Here at The Yinova Center, we are dedicated to providing complementary care with meaningful results by using an integrative Eastern Medicine approach. We treat a wide range of conditions from allergies to back pain and everything in between, but what we’re known for is our expertise in reproductive health and fertility.
Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, is part of the greater holistic system of Traditional East Asian Medicine and has been used for thousands of years to boost fertility and address the kinds of medical problems that prevent individuals and couples from conceiving. Recently, it has become a popular adjunctive treatment to IVF after studies have shown that it can increase the efficacy of IVF by 50%.
TCM practitioners have many tools at their disposal, from acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to bodywork and therapeutic heat therapy. Beyond these methods, they also lean on the wisdom of this ancient medicine to provide patients with guidance tailored to the individual’s lifestyle, diet, exercise, sleep, or other behaviors that may be significantly impacting one’s fertility status or overall health.
Using this entire toolkit has been called a Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine approach. In this way, we uncover a patient’s specific diagnosis or what we call their “pattern of disharmony” and once revealed, we use all our medical ‘tools’ to re-organize and harmonize that pattern.
Here at Yinova, we are dedicated to putting our patients back in charge. We take the time to understand your unique needs, then develop a treatment plan with tangible goals. We don’t just relieve symptoms—we get to the cause of a condition and address both the root and the branch issue. Our practitioners are partners throughout the entire process, empowering you to play an active role in realizing your potential.
Chinese Medicine’s Approach to Fertility
People are often surprised to hear that Chinese medicine’s whole systems approach can help individuals or couples conceive naturally. At Yinova, we follow the Making Babies approach to fertility supported by the evidence that effecting change over a 3-month “pre-mester” can help regulate and improve each of the 4 stages of a menstrual cycle. We use Chinese medicine as part of a holistic approach to treating many fertility-related problems such as PCOS, endometriosis, luteal phase defect, irregular cycles, and amenorrhea.
Chinese medicine supports fertility, first and foremost, by helping to regulate menstrual cycles and by helping them become healthier and stronger versions of themselves. Understanding one’s own unique menstrual cycle is fundamental to helping improve fertility outcomes. For example, one’s individual cycle pattern can be revealed through taking your basal body temperature (BBT) and by observing changes in cervical mucus throughout the month. Tracking this can give clues into when a woman ovulates or in some cases, does not. Ovulation is key for obvious reasons as this is when the egg is ready for fertilization.
Another feature of using TCM, when trying to conceive naturally, is determining which phase of the cycle needs attention. For example, sometimes we might need to treat during the menstrual phase, to move out old blood that could be interfering with conception. At Yinova, we rely on the use of custom Chinese herbal formulas to help with things like this. Our skilled practitioners tweak your personal herbal formulation, as needed throughout your cycle, to help address any subtle shifts that may be occurring.
Chinese Medicine’s Approach to Supporting People who are using Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to boost fertility and address the kinds of medical problems that prevent someone from conceiving. Once considered an unusual treatment, acupuncture has now become a valued and more mainstream method of enhancing an IVF cycle. At Yinova, we have supported many people as they go through IVF and other ART procedures by using acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
As successive studies point to its efficacy, couples are more comfortable about adding a course of acupuncture to their IVF protocol. There are studies that show how adding acupuncture can increase the efficacy of IVF by 50%. You can read more about that study here.
Acupuncture is helpful to improve success rates of IUI, as well, by increasing blood flow to the ovaries during a medicated cycle, relaxing the uterus to make it more receptive to the treatment, and it can address uterine spasms that may occur after an IUI procedure. Acupuncture simultaneously works to enhance the fertility drugs prescribed by your doctor, and offsets side effects you might experience from these medications. Additionally, acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety, inviting your body to rest and restore.
Nothing is more frustrating than feeling like your health is out of your hands. Whether you’re trying to conceive or trying to heal, you just want to be in control. But when your body doesn’t cooperate, it’s easy to feel like wellness is beyond your reach.
At Yinova, we’re here to help you take your health in hand, by providing transformative care for meaningful change. We are always here to support you, whether you’re trying to conceive naturally, or through the use of ART.
Thea McCallion has over 18 years of professional experience as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, licensed acupuncturist, nationally board-certified clinical herbalist, and educator. She credits her formative years studying and working in Japan and China as the beginning of her journey to becoming a practitioner of East Asian Medicine. In 2002, Thea earned her Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City and is currently teaching clinical practice skills to future professionals. Thea treats patients cooperatively with her Western Medical colleagues in order to provide the most integrated and comprehensive care. She is passionate about supporting people during all stages of their lives and has extensive experience enhancing fertility, promoting healthy menstrual cycles, and helping through the transitions of menopause. She is enthusiastic about helping individuals and couples enhance their ability to conceive and looks forward to continuing this work at Yinova by supporting natural cycle pregnancies and those facilitated by assisted reproductive technologies. Thea loves East Asian Medicine because it offers a holistic framework for patients to attain a healthy balance within their body, mind, and emotions. When not in treatments with patients or teaching, Thea enjoys walks in Prospect Park with her husband, cooking and baking with her teenage daughter, and doing Yoga and Qi Gong for her own health and well-being.