Author: Aliya Eastham

Acupuncture in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial study

Posted on August 9, 2018 by - Uncategorised

Saeid Khosrawi,1 Alireza Moghtaderi,2 and Shila Haghighat3
Author information ► Article notes ► Copyright and License information ► Disclaimer
BACKGROUND:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent form of peripheral neuropathy. The efficacy of acupuncture in management of mild to moderate CTS has been investigated in limited studies with controversial results. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term effects of acupuncture in treatment of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

METHODS:

In a randomized controlled trial study, participants were randomly assigned to either control group which night splinting, vitamin B1, B6 and sham acupuncture for four weeks were administered, or intervention group that underwent acupuncture in 8 sessions over 4 weeks and night splinting. The clinical symptoms using global symptom score (GSS) and electrophysiological parameters were assessed at baseline and four weeks after the intervention.

RESULTS:

Of 72 patients met the inclusion criteria, 64 patients actually completed the 4 week intervention and were evaluated for the outcome. There was a statistically significant difference in GSS between two arms of treatment after the intervention (p < 0.001) Using repeated measure ANOVA, the GSS in acupuncture group was significantly different after 4 weeks (p <0.001). Among electrophysiological parameters, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was significantly different between two groups after 4 weeks (p = 0.02). Other parameters showed no statistically significant difference after intervention (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings indicated that the acupuncture can improve the overall subjective symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and could be adopted in comprehensive care programs of these patients.

KEYWORDS: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Acupuncture, Global Symptom Score, Electrophysiological Parameters
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3523426/

MG: The sexually transmitted ‘superbug’ you’ve probably never heard of

Posted on July 11, 2018 by - Uncategorised

Health experts are concerned that a little-known sexually transmitted infection is becoming resistant to antibiotics — but say a simple test can point toward effective treatment options.

Key points:

  • Emerging sexual infection MG likened to a “superbug”
  • New test can help doctors choose best treatment
  • Experts want infection to be reportable to health authorities

It’s a bug with the unattractive name of mycoplasma genitalium, or MG for short, and many people have never heard of it.

Experts said it could cause infertility and premature birth in pregnant women.

Professor Suzanne Garland from Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital said people infected with MG often had no symptoms.

“Young, sexually active men and women with different partners are at risk,” she said.

Some men have no symptoms but can have pain when urinating. Women may also have no symptoms but some do report pain during sex or while passing urine.

And same-sex couples face the same risk factors as heterosexual couples.

Health experts say the big concern about MG is that it is becoming resistant to antibiotics.

“It’s essentially acting like a superbug, with research showing at least 50 per cent of people have a drug-resistant MG, limiting their treatment options,” Professor Garland said.

The good news is there is now a simple test that can screen people for the condition and which treatments are likely to work.

The new test is covered by Medicare and will be rolled out to surgeries and clinics across Australia.

Sexual health experts said it was difficult to get an accurate picture of how prevalent MG is.

“In sexual health clinics, 10-35 per cent of the people being tested have it,” Professor Garland said.

To get a better picture of how prevalent MG is, health experts want MG to be made a “notifiable disease”, which means laboratories need to report it to state and territory health departments.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-18/mg-sexually-transmitted-superbug-youve-never-heard-of/9336042

 

Acupuncture and success of IVF

Posted on July 6, 2018 by - Uncategorised

With thanks to carecureacupuncture.com

“Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%,” according to The Guardian’s news pages.

The Times, The Daily Telegraph and BBC News covered the story and quoted Edward Ernst, a professor of complementary medicine, who cautioned that the effect might be due to a placebo effect caused by the women expecting acupuncture to work. He said that the expectation might cause them to relax which would improve pregnancy rates.

The study behind this story is a systematic review which combined the results of “high quality” studies on acupuncture, rates of pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Although the methods used by this study are robust, some possible biases cannot be ruled out. Studies that have negative results are less likely to be published and may therefore not have been included.

When interpreting the 65% increase in pregnancy rates, it should be remembered that the differences in pregnancy rates were quite small. The results actually mean that in order to achieve one additional successful pregnancy, 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture. The cost associated with lack of effect for the other nine women is something to be considered by individuals and health care providers.

Finally, the study found that the additional benefit of acupuncture depended on how successful IVF was overall. Where pregnancy rates were high, acupuncture had little benefit.

Where did the story come from?

Dr Eric Manheimer, Grant Zhang, Laurence Udoff and colleagues from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington and the University of Amsterdam, Holland carried out the research.

Funding was provided by the National Centre for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine of the US National Institutes of Health. The study was published in the peer-reviewed: British Medical Journal.

What kind of scientific study was this?

The study was a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that compared needle acupuncture given within one day of women receiving IVF with sham (fake) treatment or no treatment at all. The researchers searched for published literature in databases and conference proceedings for studies that compared acupuncture given within one day of IVF treatment versus sham acupuncture (or no treatment). They assessed the quality of 108 potentially relevant studies they found, and of these, included seven trials in their analysis.

Only studies in which pregnancy had been confirmed (either by presence of gestational sac or heartbeat on ultrasound), ongoing pregnancy beyond 12 weeks gestation (confirmed through ultrasound), or a live birth, were included. The researchers also only included studies in which acupuncture needles were inserted into traditional meridian points (groups of points thought to have an effect upon a particular body part).

The researchers used meta-analysis (a statistical technique) to pool the studies. They were particularly interested in the difference in rates of pregnancy between women who received acupuncture and those who did not.

What were the results of the study?

The seven studies that the researchers included in their analysis were all randomised controlled trials. In six of the studies, an acupuncture session was given just before the fertilised embryo was implanted back into the mother and another straight after. One trial involved acupuncture only after implantation. Two studies gave a third session during different phases of the process.

The authors reported that IVF with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65% (according to early evidence on ultrasound), increased the odds of ongoing pregnancy by 87% (according to ultrasound evidence of pregnancy at 12 weeks) and increased the odds of a live birth by 91% compared with IVF on its own.

When the researchers only looked at the three studies that showed similar rates of pregnancy to women in the UK, they found that acupuncture did not increase rates of pregnancy with IVF.

What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?

The researchers conclude that their results suggest that acupuncture given with embryo transfer, improves rates of pregnancy and live birth in women who are undergoing in vitro fertilisation.

What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?

  • In four of the seven studies that were included, the women knew which treatment they were receiving (while in the other three the comparison was sham acupuncture). The researchers say that the placebo effect (i.e. where believing in the effect of the treatment affects the outcome whether or not treatment is received) is unlikely to have had any effect in this study because the “outcomes are entirely objective (i.e. pregnancy and births)”. However, as mentioned in some newspapers, other researchers have said that it is possible that if women expect the treatment to be helpful then they may be more relaxed and this in turn could affect pregnancy rates.
  • The researchers say that their findings are significant and clinically relevant, though they are “somewhat preliminary”. They conclude by saying that the effectiveness of acupuncture depends on the previous rate of pregnancy in the population. They call for further research to investigate the relationship between the previous (baseline) rate of pregnancy and the effect of acupuncture. When they limited their analysis to studies that had the highest baseline rates of pregnancy, there was no significant effect of acupuncture on pregnancy success. The fact that the baseline rates of pregnancy varied across the studies is a weakness of the review.
  • The reviewers also say that publication bias may have affected their results, despite their best efforts to ensure this was not the case. They cannot rule out that there were small studies with negative results that have not been published and therefore not included.
  • The use of “odds ratios” to reflect the comparison is questionable. The authors themselves say that the odds ratio “significantly over-estimates the rate ratio” because the outcome of pregnancy is relatively frequent. A better reflection of the absolute benefit is to consider that these results mean that 10 women will need to be treated with acupuncture for there to be an extra successful pregnancy. In the other nine women, there would be no additional benefit. It is also worth noting that confirmed pregnancy rates were not very different between acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups in real terms (32% v. 27%). Presenting the results in these terms gives them a little more context.

The results of this review suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect of pregnancy rates when given with IVF. An interpretation of the 65% benefit quoted by the papers must be considered in light of the fact that they represent relatively small absolute benefits considering that the rates of pregnancy in the non-acupuncture groups were high.

Sir Muir Gray adds…

A systematic review is the strongest research method because it reduces the possibility that the effects are due to bias or chance. Complementary medicine needs more reviews like this.

https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/acupuncture-and-success-of-ivf/

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Posted on May 26, 2018 by - Uncategorised

As you may already know, new regulations regarding how companies hold and use your personal data are on the way this week, in the form of the European Union’s new data protection law – the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

At Meridian Acupuncture®, your privacy matters greatly to us.  We have made some changes to our Privacy Policy to ensure that it meets the requirements of the new GDPR.  These changes make it easier to understand what information we collect from you and how your information is used.

We would like to make sure that you are happy to continue receiving our occasional newsletters by email.  Our newsletters usually include a special discount code.

We hope that you would still like to receive these emails, in which case there is nothing that you need to do.  Please be assured that the data we keep about you is kept securely and only used by us.  We do NOT sell or share your data with anyone else.  Should you no longer wish to receive our emails simply follow the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our newsletter.  You will then be opted out and you will not hear from us again.  Of course you can re-subscribe at any time should you change your mind in the future.

Questions?
You can email info@meridian-acupuncture.co.uk and we’ll be very happy to help you!

Scarlet fever is sweeping the UK – here are the symptoms and how to stop it spreading

Posted on May 13, 2018 by - Uncategorised

The infection is easily treatable, but parents are advised to know the signs and what to do when they spot symptoms

More than twice the average number of scarlet fever cases have been recorded in England over the past six months. Public Health England says the highly contagious illness has been spreading at a higher than usual rate since September. The infection, which mostly affects children, is not usually serious and can be treated through antibiotics.

PHE’s latest health protection report recorded 11,982 scarlet fever cases since mid-September, compared to an average of 4,480 for the same period over the last five years. Although the higher numbers could be due to increased awareness about the infection, PHE says it is still investigating the exact cause of the rise.

Parents who think their child has contracted scarlet fever are urged to contact their GP.

A spokesperson for Public Health England North East said: “While it is not uncommon to see a rise in cases of scarlet fever at this time of year, the numbers we have seen this year have not been seen since 1982 when Public Health England took over responsibility for collecting data on notifiable diseases.

“It is important to be aware that, with treatment, scarlet fever is not usually a serious illness. The antibiotics used to treat the infection also reduce the risk of spread to others.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and have worked with NHS Choices to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, the importance of good hand hygiene, and also to encourage parents to contact their GP for assessment if they think their child might have scarlet fever.”

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that usually presents with a sore throat, fever, headaches, and a rosy rash that generally starts on a patient’s chest.

“It is a very contagious disease and much more common in children under 10 than teenagers or adults, but it can be treated quickly and effectively with a full course of antibiotics and all GPs are trained to diagnose and treat it.

“Scarlet fever used to be a lot more common than it is now, but GPs are noticing more cases than in previous years at the moment. If a patient thinks that they, or their child, might have symptoms, they should seek medical assistance.

“PHE is also urging GPs, paediatricians, and other health practitioners to be mindful when assessing patients and promptly notify local health protection teams of cases and outbreaks.”

What are the signs of scarlet fever:

Scarlet fever symptoms
Scarlet fever symptoms (Image: NHS)

Here’s what to look out for, according to the NHS choices website (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/pages/introduction.aspx) :

A previous infection – scarlet fever usually follows a sore throat or a skin infection, such as impetigo, caused by particular strains of streptococcus bacteria.

Early symptoms – these include a sore throat, headache and a high temperature (38.3C/101F or above), flushed cheeks and a swollen tongue.

Pink rash – if someone is suffering from scarlet fever, a pink-red rash should appear a day or two after these initial symptoms.

It usually occurs on the chest and stomach before spreading to other areas of the body, such as the ears and neck. The rash feels like sandpaper to touch and it may be itchy.

If you’ve got darker skin the rash can be harder to see, but its rough texture should still be obvious.

What to do if you spot these symptoms:

Scarlet fever used to be very serious, but most cases found today are quite mild.

It can clear up in about a week, but even so, it’s best to visit your GP if you spot symptoms in yourself or your child.

How to increase your chances of conceiving and preventing miscarriages

Posted on April 25, 2018 by - Uncategorised

Over the past twenty years, fertility problems have increased dramatically. One in six couples now find it difficult to conceive and a quarter of all pregnancies can end in a miscarriage and more and more couples are turning to fertility treatments to help them have a family.

What is the cause?

What is the cause? From a medical point of view, infertility is believed to be caused by the following factors, and in these proportions.

Problem Percentage of cases:

Ovulatory failure (including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) 20
Tubal damage 15
Endometriosis 5
Male problems 26
Unexplained 30

If the mathematics don’t add up, it’s because many couples experience more than one problem when trying to conceive: for example, you may suffer from endometriosis, but your partner may also have a low sperm count.

Interestingly, the most common cause of infertility is ‘unexplained’, which means that following thorough investigations, doctors can find no specific or identifiable medical problem at the root. But this is where a natural approach can come into play. If a couple fails to become pregnant, there is obviously something causing the problem. It’s no good labelling infertility ‘unexplained’. The answer is to look deeper – at lifestyle factors, nutritional deficiencies and even emotional elements.

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What are your choices?

The natural approach to fertility is and has been enormously successful, largely because fertility is multi-factorial, meaning that there are many, many elements that can be at the root of your fertility problems. A study conducted by the University of Surrey showed that couples with a previous history of infertility who made changes in their lifestyle, diet and took nutritional supplements had an 80 percent success rate Given that the success rate for IVF is around 25 per cent, it’s worth considering these options.

Natural treatment plans are, by their nature, extensive and really do need to be adjusted to suit your individual needs. I will, however, go through the most important points below. Remember that it takes at least three months for immature eggs (oocytes) to mature enough to be released during ovulation. It also takes at least three months for sperm cells to develop, ready to be ejaculated. This means that when you are trying to improve your fertility, you need to have a three-month period before conceiving. This is called ‘pre-conception care’ and it’s as important to take as much care during this period as it is during a pregnancy itself.

If you are going for IVF treatment or another assisted conception procedure, you should follow the recommendations listed below in order to increase the chances that the procedure will work.

Diet

Both you and your partner should follow the dietary recommendations explained in the Nutrition Section (The Foundation of Health) Although it goes without saying that a healthy diet is crucial to a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby, many people are unaware of the fact that diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect your ability to conceive. There are also certain foods and drinks that are known to lower fertility.

Alcohol

Alcohol will affect both you and your partner. In fact, drinking any alcohol at all can reduce your fertility by half – and the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive. One study showed that women who drank less than 5 units of alcohol a week (equal to 2 standard 175ml glasses of wine) were twice as likely to get pregnant within six-months compared with those who drank more.
Research has also shown that drinking alcohol causes a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm and a lower proportion of motile sperm. Alcohol also inhibits the body’s absorption of nutrients such as zinc, which is one of the most important minerals for male fertility.

As difficult as it may seem, you should eliminate alcohol from your diets for at least three months in order to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving.

Caffeine

There is plenty of evidence to show that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility. Drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving and just two cups a day increases the risk of a miscarriage. One study showed that problems with sperm: sperm count, motility and abnormalities, increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed each day. Once again, it’s important to eliminate all caffeine-containing food and drinks for at least three months before trying to conceive. That includes colas, chocolate, black teas and coffee, among other things.

Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are essentially environmental oestrogens, coming from pesticides and the plastic industry. When you are trying to conceive, one of the most important things you need to do is to balance your hormones. It is extremely important to avoid anything that might cause an imbalance, and one of the main culprits is the xenoestrogens. One of the best ways to eliminate an excess intake of xenoestrogens is to eat as much organic produce as possible for the pre-conceptual period. For more information on how to control xenoestrogens see my book Getting Pregnant Faster.

Smoking

Smoking has definitely been linked with infertility in women. It can even bring on an early menopause, which is a particularly important consideration for older women who may be trying to beat the clock. Smoking can decrease sperm count in men, making the sperm more sluggish, and it can increase the number of abnormal sperm. With men, the effects on fertility are increased with the number of cigarettes.

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Supplements

There is now a great deal of scientific knowledge about the use of nutritional supplements and their beneficial effects on both male and female fertility. As you will see, these supplements can be very effective in re-balancing your hormones, as well as improving you and your partner’s overall health, which are so vital for successful conception.

Scientific research has shown that certain vitamins and minerals can increase your chances of getting and staying pregnant. In order to maximise your chances of conceiving it is very important that you and your partner are in optimum health. By eliminating nutritional deficiencies and improving sperm production and mobility you can dramatically increase your chances of getting pregnant. In order to do this it is essential that you are obtaining the right nutrients and in the right quantities to enhance your success.

Supplements are necessary because even the best diet in the world mayl not contain all the nutrients you need to give you the best chance of conceiving.

Folic Acid

It is now known that folic acid can prevent spina bifida in your baby, and it is essential that you get plenty both before and during pregnancy. And that’s not all: folic acid is undoubtedly important, but it is just part of the very important B-complex family of vitamins that are necessary to produce the genetic materials DNA and RNA, not only of the egg but also the sperm. Together with vitamin B12, folic acid works to ensure that your baby’s genetic codes are intact. Remember: it’s not enough to take folic acid alone when you are trying to become pregnant. All of the B vitamins are essential during the pre-conceptual period. Research has shown that giving B6 to women who have trouble conceiving increases fertility and vitamin B12 has been found to improve low sperm counts.

Zinc

Zinc is the most widely studied nutrient in terms of fertility for both men and women. It is an essential component of genetic material and a zinc deficiency can cause chromosome changes in either you or our partner, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Zinc is necessary for your body to ‘attract and hold’ (utilise efficiently) the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone.

And it’s equally important for your partner: zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm. Zinc is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the health of your partner’s sperm and, subsequently, your baby. Interestingly, several studies have also shown that reducing zinc in a man’s diet will also reduce his sperm count.

Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in men with low sperm counts.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These essential fats have a profound effect on every system of the body, including the reproductive system and they are crucial for healthy hormone functioning. Omega 3 fatty acids also control inflammation which may interfere with getting and staying pregnant. For men essential fatty acid supplementation is crucial because the semen is rich in prostaglandins which are produced from these fats. Men with poor sperm quality, abnormal sperm, poor motility or low count, have inadequate levels of these beneficial prostaglandins.

Many of the women I see in the clinic have been taking evening primrose oil supplements – an Omega 6 fatty acid – for years and have not been eating enough Omega 3 oils, or taking them in supplement form, to counterbalance this. Some women are also taking combinations such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 in supplement form because they have heard that we need a good balance of all the Omega fatty acids. This is true, but you have to take into account what your own levels may be in the first place. It is no good adding in more Omega 6 if you have already got enough or in fact too much in your body. (You can now have a blood test to tell you if you have the correct levels of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in your body see below). To check whether you have sufficient levels of Omega 3 please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant and has been shown to increase fertility when given to both men and women. Men going for IVF treatment with their partners have been given vitamin E, and fertilisation rates have, as a result, increased from 19 to 29 percent. It has been suggested that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E might make the sperm more fertile.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. If DNA is damaged, there may be a chromosomal problem in the baby, should the pregnancy proceed. Whether or not DNA damage does have these effects has not been conclusively proven, but it’s worth taking vitamin C and the other antioxidants as a precautionary measure.

Vitamin C also appears to keep the sperm from clumping together, making them more motile.
One study has shown that women taking the drug clomiphene to stimulate ovulation will have a better chance of ovulating if vitamin C is taken alongside the drug. Clomiphene does not always work in every woman, but the chances are often increased when vitamin C is supplemented.

Beta-Carotene

This is the vegetable precursor to Vitamin A and is completely safe during pregnancy. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect egg and sperm DNA from damage by harmful free radicals which can affect the quality of both the egg and sperm. Free radicals are highly unstable and set off a process called oxidation which can have harmful effects on the every cell in the body. Beta- carotene will be contained in your multivitamin and mineral.

L-Arginine

This is an amino acid found in many foods and the head of the sperm contains an exceptional amount of this nutrient, which is essential for sperm production. Supplementing with L-arginine can help to increase both the sperm count and quality.
Note: People who have herpes attacks (either cold sores or genital herpes) should not supplement with L-arginine because it stimulates the virus.

L-Carnitine

This amino acid is essential for normal functioning of sperm cells. According to research, it appears that the higher the levels of L-Carnitine in the sperm cells, the better the sperm count and motility.

Furthermore, by adopting a healthier lifestyle you will be more likely to prevent infertility problems which is discussed in detail in the rest of this ebook which you can read by clicking on Understanding Infertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice

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Herbs

Herbal treatment is aimed at restoring hormone imbalances, and encouraging ovulation if it is not occurring. It will also give you the best possible chance of maintaining a pregnancy.

Agnus Castus (Vitex Agnus Castus)

This is the herb of choice for helping to restore hormone imbalance and increasing fertility. In one study 48 women diagnosed with infertility took agnus castus daily for three months, 7 of them became pregnant during that time and 25 of them regained normal progesterone levels.
Agnus castus is particularly helpful for those women who have a luteal phase defect (shortened second half of the cycle) or those with high prolactin levels, because it stimulates the proper functioning of the pituitary gland which controls the hormones.

Agnus castus works to restore hormonal balance and can be used where there are hormone deficits as well as excesses it:

  • Regulates periods
  • Restarts periods which have stopped
  • Helps with heavy bleeding
  • Increases the ratio of progesterone to oestrogen by balancing excess oestrogen.

Caution

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertility drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.

I suggest that you follow this three month plan and do not try to conceive within that time. Why? Because when you follow the plan, your fertility will begin to increase. Everything needs to be working at optimum levels before you conceive, both to prevent a miscarriage, and to give you the best possible chance of having a healthy baby.

Case history

Susan and her partner were 30 and 31 respectively, and they’d been trying to have a baby for four years before coming to my clinic. They had been diagnosed with ‘unexplained fertility’ and had had four unsuccessful attempts at IUI. Susan had many problems with her periods: she had a regular cycle, but bled heavily with spotting and headaches before her period. At ovulation, her abdomen swelled up and she felt nauseous.

Both Susan and her partner were tested for infections and the tests came back positive to one infection, which was easily cleared up by antibiotics. Susan was deficient in a number of nutrients, including zinc, selenium, calcium and magnesium, and her partner had low zinc and high aluminium levels. I therefore recommended that he cut out tinned soft drinks and switch to an aluminium-free deodorant. Because I was concerned that the imbalance causing the problems with Susan’s cycle could also be a factor in her inability to conceive, I also used a combination of balancing herbs, such as agnus castus, to alleviate Susan’s spotting and heavy bleeding. Susan and her partner followed the three month programme and waited until their mineral levels were back to normal. Nine months from their first appointment day, they conceived, and, not surprisingly, had a baby another nine months later.

If you have been trying to conceive for six months

If you are under the age of 35 and have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for six months, follow the dietary and supplement suggestions given below for three months. At the end of this period, begin trying to conceive again. Give yourself six months before embarking on any fertility treatments or investigation by your doctor or a gynaecologist.

If you have been trying for six months and are over 35, follow the recommendations but visit your doctor and ask for tests to begin during that first three-month period. If you are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, then try for six months on your own before going for medical treatment.

If you have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more

If you are under the age of 35, follow the suggestions below for three months. Then try on your own for six months before embarking on fertility tests.

If you have been trying for six months and are over 35, follow the recommendations but visit your doctor and ask for tests to begin during that first three-month period. If you are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, then try for six months on your own before going for medical treatment.

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Tests

There are a number of tests available that are extremely useful and are well worth considering. These tests can give you invaluable insights into understanding what is going on in your body at the moment and can tell you what vitamin and mineral deficiencies and heavy toxic metal excesses you may have. They can let you know what your general condition is and how well your digestive system is functioning and then explain what action you need to take to rectify any imbalances the results may reveal. The analysis of these results lets you know what supplements you need to take in order to bring your body back into balance and into optimum health. This is also designed to help prevent these problems from recurring in the future. You would then be re-tested after three months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.

Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)
Find out what the mineral and heavy toxic levels are in your body

This test measures the deficiencies and excess levels of 12 different minerals (including calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc) and 6 heavy toxic metals (including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel) that may be present in your body. Find out more – Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
Discover what vitamins and minerals you need and should be taking

The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will give you a three monthly supplement programme to help balance any vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have. Find out more – Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Female Hormone Test (saliva)
A total of eleven saliva samples are collected at home at specific times across one cycle, and sent to the lab for analysis. This simple test will chart the level of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone across the month, to work out a pattern that may reveal:

  • early ovulation
  • anovulation (no ovulation)
  • problems with the phasing of the cycles, such as a short luteal phase (second half of the cycle)
  • problems with maintaining progesterone levels
  • high levels of testosterone

This test can be done even if you have irregular cycles. Find out more – Female Hormone Test (saliva)

Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)
With all the news in the press about the benefits of having good levels of vitamin D e.g. prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis it is important that you know whether or not you are lacking in this vital vitamin.

There is an increasing wealth of research linking low levels of this vitamin with infertility and immunological problems. It’s thought that Vitamin D plays a role in helping the body to maintain a pregnancy. By making mice deficient in vitamin D they can actually make them infertile. So if you’ve had a miscarriage or implantation is a problem, it is recommended that you check your level of vitamin D. Having an optimum level of vitamin D is also crucial for men as it has been associated with sperm motility and having a good amount of normal sperm. To find out whether you are deficient in Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick).

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)
If you want to find out if you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids from your diet and whether you have the correct balance of essential fatty acids.

Fish oil has also been shown to help prevent blood from clotting inappropriately so it can be beneficial to women in whom recurrent miscarriages have been linked to a clotting problem. The Omega 3 oils also control inflammation. If you want to find out if you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids from your diet and whether you have the correct balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 essential fatty acids please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick).

Infection Screen (urine)

Find out if an infection is stopping you conceiving or staying pregnant

Infections in the vagina may have a serious impact on your ability to conceive and to hold on to a pregnancy. These infections may have existed for many years with low activity and often present no symptoms. If you are having problems conceiving or have suffered from successive miscarriage or IVF failure or if you have a persistent vaginal secretion it may be worth considering having an Infection Screen.

Infections in the prostate gland may affect both the quantity and quality of the sperm, so an infection screen is advisable, especially if everything else has been ruled out.

It is advisable to get this organised at a specialist clinic like my one as the NHS infection screens can be very basic. Find out more – Infection Screen (urine)

Semen Analysis (semen)
A comprehensive test to assess both quality and quantity of sperm

A good semen analysis not only assesses the sperm for quantity and motility but quality and is best done in a specialist clinic as the quality of the results can vary considerably.

A man can now have a comprehensive semen analysis to check for sperm count, motility, abnormal sperm, agglutination (sperm clumping) and sperm antibodies.  It is then possible to use nutritional interventions to improve the semen analysis.   Find out more – Semen Analysis

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen)
Find out if you have healthy sperm DNA

The success of a viable embryo depends to a certain extent on the genetic DNA of the egg and the sperm. The Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test is designed to check whether the DNA of the sperm is liable to fragmentation (the breaking down of some of the sperms DNA strands). There is always a small amount of DNA fragmentation in sperm but this can be overcome or repaired by the egg after fertilisation. However if the fragmentation is beyond a certain level, the repair process cannot compensate enough for the damage and normal embryonic development will stop, meaning that the pregnancy can’t continue.

A high level of fragmentation in sperm cells represents a cause of male infertility that a conventional semen analysis cannot detect. So a man may be told that his sperm is normal in terms of the count, motility and morphology but could have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. Results from the medical literature have confirmed that regardless of whether you are trying to conceive naturally or with the help of IUI or IVF, a high level of sperm DNA fragmentation will seriously compromise any possibility of a successful pregnancy. Find out more – Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen)

Ovarian Reserve Test (blood)
Find out your egg store

This test measures AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) which is a hormone made by your ovaries and helps your eggs mature each month. It is also important in the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen. The level of AMH indicates how well your ovaries are functioning and represents the quantity of your egg store. The lower the level of AMH the lower the fertility level is likely to be. This is a useful test also if you are thinking about doing IVF as a low levels has been shown in clinical trials to predict poor response to IVF treatment. In order for IVF or ICSI to work, your ovaries have to respond to the drug stimulation by recruiting a group of follicles, so if AMH is low then it is more than likely that the response will be poor.Measuring AMH is also useful for women with suspected polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as the level is normally very high due to the greater number of follicles on the ovaries.This test can be done at any time of the cycle, even if you are not having a cycle. Click Ovarian Reserve Test (blood).

Immune Problems (blood)
Is your immune system stopping you getting and staying pregnant?

Immune problems may account for a large number of cases of unexplained infertility and pregnancy loss. Problems with the immune system occur when your body’s normal immune response to a pregnancy goes wrong. Your body naturally produces antibodies to fight off infection or foreign substances but during pregnancy your body should respond differently to an embryo and should form a protective blanket around it. Because half the baby’s DNA is not yours (it belongs to your partner or sperm donor), your immune system has, in effect, to quieten down in order to stay pregnant and not reject the baby. In some women, however, instead of protecting the embryo their immune system attacks it as if it were an infection or invading organism. Find out more – Immune Problems (blood)

There are a number of tests that can pinpoint whether this is a problem e.g. Natural Killer Cells and Antiphospholipid Antibodies

Natural Killer Cells (blood)
Natural killer cells are important. They make up 50 per cent of all white blood cells and are needed to control rapidly dividing cells like cancer. The theory is that some women produce too many natural killer cells which will aggressively attack any cells that grow and divide, offering protection against cancer but making pregnancy impossible. Find out more – Natural Killer Cells (blood)

Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood)
Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) are the most common kind of abnormal immune system problem. Up to 15 per cent of women with a history of recurrent miscarriage have this syndrome – and a 90 per cent miscarriage rate, without treatment. And APAs can also prevent implantation, preventing pregnancy in the first place. Phospholipids are a sort of glue needed in early pregnancy. Some women, however, produce APA blood-clotting antibodies which attack cells that build the placenta and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Anticoagulants help to prevent clotting caused by APA and both low-dose aspirin and heparin (a blood thinner) are often prescribed. Supplements of omega 3 essential fats, vitamins C and E and garlic also help to thin the blood so you should not take these if you are on blood thinners. NB. Please note some of the recommended tests are only available in conjunction with a consultation at one of my clinics. Find out more – Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood)

After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.

If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned, click, Infertility options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.

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Plan of Action

Nutrition

Ensure you are getting the right nutrition.Follow the dietary recommendations outlined in the free The Foundation of Health ebook For more information on the special dietary recommendations for fertility, read the rest of the ebook on Understanding Infertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice

Supplements

The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results

Nutrients & amounts

A good multi-vitamin & mineral supplement Vitamin C with bioflavonoids as magnesium ascorbate 1000mg
Folic Acid 400μg Zinc 30mg
Selenium 100μg L-carnitine 100mg

With all of the above for your partner, plus:

L-arginine 300mg
L-carnitine 100mg
L-taurine 100mg

To avoid having to purchase numerous supplements for all of the above and to make the process easier, I have put together a supplement programme which contains all the nutrients mentioned above and in the correct dosages. For more information about these click Infertility Supplement Programme

If you would like to order these special supplements for you and your partner now, you can do so through the Natural Health Practice by clicking Infertility Support Supplements at The Natural Health Practice.

Herbs

A good herbal formula should contain:

Herbs & amounts

 Agnus Castus 200-400mg
At the end of three months you should reassess your condition and adjust your supplement programme accordingly.

Tests

The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about fertility.

Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Female Hormone Test (saliva)

Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)

Infection Screen (urine)

Semen Analysis (semen)

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen)

Ovarian Reserve Test (blood)

Immune Problems (blood)

Natural Killer Cells (blood)

Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood)

NB. Please note some of the recommended tests are only available in conjunction with a consultation at one of my clinics.

After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.

If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Infertility options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.

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Read More

Understanding Fertility Ebook

The section above forms part of a larger ebook on Infertility.

In the rest of the ebook you will learn what the medical approaches to Infertility are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthcare of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for Infertility are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to Infertility is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.

At the end of the ebook is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.

If you would like to read the rest of this ebook click, Understanding Infertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole ebook.

Getting Pregnant Faster Book
Or if you would like even more in depth advice about Fertility you should read ‘Getting Pregnant Faster’. An international best seller acclaimed by many as “one of the best books I have ever read on Infertility.”
http://www.marilynglenville.com/womens-health-issues/infertility/

Can Herpes Affect Your Fertility?

Posted on April 19, 2018 by - Uncategorised

The stigma of herpes is long reaching. One of those quiet Sexual Transmitted Diseases, (STDs), that rarely gets talked about, this lack of communication and knowledge about the virus can lead many people to wonder what long term effects it can have on their body, health and yes even, their ability to have children in the future.

Herpes and fertility have been studied thoroughly and with good results. While it has been estimated that 20% of the total adult population either has Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), or is a carrier of the disease; and among those who do have it, a whopping 60% are symptom free, which means they have no idea that they have it, nor that they can pass it onto their partner.

This can leave a large percentage of the population fighting a virus they are unaware of. Which leads us back to our initial question: can it affect your fertility?

Most experts agree that the answer is a resounding NO. While yes, herpes is a virus that affects the genital area (the vulvas and vagina in women and the penis in men), it does not seem to cross over into other reproductive areas and has little if any affect on a man’s sperm production nor a woman’s ability to conceive. It does offer its own unique problems however when it comes to conception and pregnancy.

No, herpes doesn’t impede conception but it makes it more difficult in one respect: the fact that during an outbreak partners are encouraged to steer clear of close intimate contact, which could limit your “availability” during the most crucial baby-making time of the month. Still, most outbreaks are relatively short lived and a couple with active herpes should be able to try again to conceive within a month or two once all signs of lesions have dissipated.

Most commonly characterized by its tell-tale blisters and burning and itching in the genital area, the herpes simplex virus is easily transmitted from partner to partner, and therefore could be transmitted to a baby during delivery should an outbreak occur. Under these circumstances, most obstetricians would encourage the mother to undergo a caesarean section just to safeguard the baby’s health. Others argue that that precaution isn’t even necessary.

Still, when no open lesions are present, it is agreed that a completely natural vaginal birth can take place with no ill effects to either mother or baby. As a matter of fact, research has shown that a mother with herpes has antibodies in her blood which the baby receives during the course of the pregnancy that helps to protect the baby from getting the virus even if it comes in contact with herpes either in the womb or during the delivery process.

There are two exceptions to this finding however, that could harm a fetus, thus causing a miscarriage or stillbirth:

  • When the first herpes episode is experienced in the first trimester of pregnancy. In this instance, the virus may be too strong, thus causing a miscarriage.
  • When the first herpes episode is experienced in the third trimester of pregnancy. In this case, the baby has not had the time to develop the proper antibodies and resistance to the virus, in which case neonatal herpes may develop, which can result in infant death.

Of course these two scenarios would mean that the herpes virus was contracted during the pregnancy. For women already suffering with herpes at the time of conception, those scenarios would be impossible.

When it comes to men and herpes, there seems to be no scientific data to support any risk to his sperm or fertility. The herpes virus is not hereditary and can not be transmitted to the sperm, so a male’s fertility is completely safe from the disease.

Another concern however (for both partners) is that the herpes virus is just one of many STD’s that usually is contracted together. For instance, it is rare to contract herpes alone and not another STD with it; and those other STD’s may indeed have a direct impact on your fertility and pregnancy outcome.

So, what’s the lesson here? If you have herpes, get checked for other STD’s to make sure they are not what is standing in your way of a pregnancy; and when you do have herpes talk openly with your doctor about all of the things you can do to protect your baby both in the uterus and during delivery. Generally speaking, however, herpes has little affect on a couple’s fertility and in most cases does not pose any real threat to a pregnancy.

www.http://natural-fertility-info.com/herpes-fertility.html

Vaginal mesh: England review into scale of harm

Posted on April 12, 2018 by - Uncategorised

The government has agreed to carry out a full audit of how many women in England have suffered complications as a result of vaginal mesh implants.

Women have long complained about the implants – which are used to hold up pelvic organs to treat incontinence and prolapse – causing agony by cutting into tissue.

It is estimated more than 100,000 UK women have had a mesh fitted.

Most of them suffer no ill effects, NHS England says.

It is not clear how many women have experienced mesh complications.

But more than 800 women are taking legal action against the NHS and mesh manufacturers.

Mesh treatment for prolapse has been a particular concern.

When a prolapse occurs, doctors sometimes insert a plastic mesh, made of polypropylene, into the wall of the vagina to act as scaffolding to support organs – such as the uterus, bowel and bladder – that have fallen out of place.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recently said this surgery should effectively be banned.

Another smaller device made from the same material, called a tape, which is used to stem the flow of urine from a leaking bladder, has a much lower risk of complications, experts say.

The Department of Health have confirmed that their intention is for the mesh audit to take place, but have yet to release details.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) advises women: “If you are considering a procedure using mesh, you should have a detailed discussion with an expert healthcare professional about the benefits and risks of the surgery for you. If you decide to go ahead with a procedure using mesh, the operation should only be performed by a specialist with expertise in this technique.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “In Scotland we asked NHS Scotland health boards to suspend the use of mesh in 2014 due to clinical concerns. That suspension will remain in place until we are satisfied all necessary procedures, approvals, and restrictions are in place.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42871621

The Fertility Show Manchester 2018

Posted on March 20, 2018 by - Uncategorised

Fertility experts, clinics, organisations, an extensive seminar programme, help, guidance and advice, all in one place.

Whether you’re looking to start a family, or if you’re having difficulty conceiving for a second or third time, The Fertility Show will give you all the tools you need to make informed decisions about the options available to you to become a parent.  This is a unique environment to meet leading fertility experts, seek advice and support, and get reliable and trusted information all under one roof.

Over 4,000 visitors used our recent London and Manchester shows as a place to learn, listen and discover more.

https://www.fertilityshow.co.uk/manchester

5 Reasons to Add Acupuncture to Your Self-Care Routine

Posted on March 11, 2018 by - Uncategorised

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine used to balance the body’s flow of energy—known as chi—through the placement of tiny needles into the skin at specific points. Stimulation of these points activates your natural healing response, which results in a wealth of positive health benefits. Here are just a few…

1. You stress less.

We all strive to maintain a healthy balance with stress. As a wellness coach, I find stress management to be one of the most sought-after wellness goals of my clients. So how exactly could painless needles cause you to relax and eliminate worry from life? Acupuncture not only decreases anxiety and worry but changes the body’s response to stress with resiliency. Acupuncture addresses the physical and emotional body as well as the mind. It’s a tool you can use in self-care and provides another option to thrive.

2. You sleep more.

We all feel restored by getting enough rest. But what if your mind doesn’t stop even after you hit the pillow? With high levels of stress, over 60 million Americans struggle with insomnia. Acupuncture uses an interconnected approach. When one part of the body is strained it affects the overall essence of the body and can result in emotions such as anxiety, sleeplessness, worry, and depression. “One’s essence can be compared to what Western medicine would think of as DNA,” says Christian I. Jovanovic, Acupuncture and TCM Program Director & Assistant Professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. We may be unable to change our genetic disposition, but we are able to address those areas where there’s a systematic weakness or challenge.

3. You radiate beauty.

Acupuncture not only offers internal health but results in outward beauty benefits. Cosmetically, acupuncture facial treatments target acne, puffiness, dullness, and wrinkles by improving skin elasticity, texture, and complexion. Acupuncture balances all body systems, which includes our lymphatic and circulatory systems. “The face reflects one’s internal well-being,” explains acupuncturist Colleen Moore, M.A., L.Ac. and clinical supervisor at Northwestern Health Sciences Bloomington Clinic. “True beauty is when your chi (known as energy) is flowing freely.”

4. You address the cause.

Issues such as pain, decreased immune response, thyroid imbalance, and low energy levels can be treated by acupuncture. The whole-body approach moves beyond the ailment to address the root cause and offer systematic healing. “Acupuncture is part of a larger holistic care model for the individual, it is a complementary collaborative medicine option,” says Jovanovic.

5. You create lasting change.

During a personalized acupuncture treatment, your practitioner not only addresses the root cause of imbalances in your body but offers lifestyle guidance (nutrition, sleep, activity, stress) for consistent and realistic behavior changes and a future of wellbeing.

http://mspmag.com/health-and-fitness/5-reasons-to-add-acupuncture-to-your-self-care-routine-in-2018/