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Acupuncture Boosts Fertility

Acupuncture has been studied in greatest depth when it comes to complementary therapies for infertility. One randomized controlled trial included women who were having trouble becoming pregnant who were assigned to receive a lifestyle intervention with or without acupuncture for three months. In addition to the acupuncture therapy, the lifestyle intervention included dietary counseling and other education. After the three-month intervention, the women who had had acupuncture therapy in addition to the lifestyle intervention conceived within 5.5 weeks, on average. Alternatively, the women who did not receive acupuncture conceived within 10.7 weeks, on average. While the exact physiological mechanisms of acupuncture for improving fertility are not known, the women who got the acupuncture therapy reported increased awareness of their fertility, menstrual cycles, and general wellbeing, compared to those who did not receive acupuncture. This result suggests that there is a significant intersection of physiological and psychological health when it comes to fertility.

Recently I read  a little piece in Natural Awakenings, one of the free publications at our local health food store. Being a nature lover and “plant person” it resonated with me and I’ve re-capped the the basic idea below::

Things I learned  About Health from my Houseplants

1) Be Adaptable : A plant might do poorly in one location or when watered too much, or too little, but often come to life again in a different location or with a little more or less water. If something isn’t working in your life, try something else!

2) Pay attention to your Body: A plant’s leaves are indicative of it’s health. Our skin, hair, teeth, and eyes often reveal key information about our nutritional status and can be pre-cursors to other health issues. Pay attention to these little signals and respond with nutrients and exercise, or seek support or treatment to help prevent more serious issues in the future.

3) Be patient: A little bud takes time to come to fruition. Be patient with yourself. If you are not learning a life lesson or achieving a goal as quickly as you’d like, it’s okay. An intention sets things into motion, the result will come soon enough.

4) You can always start over: I have often thought a plant was dead, only to find new growth emerging sometime later. The old growth had died back and the plant’s energy withdrew for a time only to re-emerge later. We can always start over from the roots of our souls!