Alternative Medicine

The use of acupuncture and herbal medicine on reversing womens infertility has been known in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The research applies various techniques including interview schedule, questionnaires and case study analysis in trying to establish the authenticity of the use of traditional Chinese medicine in treating of infertility related ailments. The study incorporated specialists, and patients of TCM and acupuncture in its research. Results and research show that acupuncture with TCM increases the chance of womens pregnancy by almost 40  compared to existing Western techniques.

 Womens Health
A woman is the womb of humanity. The future individual is nurtured and nourished in her body. She can give birth from one to five to twelve children or more.  A womans ability to conceive starts from the moment she is born. Her body is physically equipped to carry a child in her body for nine months and continue to nurture this child. In Chinese culture, they illustrate the woman in relation to her fertility in deeper terms. The Yizong Jinjian (Golden Mirror of Medicine), a classic TCM text completed 1742AD, documented this process clearly by stating When a woman reaches puberty, she produces tian-gui for promotion of the Conception Vessel and Thoroughfare Vessel to be exuberant and flushed with qi (vital energy) and blood, which leads to regular menstruation.

Womens health is as serious as the planets health. For the past decades, womens health has been used for cultural, political, and even economic campaigns. Womens health has become the interest of the family, community, companies and societies. Billions of dollars are spent on womens health. From physical beauty to spiritual peace, from products that promote her healthy to surgical procedures that alter her features, the world continues to mold and shape the woman according to societys expectations.

In this day and age of increasing expectations on the woman, health risks have increased proportionately. Women work inside the house, making it a home. Management of the home or housekeeping takes effort from the woman. Sometimes, women wake up earlier or sleep later just to do the house chores. Women work full time. Gender relations have successfully given women the chance to enhance her talents and become successful career women. Expectations from the workplace add to womens stress. Womens health suffers due to these multi-tasks required of the modern woman.

Infertility   
Infertility in women is a million dollar concern. The western culture of allowing pre-marital sex in women has led to controversies in terms of unwanted pregnancy, use of contraceptives and the use of safe sex products. In the other end, industries thrive on womans infertility problems in the form of health clinics, drinkable tonics and even spiritual ventures wherein the woman visit spiritual healers to make them fertile again. There are health clinics that help couples conceive using In Vitro Fertilization. These procedures cost money. Couples risk these procedures without assurance that they will be able to conceive. Infertility is a condition that affected 2.1 million women in 2002 according to the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). And todays couples are seeking out more choices to integrate Western and Eastern medicines for the best outcomes. (Kreydin, 2008)

The modern woman looking for equality, fighting for equitable right to work, demanding appreciation of her choices and rights is still expected to produce an offspring. The need to reproduce is an instinct in women in any race, in any part of the planet. But when a woman becomes infertile, she starts to feel incomplete.
Over the years infertility has been believed to arise from psychological problems on the part of either of the partners. In the middle 20th century, scientists attributed 50 of the cases to psychogenic infertility (Holland, 2000 98). Additionally, reproductive failure was attributed to basically psychological and emotional factors. This was believed to occur as a result of unconscious anxiety regarding sexual feelings, motherhood ambivalence, unresolved oedipal conflict and gender identity conflict (Holland, 2000 98). Alternative medicine emphasizes the role of psychopathology in infertility.

Infertility is brought about by an imbalanced lifestyle.  Much of western lifestyle ensures this imbalance. Too much coffee, too much alcohol, lack of sleep, late nights and too much sweets bring a false kind of energy. Usually after too much to drink, the body breaks down. Western teens have a custom to have an active sex life which brings harm when taken in over doses. The Chinese have a different attitude to sex. It is part of the jing, the essential essence of life stored in the kidneys, and finite in quality. Too much sex can deplete the reserves of jing, so that later in life, when people settle down and start to think of having a family, the pool is low, making conception difficult. When stress comes into the picture, matters get worse. (McNamara 1995194) As stress leads to infertility, infertility in turn breeds more stress and hopelessness is just around the corner.

Solution for infertility is also a million dollar worth of activities spent on years of research and experiments. Scientists look for special potions and miracles from plants and animals all over the world. Doctors look for medical procedures to circumvent the physical challenges posted by infertility from the problems in the ovary, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Eastern doctors have also been looking for answers and this comes by in depth research, a lot of trial and errors. Infertility clinics compete with each other so that they get more clients. Drug companies earn millions from the sale of medications that improve fertility. Food companies, restaurant and nutrition professionals join in the industry because there is big profits to generate from infertility issues. Over the years, desperate couples all over the world can only follow their doctors advice and hope for the best.

Western Challenges
    Western medicine men diagnose infertility as non-functioning of the reproductive parts. Given this problem, using the most available advanced medical tool that the doctor can access, doctors try as hard as possible to fix the non-functionality. Operations, In vitro fertilization (IVF) tries to overcome physical barriers that cause infertility. Unfortunately, access to these medical procedures is costly. Some have to wait in line forever. When doctors do not find anything wrong with the reproductive organs, they advise the couple to just be at it which can be stressful adding to the imbalance of the couples health.

Its still a hit and miss for western medicine. Infertility has long been a common problem in human history, and still continues to be a problem in the modern era. Generally speaking, as many as one in six couples requires help from specialists to treat infertility. Fortunately Western medicine has developed various treatment methodologies, especially the new assisted reproductive technology, which does increase the success rate. Despite this, nearly half of the couples among those who get treated by Western medicine still fail to conceive. (Zheng, 2010)

The western world due their high standards and cost of living has brought about the condition that each couple would only have one or two offsprings. Back in the 1930s couples had an average of 4 children. Today couples only have an average of one. In some first world countries, due to declining growth rates, governments are giving hefty benefits to couples or unwed mothers to conceive and give birth to arrest the so called Aging Population.

While China maintains a one-child policy due to population explosion, European countries have been asking couples to have more children. Societies know that no matter how affluent the economy is, if population cannot ensure future generations, then efforts today will all be useless. In turn, countries who are very much densely populated like China who control their population are strict in implementing population laws. Together with population laws, government services must also be most effective and cheap. These health practices must be geared toward prevention of disease rather than cure. In recent years, the outbreak of viruses in Asia such as the bird flu has led to hundredths of deaths. The effect of these outbreaks is so deadly and far reaching that continents are affected. It is also the case of natural disasters when the aftermath of the calamity brings about related disease. Curing large numbers of people in the hospital is not an easy task no matter how organized, well-trained and well-equipped the health care system is such as in the west.
Another challenge western medicine face is the need to collaborate with their Eastern counterparts in finding solutions to this problem. Unlike decades ago, when doctors would rather compete with each other and keep health secrets in the interest of their own practice, more interaction between western and Asian doctors are taking place.

As these collaborations happen, patients in turn have become aware of the possibilities of finding solutions from these integrated medical protocols.
Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is anything that is not part of the mainstream medicine used by the community. Alternative medicine to the western world is medicine used by doctors in the east. These vary from the very traditional to the very orthodox.

Alternative superstition is also involved in finding solutions to Infertility. Infertility has been associated with spiritualism. There have been cases where people who are unable to have children have resorted to prayer prophets for help in trying to assist in solving problems of inability to conceive. One town in the Philippines has become a destination due to its popularity in helping couples who cannot conceive. The procedure is that couples go to the church of Sta. Clara, offer a tray of eggs and dance in front of the saint. Conception in spiritual context is further regarded with esteem and respect as children are considered gifts from God.
Alternative medicine has gained wide recognition due to the positive effects felt and seen by patients. Patients who have been using western medicines to no avail and are brave enough to try other forms of treatments that are called experimental suffer the benefits or ills of these alternative medicines. Some of these procedures are so called ground-breaking that they attract the worlds attention. Some of these procedures done in the west include the organ transplants, bone extensions, bone rehabilitation, or simply the many health products that are launched via the multi-level marketing system. Although these products cannot publicly claim positive therapeutic effects, they are promoted to achieve cure to killer-illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or heart diseases.

But alternative is also a matter of perspective. What is mainstream to one culture can be known as an alternative protocol to another. This concept is illustrated by the differing approaches of differing societies to food. Some places in Asia eat the so-called unborn fetus of the duck for longevity and strength. And this practice is severely abhorred by the west. Asians in turn would need to acculturate themselves into eating potatoes instead of rice when they go the US or Europe. These cultural differences bring about varying perspectives. TCM in China is not an alternative but the mainstream protocol for preventing diseases and maintaining good health.

Acupuncture and Herbology
The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in infertility treatment. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofacial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful.  (NIH 1979)

This is a process that involves use of needle insertion in a grid like pattern that span the body from the head to the toe (Deadman, 200711). The needles stimulate energy points in the body thus regulating the spiritual, mental, physical and emotional balance of an individual. Acupuncture has over the years been used as a form of pain relief. However the Chinese have identified its use in the field of infertility treatment. These may include Menopausal systems, hot flushes, infertility, premenstrual tension and endometriosis (Deadman, 200712). It applies the balancing of the negative and the positive forces which might result into infertility.
Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy have been used for treatment and disease prevention since the ancient periods of Chinese history. They have been able to achieve astonishing effectiveness over time with people streaming to eat with quiet agility. It is believed that at least 71 of the world population has at one time used acupuncture and Chinese medicine as a form of healthcare (Maciocia,, 199929). However it is only recently that their sage has been fully recognized in the United States. Dating back from the 11 AD TCM and acupuncture have been used in treatment of in the treatment of infertility (Maciocia, 199926). This has been done through applications of these techniques in regulating the menstrual cycle and enhancement of the full functionality of the body (Deadman, 200712). Unlike conventional methods, TCM does not put much effort on healing only but focuses on the general health of the individual.

Though old, infertility hormonal related problems easily yield to these techniques allowing it to treat conditions like PMS, endometriosis, immune system incongruities and even blocked fallopian tubes. TCM additionally includes a series of Qi Kung which allow flow of specific meridians.
The mechanism by which these herbal medicines operate has not been well illustrated but they have still been used to successfully treat infertility over the years. The practitioners used a formula based from herbs which are mixed together to form a decoction which handles the specific ailment.

Practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine rarely use a single herb in treatment. Chinese herbs are formula based many herbs are mixed together to create the perfect decoction specifically designed for the individual patient. Some formulas may contain two herbs while others may contain as much as thirty herbs mixed together. The herbs used have specific trophism, temperature, nature as well as flavor (Maciocia, 199926). This has made prescription of such herbs to need an extensive range of training and expertise.
Herbal medication has over time presented a dual dilemma. The correct prescription involves an accurate differential diagnosis that can only be offered by people with great experience on them. Secondly, they may prove harmful when prescribed by inexperienced personal or when self prescribed by an individual. A case in hand involves the Ma huangEphedra of which many people have died after self prescribing it and consequently taken it without consultation from physicians (Maciocia, 199936). However, such a case cannot be used to give blanket accusation that they are harmful. This case is just as similar as it could happen when one self prescribes aspirin and ends up taking dangerous dosage. Just like conventional medicine, herbal medicine can prove very fatal if used inappropriately. Most herbs are however safe, highly effective and usually free from of side effects often present in pharmaceutical drugs.

Many traditional Chinese medicine physicians have vast training in observing peoples voice tone, eyes, their complexion, facial expression, overall demeanor among others things in order to arrive at a specific diagnosis (Maciocia, 199929).

Objectives of the Study
The study will explore the values inherent in TCM - acupuncture in arresting and circumventing infertility in women. It attempts to illustrate case studies of women who have used TCM for their infertility problems. The study attempts to find procedures go hand in hand with TCM such as herbs and proper diet.

Significance of the Study
The study is significant because in an indirect way, curing infertility will ensure the continuation of life. Infertility brings suffering to couples who want to pro-create. Lifestyles today are fast paced. Stress levels due to work are slowly increasing. Diet is unbalanced. And all these imbalances lead to increasing difficulty in successful procreation.

The success of the study in searching the curing effects of acupuncture for infertility problems will help infertile women. Acupuncture is a non-obtrusive procedure. Chemicals are not needed instead, the use of completely herbal and organic plants collaborate so that infertility can reversed. Millions of dollars can be spent for other health problems if acupuncture is found to be effective. Rather than spending money on cures that hit and miss, couples can save their money, conceive a child and still have enough money to nurture their offspring. In sad cases, couples who cannot conceive eventually separate ways and this cannot be helped because reproduction is an instinctive calling.

If the study can reach infertile women, they can be given hope. Acupuncture is available in most of the cities where TCM is practiced. Western medicine acknowledges its wisdom and had started using it therefore increasing its availability.

Limitations of the Study and Challenges
Finance The study in order to yield more accurate results would have required adequate financing in order to involve more people to a face-to-face interview. This would have increased the study sample thereby producing a more representative result. The study only used online interviews and online surveys to get the data. The study compared this data with other previous studies. This comparison allowed the study to estimate its accuracy.

Insecure responses Given that the questionnaires were posted over the internet, some people filled them insincerely or just for fun. This called for spending of more time screening in order to minimize the effect of insincere results. The screening included asking the respondents why they answered the survey in such a way. If the respondents cannot give a manageable answer, the study discarded that answer. Another way to check responses that are suspected of insincerity is to dig more deeply into the womans experience.
Research ethics The ethics guiding research activities could not allow easy access to patients as case study. The patients had to be requested to allow their searchers presence and this was not easily acceptable to most of the patients.

The TCM doctors excessive support for their medicine The specialists in TCM focused more on amassing praises to their practices and at times getting the negative aspects of TCM was not easily possible as they seems to have a belief that their practice offered the perfect solution to the problem of infertility. The study to a certain extent took in some interviews with Chinese and Western doctors who were accessible online and who were generous enough to give sincere insights about their practice with TCM and without TCM.
Time constraint There exists no clear pattern of application of these practices hence more time was required in order to develop more accurate results. TCM cure for infertility was a case-to-case basis. It was not a fixed program that everybody had to undergo. Time was not a variable in this study but the techniques. The study therefore was limited to historic pregnancy rates within five years of continuous treatment.

LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine popularly known as TCM has been around for the past 4000 years. Chinese doctors assigned to the emperor lived only to make sure the health of the emperor was in perfect condition. They studied and devised ways and means to alleviate pain but their primary task was to maintain health of the person because they believed the person was a whole unified cosmic being that was capable of living through many transformations.

Traditional Chinese Medicine does not mean backward. Doctors would use old Chinese cures and preventive measures that would be thousands of years old but yet integrating new modern medicine knowledge. Today, in Chinese hospitals combining modern medicine and TCM, acuanalgesia, as it is called, may be used in abdominal surgery. It can greatly assist post-operative recovery, and there will be no need for the patient to fast beforehand. (McNamara, 199520) 15th century Jesuit missionaries translated ancient Chinese healing books. This was just one of the many early western contacts with TCM. Soon the collaboration flourished. More and more doctors, nurses, practitioners, and parents are discovering advantages of using TCM.

Neither is TCM folk medicine where witch doctors and spiritual healers bring about cures to unexplained disease. TCM is a professional discipline. Western doctors cannot understand it because it takes on a totally different concept and approach. The World Health Organization acknowledge the study of TCM. It has supported the collaboration of traditional medicine, herbology and pharmacology. Specialists and scholars hold scientific conventions to further exchange and sharing of tools and understanding for the benefit of health.

Training of health practitioners on TCM involves many years of theoretical and hands-on training. Certification is strict. School admissions are more strict and competitive.

Before a person becomes a TCM doctor in the Chinese academies of health, they need to pass strict examinations as well. They are mentored by senior TCM doctors. TCM doctors train continuously because as TCM doctors, they are the primary cultivators of theory and practice in the field of health. TCM doctors are always holistic in their approach to prevention and cures. This is very different from the western approaches of treatment. Western doctors are highly specialized. A newborn specialist is different from a toddler specialist. A doctor who treats the circulatory system would rather consult another specialist for skin problems. There are advantages of specialization but there are also advantages of TCMs holistic approach.
Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM views individuals as consisting of body, mind and spirit.
A health body helps the organs to function. With proper organ function, mental function can take place with normalcy. The spiritual part of a man is the most contentious of the concepts in TCM in terms of making their western counterparts believe that there is a spiritual dimension in humans. With a sound body and mind, spiritual peace follows. The holistic approach is not only enacted with respect to the different dimensions of a human being. It also addresses both symptoms and the root causes simultaneously. Much of western medicine

There exist minimal side effects and accumulation of toxins in the body which may result from invasive drug therapies originating from pharmaceutical companies.

Herbs can bring harm to the patient if used wrongly just like any medicine. There is overdose and poisoning. Chinese history being more than 4,000 years old has had their share of experimental mishaps in the discovery of which herb can cure what sickness. Sometimes the herb will give physical clues to their efficacies. St. Johns Wort is colored yellow and signals the ancient healer that it might be a cure for jaundice. After years of research, experiment, trial and error, and the like, they finally realize that St. Johns Wort is a remedy for jaundice. Side effects are minimal due to the amount of herbs taken in. A few amount of leaves is usually mixed with hot water to make it into tea. Diluting the herb in hot water is a good way to take away immediate bacteria that might be in the leaves. Doctors use the different parts of the herbs from the roots, stems and leaves. Depending on the part, the plant can deliver remedies according to the part used.
TCM strengthens and at the same time balances the bodys general health. Specific herbal medicine and acupuncture regimes help benefit the individual in terms of general health.

Just like some western procedures where doctors advise the patients to medicate for maintenance after surgical operations or major therapies like the cobalt treatment for cancer, acupuncture goes hand in hand with prescribed herbal supplements to maintain a healthy body. For TCM, it is not enough that the patient is alleviated of the pain and symptom of the sickness. In the west, it is easy to pop a pill for headaches or tummy aches that brings relief to the patient. TCM always goes to the source of the ache, cures it, and strengthens the body so that the ailment will not recur.

They have proven to be more effective when utilized alongside the post-modern procedures.
TCM collaboration with western medicine using post-modern procedures has brought successes to the field. TCM diagnose the patient using signs on the body such as the color of eyes, the quality of breathing or the color of the tongue. Modern technology enables doctors to look inside the body in a more exact and faster manner. An example of this collaboration is the use of acupuncture in anesthetics. Acupuncture reduces the risk of the patient to be over anesthetized.

Is relatively cost effective.
Chairman Mao during the cultural revolution needed to revitalize a dying and ill nourished China. He ordered every medical practitioner and health volunteers to study TCM for the benefit of all China. TCM is cost effective because a pack of needles is all that is needed for the doctor to administer acupuncture. Some patients bring their own needles for hygienic purpose. These needles need not be fancy. Some herbal remedies are expensive but this is due to availability of the herbs needed. TCM doctors would opt to use herbs that are readily available in the environment of the patient. Herbs can be grown in the kitchen area and therefore the patient need not go far for his herbal tonic cure. Simple herbal cures can be made right inside the kitchen using the usual cooking ingredients such as garlic, pepper, ginger, rosemary and sage. TCM believes that eating fruits and vegetables endemic to the place where the patient grew up is better than buying imported food. One example of this is the use of apples to cure mild diarrhea. Asian counterparts can use bananas.

Traditional Chinese Medicine treats infertility in a holistic way as organs are connected to each other like a unified cosmos. The treatment strategies are all anchored in their concept of wholeness. The body as a whole is made up of its parts. There is independence between the body and the parts through the channels of energy, also called the chi.

When energy is blocked for some reason, it must be restored. A doctor of traditional Chinese medicine can tell whats wrong without asking. Your pulse, complexion, and tongue reveal all she needs to know - based on her knowledge of the working of the bodys energy systems nerves, lymph, and blood circulation. The TCM practitioner prescribes traditional herbs, acupuncture, acupressure, and other modalities to unblock these systems to allow energy to flow once more. ( Traditional Chinese medicine views the body as a reflection of the natural world. Flows of energy and fluids in the body are spoken of as channels, rivers, seas, and reservoirs. The liver is the  father of all organs  and the kidneys are the  mother of all organs. When these organs, and others, do not have the raw materials to function, the result is disorder and deficiency.
There is a cycle of organs showing the interconnectedness of the body parts to make the whole. The five important organs that harmonize the body are the heart, the liver, the kidneys, the spleen and the lungs. In simple terms, one organ is mother of another organ. Therefore if an organ is weak, the TCM doctor will check the mother of that organ because a weak organ signals that the mother taking care of that organ is not doing its job. The heart is governed by the kidneys. The kidney is governed by the spleen. The spleen is governed by the liver. The liver is governed by lungs. The lungs are governed by the heart. And the cycle is completed.

Timing and consistency of treatment should be given a priority as it involves taking the herbs as prescribed and consistently for the whole period (Mao-Shing, 1995 26). Additionally it is recommended that they maintain good health in order to minimize imbalances that may lead to difficulty in conception.
TCM practitioners have suggested that women who are nearing forty and have not had contact with external factors like drugs and alcohol have little likelihood of succeed in treatment of their infertility ailment (Mao-Shing, 1995 28). Likewise, women who have perfect health with little imbalances also have little likelihood of getting pregnant even after treatment.

B. Infertility
Infertility in women is known by the Chinese as imbalance of three important elements that are needed so that conception can occur. One element is the functionality of the womens reproductive organs. A non-functional fallopian tube, a healthy production of egg cells, a nurturing uterus with a strong uterine lining and a good cervical canal are requirements that will help proper pregnancy. Another element is the womans vital energy. This vital energy required for successful pregnancy from conception to giving birth is crucial for both the health of the mother and the newborn child. Vital energy cultivation starts at puberty. Abuse of this energy at a young age will affect its vitality when the time comes when the woman is ready to get pregnant. The last element is the nourishment and quality of food. Women vitality and the integrity of the organs must be properly nourished by a well-balanced diet. Poor diet, improper eating habits, lack of exercise, and stress lead to emotional, psychological and physical imbalance.
The final pathological development is summarized as follows

1. Exhaustion of kidney-qi Congenital deficiency or indulging in excessive sex usually damages kidney-qi. When this happens, there will be inadequate essence to produce tian-gui regularly, which leads to a deficiency in the Conception and Thoroughfare Vessels. The uterus becomes malnourished and cannot collect sperm and promote conception.

 INCLUDEPICTURE Macintosh HDUsersjennyDesktopTCM researchtcm2_filesimg_female_03.gif  MERGEFORMATINET 2. Insufficiency in bloodBlood is the material basis for conception. When an individual has a constitutional weakness or dysfunction in the spleen and stomach, blood production is affected. As a result, the extra meridians become vacuous (deficient andor dysfunctional) and the uterus is not nourished making it impossible for a woman to conceive.3. Stagnation of liver-qiTCM believes normal emotional health depends on a smooth flow of qi (vital energy) and blood, which are mainly regulated by the liver. In cases of emotional disturbances, especially frustration and anger, the livers regulating functions are impaired and a condition termed stagnation of liver-qi results. When internal qi and blood flow become disharmonious, the extra meridians are affected and the menses will not come regularly resulting in difficulty conceiving.4. Obstruction by phlegm and dampness Improper dietary habits or  HYPERLINK javascriptMM_openBrWindow(..tcmyang.html,glossary,scrollbarsyes,width420,height285) yang deficiency in the kidney and spleen lead to dysfunction in water metabolism and cause excessive phlegm and  HYPERLINK javascriptMM_openBrWindow(..tcmshixie.html,glossary,scrollbarsyes,width420,height285) dampness evils to accumulate. When the body has too many phlegm and dampness evils, qi movement is disturbed and meridians around the uterus are obstructed resulting in irregular menses and conception problems. 5. Retention of stagnated blood in the interiorDamage during a previous delivery,  HYPERLINK javascriptMM_openBrWindow(..tcmwaixie.html,glossary,scrollbarsyes,width420,height285) exogenous evils invasion, long term illness and qi deficiency are factors that affect the blood flow and lead to stasis. If stagnated blood remains in the uterus and impairs the Conception and Thoroughfare Vessels, a womans menstruation can become irregular and conception may be difficult.6. Accumulation of  HYPERLINK javascriptMM_openBrWindow(..tcmdampheatevils.html,glossary,scrollbarsyes,width420,height285) damp-heatImproper sanitary habits in the perineum region may allow dampness and heat evils to invade the uterus. When the extra meridians become obstructed, blood and qi supplies are interrupted. There will be difficulty in combining the congenital essences from both sexes to transmit into the embryo in the uterus.
Acupuncture and infertility
    Acupuncture is the use of needles to stimulate the meridian points of the body. The bio energy flows within this meridian points. They are the safe openings to access the human body. By stimulating these doorways, disease can be treated. Stimulus on a regular basis is often needed for complete curing.  These meridian points are found from head to foot as illustrated in the charts below.
   
   

Acupuncture has been studies extensively in the western clinics. Here are two examples of the clinical trials showing positive success rates.
Clinical trials were performed and assessed to determine the effectiveness of TCM and acupuncture in the treatment of infertility. In a study conducted in Germany, published in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility and also s discussed on ABC News, found that acupuncture enhances patients chances of getting pregnant in in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Results indicated that IVF success rate without complimentary acupuncture was 26.3. Patients who received acupuncture as a protocol for IVF had a 42.5 success rate. Researchers concluded that acupuncture could be a useful tool in increasing the success rate in an IVF treatment. (Dr. Michael)
Acupuncture was performed in 80 patients 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. In the control group, embryos were transferred without any supportive therapy. Clinical pregnancy was defined as the presence of a fetal sac during an ultrasound examination 6 weeks after embryo transfer. Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3 (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group. Acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after ART.

METHODOLOGY
This section dealt with the methods used to collect data and further documenting the results obtained after carefully reviewing literature from primary sources and interviews to establish the role herbs play to enhance fertility in women. Its primary focus is to display the authenticity of the research tools used as well as their effectives. Additionally, this section provides a clear insightfulness into the results obtained and a step-by-step documentation of what specific herbs do in their quest to help curb infertility amongst women.
This study applied the use of various methods of data collection in a bid to obtain its data. Its important to note that such a study required extensive research especially with regard to the fact not much has been documented about. It is under this guise that the following methods were chosen
Cross sectional study
Survey
Case study analysis
However it will also be important to acknowledge that to achieve effective results from one method required the assistance of the other hence the methods were applied hand in hand.
Cross sectional study
Usually different age groups experience different hormonal balance and activity. This in essence meant that any medications that require hormone taking part in its effect could possible produce varying results for different age groups. It is under this assumption that this study undertook to classify the study samples into age groups in order to be able to obtain the net effect of TCM to different age groups. The groups were divided as follows
18 -20 years
21  40 years
Over 40 years


Survey
This method applied the use of questionnaires where a structured list of questions were used to questions some professionals in the area of TCM and acupuncture on the medicinal plants they usually use on their patients as well as any other traditional means that they use. They questionnaires also inquired from tem how they acquired their skills, how they conduct their diagnosis and the uniqueness of their approach as compared to the conventional methods well known to people.
Interview schedules were also used. This was done by anonymously posting them over the internet for the willing respondents to answer the questions after which the data obtained was well documented for later analysis.

Case study
This method involved review of existing cases of use of herbal medicine in treatment of infertility amongst women. To collect data via case study, the researcher at times had to be present when the TCM doctor performed hisher work and additionally had to interview patients who were under such medication of had previously been under such medication. The patients records were also anonymously accessed to be bale to follow the changing trends observed on the patients during their treatment regime.
Given that that research at times required accessing of patients private details and at times being present when a patient was being diagnosed, the question of its ethical conduct was very fundamental and key to its success. To achieve this ethically the researcher through the TCM doctors and acupuncture specialist had to seek permission fro the patients before conducting any case study survey. While some patients would agree some would agree. Colleting data from the patients also required getting some personal details from them which meant that they had to be asked prior to the questioning if they were willing to go that far. Similarly some would accept while other would reject the possibility of discussing their personal matters with any person other that their doctor.
The TCM doctors however, offered quite a resource towards achieving the goals of this research though within ethical limit given that they too like conventional doctors believe in maintaining their patients privacy.
Research methods validity

The question of the validity of the research method used also had to be considered. This was more so with regard to the anonymously posted interview schedules over the internet where some people were expected to give non-genuine answers while others would simply fill the interview questions for fun rather than from experience. This called for a very sober approach during post data collection documentation in order to minimize the effect of non-genuine answers. However, given the fact that this was not the core tool to be used in analysis the effect of the same was expected to be minimal.
The other research methods that is, survey and case study analysis as well as review of existing literature on TCM were expected to produce valid and genuine results hence the final data collected was expected to have a high level of accuracy.
Research governance
The research was guided by a vast range of internationally accepted regulations, principles and standards that enhance good practice.
Given that the research would involve analysis of patients medical records, patients observation, surveys and other forms of direct contact with patients, research governance procedures had to be applied. The guidelines were based on the following
Safeguarding research participants
Enhancement of ethical and scientific quality
Risk minimization
Practice monitoring and performance


RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULTS
The interview schedule posted on the internet (refer appendix 1) in classification of the age groups response. The results are tabulated below
Comparison amongst those who have used TCM and those who have not used TCM
Age groupHave used TCMHave not used TCM18 -20 years227821  40 years7822Over 40 years8119
Comparison of those who believed that TCM is effective and those who believed that it is ineffective
Age groupHave used TCMHave not used TCM18 -20 years782221  40 years8911Over 40 years8119
The population aged 18  20 years mostly acknowledged not having tried herbal medicine for infertility as they still didnt believe they had such problems. However, most believed the herbal medicines were effective as compared to orthodox methods.

The chats and interviews with specialists revealed that herbs mainly address the following areas
Hormonal imbalances
Luteal phase defect
Anovulation
Amenorrhea
Unexplained infertility problems
Polycystic ovaries
Endometriosis
Tubal obstructions
Uterine fibroids
Advanced maternal age
Recurrent miscarriages
Immunologic infertility
ART procedures improvement
Premenstrual syndrome
Menopause symptoms
Acupuncture Cases
The following are the tabulated results of the herbs and their functions as identified by the specialists in TCM and acupuncture
Herb nameFunctions ChasteberryHelps in stimulation of ovulation hormones, female hormonal balance restoration, normalization of pituitary glands functioning, balancing levels of progesterone and oestrogen, and herbal treatment of infertility. Peppermint Leaf Red Raspberry Leaf attends to the tone of the uterus, and contractions. It is highly regarded given its ability to tone the uterus and the pelvic region muscles. Their nutritional value is also high and acts as a powerful fertility promotion herb when used in combination with peppermint leaves.Green Tea This is a powerful antioxidant which enhances reproductive health through engaging in repair of damages that result from oxidation due to environmental toxins as well as aging.Ladies MantleThis herb is used in regulating women monthly cycle and also has a tonic effect on the cervix.Nettle Leaf This is a herbal fertility tea recipe that contains plenty of vitamins namely A, C, D, and K. these assist in maintaining good reproductive health. Additionally, Nettle leaf is rich in Potassium, phosphorus, Iron, sulphur and calcium. It provides women with the ability to conceive and also maintain the pregnancy.Red Raspberry Leaf This is also a herbal fertility tea ingredient that is useful when combined with the raspberry leaf. It has a yummy flavor and sexual stimulation properties.it is among the popular fertility promotion herbs which has high calcium content. Though it has little direct impact on ovulation, it holds ability to strengthen the uterus hence preparing it for pregnancy. It works best when combined with the red clover blossom and can also be taken during an entire cycle.Black CohoshIt basically deals with mood swings, hot flashes and vaginal dryness which are mainly associated with menopause. Additionally it helps in regulation of LH levels thus keeping the periods and ovulation more regular. It helps in relieving menstrual cramps and is taken during the first half of ones cycle, starting from menstruation to ovulation.Dong QuaiIts used to regulate menstrual cycle and also provides important nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin E. it also has ability to balance estrogen levels and also improves implantation chances amongst women who have auto immune disorders.Wild YamThis herb increases the production of progesterone in women who have short luteal phases. It is usually taken after ovulation as it is believed to hold the ability to stop ovulation.False Unicorn RootIt is used to treat delayed and painful periods, endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, morning sickness, threatened miscarriage and ovarian cysts. It possesses a normalization and stimulation effect on the ovaries thus aiding pregnancy and preservation of the pregnancy. Its only taken during the first half of a cycle from menstruation to ovulation.Red Clover BlossomPossesses vitamins, calcium and magnesium. It nourishes the uterus and relaxes the nervous system which in turn helps in promoting fertility. Its high protein content highly benefits the body and additionally helps in hormonal balancing.GinsengIts more commonly used by men. However, it is able to promote fertility amongst both women and men.LicoriceIt helps balance estrogen levels but is usually associated with increased blood pressure.Nettle LeavesThe herb contains high levels of chlorophyll which help in regulation of hormones and the monthly cycle. It also helps in uterus toning as well as its strengthening.Evening Primrose OilIt helps lower the cholesterol levels and alleviation of PMS symptoms. It also helps in production of fertile quality cervical mucus, which is greatly assists in the process of conception.Combination SupplementsAt times herbalist used a combination of the above as necessary.The above results were obtained from specialists after engaging them in a series of interviews they revealed the functions of the herbal medicine thus revealing their areas of focus during treatment regime.
The case study report is tabulated below
Patients stagePatients who believed that the herbs were helping them positively (not yet pregnant).Patients who believed that they had seen negligible or minimal change since starting treatmentPatients who had gotten pregnant as a result of the herbsPatients who have just started treatment
86
6
8Patients still on treatment48151Patients who have completed treatment
8
0
91From the records it was observed that most patients starting treatment have great faith that TCM will eventually help them solve their infertility problem. Their faiths translated into reality over time with quite a high percentage getting pregnant.
Direct observations of the few patients who were accessible revealed the following results   
Patients stagesSide effects presentSide effects absentEarly stages of treatment 0100Late stages of treatment496Completed treatment298These results were obtained from talking to the patients who accepted to have interviews. However, their implications will be discussed later. It will also be important to note that these were raw results as obtained directly from the patients based on specific questions however, there were other questions that assisted more in establishing other reasons for such results namely
Some patients dropped out of treatment before completion.
Some patients defied the prescribed dosage prescribed by the TCM doctor.
Some patients attending clinics irregularly e.g. failing to attend clinic when they observe changes only to run back when the changes begin to revere.
Diagnosis techniques were also observed and identified during the doctors  patient sessions. The most used techniques were as follows
Observation Once a patient came, the doctor would observe skin complexion, color of the eyes, and behavior during the session, mood among others in order to arrive at initial diagnosis.
Questioning The TCM doctor also had to question the patient deeply in order to establish some of the symptoms that are not easily observable.
Listening  While the literature review had earlier indicated that listening is often accompanied by smelling, I observed that the TCM doctors did not at any one time used smelling. However listening took place a lot and even some modern technology equipment like fetal scope was used.
Palpation Palpation was regularly used by the doctors who seemed to have an astonishing ability to detect variations in habits. It was surprising how they could easily do the things that in the modern world are actually reserved for technology. When I inquired about this the doctors usually attributed it to experience but more importantly, concentrating on the patient.
Case analysis
Case 1. A female patient aged 29 after many years of infertility problems decided to try TCM. She and her husband decided to try TCM. After a series of tests and observation, her husband was found to be okay hence she was the one put under medications to improve her cycle.  As revealed by her own confession, she became pregnant just after two months of treatment.
Case 2. In another case a 42-year old woman decided to attempt acupuncture and herbs after her first IVF cycle procedures failed. She was put under herbs and acupuncture for a period of three months treatment. Among the herbs she was given included hormonal balance herbs and weekly acupuncture. She became pregnant only after two months of the medication.
Case 3. My name is Nicole and I started working with Amelia after not getting my period for several months after going off birth control pills. I had been on and off birth control pills for 10 years and was ready to start trying for a baby.Case 4. At 28 years old (and my husband was 29) we could not imagine that we would have problems conceiving. After 3 months and lots of tests with my OBGYN, I was encouraged to try acupuncture because there were no medical reasons why I wasnt getting my period.Case 4. After just one appointment with Amelia I got my period and after just 3 or 4 months, I was pregnant. I am now 32 weeks and due in September. We are so excited to meet our baby boy I would strongly encourage any woman to give acupuncture a try if they are having trouble conceiving or even just having trouble getting their body ready for conception.
DISCUSSION
The TCM doctors belief that conception is quite a simple process is unquestionable.  The causes are mainly a variation of some of the key organs and functions that interplay to result in the process.  A talk with Jenifer Brett, a naturopathist stationed at Wilton Naturopathic Center in Stratford, Connecticut revealed that indeed, getting the hormones and body cells primed and ready for conception assist in enhancing pregnancy ability. Both mainstream and alternative medicine paradigm believe that to get a woman pregnant, key organs and functions need to be integrated and working in harmony. She explains the differences between orthodox medicine and alternative medicines.
Comparative analysis between orthodox and other alternative medicines
The Orthodox medicine approach contrasts alternative medicine by the narrow range of choices it offers. Alternative medicine offers a wider range of choices with a few restrictions therefore, consumers have a vast range of alternatives to choose from. Orthodox, on the other hand believes it has the knowledge to fix problems in human body parts by interfering with its homeostasis balance.  Further alternative medicine, to orthodox standards is poorly organized in majority of the cases and is also poorly funded. However, this medicine option has been undergoing evolution over time and things might not be similar for the well-established cases which exhibit proper organization. Even institutions of higher learning have adopted these techniques to solve human health problems.
Orthodox medicine is mainly reserved for doctors, nurses and consultants. These kinds of medicine aim at targeting the specific disease that the patient is suffering from. A good example is the case of cancer where the orthodox medicine focuses more on destroying the cancer cells rather than making the healthy cells stronger, strong enough to combat the cancer cells. Instances when the disease cannot be fixed, orthodox medicine resort to cutting or removing that part that causes the disease in question. An example is the case where the womb is removed in case of dysmenhorrhea the removal of the breast in the case of breast cancer.
From the results obtained in the various types of medication shown in the results section, one thing that is clear is that TCM operates in a totally different approach. It focuses more on restoration of the individuals complete health and the particular organ that is not functioning properly.  Take the case of the raspberry leaf which assists in helping relax the uterus, prevention of miscarriages, assisting the fertilized egg to attach itself to the uterus lining and stays there for the required duration. Additionally, it also has a toning effect which helps the reproductive system in women to function appropriately. It also has ability to solve a variety of womens problems including morning sickness, cramps and heavy menstrual bleeding. Through this we observe a holistic approach it takes in addressing the patients problem.
Unlike orthodox treatment that focuses killing the pathogens or bacteria that cause the uterine wall contract inappropriately, it focuses on restoring the uterine wall to its original state and to be in a position to counter the pathogens by without the help of surgery or synthetic medicine intervention. This enhances its success rate as unlike orthodox medicine that might kill the pathogens but fail to restore the uterus to the position of ability to bear pregnancy.
While OM put lots of focus on studying the diseased part and how to kill the pathogens that cause the disease, TCM has taken another approach, using herbs to restore the affected parts. OM takes a lot of time conducting analysis to identify the nature of the invading organism. X-rays, cat scans, series of blood tests, stool tests among others are conducted on daily basis the main aim being arriving at a diagnosis. Lists of symptoms have been developed over time that acts as reference points for orthodox doctorsnurses to give diagnosis. This has led to increased misdiagnosis as at times even the patients cannot clearly account for the symptoms they experience. Some women are highly tolerant of pain. This can be a problem for pain based diagnosis.
In general the doctor patient relationship in OM is minimal. However in TCM, doctors have some form of sensitivity to the patients. They have an attachment to their patients problems they exhibit a high degree of concentration to the problems encountered by the patient. Through simple listening and observation they tell things that orthodox doctors seem to care less about. Their conviction to their patients can only be termed as magical. It may be summarized that diagnosis is not guided by the symptom in the picture but more by the doctor instinctual understanding of the patients.
This doctor  patient rapport is developed because usually the TCM doctor assigned in the village lives in the village and grew up there. Knowing the family of the patient gives him insights on the genetic disease that might affect the patient. Given the kind of home and work the family has gives him an insight on the vectors that may challenge the health of the patient. An office worker would definitely have a different environment compared to a construction worker. Impurities from the environment are different. The muscles that will ache will be different and therefore the organs that are related to these muscles will be different, too.
The simple approach to complementary medicine is based on a philosophy of being able to support orthodox medicine attempts to disease treatment or alternatively support the patients life while still under treatment. A good example is the case of irritable bowel syndrome, acupuncture treatment would be used to relive the pain or herbal medicine is used to alleviate spasm. In this case the TCM will have been applied to treat the ailment just like orthodox technique. However, TCM goes further to ensure that the bowels are restored to their original position which leaves one wondering whether actually it is complementary or can stand on its own. However, this could be countered by the technological advancement so far achieved in orthodox techniques of which TCM has to at times borrow hence making it indeed complementary.
TCM as a discipline have their own diagnostic framework which differs greatly to that of OM. TCM at times uses relativity as its measure e.g. by comparing the uterus to the fallopian tube and saying that since the fallopian tube if functioning more efficiently than the uterus then it will concentrate on improving the functioning of the uterus. This is quite contrary to what happens in OM application. It argues that the mind, body and spirit all have innate drive towards attaining improved health.
Acupuncture follows four basic modalities which include osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy and medicine. Acupuncture follows diagnosis different from the ones defined in OM. There are those acupuncturists who treat symptoms and others who recommend applicable immunizations to the patients.
TCM recognizes some of the elements that the body may lack hence resulting to inability to conceive. The body is duly fed with these nutrients through the herbs continuously and appropriately in order to aid the facilities that enhance fertility.  The red clover blossom for instance supplies vitamins, calcium and magnesium thus nourishing the uterus and relaxing the nervous system thus helping in promoting infertility this is even in line with research by Liz Collins who stated in the research that giving about 100 to 200 IU of vitamin E per day increases the fertility rate amongst couples.
In terms of technological advancement though, TCM still borrows a lot from the orthodox approach to health issues. Orthodox treatments have over time invested much in technology to solve problems that have other wise always remained insolvable to the TCM. An example is case where hearing aid devices were applied by the TCM doctors in trying to establish sound variations. Though they take different approaches, each at times has had to borrow from the other.
TCM also offers supplements to women in a bid to enhance fertility. Though methods of application differ here, they seeming take a similar approach. Orthodox medicine applies the use of pharmaceutical drugs that supplement the required nutrients while TCM in a bid to supply the same nutrients offer herbs. Herbs like Dong Quai are used to offer the extra vitamin nutrients that are required to help reduce infertility. However, one case that makes them distinct is the side effects. The research established that herbal medicine have minimal side effects and in instances where side effects appear are mainly a result of either the patient not following the right instructions or failure to complete the directives of the physician. However, the high percentage of success rate should not be misconstrued as an astonishing success rate and have women trooping to these clinics at the expense of the orthodox one. The results used in calculation of these percentages were mainly based on those who completed the treatment regime. Basically those who quit along the way were unaccounted for and hence were not factored in during the final calculations and as we all know mostly its the winning team that stay on till the finals.
Orthodox Medicine
Orthodox medicine usage has mainly been based on scientific medicine inventions mainly relying on pharmaceutical drugs. This type of medicine approach has over time been mainly based on interventionism rather than vitality, and symptoms.  Its main objective seems to be based on supporting the basic inbuilt body healing systems. This may be perceived as active engagement on health problem fixation. It seeks to fix the problem or repair it in a way.
One threat to the integrity of using pharmaceutical drugs is that of commercialism. Big drug companies compete to protect profits. There are times when doctors fall into the lure of big pharmaceuticals incentives so that the doctor will favor their product. Health and specifically infertility is a million dollar industry where doctors are main actors who can help large companies make profits and break quotas.
The ability of the body to resist drugs is believed to be a result of its own innate vitality. However, orthodox medicine fails to address these issues but instead focuses more on killing the pathogens that cause disease. After observation and analysis it was established that TCM basically uses the following techniques for treatment
Acupuncture.
Chinese food therapy These involve dietary restrictions that patients are placed on by considering hisher condition.
Chinese herbal medicine This is basically through making of herbal formulas that rectify specific conditions. Once the specialist identifies the patients ailment, a special decoction is made to help restore the affected organ, body health as well as treatment of the ailment itself through use of herbs.
Cupping This is a form of Chinese massage. It is generally used to offer what is termed as reverse pressure massage it applies the suction technique and body oil to allow it slide across the back.
Qigong This has to do with breathing and mediation exercises.
The Herbs Used To Aid Fertility
During the study I noted that there exists no individual herb that can be used independently in promotion of infertility. There exist more than 150 different herbs that possess medicinal values. Complex formulas usually comprising up to 15 different herbs are made to attend to a specific ailment. This is mainly a result of its holistic approach to treatment that not only focuses on the disease but on the general body health. However no specific guidelines exist as to the specific formula preparation with each specialist having hisher own preference as to the formula to use. The specialists however argue that this is due to the fact they believe that different individuals have different ailment conditions and when similar, the intensity differs.
The research established that the herbs are basically obtained from TCM experts who have acquired skills over the years that enable them to prescribe to their patients. However in the recent past, these herbal medicines are available off the shelves at various drug stores.
Rate of success associated with the herbs
This research identified that rate of success of these herbs to be as high as 91. This contrasted what the reviewed literature had suggested that is 70 on average. However we must acknowledge that most researches have put the value between 50 and 90 which is in line with the findings of this research. The success rates in China however are very high as compared to other nations given that its an experience that has been accumulated over the years and chances of misdiagnoses are negligible if not non-existent, statistically.
Treatment regime duration
     A talk with the specialists revealed that treatment period varies from one condition to another. However, from their experience, it was revealed that usually if pregnancy is not attained after nine months of treatment then probably the possibility of achieving it will have moved to nil. The period also according to the specialists, is dependant on dosage administered. One consolation that people find in this treatment process is that even if pregnancy is not achieved after full treatment regime, at least the overall individual health will have been obtained.
Herbal safety
Response from various persons who were or had previously used Chinese medicines revealed that its side effects are at a very low percentage and could only come as a result of the patient in question failing to keep by the stipulated guidelines of the physician. Previous results have also revealed that children born after these treatments usually have food health at birth and are free of any abnormalities which may be associated by the modern pharmaceutical drugs. This is a result of the vast experience wielded by the physicians handling these illnesses. Allergic reactions are rare except for instances where individuals may be suffering from environmental allergy syndrome.
Action mechanisms
The mechanisms vary according to the problem of infertility in each case. The mechanism used is basically dependant on fertility problems and the herb formula used. There is widespread belief that the number of problems involved is proportional to the level of infertility exhibited.
Chinese medicine believes that it is the underlying imbalances that result into infertility. It follows therefore that by correcting these underlying imbalances, fertility can be achieved. This is basically what determines the mechanism to be employed. It is based on this that there exists no perfect guideline as to the prescribed mechanism to be used.
With the evolving world, the practice of combining Chinese medicine with western forms of medicine is a regular occurrence. Some doctors have even received training in both and in some instances they work together in hospitals and clinics.
Limitations
Chinese medicine has not just escaped without failure. There have been some cases where the chances of success are reduced e.g. for the case of anorrhea. This is a condition that would require strenuous accident before Chinese medicine can be actually used. Individuals exhibiting a high level of stress as well as multiple health problems usually require that these problems is first addressed before TCM is applied.
Herbal use after pregnancy
The herbs usage is generally discontinued upon pregnancy confirmation except in cases where miscarriages may be expected and there is need for use herbs that serve the purpose of maintaining the pregnancy. There are also certain herbs that can be used to maintain the mothers health and counteract other effects like morning sickness. Acupuncture therapy also addresses other areas of concern that are either directly or indirectly related to infertility but may play a critical role in speeding up fertility and hence in cases of functional disorders, acupuncture could be independently used.
In general, Chinese medicine practically solves most of the cases of infertility adequately through means that apply little if any use of technology.

CONCLUSIONS
Use of acupuncture and Chinese medicine has yielded encouraging results among the Chinese and also in other countries where TCM has been applied. It addresses infertility by restoration of proper blood circulation, optimal hormonal balance and creates a conducive environment for development of life.
Conception difficulties have been known to normally originate from hormonal imbalance, metabolic imbalance and poor blood circulation. Chinese medicine detects stress body weaknesses and assesses underlying hormonal imbalances. The practitioners take time to understand their patients, identifying the patterns underlying her problems and successfully treat it.

TCM and acupuncture enhance fertility through the following ways listed below
Menstrual cycle regulation
FSH and hormone levels regulation.
Increased blood flow to the uterus
Libido increment
Blocked fallopian tube correction.
Enhancing response to IVF
Mind and body relaxation.
Miscarriage prevention.

Such infertility cases may arise from various factors which include advanced age, disposition, poor diet, overwork, inadequate rest and exercise, illness, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic imbalances.
It has over time worked effectively where conventional medicine has failed. Comprehensive diagnosis reveals to the practitioners the direction to take in diagnosis. TCM and acupuncture specialist recommend the following for one to be able to maintain good health
One should desist from meals that predominantly consist of sugar and starch, fruits and fruit juices in large and lastly polyunsaturated oils.
Individuals should eat more eggs, fish, meat and poultry in good quantities to supply the body with more proteins.
Engage in regular exercises both aerobic and anaerobic.
 Avoid use of stimulants e.g. nicotine, caffeine and refined sugars.
Avoid use of drugs as well as alcohol.
Increase consumption of mineral water.
One should get enough sleep.

Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Fertility, Herbal Fertility
From the research results, it is clear that Chinese medicine is effective in treatment of infertility amongst women.  Acupuncture as depicted by the research by Pacific College is capable of increasing the chances of one getting pregnant by far much percentage as compared to western techniques like the in-vitro fertilization. Reliance on herbal medicine by Chinese medical practitioners can therefore not be said to be in vain as its results are positive and worth worldwide adoption. Combination of both herbs and acupuncture yields more extensive results than has been ever imagined. They have proved to be a more effective way of natural conception facilitation.

Chinese Herbs for Male and Female Infertility
While this research focused more on women, it could not escape the fact that up to 50 of infertility cases require both parties participation. Chinese medicine ostensible addresses both cases of infertility. From the research, they can be used to raise both testosterone levels as well as sperm count. For the case of women they regulate hormones, stimulate ovulation and correct any existing nutritional deficiencies that may hinder pregnancy. The herbs focus on creating more hospitable environments for fertilization and consequently development of the baby.

It will be important to note that some of these problems area result of use of conventional fertility drugs. Additionally they unlike the conventional drugs have negligible side effects.
Greater Fertility when Combining East and West

In some instances where there exists problem regarding structure, in-vitro fertilization may be the only options as the TCM methods would only produce false hopes. In such an instance it may be appropriate to combine both in order to obtain successful results.

A study conducted at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine revealed that combination of western techniques and TCMacupuncture could yield more positive results as compared to western technology (Qu, 2004 491). The study obtained the results shown below

Fertility Success RatesIn-Vitro Fertilization(IVF) OnlyFertility Acupuncture protocol plus IVF26.342.5   
    The table above shows that IVF can produce fertility success rates of 26.3. However, IVF with the acupuncture protocol can increase success rates up to 42.5.

RECOMMENDATIONS
There is need to learn more about TCM as it could provide solutions to problems that have remained elusive to scientists over time. The infertility complications are evolving due to evolving communities and societies. The woman decades ago were very much equipped to bear more than seven children in her lifetime. Today, the modern woman who decides to bear children at the age of forty, would only bear one or two, if she does not have infertility problems. Diets have been changing, as rapidly as the pollution found in the cities where most working women are.

Clear policies and guidelines should be developed to guide these practices in order to bar false TCM doctors from reaping off profits from unsuspecting customers. Alternative medicine is not a shotgun miracle of a medicine. Since the western patient are not familiar with these treatments, and since its difficult to find second opinion about these, many fall into the trap of false TCM doctors. This is also bad for genuine doctors because false TCM doctors who have failures would resound to the whole TCM community.
Western medicine techniques should be incorporated to help meet the inadequacies exhibited by TCM as a subject.

More money should be channeled to TCM in order to help it explore the policies of health reinstatement rather than the current trend that channels most of the money to curative practices and research aimed at developing curative means.

Proper structures for developing placebo control groups in acupuncture should be incorporated to enhance results.

Acupuncture requires more training of its providers other than their normal experiences.