There is a natural intelligence that directs your body in every internal and external interaction. For instance, how does your body "know" when to make more (or less) of a certain hormone or fat or protein? How does it know where to move nutrients to places where they are needed?
This is still one of the great mysteries that conventional medicine has yet to understand. Conventional medicine has become so adept at MEASURING the changes in the body, and learning how to INTERVENE to override pathology. But, it is still sorely lacking in its understanding of how to NOURISH and SUPPORT the body's natural healing intelligence. In other words:
Conventional medicine gives the body a fish, while natural medicine teaches the body to fish on its own.
By no means am I advocating natural medicine always be used over conventional. Quite the contrary. There are many conditions where rapid and direct intervention is absolutely necessary. This intervention may be surgical, pharmacological, or a combination of both, and there is no shame in using conventional medicine to treat a condition, EVER. It is a personal choice, and it is often the right choice.
However, I would like to offer to you the idea that, indeed, there is another way in many cases. A way that avoids many of the risks and pitfalls of conventional interventional medicine.
Natural medicine, instead of overriding the body, gives the body what it needs to do what it already knows how to do -- HEAL ITSELF.
For instance, I have seen cases in my clinic of low progesterone output manifesting as shortened menstrual cycles. For someone trying to get pregnant this is a significant issue, as progesterone is necessary during the second half of the menstrual cycle in order for successful initiation of a pregnancy. Even for someone who isn't trying to get pregnant, having a menstural cycle every 21 - 25 days can be viewed as a significant problem. And, progesterone deficiency can sometimes be the culprit in estrogen dominance (which can cause lengthened cycles over the long term), PMS, severe mood swings, and other issues.
The conventional approach to treating this is simple:
1. If the woman is not trying to get pregnant, give her the birth control pill, or
2. If the woman is trying to get pregnant, give her supplemental progesterone.
In the case of #1 above, the body's own inherent intelligence is completely overridden and the exogenous hormones take control of the woman's cycle. Therefore the woman is completely dependent on the pill for her cycle to be "regular" or "normal". And, there are risks to the birth control pill, not the least of which is increased clot formation -- I have a friend whose wife had a mini-stroke after getting on birth control.
In the case of #2 above, there is much lower risk, but still the clinical track record of giving supplemental progesterone to correct luteal phase defect (low progesterone) is poor to moderate at best. I believe this is because we have not yet discovered or identified other co-factors involved in sustaining pregnancy, and that just giving progesterone is and over-simplified solution to the problem that only works in very specific cases.
An interesting case in correction of progesterone deficiency
Annie (not her real name), came to me for help in correcting luteal phase defect. She had been trying to get pregnant for some time with no success, and had used conventional medicine for several cycles along the way. Her cycle was fairly regular at around every 25 days, but she would always start spotting about 6 days after ovulation, with her period coming about 4 or 5 days after that.
I used Traditional Chinese Medicine combined with nutritional knowledge to formulate a treatment plan. The treatment plan included herbs, weekly acupuncture, and nutritional supplementation that includes high doses of Vitamin C (2,000mg daily) and moderate doses of Zinc (30mg daily). Both of these substances have been shown to be essential components of the body's ability to produce progesterone.
This patient is not yet pregnant, however, her spotting has stopped and her cycle has lengthened to 27 days at this point, with onset of flow being immediate and unmistakable. She is also reporting less symptoms premenstrually. Her chances of successful conception have just increased dramatically.
It is important to note here that all we are doing is giving her body the NUTRIENTS it needs to express its own natural function. We are not giving her any progesterone or other hormone. This is the power of natural medicine when used in the right way and in the right circumstances.
Both Annie and I are confident that, even if she must go back to a conventional method of fertility treatment, her body is in a position to have a much better response to the more drastic interventions offered.
Until next time...
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Your Body Knows How To Heal
People often want to know how what I do is different from conventional medicine. The difference really is fundamental, but that doesn't mean that what I do is incompatible with conventional medical treatment. In fact, my fertility patients who use conventional treatments routinely exceed conventional expectations in terms of response to medications and pregnancy rates.
The foundation of my approach is simple -- Life Creates Life. Nourish the body with what it needs and it quite naturally and easily heals and balances itself.
A body that is in crisis mode cannot heal because it is too concerned with protecting itself. This is a reactive state where even small stressors provoke large scale responses. These large scale responses feed a vicious cycle where even beneficial processes are short-circuited as the body shifts its resources to protect itself from further attack. Each perceived threat amplifies this overreaction mechanism more and more, continually depleting the vital resources until the system begins to collapse.
So, I start with assessing each patient from a perspective of how to decrease this alarm state and begin to re-establish the body's natural healing patterns. For some patients, this starts with a program of detoxification, for others it must first start with foundational, therapeutic nutrition, and still others a combination of both simultaenously.
In Chinese Medicine terms, this means we must clear the pathogen while we nourish and replenish the Jing (healing essence). If the Jing is weak, the body won't be able to detox because detoxification also takes energy. But, if the Jing is strong, we can clear the pathogen without fear of causing terrible side-effects or toxic overload of Liver and Kidneys.
In hormonal terms, a body that is overreactive is giving itself mixed signals, and the communication between glands is muddled. It is like static on a radio -- you can hear a little bit of what is playing, but not enough to discern what it is. Chronic stress and reactivity do this to the network of glands that communicate in the intricate steps of a normal fertility cycle.
Am I saying that detoxification and nutritional rejuvenation are the cure for all hormonal and fertility problems? No, of course not. But, I am saying that the presence of toxic overload coupled with the absence of proper nutrition means that your body has virtually no chance to overcome ANY imbalance, whether it is affecting your hormones, fertility, or anything else.
So, ask yourself, am I giving my body a fair chance to be well? Am I making nutritional and lifestyle choices that nourish my body, mind, and soul?
If the answer is no, then regardless of what hormone or other conventional treatments you seek out, your chances of successful results (i.e. less hot flashes, pregnancy and delivery, more energy) will be limited at best.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
The foundation of my approach is simple -- Life Creates Life. Nourish the body with what it needs and it quite naturally and easily heals and balances itself.
A body that is in crisis mode cannot heal because it is too concerned with protecting itself. This is a reactive state where even small stressors provoke large scale responses. These large scale responses feed a vicious cycle where even beneficial processes are short-circuited as the body shifts its resources to protect itself from further attack. Each perceived threat amplifies this overreaction mechanism more and more, continually depleting the vital resources until the system begins to collapse.
So, I start with assessing each patient from a perspective of how to decrease this alarm state and begin to re-establish the body's natural healing patterns. For some patients, this starts with a program of detoxification, for others it must first start with foundational, therapeutic nutrition, and still others a combination of both simultaenously.
In Chinese Medicine terms, this means we must clear the pathogen while we nourish and replenish the Jing (healing essence). If the Jing is weak, the body won't be able to detox because detoxification also takes energy. But, if the Jing is strong, we can clear the pathogen without fear of causing terrible side-effects or toxic overload of Liver and Kidneys.
In hormonal terms, a body that is overreactive is giving itself mixed signals, and the communication between glands is muddled. It is like static on a radio -- you can hear a little bit of what is playing, but not enough to discern what it is. Chronic stress and reactivity do this to the network of glands that communicate in the intricate steps of a normal fertility cycle.
Am I saying that detoxification and nutritional rejuvenation are the cure for all hormonal and fertility problems? No, of course not. But, I am saying that the presence of toxic overload coupled with the absence of proper nutrition means that your body has virtually no chance to overcome ANY imbalance, whether it is affecting your hormones, fertility, or anything else.
So, ask yourself, am I giving my body a fair chance to be well? Am I making nutritional and lifestyle choices that nourish my body, mind, and soul?
If the answer is no, then regardless of what hormone or other conventional treatments you seek out, your chances of successful results (i.e. less hot flashes, pregnancy and delivery, more energy) will be limited at best.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Post-IVF Recovery - Make the Most of It
If you are an IVF patient who recently had a cycle that did not result in pregnancy, you were most likely told by your R.E. to wait two to three months, and try again. Common sense would dictate that it is wise to give your body a rest after the IVF cycle, because in essence your body has just finished working in "overdrive" mode, pushed harder than it has ever been pushed by the powerful drugs.
This can often be agonizing because you most likely did the IVF for the purpose of "getting on with it". Now, someone is telling you to wait?
This "waiting period", however, is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your future fertile potential, especially if you incorporate some gentle detoxification and rejuvenation routines.
Conventional thinking sees fertile potential over time as an absolute inverse equation, like this:
More Time = Less Fertility
However, looking deeper, we can see this is an oversimplification of the situation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we speak of the Jing -- the Fertile Essence -- that is at the root of all creation and transformation in the human body, including cell division, manufacturing of vital substances (i.e. hormones and neurotransmitters), healing potential, and reproduction.
In the physical sense, Jing has a limited supply. In other words, you use it, you lose it.
But, on a spiritual level, Jing has an infinite supply and can be replenished and conserved in a very simple -- rest, tranquility, calm, stillness.
Most of us haven't slowed down for an extended period of time for our entire adult lives. It has been a constant bouncing from one activity to another since we became independent adults. This is a constant drain on our Jing, and it may actually be the reason you are having difficulty conceiving in the first place.
So, the BEST thing you can do after a failed IVF cycle is to slow down, cultivate some genuine patience, and give your body a break. Create a schedule and an environment that emphasizes rest, tranquility, calm, and stillness. Go to bed early each night. Instead of watching TV when you get home, dim the lights and listen to some peaceful, calming music. Trim your schedule to allow for more quality time with your partner and children if you have them.
And, invest in some one-on-one coaching to optimize your nutritional plan around replenishing your reproductive potential. Through vitamins and other nutraceuticals, along with targeted herbal support and Acupuncture, you will go a LONG way towards making the most of your two to three month break.
Conventional medicine may not think this will do anything at all to help you. But, ask yourself on an intuitive, root common sense level, and you will KNOW this is a path worth taking.
Until next time...
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
This can often be agonizing because you most likely did the IVF for the purpose of "getting on with it". Now, someone is telling you to wait?
This "waiting period", however, is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your future fertile potential, especially if you incorporate some gentle detoxification and rejuvenation routines.
Conventional thinking sees fertile potential over time as an absolute inverse equation, like this:
More Time = Less Fertility
However, looking deeper, we can see this is an oversimplification of the situation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we speak of the Jing -- the Fertile Essence -- that is at the root of all creation and transformation in the human body, including cell division, manufacturing of vital substances (i.e. hormones and neurotransmitters), healing potential, and reproduction.
In the physical sense, Jing has a limited supply. In other words, you use it, you lose it.
But, on a spiritual level, Jing has an infinite supply and can be replenished and conserved in a very simple -- rest, tranquility, calm, stillness.
Most of us haven't slowed down for an extended period of time for our entire adult lives. It has been a constant bouncing from one activity to another since we became independent adults. This is a constant drain on our Jing, and it may actually be the reason you are having difficulty conceiving in the first place.
So, the BEST thing you can do after a failed IVF cycle is to slow down, cultivate some genuine patience, and give your body a break. Create a schedule and an environment that emphasizes rest, tranquility, calm, and stillness. Go to bed early each night. Instead of watching TV when you get home, dim the lights and listen to some peaceful, calming music. Trim your schedule to allow for more quality time with your partner and children if you have them.
And, invest in some one-on-one coaching to optimize your nutritional plan around replenishing your reproductive potential. Through vitamins and other nutraceuticals, along with targeted herbal support and Acupuncture, you will go a LONG way towards making the most of your two to three month break.
Conventional medicine may not think this will do anything at all to help you. But, ask yourself on an intuitive, root common sense level, and you will KNOW this is a path worth taking.
Until next time...
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Are You Sure That Stress Doesn't Cause Infertility?
Today I was reading an article on RESOLVE's website. RESOLVE is a national organization for infertility help. I have worked with them before, and their group of volunteers, most of whom have had their own struggles with infertility, is second to none. I even did a conference call for them that I found incredibly rewarding and enlightening.
The article I was reading is by Alice Domar, Ph.D., a leading authority in the field of mind-body techniques, with particular emphasis on infertility. By the time I got to the third paragraph, I was shocked, to say the least. I could not agree less with the following statement she makes:
"While stress does not cause infertility, infertility most definitely causes stress."
I am curious to know how Dr. Domar is able to state, as a matter of fact, that stress DOES NOT cause infertility. All of my experience, and a very large amount of scientific and clinical research, completely and unequivocally refutes that statement. So, Dr. Domar, if you are reading this blog post, I invite your response.
I'm not saying stress IS ALWAYS a cause of infertility, but I think it is a reach to say that it never is, and this is what she seems to imply.
Here's what we DO know:
1. About 10% - 20% of infertility cases are "unexplained", meaning that nobody knows the reason why approximately 2 in 10 infertile couples are having problems. There is a medical term for people who are infertile despite the absence of physical or functional markers for infertility. It is very technically labelled "Unexplained Infertility". It essentially means, "We don't know why you are infertile."
2. The great scientific and medical minds have already "proven" and "accepted" that stress plays a role in several major diseases including heart disease and stroke risk. There is also a scientifically proven link between high stress levels and elevated prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that, if high, can make it completely and unequivocally impossible for a woman to become pregnant.
3. The mechanisms of how stress changes the balance of hormones, neurotransmitters, metabolic pathways, and blood flow in the body are documented and proven. None of these changes are beneficial to fertility.
So, I want to tell my readers to please think twice before buying into what Dr. Domar is stating as fact. While she may believe that managing your stress will only help you cope with the side-effects of the infertility such as financial and marital strain, I would like to encourage you to learn relaxation techniques because they can only help to improve your fertility. In the next post, I will go into detail about just how this is true.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
The article I was reading is by Alice Domar, Ph.D., a leading authority in the field of mind-body techniques, with particular emphasis on infertility. By the time I got to the third paragraph, I was shocked, to say the least. I could not agree less with the following statement she makes:
"While stress does not cause infertility, infertility most definitely causes stress."
I am curious to know how Dr. Domar is able to state, as a matter of fact, that stress DOES NOT cause infertility. All of my experience, and a very large amount of scientific and clinical research, completely and unequivocally refutes that statement. So, Dr. Domar, if you are reading this blog post, I invite your response.
I'm not saying stress IS ALWAYS a cause of infertility, but I think it is a reach to say that it never is, and this is what she seems to imply.
Here's what we DO know:
1. About 10% - 20% of infertility cases are "unexplained", meaning that nobody knows the reason why approximately 2 in 10 infertile couples are having problems. There is a medical term for people who are infertile despite the absence of physical or functional markers for infertility. It is very technically labelled "Unexplained Infertility". It essentially means, "We don't know why you are infertile."
2. The great scientific and medical minds have already "proven" and "accepted" that stress plays a role in several major diseases including heart disease and stroke risk. There is also a scientifically proven link between high stress levels and elevated prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that, if high, can make it completely and unequivocally impossible for a woman to become pregnant.
3. The mechanisms of how stress changes the balance of hormones, neurotransmitters, metabolic pathways, and blood flow in the body are documented and proven. None of these changes are beneficial to fertility.
So, I want to tell my readers to please think twice before buying into what Dr. Domar is stating as fact. While she may believe that managing your stress will only help you cope with the side-effects of the infertility such as financial and marital strain, I would like to encourage you to learn relaxation techniques because they can only help to improve your fertility. In the next post, I will go into detail about just how this is true.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health,
is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility
enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his
easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients.
Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Friday, June 27, 2008
IVF - Whose Fault Is It When It Doesn't Work?
A patient once came to me for help after two failed IVF cycles. During our initial visit, she told me about a consultation she recently had with a local Reproductive Endocrinologist from whom she was seeking a second opinion. One of the things this R.E. told her was that the previous cycles most likely failed due to egg quality issues. This was in complete opposition to what the previous R.E. had told her. In his opinion, it was mostly her uterus.
The problem is, other than a slightly less-than-optimal hormone profile (mostly age-related), not one medical test reveals an obvious or serious physical or functional problem. So, most of what she is being told is based on nothing more than a pure, albeit educated, guess.
As you can imagine, it is more than a little distressing for this patient to hear two completely different ideas from two very educated, and well-respected, doctors. When an IVF fails, we all want to know "why". In fact, I think doctors, particularly in the IVF field, feel obligated to come up with a scientific explanation when things don't go as planned. Sometimes, there is an obvious, point-blank reason things didn't work: embryos didn't divide, or didn't fertilize; the follicles did not develop in the proper timeframe or quantity; the sperm sample was insufficient.
But, sometimes it just doesn't work. And, it's really nobody's fault. It's just that IVF is difficult, because it is nearly impossible for humankind to replicate nature.
The problem is, other than a slightly less-than-optimal hormone profile (mostly age-related), not one medical test reveals an obvious or serious physical or functional problem. So, most of what she is being told is based on nothing more than a pure, albeit educated, guess.
As you can imagine, it is more than a little distressing for this patient to hear two completely different ideas from two very educated, and well-respected, doctors. When an IVF fails, we all want to know "why". In fact, I think doctors, particularly in the IVF field, feel obligated to come up with a scientific explanation when things don't go as planned. Sometimes, there is an obvious, point-blank reason things didn't work: embryos didn't divide, or didn't fertilize; the follicles did not develop in the proper timeframe or quantity; the sperm sample was insufficient.
But, sometimes it just doesn't work. And, it's really nobody's fault. It's just that IVF is difficult, because it is nearly impossible for humankind to replicate nature.
Regardless of all this philosophizing, though, the question remains... What do we do different next time to ensure a better result? The answer lies in magnifying nature's power in your body, so that the natural intelligence has the best opportunity to express itself.
Most people believe that IVF is designed to just magically create a baby. And, it can and does work quite often. But, if your body isn't ready for new life to take root, all the IVF in the world will be useless. This is because IVF controls a very small, known subset of what it takes to achieve and maintain pregnancy. The rest is still controlled by the innate intelligence of your body.
The analogy I frequently use is this: No matter how much chemical fertilizer you pour on soil that is depleted of its vital nutrients, the results will be disappointing. But, add a small amount of chemical fertilizer to nutrient-dense soil, and the results will be stellar.
For the patient mentioned above, I recommended we focus 100% on nourishing her fertile potential via nutrition, herbal therapy, and some regular acupuncture visits. All of this has been tailored to her individual needs. In two months so far, her reproductive hormone levels have improved dramatically, as revealed by the monthly tests she is still getting from her RE clinic. She is beginning to express improved fertility markers on her own, without drugs, and even Western medicine admits that a woman with fertile markers BEFORE drugs will respond better AFTER administration of drugs.
But, something else, probably the most important thing, is happening. She is gaining confidence, and seeing that her body can rebalance itself given the chance has restored her trust in her own body.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health, is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Food, Stress, and Healing - Important Considerations for Fertility Enhancement and IVF Preparation
I see a large number of patients who are undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and want to incorporate natural methods into their overall process. Some of these patients have tried to conceive for years with no success. Others have genetic or anatomical problems that make it difficult, if not impossible, to conceive on their own. In every case I have found that it is immensely helpful to do up-front preparation to make sure things go as well as possible. This preparation includes things like optimizing the diet, correcting deficiencies with nutritional supplementation, and providing techniques for stress management and emotional wellness. All of these components are vital to help the body cope with the immense amount of intervention that is about to take place.
At the very start of a medicated fertility cycle, the body is called into action to produce more reproductive hormones and follicles than it ever has before. Most people begin their fertility cycle like casual weekend runners suddenly entering a marathon without training for it. Some finish by sheer will, others have to drop out in the middle of the race. All are exposed to a greater risk for injury than their well-trained counterparts. So, the question is, why don't all IVF clinics make it routine to counsel their patients on diet, lifestyle, and exercise choices as part of the overall process? I wish I knew. I can only surmise that it is because conventional medicine has become so obsessed with glorious, high-tech interventions that is has forgotten about the subtle, low-tech interventions that harness the highly intelligent healing power of the human body.
When we talk about "healing", we are really talking about something the body does naturally on its own. The body's innate intelligence on how to "make itself whole" (heal) is unmatched by any medicine that humankind can create. A surgeon can cut, but it is the body that heals the cut. A drug can correct, but it is the body that responds to the correction.
In the system of medicine I practice, we take for granted that food can be a healer or a stressor, and thus we have no problem with strongly advocating for nutritional healing. Just as a difficult coworker can cause unwanted stress by being a nuisance, the foods we eat can cause stress in our bodies by being difficult to digest, assimilate, and utilize. Too much of certain nutrients, too little of others, low quailty nutrients, and eating at the wrong times can all increase the stress we put on our bodies through diet. The increase in stress then decreases the body's ability to adapt to change. The more the body has to occupy itself with adapting to nutritional stress, the less it is able to occupy itself with normal function. At a certain point, the body goes into survival mode, and at that point fertility becomes a secondary concern at most.
By eating the right foods, at the right times, with the right state of mind and intention, you give the body a chance to express its healing power in all its glory. You remove the obstacles, and open the door for deep healing on the cellular level. The body is no longer stressed and strained, it is nourished and sustained. This frees the body's healing intelligence to operate at full capacity, including the amazing intelligence of the reproductive process.
So, before doing an IVF cycle, why not maximize your body's capacity to heal by optimizing your diet? In doing so, you will be giving yourself a distinct advantage and increasing your chance for a successful, full-term pregnancy. The reasoning behind this is simple, common sense, and absolutely true -- a more harmonious internal environment gives your body the best chance to produce healthier eggs, achieve optimal blood flow, regulate its immune signals appropriately, and support the growth of a healthy, well-nourished baby.
The question then becomes, "Where do I start?" Start with individualized, comprehensive coaching from a professional. By using the services of a professional, you will be getting right to the point, rather than trying several things on your own and potentially wasting time. If you can find someone who has a fertility focus to their practice, even better. They will be able to understand your specific needs around fertility, and will be able to help you based on the information in your lab tests and other diagnostic results. They will also be able to coach you based on intimate knowledge of the fertility treatment process.
I invite you to learn more about the programs I offer for both remote and local patients. You will receive targeted, individualized advice and support that will go a long way towards maximizing your chance for success.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health, is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
At the very start of a medicated fertility cycle, the body is called into action to produce more reproductive hormones and follicles than it ever has before. Most people begin their fertility cycle like casual weekend runners suddenly entering a marathon without training for it. Some finish by sheer will, others have to drop out in the middle of the race. All are exposed to a greater risk for injury than their well-trained counterparts. So, the question is, why don't all IVF clinics make it routine to counsel their patients on diet, lifestyle, and exercise choices as part of the overall process? I wish I knew. I can only surmise that it is because conventional medicine has become so obsessed with glorious, high-tech interventions that is has forgotten about the subtle, low-tech interventions that harness the highly intelligent healing power of the human body.
When we talk about "healing", we are really talking about something the body does naturally on its own. The body's innate intelligence on how to "make itself whole" (heal) is unmatched by any medicine that humankind can create. A surgeon can cut, but it is the body that heals the cut. A drug can correct, but it is the body that responds to the correction.
In the system of medicine I practice, we take for granted that food can be a healer or a stressor, and thus we have no problem with strongly advocating for nutritional healing. Just as a difficult coworker can cause unwanted stress by being a nuisance, the foods we eat can cause stress in our bodies by being difficult to digest, assimilate, and utilize. Too much of certain nutrients, too little of others, low quailty nutrients, and eating at the wrong times can all increase the stress we put on our bodies through diet. The increase in stress then decreases the body's ability to adapt to change. The more the body has to occupy itself with adapting to nutritional stress, the less it is able to occupy itself with normal function. At a certain point, the body goes into survival mode, and at that point fertility becomes a secondary concern at most.
By eating the right foods, at the right times, with the right state of mind and intention, you give the body a chance to express its healing power in all its glory. You remove the obstacles, and open the door for deep healing on the cellular level. The body is no longer stressed and strained, it is nourished and sustained. This frees the body's healing intelligence to operate at full capacity, including the amazing intelligence of the reproductive process.
So, before doing an IVF cycle, why not maximize your body's capacity to heal by optimizing your diet? In doing so, you will be giving yourself a distinct advantage and increasing your chance for a successful, full-term pregnancy. The reasoning behind this is simple, common sense, and absolutely true -- a more harmonious internal environment gives your body the best chance to produce healthier eggs, achieve optimal blood flow, regulate its immune signals appropriately, and support the growth of a healthy, well-nourished baby.
The question then becomes, "Where do I start?" Start with individualized, comprehensive coaching from a professional. By using the services of a professional, you will be getting right to the point, rather than trying several things on your own and potentially wasting time. If you can find someone who has a fertility focus to their practice, even better. They will be able to understand your specific needs around fertility, and will be able to help you based on the information in your lab tests and other diagnostic results. They will also be able to coach you based on intimate knowledge of the fertility treatment process.
I invite you to learn more about the programs I offer for both remote and local patients. You will receive targeted, individualized advice and support that will go a long way towards maximizing your chance for success.
Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Fertility Enhancement and Women's Health, is a recognized expert in women's health and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to fertility patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)