When science fails you, has anyone had any success with Chinese Medicine ?

[Hannah143]

Hello ladies

Does anyone have any experience of using Chinese medicine to aid fertility?

My friend has had 2 failed attempts at own egg ivf, she has low amh and 43 years old. She was told her only hope was Donor eggs. She turned to Chinese medicine and is now heavily pregnant and conceived naturally.

I’ve spoken to a clinic on Harley Street and they have a different perspective on fertility and conception and have treatment plans which consist of drinking different herbs to bring your body and hormones into balance. They say they can double your AMH reads in 3 months and have many success.

Has anyone tried alternative medicine with success?

Be good to hear what you think?

Xx

[sanj76]

Hey Hannah, I’ve inboxed you... hope I can help and give some further charity

[baby2016 in reply to sanj76]

Hi sanj76 can you inbox me too as something I'm really looking into too! 👍

[leo1980 in reply to sanj76]

Hi there I was wondering if you could inbox me too. I have just had a consultation with a practitioner and am rather interested in going this route! Thanks

[cupcakesparkles83]

I haven't tried it for ttc but I have for anxiety and it really helped. I was able to come off my medication for two and a half years after about six sessions of acupuncture. I was a sceptic, convinced it wouldn't help, so it wasn't psychological. It's expensive but I think it's absolutely worth trying

[Cyantist in reply to cupcakesparkles83]

Just wanted to say, just because you were sceptical doesn't mean it's not psychological.

But my opinion is what does it matter either way? These things can and do work and I don't think the reason why matters. If it's all placebo effect then great.

Though there was a paper published looking at evidence for a variety of complementary therapies and evaluating the likelihood of it all being a load of rubbish. For things like Chinese herbal medicine there is evidence it actually works. I guess this is where having a good therapist comes into play, and maybe why some people have been told not to go down this route in case they end up being given something that could hinder things in some way.

[cupcakesparkles83 in reply to Cyantist]

What I mean is, I was utterly convinced it wouldn't work. I hadn't any expectations. I think if someone goes in convinced it will work, then they're more predisposed to feeling an effect from it and either it working or thinking it has. I hadn't convinced myself it would work. Therefore I don't believe it was plecbo effect.

Having had it done as someone who didn't believe it could work, and being that very night able to leave my meds alone, for me I know it did work. On my anxiety at least. I think it also depends on the acupuncturist. It was my GP who offered it to me initially which surprised me as every GP I had had before said it was a load of rubbish and a waste of money. My GP gave me some sessions on her own time, obviously for free, and then as a result of that working I then started seeing someone privately as her time is always in demand and she isn't always able to offer it.

My thinking of it now is it has been around long before western medicine was, and the facts are that those using acupuncture, herbal remedies, tai chi etc. seem to benefit greatly from it and generally seem to have fewer issues than those who don't. I think it's hard for those practicing western medicine to accept and believe there are benefits from TCM and other alternative therapies, they are two complete opposites after all

[baby2016]

How bizarre you have created this post as I was thinking about going a similar one! I have gone back to my original accupuncturist which means travelling further than the one I had been using but he is quite big into using herbal drugs as well and says that accupuncture is just one of a few things that can help. I was going to try them whilst doing my nhs cycles but my nurse was strongly against them. This time I am going to try them and see if they will help my lining. He implied it's like someone trying to build muscle who doesn't eat protein and that the right things need to be balanced or given to the body to get the desired result. I can't even say he's doing it for money as they are really cheap and he's really experienced in this field so going to give it a go, but mines more for womb lining thickness as already got embryos waiting to be transferred. Xx

[Hannah143]

Thank you for you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

It’s not acupuncture it’s taking herbal medicines morning and evening. Sanj thank you for your message I’m going to read properly and reply tomorrow.

It’s quite expensive per month but not really when compared to ivf I suppose.

Interesting stuff, I’m definitely going to look into this further

Xx

[Trekker75]

I've not tried herbs but i did double my amh within 4 months - weekly acupuncture (for relaxation), high dose vitamin d, coq10 and maca root supplements (only for the first two weeks of the month in case i miraculously got pregnant). I haven't yet had a positive result from ivf due to other reasons but my response to the drugs improved as did the amh of course, after my original consultant told me there was no chance that could happen and i didn't have long left to be trying (i am only 31).

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

My clinic are very strict that you must not take Chinese herbs whilst undergoing treatment as they’ve seen some unexpectedly poor results with people using them. But that’s all I know I’m afraid.

[-noodles-]

i tried a range of alternative therapies, including traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture before going down the ivf route.

i spent quite a lot on a range of herbal medicines, and none had any impact on my fertility. i guess it depends on the practitioner.

i am very open minded to complimentary therapies & currently finding reflexology helpful in managing my mental health / stress.

wishing you all the best 🍀🌞