Fertility :: The New Approach

A little over a year ago, I did some research and found myself approaching fertility treatment in the clinic in a new way. It took a lot of courage for me to totally change what I had learnt and adapt my new learnings into how I thought they best fit in my practice. I did away with the old, and brought in new, radical treatments for pre-conception care and IVF treatments. So what did I do? I found that certain approaches that had always been encouraged were outdated. I found that playing it ‘safe’ with treatments was not enough. I had to work outside the square. I had to push treatment to the limits. Acupuncture points that were previously considered useless became my focus. Treating at specific intervals became extremely important.
I discovered three main things in relation to fertility- three things that acupuncture could achieve to dramatically improve a couples chances of a baby.

The three keys I focus on are:
to reduce stress & increase immunity,
regulate hormones and
significantly improve reproductive function.
From when we started focusing on these three key elements the success rates of viable and healthy pregnancies have reached new levels at The Pagoda Tree.

What I got back were babies. Lots and lots of babies, with plenty of happy parents to match.

Perhaps I'm better off not to sleep?

Beautiful Images of Papou with his grandchildren


We lost my father-in-law on Friday, to that demon known as cancer. I can only describe the feelings that followed as mixed. In one minute we felt a sense of relief, and in the very next instant, sadness. I sat at my in-law's house and I watched, as one by one each family member and friend shuffled in to pay their respects. Then something happened. My phone rang. A patient, so overjoyed, I could feel it. She was pregnant. And then... like some miracle... another called. She too, was expecting.
As clichéd as it is, I was watching this unfold before my eyes. One life ends and another life begins.

With all the heightened emotions running about in this mind of mine, I have to say, I'm afraid to sleep. I'm not kidding. I have dreamt every night since this that I am pregnant! I type this with a smirk because, for those of you who know me understand that this is not at the top of my list right now. It's a running joke, mostly by those who think they are funny. We will have more children for sure, in the near future, but not right now. According to dream analysis, dreaming of birth signals new beginning and new starts - funny that.

Spring has kicked in and according to Chinese Medicine, this is the time that the Liver energy is in full swing. Emotions and physical health are intimately connected and the liver is responsible for spreading qi, blood and nutrients around the body. Heightened emotions - specifically grief and sadness, will directly affect the Liver. If such emotions are not properly resolved it may lead to all sorts of complaints and illness (like dreaming - interesting that!). It may mean that the liver can't do it's job properly, and so other organs miss out on what they need. As a result, all body systems are affected. I know dreaming isn't an illness, and seems innocent enough. It is when dreams continue to disrupt sleep over a period of time that the body will begin to suffer. Not having a restful nights sleep will lead to fatigue and other health issues. Long term fatigue will for sure affect all body systems, including fertility.

So the aim in this household, especially now that it is spring, is that we take on these emotions and we deal with them properly. We don't tuck them away to be dealt with another day, we allow our bodies to fully feel what we are experiencing each minute. It may be something you aren't used to doing, but let me tell you, it is so important for your health, your fertility and your mind body connection.

Treatment #2! The Pre-Eclampsia Journey

So I've just gotten home for my second visit to the hospital to treat my patient.

It was so lovely to see her, I wish I could just take her hand and tell her everything is going to be ok. Whilst nobody can actually know this for sure, I know that by integrating acupuncture and some herbal medicines to her collective treatments, Im certainly more confident that her body and baby are being supported as best as they can be. It gives me peace of mind, because I too have experienced this first hand. Many memories are being jogged for me as I treat this patient. I too went into early labour with Olivia at 30 weeks. Looking back now, this was one of the most scariest experiences of my life. The lack of connection I felt in my body was incredible. However, following the realisation of disconnection came a massive sense of control. I took control of my body at that point and never looked back. I integrated herbal medicine, acupuncture and most of all plenty of rest and I was able to support Olivia's pregnancy until 40 weeks. It wasn't only physical strength, it was emotional and mental strength that I found. Its sometimes, not until that point of utter dispair that clarity may be seen. I know for me it was a turning point.

For this patient, there are more complications than I experienced. Pre-eclampsia is proving to be putting up a fight. However, today things are looking more stable and she is looking well! I feel honored to be part of this process and trust that we can do great things to see out extra weeks for this pregnancy and beautiful baby inside her

Oh and one more thing! See the flowers I have posted with this blog. They are sitting on my dining table and making me smile. Perhaps next visit I should take some to this patient, I think they would have the same effect! So beautiful.

Day 1, house call.

As I blogged yesterday, I was asked in to help treat a patient who had been hospitalised for Pre-Eclampsia.

Treatment went well and we used points to focus on her presenting symptoms and overall constitution.

At one stage, I had a Doctor come in who was fascinated with what I was doing and how acupuncture works. I was pleased that she was positive about it, because lets face it, acupuncture isn't integrated into main stream medicine much yet. Im certain that the day when acupuncture and herbal medicine is integrated into our medical system, isn't too far away. Many practitioners are certainly starting to see the benefits of integrated medicine, its just a matter of both health systems opening up and allowing each other in. This will happen in my time as a TCM Dr. It has to ,because the results in doing this can be fantastic and give people a new time of health care they deserve.

So we will sit tight and see what the next few days bring. I hope that by adding acupuncture to this patients course of treatment we can achieve a long and healthy pregnancy.

When duty calls

Tomorrow Im off to do a hospital visit for a patient. She called me yesterday, distressed because she had been admitted to hospital for pre-eclampsia at 31 weeks gestation. Its really scary for any mother to be admitted 9 weeks before their due date. I can totally feel her worry. This was me. I too was admitted to hospital with Olivia at 30 weeks. I can't explain what happened to my world that day, but Im certain time stood still or at least went very slowly. Being in hospital and waiting for the unknown is awful.

But Im confident! Im looking forward to seeing her tomorrow and doing a 'house call.' I know I can use my knowledge to treat her and attempt to get things under control. If your not familiar with what Pre-Eclampsia is, it's the onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy which is serious for both the mother and baby.

So tomorrow I will aim to relax her and bring her body back to a parasympathetic state. This means that all body systems may have the ability to work better. By supporting the Kidneys (most important in treatment of reproductive health) we can also ensure that fluid is moving around the body and not building up. TCM excels in these circumstances as it treats the patient individually, as she presents. The diagnosis distinguished by careful observation of the patient as well as compiling their signs and symptoms. More than likely, the Liver has a strong involvement in high blood pressure. This means that its necessary to sooth the liver energy. Acupuncture has an affect on the endocrine system as well as the immune system, helping to inhibit an improper inflammatory response and prevent an autoimmune attack. Makes sense? Probably not to you but to me, all this means that we can really give the body some necessary support tomorrow and wait to see how the body responds.

Im keen to get in there tomorrow! I will keep you posted with this patients progress. Her situation is certainly on my heart and in my prayers.