Fertility

Fertility acupuncture and Chinese herbs – Natural ways you can aid your conception process

Mike Berkley   |   12 Apr 2023


Here at The Ribbon Box we’d like to introduce you to holistic treatments to aid your fertility journey, so we reached out to Mike Berkley in NYC to tell us more about Chinese herbs for fertility and IVF acupuncture.

In this article he explains some of the science of fertility and how it naturally occurs. An advocate of emulating this natural process as closely as possible, he’ll introduce us to why using herbs and acupuncture can be beneficial for fertility. it is a scientific and informative read.

Mike is also offering our readers a discount on his virtual tele-consults and in-person treatment.

Over to Mike Berkley, Founder and Director, The Berkley Center for Reproductive Medicine…

www.berkleycenter.com | Instagram

It’s a process

Conception, pregnancy and parturition are a process. One definition of process is “a series of actions, changes or functions bringing about a result”. Any natural process is better in every way than an artificial one. A good example is cooking. There is the process of cooking which is a slow, mindful act and there is microwave cooking which is basically a non-participatory act without natural process. There is no relationship between the chef and the outcome of the meal. Which meal tastes better? And, which is healthier to eat?

The process of conception is quite complicated and requires the perfect balance and function of many components all working in a co-ordinated and harmonious fashion. Sperm must be attracted to the egg, it must find the egg, and it must penetrate the egg. The egg has be high quality, and so too must be the sperm. The endometrial lining must have integrity. The embryo must find the lining and must be able to penetrate it. The placenta must develop and nourish the growing baby and rid the foetus of waste matter.

The placenta must protect the foetus from immunological attack. The cytokines, proteins, immune function, blood flow, gycoproteins, hormones must all be in balance and not under or over-functioning. There must be absence of pathological mitigators that can contribute to infertility or promote baby loss. Each and every player in the orchestra of conception must be in tune. One sour note and pregnancy will not occur or miscarriage will ensue.

Chinese-Medicine-Herbal-Tea-Fertility-Natural-Process-Mike-Berkley

Chinese Medicine for infertility

Chinese medicine, which consists mainly of fertility acupuncture and fertility herbs, does not work by adding to that which is deficient or reducing that which is in excess; Western medicine is good at that. For example, a common method at reducing excess insulin is by prescribing Metformin. These medicines which add or suppress or reduce have changed the face of civilization. Without the intervention of Western medicine and surgery, our life-span would probably not exceed 40 years of age and three million babies would not have been born as a result of IVF. How many couples, however, have remained childless even though they have undergone multiple IVFs?

Here is why: Just as a microwave oven can cook a meal, IVF can create a baby. But, as the microwave does not supplant the relationship between the chef and the food and the process of creating a meal, IVF cannot, in all its glory, in all cases replace the natural process which is necessary to occur for conception and to increase the chance of taking home a baby at the end of it.

The alternative

Fertility acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are essentially used to create a state as close to homeostasis as possible. Homeostasis is when everything in the body and mind work perfectly. Obviously, this is not attainable. But, acupuncture and fertility herbs attempt this and, by attempting it, a greater state of systemic and psycho-emotional health is frequently achieved. This is why, in many cases, fertility acupuncture and Chinese herbs work to help one achieve pregnancy when IVF fails.

The greater one’s physical and psycho-emotional health is, the more likely one will be to conceive and deliver.

Read more – IVF Acupuncture – Advice from Emma Cannon

Based upon 23 years of clinical experience in the field of infertility, it is my professional opinion that the best-case scenario for the infertile patient is to utilize Western medicine in conjunction with fertility acupuncture and herbal medicine. The reason for this is quite simple. When the fertility specialist retrieves eggs and fertilizes them with sperm, the resulting embryo is as good as its constituent components, egg and sperm. Most IVFs that fail do so because of poor egg quality and/or poor sperm quality. The fertility specialist cannot improve egg or sperm quality; acupuncture and herbs for fertility frequently can.

Related Articles – How to Optimise Sperm Quality Through Nutrition and How to Optimise Egg Quality Through Nutrition

The importance of your blood

I saw a thirty-four-year-old patient today. She has conceived three times with intercourse only to miscarry each time. She did get pregnant and delivered a baby as a result of insemination. She had one subsequent failed IVF. Now her doctor recommends donor eggs with IVF. The patient has cold hands and feet, a pale complexion, low energy and gets dizzy. Obviously she has poor hemodynamics.

Blood is what carries FSH and LH from the brain to the ovaries; blood nourishes the endometrial lining; blood carries oxygen, electrolytes and nutrition to the entire reproductive system and removes waste matter from the reproductive environment. When cells die, which they constantly do, they are ‘eaten’ up by macrophages. If the immune system is not functioning normally and debris is not removed, the outer layer of the dead cells breach and the internal toxic substance circulates within the ovarian milieu causing degradation in ovarian/egg quality. Acupuncture and herbal fertility medicine increase blood flow; as a result this can, in many cases, improve the health and function of the target tissue: ovaries and endometrial lining.

Related Article – Everything You Need to Know about Immunology and Fertility

Chinese-Medicine-Fertility-Natural-Acupuncture-Mike-Berkley

Why not use acupuncture and herbs?

It is difficult for me to understand why all infertile patients don’t include fertility acupuncture and herbal medicine in their trying to conceive protocols. Why would they not? There has been so much research elucidating the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of infertility that acupuncture is no longer referred to as ‘alternative’ medicine but rather a ‘complementary’ medicine. Herbs have a three-thousand year history of positive clinical outcomes.

Are herbs safe to use?

Regarding the safety profile of fertility herbs I have this to say: there are at least one million hospitalizations per year in America alone which occur as a result of adverse reactions to Western medicine. Many of these hospitalizations result in death. This does not happen with herbal medicine. It is ironic therefore, that many (but no longer all!) fertility specialists don’t want their patients on herbs because “they don’t know what’s in them”. Do you know what’s in Lupron? Or Gonal F? Did you know that ovarian hyper stimulation even from Clomid can be fatal?

Don’t misunderstand, I am 100% pro IUI, IVF and donor egg-IVF protocols. But to not partake of a modality with proven results which may change the course from a negative outcome to a positive one, especially in the patient who has had multiple IUI/IVF failures, is a clinical error.

For 10% off an initial telemedicine or in-person visit with Mike, click here to book directly.

Default avatar profile icon. Grey photo placeholder. female no photo images for unfilled user profile. Greyscale. Vector illustration isolated on grey background

Want to receive more great articles like this every day? Subscribe to our mailing list

SUBSCRIBE

Tags: , , ,

Follow Us


Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Increased sex drive after miscarriage - understanding your body, emotions, and needs

If you're wondering whether your increased sex drive after miscarriage is normal, worried about pain after sex, or unsure when it’s safe to resume intimacy, you’re not alone. Many of us go through this, and information is empowerment. Here’s what to know.

1 Mar 2025

Fertility Experts

Fertility

The Prelude Network

The Prelude Network is the largest and fastest-growing network of fertility centers in North America, built on providing compassionate care throughout every step of the patient journey.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Clinica Tambre

Our readers often turn to Spain for fertility treatment. They are pioneers in the field, have excellent IVF success rates and our readers we have sent their way have been delighted

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

CRGH

A leading fertility clinic in the UK, who go above and beyond to help you.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

California Cryobank

Offers an extensive and diverse catalog of rigorously screened sperm donors and guides you through the process in a professional and caring manner.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Zita West

Zita West Products is the most complete collection of specialist preconception, conception and pregnancy supplements for men and women.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

TFP Fertility

An international network of fertility clinics combining 35 years of expertise, world-class care and compassion

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

ReceptivaDx

The groundbreaking test designed to target unexplained infertility.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Alcea Surrogacy

A full-service surrogacy agency, resolute in a creative, inclusive, and ethical approach to building families.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Thrive Journey

Your one-stop online wellness program for natural fertility support

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Pinnacle Surrogacy

Fulfilling Dreams By Building Families

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Maigaard

Where clinical excellence meets personalised care

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Proceive

Tailored fertility supplements for women and men

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Femasys

Superior innovation designed for women

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Procriar

The science of fertility. The art of empathy.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Ferticentro

Where personalised care meets fertility innovation

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Zuri Fertility

Your personal, digital fertility clinic.

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Circle Health Group

The award-winning, largest network of Private Hospitals in the UK offering specialist Gynaecology & Fertility services

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Vie

The art and science of baby-making

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

London Sperm Bank

We build remarkable families

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

London Egg Bank

The Largest UK Egg Bank, leading provider of UK-Sourced Donor Eggs and Egg Donation treatments

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE

Fertility

Kind iVF

We are one of a Kind

VIEW EXPERT PROFILE
Fertility Help
Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Miscarriage Comments - What To Say and Avoid Saying

1 Oct 2023

Share

Watch & Listen

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Parenting / Life After Baby Loss

16 Sep 2023

Share

Follow Us


Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

After IVF failure - what are the next steps, and things to test?

3 Sep 2023

Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

IVF films, TV picks & documentaries - here's our 2025 watch list

10 May 2023

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Embryo implantation dysfunction - an MD’s deep-dive 101

26 Jul 2022

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Roe vs. Wade 2 weeks on - the impact on IVF and fertility care

14 Jul 2022

Share

Watch & Listen

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Ask a Fertility Specialist Burning Questions

28 Apr 2022

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Why Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Happens

24 Jun 2021

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Missed The Fertility Show This Year? Catch Up Here

1 Jun 2022

Share
Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Our Fertility Journey to Our Sunset and Sunrise Babies

28 Apr 2022

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Your Guide to Infertility and Miscarriage from a Fertility Specialist

25 Apr 2022

Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Why You Still Need Face to Face Fertility Meetings

14 Apr 2022

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Infertility - The Infinite Loop of Hope and Heartbreak

28 Mar 2022

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Chrissy Teigen Begs for More Sensitivity During IVF Treatment

21 Feb 2022

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

5 New Things to Expect at The Fertility Show 2022

17 Feb 2022

Share

Watch & Listen

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

What I've Learned from my Fertility Nightmare

23 Dec 2021

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Jessie J's Shock Miscarriage

25 Nov 2021

Share

Follow Us


Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Amanda Knox’s Fertility Sentence

19 Nov 2021

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

10 infertility blogs to follow - for real-time, empathetic support

11 Nov 2021

Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Paths to Motherhood - Journeys Through Infertility & Baby Loss

10 Nov 2021

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

5 Reasons to Download our Fertility Squad App

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Identifying Why You’re Miscarrying - Is M2 Playing a Role?

16 Sep 2021

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Navigating pregnancy with PTSD

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

10 Celebs You Didn’t Know Struggled with Infertility

18 Jun 2021

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Cancer Robbed me of Having a Baby

15 Jun 2021

Share

Watch & Listen

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

A Letter to Myself Before Infertility and Baby Loss

13 Apr 2021

Share
Fertility Help
Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Lesbian IVF Story - Our Big Gay Journey

28 Dec 2020

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Baby loss - Stacey's miscarriage journey

6 Nov 2020

Share

Watch & Listen

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Grief and Grieving - When a baby dies

7 Oct 2020

Share

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Harley Street Fertility Clinic's 10-year birthday gift for you

18 Sep 2020

Share

Follow Us


Fertility Help

Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy after fallopian tube removal - Sarah's story

31 Aug 2020

Fertility Help

Watch & Listen