Infertility Research
Alternative
& Complementary
Therapies
Aromatherapy
& Infertility
Whilst there is
little evidence to suggest that aromatherapy can directly help infertility, it can help
alleviate the emotional stresses associated with infertility. The is a great deal of
evidence pointing to the extra strain infertility can place on individuals and
subsequently on the marital relationship itself. Aromatherapy can help alleviate these
stresses. Work carried out by Dr. Gary Schwartz, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at
Yale University, found that the aromas of some essential oils by themselves affect the
nervous system and even reduce blood pressure. The scent of spice apple, for example, was
found to reduce blood pressure by an average of 3 to 5 points in healthy volunteers.
Infertility problems can create enormous emotional stresses and certainly, aromatherapy is
an excellent therapy to help counter such stress and induce relaxation.
The therapeutic massage combined with selected essential
oils makes aromatherapy an excellent aid in countering the effects of stress and inducing
relaxation. Massage improves the blood circulation in several ways without putting
additional strain on the heart. It helps the flow of blood through the veins and also
stimulates the nerves which control the blood vessels. It has the added benefit of
relaxing tense muscles and tight connective tissues which may have been constricting
blood vessels and thus enable blood to flow more freely. It is for this reason that
soothing massage helps reduce emotional tension, it enduces relaxation and calms
stress-related conditions. It will therefore help improve your general health and
well-being.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not take any oils internally or use on
babies under 18 months. Essential oils are very potent and it is therefore always
advisable to consult a qualified aromatherapist before using any essential oils, and
especially when pregnant or breastfeeding.
(1) Massage Therapy AJ Jackson (Optima)
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Acupuncture
& Infertility
Of all the alternative
therapies, acupuncture has been shown in controlled scientific studies to be effective in
helping treat male and female infertility problems. Acupuncture has, of course,
traditionally been successfully employed in China to treat most illnesses, but , in recent
years, there have been several interesting controlled scientific studies demonstrating the
clinical value of acupuncture for both male and female infertility problems.
For instance, in one study of female infertility, 53
patients with Luteal phase defect (LPD) were treated with different Chinese medicinal
herbs at different phases of menstrual cycle. The patients were treated for three
menstrual cycles and there was significant improvement in the luteal phase of
endometrium,
and a tendency for normalization of the wave forms and its amplitude after the treatment.
The findings suggested that Chinese herbal medicines capable of replenishing the Kidney
could regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis and thus improve the luteal
function. Among the 53 cases, 22 (41.5%) conceived but 68.18% of them required other
measures to preserve the pregnancy. (1)
Another study (2) involved 45 infertile women suffering
from oligoamenorrhea ( 27 cases ) or luteal insufficiency (18 cases ). Following a
complete gynaecologic--endocrinologic examination, the women were treated with auricular
acupuncture (treatment of points on the ear). Results were compared to those of 45 women
who received hormone treatment. Both groups were matched for age, duration of infertility,
body mass index, previous pregnancies, menstrual cycle and tubal patency. Women treated
with acupuncture had 22 pregnancies whereas women treated with hormones had 20
pregnancies. It was also noted that side-effects were observed only during hormone
treatment and various disorders of the autonomic nervous system normalized during
acupuncture.
The study concluded that " auricular acupuncture seems
to offer a valuable alternative therapy for female infertility due to hormone
disorders" being more effective than hormone therapy and with no side effects.
Traditional acupuncturists treat the whole person rather
than a disease and therefore attempt to get to the root cause of the problem rather than
treating the symptoms and, like other holistic practitioners, will consider all lifestyle
and environmental factors before commencing treatment.
Hachimijiogan, a Chinese herb, was shown in one study to
benefit female infertility. Two infertile women (one with and one without a pituitary
adenoma) who were resistant to medical treatment, were given Hachimijiogan which
subsequently reduced the serum prolactin level, and resulted in a normal ovulatory cycle
and pregnancy, without side effects.(3)
In another study (4), 76 cases were treated by Traditional
Chinese Medicine with a prescription named endometriotic pill No 1 made up of rhubarb as
the main ingredient. The chief functions of the rhubarb were removing blood stasis,
disintegrating mass and purgation. The total effective rate was 80.26%. Pelvic pain was
reduced by 66.72%, and intercourse pain was reduced by 72.12%.The results revealed that
the endometriotic pill No 1 yielded distinct improvement in the treatment of
endometriosis, including clinical symptoms and signs. As far as men are concerned, the
Chinese herb , Hochuekki-To, has also been shown in clinical studies to have a
"favorable, direct effect on human sperm functions, suggesting an effect on the
physiological integrity of sperm membrane." (5)
Acupuncture treatment has also been demonstrated to improve
quantity and quality of sperm. (6) Another study in treating subfertility by acupuncture
was carried out on 28 men. Each patient received a total of 10 treatments for a
period of three weeks. Several spermiograms were made and the spermiograms and hormone
levels were checked before and after acupuncture. Total count, concentration and motility
were evaluated and in all cases the researchers observed a statistically significant
improvement of sperm quality. (7) There is therefore little doubt that acupuncture and
Traditional Chinese Medicine would be an appropriate alternative treatment to consider for
both male and female infertility.
(1) Preliminary report of the treatment of luteal phase
defect by replenishing kidney. An analysis of 53 cases Zhang HY; Yu XZ; Wang GL Xijing
Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa
Chih (CHINA) Aug 1992, 12 (8) p473-4, 452-3,
(2) Auricular acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. Gerhard I; Postneek F
Department for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproduction, Women's Hospital, University
of Heidelberg, Germany.Gynaecol Endocrinol (ENGLAND) Sep 1992,6 (3) p171
(3) Treatment with hachimijiogan, a non-ergot Chinese herbal medicine, in two
hyperprolactinemic infertile women. Usuki S; Kubota S; Usuki Y Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Acta Obstet
Gynecol Scand 1989, 68 (5) p475-8
(4) Treatment of endometriosis with removing blood stasis and purgation method Wang DZ;
Wang ZQ; Zhang ZF Long Hua Hospital, Shanghai College of TCM. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa
Chih Sep 1991,11.9 p524-6, 515
(5) The direct effect of Hochuekki-To on human sperm fertilizability using the hypoosmotic
swelling test. Takahashi K; Sakoda R; Mizoguchi S; Yoshino K; Kitao M Department of
Obstetrics/Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan. Arch Androl (UNITED
STATES) Sep-Oct 1992, 29 (2) p137-45, The hormonal response to HCG stimulation in patients
with male infertility before and after treatment with hochuekkito. Ishikawa H; Manabe F;
Zhongtao H; Yoshii S; Koiso K Department of Urology, Tsukuba University, Japan. Am J Chin
Med 1992, 20 (2) p157-65
(6) Correlation of psychological changes and spermiogram improvements following
acupuncture ( Korrelation psychischer Veranderungen und Spermiogrammverbesserungen nch
Akupunktur) Riegler R; Fischl F; Bunzel B; Neumark J Urologe [A] Nov 1984, 23 (6) p329-33
(7) [Modification of semen quality by acupuncture in subfertile males] Die
Beeinflussbarkeit der Samenqualitat durch Akupunktur bei subfertilen Mannern. Fischl F;
Riegler R; Bieglmayer C; Nasr F; Neumark J Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Aug 1984, 44 (8)
p510-2
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Traditional
Chinese Medicine &
Infertility
A study at Taipei Medical College, Taiwan
revealed that the Chinese herb, Cornus officinalis, can enhance the
motility of human sperm and may, as a result, help infertile couples.
An aqueous extract was prepared from the
dried fruits of the herb and used in this particular study. The crude
extract at a final concentration of 0.5 microgram per microlitre in
phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) solution increased sperm motility from
25.8 (+/- 7.7%) to 42.8 (+/- 10.3%). These results represent a 68 per cent
improvement.
The crude extract was broken down by
high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into four fractions: C1, C2,
C3 and C4. The effects of each of these four fractions on sperm motility
were then studied. Only the C4 fraction showed substantial stimulatory
effects on sperm motility. At a higher concentration of 5 mg per
microlitre, C4 increased the sperm motility from 15.7 (+/- 3.8%) to 34.5
(+/- 6.4%) which represent a 120% increase.
This result suggests that C4 is the active
component in Cornus officinalis which enhances sperm motility.
Editor’s comment: No doubt a
pharmaceutical company will start manufacturing C4 as a medicine for men
who have poor sperm motility. However, perhaps the wisdom of Chinese
medicine should be considered - greater power is contained in the natural
state of being.
Jeng H; Wu CM; Su SJ; Chang WC. A substance
isolated from Cornus officinalis enhances the motility of human sperm. Am
J Chin Med (UNITED STATES) 1997, 25 (3-4) p301-6
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Religious
healers & Infertility
Traditional
healers have been an established source of health care delivery in
Africa for centuries while Christian religious healers (193
traditional healers and 99 Christian religious healers) with respect
to infertility and some other fertility-related issues. The findings
show that both types of healers believe that infertility is most
commonly due to the past life of the woman, physical problems related
to the womb or to male potency, and non-compatibility between the man and
the woman. Traditional healers also believed that being bewitched or
being cursed can lead to infertility. Both groups of healers threat
infertility by sacrifices, prayer and fasting, and timing of
intercourse to coincide with the fertile period. Also 61% of
traditional healers and 87% of religious healers advice their-clients
with infertility to do nothing at least initially. To those clients
seeking advice on preventing pregnancy, traditional healers tend to
recommend herbal concoctions, beads and rings while Christian healers
tended to recommend condoms, withdrawal method and the safe period.
Both groups are consulted on premarital sex, premarital conception,
sex during pregnancy and influencing the sex of an unborn baby. It was
concluded that both traditional healers and Christian faith healers
are involved with infertility and other fertility-related issues in
their practices. There is an overlap in beliefs about causes and
treatment of such conditions among both groups although areas of
differences in beliefs and practices are clearly identifiable.
Afr J Med Med Sci 1998
Mar-Jun;27(1-2):51-5 Obisesan KA, Adeyemo AA Department of Obstetrics
and Gyanaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
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