Are You Suffering From Hypothyroidism?

Are You Suffering From Hypothyroidism? By Dr. Rita Louise

When someone is experiencing hypothyroidism the thyroid gland is impaired, producing too little thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism is due primarily to a dysfunction of the thyroid gland itself. If the thyroid gland is removed, obviously, the body is unable to produce any thyroid hormone. If the thyroid is partially removed, it may be able to produce enough hormones for a while, but over time it can become overworked and burn out. But the thyroid can also become impaired for many other reasons.

The thyroid consists of 2 lobes connected together in front of the neck just below the voice box. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland control the body's metabolic rate and a dysfunction to this gland can affect every organ in the body. When the thyroid is under active it creates a general depression of many of the cellular systems and oxidative processes in the body that are needed for energy production. This can cause the metabolic activities in the cells to decrease. Metabolic wastes can then filtrate into the organs, causing them to become sluggish.

Deficiencies of thyroxin (the hormone produced by the thyroid) leave the body feeling tired and run down. As the metabolism slows down, weight gain and constipation are often experienced. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, lack of energy, intolerance to cold temperatures, menstrual irregularities, depression, sluggish reflexes, hair loss, dry, coarse skin, brittle nails and puffiness around the eyes. Typically symptoms present themselves slowly and often evade detection.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is inflammation that damages the thyroid tissue. This damage causes the body's immune cells, which normally fight infection, to attack the thyroid and leave them incapable of producing enough hormones.

Hypothyroidism is often seen in post-partum women and is often mistaken for post-partum depression. Medications, such as Lithium also cause thyroid dysfunction. While rare, disorders to the pituitary or hypothalamus glands in the brain can also lead to this and other hormonal imbalances.

Recommendations For Wellness

Reduce soy consumption. Soy can depress thyroid function and has been shown to cause goiters (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) in healthy individuals.

Alkalinize the body! This may help to prevent thyroid dysfunction in the first place.

Get rid of the saturated fats from your diet. Saturated fats have been found to inhibit thyroid function.

Work to balance your estrogen levels. Estrogen slows down the thyroid gland.

Eat organically raised meats to avoid meats that are loaded with added hormones that have been introduced to increase the weight of livestock prior to sale.

Begin a hormonal balancing program using progesterone cream to help bring your body back into balance.

Vitamin B3, (niacin), which is often taken to reduce cholesterol levels, has been shown to also lower thyroid hormone levels.

Gentian is known to normalize the function of the thyroid gland.

Incorporate kelp and other sea vegetables that are high in iodine. Iodine is needed by the body to produce thyroid hormone.

Radishes have historically been used to treat thyroid problems and have been known to keep the levels of thyroid hormones balanced.

If depression due to hypothyroidism is a problem, try taking St. John's Wort to help elevate your mood.

Chronic constipation can be addressed by adding additional dietary fiber such as psyllium to your diet. Herbal laxatives, such as cascara sagrada or Nature's Sunshine's LBS II can also be used as required.

Try supplementing with zinc and selenium. Studies indicate that severe zinc or selenium deficiencies can cause decreased thyroid hormone levels.

Coconut oil stimulates the thyroid gland and is a good choice for those suffering from an under active thyroid.

One of the most effective supplements for hypothyroidism is desiccated thyroid gland that comes from pigs. It was used long before synthetic forms of thyroid medications became available and is processed by the body more naturally.

© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2005. All rights reserved. Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. is the author of the books "Avoiding the Cosmic 2x4" and "The Power Within". It is her unique gift as a medical intuitive and clairvoyant that illuminates and enlivens her work. Let Dr. Louise help you bring health, healing and wholeness back into your life. Medical Intuition & Energy Medicine Certification training classes are now forming. Visit {http://www.soulhealer.com} or call (972) 475-3393 for more information.

Natural Moves - Curing Constipation Naturally

Use Natural Moves:
As a natural laxative to relieve constipation without harming your body
To relax the muscles of the bowel wall, ease anxiety and tension and promote normal bowel movements
To enhance healthy liver and gall bladder functioning
To promote the flow of bile and improve digestion
Relieve constipation associated with IBS and other digestive complaints
To reduce dependency on harmful OTC laxatives and promote normal, regular bowel movements
To prevent the build up of toxins and risk of colon cancer associated with chronic constipation

What causes constipation?
Most people have at least one bowel movement a day. However, bowel habits vary from person to person and less frequent bowel movements are not necessarily a sign of constipation.

Most doctors will agree, however, that anyone who has a bowel movement less than three times a week and passes hard stools can be said to be constipated.

Constipation happens to everyone occasionally, but some people suffer from chronic constipation which makes their lives a misery and each bowel movement a huge relief!

Occasional constipation is usually caused by diet, lack of exercise, stress or drinking insufficient liquids.

Chronic constipation can be caused by a variety of factors, including digestive disorders like IBS, lack of fiber and fluid in the diet, depression, lack of exercise and some medical conditions like diabetes, colon cancer and hypothyroidism.

Constipation may also be a side effect of some prescription drugs for depression, high blood pressure and pain relief. In addition, many people have lost natural bowel movements due to the overuse and abuse of OTC and prescription laxatives.


Herbs can help!
Herbalists and naturopaths from cultures all over the world have used herbs for centuries to promote regular bowel movements, purify the system and treat constipation.

However, even some herbs are not suitable for regular use due to their excessively strong purgative effects.

Fortunately Native Remedies has the answer!

Using herbs which are strong enough to treat even stubborn constipation, yet gentle enough not to cause unpleasant diarrhea and cramping, Native Remedies Natural Moves Tablets can be used for both chronic and occasional constipation, depending on the dosage used.

The herbs used in Natural Moves Tablets promote healthy digestion and also act as an effective liver tonic, therefore avoiding the risk of dependency and side effects associated with some other laxative products.
What are Natural Moves
Tablets & how do they work?

Natural Moves combines Aloe Vera and Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion), both known for their laxative properties and beneficial effect on digestive health.

Passiflora is added to relax the muscles of the bowel wall and to relieve stress and anxiety which is often associated with digestive complaints like constipation and IBS.

Natural Moves ingredients

Natural Moves comes in convenient tablet form and include the following ingredients in therapeutic dosage:

Aloe Ferox - A succulent and well known medicinal herb native to South Africa, Aloe Ferox has many different uses and writings from as early as 1500BC in Ancient Egypt document its medicinal uses. Amongst other benefits, Aloe Ferox is known for its beneficial effect on digestive functioning and as a natural laxative and remedy for constipation. It is also widely recommended for digestive complaints and for inflammatory digestive disorders like IBS and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

Taraxacum officinale - (Dandelion): Dandelion contains bitter principles which have a beneficial effect on the liver and digestive system. It aids digestion by stimulating the release of bile from the liver and also acts as a mild laxative. Dandelion is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, D, C, various B Vitamins, iron, lecithin, silicon, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese. It enhances liver and gall bladder functioning and may decrease high blood pressure due to its diuretic properties.

Passiflora incarnata - One of nature's safest and most effective tranquilizers, Passiflora also helps to relax and to relieve muscle tension. High tension levels, anxiety and stress are often implicated in people suffering from chronic constipation and other digestive complaints. Passiflora is included in Natural Moves to enhance the effects of Aloe Ferox and Taraxacum officinale.

How do I use Natural Moves?

Each Natural Moves Tablet includes 575 g of high quality fresh herbs in therapeutic dosage. Dosage depends on individual needs as well as whether your constipation is chronic or only an occasional problem.

For Occasional Constipation: Two tablets when needed taken with a glass of water or milk at night will easily help to produce a normal bowel movement upon awakening. Make sure that you allow yourself time the next morning to enjoy a natural bowel movement before beginning your day!

For Chronic and Stubborn Constipation: Take 1/2 to one tablet every morning and two tablets at night. For added benefit, use together with our Triple Complex Digestion Tonic.

Children over the age of 6 may occasionally use 1/2 - 1 tablet of Natural Moves at night if needed. Tablets may be crushed and mixed with a little food for those who prefer not to swallow them whole.

Caution: Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Do not exceed the recommended dose! However, our {Triple Complex Digestion Tonic} is safe for use during pregnancy and for nursing mothers. Please consult your doctor if there are sudden changes to your normal bowel habits, if you experience pain, fever or blood in your stools or if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, despite treatment.

How long does one bottle last?

One bottle contains 45 tablets and lasts approximately a month or more, depending on use.

What else can I do to help myself?

1. Include lots of fiber in your diet, including raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains and pulses.
2. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water, herbal tea or juice a day.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Avoid beverages containing caffeine and alcohol as these cause dehydration.
5. Avoid highly processed and junk foods.

Natural Moves Tablets(45)
Price $34.95

Do I Have Migraine Headaches?

If you have headaches and are wondering if they could be migraine headaches we can probably help you figure that out. There are some very distinctive characteristics of migraine headaches that can differentiate migraines from other types of headaches such as tension headaches, stress headaches, cluster headaches or other types of headaches.

Migraine headaches are more often than not one-sided, meaning the pain is felt on only one side of the head. Most of the time the pain of a migraine headache can be felt in the temple area or behind one of the eyes or ears. Migraine headaches can become severe and disabling. Nausea is a common symptom of this type of headache as is vomiting or sensitivity to light or sound. About 20% of patients with migraine headaches experience an aura. An aura is a disturbance in vision that can consist of bright blinking colored lights that move across the field of vision.

Migraine headaches can become chronic in nature. When they are chronic the patient most commonly experiences them once or twice a month. However, in some instances migraine headaches can occur as often as once or twice a week. Migraine headaches affect people between the ages of 15 and 55 and are more common in women than in men. Migraines affect women about 3 times as often as men.

Migraines affect about 30 or 40 million Americans, but they are less common than tension headaches. It is estimated that about 75% of all headaches are tension headaches. Tension headaches are typically characterized by a dull pain over the entire head while migraines are usually throbbing in nature and located in one particular spot. In other words, tension-type headaches are a constant dull pain while migraines throb like the beating of the heart.

Chronic tension headaches can occur every day while chronic migraine headaches occur less often, usually once a week to once a month. Fatigue and stress can cause both types of headaches, but migraine headaches can be triggered by other factors such as different types of food. Migraine headaches can sometimes be helped by eliminating these triggers. Foods that may lead to migraines include cheese, alcohol, MSG (monosodium glutamate), nuts, beans, caffeine, chocolate, onions and others. Eliminating the trigger may eliminate the migraines.

Cluster headaches are far less common than either migraine headaches or tension-type-headaches. Men are about six times more likely than women to experience cluster headaches. The pain of a cluster headache starts quickly, without any warning, and typically reaches its peak between two and fifteen minutes.

The pain of a cluster headache can be extremely intense, deep and explosive. Migraines are usually "pulsing" while clusters are not. Between 10 and 20 percent of cluster patients have "ice-pick" or "stabbing" pain around the eyes. This stabbing pain typically lasts for a few seconds, but can occur several times in succession. When this sudden attack of intense pain occurs it usually means that the headache is near its end.

For natural migraine headache relief it is often beneficial to relax and rest. Sometimes lying in a dark room with an ice pack on the base of the skull can reduce the pressure that is felt in the head. The same treatment can also help tension or stress headaches. Reducing stress can go a long way to relieving many headache symptoms.

If you experience chronic headaches and over-the-counter medication or natural remedies do not help it may be wise to consult a physician.
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About the Author

Dr. Larry A. Johnson, D.C. has researched, developed and patented a popular cushion, recommended by chiropractors, for the home treatment and relief of tension and migraine headaches. For more information about{ migraine headaches} please visit his site.
http://www.soothe-a-ciser.com/

Sleep During Pregnancy

Shift work and sleep

Shift workers really do get a raw deal when it comes to getting enough sleep. They have to try and sleep when the rest of the world is waking up and their body clocks have a hard time adjusting.

Short rotation shift workers are the worst affected. They have to change their sleeping patterns every few days. No sooner does the body's rhythm adapt than it's time to change it again.

I remember many years back I was boarding with a friend who was a shift worker. I used to envy him as I passed him on the stairs heading towards a comfy bed, while I was starting a new working day, tired from being awake some of the night (I suffered from insomnia back then)

Now when I think back, I realize how wrong I was. My friend was sleep deprived even when he managed to get 6 hours - which wasn't often. The sleep he was getting during the day just wasn't as restful. It would be like having permanent jet lag.

Shift work and health

Sleep deprived workers are less productive and more prone to accidents at work or while driving, they may suffer with indigestion a lot as the digestive system becomes sluggish at night. The effects of shift work becomes even harder to cope with as we get older, maybe because are bodies are less resilient.

Lack of restful sleep can also depress the immune system leaving the shift worker prone to more colds, flu and other health problems. And then there the ever present social hassles. The shift worker has to sleep while their friends and family are awake.

So what's the best way of getting a good "day's" sleep when you're a shift worker? The main problem to overcome is the body's natural circadian rhythm. It is designed to make us sleepy as darkness falls and awake as daylight floods our bedrooms. So all our systems are trying to slow down while we're trying to get going.

Darkness stimulates the release of melatonin by the pineal gland. The production slows down as it becomes light. Melatonin encourages sleep and the lack of it can cause sleeplessness. This is known as the shift work sleep disorder

The following can help.

Invest in heavy blinds and curtains to keep light out of the bedroom

Buy a sleep mask and some ear plugs Turn off the phone or have it somewhere you won't be disturbed

Make sure your family and friends know not to disturb you during your sleep time Try melatonin half an hour before going to bed. This can help to reset you body rhythms. Start with 1 mg

Bright light therapy can also help reset the body's clock and regulate melatonin levels. Seek medical advice first.

The following are not recommended!

Drinking alcohol to help you sleep - have a drink by all means, just don't expect it to improve your sleep.

Sleeping pills - They're ok for a very temporary fix.

So try the above sleep tips and see if they help your problem. It may well be worth having a chat to your employer about a rest break a on the job. After all it will increase your productivity so you'll both benefit!
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About the Author

Wendy Owen is an health author and reseacher. For help and advice on sleep problems visit her site at: {http://www.insomnia-connection.com}

The Magic Of The Thyroid Diet

Health & Fitness are considered most important in our daily life and our every day diet plays an important role in it. The Thyroid Diet has magical secrets of weight loss. Thyroid diet includes food you want to eat and lose weight overnight. Thyroid diet is the best for people who have weight challenges due to thyroid conditions. It helps us to return to a healthy weight, without a rigorous change in our diet and exercise.

The Thyroid Diet explores brands, mixtures and dosage of thyroid medicines right for us considering the other lifestyle issues and supplements that help to optimize thyroid treatment. It resolves nutritional deficiencies, treats depression and corrects brain chemistry imbalances, reduces stress, combats insulin resistance, treats food allergies and sensitivities, and exercise.

Thyroid diet recommends a very low-calorie diet for weight loss in cases of hypothyroidism but it is necessary to maintain metabolism. Low calories and lower metabolism sends body into hoard mode, which is a process, thyroid patients are susceptible to. Thyroid diet suggests breaking up calories into multiple "mini-meals" per day. The Thyroid Diet manages metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. These thyroid conditions result in metabolic slowdown. The Thyroid Diet gives diagnosed and proper thyroid treatment for successfully loses weight.

This diet has many frustrating impediments for weight loss. It offers both conventional and alternative solution for help. The Thyroid Diet has optimal dietary changes. Thyroid sufferer have to focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements. They face unexpected weight gain, despite diet and exercise showing symptoms as:

- Fatigue and exhaustion - More hair loss than usual - Moodiness - Muscle and joint pains and aches

Hyperthyroid leads to metabolism that stores every calorie even after rigorous diet and exercise programs. Even optimal treatment doesn't help weight problems plague for many thyroid patients. For the majority of thyroid patients, treatment alone doesn't seem to resolve our weight problems. Thyroid diet is a simple, understandable way that offers you the support, encouragement and information to pursue the right diagnosis and treatment.
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About the Author

Mark's blog is online at {http://dietblogsite.com/}.

Thyroid Diseases - Hyperthyroidism

Many people have problems with their Thyroids. A lot of them do not even realize it. Some of the symptoms may be:

Hypothyroidism,Sluggish Thyroid, Unrelenting fatigue,Obesity , Cold hands, feet, and ears, Low blood pressure Yellowish Color on Hands and more.

Thyax can help your body produce more thyroxine to naturally stimulate your thyroid function. If you are suffering from thyroid problems, then you should try Thyax. What is Thyax? What can Thyax for my thyroid problem? Thyax is a new supplement that causes your body to naturally increase production of thyroxine and stimulate your thyroid. Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that wraps around the windpipe behind and below the Adams apple area. The hormone in your body that stimulates thyroid function is called Thyroxine and it is the main hormone that is produced in the thyroid gland.Men and women are both affected by sluggish thyroids. Women are more often the target of this health condition and it is believed that up to 50% of women may have a thyroid problem.

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About the Author
J. Ratliff is an avid health writer.

8 Simple Ways To Lose Fat

1. Set a goal for yourself and get real about achieving it.

Until you set a goal of how much body fat you want to lose, you are just dreaming. It needs to be specific and written down. If losing body fat is what you want to do, you must be willing to achieve it at all costs.

If you do not want to lose body fat enough, you will continue to give yourself reasons not to work out. Get real and tell yourself that you are going to do this, no matter what. Before any other step, this is the most important one.

If you are not real and serious about losing fat, all the other steps will not help you.

YOU MUST SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF. You need a reason to keep going, to do cardio first thing in the morning, to skip that extra slice of pizza. You need a reason or you will not follow through.

So step 1 is to stop dreaming and start doing. Tell yourself you are going to achieve your goal no matter what. Write down what you want to achieve and then go after it!

2. Drink your life away! (well, not really)

If you have ever doubted the importance of water, try going a few days without it. You can live weeks without food, but only days without water. It is used in EVERY single physiological process your body undergoes.

Its importance cannot be stated enough, especially when it comes to fat-loss and fitness training. Shoot for at least a gallon a day, preferably more. The inconvenience of constantly using the bathroom is a minor drawback compared to the benefits you will receive.

Keep a bottle wherever you spend most of your day, at your desk at work, in your car, hell, wear a water bottle around your neck, but just get enough water.

3. Eat 5-6 (or more) small meals a day consisting of high protein, moderate carbs, and low-fat.

This is important in keeping your metabolism efficiently burning calories. Constantly grazing on meals every 3 hours will allow your body to burn off what it has consumed quicker and more efficiently.

Eating one or two larger meals will actually cause your body's metabolism to slow down. Skipping meals altogether will actually cause your body to store fat as a defense mechanism.

Your body is not sure when its going to get its next meal so it tends to store more in case of perceived famine. Make each meal consist of higher protein (builds muscle), moderate carbohydrates (fuel for the body) and low fat (energy and protection).

Use the 50-40-10 rule as an approximate guideline. 50% of your calories coming from protein, 40% carbs, and 10% fats.

4. Do INTENSE cardiovascular workouts 3-4 times a week.

This is where the majority of the calorie burning takes place.

Not necessarily from the cardio you just did, but from the fact that doing cardio increases your metabolic rate so that the rest of the day you will burn off more calories as well.

Treat your cardio days like you do your workouts. That means, put all of your energy and intensity into your cardio. Do 20-30 minutes of cardio 3-4 days a week. During a session of cardio, warm-up for 5 minutes, then do 20 minutes at a high intensity pace.

Then cool down for the last 5 minutes. Go at a fast enough pace where you are sweating, panting, huffing, puffing, turning red. Get your body out of homeostasis (everythings normal and in balance).

Doing cardio for the sakes of doing it will not burn fat. Going for a leisurely walk will not sufficiently burn fat, unless you walk ten miles. Riding a stationary bike while relaxingly reading the paper will not burn much fat.

Hey, its only 30 minutes. Bust your butt for this time and the return on your investment will be great. Choose cardio machines that get more of your body moving. The more you move, the more you burn.

Stairmaster and running on the Treadmill are good examples. The recumbent bike is good also, because you can focus on high intensity without worrying about falling off. The more your whole body moves, the more energy you expend.

5. Do INTENSE Weight training at least 3-4 times a week.

Do not mistake weight training w/ trying to burn fat. Weight training will not burn a sufficient amount of body fat. What weight training will do is help you burn fat in the future. When you add muscle to your frame, your body has to expend more energy (burn more calories) to maintain that muscle tissue.

So when you are at rest, even sleeping, the more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories you will expend. Weight training will not only strengthen existing muscle, but will add additional lean muscle tissue to handle any future demands placed on the muscle.

The more lean muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will expend at rest. Not bad, huh?

6. Figure out your daily energy expenditure and reduce it.

Most people do not like to calorie count, me included. But in order to properly lose body fat, you need to determine your daily energy expenditure or caloric maintenance level. You then need to reduce your energy consumption to be below your energy output.

It's difficult to place a number on how much below your consumption you should go, because everyone is different. A good place to start would be 150-200 calories below your maintenance levels.

Then continue to observe the effects in the mirror to determine if this number needs to be changed. If you continue to see no results, try reducing your energy consumption to 300 calories below your energy output.

7. Instead of a 30 minute cardio session, do 2, 15 minute sessions.

This is definitely a tough thing to do because of busy schedules, but if it is possible, do a 15 minute cardio session first thing in the morning and another session later in the afternoon or early evening.

Research has shown that compared with subjects that did a 30 minute cardio session, those that did 2, 15 minute sessions burned twice as many calories. Make each 15 minute session still very intense, which is easier to do if you are going 15 minutes.

Warm-up for 2-3 minutes and then go all out for 13-15 minutes, then cool down for 2-3 minutes.

Once again, if you can fit 2, 15 minute cardio sessions into your day (avoid doing it on weight-training days), you will burn twice the amount of calories than doing a 30 minutes session.

8. Continue to up your weight (overload) when doing resistance training.

Remember that building lean muscle will assist you in the fat-burning process later on. The more muscle you have, the more energy your body expends to maintain that muscle, even at rest.

In order to make constant and significant gains, remember to train intensely and for short durations. I like to call them "bursts of exercise!" Try and work no more than 2 muscle groups a workout, 3 workouts a week.

Or you can do 1 muscle group each workout, training 5-6 days a week in shorter bursts.

Keep reps lower than higher. This will cause you to maintain high enough resistance to add overload to the muscle, causing more muscle growth. Do only 2-3 heavy sets per exercise and keep workouts no longer than 45 minutes.

Keep your workouts intense and to the point. Do it and get out of the gym. DO NOT DO YOUR CARDIO BEFORE WEIGHT TRAINING! It's hard to focus intensely on both weight training and cardio in the same session. Do not rob one to pay the other.

These are 8 simple (well, not so simple if you do them well!) ways you can maximize fat burning while increasing the likelihood of not losing much muscle.

Cardio and proper nutrition are two of the most vital areas to focus on when attempting to shed fat and gain muscle.
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About the Author

Shawn LeBrun is an online fitness expert that will show you how to lose fat, gain muscle, and increase your strength in the least amount of time! Visit {http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com} for info.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances Fertility

How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances Fertility by Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China, Nancy Rakela, L.Ac., O.M.D., China
How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances Fertility

Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China; {http://www.FertilityAcupuncturist.com}
Nancy Rakela, L.Ac., O.M.D., China; {http://www.NancyRakela.com}

TCM describes the female reproductive system as a network of energy systems. Each energy system has complementary organs and hormonal responses. This network responds to stress, chemicals, lack of exercise, poor diet and excess emotions all of which can put the body 'out of balance'. A TCM practitioner will carefully determine the state of your imbalances and prescribe an individualized program of herbs, acupuncture and diet to help you create the correct environment for fertility and pregnancy.

Stress Reduction
Psychological stress can have a negative effect on couples facing fertility problems. Stress leads to the release of stress hormones and causes detrimental effects on mechanisms responsible for a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle. The success of acupuncture for reducing stress and anxiety is due to its beta-endorphin release and sympathetic calming effects.

Stress causes the sympathetic nervous system of be over stimulated. Thus, the blood flow is diverted away from the ovaries and uterus to the adrenals (stress coping gland) instead. This can cause irregular cycles, lack of ovulation, and infertility. Electro acupuncture and Femoral Artery Massage redirect the blood flow back to the ovaries and uterus, enhancing fertility and regulating your cycle.

Acupuncture Strengthens The Immune System
Many women with immunological factors hostile to pregnancy have been effectively treated with TCM prescription of diet, herbs, and acupuncture. When an acupuncturist treats the root problem, the immunological markers correct themselves.

Fertility Hormone Regulation
Acupuncture has been known to control pain through stimulating the release of beta-endorphin. In addition, beta-endorphin works to influence the source of women's ovulatory and fertility hormones (the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis) and control hormones that regulate a women's ovulation and fertility that includes gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating hormone (F.S.H.), luteinizing hormone (L.H.) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Regulates Hormones Creating Better Egg Quality
Acupuncture normalizes the dysfunction of the Hypothalamus- Pituitary - Ovarian Axis. This improves ovarian function creating more follicles, and better egg production. It has also been suggested that the concentrations of central opioids may regulate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis via the central sympathetic system, and that a hyperactive sympathetic system in anovulatory patients could be normalized by ElectroAcupuncture (Chen and Yin, 1991). It has been assumed that various disorders in the autonomic nervous system, such as hormonal disturbances, may be normalized during auricular acupuncture (Gerhard and Postneck, 1992). www.acubalance.ca/res_medical_reduction.php.

Acupuncture Lessens Side Effects From Clomid
Clomid often causes the uterine lining to thin, which is detrimental to becoming pregnant. Acupuncture causes the uterine lining to thicken and become more uniform. This is a result of increased blood flow to the uterine arteries, as proven in the article referenced just below.

I.V.F. Assistance With Acupuncture Treatment
This study shows that acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterine arteries, creating a thicker and more regular lining, allowing for IVF to be more successful. Acupuncture also improves ovarian blood flow to increase ovarian response.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with Electro Acupuncture Stener-Victirin,et al., Human Reproduction, Vol 11, no6. pp. 1311-17, 1996.

Decreases Uterine Contractility at Implantation
Study: Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo ART.

Fertility a& Sterility Vol77 April 2002
"Acupuncture May Improve Success Rate Of IVF Pregnancies:
Patients in the acupuncture group received two acupuncture sessions - the first treatment 25 minutes before embryo transfer, the second treatment 25 minutes after. In the acupuncture group, the pregnancy rate was "considerably higher" - 34 women (42.5%) were carrying a fetal sac at the time of examination."
"Relaxing the uterus with Acupuncture treatment allows for more successful IVF." www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html, www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html

Acupuncture Decreases The Chance Of Miscarriage
Acupuncture relaxes the uterus, increases blood flow to the uterus, warms the uterus, increases the immune system, regulates the hormones and decreases stress, all creating less of a chance of miscarriage.

Study: Acupuncture Improves Fertility In Men, Too
According to statistics from the National Infertility Association (an organization also known as RESOLVE), between 35 percent and 40 percent of infertility problems among couples are actually caused by male conditions. A recent trial published in Fertility and Sterility has shown just how effective acupuncture can be in the treatment of this condition, leading to significant increases in the number of normal sperm and equally significant reductions in structural defects. Thus, Acupuncture improves sperm count, motility, and morphology.
www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2005/oct/10infertility.html
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Robin Hays is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and a Diplomate of National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics. She specializes in fertility and complications of pregnancy. She practices in Los Angeles, CA.

Nancy Rakela is a licensed acupuncturist, is certificated in Acupuncture Orthopedics, enabling her to provide speciali