Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine treatment of low AMH

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine | Low ovarian reserve

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine for low ovarian reserve

In the past a common belief was that age was the only factor which determines ovarian and egg health. Due to new research, Western Science has now caught up to what the Chinese Medicine practitioners have been saying for years that you can in fact improve your ovarian reserve. We see it happening in our clinic all over the world. There are many factors that can have an impact on the health of the ovaries and eggs including circulation, environmental factors, hormones in the diet, and stress just to name a few. Some of the most important and controllable factors are;

Proper circulation
A healthy fertility cycle
Balanced hormones
Healthy eggs through proper nutrition and nutrient supply

Why Is Egg Health Important? A low AMH result. Effects on your ovarian reserve

Egg health is one of the cornerstones of healthy fertility. The health of your eggs (ovum) can affect whether or not fertilisation and implantation will occur as well as the viability of a pregnancy. In the past it has been thought that we are born with all of the eggs cells we will have for the rest of our lives, hence the reason age can have such an impact on egg health. Egg cells are some of the only cells in the body that do not regenerate… or at least that has been the belief up until now. Recent research has brought up some promising new views on egg production – women may actually produce eggs throughout the reproductive years. Scientists have found stem cells within the ovaries that produce new egg cells (1).

Regardless of this study’s finding, age still had an impact on the new eggs since the ovaries continued to age, causing the “housing” for the eggs to be less than optimal. Protecting the eggs you currently have as well as encouraging ovarian health through diet, herbs, supplements and increased circulation to the reproductive system is of the utmost importance.

90 Days: The Cycle of an follicular development

Many women who are having trouble getting pregnant have been told by their doctors that their eggs are not healthy, or that their eggs are “old”. The options usually given to these women include using an egg donor, IVF, or adoption. But what most women don’t know, is that there are things you can do to help support the health of the ovaries and eggs, but it must be done for at least 90 days to have an impact.

During the cycle of an egg’s journey towards ovulation there is a window of opportunity, a period of time, when certain factors can affect the health of the eggs that are preparing for ovulation. The cycle of an egg in preparation for ovulation is around 90 days.

During this 90 day period before an egg reaches full maturation, the eggs are changing and preparing for ovulation. At this time they are affected by both healthy or unhealthy influences. Contributing factors to egg health are:

Blood Flow and proper oxygenation
Hormonal Balance
Nutritional intake
Stress

Chinese Medicine and Egg health; Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

To improve egg health Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine has two major treatments; Acupuncture and herbal medicine. Acupuncture promotes proper hormonal balance and regulates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian axis by stimulating blood flow to the reproductive organs and the brain. By improving pelvic blood flow, the ovaries are supplied with fresh oxygen and nutrition. Acupuncture has the added bonus of relaxing the body and reduces stress levels.

Acupuncture increases pelvic blood flow

Chinese herbal medicine is highly individualized, assists pelvic blood flow, and can adjust the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian axis. This rebalance helps regulate and improve the body’s natural hormonal production. There are particular herbs that have clinically shown positive results in improving ovarian reserve but more importantly a woman’s ability to conceive or responsiveness during an IVF cycle. For more information about poor responders to IVF see our IVF support page

Particular Chinese Herbs that impact egg health are;

Zi Shi Ying
Lu Jiao Shuang
Rou Cong Rong
Tu Su Zi

For more information on Chinese Herbal Medicine see our FAQ’s page.

Good nutrition to improving Egg Health

A good diet free from processed food is essential to good health. Numerous times we have been told to eat a good diet but what exactly is a good diet? Keep it basic by sticking to an a AVOID and EAT MORE OF LIST.

AVOID

Processed food
Wheat products including breads, pastas and biscuits
Low fat products including yogurt, and milk
Sugar

EAT MORE OF

Berries
Eggs; never disinclude your yolks as they contain fat soluble Vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E, and K2
Fish especially oily fish
Leafy greens
Olives and olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
Red meat and high protein
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
Coconut products including oil for cooking
Lots of good fats including nuts, seeds and avocado
Organic if you can afford it otherwise fresh market food
Whole grains
Drink water and more water

If you are a vegetarian, Vegan or just wanted more guidance to get your diet right, lose weight or gain more energy I highly recommend along side your Acupuncture you also book a consult to see our amazing naturopath and nutritionist Emily.

Supplements to improve Egg Health

Outside of taking your normal pregnancy focused multivitamin we recommend considering supplementing the following;

Ubiquinol (CoQ10); 600mg daily
Royal Jelly; 1000mg daily
Omega 3; 1000mg daily
Vitamin E; 200iu daily
Vitamin D; 1000iu daily

PS Never forget to supplement your partner as it takes two to make a baby. See more information on our Infertility page

Visit Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine | Balanced Life Health Care | Ferntree Gully for more information or to Book Your Appointment Online