Study: Traditional Chinese, Western Treatments Combo Can Boost Fertility

Combining traditional Chinese medicine and a Western treatment results in a significant increase in fertility in women hoping to become pregnant according to study results from Tel Aviv University.

Out of women who received the combined therapy, over 65 percent were able to conceive, compared to just 39 percent of patients who only underwent the Western-style intrauterine insemination infertility treatment.

A worker prepares traditional Chinese herbal medicines at Beijing's Capital Medical University Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital May 25, 2011. The hospital distributes around 20,000 prescription doses daily, more than five tonnes of ingredients, from their stock of 600 different types of plants, herbs, and animal organs. Almost all traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been banned from sale in European Union (EU) countries since May 1, following the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive that was originally passed in 2004. Under the guidelines, all herbal medicinal products are required to obtain a certificate before entering the EU market, and have a history of at least 30 years, including 15 years in EU regions. (David Gray/Reuters)

A worker prepares traditional Chinese herbal medicines at Beijing's Capital Medical University Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital May 25, 2011. The hospital distributes around 20,000 prescription doses daily, more than five tonnes of ingredients, from their stock of 600 different types of plants, herbs, and animal organs. Almost all traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been banned from sale in European Union (EU) countries since May 1, following the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive that was originally passed in 2004. Under the guidelines, all herbal medicinal products are required to obtain a certificate before entering the EU market, and have a history of at least 30 years, including 15 years in EU regions. (David Gray/Reuters)

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Traditional Chinese medicine included weekly sessions of acupuncture and a regime of powdered or raw Chinese herbs such like PeoniaAlbae and Chuanxiong.

Lead researcher Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine followed the progress of 29 women who received the combined therapy, and 94 women who underwent IUI treatment alone.

According to Lev-Ari, traditional Chinese medicine is aimed at correcting imbalances in the body's natural energy flow, promoting an overall sense of well-being, which can affect the ovulation and menstrual cycle, enhance blood flow to the uterus, and enhance endorphin production and secretion to inhibit the central nervous system and induce calm - all of which can contribute to successful conception.

The results are published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine.