Chinese herbs are used in the U.S. as traditional foods and not as drugs. As such, there has been no formal testing of either the safety or efficacy of any of the individual herbs or formulas. The Chinese have had long experience using these herbs; from all informal reports and clinical studies, the Chinese claim that the herbs are not only safe to use, but that healthy children are usually born without any problems during delivery. However, it is important to recognize that the use of Chinese herbs is relatively new in the U.S. and that Americans today may have more stringent safety standards ..read more

In China, the combined use of modern drugs or other Western medical techniques along with Chinese herbs is not uncommon; some doctors are trained in both methods, and Western and traditional doctors often work together in Chinese clinics and hospitals. When the modern methods are applied, the herb therapies do not usually need to be altered compared to cases where the herbs are used alone. Most of the cases of infertility successfully treated in China do not rely on techniques such as in vitro fertilization, which are quite expensive and have only a modest rate of success in the U.S. where the ..read more

A number of studies have confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture in Recent Research on Acupuncture & IVF In an article published by W. Paulus, M. Zhang, I. El-Danasouri, E. Strehler and K. Sterzik titled,” Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy Rate in Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproduction Therapy,” appearing in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility, German researchers announced that they had increased the success rate by nearly 50 % in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The researchers, led by Dr. Wolfgang E. Paulus and colleagues at the Christian-Lauritzen-Institut ..read more

Research at the University of Adelaide identified a link between a natural antioxidant called ‘selenium’ found in high-protein foods, and healthy ovarian follicles responsible for egg production in women. PHD student Melanie Ceko, who made the discovery in a joint research project, said selenium has been known to have many health benefits, but it has never been linked to women’s fertility. “We’ve known for some time that selenium is important to men’s fertility, but until now no-one has researched how this element could be involved in healthy reproduction in women,” Ceko said. Initial research ..read more

Numerous studies have confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture in treating infertility. A noted German study demonstrated that a test group receiving acupuncture in conjunction with IVF achieved a 42% clinical pregnancy rate, whereas the control group that did not receive acupuncture had a 26% pregnancy rate. This study utilized just a single acupuncture session per patient, shortly before or after the transfer of embryos. Another study demonstrated a 60% success rate when combining IVF with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. ( our Clinic success rate is much higher than this study ) Perhap ..read more

In China, a number of fertility formulas can be purchased off the shelf in public pharmacies, and for uncomplicated cases, this is often adequate. However most men and women in the Orient are treated for persistent infertility by obtaining prescriptions from a doctor who is expert in Chinese herbs. In the U.S., it is uncommon to find fertility-promoting formulas in stores or other outlets; rather, they are prescribed by acupuncturists, naturopaths, or medical doctors who are familiar with Chinese herbal medicine. Depending on the circumstances, one may be asked to ingest herbs in the form of p ..read more

according to the type of infertility problem being treated and the herb formula that is used. The traditional Chinese views are that infertility tends to arise from one or more of three prominent causes: A “deficiency” syndrome prevents the hormonal system from properly influencing the sexual and reproductive functions. This is said to be a weakness of the “kidney and liver” which may influence various body functions producing symptoms such as frequent urination, weakness and aching of the back and legs, impotence, irregular menstruation, and difficulties with regulation of body temperature. A ..read more

The herbs for inducing fertility are usually discontinued once pregnancy is suspected or confirmed. In most cases, it is not necessary to use herbs during pregnancy. Women with a history of miscarriage or who are deemed at high risk for miscarriage (somewhat more common among women who have experienced prolonged infertility) may wish to take herbs that are traditionally used in such cases by Chinese women. Certain herbs can be used during pregnancy to enhance the health of the mother and to counteract symptoms of morning sickness. In addition, it is reported that labor can be made easier by pr ..read more