Chinese herbs have a long history of use in infertility medical disease. Records indicating herbal treatment of infertility and miscarriage date back to 200 A. D. The first book on gynecology and obstetrics, The Complete Book of Effective Prescriptions for Diseases of Women was published in 1237 A. D. Medico sociological background, ideas about gender relationship, reproductive system are an important part of human behavior operating according to universal law of nature.
Old periods of China medical history reflect bewildering types of customs, rituals and medical aids during child birth considered as superstitious and outcomes of naive empirism. History of feminism, women and health, social organization of child birth accompanied the professionalism scientific medicine take new turn and rise in modern society. These developments interpret reproduction and biological process and shaped the Chinese cultural understanding of the status of women (as considered weaker sex) and effects of social organization of pregnancy and child birth.
Historically in nineteenth century, for the treatment of infertility female “Chinese human body” was viewed from main perspectives, those of gender, sexual activity, health and medicine. Contrary to the stereo type oh “unchanging China, notions of the body and person changed dramatically over the periods of 2000 years from the Han Dynasty (206 B. C-220A. D) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In pre-modern China variety of the standard metaphors for good or ill health referred to sexuality.
From their it moves to consider the precise conditions under which “anti-female rhetoric” leads and develops the practical effects as legal, financial and imaginative role of that rhetoric on the lives of ordinary women and their male partners. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a medical system that has enjoyed a 5OOO year history in China. It is based on the principle of equilibrium which states: Health is a result of mind and body homeostasis; illness develops because of hyper or hypo-functioning of the body mechanism which in turn disturbs the biochemistry of human body leading to infertility.
The objective of TCM is to return the body to its homeostatic state in which neither the function nor the chemistry is out of balance. Medicinal Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to cure diseases and alleviate discomfort due to many different disorders. The first herbal classic written in china was published in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) called the Agriculture Emperors Materia Medica.
The first plants discovered and used were usually for digestive system disorders (i. e.Da Huang) and slowly as more herbs were discovered the herbs became more useful for an increasing number of ailments and herbal tonics were created. The basic concept behind the traditional Chinese medicine mainly concentrate on herbs, besides along with acupuncture, moxibustion, Qi Gong, dietary and other therapies in the areas of fertility treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to treat both female infertility and male sub-fertility conditions in the orient for the past three to four thousand years.
With cultural and social emphasis on family, TCM naturally developed rapidly in the area of fertility treatments. New research study reflects that traditional Chinese medicine associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) gives comprehensively and completely therapeutic system to conventional infertility treatments and ART. Infertility and Traditional Chinese Medicines: According to Chinese parables “cultivating the soil before you plant a seed” in respect to infertility both in men and women is cornerstone of treatment.
Following three causes are the roots for infertility problem: • Deficiency Pattern – This affects the hormonal system, impairing sexual and reproductive functions. • Stagnation Pattern – This has the effect of restricting circulation of blood to the reproductive organs. • Heat or Cold Pattern – which causes the affected organs to function abnormally, by altering the mucous membrane, or raising or lowering the local temperature. In all cases, the aim of treatment is to harmonize the underlying imbalances to restore normal physiological functions.
Diagnosis reveals the underlying disharmonies or other causes of infertility. Treatment can include acupuncture, herbs, movement, meditation, and massage. Treatment aims to restore harmony and balance and eliminate other impediments to conception. Herbal therapies are widely used for many conditions in Gynecology. Chinese Medicine is believed to be a complete medical system, which has diagnosed, treated and prevented illnesses for over 23 centuries. It is one of the earliest forms of holistic medicine and is still widely used today. Chinese herbal medicine, which dates back to 3400 B. C. , uses plants, minerals, and sometimes animal products prepared in specific ways and combinations to develop therapeutic prescriptions.
There are now over ten thousand herbal substances documented in the Materia Medica, published by the Ministry of Health of China. Raw herbs are mostly used in infertility conditions. This herb tea form is stronger and quick-acting. The herbs can also be taken in many other forms such as powder, capsule, pill, and tincture. Depending on the particular study and the types of infertility treated, success rates ranged from about 50% up to more than 90%.
Included in these statistics are cases of infertility involving obstruction of the fallopian tubes, amenorrhea, absent ovulation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, low sperm count, nonliquification of semen, and other causes. In China, due to the greater experience with using herbs, the ability to directly integrate traditional and modern methods of therapy, and the willingness of individuals to consume relatively large doses of herbs, the success rates are probably somewhat higher than can be achieved in the U. S.
According to the 2,000 year old Chinese medical classic (Nei Ching su when ling shu) there are some precepts of reproductive health that are very important in this day and age. Since the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC. – 24 AD. ), Chinese people have been using traditional medicine to effectively treat both male and female infertility. TCM for infertility includes acupuncture, herbs, diet and a different approach to exercise. It must be remembered that treating infertility and miscarriage using any method is complicated and involved.
The medicine that helps the patient attain a healthy vital energy (Tian keel) can greatly aid the woman who has had disturbed menstruation cycle due to a hormonal imbalance. For the woman over 40 there are herbs that nourish the deeper vitality that is necessary for the body to call forth healthy ovum. Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy are ancient Chinese methods used for the treatment and prevention of disease. These systems are as ancient and effective as any other medical techniques used in the world today. They have been practiced consistently for the past five thousand years in the Orient.
Seventy percent of one quarter of the world’s population uses acupuncture and herbs as their main form of health care. Although acupuncture has been used in England, France, and Germany for several hundred years, only in the past two decades have Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) been recognized in the United States. The benefits of Acupuncture and TCM in treatment for the infertile couple can be found in early Chinese medical literature dating back to the 11AD. Not only do these techniques assist in regulating the menstrual cycle and invigorating the sperm, but they also serve to enhance the function of the whole body.
Acupuncture results from clinical outcome studies in China have shown effectiveness of acupuncture in promoting ovulation in secondary amenorrhea conditions. In addition to the use of Acupuncture, TCM and herbal formulas, complete treatment programs also include a series of Qi Kung (pronounced chee gung) healing energy exercises to enhance the flow of specific meridians. These exercises, which were developed by Chinese Taoists (metaphysicians) over 3,000 years ago, stimulate the flow of intrinsic energy in the body which, in turn, enhances health and benefits organ function.
A study of 45 infertile women suffering from infertility receiving auricular acupuncture, achieved comparable pregnancy rate as to various hormonal treatments. With combination of homologous inseminations and in vitro fertilization. There was also lower miscarriage rate in acupuncture patients. Studies from China have suggested that effective treatment for infertility proved to be successful when it combines with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Most patients use TCM as their primary treatment modalities in Asia.
According to Dr. Lifang Liang, who experimented using Chinese medicine as an adjunct to IVF at the University of Texas, Chinese medicine increases the success rate of in vitro fertilization by as much as 50%. IVF patients are given herbs and acupuncture at several critical stages during the procedure.
Bibliography:
• http://infertility. health-info. org/infertility-acupuncture-chinese-medicine/acupuncture-chinese-medicine-home. html
• http://www. drshen. com/herbsforinfertility. htm