Chinese Herbal Medicine for Fertility

What is Chinese Medicine treatment?

Chinese Medicine Treatment is one of the main treatment methods under Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Other treatment methods include acupuncture, massage (tui na), diet and exercise (tai chi / qi gong). As the majority of the medicines prescribed under this therapy are plant based (parts of plants, such as the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds, are used) it is sometimes referred to as Chinese Herbal Medicine. However, although Chinese herbs are most commonly used in this therapy, other non-botanic substances such as animal and mineral products are also used – thus the term “medicinal” instead of “herbal” is also used. The traditional classifications most commonly used today fall according to the four natures (hot, warm, cool and cold) and five flavours (pungent, sweet, bitter, sour and salty). Hot and warm herbs or medicinals are used to treat “cold” diseases while cool and cold medicinals are used to treat “hot” diseases. A flavour implies certain properties and “actions” of a certain herb – salty substances &drain”; sweet “harmonises”; pungent herbs induce sweat and regulate Qi and blood flow; sour herbs have astringent properties; bitter substances &purge dampness” and eliminate heat from the body. Chinese Herbs are also attributed to the different Meridians (energy pathways) and are therefore prescribed according to the illnesses and problems related to the Meridian they are treating. Chinese Medicine herbs are also used to guide the flow of Qi (energy) and Blood thus restoring balance and energy in the body.

In Chinese Medicine Treatment, a decoction of the herbs or medicinals prescribed is usually given to the patient. Thomson Chinese Medicine uses herbs that do not require boiling as modern TCM pharmacology has made possible the extraction of active compounds into concentrated microcapsules that can be dissolved in water and consumed immediately. Medicinals prescribed would include a combination of herbs that treat the ailment itself and others that counter the negative side effects of certain herbs used in the treating of the ailment.

Chinese medicine for natural fertility

Traditional Chinese medicine is a widely sought after natural treatment for many gynaecological disorders that accompany and contribute to female infertility such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding due to anovulation. Along with physical complications and an imbalance of hormones, these disorders can affect a woman’s ability to conceive. From a TCM perspective, infertility is caused by an imbalance of Qi in the body, especially in the three organs largely responsible for reproduction (Kidney, Liver and Spleen). Hence, Chinese Medicine is used to treat infertility by restoring the balance of Qi in the body and reproductive organs. By treating the root causes of infertility through Chinese Medicine, some patients may become pregnant naturally without the need for invasive procedures or hormonal drugs. For others, the chance of a successful IVF can be increased when Chinese Medicine is prescribed as a complementary treatment.

Click here for a more detailed overview on the TCM perspective on female fertility.

Uses of Chinese Medicine for female fertility

At Thomson Chinese Medicine, the main considerations that guide our TCM physician’s Chinese Medicine prescription for female fertility are (1) the patient’s constitution and (2) her menstrual cycle phase. The ingredients in the prescription can be modified, increased or decreased on a regular basis, allowing our physicians to tailor the fertility treatment to the patient’s changing conditions and needs.

Guidelines to regulating the menstrual cycle using Chinese Medicine:

Follicular phase – focus on replenishing blood and Kidney Essence for development of the ovum (egg)

Ovulation phase – support Liver circulation to activate blood flow and remove any blood stasis

Luteal phase – warm Kidney Yang to support implantation and early pregnancy

Common Chinese Medicine Herbs for Fertility Treatments