Fertility Acupuncture Basics

I have been getting a lot of questions about using acupuncture/herbs/traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for fertility, so I thought I'd pull together a basic for-your-information-only post (i.e., I'm not a health professional and these are my suggestions but I always exhort you to check with your own healthcare providers...)

What is fertility acupuncture/TCM?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted clinical studies on acupuncture and determined that infertility/fertility is one condition (among others) that acupuncture appears to effectively treat. The mechanisms are not entirely clear, but their studies have shown that acupuncture can increase bloodflow to the uterus as well as help balance the hormonal system.

Fertility is actually a subspecialty of general acupuncture, so someone (like my late father, for example) who mainly treats pain may not be well versed in fertility issues.

Fertility acupuncture strives to balance menstrual cycle, and therefore, the treatments (and/or herbs) should differ during different parts of your cycle. If the practioner just does the "same-old same-old" each time, it may be a sign he or she may be less knowledgeable in this area.

How long does it take?

TCM aims for balance and not quick fixes. The practioner should be able to tell you when he or she thinks your body is ready. It will take at least one cycle to observe the menses, and it's possible you might need two, four, six, even nine months of treatment depending on your underlying issues. It is also possible the practioner may feel your partner needs to be treated as well.

NOTE: there are some problems, like blocked fallopian tubes, that acupuncture cannot treat, and therefore it's always good to explore all therapies in conjunction with your healthcare provider.

Does acupuncture help ART/IVF?

Yes, it is not an either/or choice with Artificial Reproductive Technology. Acupuncture can help you reduce stress and help you body prepare for a favorable implantation scenario. You'll need to coordinate things with your practioner.

How do I find a good acupuncturist?

Word of mouth is one. You can inquire at the OB/GYN department of a local hospital.

Another good place to start is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), a nonprofit informational clearinghouse and licensing organization.

tags technorati : infertility fertility acupuncture hebs traditional Chinese medicine TCM

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Lasik and the Death of Pat Tillman

'Cease fire, friendlies, I am Pat (expletive) Tillman, damn it!' he shouted, again and again.

This is from the AP:

The latest inquiry into Tillman's death by friendly fire should end next month; authorities have said they intend to release to the public only a synopsis of their report. But The Associated Press has combed through the results of 2 1/4 years of investigations — reviewed thousands of pages of internal Army documents, interviewed dozens of people familiar with the case — and uncovered some startling findings.

One of the four shooters, Staff Sgt. Trevor Alders, had recently had PRK laser eye surgery. Although he could see two sets of hands 'straight up,' his vision was 'hazy,' he said. In the absence of 'friendly identifying signals,' he assumed Tillman and an allied Afghan who also was killed were enemy." More here.

Besides free dangerous anthrax vaccines, I guess free elective surgery is another perk of being the the U.S. military (see: Military Now Offers Eye Surgery), as they are fixing people up with Lasik (also known as PRK) to make 'em more combat-ready.

I was thinking of this recently because I was discussing how I hate going to the eye doctor because once they see my prescription, they start cackling, "Wouldn't you like to be able to see your toes in the shower?" and start pushin' the Lasik. I know better than to mess with my otherwis healthy eyes, and my friend, also beyond four-eyes (I'd say we're at least eight eyes, maybe sixteen) works in healthcare and she cackled back to me, saying, "You know why *I* won't get it? Look at the doctors performing it--they all still wear glasses. Interestingly, when I peered into one of those cheesy Lasik places in the mall, indeed, the guy was bespectacled. Not scientific...but...

In sum: I still can't believe this is the end of such a patriotic, altruistic, idealistic, intelligent and amazing human being...

tags technorati : Pat Tillman death friendly fire inquiry Lasik PRK

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A Drug Company Joins the "Happy Feet" Movie Tie-Ins

Okay, Halloween has passed, but this is truly scary: a kiddie movie with a DRUG COMPANY tie-in! Eeeek!

According to the New York Times: "A new animated movie about a tap-dancing penguin is venturing beyond the Antarctic into uncharted territory — a promotional tie-in to pharmaceuticals. Characters from “Happy Feet” appear in an extensive advertising campaign, including network and cable commercials, full-page magazine ads and online banner ads, for Roche, promoting its Web site www.flufacts.com...

...As far as I know, this is the first time a pharmaceutical company has partnered with the entertainment industry,” said Rob Donnell, the president and founder of Brand Arc, the company that helped bring together Roche and Warner Brothers, the film’s distributor."

I'm surprised they're not pushing that drug for restless leg "syndrome." Or maybe they haven't thought of it, yet!

More. here

tags technorati : big pharma Happy Feet movie tie-in

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Today is election day

If you haven't voted yet, please do.

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A pause...

A very dear friend of ours passed away unexpectedly this week. Will return.

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More on the mind-body connection

That skull I'm holding in the picture below actually opens up into a deconstructable brain model like the one pictured here.

But what I want to talk about is not the brain but the mind. There's been some nice discussions here about the mind's role--positive and not-so--in conception, and I really do believe that a refrain of "I'll never get pregnant," "I'm too old," etc., is not too very helpful.

The flip side of it is enlisting your mind to work for you. Like most things in life, it's not as easy as it sounds. Nadia MacLeod's Fertility site is such a treasure trove of info. She was nice enough to let me reprint a proproprietary lesson on "affirmations." Again, something to be filed under can't hurt might help. I remember hearing somewhere that we only use 10% of our brain's capacity or something like that.

The body mind connection is a powerful tool that you can use to help
you conceive more quickly.

The first step to harnessing its power is to understand how the mind
works. The mind is comprised of two sections, the conscious and the
subconscious mind.

The conscious mind takes up about 12% of the
resources available and controls such things as rational and logical thought.

The subconscious mind makes up 88% and stores beliefs and habit,
memory, personality, and self-image.

Whilst it is easy to be aware of what is happening in the conscious
mind is, it takes a lot more effort to become aware of what is
driving us from the subconscious.

In the context of trying to conceive, especially if you have been
trying for a little while. It's important to become aware of some of
the belief systems, memories or self image that you may hold in your
subconscious that could be holding you back.

Keeping a journal can be a good way to keep track of what's going on
internally. In times of stress it's important to have a release
valve to keep track of emotions, thoughts, and the little voices in your head that
might be hindering your progress.

By keeping a journal and allowing yourself to have some free
flow. You can write down all the things that are bugging you. And if
you find that you have recurring themes going on, for example, "
this is taking too long" or "I'm never going to get pregnant" or "My
body is not doing what it I want it to" then you can take steps to
put a stop to them. As sure as eggs, if you have any type of negative
thought constantly running in the background it will be hindering
your progress to some degree.

When you find a specific negative thought running in your head
through your journal writing. Then you can create an antidote to
this thought to add to your affirmations list. For example, for the
thought "I'm never going to get pregnant." You could replace it with
something like "my body is healthy and fertile and receptive to pregnancy."

You would then add this specific affirmation to your list, and repeat
it to yourself every day. You might write it out and place it in
prominent spots around your house and car so your subconscious really
gets the message.

And if throughout the day, you find yourself
falling back into the habit of affirming that you're never going to
get pregnant, then you would picture a big red X going through that
thought in your head and you would replace it immediately with your
selected affirmation antidote - in this case "my body is healthy and
fertile and receptive to pregnancy".

For your affirmations to be most effective. It is essential that you
state them in the present tense, and that they be meaningful and
relevant to you.

tags technorati : pregnancy conception subconscious affirmations mind brain body connection

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Review: Deborah Lindquist Clothes -- Awesome!!

Deborah Lindquist is a fucking design genius! Her clothes are wonderfully witty, totally wearable, AND made of eco friendly fibers, or, in the case of my skull sweater-vest, "reincarnated" vintage cashmere, which due to its age and the fact you don't use pesticides in cashmere, gives it a very fertility friendly profile.

Also, my two current motifs are skull and peace sign (she makes a rockin' peace sign scarf), and her stuff just seems so karmically imbued with happy hopeful goodness. I was ever more impressed when I queried her about her last name (half the people in the small hometown Bob Dylan and I share are xxx-Quist something), and indeed she, too, is a small-town Minnesota original. Whadaya know.

Every time I wear this on campus (here I am supposedly working on my novel, which does have to do with skulls) or even on a trip to the KGB Bar, in the middle of the East Village, where many people struggle so painfully to look hip and original, people comment on my Lindquist works of art (indeed, they are all handcrafted and unique).

This kind of quality does not come cheap, but for me (more usually a skulking habitue of Providence's most excellent Salvation Army), so rarely is an item of clothing so artistically inspirational AND sustainable and non toxic at the same time. Guess you know what's on the FertilityBitch's Christmas wish list...

tags technorati : Deborah Lindquist envirnomental sustainable cashmere clothes

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