Every menstrual cycle offers a unique opportunity to improve fertility outcomes, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides vital support during each phase. At Michigan Acupuncture Studio, we emphasize that understanding your cycle and maintaining consistency in treatments can significantly enhance fertility. As we discussed at our recent fertility event, this blog delves deeper into how TCM supports each phase of your cycle for optimal outcomes.
Phase One: Blood Phase (Your Period – Days 1-5)
During this phase, estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest, and the focus is on ensuring blood flows freely. Healthy menstrual flow should be consistent in color and texture, without clots, excessive cramping, bloating, or spotting before or after your period.
How TCM Helps:
Herbal Support: Jane Lyttleton’s Jade Moon Phase 1 is often recommended to regulate menstrual flow and support blood movement.
Acupuncture: Target points include Liver 3 and Spleen 6 to move Qi, nourish blood, and tonify the liver organ system in preparation for the next phase.
Why This Matters: Ensuring smooth blood flow supports the rebuilding of the uterine lining and prepares your body for ovulation.
Phase Two: Yin Phase (Follicular Phase – Days 6-15)
This phase begins when your period ends and lasts 12-15 days. Estrogen levels begin rising to support the growth of follicles and prepare for ovulation. During this critical time, resources are built to ensure a mature egg is released.
How TCM Helps:
Herbal Support: Jane Lyttleton’s Jade Moon Phase 2 nourishes Yin and blood to support follicle development.
Acupuncture Points: Kidney 6 and Zigong Xue to support kidney function and reproductive health.
Light Therapy: Celluma LED light therapy stimulates follicle growth, enhancing egg quality and quantity.
Why This Matters: Proper follicular development is essential for ovulation and improving egg quality.
Phase Three: Yin and Yang Phase (Ovulation Days)
Ovulation marks the transition from Yin to Yang. The egg travels from the ovary, down the fallopian tube, and into the uterus, where it seeks implantation. During this phase, the uterine lining must be thick, vascularized, and ready to support a fertilized egg.
How TCM Helps:
Herbal Support: Jane Lyttleton’s Jade Moon Phase 3 gently tonifies the liver, nourishes blood and Yin, and promotes Yang energy required for progesterone production.
Acupuncture Points: Points to move Qi, nourish blood, and prepare for implantation.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Monitoring: Tracking BBT helps pinpoint peak ovulation, providing key insights for optimizing fertility treatments.
Tip: Ovulation isn’t just a 24-hour window; it can extend up to 72 hours. Consistent monitoring and TCM support maximize your chances of conception.
Phase Four: Yang Phase (Luteal Phase – Days 16-28)
Yin transforms into Yang energy during this phase. Progesterone levels rise to support the thickened uterine lining and prepare for implantation. If conception does not occur, the lining will shed during your next period.
How TCM Helps:
Herbal Support: Jane Lyttleton’s Jade Moon Phase 4 promotes blood flow to the lining and secures the embryo during implantation.
Acupuncture: Focused on supporting blood flow, nourishing Yang, and reducing stress to optimize implantation conditions.
Why This Matters: A strong luteal phase is critical for embryo implantation and maintaining an early pregnancy.
The Importance of Consistency in TCM
Consistency is key in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Tuning into your cycle’s phases and maintaining regular acupuncture treatments and herbal support can drastically improve fertility outcomes.
IUI Support: Acupuncture and herbs have been shown to increase fertility success rates by 65% during intrauterine insemination (IUI).
IVF Support: Regular treatments can improve live birth rates by up to 33% during in vitro fertilization (IVF) (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2016).
90 Days to Optimize Your Fertility
At Michigan Acupuncture Studio, we design fertility packages specifically over a 90-day period. Why 90 days? This timeline aligns with the natural maturation process of antral follicles into healthy, viable eggs. Consistent weekly acupuncture treatments during this period can:
Improve egg quality and quantity
Optimize uterine lining thickness
Balance hormones
Reduce stress and regulate the nervous system
Wherever You Are on Your Fertility Journey
Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive therapies like IUI or IVF, TCM offers gentle yet powerful support in every phase of your cycle. By nourishing your lining, improving egg quality, and reducing stress, acupuncture and herbal medicine provide a comprehensive approach to enhancing fertility.
I feel deeply honored to work with women at every stage of their fertility journey, helping to facilitate the best possible outcomes for conception and pregnancy.
Sources:
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC4868913
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC3395377
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC6918533
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