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The Official Website of  Case Histories of Natural Infertility Treatment PatientsThis page presents real case histories concerning patients from our Fertility Retreats Acupuncture Polly was an occupational therapist in her early thirties. She and her husband Harold had been attempting to have children for about three years. She was very reserved, and seemed reluctant to share much of her medical history with me, perhaps because it was just too hard to rehash. She said that after receiving a diagnosis of unexplained infertility and going through many months of fertility treatments, the only diagnostic clue her endocrinologist could give her was that she had a very slight elevation in her thyroid-stimulating hormone, indicating depressed thyroid functioning. Polly did not, however, have the classic appearance of hypothyroid because she was slender and had healthy skin and hair. She claimed not to be fatigued or have any health concerns at all other than her inability to conceive. She said she had regular menstrual cycles, no PMS, and healthy menstruation. Yet her eyes were swollen and droopy and she lacked vitality.
I was challenged. I knew my only diagnostic clues would come from Polly's pulse and tongue. Her pulse was fine and only slightly slow, and her tongue (which she was not very comfortable showing me) was pink and slightly swollen. I decided to rely on instinct, and diagnosed that Polly's Yang needed boosting. So I prescribed a course of acupuncture, which she received with apparent ease. I placed needles in Ki 7, St 36, Ren 4, Ren 6, and Du 20. I stimulated the needles with a bit of force and burned some moxibustion (which looks like an herbal cigar and smells somewhat like marijuana) over her lower abdominal points. She returned once a week for two and a half months. I gave her similar treatments each time, with a few treatments of point on her back, stimulating UB 23, UB 52, and Du 4. She claimed not to feel any changes from the treatments (since she didn't have any symptoms to begin with). However, her last clinic visit was to thank me for my help-she was pregnant. IVF Support Maura was referred to me by her reproductive endocrinologist because fluid had collected in her uterus. Maura was forty-three and after years of failed fertility treatments had decided to try to conceive using donated eggs. Before the donor's ovaries were stimulated with hormonal drugs, the doctor had to prepare Maura's uterus to receive them by administering estrogen to thicken the uterine lining. However, every time Maura's lining thickened it would retain fluid, which would not allow implantation to occur. After months of trying different medications in different amounts, the result was always the same: as it thickened, the uterus took on fluid.
My job was to resolve that. I stimulated all the points to resolve Damp conditions within the reproductive organs like Scalp Epang II, upper and lower ear segments, SJ 5, GB 41, Lv 2, Sp 6, Sp 9, Ki 6, Lu 7, Ren 3, UB 32, UB 66, and St 40. I treated her for one month prior to and during estrogen administration, and for the first time, her ultrasound was clear. Her uterine lining was 9 mm thick, and was the desired triple layer pattern. Her donor was stimulated, eggs were retrieved and transferred into Maura's uterus, and she became pregnant. Endometriosis Emily, thirty-one, came to my clinic accompanied by her husband. Her chief complaints were painful periods and failure to conceive for five years. She had had a diagnosis of endometriosis from her gynecologist, followed by two surgeries-a D&C with myomectomy (fibroid excision), then a laparoscopy thirteen months later to remove adhesions on her ovaries and uterus. According to her gynecologist's report, her fallopian tubes were now clear. Emily had just completed her third IUI attempt after twelve cycles of Clomid, all of which failed. (She stated that she was very sensitive to the effects of progesterone administration.) She was discharged from her latest reproductive endocrinologist's protocol because she refused to receive any more injections. She appeared very shaky and upset, and said the stress of the fertility procedures was driving her insane. Emily's menses began at age seventeen (late menarche indicates a weakness of the Kidney's reproductive function) and they had always been painful. The pain typically lasted from two to twelve days, beginning soon after ovulation and continuing until the first couple days of menstruation. She bled heavily for around five days, the blood starting off black and going to heavy crimson with clots. Toward the end of her period the blood became orange and watery, then sometimes brown and scanty. This discharge could continue for up to ten days. There was excessive premenstrual tension, breast tenderness, and acne. Emily often suffered from yeast infections and vaginal discharge. She became extremely fatigued around ovulation to the point of physical exhaustion. She had lower back pain before and during menstruation, and experienced loose stools and pain with elimination.
On her questionnaire Emily reported a range of symptoms, including chills, cloudy urine, frequent urination, frequent urinary tract infections, low energy, dizziness, fatigue, excess thirst, insomnia, irritability, unclear mind, anxiety, heart palpitations, fear, sadness, uncontrollable crying, aversion to cold, heavy phlegm production, nausea, bloating and gas, irregular heartbeat, numbness in her arms, cold hands and feet, lack of strength, thin skin, easy bruising, broken blood vessels, dry skin, brittle nails, and low sexual energy.. She got dizzy when she stood up and had poor night vision. Her ears rang occasionally. She had extreme mood swings. She also indicated that her occupation was very stressful. Emily was thin and appeared frail but agitated. She clenched her teeth and sounded as if she was going to cry every time she spoke. Her tongue was pale with pinkish orange edges. Her pulse was superficial and taut, and the Kidney aspect of the pulse was very deep and weak. I diagnosed Emily with Liver Qi stagnation, depressive heat, Spleen Qi and Kidney Yang deficiency, Blood stasis, and Liver and Heart Blood deficiency (perhaps due to, but definitely complicated by, the stagnated Qi and Blood). She lived out of state, so we were going to have to devise a treatment plan that wouldn't require her presence at the clinic. I gave her and her husband instructions on dietary therapy, breathing exercises, and massage techniques (see Chapter 6). I also gave her a formula consisting of Fructus Meliae Toosendan and Rhizoma Corydalis Yanhusuo to spread and regulate the Liver Qi, drain heat, and alleviate pain; and Frankincense and Myrrh to invigorate the Blood within the network vessels. After the first month Emily reported that she had slightly better energy throughout the entire month (the Qi stagnation was resolving), but she still had frequent nighttime urination and a lot of thirst (Heat signs). Her pain, though, was diminished. The second month I gave her an herbal formula to resolve Liver Qi stagnation, strengthen the Spleen, nourish the Blood, and clear Heat. After the second month Emily reported that she had almost no pain before or during menstruation. She continued to experience improvement over the next three months, until no pain was felt on or after ovulation. Her moods improved as the pain diminished. Emily started charting her basal body temperature after she commenced herbal treatments. Her basal body temperature changed from a sawtooth, erratic pattern (fig.) to a biphasic, healthy hormonal cycle (fig.) Six months after her treatment began, Emily and her husband decided to try another IUI. She did not experience the extreme emotional fluctuations with this procedure, and it was, at last, successful. They are now the parents of a healthy young son. Advanced Maternal Age Louise was approaching her forty-fourth year when she first consulted me. She lived in a remote area of the northeast United States, and filled out my online diagnostic questionnaire. She had married nine years earlier, and had been on oral contraceptives for seven years before that. She and her husband had been actively trying to conceive for six years. At the age of thirty-eight, she had been diagnosed with unexplained infertility-possibly age-related, possibly luteal phase defect. She was put on Clomid when she was forty-one, and conceived three times out of six Clomid cycles, only to miscarry very early in each of the pregnancies. She did not notice any negative effects from taking Clomid, other than developing vaginal yeast infections with its use. (Vaginal yeast proliferates under the influence of progesterone, and Clomid increases progesterone levels because of its stimulating effects on the ovaries.) Louise's physician recommended an endometrial biopsy and reported that her uterine lining was out of phase with the timing of her luteal phase dates.
Louise had given up on fertility treatments until she came across my website. She reported menstrual cycles between 28 and 30 days in length, with occasional hot flashes. She had very little vaginal discharge and didn't experience the classic stretchy, egg white fertile mucus; in fact, she didn't know if she was ovulating at all anymore. They used petroleum-based vaginal lubricants, which she was not aware were slightly spermicidal (I told her to stop them immediately). She had poor sexual energy, and her overall energy level was low. She woke up each night to urinate. She had slight premenstrual breast tenderness, bloating, and low back pain. Her menstrual bleeding started out very light in amount and pinkish red in color; then it changed to a heavier, dark red, and then became brownish. I diagnosed her with a Kidney Essence deficiency. Since Louise lived in another part of the country and there were no acupuncturists in her area, her treatment would have to be primarily through the use of herbs. I prescribed herbs to promote reproductive vigor throughout her cycle. I prescribed the classic Kidney Yin tonic, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, to take during the follicular phase. Mid-cycle she was to take the fertility enhancing formula Er Si Wu He Ji, which consisted of the Blood tonifying and invigorating ingredients, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong, and Shu Di Huang; the "two immortal" Kidney Yang supplementing herbs Yin Yang Huo and Xian Mao; and the "five seeds" to nourish the Kidneys-Wu Wei Zi, Tu Si Zi, Fu Pen Zi, Gou Qi Zi and Che Qian Zi. One week prior to menstruation she was to switch to the Liver Qi resolving, menstrual regulating formula Xiao Yao San, to which I added Zi He Che and Yin Yang Huo. She was to take nothing during menstruation, although she had been taking evening primrose oil on her own during menses. I put together the various herbal formulas (powdered concentrates in capsule form) and mailed them to her. After one month on this regimen Louise called me to report that her sexual energy had improved. When all premenstrual symptoms were gone and her menstrual Blood flow had improved, we changed to a two-formula cycle consisting of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan up to ovulation, and Ba Wei Di Huang Wan after ovulation. She conceived naturally. Their healthy baby boy was born in October, when she was forty-five years old. Acupuncture and Herbs Christine was thirty-one, and had moved to Houston the week before her phone call to me. She and her husband, Robert (a freelance photographer) had just driven from Colorado after Robert was offered a job by a friend. They had no health insurance and were very low on funds. She called a midwife (who referred her to me), to report that she was in the process of miscarrying her sixth pregnancy.I told her to come in immediately. She took a cab to my clinic within fifteen minutes. She was pale and white, and even her lips were lacking color. She looked like she was in shock. She had found out she was pregnant just before they left Colorado. She had been pregnant five times previously-once when she was a teenager, and four times over the last two years. Each time the story was the same: She missed her period, went to the clinic for blood tests to assess beta-hCG and progesterone levels, which were adequate and rising as they should. About two to three weeks later, however, she would have severe cramping. She would be given supplemental progesterone and minerals and advised to remain on bed rest, but the cramps would continue to worsen in intensity, only to be followed the next week by bleeding.
This time the contractions had just begun. Christine was five weeks pregnant. She seemed almost in denial about the presence of an embryo, as if she couldn't survive another miscarriage. I put a few needles to relax her and she started sobbing. Her pulse had the classic quality of pregnancy-rolling and slippery-but the quality would come and go. During a contraction the pulse was undetectable. When it returned it was choppy and uneven. Her tongue was pale, but dark and dusky in color. Invigorating the uterine Blood can be risky during pregnancy, but when Blood stasis is present if the condition isn't addressed and resolved the fetus will abort. I switched the focus of the acupuncture treatments to resolving Blood stasis in the uterus and rectifying the Qi. Christine's color returned almost immediately and the cramping diminished. I brewed a cinnamon twig and poria decoction to resolve Blood stasis in the womb during pregnancy, and she drank two cups right then and there. Within about twenty minutes her contractions stopped. I advised her to come in for treatments at least three times a week and to drink the herbal tea three times a day-more if the contractions returned, and she may not reject this pregnancy. She told me she had very little money, so we agreed on a lesser payment that she could afford for one weekly treatment. However, I told her I would see her as often as was necessary. She came in every other day for two weeks. She drank the tea without fail, and her pregnancy continued. At that point I told Christine we could stop treatments but to call me if the contractions returned. When she was five months pregnant Christine's contractions resumed, and she immediately came to my clinic. I gave her acupuncture treatments twice a week for a month. She carried her son to eight and a half months, and gave birth at home. Whatever the cause of her previous miscarriages, the root imbalance had been resolved, and with some ongoing support, she was able to maintain her pregnancy until it was safe for her child to be born. She became pregnant again, and began taking herbs as soon as she found out, just in case. IVF Sherry was referred to me by her reproductive endocrinologist when she was thirty-six. She previously had poor response to hormonal stimulation and produced a maximum of three follicles during her past attempts at IVF. Each cycle was cancelled due to lack of follicular response. Sherry had contracted PID many years prior, and had undergone extensive abdominal surgeries for fallopian tube obstruction and adhesions. Finally, her fallopian tubes had to be removed, so the only way Sherry could ever conceive was through IVF. However, when a diagnostic Doppler ultrasound was performed, it showed that the blood flow to her ovaries was severely impeded. When Sherry came to see me she was already scheduled for her next IVF procedure and was taking oral contraceptives to control her hormones in preparation for the attempt, so we had only a few weeks in which to maximize her response. I focused on helping Sherry's body to supply more blood and energy to her reproductive system. I performed electroacupuncture on the paraspinal muscles of her lower back at the levels between vertebras L 1 and S 2 (UB 22, UB 23, UB 31, UB 32, UB 33, UB 34, and UB 52), the levels that innervate the uterus and ovaries. By stimulating both these points and the connected areas on the lower legs, I was giving Sherry's brain the message to "turn down" the sympathetic control of the pelvic organs. When the sympathetic response lessens, the blood vessels dilate and supply more blood to the organs, delivering more hormonal stimulation to the ovaries and improving the uterine blood flow.
Sherry also seemed extremely anxious. Her palms were sweaty; she was despondent and scared about her poor response to the IVF cycles. Although she did not describe herself as irritable or depressed, stress obviously had become a large part of her reaction. I taught her the Qi Gong breathing and meditative visualization techniques, and also taught her husband the femoral massage technique to perform three times per day on Sherry. During each acupuncture visit, I followed the back acupuncture treatment with a "de-stressing" treatment, applying stimulation to Yintang, Lv 3, LI 4, and ear triangular. I also applied stimulation to Zigong, Ren 3, Ren 4, and St 30 on the lower abdomen. When she began the course of injections prior to IVF, Sherry and her husband reported that her mental response to the hormonal stimulation was much improved. She felt calmer, almost peaceful; she was accepting of the outcome this time, no matter what the results. Sherry's response to treatment was dramatic. Her reproductive endocrinologist reported that Doppler studies revealed a great improvement in ovarian blood flow. Nine eggs were retrieved, six fertilized, and two implanted. Both were carried almost to term, and today Sherry and her husband are the proud parents of twins, one boy and one girl. Dietary Adjustments Anita consulted a TCM colleague of mine for abdominal pain, insomnia, and infertility. After treating her for a few months with acupuncture and herbs, he referred her to me. Her symptoms had been controlled to a degree, but she was still somewhat anxious, depressed, in pain, and sweated day and night. She had been diagnosed correctly and treated for a Spleen Qi deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation, and damp heat. When we got further into her medical history, however, Anita reported that after a severe urinary tract infection a few years ago she had been put on long-term antibiotic therapy. Since then she had been harboring an uncontrolled yeast infection despite daily administration of acidophilus capsules and Monistat. (Excessive yeast proliferation in the gut often occurs after chronic antibiotic therapy, and can cause the gastrointestinal mucosa to become permeable to yeast spores entering the bloodstream, wreaking endocrine havoc.)
Suspecting that yeast proliferation was at the root of her imbalance, I advised Anita to go on a very strict Spleen-supplementing, yeast controlling diet, cutting out all yeast breads, fruit, sugar, most grains, and all fermented beverages and vinegar-based condiments. Within three weeks or so her yeast was under control and her abdominal pains were gone. The night sweats resolved over the following months and at the end of three months her PMS was improving as well. The diet, however, was becoming more difficult for Anita to adhere to. I'd like to end this story by reporting that my treatments resolved her hormonal imbalance and Anita conceived, but in truth she and her husband, Dave, were given the opportunity to adopt a child, and for the most part she let go of her positive eating habits. She now takes Chinese herbs to control her other symptoms. High FSH Christine was given the diagnosis of premature ovarian failure when her FSH was found to be marginally elevated. Her doctor put her on three cycles of clomid, an anti-estrogen drug which raises FSH, and her body did all it could to save her - her reproductive system completely shut down in response to the clomid (don’t ever take clomid if your FSH is elevated, even borderline). She quit menstruating, her FSH rose ever higher, and she was left with two options – donor egg or adoption.
Christine didn’t blame her doctor for giving her the wrong medicine, she did what most all infertility patients do, quietly suffer alone in agonizing despair. Then she heard about my retreats, and something within her said, “this makes sense.” Christine came to two retreats, a few months apart. After one month of natural treatment of diet, nutritional supplementation, ovarian exercises, acupuncture and herbs, her period returned. Christine went back to her infertility specialist and asked her if there was any hope for her. Her doctor told her if she conceived on her own, she would “eat her shoe.” During Christine’s second retreat, she looked me in the eye with severe intensity and begged, “Do you think there might be hope?” I looked back with the same intensity in my gaze, said, "Yes, Christine. There is hope." She believed me. More importantly, she believed in herself, and her body’s ability to heal herself. She had one more period. That is, until she conceived, naturally, with their first miracle child. And, as far as I know, no shoes were ingested. Top |