The Three of Swords is one of my favourite cards (even the one with three swords slicing through a heart) and I especially enjoy this depiction from the Spacious Tarot. It reminds me a lot of acupuncture: needles that are inserted at certain acupoints to activate specific meridian channels (there can sometimes even be a tiny drop of blood where the insertion is made). A lot of times infrared light is also used on the belly, mimicking that well cultivated pitta fire (okay that's an Ayurvedic reference, but it's the perfect imagery).
Here are some of my thoughts on fertility acupuncture for anyone that is considering it. (Please remember that I myself am not a TCM practitioner; I’m mostly a very opinionated patient. Your discernment is encouraged.) I’d like to tell you a little bit about choosing who to work with, what to expect on your first visit and subsequent ones, how fertility acupuncture differs from regular acupuncture, as well as some practical tips to get the most out of your sessions. This is all based on my personal experience, and I’m sure you knew that.
choosing a practitioner
Choose someone that specialises in fertility care. (I also think it’s much easier to consult the same person for both acupuncture & herbs, but it’s possible to have an acupuncturist + a herbalist.) But how would you know if fertility care is their specialty? Sometimes, it can be hard to tell. Since Traditional Chinese Medicine is holistic, fertility is not considered as ‘a thing of its own’ separate from the rest of the body. As such, anyone that practices TCM should in theory be able to treat fertility issues, right? Yes, and I also think you would want someone that has a lot of experience with it and is passionate about it. My advice is to read their biography and online reviews. You will also know if a clinic specialises in fertility care: there is always a photo wall full of happy sleepy babies and excited thank you notes from parents. As well, TCM is a slow process and it can take a minimum of 3 months to begin seeing positive changes (at least, that was my case). Of course this depends on your body and what imbalances you are experiencing. But if there are no major changes after 4-6 months, I would consider looking for a different clinic.
your first & subsequent visits
On your first visit, aim to come at least 15 minutes early to fill in the intake form. There will be some questions regarding your general health but the focus will be on your fertility history. Have with you the exact dates of your menstrual cycles for the past 6 months and try to describe your concerns concisely during the interview. For example: “I have mood swings, acne, sugar cravings, and bloating the week before my period. On the day that I bleed, I always feel extreme pain in my belly, I have cold sweats, I often vomit and have diarrhea, etc. etc.”
Sometimes you will be asked to provide a BBT chart. This stands for basal body temperature and is measured every morning more or less at the same time upon waking up. If you haven’t done this before and are thinking of consulting a TCM clinic in the coming weeks, it’s a good idea to start now. Pro-tip: buy a basal thermometer that is bluetooth embedded so that the results can be instantly synced to an app on your phone. You can then download the charts and print them out, or recopy the results manually onto paper (I do this because I take extra notes on my charts).
Usually your very first consultation with a new practitioner will be longer, because they need to assess your entire health. It’s common for them to feel your pulse, look at your tongue, and read your general body. I highly recommend The Infertility Cure from Randine Lewis, which describes this process at length. In fact, I suggest you read this before your first appointment. I wish I did! Subsequent sessions will be a lot shorter.
For me, I go to the TCM clinic twice a week and each session lasts about 30 min. During our sessions, we have a quick chat regarding the state of my health, if there are any positive or negative changes, if I have any concerns, etc. And then I lie down for acupuncture. Every time that I come in for an appointment, my practitioner knows exactly what cycle day I am on and it’s very reassuring to me that they’re keeping track. Additionally, the acupoints that they use change according to the follicular and luteal phase.
acupuncture and herbs
What’s the difference between fertility acupuncture and regular acupuncture? I would say that the principle is the same: needles are inserted into acupuncture points along the body to activate the desired meridians. However, if the concern is fertility related, there are specific points that we can work with. I’m going to refer you again to Lewis’ book for a description of the different points and channels. Here’s what I have to say on this: there are points in the belly area, on the arms, on the legs, and occasionally on the head. Therefore, it’s best to wear a loose pair of shorts and a t-shirt for easier access. Wear what you would wear to physiotherapy or massage therapy.
There is one point called Ren 3 which is located just above the pubic bone. Don’t be surprised if the practitioner needs to touch your pubic bone to feel the correct alignment and location of this acupoint. (They should ask for your permission the first time around.) If you look at the featured photo above, Ren 3 is the point directly underneath Ren 4 in the drawing (taken from Lewis’ book). I’d like to think that if you’ve been to Western fertility treatment before attempting TCM, you’d agree that privacy is no longer a concern. This is the FYI for the newbies 😉
Do the needles hurt? Usually they feel like mosquito bites, but sometimes they may feel more “raw” like a vaccine. But once the needles are inserted, you should not really feel anything in particular unless if you move around too much. Sometimes a needle can feel painful depending on how it’s been inserted (for me, that would be Du 20 which is located on the crown of the head). You are allowed to ask for it to be reinserted. As acupoints don’t have exact locations, every body is different and so every acupoint on each body will be at a slightly different place.
Once the needles are inserted, the practitioner may turn on 1 or more infrared lights (depends on the weather and your body constitution) and leave the room. Occasionally, they may burn mugwort but only if the clinic is located in their home (fire regulations). You’re then left to yourself. (Feel free to take a nap, or try a body scan.) After 30 min or so, they return to remove the needles. Before I get up from the treatment table, I like to stretch, come to foetus position on one side, and take my time to get up. I usually have a water bottle with me and like to take a sip right after treatment.
What about herbs? It depends on the clinic. Herbal medicine decocted from raw ingredients are the best in my own practitioner’s opinion (I tend to agree), but some practitioners may prescribe tea granules or tablets. The most important thing is that herbs are being prescribed and that they change according to where you are in your cycle (pre- or post-ovulation). Herbal medicine is incredibly potent and will have less unwanted side effects, if any at all. As general information only, I drink herbs twice daily for 10 days before ovulation, and again twice daily for 10 days after ovulation. It comes in a liquid form that my practitioner decocts and packages themselves. But your practitioner may send you to a herbalist or a Chinese herb store.
final thoughts
Something to know is that herbal medicine is usually not covered by insurance in Canada whereas acupuncture is. It can thus become expensive in the long run, depending on the length of your treatment. But as mentioned previously, you also might not feel any changes until the 3-month mark. It’s therefore up to you to decide if this makes sense financially. If you have a partner that also has insurance, you can of course figure out how to coordinate your benefits. Regarding acupuncture, some clinics have a pay-what-you-can model or offer sessions at a reduced price for low-income families. There’s also a small discount if you pre-purchase a package. I’ve never seen any discounts on herbal medicine however.
I used to experience intense pain on Day 1 of my cycle. With the help of fertility TCM, my hormones are now more in balance and I only feel a slight discomfort when my period comes, i.e. feeling a little bit out of breath and some soft pinching in the belly. Remember as well that TCM works alongside diet & lifestyle changes. Every now and then, if I’m not careful with what I eat at the end of my cycle, my body will immediately experience horrendous symptoms on Day 1 of the following cycle. Practising gentle yoga and meditation can also help to keep the belly soft and reduce stress levels.
🌗 ♋
Featured:
The Spacious Tarot (Carrie Mallon & Annie Ruygt)
The Infertility Cure (Randine Lewis).