acupuncture can assist in freezing embryos

Freezing embryos is increasingly popular among women aged 25-40 to preserve reproductive potential. Chinese medicine highlights changes in the reproductive cycle every 7 years. Peak fertility occurs between 21 and 30 years old, with good embryo quality and ample reserves. Age affects embryo quality and reproductive reserves with older women have higher risks of miscarriages and chromosomal abnormalities. Decline in embryo quality starts at 30 years old and accelerates after 35 years old. Therefore, storing healthy young embryos early is something to consider. This proactive approach mitigates age-related fertility decline and increases chances of successful conception later on.

In my clinical practice, I have helped numerous patients seeking to freeze their eggs.  Their objectives was to increase the number of embryos that are viable for future use.  In this respect, acupuncture and herbal medicine can play a vital role in assisting with this process.

How can acupuncture and Chinese medicine plays a part in this?

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can bring more blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. This increased blood flow can have a positive impact on the quality of the embryos. By nourishing these reproductive organs, acupuncture and herbal medicine help create an optimal environment for embryo development. The enhanced blood flow contributes to improved hormone regulation and ovarian function, all of which are crucial for successful embryo collection. Through their combined effects, acupuncture and herbal medicine offer a holistic approach to fertility enhancement, promoting a higher chance of successful embryo collection.

What do you look at or target during treatments?

Three main Organs that help reproductive functions in Chinese medicine are Liver, Spleen and Kidneys.  These three Organs supports each of their individual functions.  In a nutshell,

• The Liver acts as a traffic controller, directing and regulating the flow of energy throughout the body. It plays a crucial role in determining where this vital energy, known as Qi, should go. However, when stress starts to creep in, it can take a toll on the Liver's ability to facilitate the smooth movement of Qi. This can have a cascading effect on various bodily functions. One area that can be particularly affected is reproductive health. The proper flow of Qi is vital for optimal blood circulation to the reproductive organs, ensuring they receive the necessary support for the production of good quality and quantity of embryos. Unfortunately, stress disrupts this flow, inhibiting the passage of blood and impairing reproductive function.

• In addition to reproductive health, stress can also hinder the smooth flow of Qi to the digestive system, which is primarily regulated by the Spleen. The Spleen plays a vital role in breaking down and absorbing nutrients from food, allowing the body to properly nourish itself. However, when stress interferes with the flow of Qi to the digestive system, it can disrupt this vital function, leading to digestive issues and imbalances. Therefore, it's crucial to address and manage stress levels to ensure the optimal functioning of the Liver and its role in directing the flow of Qi throughout the body. By doing so, we can help maintain a harmonious balance within the reproductive and digestive systems, promoting overall well-being and vitality.

• The Kidneys, known as our vital storehouse, play a fundamental role in preserving and harnessing our inherited vitality from our parents. Moreover, they rely on the Spleen for transforming and transporting essential nutrients throughout the body. With this combined effort, the Kidneys are able to provide us with that much-needed surge of energy when it matters most, especially as we face the inevitable effects of aging. However, it is crucial to be mindful of lifestyles that can exhaust this valuable storehouse. Balancing and managing stressful lifestyles and prioritizing rest, are all vital to preserving the integrity of our Kidney storehouse. Failing to do so may result in a depletion of this energy reservoir, thereby compromising the Kidneys' ability to support the production of healthy embryos.

How can acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help restore these Organs?

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist in

• Moderating and reducing stress – calm the Liver to promote smooth flow of Qi and Blood to the ovaries and uterus

• Optimise the digestive and gut function – strengthen the Spleen function for the transformation and transportation of vital nutrients to the reproductive organs

• Strengthening and fortifying the storehouse – improve the function of the Kidneys Qi to assist in the production of good quality embryos

How long is a course of treatment?

Ideally, three months acupuncture sessions are recommended to have a bigger impact on the quantity and quality of the embryos.  This allows the time to enhance, rectify and rejuvenate areas that may obstruct the chances of getting good quality embryos. 

However, if you have only a month left before you start your egg collection journey, acupuncture can have some influence on it.  In this instant, frequent sessions are recommended to boost the body’s function and to address other factors such as stress, sleep, digestion and gut, etc.

Where do I go from here?

At Eastential Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Melbourne, I support women throughout their fertility journeys. I can provide personalized treatment plans using acupuncture and herbal medicine to optimize the chances of successful embryo freezing. If you're considering freezing your embryos or have any concerns about your fertility, I encourage you to reach out to our clinic for a consultation. Simply BOOK ONLINE and we will take it from there.

Fertility with Acupuncture and Chinese medicine - What to expect

Ever wondered when is the best time to start acupuncture and herbal medicine for fertility?  Have you been sitting on the fence not sure if this is the right approach for you?  Here are some of the common questions I get asked often in clinic which I hope answers some of questions about utilising acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of your fertility journey

What should I expect in my first consultation?

You will be asked questions in detail about your menstrual cycle and general well-being.  This allows me to see a whole picture of where your body is at from Chinese medicine perspective.  I will take a look at your tongue and take your pulse.  Tongue and pulse are used in Chinese medicine to inform me about what is going on internally.  Then acupuncture is given as part of the consultation and, herbal medicine is prescribed.

What does a course of treatment look like?

Natural conception

Normally it would take a minimum of three months to improve fertility outcomes.  However, it all depends on a case by case basis.  In general, if your cycle is regular and general health is good, then a minimum of three months is required for pre-conception health.  If your cycle is irregular, older in age, highly stressful, poor gut health or there are menstrual issues such as PCOS or Endometriosis it may take up to 6 months for a desirable outcome.

IVF and freezing eggs

Similarly to the above, it is highly recommended to start acupuncture and herbal medicine at least three months prior to starting IVF.  While preparing your body for IVF, it is encouraged to continue to try naturally and in some instances, patient do fall pregnant un-expectedly.  Regular acupuncture sessions is encouraged while you go through IVF cycles.  Each phases of IVF comes with different set of challenges.  Acupuncture can address these issues and also improve the outcome.  This also applies to women looking into freezing their eggs for future use.

Multiple miscarriages

While miscarriages are heartbreaking and sometimes unexplainable, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can improve the outcome of pregnancy and prevent further miscarriages.  By looking at your overall and menstrual health, certain details can be identified according to Chinese medicine diagnosis.  Course of treatment can range between three to six months for a positive outcome. I would encourage women that have been through multiple miscarriages to seek treatment as early as possible. The more often this occurs, the weaker the body becomes. Therefore, the more strengthening and re-balancing the body will required to have a successful pregnancy.

PCOS and Endometriosis

Women enduring with PCOS and Endometriosis understands the struggle to menstrual health and the challenge in trying to conceive.  Each condition is different and based on individual menstrual condition, different treatment course are advised.  In general, PCOS and Endometriosis will need a lot of work to re-balance the body with will take at least six months.  If you have mild PCOS or Endometriosis, the course of treatment would be less extensive.  However, in my clinical experience, it is challenging to maintain a regular and healthy cycle conducive for pregnancy but not necessarily impossible. It does require patience and time to re-calibrate the body.

Low sperm count and poor quality sperm

Increasingly, low sperm count and poor quality sperm is the cause of failed pregnancies and miscarriages.  Sperm health is equally as important as menstrual health.  Depending on the degree of the sperm quality and quantity, a minimum of three to six months is needed to improve a positive outcome. I do not often see men in the clinic for this condition however, the few that had come in for treatments has have a positive outcome. It goes to show that by encouraging men to take responsibility in their health, and to seek help when there is an issue early on can make the fertility journey less challenging and heartbreaking.

Can I just do acupuncture without herbal medicine?

My recommendation is to do both acupuncture and herbal medicine together.  In my clinical experience, having both modality yields better result.  However, there are circumstances that only acupuncture is recommended for example if you are on a long list of supplements and medications from your doctor has prescribed and, you are currently undergoing IVF (generally specialist would not recommend any herbal medicine during IVF to minimise any interactions with the drugs prescribed).  My approach is not to overload the body with too many herbs, medications and supplements.

Is Chinese herbal medicine safe to use?

Yes it is.  The powdered herbs I use in my clinic have been tested for toxicity and it is a well-known brand from Taiwan that have been providing powdered herbs for many years.  It is also approved by the Therapeutic Goods of Australia (TGA). Initially you may find the taste a bit ‘interesting’ but you do get used to the taste after a few rounds of it.  I used powdered herbs in my clinic which makes it convenient to adapt into your lifestyle.  It is as simple as adding hot water to a couple of teaspoons of powdered herbs.

Is acupuncture painful?

Head to this link on what to expect for acupuncture

Why a course of treatment takes between three to six months or longer?

It takes time.  Depending on your menstrual and general health, it takes time to re-balance, replenish and strengthen your body to hold and carry your pregnancy to term. I work on regulating your cycle, making sure that the consistency of blood is good, the amount of bleed is neither too heavy of light etc. If the issue is with the sperm, I work on increasing the quantity, morphology and motility of the sperm. In addition, treatments are also aimed at reducing stress, optimising your digestive and gut function and improve your energy and quality of sleep. All of these parameters have a role to play in having a positive and successful pregnancy. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” - Lao Tzu

How would know it is benefiting me?

You will start to noticed that you are less stressful, sleeping more soundly, improvements in gut and digestive health, regulated cycles with good quality and quantity of blood, increase in cervical mucous (stretchy egg white mucous that indicates ovulation) less pre-menstrual symptoms, cramps etc.  All these changes are tell-tale signs that the body is re-calibrating and improving the chances of falling pregnant.

What happens after I fall pregnant?

This would be a wonderful outcome and a new journey begins.  Acupuncture and herbal medicine is still encouraged after a positive result with treatments now geared towards securing and supporting the pregnancy.  As you go through each week of the pregnancy, acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist in symptoms that may arise during pregnancy such as nausea, lower back pain, spotting etc.  As the week advances, everything from your blood test to scans showing the baby is growing strongly and, most importantly you feel confident with the pregnancy, treatments are no longer needed. However, during the course of your pregnancy if you feel that you need support, I am here to assist you whenever you need it.

When should I start?

My recommendation is to start as soon as possible if you know you are wanting to start a family or have been struggling to fall pregnant.  Simply book online for an initial consultation today and we will begin your fertility journey.

Vaginal thrush, candida and yeast infection

Normal vaginal discharge should begin a few days before ovulation than is tapered off a few days after ovulation.  Discharge normally starts out as a thick white sticky mucous gradually transforming into transparent egg white stringy mucous which indicates peak of ovulation.  Then is turns white again and the amount begins to reduce and stops after a few days.

If you continually have discharge throughout your cycle and experience some of these symptoms below, you may have vaginal thrush, which is also called candidiasis or yeast infection. General symptoms of vaginal thrush are

• The discharge may look like cottage cheese to sticky and watery or may sometimes smell fishy

• Colour of the discharge is a variation from white to off white, yellow and sometimes green. 

• Constant bloating, poor digestive function and low energy levels. 

• Pain and discomfort during intercourse

• A burning or stinging sensation during urination

In Chinese medicine this suggest that the body is unable to transform and metabolise the fluids correctly leading to excessive fluids and damp build up in the body. When the body is unable to shift this damp that is over producing, it starts to discharge downwards. This function can be hampered due to constitutional, multiple course of antibiotics, stress, and over consumption of cold drinks and foods.  Intake of diary and sugar are also a to this condition.

In my clinical practice, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have a long term benefits in clearing and rectifying these imbalance in the body that cause vaginal thrush/candidiasis/yeast infection.  The course of treatment normally takes between three to six months depending on the severity of the condition.  If you would like to find out how I can help you with this condition, BOOK ONLINE for a consultation.

Menopause - A Chinese Medicine Perspective

Menopause - a word synonymous with for those reaching fifty. You may have heard awful stories or have witness your aunties or mothers going through this dreadful phase of womanhood.  Symptoms of menopause does not occur straightaway but rather it gradually and subtly increases over time.  There may be occasional hot flushes and night sweats, headaches or migraines that you never used to have, irregular cycles with heavy to light flow, harder to shift the weight, insomnia etc.  These minor changes are often an indication that the body and hormones are beginning to change and shift.  During this phase, it is classified as peri-menopause where there are still regular or occasional menstrual bleed with the added symptoms.  Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstrual bleed for over a year. However, symptoms of menopause can persist for up to three to five years or more.

Symptoms

Hot flushes, vaginal dryness, night and/or day time sweats, insomnia, migraines, anxiety, hair loss, weight gain, mental fog, fatigue and etc

Chinese medicine perspective/cause

Menopause is a natural progression of womanhood.  As we age, Kidney Jing which constitute both Yin and Yang decreases.  Kidney Jing is our source of vitality/reserve.  Depending on your lifestyle, diet, constitution and emotional factors, the reserves of Kidney Jing is there to assist you throughout your journey in life.  If you are burning both ends of the candle with high stress, have poor diet and lifestyle, not looking after yourself after multiple childbirths, etc, your reserve can be used up to help sustain the body to survive.  When you tap into this reserve at an early stage of your life, this can cause an imbalance and disharmony oh both Yin and Yang of Organs that supports the smooth transition into menopause. Can Chinese medicine and acupuncture reverse this process?  The answer is no.  What we can do is to preserve whatever reserve (Kidney Jing) you have left and manage the symptoms via acupuncture and herbal medicine.  This also includes changing lifestyle, diet and addressing emotional factors.

Treatments

Treatment consist of acupuncture and herbal medicine.  The acupuncture protocol and herbal strategy depends on the signs and symptoms of your menopause.  Treatment may take up to at a year or two to manage and reduce the symptoms.  In my clinical experience, the more severe the symptoms, the longer the treatment will take.  I often find patients that get successful results (3-6 months of regular acupuncture and herbal medicine) will stop coming in for treatments to later find that the symptoms resurface again.  My advice is to stick with the course of treatment as menopause may take three to five years or more before it finally settles down and the balance and harmony within the body is achieved.

Prevention

According to Chinese medicine, our lifestyles, diet and emotions can determine the severity of menopause symptoms.  By adopting some changes now, it can minimise symptoms and the transition into menopause smoothly.  Changes that we can do are:

Stress – avoid over working and spending long hours without any breaks or adequate rest in between.  By overworking this can consume your vitality and consume your reserve (Kidney Jing) leaving you feeling burned out way before you hit menopause.  This will have a huge impact on how well your body can handle and manage this transition.

Diet – adopt a moderate diet incorporating adequate protein, vegetables and grains.  Do enjoy a little naughty things in life. Savour each treats such as pastries, cakes, crisps in moderation.  I always advocate a moderate diet that encompasses different varieties of foods, including naughty food. Being too strict with your diet can also cause disharmony to the body.

Smoking – this should be avoided as it consumes and burns the vitality (Jing).  According to Cu Ci Shan (Qing dynasty): “Tobacco is pungent and drying, it burns Jing (Kidneys) and the Fluids, damages the throat, the Stomach and the Lungs… it enters the Heart orifice causing mental confusion as if one were drunk. It makes the tongue coating dark-yellow or black, food and drink have no taste, and the medical texts have no treatment for this.”

Beverage – minimise or avoid black tea, coffee and alcohol.  These drinks are deemed Hot in nature.  By over consuming these beverages, it can add additional Heat into the body therefore exacerbating hot flushes and night sweats. Heat has the ability to dry fluids up. Fluids are considered Yin in nature which assist in nourishing our skin, lubricate the vaginal and supports the cooling function of the body.

Emotions – manage anxiety, fear and anger. These emotional factors that builds up over years can damage the vital organs that supports the smooth transition into menopause. These emotions can also consume reserve.

Menopause should not be something you should dread. It should be celebrated! By looking after your well-being and mental health at an early age, menopause can be empowering and to some extent liberating from what I have seen in my patients. Chinese medicine philosophy believe in preventative measures to avoid or minimise poor health outcomes. However, if you are in the midst of it all and made poor lifestyle choices, do not be dishearten. We can still work on rectifying and re-adjusting the body so that it becomes in harmony again. I encourage you to explore Chinese medicine to assist in managing your menopause symptoms by booking online for a consultation. I look forward in assisting your transition into menopause with ease.

Menopause

Menopause is a natural progression in womanhood when the reproductive system begins to declined and menstrual blood stops permanently for twelve months. This transition leading up to the last period (peri-menopause) and into menopause can last between two to five years or sometimes more. The median age of menopause in industrialised country is fifty-one years old, peri-menopause symptoms can occur between forty-eight to fifty-five years old. However, certain circumstances may bring on early symptoms of peri-menopause for example:

• women that never had children

• smoking (studies have shown that smoking can cause early onset of menopause up to two years earlier than women that do not smoke)

• chemotherapy or surgery that had removed both ovaries

• other health problems (Dutta, C. & Joffe, H., 2019, Office of Women’s Health, USA)

Western medicine in Australia treat menopause using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It is an effective medication that can ease the transition into menopause however, there are some side effects such as the risk of blood clots, stroke and breast cancer (2019, Australasian Menopause Society).

From Chinese medicine perspective, women’s health has an important part in Chinese medicine for 700 years assisting women throughout their phases. There are seven phases of a women’s life, each within a seven year cycle (refer to info-graph below). Peri-menopause and menopause falls in the sixth and seventh phases of a women’s cycle. As written in the Classic of Suwen, age between 42 to 49, “… the face scorched all over” suggest the beginning of peri-menopause symptom of hot flushes. At the age of 49 and beyond, the extraordinary vessels that supports menstruation (Ren Mai and Chong Mai) is emptied and weaken and, Tian Gui (menstruation) is exhausted, the onset of menopause begins.

Main symptoms are:

• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flushes/flashes

However, there may be accompanying symptoms such as:

• Sweating/Night sweating

• Headache

• Lethargy

• Tiredness

• Irritability/Emotional changes

• Anxiety

• Nervousness

• Depression

• Insomnia

• Poor concentration

• Weight gain

• Diminished sexual desire, low libido

During peri-menopause phase, there may be symptoms of irregular periods with shorter or longer cycles, lighter or heavier flow and symptoms listed above due to fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone and to some certain extend, testosterone levels. These fluctuations from a Chinese medicine perspective is due to the imbalance of Yin and Yang and the decline in Kidney Jing. Can Chinese medicine and acupuncture ease the transition into menopause? Absolutely! To understand how we go about managing and assisting patient with peri-menopause and menopause, head to the next article ‘Menopause from a Chinese medicine perspective.’

Endometriosis - A Chinese Medicine Perspective

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium lining (interior lining of the uterus) is found outside of the uterine cavity causing inflammation, adhesion and cysts. It is estimated that endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, which is 200 million women worldwide (1). It is one of the leading causes of school absences in teenager and per-teen girls, and days off work for adults. Endometriosis lesions can be found anywhere and is not limited to only outside the uterine cavity. Lesions can be found in ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic side walls (peritoneum), uterosacral ligaments, cul-de-sac, Pouch of Douglas, rectal-vaginal septum, bladder, bowel, intestines, colon and rectum (2).

The most common symptom associated with endometriosis is pain. For many women, having endometriosis is a lifetime challenge in managing symptoms which include but not limited to severe stabbing to dull pain before, during or throughout the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis can disrupt anatomic, hormonal and immunologic environment causing a variety of symptoms such as pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea (painful period), painful intercourse, difficulty in bowel movements, painful urination, abdominal masses, ovarian cysts and infertility (3 & 4). Treatment for endometriosis are hormone therapy (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone medicine, oral contraceptive pill, Progesterone and progestin pill), pain medication (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDS) and surgery (laparoscopy) (5).

From Chinese medicine perspective, endometriosis falls under the category of Tong Jing (painful period) and Zheng Jia (abdominal masses). As there were no lab tests or ultrasound available back then, physicians of Chinese medicine relied on signs and symptoms, and abbominal palpation to aid in figuring out patterns of disharmony. In my clinic, I have seen a fair few of endometriosis patients. Majority were diagnosed with endometriosis and to some extend, patients that came in for severe period pain managements were told to have have test done by their doctor on the suspicion of endometriosis. Each patients are often presented with different qualities, presentations and location of pain together with other symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, anxiety, depression etc. There are six patterns associated with endometriosis and each patterns are managed differently through acupuncture and herbal medicine. The six patterns are (3):

• Liver Blood Stasis - intense stabbing pain before or during period aggravated by pressure, hard and immovable abdominal masses on palpation, pain is generally relieved after passing clots. Menstrual blood is often dark brown with large clots and is often accompanied with mental restlessness

• Damp-Heat - hypo-gastric pain before the period, sometimes during mid-cycle. There is a burning sensation extending to the sacrum. Menstrual blood is bright red with small or stringy clots with thick and sticky consistency

• Blood Stasis due to Heat - intense, stabbing and possibly burning pain that may be constant or intermittent throughout the cycle. Pain is relieved by passing out clots. Menstrual cycle may be short with heavy bleeding of bright red blood and large clots. Accompanied symptoms are anger, headaches, insomnia and restlessness

• Blood Stasis due to Cold - dull aching pain throughout the cycle and during period. Menstrual blood is dark red with clots, pain is aggravated with pressure and touch but is relieved with application of heat source such as hot water bottle or wheat bags. Accompanied symptoms are cold limbs, sensitivity and aversion to cold

• Blood Stasis and Phlegm - chronic pain throughout the menstrual cycle becoming excruciating painful before and during the period. Menstrual bleed can be hesitant at the start becoming very heavy, sticky and clotted. There may be sticky and heavy vaginal discharge, poor digestion and tiredness

• Kidney Yang Deficiency - painful period with abdominal pain relieved with pressure and heat. Menstrual blood is pale, watery and light. Accompanied symptoms are water retention and bloating before period, dizziness, frequent urination, low libido, feeling cold, lower back pain.

It is believed that 30-50% of women suffering from endometriosis are infertile. There are no evidences that suggest that a combination of medical-surgical treatments significantly enhances fertility (6). Current research on the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture of infertility due to endometriosis is sparse however, a questionnaire conducted during the World Congress of Integrative of Medicine and Health in 2017 with 133 patients, result had shown that 86.2% of endometriosis sufferers had used complementary procedures, of which 46.9% for the treatment of infertility. The most frequently used complementary therapy was Traditional Chinese Medicine (51.1%) and acupuncture (60.3%). It is suggested that further research and and randomized controlled studies to further investigate the effectiveness of complementary procedures are highly warranted (7).

Chinese medicine and acupuncture is very effective in managing endometriosis if you would like avoid hormone therapy or NSAIDS. It is also very effective in keeping the re-occurrence of endometriosis after a laparoscopy (there is no cure for endometriosis). If you would like to understand how Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help manage your endometriosis symptoms or if you are looking at fertility issues with regards to endometriosis, I would be happy to have a chat with you in my clinic. Simply book online for a FREE 15 minutes Complimentary Consult or book in for a consult and treatment today.

References:

1. About Endometriosis. www.endometriosis.org

2. What is Endometriosis? www.endomarch.org

3. Wu, Y. et al. (2019). Female Infertility & Reproductive Gynaecology: A Comprehensive Clinical Manual of Integrated Chinese Medicine and Biomedicine. The Journal of Chinese Medicine Ltd. UK

4. Vercellini, P. et al. (2014). Endometriosis: Pathogenesis and Treatment. Abstract from PMID:24366116. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

5. What are the treatments for endometriosis? www.nichd.nih.gov/health

6. Bulletti, C. et. al. (2010). Endometriosis and Infertility. PMID: 20574791. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

7. Grzanna, N et. al (2017). P62 Relevance and Acceptance of Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine in Women Suffering From Endometriosis

   World Congress of Integrative Medicine and Health: Part Two, Berlin, Germany. PMCID: PMC5498867. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Spring Series: Growth and Expansion

Spring is in the air! Daylight feels longer with slightly warmer temperature during the day, flowers are blossoming, and plants that had laid dormant under the soil are sprouting upwards . We are slowly rising from deep hibernation that has rejuvenated and renewed our energy which we begin to gently release it outwardly. The heavy Yin energy (cold, slow and deep) begins to slowly shift and transform into a light Yang energy (warm, growth and light).

In Chinese medicine, spring is the governed by the Liver, belongs to the Wood element, and the flavour that supports the Liver is Sour. Its colour is Green, the climatic element is Wind, and sense organ is the eyes. The energetic organ of the Liver is in charged of the smooth flow of Qi (energy), stores Blood for nourishing Organs, and controls the tendons and sinews in the body.

In an ideal situation, we would have rested and built our energy through winter months to transition into spring. However, life, emotions, illness and work often challenge our intentions, making us feel that there is not much reserve to spring into the coming season. As much as there is growth and expansion in spring, there can also be volatility and sudden movements in the transformation, especially when we are depleted and deficient in Qi. For example, when the Liver is not nourished and anchored, external Wind can stir emotions such as anger, irritability and annoyance outwardly (Liver Qi Stagnation). Internal Wind generated due emotional outburst sending Heat to rise up to the head causing headaches, migraines or sudden outbreak of acne. In addition, we may feel a sense of overall tightness, sluggishness and stagnant energy in the body due to sinews and tendons that are either not nourished by Liver Blood or caused by Liver Qi Stagnation. Here are a few handy tips to help the Liver and body to move forward into spring:

• Squeeze of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with warm water in the morning before breakfast to get that Liver Qi moving and to kick start the day

• Move, move, move! After long months of winter hibernation and lack of outdoor activities, spring is the best time to go out for walks or to get back into yoga, Pilates or gym. When we move, we stimulate Qi to flow to the body and sending endorphins to the brain therefore, making us feel less lethargic, moody and snappy

• Switch from heavy winter diet such as curries and lamb stews to lighter meals such as sauteed or quick stir fry fresh green vegetables

• Use dry brushing to stimulate Qi and Blood flow under the skin. Starting from the leg, using long gentle strokes, move the brush upwards towards the Heart. This helps to exfoliate the skin, support lymphatic drainage and reduces the appearance of cellulite

• For those that have a roller jade or facial gua sha tool handy, you can use it to help stimulate Qi flow to the face, and lymphatic drainage. This is especially useful for hay fever sufferers or problems with the sinuses

I hope this short list can assist you in transitioning into spring a little easier. However, if you need extra help, we are here to assist you. Simply BOOK ONLINE for either a FREE 15 minutes consult to discuss your concerns or a treatment.

Postnatal Series - Dietary & Lifestyle in Postnatal Care

As emphasised from the last blog post, postnatal care is about self-care after birth and preserving the body and reproductive health for future pregnancies and long term wellness.  What is it that constitutes ‘good’ nourishment from the TCM perspective and exercise during the first 40 days of your postnatal recovery care? 

Good nourishment for postnatal recovery is about eating meals using a handful of ingredients without compromising on taste.  It is crucial that in the first 40 days after birth, the body is nourished with warm, energy boosting, blood building, easy to digest and simple cooked meals as much as possible.  Good nourishing meals with simple ingredients and the understanding of what it does for the body, is the key to self-care after birth.  Think of postnatal care as recovering from a cold but taken up a few notches.  The body is more worn out from birthing than you realise, and resources taken out of your body for breastfeeding, plus the demands of being a new mother can take a huge toll on the body.  Therefore, it is important that meals are prepared to aid digestion, warming to the belly and heart and, generates and builds resources that have been depleted.  The diet during the first 40 days is about restoring and nourishing your health and body back to balance.

In reality, especially in Australia, having a helping hand after childbirth can be challenging.  Unless you have a community, mother/mother-in-law, sister, midwife or a postpartum doula that you could get support from, the journey of postnatal care rests entirely on you.  This may seem daunting at first, but with some planning during the last few weeks of your pregnancy (34-39 weeks), you can organize meals, make broths to freeze, stock up the pantry and make a list of simple, easy to cook meals whilst taking care of your newborn yourself and your family.

Here are some suggestions on ingredients and food preparation from the Chinese medicine diet therapy:

Meal suggestions

Congee (traditional Chinese porridge made from rice that helps to strengthen digestion, boost energy and aid in recovery), stew, soups and everything slow cooked.

Methods of cooking

Slowly and gently simmer in a slow cooker, rice cooker, in the oven or over the stove top. We would highly recommend using the first three methods on the list – slow cooker, rice cooker (there are modern rice cookers that cooks congee at a touch of a button) and/or in the oven, as this will allow you to put all the ingredients into a pot and walk away from it.  Being efficient and effective, without compromising on nutrition is key to postpartum recovery! Simply throw in prepared ingredients (this can be done beforehand and frozen) into a cooker, add broth or stock (again, this can be done easily beforehand and frozen) and press a button and in a few hours… et viola! You will have a meal cooked for you whilst having the time to rest and attend to your new born throughout the day.  You can also cook a delicious congee the night before in the slow cooker. There’s nothing like waking up to the aroma of delicious congee for breakfast.  The main idea is to prepare the main ingredients beforehand and freeze them, cook in bulk for as many portions you can, and freeze them, in the event you are just too exhausted to cook anything.

Eat more of

These food suggestions help to build Blood, restore energy and strengthen the Spleen/Stomach organ to aid in the process of building Blood.

Simple grains eg. Rice, organic 5 grain rice (brown rice, red rice, buckwheat, millet, black rice), oats, barley, wheat, bran

Vegetables – beetroot, button mushrooms, cabbage, celery, dark leafy greens, shitake mushroom, spinach, watercress, bok choy, choi sum, kai lan, pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, yam

Fruit (hard fruits preferably stewed and eaten warm) – apples, apricot, date, fig, grape, peach, raspberry

Beans – black bean, aduki and kidney beans

Seeds – black sesame

Fish – sardine, tuna, mussel

Consume in small amounts

Meat eg. beef, chicken, pork and lamb.  As meat takes a bit of work to digest in the body, during the first 40 days after birth, the body is considered deficient and weak.  Hence it is advisable to consume only a small amount of meat which is preferably stewed, or slow cooked to aid digestion.

Avoid

Anything and everything cold including cold drinks, raw food, cold salads, smoothies and ice-cream

Chinese herbs to add into soup, stew or congee

Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Gou Zi Qi, Dang Shen, Huang Qi, Wu Zhu Yu, Chuang Xiong, Da Zao – these herbs are used to build Blood, boost energy, restore the essence and rebalance the body’s health and aids in milk production.  In Chinese medicine, breast milk is the extension of Blood.  The idea is, if you have a continuous diet and herbs that help build Blood, then there will be ample supply of breast milk flowing from the breast.

Sipping warm tea

A medley of Long Yan Rou, Da Zao & Gou Zi Qi - this is brewed and saved in a thermos that you can sip throughout the day to boost energy and blood production

If you are in doubt about where to source these recommended Chinese herbs, we can source a postpartum pantry kit for you that are prepacked and ready to use in stock, soup and stew.  Send us an email and we will be happy to organise a kit for you.

Besides diet, exercise is also important. Angeline Liew, an internationally accredited Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga educator from Prana Yoga KL says, “Almost everyone wants a “quick-fix” to get their pre-pregnancy bodies back...but every body is different, and everyone recovers at a different rate. Whilst as a general rule of thumb, it is best to honor the first 40 days of post partum with as much rest and recovery as possible, it largely depends on the individual. Restoring and strengthening the body after baby, requires mindfulness and awareness of what the body has gone through. This includes post partum specific issues like Diastasis Recti (abdominal muscle separation), weakened or dysfunctional pelvic floor, hip and lower back pain, unstable sacroiliac joint, and stiff shoulders, to name a few. Rest well, and when you’re ready, embark on a postpartum strengthening and rehabilitation program with a trained Postnatal Yoga or Postnatal Pilates professional. Give your body some love and compassion. Being in a hurry can sometimes slow down the recovery process”.

What more information on how Chinese medicine diet therapy or the postpartum herbal pantry kit to aid in your postnatal recovery?  We offer a FREE 15 minute consultation in our clinic. Come chat with us.  Simply BOOK ONLINE or email us on eastentialtcm@gmail.com and we will endeavour to attend to your queries within 48 hours.