Acupuncture and conception
Falling pregnant naturally can take several months or even years. Unfortunately for some couples conception will remain elusive. At this stage, if no underlying medical condition is found to be causing your difficulty in conceiving, acupuncture may be able to help.Chinese Medicine looks at various aspects of your constitution that western medicine may not even consider, such as the energy level in your kidneys which is vital for the production of healthy eggs and sperm. It can also identify a deficiency in blood flow or temperature within the uterus that in turn could prevent an embryo implanting. Acupuncture can play an important role for both partners by balancing the reproductive cycle and enhancing the possibility of ovulation. It is usually necessary to monitor couples over a number of menstrual cycles in order to regulate any imbalances but treatment is tailor-made to each patient.
For couples turning to assisted reproduction (IVF or IUI for example), acupuncture can also work alongside conventional medicine to enhance the body's ability to produce healthy eggs and improve the quality of the uterine environment.
What else can help?
In addition, your chances of conceiving will increase significantly if you and your partner eliminate dietary and environmental toxins, maintain a nutritionally balanced diet and manage the stresses of your daily life. To maximise your health, you could supplement a course of acupuncture treatment with a targeted nutritional and herbal programme. Richard works closely with three excellent practitioners in their fields who also specialise in fertility issues, Penny Crowther, Claire Choudhury and Adam Beaumont.Nutritional Therapist Penny Crowther promotes conception in sub-fertile couples, by preparing tailor-made, holistic care programmes incorporating diet, detoxification, vitamin, mineral supplements, herbs and flower essences. She combines age-old natural remedies with the latest knowledge of biochemistry and pathology. www.nutritionistlondon.co.uk.
Herbalist Claire Choudhury uses more than 100 organically grown western herbs to create personalised medicine for her patients. She has helped many couples create the right conditions for conception. As a qualified clinical hypnotherapist she can supplement her herbal remedies with hypnosis where appropriate. www.healinggrove.co.uk.
Adam Beaumont, a cranial osteopath, will harmonise the tissues within the pelvis and remove any congestion and mechanical problems that affect the mobility of the reproductive organs. He also specialises in the treatment of pre and post-natal complaints. www.osteopathy4health.co.uk
What Richard's patients say
“I had problems conceiving my first child. I’d tried for two and a half years without success. Then I read about Richard in a brochure. I liked the fact that he was very local and I’d be able to build up a relationship with him - this kind of thing is so personal, it was great to be able to talk to the same person throughout the treatment. When you have fertility problems, there’s a lot of things you should be doing to improve your chances of conceiving, including de-toxing and establishing a proper diet. Richard learned about my history and advised me what I should be doing. He also told me to put a fertility chart together.I saw him for three months before going through IVF for this second time. I had the IVF and saw him two hours later when he inserted needles into my wrist, stomach and ankles. A week after implantation, we both knew I was pregnant.
Richard knew everything about fertility and taught me a lot about the process which was invaluable for helping me understand what I was going through. He had such a lovely manner and was able to make me feel comfortable during a very stressful time, when I needed to be around people who could help relax me.
“I was grateful he always made himself available at a time to suit me, and would recommend him without a doubt.” Melanie
I have a history of fibroids and have had the majority of them removed. My whole body was out of sync, I was having trouble falling pregnant, and I needed help.
My first interview with Richard included so much detail about my periods that I was amazed. I could sit down and talk to him about anything. He had a very relaxed approach while always remaining professional and very thorough. I also discovered he had an excellent memory, and remembered you as a person, as much as a patient, which is invaluable. He also looked at the whole picture. I took a decision to cut my hours as work was stressing me out. He said I had a sluggish spleen and we kept temperature charts to get an overall picture of my periods, which gradually became much less painful. My energy levels also became much better.
I had had IVF treatments, had fallen pregnant, but had failed. Richard always maintained I would get pregnant, at a time when others had written me off. I decided not to go for a fourth IVF treatment to see what would happen. I fell pregnant naturally.
I can’t thank Richard enough for helping me and believing in me. I feel like a sign of hope from a conventional point of view, as I had been written off as someone unable to have children. Dawn
