CHINESE MEDICINE, ALSO COMMONLY CALLED ORIENTAL MEDICINE, IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ANCIENT HEALING SYSTEMS. It’s been used to maintain and restore vibrant health to men, women, and children of all ages for more than 4,000 years.
Today, prominent health organizations such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognize the benefits of Chinese medicine and endorse its practice as a safe, valid, and effective form of medicine for many medical conditions.
When it comes to the treatment of infertility, Chinese medicine has a great deal to offer. Before we head into the details of fertility care through this lens, let’s cover the basics.
The Basics of Chinese Medicine 
The Chinese medical model differs greatly from its Western counterpart. Chinese medicine is a holistic system that uses its tools to promote balance, synergy, and overall health in the body, whereas Western medicine tends to view problems in the body as individual malfunctions that can be individually addressed through medications.
Let’s take a look at some of the component theories of Chinese medicine and how they can be applied to the treatment of infertility.
The basic concepts of Chinese medicine correlate to the Taoist view of the universe. According to Taoist philosophy, everything in existence is created through the union of two forces, called Yin and Yang. These forces, or energies, are simultaneously opposite and complementary to each other—much like day and night, male and female, dry and wet, winter and summer, and cold and hot.
When Yin and Yang are in balance and relating appropriately within an individual, harmony exists and good health results. Disharmony or an imbalance between Yin and Yang produces disease and ill health. The aim of Chinese medicine is to restore balance where it is lacking. In Western science, the equivalent concept is homeostasis.
Acupuncture, Chinese herbal treatments, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, as well as other specialized Chinese medical therapies are used to promote health by supporting and protecting the three treasures: Qi, Jing, and Shen. From these three treasures spring all of the body’s physical and mental functions. The way we care for ourselves through lifestyle, nutrition, and mental health plays a vital role in our longevity and our fertility.
According to the Chinese medical model, our bodies contain a series of passageways, much like our circulatory or nervous systems. Not unlike the electrical impulses of our nerves or the blood flow in our vessels, these superhighways, called meridians, are filled with Qi. An excellent metaphor for the function of Qi is to consider that the body is a sailboat; the Qi is the wind that makes it go. Without Qi, the structure of the boat remains, though it is virtually useless without wind in its sails.
The meridian system is the body’s energetic circulatory system, whereby Qi, the body’s vital energy, travels. Each of the meridians intersects with one or more of the organs, as well as the other major systems throughout the body.
If the flow of Qi throughout these systems is disrupted, blocked, or out of balance, disease, illness, or pain results. Practitioners of Chinese medicine are able to evaluate imbalances in the body by evaluating the state of Qi within the meridians. The restoration of the healthy flow of Qi brings balance that allows the body to naturally heal itself.
The foods we eat are transformed into Qi by the digestive system (the Spleen and Stomach in Chinese medicine terms) and then subsequently into blood and other body fluids necessary for our survival.
At the moment of conception, the energies of the mother and father meet, joining forces to supply their future offspring with all of the resources required to live life. At this moment, a substance called Prenatal Jing is bestowed upon the child, and with it, all the potential for his or her upcoming life.
Prenatal Jing is finite and precious, and once used up, it is gone and cannot be replaced, thereby reducing vitality and quality of life. You might equate Prenatal Jing with your genetic blueprint, which can be impacted by the lifestyle choices you make, how happy you feel, and how healthfully you live (the Western correlation to this is epigenetics).
Jing can be supplemented after you are born through Postnatal Jing—healthy diet, adequate rest, cultivation of a spiritual practice (such as meditation or qi gong), and enjoying a happy life with healthy relationships. Conversely, Jing can be used up before its time, through drug and alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet, excess stress, inadequate rest, and unhealthy relationships. Supporting your Jing through lifestyle is not only important for your own health and longevity—but your future offspring also depend on it.
The third treasure in the Chinese medical trifecta is Shen, or spirit.
Chinese medical theory explains that our bodies house five spirits, of which Shen is essentially the team captain. Housed in the Heart, the Shen is responsible for our emotions and our mental health. An imbalance in the Shen, if left unchecked, can give rise to anxiety, depression, or more severe forms of mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
The Five Elements There’s an entire school of acupuncture dedicated to explaining Chinese medicine through a lens called the Five Elements. We are going to make it short and sweet here so you get a functional understanding.
Just as the universe is divided into the ebb and flow of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements are another way of viewing and explaining the characteristics and changes of the world around you (the macro) and your body (the micro).
Each of the elements has their own season, flavor, emotion, organ and meridian system, etc. The elements cycle continuously into each other and also control each other like a set of checks and balances.
When one element is off, it directly affects the others—thus explaining the interdependence of all things, including what it is to be human. For example, if the nervous system is taxed from too much stress (Wood), it overacts on the digestive system (Earth) creating upset stomach, poor digestion, gas/bloating, etc.
Below you can see a summary of the characteristics of the Five Elements:
FIRE—Heart/Small Intestine (and Uterus): joy, passion, and spicy
EARTH—Spleen/Stomach: digestion, worry and overwork, and sweet
METAL—Lungs/Large Intestine: immune system, grief, pungent, and elimination (through respiration, sweat, and healthy bowel function)
WATER—Kidneys/Urinary Bladder: adrenals, reproductive capacity, fear, and salty
WOOD—Liver/Gallbladder: nervous system, anger, frustration, and sour
Health through the Chinese Medicine Lens With a basic understanding of the principles of Chinese medicine, we can look a bit closer at how this medical model is used in treatment, including fertility. Each organ system plays a role in fertility to a greater or lesser degree, and imbalances in these systems also impact Yin, Yang, Qi, Jing, and Shen.
Using acupuncture, herbs, and nutrition, we are able to access and treat imbalances in these systems through their corresponding meridians, called the Primary Channels. While the organ systems come in pairs, you’ll notice that we don’t always talk about both pairs equally. Instead, we’re focused on the organs that relate most to fertility issues.
The Kidney/Urinary Bladder system nearly always plays a role in reproductive health because this system houses Jing (or Essence)—the deep trust fund of potential energy we inherit at birth. The Kidneys also play a role in creating the uterine lining (along with the heart, spleen, and liver).
Common symptoms of Kidney disharmonies include the following:
KIDNEY YIN DEFICIENCY: When your Kidney Yin wanes, symptoms may appear as lower back or knee pain, ear ringing or dizziness, prematurely graying hair, vaginal dryness, scanty cervical fluid at the time of ovulation, elevated FSH, night sweats, hot flashes, fearful behavior, and a lack of or shiny tongue coating.
KIDNEY YANG DEFICIENCY: Symptoms of low Kidney Yang include sore lower back and knees, frequent diarrhea or loose/urgent morning bowel movements, profuse vaginal discharge, menstrual cramps that feel better when heat is applied, low motivation levels, and a wet, swollen, and pale tongue.
The Spleen/Stomach system encompasses the digestive system, making it essential to assimilating nutrients from food, which bolsters our Kidney Jing and the health of our Blood. This system also relates to metabolic function (including the thyroid) and can lead to anxiety and overthinking if out of balance.
Common symptoms of Spleen disharmonies include the following:
SPLEEN QI DEFICIENCY: Symptoms of a lagging Spleen system include fatigue, cravings for sweets, loose stools, digestive issues, poor circulation, easy bruising, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, polyps, and uterine, rectal, or other organ prolapse.
Menstruation may be thin, watery, or profuse, and fatigue may be worse around ovulation and menstruation, with a possible sensation of bearing-down along with menstrual cramps. Hypothyroid, anemia, and frequent colds and flus or allergies are also signs of Spleen Qi deficiency. Obsessive thinking and excessive worry are hallmark emotions of a weak Spleen.
SPLEEN YANG DEFICIENCY: A Spleen Yang deficiency diagnosis encompasses all of the above symptoms with the addition of cold hands and feet and feeling cold in general. Both Spleen Qi and Spleen Yang deficient tongues are likely to be pale and swollen with teeth marks on the side.
The Liver/Gallbladder system can be viewed in part as our nervous system, and a happy nervous system is directly linked to good digestive function, healthy gene expression, and optimal fertility. This Liver/Gallbladder system is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi in the body, and deficiency or stagnation in these meridians can results in emotional disharmony, irritability, and anger.
The Liver also has a strong connection to the menstrual cycle, and we say it is responsible for “storing” Blood. A balanced Liver meridian means minimal premenstrual symptoms, because the smooth flow of liver Qi keeps the hormones in check—minimizing things such as breast tenderness, irritability, and emotional upset.
Common symptoms of Liver disharmonies include the following:
LIVER QI STAGNATION: Stagnant Liver Qi shows up as excessive irritability, PMS, anger/rage, pain around ovulation, breast tenderness, nipple pain or discharge, elevated prolactin levels, a bitter taste in the mouth, and/or heartburn.
LIVER BLOOD STAGNATION: This disharmony can present as painful periods, especially when the pain radiates to the external genitalia; dark, thick, clotted, or purplish menstrual blood; and a dark or purplish tongue. It’s important to note that Blood stagnation can appear anywhere in the body, not just in the liver system. Hallmarks of general Blood stagnation include pain that is fixed, sharp, and severe.
LIVER BLOOD DEFICIENCY: Light periods, dry skin and hair, a pale complexion, dizziness, floaters in your field of vision, muscle weakness, cramps or spasms, prematurely graying hair, and a pale tongue are all signals that Liver blood may be deficient. Because of the interconnectedness of all things, it’s important to note that if the Spleen isn’t assimilating enough nutrients, then the Blood will also be deficient.
GALLBLADDER DISHARMONY: The Gallbladder is considered the seat of courage in Chinese medicine. A disharmony in this organ can impact one’s ability to make decisions and act on them. The Gallbladder channel also runs the entire length of the body, with much of the channel intersecting with the brain. It is for this reason that the Gallbladder channel can have a direct impact on the hypothalamus and the pituitary.
The Lung/Large Intestine system encompasses the immune system and skin health, and having healthy immune function is essential to successful baby-making. The Lungs also play a special and little-discussed role as the organ of “inspiration.” Balance in this meridian will assist a hopeful mother to “call in” the spirit of her baby. Mother Nature is no dummy, and she typically won’t give the green light on baby-making to a body that is not processing nutrients, is overrun with stress hormones, or is unable to protect itself from pathogens.
When the Lung and Large Intestine systems are compromised, problems of the immune system occur—including immunologic infertility, allergies, skin issues, and conditions pertaining to the large intestine, such as colitis, IBS, and chronic constipation. The emotion associated with this organ pair is grief and the capacity to let go, often a very difficult roadblock for folks struggling with fertility challenges.
The Heart/Small Intestine system (which includes the Pericardium and Triple Warmer, similar to the lymphatic system) houses the Shen, a.k.a. the spirit. The Heart and Shen also have a powerful connection to the uterus and the endocrine system. In fact, it is asserted that Heart Blood flows directly down to the uterus to nourish a developing fetus, forming a profound connection between mother and child long before birth. The Five Element relationship between Fire (Heart) and Water (Kidney) also mirrors the Western correlation between the endocrine system (Heart) and the reproductive system (Kidney).
Heart System Disharmonies: Common symptoms of Heart system imbalance include heart palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, restlessness and agitation, waking early in the morning and being unable to get back to sleep, excessive sweating, especially on the hands, feet, or chest, and a lack of joy for life. The tongue will often have a central crack that extends to the tip, which is likely to be red.
The organ systems (a.k.a. the Primary Channels) are not the only approach to treating the body through acupuncture. Another system, called the Secondary Vessels, is used by many practitioners worldwide. These vessels have been used since the inception of Chinese medicine and represent a powerful way of viewing and treating the body.
Included in the Secondary Vessels is a group of channels called the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. In our private practices, we use these meridians to treat our patients more than any others because they have a very powerful impact on fertility and emotions and are the only channels that can directly impact fetal health, according to classical Chinese medical texts. These channels impact every level of energy in the body, and we find they are able to bring about healing on a deeper level than Primary Channel treatments.
THE BALANCING ACT
Chinese medicine is like a web or matrix, so changes in any of these systems affect the rest. If you tug on or break a part of a spider’s web, the integrity of the entire structure is affected. Likewise, by bringing healing and balance to one area of the body, you begin to positively affect your whole person as well.
Because of the way these channels work in the body, they are able to impact sperm and egg development more directly than the primary channels, with the added benefit of addressing stress levels and emotional imbalances.
The Yin and Yang of Your Monthly Cycle Whether you are just at the beginning of your journey to becoming a parent or experiencing challenges that require medical intervention, Chinese medicine provides support by addressing the specific disharmonies you are experiencing. Herbal formulas and acupuncture can bring the reproductive system into balance, supported by the lifestyle and dietary changes you will make in your daily life.
The Yin/Yang theory elegantly applies to a woman’s monthly cycle, helping to both explain and provide direction for healing.
Below is a basal body temperature (BBT) chart. BBT charts were mentioned briefly on page 31, and whether or not you choose to use them to track your ovulation, it makes a handy visual illustration of the Yin and Yang phases of the menstrual cycle.
Day 1 is considered the first day of menstrual flow. In a normal month for a menstruating woman, the first half of your cycle is called the follicular phase, while the second half (post ovulation) is called the luteal phase.
Generally speaking, the follicular phase of the cycle is dominated by Yin. This is because Yin is the aspect of ourselves that is substantial: our fluid, tissues, and flesh. Because the first half of the cycle is about the thickening of the lining and development of a follicle, Yin dominates. Still, Yang is ever present, just to a lesser degree.
At midcycle, or ovulation time, the Liver is responsible for moving Qi in the ovaries, which allows for ovulation to occur smoothly. The luteal phase of the cycle is dominated by Yang—responsible for both the motive force and the heat within our bodies. This phase starts with ovulation—a Qi and Yang activity—and is maintained by progesterone, a Yang hormone.
At the end of the cycle, if pregnancy has not occurred, the Liver will once again mobilize Qi and Blood to bring on the period. If the liver is in balance, this will occur with little PMS or menstrual pain.
Herbs and Acupuncture for Fertility Chinese herbs and acupuncture can be used to support the phases of the menstrual cycle, regulating any areas that are out of balance. This system of treating to regulate the menstrual cycle is often referred to as “phasic treatment.”
For the sake of simplicity, let’s just assume you have a 28-day cycle. In that case, on average:
DAYS 1–5 ARE MENSTRUATION. Your uterine lining is shedding, and the intent with Chinese medicine is to support this process by “moving and building Blood.” Out with the old, in with the new.
DAYS 6–12, MENSTRUATION IS OVER, AND THE UTERINE LINING IS REBUILDING. This phase is dominated by Yin. The intention with Chinese medicine treatments at this time is to help your body to build Yin and Blood in the form of your new endometrial lining and developing follicles.
DAYS 12–14 (OR FROM THE LUTEINIZING HORMONE OR LH SURGE PLUS TWO DAYS) IS APPROXIMATELY OVULATION TIME. We support this time by moving Liver Qi and Blood and assisting the body’s transformation from Yin to Yang. This transition occurs during and right after ovulation when the corpus luteum starts making progesterone, the hormone that is responsible for higher body temperatures in the luteal phase.
DAYS 15–28 ARE POST OVULATION, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED THE LUTEAL PHASE. Progesterone is high, keeping your temperature elevated. If implantation occurs (usually around day 21), the cells are dividing and multiplying. This phase of the cycle is dominated by Yang (progesterone), and treatments are often focused on Yang support. If you have a positive pregnancy test, Chinese medicine treatments center on continuing support of Yang to “secure the fetus.” If you have a negative pregnancy test, Chinese medicine treatments aim to move Blood and Qi in preparation for your period.
For women who have regular, healthy cycles, the intent of Chinese medicine treatments should be to simply continue to support the phases of the cycle while addressing any other imbalances or health issues that may be presenting. For women who have irregular cycles or are not ovulating at all, we aim to restore regular ovulation and a normal menstrual cycle.
Specifically, multiple studies show that acupuncture alone or in combination with herbs can:
Increase blood flow to the uterus to promote implantation
Improve ovarian function, which may help produce better quality eggs and a larger number of follicles
Reduce the side effects of drugs used in medical fertility treatments
Decrease uterine contractions, encourage implantation, and prevent early miscarriage
Reduce the stress hormones and anxiety, which may contribute to infertility
Strengthen the immune system and support general health to promote a healthy pregnancy and baby
Herbs and acupuncture work synergistically to direct the body to balance. For those who have experience with acupuncture but not herbs, it is useful to think of them as medicinal resources that support the energetic intentions of the acupuncture you are receiving, further paving the way to optimal health and fertility.
Integrating East and West Chinese medicine approaches health care in a fundamentally different way from Western medicine. To understand the difference, consider the job of a mechanic versus the work of a gardener.
Western medicine views health care as if practitioners are mechanics whose job is to fix broken parts. This approach tends to focus on and attempts to cure individual symptoms, as if they are the result of a malfunction in one area or “part” of the body.
For example, stomach conditions are treated by giving medicines (or other medical interventions) for the stomach, just as a mechanic might replace brakes when a car fails to slow down or stop.
While a brake job might be just what your car needs if your brakes don’t work, the body is much more complex than an automobile. Unlike cars, the systems and organs of the body work together, rather than in isolation from each other. The “practitioner as mechanic” model is simply not enough when applied to human beings. In contrast to Western medicine, the Chinese medicine practitioner’s approach is to tend to the body much as a gardener would tend to a garden.
There’s been a fair amount of bad hype around the use of Chinese herbs, and we would like to take a moment to clear the air. Chinese herbs have been used safely for thousands of years, and for fertility purposes, they are the main form of treatment given to promote and sustain pregnancy.
If you were in China, Chinese medicine herbalists would give you herbs (and likely forgo acupuncture) to treat any gynecological condition. Here in the United States, we have access to pharmaceutical-grade, carefully tested, and extremely safe herbal medicines, which we highly recommend using when it comes to trying to conceive.
Chinese herbalism takes years to learn and understand, and it’s simply not a good idea to experiment on oneself without guidance, which is why we do not give formulas or specific recommendations in this book. Herbs are real medicine with the ability to have a powerful influence over your health, as well as possibly interacting with other medications or supplements you might be taking. We recommend that you find an experienced herbalist to craft and prescribe the correct formula(s) along your fertility journey.
Chinese medicine addresses the “root” cause of medical conditions rather than just attempting to alleviate a symptom, or the “branch.” If the leaves on a plant are wilting, it isn’t because they are broken and need to be fixed. It’s usually a sign that the entire plant is suffering some sort of physical distress. Successful gardeners will look to treat and support the health of the entire plant rather than just focusing on the leaves. Wilting leaves are like medical symptoms. They point to deeper, root causes for health problems or diseases that Chinese medicine seeks to treat or alleviate.
Chinese medicine aims to correct patients’ imbalances and restore health by stimulating and promoting self-healing. Western medicine often focuses on the end result of medical treatments or the final outcome of the course of healing. For example, in a case of a woman who is not ovulating, a doctor might prescribe Clomid—a medication to induce the ovaries to release an egg. The patient may or may not become pregnant, but regardless of the outcome, the root cause of the problem has not been solved.
By contrast, Chinese medicine focuses on the beginning of the chain of reactions involved in your fertility challenges, aiming to treat the underlying (root) cause as well as help you meet your desired outcome—a healthy pregnancy and baby.
With regard to fertility treatments, sometimes it is best to call on both the proverbial mechanic and gardener. While addressing the root cause of a condition is always the preferred method for practitioners of Chinese medicine, sometimes a little compromise is ideal. When it comes to fertility treatments, a concurrent root and branch approach is often necessary, especially when time is a factor.
Many people come to Chinese medicine after a long period of trying on their own or in a last-ditch effort to optimize their next IVF cycle. The truth is, it takes time to treat the root, sometimes many months or even longer. Most couples aren’t interested in taking that much time off from trying, and even if they are, it isn’t always advisable.
We will often suggest a short reprieve from ART treatments (up to three cycles or so) in an effort to balance the body and optimize the reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems as quickly as possible. This can go a long way in improving outcomes the next time around and sometimes leads to the wonderful surprise of an unassisted conception.
After three months (longer if you are younger and/or interested in giving the root more time), returning to an integrated approach may be your quickest route to Baby-land. At this point, Chinese medicine is extremely effective in supporting your body, mind, and spirit through the protocols of Western treatment and in many instances can improve results.
Once you have a bun in the oven, Chinese medicine is also a wonderful tool for supporting pregnancy. It assists with everything from miscarriage prevention to morning sickness, swelling, and back pain. At the end of your pregnancy, acupuncture can even help to gently guide your body into an effective labor pattern.