British New: Acupuncture Beats Fertility Medications . . ."

A new article citing research published in the Journal of Clinical Acupuncture found that acupuncture and Chinese herbology was more than twice as effective as IVF and drug therapies for helping couple conceive a child.  

The alternative treatment was compared to popular drugs used to boost ovulation with scientists finding acupuncture increased the chance of pregnancy to 43.3 per cent compared to 20 per cent through the medication.

Women who struggle with infertility caused by hyperprolactinemia can be helped by acupuncture, a new study has found

Dr Zhiguang Hu, who led the research conducted at the Mawangdui Hospital of Hunan Province in China, said: “One important mechanism responsible for the fertility treatment success with acupuncture is hormonal regulation.

Cupping, An Important Part of Chinese Medicine, Takes Spotlight at Olympics 2016

One important tool in an acupuncturist's toolbox is an ancent technique called cupping. Recently, many news outlets have been describing the 'polka-dots' that many Olympians – including Michael Phelps, US gymnast Alex Naddour and Belarus swimmer Pavel Sankovich – have been sporting and breathlessly covering cupping as though it were something new. 

CNN wrote a fair bit about the history of this technique and you can read the entire article here. 

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, "Double The Chances of Getting Pregnant Through IVF".

Within the Chicago metropolitan area, is well known among that I treat a lot of fertility issues at the Northside Holistic Center. While very effective, outcomes do vary depending upon the cause of the infertility. This article, published in the British newspaper The Daily Mail, presents a study which suggests that, when used with IVF, acupuncture can double the likelihood of conception with each cycle. Though only some of my patients use IVF in conjuction with acupuncture, these results do seem consistent with my experience:

-Over 46 per cent of women undergoing acupuncture treatment conceived

While only 21.7 per cent of the women became pregnant in the other group 

-Treatment may be offered as a possible method of improving IVF outcome 

Men's Fitness Magazine Explains Why Fit Men Get Acupunctureb

Acupuncture often comes to mind when something goes wrong which, while appropriate, can shortchange the many benefits that may be realized by using Chinese medicine as a health maintenance tool – something to keep the body and mind functioning in the healthiest and best way.

In the article, Men's Fitness Magazine identifies a few specific ways to use acupuncture to maximize health: insomnia, mood enhancement and anxiety, alleviating allergies, and for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It's a great read, as well as useful health advice.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Endorses Acupuncture

World renowned cancer center Memorial Sloan Kettering has endorsed acupuncture for relieving the side effects of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery – going so far as to produce a video outlining the benefits to cancer patients. Here at the Northside Holistic Center, we see many patients who are going through or are recovering from the effects of such therapies and we find the acupuncture is an exceptionally useful adjunct to oncological care.

Watch the video here.