As emotionally devastating as infertility can be there is hope. Our most recent patient came for acupunture after being on Clomid for 12 months and having had 4 failed IUI's. The couple was desperate and exhausted. They decided to try one more IUI but this time they added our expertise to their fertility treatments.
The husband saw my husband, Tony A. Burris, L.Ac. , M.S.T.O.M. for advice about herbal supplements and vitamin therapy to increase his virility. The wife sought my expertise for unexplained infertility. She sufered from side-effects from her fertility drugs including PMS, bloating, exhaustion and freezing cold. After only a few treatments the patient was markedly warmer and felt better overall with more energy. I prescribed a personalize herbal prescription with intensive vitamin therapy. She came for acupuncture twice a week. She felt the best she had going into this most recent IUI but was not hopeful due to her past 4 failures. After the IUI I gave her treatments first to help with implantation and then followed up with securing pregnancy.
When it came time to test for pregnancy she nearly threw out the pregnancy test without looking at the stick.
But something caught her eye.
It was the bright double stripe that jumped out at her. Still in shock she had a blood test at her Reproductive Endocrinologists office with extremely high numbers. Twins? Only time will tell.
Don't give up for it is at that time the tide may turn in your favor and your dreams come true.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Holiday Sadness: What to Expect When You Aren't Expecting
One of the most painful experiences of one's life is the inability to conceive or stay pregnant. Our society is not sensitive to this stressful and devastating fact that one in six couples struggle with every day.
What to expect:
During the Holidays people love to tell stories about their children. What their children are doing in school, athletic achievements and funny anecdotal stories. This is so common because everyone can relate to being a child and most people either have children of their own or can't wait to start.
How to cope: Create a one liner you can repeat in your head "I will not be childless forever". "I am doing everything I can to get pregnant now". or "I will have stories like these to share one day too"
If it gets to be too much excuse yourself to the bathroom have a good cry and then go back to the party. Also, by adding acupuncture to current in-vitro fertilization procedures increases your success by over 55% as proven in multiple studies from 2002-2008 Infertility and Sterility Medical Journal
What to expect:
To be invited to every single possible baby shower that you could imagine. Maybe even your distant second cousin removed whom you have never met.
How to cope:
Don't go. It's that simple and don't send a gift. Do not torture yourself by shopping in the baby section wishing it were for you. People tend to invite anyone and everyone to their baby showers and you don't have to go- ever again. If it is a close friend confide and tell them why. If they don't understand or think you are being childish or selfish they aren't a compassionate friend so who needs them- not you!
What to expect:
Everyone will ask you "Do you have children?" or "When are you two going to have kids?" These seemingly benign questions penetrate deep into your most vulnerable wounds.
How to cope:
Answer quickly and succinctly finding what feels best to you: "We are trying right now so hopefully very soon!" "It's out of our hands but we are trying to make it fun" or "For some couples it's not as easy but we have the best experts helping us" or if you DON'T want them to know you are trying you can say "Some day soon"
What to expect:
There are always surprise pregnancies for those not trying and somehow they seek you out like a target missile to share their forbidden secret. They thought they were too old or they were too young or unfortunately too drunk.
How to cope:
Breathe in their baby energy and joy. It's sounds corny but just by faking yourself into a happier state of mind you will actually be a happier person. If that doesn't work seek out acupuncture treatments from an acupuncturist whose expertise is fertility go to: www.acufinder.com to find someone near you. Therapists too specialize in working with couples who are having a hard time getting pregnant and be very supportive during this difficult time.
What to expect:
During the Holidays people love to tell stories about their children. What their children are doing in school, athletic achievements and funny anecdotal stories. This is so common because everyone can relate to being a child and most people either have children of their own or can't wait to start.
How to cope: Create a one liner you can repeat in your head "I will not be childless forever". "I am doing everything I can to get pregnant now". or "I will have stories like these to share one day too"
If it gets to be too much excuse yourself to the bathroom have a good cry and then go back to the party. Also, by adding acupuncture to current in-vitro fertilization procedures increases your success by over 55% as proven in multiple studies from 2002-2008 Infertility and Sterility Medical Journal
What to expect:
To be invited to every single possible baby shower that you could imagine. Maybe even your distant second cousin removed whom you have never met.
How to cope:
Don't go. It's that simple and don't send a gift. Do not torture yourself by shopping in the baby section wishing it were for you. People tend to invite anyone and everyone to their baby showers and you don't have to go- ever again. If it is a close friend confide and tell them why. If they don't understand or think you are being childish or selfish they aren't a compassionate friend so who needs them- not you!
What to expect:
Everyone will ask you "Do you have children?" or "When are you two going to have kids?" These seemingly benign questions penetrate deep into your most vulnerable wounds.
How to cope:
Answer quickly and succinctly finding what feels best to you: "We are trying right now so hopefully very soon!" "It's out of our hands but we are trying to make it fun" or "For some couples it's not as easy but we have the best experts helping us" or if you DON'T want them to know you are trying you can say "Some day soon"
What to expect:
There are always surprise pregnancies for those not trying and somehow they seek you out like a target missile to share their forbidden secret. They thought they were too old or they were too young or unfortunately too drunk.
How to cope:
Breathe in their baby energy and joy. It's sounds corny but just by faking yourself into a happier state of mind you will actually be a happier person. If that doesn't work seek out acupuncture treatments from an acupuncturist whose expertise is fertility go to: www.acufinder.com to find someone near you. Therapists too specialize in working with couples who are having a hard time getting pregnant and be very supportive during this difficult time.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Essential Fertile Foods
Foods to increase your fertility are easy to find in your local grocery store. Essential Fatty Acids are the number one food source a woman or man should increase while trying to boost their fertility. Unsaturated fat sources are best eaten in their natural, whole, unprocessed, food form and contain the perfect balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Here is a list of foods that naturally contain unsaturated fats:
Almonds
Pine Nuts
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Walnuts
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Avocado
Corn
Olives
Oats
Quinoa
Brown Rice
Millet
Garbanzo Beans
Soybeans
Miso
It is known that the deficiency of essential fatty acids in ones diet can lead to: infertility, skin disorders such as: eczema, dry hair and nails, susceptibility to infections and varicose veins. To increase your fertility add 2 tablespoons of organic ground flax seeds to a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Top your cereal with 1 Tablespoon of 3 of the following ingredients for and essential fatty acid rich breakfast : almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. For lunch replace pasta and white rice with 1 cup of Quinoa or Brown rice topped with avocado, corn and edamame beans with any of your favorite Asian inspired sauces.
Almonds
Pine Nuts
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Walnuts
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Avocado
Corn
Olives
Oats
Quinoa
Brown Rice
Millet
Garbanzo Beans
Soybeans
Miso
It is known that the deficiency of essential fatty acids in ones diet can lead to: infertility, skin disorders such as: eczema, dry hair and nails, susceptibility to infections and varicose veins. To increase your fertility add 2 tablespoons of organic ground flax seeds to a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Top your cereal with 1 Tablespoon of 3 of the following ingredients for and essential fatty acid rich breakfast : almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. For lunch replace pasta and white rice with 1 cup of Quinoa or Brown rice topped with avocado, corn and edamame beans with any of your favorite Asian inspired sauces.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Woman' Day Fertility Treatment Interview with Kristen Burris
Here is an excerpt from Womans Day Article I was interviewed for discussing: Acupuncture for Fertility
You can find the entire article on line:
Fertility Treatments Explained - Women's Health at WomansDay.com
http://www.womansday.com/
It may sound surprising, but acupuncture is the latest buzz in fertility treatments. “Acupuncture has been proven for over 2,000 years to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, reduce uterine cramping, regulate hormones and induce ovulation—all of which significantly increase a woman's ability to conceive and carry a child full-term,” says Kristen Burris, LAc, MSTOM, a licensed acupuncturist in private practice in Eagle, Idaho. Acupuncture treatment may also stimulate the neurotransmitters, triggering production of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. “This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner,” explains Burris. “Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids, which allows the body to relax, inhibiting stress—one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.”
Success Rate: Acupuncture, when combined with IVF procedures, has been proven to increase a woman's success by as much as 65 percent, according to a recent study in the British Medical Journal.
Cost: Acupuncture treatment is similar in cost to that of massage therapy—about $100 per treatment, on average—and may be covered by insurance.
You can find the entire article on line:
Fertility Treatments Explained - Women's Health at WomansDay.com
http://www.womansday.com/
It may sound surprising, but acupuncture is the latest buzz in fertility treatments. “Acupuncture has been proven for over 2,000 years to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, reduce uterine cramping, regulate hormones and induce ovulation—all of which significantly increase a woman's ability to conceive and carry a child full-term,” says Kristen Burris, LAc, MSTOM, a licensed acupuncturist in private practice in Eagle, Idaho. Acupuncture treatment may also stimulate the neurotransmitters, triggering production of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. “This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner,” explains Burris. “Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids, which allows the body to relax, inhibiting stress—one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.”
Success Rate: Acupuncture, when combined with IVF procedures, has been proven to increase a woman's success by as much as 65 percent, according to a recent study in the British Medical Journal.
Cost: Acupuncture treatment is similar in cost to that of massage therapy—about $100 per treatment, on average—and may be covered by insurance.
PMDD- Do you feel crazy every month?
PMDD- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is thought to negatively affected 3-6% of women. It is brutal to go through for both the woman and her family, co-workers and friends. The symptoms include: bloating, uncontrollable cravings, swelling, pain, severe bleeding and emotional out-bursts including anger, frustration and crying. Even though PMDD medically isn't directly linked to infertility, from a Chinese Medical Perspective it is related. Any hormonal imbalance that impacts the reproductive function negatively can affect a woman's ability to conceive and or carry a baby to full term. Typically this pattern of disharmony is the Liver overacting on the Spleen causing both physical and emotional trauma for the patients.
What most people don't know is that acupuncture and herbal medicine, when appropriately prescribed, is a viable treatment for PMDD. Acupuncture is unable to separate the body from the mind when treating the patient therefore it addresses both the physical (bloating, pain, heavy bleeding) and the emotional turmoil (anger, frustration, crying, mood swings).
I have been treating PMDD successfully for over a decade. If you know of someone who suffering every month be sure to educate them about their natural options so they can avoid taking unnecessary drugs or worse- getting a hysterectomy.
What most people don't know is that acupuncture and herbal medicine, when appropriately prescribed, is a viable treatment for PMDD. Acupuncture is unable to separate the body from the mind when treating the patient therefore it addresses both the physical (bloating, pain, heavy bleeding) and the emotional turmoil (anger, frustration, crying, mood swings).
I have been treating PMDD successfully for over a decade. If you know of someone who suffering every month be sure to educate them about their natural options so they can avoid taking unnecessary drugs or worse- getting a hysterectomy.
Monday, July 26, 2010
65% More Likely To Become Pregnant: Here is How
Acupuncture is very effective in treating infertility for many medical reasons. Acupuncture has been proven for over 2,000 years to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, reduce uterine cramping, regulate hormones and induce ovulation; all of which significantly increases a woman's ability to conceive and carry a child full term.
Western medical science explains the efficacy of acupuncture by saying it stimulates the neurotransmitters triggering production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner. Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids which allows the body to relax inhibiting stress, one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.
A visit to a Licensed, Board Certified, Acupuncturist resembles that to a medical doctor. Prior to a visit the patient fills out extensive paperwork explicitly describing their health history, symptoms ranging from digestive health to mental health to reproductive history. The patient will also share family health history and any western medical problems or diseases including whether the patient has attempted procedure like IVF or IUI.
Various diagnosing skills are employed by the acupuncturist including: pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis (this is the only muscle we can see externally therefore it is thought to reflect the internal disharmony within a patients body) and abdominal palpation. We assimilate your information, make a diagnosis and treat accordingly with acupuncture, herbal medicine and supplement or dietary recommendations to increase fertility.
During a treatment patients experience a unique calm and deep relaxation from acupuncture. Once the Acupuncturist assesses your paperwork, examines your body and listens to your concerns they choose anywhere from 10 to 20 acupuncture points to treat your medical problems. You can expect hair-thin, sterile, painless, needles to be inserted on your lower arms, legs, abdomen or back. It is common for patients to fall asleep during treatment. Acupuncture shouldn't hurt, if it does tell your Acupuncturist where you feel sensitive. They should be able to lighten their technique so it's virtually pain-free. If they are unable, and you are uncomfortable, it may be time to seek help from another Acupuncturist.
Your Acupuncturists office should be professional, clean and apply strict needle technique using sterile, disposable, one-time use needles only. The thought of acupuncture can be nerve wracking but the reality is an enjoyable experience that is worth trying. Western medical science gets excited about a mere 1% increase in the effectiveness of any of their drugs or surgeries in relation to infertility. Acupuncture when combined with IVF procedures has been proven in a study to increase a woman's success by a staggering 65% Source: British Medical Journal Feb 2008. It's imperative to include acupuncture to your IVF treatment plan.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a board certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist whose expertise is infertility for women. She was featured in Woman's Day, USA Today and Eagle Magazine in June and July of 2010.
Western medical science explains the efficacy of acupuncture by saying it stimulates the neurotransmitters triggering production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner. Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids which allows the body to relax inhibiting stress, one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.
A visit to a Licensed, Board Certified, Acupuncturist resembles that to a medical doctor. Prior to a visit the patient fills out extensive paperwork explicitly describing their health history, symptoms ranging from digestive health to mental health to reproductive history. The patient will also share family health history and any western medical problems or diseases including whether the patient has attempted procedure like IVF or IUI.
Various diagnosing skills are employed by the acupuncturist including: pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis (this is the only muscle we can see externally therefore it is thought to reflect the internal disharmony within a patients body) and abdominal palpation. We assimilate your information, make a diagnosis and treat accordingly with acupuncture, herbal medicine and supplement or dietary recommendations to increase fertility.
During a treatment patients experience a unique calm and deep relaxation from acupuncture. Once the Acupuncturist assesses your paperwork, examines your body and listens to your concerns they choose anywhere from 10 to 20 acupuncture points to treat your medical problems. You can expect hair-thin, sterile, painless, needles to be inserted on your lower arms, legs, abdomen or back. It is common for patients to fall asleep during treatment. Acupuncture shouldn't hurt, if it does tell your Acupuncturist where you feel sensitive. They should be able to lighten their technique so it's virtually pain-free. If they are unable, and you are uncomfortable, it may be time to seek help from another Acupuncturist.
Your Acupuncturists office should be professional, clean and apply strict needle technique using sterile, disposable, one-time use needles only. The thought of acupuncture can be nerve wracking but the reality is an enjoyable experience that is worth trying. Western medical science gets excited about a mere 1% increase in the effectiveness of any of their drugs or surgeries in relation to infertility. Acupuncture when combined with IVF procedures has been proven in a study to increase a woman's success by a staggering 65% Source: British Medical Journal Feb 2008. It's imperative to include acupuncture to your IVF treatment plan.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a board certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist whose expertise is infertility for women. She was featured in Woman's Day, USA Today and Eagle Magazine in June and July of 2010.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Planting the Seed of Life
When we want to grow things we plant a seed. Ironically this is what women and men attempting to enhance their fertility should do as well. Seeds strengthen Kidney Jing or rather enhance fertility. It's easy to incorporate all types of seeds into your diet. Here are some easy and fun ideas to start today!
Black sesame seeds are potent and should be added to breads, muffins, stir frys and grilled foods
Sunflower seeds are best as a snack or on top salads
Pumpkin seeds surging with zinc should be consumed by both men and women but have proven to have a positive impact on sperm- these are best toasted lightly with sea salt and eat as an evening snack or sprinkled on squash soup
Get creative! For more fabulous recipes with seeds buy the cookbook in our office or on-line Whole Foods Nutrition Cookbook- you will love it!
Black sesame seeds are potent and should be added to breads, muffins, stir frys and grilled foods
Sunflower seeds are best as a snack or on top salads
Pumpkin seeds surging with zinc should be consumed by both men and women but have proven to have a positive impact on sperm- these are best toasted lightly with sea salt and eat as an evening snack or sprinkled on squash soup
Get creative! For more fabulous recipes with seeds buy the cookbook in our office or on-line Whole Foods Nutrition Cookbook- you will love it!
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