Chinese Herbs for Fertility: What Your Cycle Tells You
If your menstrual cycles are out of line, including while you are trying to conceive, Traditional Chinese Herbs are used to support a regular cycle. If you are under the care of a fertility clinic, herbs and acupuncture are used alongside that care, not instead of it, and I will ask you to keep your clinic informed. I can’t promise any change in your chance of getting pregnant; what I can do is work with you on your cycle.
In Chinese medicine, the menstrual cycle tells us a lot about women’s health. But if you ask most women what is normal, they usually aren’t sure. Let’s talk about abnormal first.
What can go wrong with the cycle:
- Irregular Cycle
If your cycle is irregular, it will be 30 days, then 25 days, then 20 days, then 30 days. If your cycle is jumping all over the place, it is worth looking at. If it’s 28 days, then 30 days, then 29 days, then that is ok. - PMS symptoms
If you are getting very emotional, breaking out, have breast tenderness, cramping, pre-bleeding or spotting, Chinese medicine looks at these as signs of an imbalance in the cycle. - Menstrual Duration
If you are bleeding a short time or too long, mention it to your doctor and your practitioner. - Blood Flow & Quantity
The colour, flow, is it starting and stopping etc, if this is happening, its a concern. If you are bleeding too much, you end up losing too much blood and this can weaken the body. - Pain
If you are having a lot of cramping and pain, treatment aims to ease it. In Chinese medicine, cramping means things aren’t moving smoothly. We often see clotting with cramping, but not in all circumstances. Do you have pain and clots? If yes, mention it at your visit and to your doctor.
What’s Normal?
There is no normal. It can differ from person to person. If you menstruate for 3 days everytime, and it’s a smooth flow, and no symptoms, this is normal. Another woman may menstruate for 5 days, and that would be normal for her. But generally speaking, no pms symptoms, bleed for 3-5 days, smooth flow, no clots, fresh red colour, no spotting or brown blood and the entire cycle is close to the same numbers of days apart.
Chinese Herbs and Your Cycle
In Chinese medicine, the reproductive cycle is seen as an internal matter, which is why herbal medicine is often used along with acupuncture. Treatment for the cycle is usually planned over about 3 to 6 cycles, and I review how your cycle is responding at each visit. How people respond varies.
Chinese Herbs are Easy to Take
We only give herbs which are easy to take. You won’t have to boil any raw herbs and smell up your house.
Granules – Just mix with water, easy to travel with
Tinctures – Just take a small amount ( approx 5 ml) under your tongue.
If you would like to talk about your menstrual cycle, please call me at 647-346-2780 or book an appointment.