Chinese medicine could double the chances of childless couples conceiving
By
Jenny Hope
Last updated at 4:21 PM on 25th November 2011
Couples with fertility problems are twice as likely to get pregnant using traditional Chinese medicine as western drugs, say researchers.
They found a two-fold improvement in pregnancy rates over just four months of treatment from practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
At least six million Britons have consulted a Western or traditional Chinese herbal practitioner in the last two years, according to Ipsos Mori research.
Couples with fertility problems are twice as likely to get pregnant using traditional Chinese medicine as western drugs scientists have discovered
Previous research suggests acupuncture may help some childless couples to conceive.
The latest study from researchers at Adelaide University, Australia, reviewed eight clinical trials, 13 other studies and case reports comparing the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with western drugs or IVF treatment.
The review funded by the Australian government included 1,851 women with infertility problems, says a report in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
Review of the clinical trials alone found a 3.5 rise in pregnancies over a four-month period among women using TCM compared with western medicine.
Other data covering 616 women within the review showed 50 per cent of women having TCM got pregnant compared with 30 per cent of those receiving IVF treatment.
TCM is far less expensive than IVF treatment and less stressful
The overall analysis concluded there was a two-fold increase in the likelihood of getting pregnant in a four-month period for women using TCM compared with orthodox approaches.
The study’s authors said ‘Our meta-analysis suggests traditional Chinese herbal medicine to be more effective in the treatment of female infertility – achieving on average a 60 per cent pregnancy rate over four months compared with 30 per cent achieved with standard western drug treatment.’
The study said the difference appeared to be due to the careful analysis of the menstrual cycle – the period when it is possible for a woman to conceive – by TCM practitioners.
It said ‘Assessment of the quality of the menstrual cycle integral to TCM diagnosis appears to be fundamental to the successful treatment of female infertility.’
Dr Karin Ried (correct) of the university’s school of population health and clinical practice, who led the study, said infertility affects one in six couples and even after investigations 20 per cent of infertility remains ‘unexplained’.
She said TCM recognises many more ‘menstrual disturbances’ than conventional medicine, is far less expensive than IVF treatment and less stressful.
She said ‘Infertility issues can be treated with the integration of TCM and contemporary medicine to minimise the financial and emotional strain on people.’
Geeta Nargund, medical director of Create fertility clinic in London’s Harley Street, who uses a kinder form of IVF called in-vitro maturation or IVM which spares the woman exposure to drug hormones, said the study findings should be treated with caution.
She said ‘We should be doing everything we can to use the least invasive methods to help patients get pregnant, if they don’t work then we can move on to drugs and more invasive approaches.
‘What we desperately need is detailed research into these alternative approaches that monitors what is happening to the body’s hormone systems and ovaries so we can see what difference they are making.
‘But we should not lose sight of the fact that Chinese herbs are potent medicines. They are regarded as natural but they have powerful effects on the body which can include a syndrome that mimics the over-stimulation we sometimes see from western IVF drugs.
‘There are potential risks from using herbs and people should be aware of that’ she added.
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@toolate – what does this have to do with Chinese medicine? Are you insinuating that all Chinese individuals are cruel to animals or do not believe in the humane treatment of them? And do you believe that Chinese medicine is the mainstream form of medical treatment there or something? Because you might be pleased to know that qualified doctors within China use big pharma just as any other MEDC does … ‘Chinese medicine’ is just as much a herbal alternative there as it is here. I’m a vegetarian myself and love animals to death, but this seems like a very irrelevant contribution to an article that has nothing to do with your topic. Do you come out with facts about how many slaves are still owned in London TODAY or some other negative statistic whenever you read something where our country is mentioned?
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Many of Big Pharma’s “wonder drugs” are synthesised copies of naturally occurring substances. The only differences are: BP slap a patent on them, charge the maximum price they can get and pull the strings of their puppets in the WHO to ban the natural products.
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Isn’t the planet over populated with humans already? If not, it soon will be at the exponential reproduction rate we have!
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I wonder what other animals will suffer in the progression of chinese medicine!!!
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There have been studies also showing that chinese medicine can cause kidney failure and cancer. DM even ran an article in May 2010. Would be very cautious about advising women who are desperate to conceive, without no detailed research.The side effects could be teratogenic on or for the future of the baby. Please think about the evidence before thinking about going ahead taking any kind of medicine without a qualified person prescribing it.
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Before accusing the Chinese for animal extinctions, we should perhaps look for wild animals on our island? There’s really not many wild animals left here! Make sure you know our history before accusing others to avoid appearing ignorant.
- Spencer, London, 25/11/2011 20:1
Yes they do go some way to prevent animal extinction, but see previous comment which I am willing to bet will not be printed!
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Before accusing the Chinese for animal extinctions, we should perhaps look for wild animals on our island? There’s really not many wild animals left here! Make sure you know our history before accusing others to avoid appearing ignorant.
- Spencer, London, 25/11/201
Fur farms in China…..the animals are skinned alive then thrown on a heap, hearts still beating five to ten minutes after skinning!
Dozens of bears, kept alive only for their bile, trapped in cages so small they couldn’t move, their bellies spiked with crude, dirty, often- infected devices to allow the farmers to “milk” their bile twice a day and sell the fluid secreted by the liver as medicine. In circuses lions jump through hoops of fire, because they know that if they don’t, they’ll be subjected to even more pain and fear
Elephants are prodded with electric shocks to train them to contort themselves in bizarre ways that some humans seem to find amusing……………on and on it goes…..horrific cruelty,
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At the end of the day, the result speaks for itself. May I ask which country has the highest population? LOL
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The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine welcomes this research as it backs up widespread clinical experience showing that Chinese medicine is very effective at treating infertility in women. Members of the public who are interested in Chinese medicine fertility treatment are urged to only seek treatment from a practitioner who is registered with a reputable professional organisation, such as the RCHM, as there is currently no statutory regulation of herbal practitioners.
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Before accusing the Chinese for animal extinctions, we should perhaps look for wild animals on our island? There’s really not many wild animals left here! Make sure you know our history before accusing others to avoid appearing ignorant.
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