that hard body. | | | | Raised cortisol predicts spontaneous abortion |
| Extreme exercise reduces vital reproductive | | | | Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of |
| hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Instead | | | | Sciences 2006; Early online publication. |
| try more gentle yin forms of exercise like yoga and | | | | |