Anyone tried acupuncture and chinese herbs?

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

Happy hump day!

I went to see my acupuncturist this morning, I absolutely LOVE her. I started her seeing her last October after my first miscarriage and every time I go my body feels better. She has her own IF issues with PCOS so she is very knowledgeable about how acupuncture should work along side of western fertility medicine. Every time I'm there she recommends Chinese herbs to take. My husband is a GI doctor and totally flips out every time I suggest trying them. IF is such a mind fluck....I want to be doing everything I can to have another bab,y but I definitely don't want to take anything that will mess with my RE's instructions or give me an alien baby.

I know the answer to my own question, acupuncture is great, herbs should be approved by RE (which won't happen). It's just hard to hear someone talk about all of the success stories with herbs and not jump on the band wagon. Just curious if any of you have any experience with this.

sailorgal · May 2014

I tried and noticed no difference! I'm sure it works for some people. We all have different issues but for me, a waste of money.

My limited success has so far come from B complex (lengthened luteal phase) and progesterone. I didn't take B complex this cycle and sure enough my luteal phase cut short even on progesterone.

Jodee37 · May 2014

i am going to be following this post closely, thanks for posting! i am thinking more and more i need to start acupuncture but i am extremely nervous about herbs and such. being a clinician i am "western medicine driven", i can't help it.

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

Jodee37 said:

i am going to be following this post closely, thanks for posting! i am thinking more and more i need to start acupuncture but i am extremely nervous about herbs and such. being a clinician i am "western medicine driven", i can't help it.

My husband is very pro-acupuncture but only if it makes you feel better. As a GI doctor he said he's seen a lot of people come in very sick because they took chinese herbs. They aren't regulated and it's hard to know where they come from. I know that's his "western" medicine brain/heart talking but I understand.

I started with my acupuncturist after my d&c while I was waiting for my first AF to show. I saw her on a Wednesday and it came on the Friday. I'll never know for sure if that was what did it, but I can tell you I always feel better after!!

efhoping2010 · May 2014

I love acupuncture but you need to go to someone who specializes in infertility it is best and there are certain techniques for IVF, and other infertility procedures too.

I have had acupuncture during all of my IVF cycles. I took Chinese herbs during some of them too but none of those resulted in a viable pregnancy, whether it had anything to do with it, probably not.

My RE is for acupuncture but not herbs or anything aside from the supplements he gave me which are DHEA and CoQ10.

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

efhoping2010 said:

I love acupuncture but you need to go to someone who specializes in infertility it is best and there are certain techniques for IVF, and other infertility procedures too.

I have had acupuncture during all of my IVF cycles. I took Chinese herbs during some of them too but none of those resulted in a viable pregnancy, whether it had anything to do with it, probably not.

My RE is for acupuncture but not herbs or anything aside from the supplements he gave me which are DHEA and CoQ10.

Mine gave me DHEA too! I agree about seeing an acupuncturist who specializes in IF. My acupuncturist has dealt with years of IF herself since she has PCOS.

ScarletBegonia79 · May 2014

i am very interested in trying accupuncture. how did you find your accupuncturist?

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

ScarletBegonia79 said:

i am very interested in trying accupuncture. how did you find your accupuncturist?

I did a search of "fertility specialist acupuncturists" in my area and read the reviews.

efhoping2010 · May 2014

Frenchteachermama said:ScarletBegonia79 said:

i am very interested in trying accupuncture. how did you find your accupuncturist?

I did a search of "fertility specialist acupuncturists" in my area and read the reviews.

I did this too

Jodee37 · May 2014

my RE recommended DHEA and CoQ10 as well. i haven't started taking them because, well, i'm nervous of side effects. anyone notice any side effects of these?

efhoping2010 · May 2014

I have only been on them a few weeks so I can only give my initial impression.

I have not noticed much, except the CoQ gives me a burst of energy so I suggest taking the evening dose not too late so you can sleep, that is if you take it twice a day. It is also a very large pill, so eating something like yogurt after taking it can help ease it down.

I also suggest taking your doses with food.

Jodee37?

Edited to add: AF has come early on the supplements 4 days early!

SassFrass · May 2014

We have a fertility specialist in acupuncture! I just did a google search and found on in my town! WIERD! since nothing else IF wise seems to be able to be treated here! Is it expensive? Does Insurance cover this?

Jodee37 · May 2014

@efhoping2010 - i'm actually NOT on IVF protocol (yet.) I am seeing a 3rd RE Friday to essentially be the tiebreaker. The 1st RE told me IVF was the only option. Don't even do an HSG he said. The 2nd RE said IVF is an option but if the tube is open and we are willing to try for a while and possibly miscarry again and again why not try. But then my AMH came back low and AFC is low too so who knows. My HSG is in an hour so we'll know pretty quick if that's even a possibility. I'm hoping the RE on Friday can look at the big picture and tell me her take on things. And then we'll decide.

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

SassFrass said:
We have a fertility specialist in acupuncture! I just did a google search and found on in my town! WIERD! since nothing else IF wise seems to be able to be treated here! Is it expensive? Does Insurance cover this?

My shitty insurance covers it! I have to pay my "specialist co-pay" but it's covered.

GraceyandTroy · May 2014

I love acupuncture, but it's costly. I do herbs too. I believe it's what pushed me over the top to conceive my son. I worked with a midwife to determine what herbs to take.

I have this book called The Infertility Cure and it's all about Traditional Chinese Medicine and I really like the philosophy that you look at the whole person's whole health and try to get things balanced. I know for some situations, TCM is not effective. But if it's a hormone imbalance, than it might be a great approach.

I like infusions for the fact that they're subtle. But they taste gross and they're hard to drink sometimes. I take them in pill form right now because I'm just too sick of the taste and I needed a break.

tortuga47 · May 2014

Yes. And, yes. I am doing both. And, it's done wonders for me. I was told with my levels, I would absolutely never ovulate nor conceive. My FSH was 136, my LH 98, estrogen not detectable and AMH was <.03. The only thing doctors said they could do was give me HRT to manage symptoms.

After four acupuncture visits and three months of herbs, I have now ovulated TWICE! My doctors said it was impossible. After this cycle, I will get four more acupuncture sessions and continue herbs. I also take supplements that THEY approved, not my doctor. Like you said, doctors are hesitant to allow anything because basically, it's their a** on the line, ya know. It hasn't been "tested" through drug trials. My TCM is very careful to not allow me anything that is a "fake" hormone.

I swear by Eastern medicine in regard to my condition because Western medicine has been unable to treat it or, for that matter research it. Good luck. If you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

edit- I do agree with some of the PP though. Make sure you find a reputable TCM. I can imagine some don't know how the herbs interact or give improper doses, etc. My TCM was trained in China and was an apprentice to her father who is one of the top TCM's worldwide. I trust her completely. And, she has a current and accurate prescription for what I am taking in case I were to ever have any allergic or adverse reaction to anything and is available 24/7.

tortuga47 · May 2014

GraceyandTroy said:

I love acupuncture, but it's costly. I do herbs too. I believe it's what pushed me over the top to conceive my son. I worked with a midwife to determine what herbs to take.

I have this book called The Infertility Cure and it's all about Traditional Chinese Medicine and I really like the philosophy that you look at the whole person's whole health and try to get things balanced. I know for some situations, TCM is not effective. But if it's a hormone imbalance, than it might be a great approach.

I like infusions for the fact that they're subtle. But they taste gross and they're hard to drink sometimes. I take them in pill form right now because I'm just too sick of the taste and I needed a break.

LOVE this book! And, I couldn't agree more. Treat the whole body.

Frenchteachermama · May 2014

tortuga47 said:

Yes. And, yes. I am doing both. And, it's done wonders for me. I was told with my levels, I would absolutely never ovulate nor conceive. My FSH was 136, my LH 98, estrogen not detectable and AMH was <.03. The only thing doctors said they could do was give me HRT to manage symptoms.

After four acupuncture visits and three months of herbs, I have now ovulated TWICE! My doctors said it was impossible. After this cycle, I will get four more acupuncture sessions and continue herbs. I also take supplements that THEY approved, not my doctor. Like you said, doctors are hesitant to allow anything because basically, it's their a** on the line, ya know. It hasn't been "tested" through drug trials. My TCM is very careful to not allow me anything that is a "fake" hormone.

I swear by Eastern medicine in regard to my condition because Western medicine has been unable to treat it or, for that matter research it. Good luck. If you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

edit- I do agree with some of the PP though. Make sure you find a reputable TCM. I can imagine some don't know how the herbs interact or give improper doses, etc. My TCM was trained in China and was an apprentice to her father who is one of the top TCM's worldwide. I trust her completely. And, she has a current and accurate prescription for what I am taking in case I were to ever have any allergic or adverse reaction to anything and is available 24/7.

That is absolutely amazing!! I am definitely a believer but it's so hard when DH is so against. Like I said in my OP he's a GI doctor and unfortunately has seen a ton of liver failure cases because people had taken bad herbs from a bad acupuncturist. We came to a deal last night that I would do one more IUI and one round of IVF without the herbs and if unsuccessful I can try it my way.

efhoping2010 · May 2014

A book I just read was great called "It Starts With The Egg". It discusses egg quality, the science of it, different supplements, and it is relevant to those trying naturally, iui, ivf and addresses things such as DOR, PCOS, etc. It talks about different hormone disruptors too.

chels0120 · June 2014

YES!! I have been seeing an acupuncturist since last November and after several unsuccessful ties with the last OB after only 3 months I had my first natural, unmedicated induced period in 5 YEARS. I felt amazing after seeing him and I can look at home at what the blends were that he made for me but it was a mix of I believe 5 Chinese herbs. I'm so for holistic approaches!!

pettycrocker · June 2014

@KC1212 (grad) swears by this, she could probably give a lot of input on this topic.

pettycrocker · June 2014

I tried acupuncture for IVF#1 I felt that it helped me relax a lot, but I didn't get pregnant that cycle- I threw in the towel after that. I prefer meditation for relaxation.

efhoping2010 · June 2014

Yes, a big fan of acupuncture for all things IF and also the stress if IF. My RE does not let me take any herbs aside from the supplements he requires.

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