Posts Tagged ‘failure’

Overcome Infertility – Premature Ovarian Failure POF in Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspectives

Premature ovarian failure is defined as a condition of which the ovarian is no longer responded to the brain in production of follicle before the age of 40, leading to high levels of FSH in the bloodstream and menopause hormonal symptoms. It is caused by either the accelerated loss of eggs or follicles are become less responsive to hormone stimulation from the pituitary gland. It has been estimated that POF affects 1% of the population. While conventional medicine uses synthesis medication to stimulate the ovarian response and artificial insemination with only 5% success rate accompanying with a high medical cost, it drives many women to seek help from traditional medicine, including the traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine views POF as an excess and deficiency pattern caused by emptiness of the penetrating and conception meridians and treatments are totally depended to her unique diagnosis, there is no one treatment for all.

I. Diagnosis
Most women with POF have some of following symptoms
1. irritability, a rapid pulse and a red tongue
2. Pale or normal tongue
3. Weak pulse
4. Weakness
5. Lethargy Pale,
6. Shallow breathing , soft voice Little desire to speak
7. Poor appetite
8. Fatigue
9. Loose stools
10. Indigestion
11. Bloating and gas
12. Reddish tongue with little or no coating
13. Dry mouth, especially at night
14. Dark, scanty urination
15. Night sweats
16. Thirst
17. Dizziness
18. Heat flushes
19. Constipation
20. Palpitations
21. Forgetfulness
22. Constipation Pale complexion
23. Pale and dry, cracked lips
24. Anxiety
25. Numbness or tingling in limbs
26. Light menses
27.Difficulty urinating, and
28. Edema
29. Cold limbs,
30. Lack of energy
31. Low sexual desire
Since each woman is diagnosed as her own entity, some symptoms may be found in some women, but not in the other, depending to the diagnosis.

I. Causes of POF in TCM perspective
A. Excessive yang
Caused by an excessive loss of vital essence and nutrient fluid, leading to dryness of skin, chapped lips, nose bleed, mouth sore, urinary burning, etc. and interfering with the kidney function in hormonal regulation, resulting in ovarian abnormal function in responding to the hormone secretion from pituitary gland.

B. Spleen qi deficiency
1. Liver
Liver has directed influentially in spleen function, without strong liver there is no treatment for spleen blockade and deficiency.

2. Diet and occupation
Since spleen prefer warm and hot foods, prolong period working in col environment and eating cold foods will effect the spleen function in synthesizing carbohydrate synthesizing, disrupting the processes in nutrients absorption, obstructing the blood flow to the abdominal region and effecting the luteal phrase, resulting in infertility
3. Life style and weakened liver
Spleen is view as the organ of digestion ( nutrients distribution ) and elimination ( eliminating the body waste ). Spleen qi deficiency is normal caused by irregular dietary habits and excessive use of mind in studying and working. Weakened liver may also increases the risk of toxins accumulation and liver qi stagnation in the body, effecting the spleen function and obstructing implantation of egg in the uterine lining.
C. Kidney yin deficiency
a) Unhealthy diet
As oppose to yang deficiency, It is caused by men who love to hot and spicy food leading to heat accumulation in the body causing yin deficiency.

b) External factor
Working in the hot environment causes the depletion of fluids in the body including the kidney leading abundant yang qi production.

c) Low sexual activity
Frequent sexual activity increases the risk of yang deficiency, low sexual activity causes energy overly accumulation in the reproductive organ, leading to yin deficiency.

D. Blood deficiency
Tradition Chinese medicine view blood deficiency is caused by weakened spleen organ, thereby, reducing the spleen function in blood formation, leading to causes not enough blood to distribute to the body such as absence of (no blood for) menstruation. Blood deficiency leads to abnormal function of reproductive system in regulating menstrual cycle, disrupting the production of egg or produces poor quality egg and makes uterine mucus hostile to sperm.

F. Kidney yang deficiency
1 Unhealthy diet
As we known, we live in the society, where everything we drink are mostly cold including milk. It has a danger effect in both female and male body as it depletes of the yang qi which is needed to counter the the cold effects of abundant yin, leading to kidney yang deficiency. If one day, our yang qi production from the kidney jing is no longer working well, it will cause symptoms of infertility

2. External factors
a) Working in the cold environment such as fish, poultry and meat processing plants may deplete the kidney yang as our body require to produce yang qi constantly to counter the external cold.
b) People stay in the cold place for prolong period of time may also have the same effect as people working in cold environment.

b) Frequent sexual activity
According to traditional medical medicine, sexual intercourse helps to improve blood circulation and production of certain hormones which are necessary for our health. It also helps to balance the kidney yin qi but frequent sexual activity depletes the kidney jing which is vital for hormone and sperm production, leading to low sperm count or semen with no sperm as well as kidney diseases.

II. Treatments
1. Diet modification
a). Since most women with POF are diagnosed with excessive yang in the west caused by the typical American diet as resulting of the body evokes the response from the ovaries, it is advised that spicy and hot foods are eliminated from the diet until excessive yang can be neutralized.
b) What to avoid
i) Simple sugar and refine starches
Simple sugar and refine starches have a very high reading in the GI index list as they cause sharp rise and drop of blood sugar in the bloodstream.
ii) Hormone imbalance
As the levels of insulin produced by the pancreas have to increase traumatically when the blood sugar levels rise and stop when the blood sugar drop. The imbalance of levels of sugar also cause the over production of cortisol hormone by the adrenal gland that interferes with production of sex hormone, causing infertility.
iii) Vitamins
Over production of cortisol caused by intake of sugar and refine starches also increases the risk of nutrients deficiency as resulting of vitamins and minerals depletion including B vitamin and magnesium.
iv) Weakened immune system
Study show that intake a teaspoon of simple sugar can weaken the immune system up to 4 hours as resulting of weakening protein functions in body defence.

v) Saturated fat and trans fat
Saturated fat and trans fat interferes the liver function in essential fatty acid metabolism, leading to over production of certain hormones in the prostaglandins family, causing menstrual camps and pain, nervous tensions as well as irregular menstrual cycle, thereby increasing the risk of infertility.

vi) Coffee
Intake of large amount of coffee daily to fight off stress may have a negative effect in the reproductive system. As study show that women who consume 300 mg or more of caffeine take longer to conceive than women who do not or take less.

vii) Drug and alcohol
Drugs and alcohol can influence an imbalance of reproductive hormones. As drug increases the tension of the nervous system leading to hormone imbalance, excessive alcohol drinking can cause liver damage, which abnormal function of liver in all kinds of metabolism, causing blood and qi stagnation in the liver and effecting a couple’s reproductive abilities. Alcohol also causes nervous tension, leading to over production of certain hormones, thereby, increasing the risk of infertility.

viii) Carbonate Soda
Carbonate soda contains high amount of sweetener, caffeine and phosphate which can interfere with calcium absorption as well as stimulating the over production of certain hormone including cortisol, leading to fatigue, stress and anxiety.

ix) Most animal and dairy products
Because most animal and diary products are considered acidic which can distort the balance of pH levels in the body, making cervical mucus hostile to sperm invasion as well as preventing the implantation of egg.

2. Chinese herbs

a) Herbs for Blood Deficiency
i. He shou wu (fleeceflower root)
He shou wu is a liver tonic herb, it promotes liver function in blood formation and increase the kidney qi in assisting the liver in transporting blood to the heart for circulation, thereby reducing the blood stagnation causes of deficiency. It also improves the kidney in urinary secretion, thus decreasing the risk of blood stagnation caused by fluid retention.

ii. Shu Di Huang (Chinese foxglove root)
Sdu di huang is a blood tonic herb. Besides improving the liver in blood formation, it also increases the lives qi, by boosting the circulatory system in transport oxygen and nutrient to the body cell thus reducing the risks of symptom of dizziness, pallid complexion, palpitations and scanty menstruation.

iii. E Jiao (Donkey-Hide Glue)
E jiao is important herb in improving the liver in blood formation and liver qi in regulating the blood circulation in the body, thereby, reducing the symptoms of dizziness, sallow complexion, palpitations caused by blood deficiency.

iv. Dang gui (Chinese angelica root)
Besides best known for improving the liver function in blood formation and regulating function of the reproductive organs, it also harmonizes the production of hormones during menstrual cycle, leading to reducing cramps and pain caused blood deficiency and stagnation.

v. Bai shao (white peony root)
Bai shao besides plays an important role in nourishing the blood and regulates menstrual problems due to blood deficiency, it also harmonizes the liver and spleen to prevent the rising of blood heat causes of headache and dizziness.

There are many more Chinese herbs helping to treat blood deficiency, you make sure to work with your Chinese practitioner to find the underlining causes and treat them effectively.

b) Herbs for Kidney yin deficiency
i. Shu di huang (rehmannia glutinosa)
Shu di huang is considered as yin tonic herb with warm in nature. It has an influence in the heart-kidney-liver channels by increasing the liver blood formation and heart blood circulation as well as enriching the kidney (jing) essence, thereby decreasing the symptoms caused by kidney yin deficiency.

ii. Nu zhen zi (ligustrum lucidum)
Nu zhen zi is a kidney and liver yin tonic herb with neutral in nature. By increasing the qi flow in the channels of kidney – liver, it reduces the qi and blood stagnation caused by excessive yang in the kidney.

iii. Sang shen (morus albus)
Sang shen not only has been used in Chinese for cooking to increase the kidney function in moistening the body fluid, but also used to nourishes the kidney yin and increases liver in blood storing and formation.

iv. Bai shao (white peony root )
Bai shao plays an important role in nourishing the blood and regulates menstrual problems due to blood and qi deficiency caused by excessive yang in the kidney.

v. Shan yao (ioscorea opposita)
Shan yao is also known Chinese yam in China, it is a kidney balancing herbs and neutral in nature. Besides as an important herb in increasing the yin of Spleen and lung, it also improves the kidney function by raising the kidney yin when it is deficient and reduces it when it is excessive.

In Some cases, there may be kidney yang deficiency instead of yin deficiency
c) Herbs for kidney yang deficiency
i. Lu rong
Lu rong is also known as deer antler, deer antler velvet. Besides tt is best known in enhancing the sexual activity in men, it also is a great herb that reduces the blockage of the meridian liver and kidney. Since yang qi deficiency is also caused blood deficiency, improving the body yang by strengthening the liver’s function in blood formation and kidney’s function in fluid distribution, it reduces the yang deficiency in the body.

ii. Du Zhong
It is also known ecommia bark, it is one the most used herb to enhance the function of meridian kidney-liver by promoting the qi and blood formation. Since the liver is a organ in charge of blood storing and blood formation and kidney is in charge of fluid regulation, it increases blood flow to the entire body and reduces fluid accumulated in the body, thus enhancing yang.

iii. Ba Ji Tian
Ba ji tian is also known as Chinese morinda root and sweet and warm in nature. It is also one the herbs used to strengthen the liver and kidney qi and blood yang by enhancing the liver in blood formation and kidney in urinary secretion, thus reducing the yang deficiency causes of abdominal distention, including cramps and pain during menstrual cycle.

iv Rou Chong Rong
Rou Chong Rong used in traditional Chinese medicine for reducing the blockage of kidney-large intestine meridian, thereby increasing the kidney function in bring blood to warm the uterus and urinary secretion and digestive system in moving waste, resulting in lessening the fluid retention and dysmenorrhea.

v. Bu Gu Zhi
Bu gu zhi is also known as psoralea fruit and used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating blockage of meridian kidney-Spleen. It notifies the yang qi by increasing the kidney function in assisting the function of lung qi and the function of Spleen in qi distribution.

d) Herbs for qi deficiency
While deficiency of blood and qi are defined as a condition of liver abnormal function in blood formation and blood transportation due to qi deficiency or the inability of qi in moving blood caused by spleen qi and lung deficiency. Therefore, by treating the stagnation of spleen and lung qi, it will improve the blood deficiency.
Herbs enhancing the qi movement include
i. Ren shen (Ginseng)
Ren shen is considered as one of most powerful herbs in strengthening the original qi in the body. * In spleen, it improves the spleen function in qi absorption, thus reducing the symptoms of distended chest and abdomen cramps and pain.
** In lung, it enhances the lung qi by moistening the channels, thus reducing the symptoms of asthma and dry cough and prevent the rebellion qi causes of menstrual cramps and pain.

ii. Xi yang shen (American ginseng)
Xi yang shen is yin in nature, besides promoting the lung and spleen qi, it also increases the digestive system in absorbing vital energy that is vital for women during menstrual cycle.
It also reduces the heat causes of qi stagnation by moistening the all qi transportation channels, especially for qi stagnation caused by deficiency of yin.

iii. Dang shen (pilose asiabell root)
Dang shen is a Spleen and lung tonic herbs. It improves the lung function in moving qi smoothly through its channels and spleen function in absorbing qi after foods entering the stomach. It also helps to restore the qi which is damaged by heat caused by infection, inflammation or heat generated due to excessive fluids accumulation.

iv. Tai zi shen (pseudostellaria root)
Beside helping to increase the spleen and lung qi, it also improve the blood transportation and spleen and stomach in absorbing vital energy for our body cells and generates fluids to prevent the heat causes of qi stagnation.

v. Huang qi (astragalus root)
It is one of the herb which helps to increase the function of liver in generating more blood formation and liver qi in blood transportation due to excessive blood during menstruation.

3. Acupuncture
a) To clean heat and relieve the stagnation of blood
Stimulating Gongsun(SP4), Neiguan Pc6, LiequeLu 7 and Qi HaiQi6
b) To supplement yin and blood
stimulating Taixi Ki3, Sanyinjiao(SP6) and Zusanli St36
c) To calm heat
Shenmen Ht7 and yintang
d) To Rectify the liver qi and heat
Xingjian Lv2, Taichong Lv3, Ququan Lv8 and Qimen Lv 14

” All women can conceive sometimes during their child bearing age, before menopause”. If you are diagnosis with infertility caused by POFs, my heart goes to you. When comes to treat POFs, the traditional Chinese medicine is one of the best according to unconfirmed statistics. Please make sure you find a doctor who has both conventional medicine and TCM knowledge. Best luck to get pregnant soon Kyle J. Norton

For the best pregnancy self help program review, please visit http://bestfertility.blogspot.com/ For series of Infertility Articles, please visit http://fertility-infertility.blogspot.com/

All articles By Kyle J. Norton Are For Information and Education Only, Please Consult With Your Doctor or Related Field Specialist Before Applying.

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact. “Let You Be With Your Health, Let Your Health Be With You” Kyle J. Norton I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics and BA in world literature, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries. Part time Health

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/overcome-infertility-premature-ovarian-failure-pof-in-traditional-chinese-medicine-perspectives-1405273.html

Overcone Infertility – Premature Ovarian Failure In Conventional Medicine Perspectives

A. Definition
Premature ovarian failure is defined as a condition of which the ovarian is no longer responded to the brain in production of follicle before the age of 40, leading to high levels of FSH in the bloodstream and menopause hormonal symptoms. It is caused by either the accelerated loss of eggs or follicles are become less responsive to hormone stimulation from the pituitary gland. It has been estimated that POF affects 1% of the population. While conventional medicine uses synthesis medication to stimulate the ovarian response and artificial insemination with only 5% success rate accompanying with a high medical cost, it drives many women to seek help from traditional medicine, including the traditional Chinese medicine.

B. Infertility & POFs In Conventional Medicine Perspective

II. Diagnosis
If you have some of the symptoms below, your doctor may order a blood test for hormones and the levels of FSH hormone, if your blood test indicated a high levels of FSH (follicle Stimulating Hormone), you may suspect to have premature ovarian failure. It’s usually necessary to repeat the blood test to make sure the first test was correct. Sometimes, a Chomid challenging test is require to confirm the first test result.

III. Causes
The causes of POFs is known, but some researchers suspect
1. Autoimmune disorders
It is caused by abnormal function of immune system in producing antibody antigen that destroys the body tissues, leading to the destruction of ovarian function.

2. Turner syndrome
It is genetic cause of POF as resulting of a complete or near-complete loss of the second X, because it requires to have 2 functioning X chromosomes for normal ovarian function.

3. Fragile X syndrome
It is the most common cause of inherited mental impairment and associated with premutation form of the FMR1 gene, leading to increasing the risk of premature ovarian failure or early menopause. The premutation form of the FMR1 gene can be easily detected in blood or cheek cells via a DNA test.

4. Chemotherapy and radiation
It is said that chemotherapy and radiation to the pelvic region may damage the uterus, leading to abnormal function of the ovaries resulting in infertility and early menopause.

6. Surgery
Any surgery involve removal of the uterus without removing the ovaries may increase the risk of premature ovarian failure.

7. Enzymes deficiency
It is said that women can not produce enough certain enzymes such as enzyme 17 alpha hydroxylase and 17 and 20 lesmolase may increase the risk of POF as resulting of low levels of estrogen being produced.

8. Infection
Infections such as chickenpox, malaria, tuberculosis and mumps may increase the risk of premature ovarian failure.

IV. Symptoms
Symptoms of POFs is similar to symptoms of menopause, include
1. Irregular periods (different length of bleeding or change in flow)
2. Hot flashes caused by low levels of estrogen.
3. Night sweats caused by low levels pf estrogen
4. Decrease in sexual drive caused by low levels of testosterone
5. Irritability caused by low levels of estrogen
6. Painful sex caused by thinning and drying of vagina

V. Treatments
1. Estrogen therapy
a) How it works
Estrogen therapy (ET) is a medical treatment with a medication containing only estrogen hormone. Estrogen-only therapy helps to increase the estrogen levels, thereby, stimulating the communication of the brain as the increasing of FSH hormone to induce egg production and egg extruding. It is said that Estrogen therapy has helped many women with POF to conceive.

b) Risks
i) Heart diseases
ii) Blood clotting
iii) Breast cancer
iv) Gallbladder diseases

c) Side effects
Some women may experience the below side effects
i) Fluid retention,
ii) Bloating,
iii) Nausea,
iv) Breast tenderness
v) Mood swings
vi) Headache

2. Estradiol
a) How is works
Estradiol is actually a type of estrogen, by injecting the synthesis form of estradiol , it stimulates the brain to shut off the production of FSH leading to egg maturing and extruding into Fallopian tube for natural fertilization.
b) Risks
i) Endometrial hyperplasia
ii) Cancer of the lining of the uterus
iii) Stroke
iv) Breast cancer

c) Side effects
i)Uterine bleeding,
ii) Breast tenderness,
iii) Nausea and vomiting,
iv) Chloasma,
v) Cholestasis,
vi) Migraine headaches

3. Hormone replacement therapy HRT
a) How HRT works
Hormone replacement therapy provides estrogen and other synthesis hormones which are necessary for the natural process of menstrual cycle, by signalling the production of LH and FSH as well as signalling the release of mature egg to the Fallopian tube.

b) Risks
i) Liver disease
ii) Breast cancer
iii) Uterus cancer
iv) Blood clots in the vein, legs, or lungs
v) Gallbladder disease
vi) Heart diseases or stroke

c) Side effects
i) Vaginal bleeding of unknown cause
ii) Breast pain
iii) Nausea
iv) Bloating and fluid retention
v) Blood clots in the vein, legs, or lungs.
vi) Moodswing

4. Clomid (Clomiphene citrate)
a) How it works
Clomid stimulates the pituitary gland in secreting, leading to maturing of some eggs and ovulation.

b) Risks
i) Ovarian hyperstimulation
ii) Multiple birth
iii) Cancer

c) Side effects
i ) Hot Flashes
ii) Bloating
iii) Abdominal paid and cramps
iv) Weight gain
v) Moodswing
vi) Nausea and dizziness
vii) Abnormal menstrual bleeding
viii) Visual disturbances

6. Cytoplasm
This is a new kind of treatment, by taking DNA from your healthy egg and places it inside the nutrient components of a donor’s egg as your DNA goes into the healthy egg for artificial insemination.

7. Artificial Insemination
Some doctors also try to use IVF with donor egg, while it gives the woman a baby but it dose not address the underline failure of the ovaries and other symptoms of menopause.
Unfortunately, the success rate for a happy conception for women with premature ovarian failure is about 5%.

Always keep yourself positive and work together with your doctor, you may get pregnant sooner than you think.

For the best pregnancy self help program review, please visit http://bestfertility.blogspot.com/ For series of Infertility Articles, please visit http://fertility-infertility.blogspot.com/ All articles By Kyle J. Norton Are For Information and Education Only, Please Consult With Your Doctor or Related Field Specialist Before Applying.

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact. “Let You Be With Your Health, Let Your Health Be With You” Kyle J. Norton I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics and BA in world literature, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries. Part time Health, Insurance and Entertainment Article Writer.Part time Health, Insurance and Entertainment Article Writer.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/overcone-infertility-premature-ovarian-failure-in-conventional-medicine-perspectives-1405252.html

Mind Set Diet

When it comes to dieting, far too many people set themselves up for failure before they even begin the process. They literally dread going on their diets and before they start the process are planning their mishaps along the way. Sad to say but true, far too many would be dieters are planning their first Rocky Road mishap while eating their last bowl of Rocky Road before the big event.

I have no idea why we tend to do this to ourselves but it is something I see in dieters everywhere. The far too popular notion is that one must binge on the foods most loved and enjoyed before beginning the dieting process because these things must be completely eliminated in order to shed those unwanted pounds. If you are honest with yourself, nothing could be further from the truth. Moderation is simply a concept that many of us are loathe to embrace.

You must change your way of thinking about food and your personal enjoyment of food in order for any diet you embrace to be successful. Food isn’t the enemy. And that is something that not enough people really understand. Even the ‘tasty’ foods aren’t the enemy. The enemy is your personal inability to properly portion the foods you eat. The problem is that the vast majority of us eat the wrong foods far more often than we eat the right foods. This is where the problems lie.

Our bodies need the nutrients we are lacking by not eating the five servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit each day that we should consume. Our bodies know that something is missing and we feel hungry or deprived. If we were actually consuming the proper balance of fruits and veggies each day we would find that we were far less likely to feel hungry and desire those foods that aren’t as healthy. This means we would be much more likely to enjoy them in moderation as they should be enjoyed.

Portion control is another problem that we have. We live in a society of “up selling”. Super sized fries and empty calories by the gallon of your favorite cola are offered with almost every fast food meal that can be bought. You must learn to say no to these things and avoid situations in which you may feel tempted to partake in these up sized orders.

To be truly successful when dieting you need to embrace the process as building a healthier you rather than depriving yourself of something. Do not think of your weigh loss plan as something negative but rather a positive force in your life to make changes for the better. When you have negative thoughts do not direct them at your diet. When you feel deprived remind yourself that you are depriving your bones of carrying around that excess weight. Remind yourself that you are depriving your wardrobe of those bulky clothes that are designed to hide the bulges. Remind yourself that you are depriving your body of years of bulges and bringing back the body of your youth.

Do not get so caught up in the dieting process that you forget to enjoy some of the goodies that life has to offer. Watching your weight and counting your calories does not mean that you can never go over your allotment. The goal however is to find balance. If you learn to portion your food correctly, indulge in moderation, and incorporate enjoyable calorie burning activities into your daily routine you may be amazed at the results.

Dieting for weight loss and health is only depriving if you allow it to be. If you cannot control yourself when it comes to indulging then by all means avoid indulging. However, if you can learn to incorporate those small treats into your routine in moderation and burn those extra calories as well, then you should find yourself a much happier and more successful ‘dieter’ than you have ever managed to be in the past.

Check my new ergonomic knee chair and ergonomic ball chair web pages.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/mind-set-diet-1353315.html