Research, Case Studies & Testimonials
Miscarriage overview
Published On: Thursday, April 3, 2014
Category: Miscarriage
'Miscarriage and Chinese medicine - The basic considerations'
Studies now support practitioner’s experience that Chinese medicine can play a significant role in the prevention of recurrent miscarriages. Women whose recurrent miscarriages are immune-related benefit from Chinese herbal medicine prior to their next pregnancy, a research from Japan shows.
Another study from Shanghai indicates that in a large percentage of women with a history of recurrent miscarriage who again show signs of a threatened abortion, the pregnancy can be saved with correct treatment.
In pregnancies at risk (history of infertility or previous miscarriages), women may be asked to continue taking their basal body temperature (BBT) readings for the first few weeks into the pregnancy and or progesterone blood tests: valuable information regarding the hormone regulation is thus obtained, and the vigour of what we call Kidney Yang (stable maintenance of a raised temperature), an important indicator of the stability of the pregnancy, is thus monitored. If there is a drop in temperature, herbs need to be immediately administered to support ovarian functions.
Failure of Implantation: the role of Chinese Medicine
Conditions of the fallopian tubes or uterus affect implantation and the early growth of the foetus. The fallopian tube or the uterus might have excess fluid or mucus on the surface that makes it difficult for the embryo to transverse, implant, or flourish. This excess fluid is called dampness in Chinese medicine, and aim of treatment is to clear any excess fluid with herbs or acupuncture.
The endometrial lining might not provide an even surface with appropriate sites for attachment, implantation, and growth. In Chinese medicine this is often diagnosed as Blood stagnation (poor microcirculation in the uterus). Blood stagnation is best treated during the menstruation to ensure a thorough discharge of the old endometrium and smooth remodelling of fresh endometrial tissue.
Some women have too thin an endometrial lining that cannot sustain a growing foetus. Here herbs and acupuncture are given particularly after the period to aid the rebuilding of a thick uterine lining. Thin endometrial lining can be a very frustrating side effect both of the use of clomiphene/clomid particularly in older women and during an IVF cycle where a thin lining <7mm can stop the embryo transfer. Women who have this problem should take Chinese herbal medicine and have acupuncture to improve blood flow and nourishment to the endometrium. Often we find a systemic ‘Blood or yin deficiency’ or heat that need to be resolved to improve the lining.
