Where: SC Bible Church, 440 Frederick Street, Room WC-10

When: Monday, July 18th from 6:30-8:30

See you there!

This is an excellent example of the type of inquiries I get weekly. The following excerpt of our communication is posted with her permission and request to remain anonymous. Her email is in italics and my response is bolded.

Hello, I am searching for a practitioner with knowledge, patience, and a history of success in treating women with PCOS.

I am hoping you would answer a few questions for me to help me decide if I should come to your office for treatment…A little bit about me:I am 34 next month. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 6 months ago after having trouble trying to conceive. I started acupuncture treatment in July to help regulate my cycles (before by diagnosis of PCOS). I went for weekly appointments from July through Mid October. Although at times it seemed to help, my cycles were still not regulated. I think I might not have given acupuncture a fair chance. For one, I did not know enough about my condition to explain my needs to the practitioner. Now that I have been charting my CM and BBT, I can bring these charts to a practitioner for a better understanding of my needs. Although the acupuncturists I saw at Five Branches were very knowledgeable, the environment seemed much too rushed. I am afraid I did not get the focused attention I was looking for.

Can you answer these few questions for me?How many women have you treated with PCOS?What were your results treating PCOS?How do you believe diet effects PCOS?Have you treated women who were taking Clomid? Did any become pregnant after treatment?Have you used women’s charts to aid in treatment?Have you read the Infertility Cure by Dr. Randine Lewis Ph.D? (this book was what convinced me to try acupuncture again, now that I am more aware of my cycle through FAM charting).

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions,Sincerely looking forward to reading your response.

My Response:

First of all, I’d like to say I appreciate the time you are putting out in terms of these thoughtful questions in an effort to find the best practitioner for you. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. I have treated several with a PCOS diagnosis, and many more who I believe had PCOS but went undiagnosed.

What were your results treating PCOS? This is a difficult condition, NOT impossible to treat, but it takes diligence on the part of the patient. To answer this question, two patient histories come to mind:

1. I treated one patient several years ago for three months with acupuncture, herbs and dietary suggestions. In this time her cycles regulated, she lost weight and reached her health goal which was to have regular periods.

2. I treated one patient about 3 years ago who came at the urging of her girlfriend. She had a lot of psychological challenges around weight and her eating habits and would not entertain the idea of dietary/lifestyle changes. She also did not want to take herbs. I saw her twice a month for 2 months and then we both decided that this was not the ideal path for her at the time.

How do you believe diet effects PCOS? This is a very interesting and complicated question. In short, I think it is pivotal. I have done a lot of work with insulin resistance and believe it plays a huge role in this disease.

Have you treated women who were taking Clomid? Many.

Have you used women’s charts to aid in treatment? Yes, they are a less expensive way to follow hormonal shifts than salivary hormone panels, though sometimes these are helpful too.

Have you read the Infertility Cure by Dr. Randine Lewis Ph.D? (this book was what convinced me to try acupuncture again, now that I am more aware of my cycle through FAM charting). Funny that you ask me that. I think this is a great laywoman’s guide to fertility. You may also enjoy Fertile Soul Cycle Companion Journal by the same author. I just ordered two copies of this book for the library at the Fertility Physicians of Northern California.

So, I’d like to give you a little background on me, my practice and how I work with Women’s Health. I attained my doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) with a dual specialization in Women’s Health and Pain Management. I am continuing on to do research with the Fertility Physicians of Northern California for my PhD in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. I am also the only certified specialist in Oriental Reproductive Medicine in Santa Cruz county. The majority of my patients are women and it brings me great joy to help them shift their health and achieve their goals. During your initial visit we will go over your medical history in detail, go over the herbs/drugs/supplements you may be taking and your typical diet. I’ll do an assessment using Chinese and Japanese methods of diagnosis and and acupuncture treatment. The session will conclude with a treatment plan detailing appropriate modalities for treatment such as acupuncture, specific herbal formulas, dietary suggestions and other self care measures.

Hope I answered your questions and gave you the information you are looking for. Take care and good luck to you!

I feel so fortunate to be the only acupuncturist from the Santa Cruz area who has done a preceptorship at RMFC, the fertility clinic with the largest database of acupuncture + IVF patients in the world. During this training I observed artificial reproductive medicine techniques (ART) such as IVF, IUI, and ICSI (a fertilization technique used to combine sperm and egg during IVF). It was an amazing view into the world of Western reproductive medicine. While I have been using Oriental medicine for several years to enhance fertility naturally and in combination with ART, like the great majority of acupuncturists, I have never actually SEEN these procedures.

Being a researcher as well as a clinician, my second objective during my week-long stay was to write a prospective research study on acupuncture and IVF. In retrospective  study of over 800 patients the Cridennda/Magarelli Acupuncture Protocol (CMAP) has been shown to:

• Increase the number of pregnancy rates AND  healthy babies
• Decrease the number of miscarriages
• Decrease the number of birth complications
• Normalize key stress/reproductive hormones
• This protocol helped all patients, but especially “poor responders” who are women over 38 whose partners have poor sperm quality

Now we want to know if the changes in stress hormones in the blood of these patients reflect changes in stress hormones in the follicular fluid (the fluid in which the egg grows in the ovary). This could lead us to a better understanding of how the CMAP improves IVF success rates.

I started providing the CMAP to my patients undergoing IVF because of the research behind this protocol. It has made such a difference in so many of my patient’s lives. In my clinical experience, combining the CMAP with IVF improves outcomes dramatically. This motivated me to add to the significant bank of data behind this protocol, so I went to Colorado to write a study.

Our study was submitted to the Internal Review Board and we are now waiting for their decision, cross your fingers!

* How a person’s constitution plants the seeds that can give rise to symptoms and ill health

* The importance of strengthening the constitution first to facilitate deeper healing and the true resolution of symptoms

* Factors that slow or interfere with the body’s ability to heal, thus turning an acute problem into a chronic one such as: hormonal factors, poor digestion, structural issues, toxicity from drugs or environmental influences, stress and nervous system/adrenal gland imbalances

* The specific relationship between structural issues and gynecological problems

Would it surprise you to know that high heels may contribute to painful periods and infertility? Or that the chronic shoulder pain you suffer from may be caused by constriction in your lower back and pelvis? Or that your headaches and sinus congestion can affect your pituitary (the master glad that controls all of your hormones)?

The best part is that there are specific treatment strategies to address all of these issues!

Given that my clinical doctorate is in Women’s Health and Pain Management and I’m pursuing a PhD in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, this powerful seminar on holistic gynecology was based in line with my training and philosophy of healing AND expanded my knowledge base.

I feel so excited to share this information and experience with my patients!

What Acupuncture is used for during Cancer Treatment

Acupuncture provides a total approach to health care for people with cancer. It can be used to address many of the concerns that come up during and after chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy and surgery.

According to the National Cancer Institute, acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body’s natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be released.

Areas that acupuncture has shown the most promise include:

Chemo-Induced Nausea Study

Effect of Acupuncture on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

According to the National Cancer Institute, of all the investigated effects of acupuncture on cancer-related or chemotherapy-related symptoms and disorders, the positive effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is the most convincing.

Numerous studies have consistently shown acupuncture to be effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as as postoperative and morning sickness nausea and vomiting.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in 104 patients with breast cancer who were undergoing a highly emetogenic (causes vomiting) chemotherapy regimen. The patients were randomly assigned to receive low-frequency electro-acupuncture at classic acupuncture points for nausea and vomiting once daily for 5 days, minimal needling at control points with mock electro-acupuncture on the same schedule, or no adjunct needling. All patients received concurrent antiemetic drugs (prochlorperazine, lorazepam, and diphenhydramine) and high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine).

The main outcome measures were the total number of emesis (vomiting) episodes and the proportion of emesis-free days occurring during the 5-day study period. The data revealed significantly fewer emesis episodes in the electro-acupuncture treatment group compared with those in the minimal needling and drug-only control groups.

Source:Shen J, Wenger N, Glaspy J, et al.: Electroacupuncture for control of myeloablative chemotherapy-induced emesis: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 284 (21): 2755-61, 2000.

Source: National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.org

In a blinded, controlled clinical trial which lasted 7 years and included over 800 patients, researchers in Colorado Springs found that

the specific “Cridennda-Magerelli Acupuncture Protocol” dramatically improved IVF success rates in the following ways:

• Significantly higer rates of healthy babies
• Less ectopic pregnancies
• Fewer miscarriages
• Fewer multiple pregnancies
• Normalization of FSH, prolactin and cortisol
• Improved blood flow to the uterus, which is essential for embryo implantation
• Couples where the women is 38 or older and the man has poor sperm quality showed dramatic improvement

These results are amazing! I had the opportunity to speak at length with Dr. Magarelli about his study and he and I are planning to conduct further research into how acupuncture corrects imbalances in key reproductive hormones in women going through IVF. 

I am happy to provide the Cridennda-Magarelli protocol for patients going through IVF. Simply click on “Schedule Appointment” at the top right corner of the website to get started!

1.   Don’t realize how many of their friends, family and co-workers struggle with the same problems

2.   Feel alone, helpless and embarrassed

3.   Don’t know that Chinese medicine can be incredibly effective in treating these conditions

Digestive disorders range from hemorrhoids to “heart burn” to loss of appetite, and everything in between. One common Western diagnosis given to people with chronic diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This complex disorder that afflicts up to 20% of the world’s population!  You may have heard IBS be referred to as an “incurable disease” by your physician.  Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can offer a safe, effective, natural, and drug-free way to address IBS and other digestive disorders by getting to the root of the problem.  My goal is to assess the entire constitution of the patient – considering physiological, psychological, and lifestyle aspects. Digestive symptoms may be triggered by stress, diet, emotional factors, hormone levels, and medications so it is important to conduct a through medical history and physical exam to discover the origin of these symptoms.

An initial visit includes:

·      A through medical history

·      A physical exam

·      An acupuncture treatment

·      A comprehensive treatment plan outlining recommendations for acupuncture, herbal formulas, massage, dietary/lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements

·      Plus, laboratory tests if applicable such as:

o     Food Allergies and Sensitivities Testing

o     Digestive Analysis

o     Microbiology and Parasite Tests

You don’t have to keep suffering!

·      A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate!  

·      An Australian study published in 1998 in the Journal of the American Medical Association lends strong scientific support to treating IBS with Chinese herbs.   

Click on Schedule Appointment or call 831. 426. 1093 today!

Infertility and Miscarriage

 It is imperative to keep in mind that ultimate goal. The holistic Chinese medical view of fertility includes not only a confirmed pregnancy, but a healthy pregnancy, smooth delivery and parents with the energy and stamina to take care of a newborn baby. All of these steps can be influenced before conception by bolstering the health of the mother and father to be, thus setting the stage for a healthy sperm and egg to unite, a plush environment for implantation and the foundation for a strong pregnancy.

I told Becky that I understood how she felt; that undergoing a surgical technique to accomplish what her body should naturally do on its own did not feel right to her. I also suggested she go through with the D&C. While strong manipulation of specific acupuncture points can cause miscarriage, it is not commonly done because of the risk of incomplete miscarriage which can result in infection or hemorrhage.

While I did encourage her to pursue the Western route first and afterwards to use acupuncture and herbal formulas to nourish her depleted qi and blood, regulate her hormones and prepare her for another pregnancy.

Becky and I worked together for several months until she felt secure in her health and ready to try again. She conceived her first month of trying and is now happily in her second trimester.

Case study—Becky

Below is an excerpt from my book, Practical Fertility.

Thyroid Questions and Answers

So far we’ve talked about the pituitary, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix and of course the UTERUS in regards to fertility, but what about that unsung hero, the thyroid? The thyroid gland sits in the front of your throat. It controls your whole body’s metabolism—the metabolic activity of EVERY CELL! Because of this, thyroid disease affects every organ in the body, including your reproductive organs.

Like the ovaries, the thyroid is controlled by the pituitary and hypothalamus. When levels of thyroid hormone in the body drop, the pituitary sends a message to the thyroid via thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to make more thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4).. Like all of the hormonal pathways in the body this is complicated!!! The plot thickens as T4 has to be converted into a more active hormone, triiodothyronine (T3) to affect your cells and actually get anything accomplished. This conversion of T4 to T3 happens all over the body but especially in the liver. So, having optimal liver function is imperative when talking about thyroid health.

The endocrine system is one big balancing act so it stands to reason that if it is possible to have too little of a hormone it is also possible to have too much. You can have too much estrogen, too much FSH, not enough progesterone, etc. Thyroid hormones are no exception. Having too little thyroid hormone causes hypothyroidism, while having too much results in hyperthyroidism. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause unpleasant symptoms and abnormal basal body temperature graphs that can tip you off to the fact that something is not quite right. However, both of these conditions can also be totally asymptomatic which is why fertility specialists often include thyroid tests in an initial fertility workup.

Hypothyroid

• Weight gain
• Tendency to be cold
• High cholesterol
• Hair loss
• Depression
• Dry skin
• Memory and Concentration difficulties
• Constipation
• Menstrual irregularities such as: unpredictable cycles, heavy bleeding and a history of miscarriage or stillbirths. 
• Basal body temperature readings will be low; you may not even register on the chart. You may not show the peaks and valleys showing of normal hormonal functioning and ovulation.

Hyperthyroid

• Weight loss
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Shaking
• Thirst
• Exopthalmos (an eye condition resulting in bulging and irritation)
• Shortness of breath
• Basal body temperatures will be chronically elevated. Temperature shifts showing ovulation may also be absent.

While hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are opposite sides of the spectrum, both of these conditions may present with fatigue and muscle pain or weakness.

Impact on fertility

Now for the part you have been waiting for. Yes, this is all very interesting information, but how is taking care of your thyroid going to help you GET PREGNANT!?

Both hyper and hypothyroidism can result in anovulation. Of course if you are not ovulating, you won’t be getting pregnant. Plus, if you do get pregnant and have one of these conditions the baby could suffer, becoming either hypothyroid or hyperthyroid itself. Hypothyroidism in early pregnancy can negatively affect the developing baby’s brain and nervous system development. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism can cause toxicity to the baby, or if the mother’s thyroid condition is caused by an autoimmune problem the mother could be hyperthyroid while the baby is hypothyroid!

What should you do?

First adopt lifestyle and dietary habits that support health thyroid function. As we discussed earlier, pesticides have components that alter endocrine function as do certain, chemicals and even some drugs such as aspirin can disrupt iodine levels in the body. Fertility enhancing diets help regulate endocrine function thus also help thyroid function avoid chemical pollutants in cleaning products, don’t buy a new car, don’t go to the public swimming pool every day (chlorine), don’t use bleach, avoid plastic water bottles or cooking in plastic containers, and avoid foods with oleic acid (margarine is a common source of these). Eat a balanced diet and take your prenatal vitamins. The body needs certain nutrients such as iodine, vitamin E, A zinc, copper and selenium to manufacture and utilize thyroid hormone properly. Supplementing your diet with sea vegetables such as kelp and hijiki with provide you with good quality iodine.

            In addition you want to avoid foods that can keep the thyroid from using iodine (goiterogenic) such as uncooked turnips, cabbage, mustard greens, broccoli, pine nuts, peanuts, millet and soy. These foods are not BAD for you, but uncooked they can contribute to an underactive thyroid. So, keep eating these foods just cook them first (the Chinese believe cooked foods are better for you anyways) and individuals with confirmed low thyroid hormone should avoid daily soy intake.

            So, if you have hyperthyroidism you should eat lots of margarine, right? Not exactly. In general you should avoid iodine rich foods such as dairy and flour products as these can contain high amounts of iodine.

Because thyroid disease can easily go undiagnosed and can have serious effects on fertility and a developing baby, if you suspect that you have a thyroid problem, either because of your BBT or you have more than 3 symptoms of thyroid disturbance contact your primary healthcare provider and request a thyroid test. An initial screening test is an inexpensive simple blood test that measures the amount of TSH. Depending on your symptoms your physician may also order tests that directly measure levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies. There is an art and science to interpreting these tests, as sometimes tests will be borderline rather than obviously conclusive. The diet and lifestyle changes previously discussed several Western herbs as well as acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas, nutritional supplements and thyroid hormone may be used to normalize your thyroid and improve fertility. A well versed holistic physician well versed in fertility should be able to guide you in choosing the best treatment for you.