The infertility cure: The ancient Chinese wellness program for getting pregnant and having healthy babies

321 Pages·2005·14.39 MB·English

by  Randine Lewis

Dr. Randine Lewis's patients
and readers of The Infertility Cure
express their gratitude and joy
"It's a healthy BOY! We are thrilled! And "Starting out as the biggest skeptic on TCM, I
relieved, as everything looked good on the have been having treatments for nine months
ultrasound. I feel like I can relax a little now and am currently eleven weeks pregnant with
and enjoy the rest of this pregnancy. It amazes my second IVF cycle. Dr. Lewis's knowledge of
me every day that I was able to conceive this Eastern and Western medicine and her ability
baby, especially after what I was told by doc- to understand and leverage both, as appropri
tors. I thank you so much for your guidance ate, obviously helps her success rates with her
and wisdom because if I hadn't picked up patients."
your book seven months ago, I know I prob- - Renee B., Seattle, Washington
ably wouldn't be carrying this life inside me
now."
- L. K., Washington, DC "My body, mind, and soul have been greatly
enhanced as a result of experiencing Dr.
Lewis's program. Through her truly caring
"Dr. Lewis was a true gift from God during my spirit she not only provided me hope (I now
journey with infertility. I believe that the tradi know that there's no such thing as 'old eggs'!),
tional Chinese medicine she administered dur she also gave me the greatest blessing of
ing my IVF cycle contributed to my success of all - the tools to attain outstanding health on
giving birth to a precious little boy. It provided every level. For this, and so much more, I am
the support my body needed and allowed me forever grateful."
to relax during the procedure. I don't fully - Denise N., Jupiter, Florida
understand the magiC of the medicine, but I
would not consider another IVF cycle without
supplementing it with acupuncture." "I combined Western and Eastern treatments
- Kim c., Houston, Texas for infertility. I know the traditional Chinese
medicine treatment made the difference in the
success of my IVF cycle .... We now have a
beautiful two-week-old boy!!"
- Lisa S., Houston, Texas
"Dr. Lewis, I am not sure if you will remem "I went through IVF last month and just found
ber me but I am an acupuncturist near Char out that I am pregnant! We had two embryos
lotte, North Carolina, and we spoke on the implanted; I've had two blood tests to date -
phone in the spring of last year. Well, long the first beta was 125 and the second was 334,
story short ... I continued with your nutri so everything looks good so far. I wanted to
tional supplementation advice and with my thank you, Dr. Lewis, for giving me your treat
TCM doc over the summer of '03 and then ments and recommendations, which led to my
we decided to start the adoption process .... miracle. On a more personal note, you were the
Four days later I found out that I was preg one who gave me the hope and belief to try one
nant. Currently we are eighteen weeks and last time. We still can't believe it is true and
everything looks good. THANK YOU SO probably won't believe it until I'm delivering. I
MUCH!" had continued my acupuncture throughout the
- Marcia H., Charlotte, North Carolina rest of the year and up until my transfer. I also
went through the pre- and post-transfer
acupuncture and I believe all of it made my
"Although my husband had low sperm count pregnancy come true. I will always be grateful."
and motility, we both went to see Dr. Lewis. - Maria H., Houston, Texas
We were about to begin the process of our sec
ond IVF cycle with ICSI (intracytoplasmic
sperm injection). We were becoming more "After many months of medical intervention
desperate and less hopeful. The treatments (injections and lUI's) for unexplained infertil
were to prepare me to respond better to the ity, I began treatments with Randine Lewis.
medications and the entire stressful medical The weekly sessions were very relaxing, and
procedure. I felt better immediately; the most within a month I had more energy and gener
miraculous result, however, was that when my ally felt better. My reproductive endocrinolo
husband had his next sperm analysis, his gist began noticing physical and physiological
sperm count was normal! We decided to try changes after just two months of acupuncture
naturally, and realized we didn't even know and herbal treatments. Four months after I
when the timing was right. Dr. Lewis became met Dr. Lewis, I became pregnant. My pre
our fertility counselor. I am so proud and cious daughter will go through life hearing the
elated to report that we are now pregnant with story of how she would not be here if it were
our first child. We have so much hope now not for the caring hands of Dr. Lewis. It sad
that we will be able to have the family we had dens me to think that there are women who
always dreamed of." are not informed, or who hesitate to seek Dr.
- Kei H., Houston, Texas Lewis's help, and continue to struggle need
lessly with infertility."
- Sharon L., Houston, Texas
"I read this book cover to cover, then went "I am sitting here nursing our two-day-old
back to page one and read it again. The wis- son .... I am eternally grateful for your guid
dom, information, and hope it provided gave ance and expertise."
me the power to help myself and, ultimately, - Diana K., Houston, Texas
find my fertile soul."
- Suzanne R., Los Angeles, California
"I was very skeptical about going to an
acupuncturist. I was from a traditional med
"My reproductive endocrinologist is very ical family, but during my first appointment I
excited about my FSH level and gave me was so relaxed that I fell asleep! After going
instructions to begin Fallistim injections. I am to Dr. Lewis for a couple of weeks, I had much
taking two vials per day. I just wanted to tell more energy and felt a lot more relaxed in gen
you how grateful I am for Dr. Lewis's help and eral. She predicted that I would get pregnant
how amazed I am at how quickly these within six weeks to six months of seeing her,
changes have taken place in my cycle! I can't and at the six-week mark I was pregnant! We
thank you enough!" are expecting our baby at the end of October."
- D.C., Wilmington, Delaware - Laura W., Houston, Texas
"When I first came to see Dr. Lewis, I had "I am now almost nineteen weeks. My morn
many medical problems other than infertility. ing sickness is gone and I'm well into the sec
I had severe depression, and an autoimmune ond trimester. The amnio results came back
condition, which I believed was part of my Wednesday with the great news of us growing
inability to get pregnant. Dr. Lewis assured me a normal boy. I hope/think we are finally now
that as we worked on my mood disorder and at a point where we can truly enjoy every kick
autoimmunity, my reproductive system would and doctor's visit. I credit you and your herbs
become healthier in the process. With her and needles for giving us this normal little
help, I was able to wean myself off my anti bean to grow. Saying thank you doesn't seem
depressants (with my psychiatrist's consent). to be enough. But thank you for the miracle
We were successful in having a baby, and you have performed."
my autoimmune condition is now in remis - Shaye H., Galveston, Texas
sion. I trust Dr. Lewis completely and always
knew that my overall well-being was more
important to her than anything else. She
steered me in the right direction at every step
of the way."
- Michelle H., Houston, Texas

THE
I N F E R T I L I T y
c u
R E
The Ancient Chinese Wellness
Program for Getting Pregnant
and Having Healthy Babies
Randine Lewis, Ph.D.
Master of Science in Oriental Medicine
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
New York Boston London
Dedicated to all women whose yearning to express life
will bring forth the children of tomorrow.
To the children born of these dedicated women:
may you always know how much you were cherished -
even before you were born.
For Theresa
For Kyra
For Lars
Thank you for expressing yourselves in my life.
Copyright © 2004 by Dr. Randine Lewis
Illustrations © 2004 by Brian Carli
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com
Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc.
The Little, Brown logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc.
Originally published in hardcover by Little, Brown and Company, January 2004
First paperback edition, March 2005
Acknowledgment of permission to reprint previously copyrighted material appear on page 302.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lewis, Randine A.
The infertility cure: the ancient Chinese wellness program for getting pregnant and having
healthy babies/Randine Lewis.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-316-17229-5 (hc) I 978-0-316-15921-0 (pb)
1. Infertility, Female - Alternative treatment. 2. Medicine, Chinese. I. Title.
RG201.L492004
618.1'7806-dc22 2003054642
1098765
RRD-C
Designed by Meryl Sussman LevavVDigitext
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
How TO USE THIS BOOK IX
INTRODUCTION: FROM INFERTILITY TO MOTHERHOOD XI
Part I. Changing Your Mind About Infertility
1. THERE'S No SUCH THING AS INFERTILITY 3
2. CORRECTING THE "CONCEPTION MISCONCEPTIONS" OF
WESTERN MEDICINE 10
3. THE EASTERN VIEW OF YOUR BODY AND ITS NEEDS 18
4. "WHY CAN'T I GET PREGNANT?" A QUESTIONNAIRE OF DISCOVERY 36
Part II. The Ancient Chinese Program
for Reproductive Wellness 51
5. STEP ONE: PREPARING THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
BALANCING OPPOSING ENERGIES 55
6. STEP Two: DIET AND LIFESTYLE-TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY
GENTLY AND NATURALLY 78
/ VII /
~ CONTENTS
7. STEP THREE: CLEARING YOUR ENERGY WITH ACUPUNCTURE
AND ACUPRESSURE 100
8. STEP FOUR: USING HERBAL REMEDIES TO PROMOTE
VIBRANT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 130
Part III. Fertility in Special Circumstances: How
to He 1p We s t ern -D i a g nos e d 0 b s t a cl est 0 Fer ti li t Y 159
9. LUTEAL PHASE DEFECT: STRENGTHENING THE KIDNEYS AND SPLEEN 161
10. ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE (IF YOU'RE OVER THIRTY-FIVE,
PLEASE READ) 173
11. "UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY": OVERCOMING
THE MOST FRUSTRATING DIAGNOSIS 189
12. IMMUNOLOGIC REACTION AND RECURRENT MISCARRIAGE:
BRINGING YOUR BODY INTO HARMONY WITH ITSELF 199
13. ENDOMETRIOSIS AND FIBROIDS: CLEANSING YOUR UTERUS So
A CHILD CAN GROW 215
14. PC OS AND POF: You CAN HEAL YOUR OVARIES 227
15. MECHANICAL INFERTILITY: CLEARING THE PATH TO CONCEPTION 242
16. MALE-FACTOR INFERTILITY: IT STILL TAKES Two TO MAKE A BABY 251
17. USING CHINESE MEDICINE TO COMPLEMENT ASSISTED
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY 262
18. HEALING THE SOUL AND BODY WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS 277
FURTHER READING 284
GLOSSARY 285
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 292
INDEX 293
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 303
/ VIII /
How to Use This Book
If you have been diagnosed with specific conditions that affect your fertility,
your natural inclination may be to turn directly to the chapters in part 3 that
deal with your particular problem. But to benefit most from this book, you
need to know the basics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) so you may
correctly apply the suggestions contained in the book's later chapters. With a
little background in the principles of TCM, you will be able to understand of
the causes of your own particular fertility challenges and then discover how to
treat them using this ancient form of healing.
At a minimum I suggest that you do the following:
., Read chapter 3. It will give you a foundation in the principles of TCM .
• Read chapter 4 and take the diagnostic test. This is essential if you wish to
discover and understand the causes of your infertility according to TCM.
In chapter 4 you'll also learn a series of abbreviations that are used
throughout the book to refer to specific imbalances in the different Organ
systems of the body. Once you know which imbalances are affecting you,
you can look for the symbol for your particular imbalances in the chapters
on diet, lifestyle, acupuncture, and herbs, as well as in any chapters deal
ing with Western-diagnosed conditions .
• I also recommend that you read all of part 2, "The Ancient Chinese Pro
gram for Reproductive Wellness." This section describes the various treat
ments of TCM, that you can apply to your diagnosis later in the book.
fix f