Fertility and Pregnancy - Vermont

Kerry and Joshua both have particular interest and experience in using TCM to address fertility and pregnancy challenges.  Kerry has specialty training in OB/GYN, having completed medical internships at Plymouth Hospital in Devon, England where acupuncture is used for pregnancy conditions, inductions and management during labor.  She also completed doula certification at the Seattle Midwifery School. 
 
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine have been used successfully to treat a range of complaints during pregnancy including:

• Morning Sickness
• Back and pelvic pain
• Sciatica
• Heartburn
• Insomnia
• Fatigue

(Underlined conditions lead to links for studies)

Breech Positioned Babies


With your primary care provider's consent, we employ acupuncture and moxibustion therapies to try to turn breech or other non-favorable fetal presentations between weeks 31-37.   A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian.



Induction of Labor

With your primary care provider's consent, we employ acupuncture protocols to assist the body to relax and allow labor to begin in a full term pregnancy.

Fertility

Acupuncture has been successful in treating a range of female and male reproductive issues.  We employ acupuncture and Chinese herbs to assist in achieving fertility.   Acupuncture and Chinese herbs may help achieve pregnancy by:

• Stimulate estrogen production
• Improve motility of sperm
• Stimulate production of sperm
• Regulate thyroid
• Regulate menstrual cycle
• Regulate hormones and decreasing stress
• Decrease the production and stop growth of fibroids and cysts

A.R.T. (Assisted Reproductive Therapies)

Acupuncture can be used to complement assisted reproductive therapies such as I.V.F. and I.U.I.  Clinical studies have shown acupuncture helps by:

• Improving blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
• Improving thickness of uterine lining
• Lessening uterine contractions after embryo transfer
• Regulating hormones and decreasing stress

Research

For detailed information please see the research below; all articles are the property of their respective authors and publishers.

General Infertility

• Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture - Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Urban Waldenstrom, Sven A. Andersson and Matts Wikland

• Acupuncture Normalizes Dysfunction of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis - Bo-Ying Chen M.D., Professor of Neurobiology

• Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Nerve Growth Factor and Ovarian Morphology in Rats with Experimentally Induced Polycystic Ovaries - Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Thomas Lundeberg, Urban Waldenstrom, Luigi Manni, Luigi Aloe, Stefan Gunnarsson, and Per Olof Janson

• Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in Ovulation Induction - Cai Xuefen, Obstetrical & Gynecological Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Zhejiang Province

• Relationship Between Blood Radioimmunoreactive Beta-Endorphin and Hand Skin Temperature During The Electro-Acupuncture Induction of Ovulation - Chen Bo Ying M.D. Lecturer of Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, and Yu Jin, MD., Prof of Gynecology, Obstetricus and Gynecology Hospital Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

• Role of acupucture in the treatment of female infertility - Raymond Chang, M.D., The Institute of East-West Medicine, The Department of Internal Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Pak H. Chung, M.D., The Department of Internal Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Zev Rosenwaks, M.D., The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility.

In Vitro Fertilization

• Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy - Wolfgang E. Paulus, M.D., Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut. Mingmin Zhang, M.D., Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China. Erwin Strehler, M.D., Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut. Imam El-Danasouri, Ph.D., Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut. and Karl Sterzik, M.D. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut

• Acupuncture Treatment For Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection - Sandra L. Emmons, MD, Phillip Patton, MD

• Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial - Lars G. Westergaard, M.D., Ph.D., Qunhui Mao, M.D., Marianne Krogslund, Steen Sandrini, Suzan Lenz, M.D., Ph.D., and Jørgen Grinsted, M.D., Ph.D.

• Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer - Caroline Smith, Ph.D., Meaghan Coyle, B.Hlth.Sc. (Acup.), and Robert J. Norman, M.D.

• Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study - Stefan Dieterle, M.D., Gao Ying, M.D., Wolfgang Hatzmann, M.D., and Andreas Neuer, M.D.

 

IAOM acupuncturists, Joshua Singer and Kerry Jenni, are experienced with treating children for a variety conditions. A typical children’s treatment is quite a bit different from an adult’s treatment. Children usually have 30-minute treatments. During that time, Kerry and Joshua adjust their techniques to the child’s age and comfort. Some children do not receive any needles at all. Rather, acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, dietary changes, and herbalism may be used.  Most children are comfortable receiving an acupuncture needle, as special very small needles are used for children.  Fewer needles are used for children then adults, again depending upon condition being treated and age.  Needles are not retained for children, rather they are inserted and immediately withdrawn. Due to a child's resilience, fewer treatments are usually needed to achieve the same results as a similar condition in an adult.

Acupuncture may effectively treat the following common pediatric conditions:

• ADD/ ADHD
• Sinus congestion
• Eczema
• Asthma
• Bed wetting
• Sleep disorders
• Common colds
• Colic
• Teething Pain
• Digestive Issues

Craniosacral therapy is an excellent choice for natural therapy for children. Kerry has performed craniosacral therapy for newborns and all ages above. Children usually enjoy this calming treatment. Parents comment on the relaxed manner of the child after the treatment and the deepened sleep the night following the treatment. This therapy is especially recommended after a traumatic birth of any kind.  Other issues craniosacral therapy treats in children include:

• Colic
• Headaches
• Learning Disabilities
• Sensory Integration Problems
• Trauma
• Difficult/Fast/Slow birth
• Sleep Issues
• Autism
• Developmental Delays
• Chronic Pain
• Mobility Concerns
• ADD/ADHD
• Genetic Disorders
• Neurological Conditions
• Reflux
• Torticollis

Research and Articles

Acupuncture

Adolescent Acupuncture: Study Finds Most Pediatric Patients Find Pain Relief through Acupuncture; Michael Devitt LAc; Acupuncture Today: July, 2000, Vol. 01, Issue 07

Pediatric Pain and Acupuncture: Year-Long Study Shows Children Benefit From Treatment; Michael Devitt LAc.,Acupuncture Today; April, 2003, Vol. 04, Issue 04

Cranio Sacral Therapy

Helping the Brain Drain: How CranioSacral Therapy Aids ADD/ADHD; John Upledger, DO, OMM and Tad Wanveer, LMT.  Massage Today, March, 2007, Vol. 07, Issue 03

Autism Spectrum Disorder: How CranioSacral Therapy Can Help, John Upledger, DO, OMM; July, 2007 (Massage Today; Vol. 07, Issue 07)

Applications of CranioSacral Therapy in Newborns and Infants, Part I, John Upledger, DO, OMM; May, 2003 (Massage Today; Vol. 03, Issue 05)

Applications of CranioSacral Therapy in Newborns and Infants, Part II, John Upledger, DO, OMM, June, 2003 (Massage Today; Vol. 03, Issue 06)

CranioSacral Therapy and Scientific Research, Part IJohn Upledger, DO, OMM; October, 2003 (Massage Today; Vol. 03, Issue 10)

CranioSacral Therapy and Scientific Research, Part II  John Upledger, DO, OMM; November, 2003 (Massage Today; Vol. 03, Issue 11)