Acupuncture and Infertility – Tracing Its Roots

Acupuncure, an ancient Chinese healing tradition, dates back over 1,000 years.  A lot of health professionals in the West consider this type of treatment valid when applied to different kinds of illnesses.  It can remedy muscle tension, improve skin condition and get rid of smoking, to name a few.  Researches show that acupuncture greatly helps couples who are having a hard time making a baby.

How The West Sees It

There remain some Westerners who doubt acupuncture’s effectiveness, despite its popularity.  No scientific evidence is available to support acupuncture and, as a result, many healthcare professionals are reluctant to recommend it.  But many researchers are already investigating the issue, according to the National Institutes of Health in the United States.

Health Risks

The procedure is painless when performed by a trained practitioner.  Adverse effects have been observed in only very few people.  Common risks associated with the practice of acupuncture are organ puncturing, forgotten needles, some bleeding (although very minimal), and the spreading of infection.  These can be eliminated by having the treatment peformed by an experienced professional.  However, people who have bleeding disorders and those who use blood thinning agents should not use acupuncture.

A Solitary or Complementary Process

Acupuncture taken by itself is a great aid to fertility procedures.  It is also seen as therapy that can complement modern fertility treatments.  When used by itself, acupuncture benefits those who have functional problems, like intermittent ovulation, better.  By itself, this practice may not work as effectively in fixing structural problems such as blockage of sperm ducts.

Some acupuncture practitioners say that acupuncture treatments are best complemented by the use of Chinese herbs.  If you are taking prescription drugs, check with your doctor before starting any program of herb therapy.  Some herbal medications prevent the proper functioning of some fertility drugs and processes.

Acupuncture and Fertility – Does It Work?

How acupuncture works as a cure for infertility is still debatable.  However, practitioners emphasize this age-old treatment’s ability to normalize the body’s functions.  It increases blood flow into the vital organs and stabilizes hormonal activity.  The general outcome is enhanced ovarian function in females and a higher sperm count in males.

Acupuncture has been found to benefit women who are using it in conjunction with therapies that aim to increase fertility.   Some also say that acupuncture, when incorporated with rather stressful fertility procedures, helps women relax.  Recent researches show that a woman undergoing in vitro fertilization has a higher chance of conception if acupuncture is introduced into therapy.

Selecting The Best Practitioner

Healthcare professionals who want to add acupuncture to their roster of services are required to have around 300 hours of specialized training to be certified.  Those licensed in other medical fields must still complete 2000 to 3000 hours of training and pass the board exam to be officially called an acupuncturist.

A lot of people are into acupuncture nowadays, and this number is rising by the day.  There are a few things to consider before seeking the services of practitioners.  A background check on the selected acupuncture expert must be done prior to agreeing to any procedure.  A professional must first acquire the approval of the local government and undergo certain trainings before he or she can practice in a specific area.Reliable recommendations for acupuncture services would be family and friends who’ve benefited from the them.

Future patients must ask for a ballpark figure of cost to be financially prepared for the treatment.  A lot of people are thankful that certain insurance plans also cover acupuncture treatments.

What You Can Expect

More than one acupuncture treatment is needed to get desired results.  To get the most out of acupuncture, patients usually go through a series of visits that can run from several weeks to a few months.  Patients should expect each visit to their acupuncturist to be at least an hour long, with time for discussion of lifestyle and present health condition, as well as thoughts and queries about the process.