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Unfortunately, because of widespread quackery in the field of alternative medicine, most infertility specialists today have a poor opinion of what alternative medicine can offer their patients. This often means that doctors end up throwing the baby out with the bath water! There are many areas for which Western medicine today has little to offer the patient. Examples include: medical treatment for a low sperm count, or treatment for a thin endometrial lining. It is possible that alternative medical systems may have effective techniques for treating these conditions - and if we research these, and show that they are effective, we may be able to make significant progress in our ability to help infertile couples.
Amongst the various options available, acupuncture has become quite popular, and the theory behind this is that it can re-balance the bioenergy of the body that runs in the Meridian pathways, and this helps to improve tissue function. The "scientific" explanation is that it changes levels of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerve cells use to communicate.
Herbalists may recommend ginseng as a "tonic" for men and women; and a combination of false unicorn root (helonias) and vitex tinctures for women. This realm of herbal practice is probably for experts only, as we still do not know all the side effects of these herbs. In general, it's best to take as little medication as possible when you are trying to get pregnant. Nutritionist therapists suggest using supplements which contain arginine, beta carotene, zinc, and Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Aromatherapists may give a clary sage oil massage which is said to improve estrogen levels; and rosemary, tea tree, lavendar and other anti-infective oils for an abdominal massage.
An important area to consider is the mind/body connection. There are now clinics in the USA that claim to have good pregnancy results with meditation, yoga, relaxation and visualization techniques. Again, solid documentation of these results is lacking, but you may want to try these out.
For options like ayurveda and homoeopathy, it is important that you go to a reliable practitioner, because these are complex sciences, and you need expert guidance to achieve the best results.
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility
