Seeking fertility

Worn out by Western fertility treatments, more women are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine to help their chances at becoming pregnant.

Twelve years after my daughter’s birth I continue to marvel at our ability to conceive, nurture and deliver new life. It is undeniable – the sight of your newborn baby is an unforgettable and unfathomable thing.

I was 35 when I had my daughter, and one of the increasing number of Australians waiting longer to start a family. According to the National Perinatal Statistics Unit at the University of New South Wales (www.npsu.unsw.edu.au/Stats.htm), the average age of all mothers in 1993 was 28.2 years and first-time mothers 26.2 years. By 2003 the average age rose to 29.5 years and 27.6 years respectively. The reproductive age of women is considered to be between 15 and 44 years, but beyond 35 there is an increasing, though not inevitable, chance of incurring some difficulty associated with conception, viability and carrying a baby to full term. When required there are now many interventions that can assist us. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a less invasive option.

Eastern wisdom
Traditional Chinese Medicine practices – the use and application of Chinese herbs and acupuncture – are described in classical Chinese texts that date back to 200BC. Chinese medicine looks for and treats the causes of disease rather than symptoms alone; clients are viewed as whole body systems.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine there are five organ systems within the body, and energy known as ‘qi’ (chi) that should flow unimpeded along invisible lines called ‘meridians’ in balance. When life exerts itself, as it will, this balance may be upset, resulting in emotional and/or physical disease. There are a number of therapeutic modalities that a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner may choose to employ. These include: acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion (a stick of smouldering mugwort herb is used to heat specific points along a meridian above the skin, to stimulate or sedate qi), herbal medicine, dietary advice, Chinese massage, and practices such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong (forms of movement meditation).

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners assess your condition and state of balance using a series of diagnostics. There is usually an in-depth discussion that covers a wide area of one’s life, not focusing specifically on the symptoms of concern. Among other things, they will listen for the qualities in your voice to determine the state of your sprit or ‘shen’. A medical history is taken and a physical examination that includes looking at your skin, tongue, hair, the colour of your fingernails and even, discreetly the way you smell. Your pulses will be taken (there are six pulses on each wrist). When he or she determines where the imbalance lies they will then treat you using the appropriate therapy or combination of therapies.

123   |  Single page