In Chinese Medicine, we recommend dietary choices based on the patient's constitution and Chinese Medicine fertility diagnosis. Some common foods for fertility may be suitable for your body type and diagnosis and some may be detrimental. Let's have a look at what this means....
What are some common diagnoses for fertility patients?
Qi Stagnation
Qi Deficiency
Damp
Yang Deficiency (Cold)
Yin Deficiency
Blood Deficiency
Blood Stasis
Heat
I have listed these conditions in their basic form, without the linked organ. For example you may have been diagnosed with Liver Qi Stagnation or Kidney Yang Deficiency. The organ is less relevant in terms of diet, so let's keep it simple!
For a full explanation of the organ involvement and a list of symptoms, complete the CONTACT FORM to receive your FREE GIFT 'Working With Your Cycle' which explains all diagnoses in detail.
Foods to Move Qi Stagnation:
Coriander - relives period pain
Carrot Cayenne Basil Clove Radish
Garlic Dill seed Orange peel Turmeric
Qi is energy. When the flow of Qi becomes is impaired it is called Qi Stagnation.
Qi Stagnation can cause blockages in the fertility organs, preventing implantation and causing PMT symptoms, emotional changes and period pain.
Foods to Nourish Qi Deficiency:
Rice Cherry Chicken Lentils Sweet potato
Coconut Dates Mackerel Squash Tofu
Ginseng Oats Yam Grapes Potato
Qi Deficiency is related to the Spleen. The Spleen makes Blood and Qi in Chinese Medicine. The Spleen likes warm foods and sweet flavours (natural). Cold and uncooked foods damage the Spleen, so always eat warm, cooked foods and avoid fridge cold foods and salads if you have Spleen Qi Deficiency. If you're unsure, most people have some Spleen Qi Deficiency!
Foods to Clear Damp:
Adzuki beans Alfafa Anchovy Barley Celery Parsley Onion
Corn Garlic Turnip Green Tea Horseradish Marjoram Radish Rye
Jasmine tea Kidney Bean Lemon Button mushroom Mackerel
Damp is also related to the Spleen. A strong Spleen should enable the fluids of the body (and fertility organs) to flow freely. If the Spleen Qi is weak, the fluids become stagnant and cause Damp Accumulation. If this occurs in the Sacral chakra and fertility organs, it can cause blocked tubes, polyps, cysts, ovulation disorders, PCOS and implantation issues.
If you have Damp, AVOID DAIRY, PEANUTS, BANANAS, RAW AND COLD FOODS, PROCESSED FOODS and BEER.
Foods to Tonify Yang:
Basil Chestnut Chive seed Cinnamon Clove Trout
Dill seed Fennel seed Fenugreek seed Garlic Ginger Thyme
Lobster Nutmeg Pistacchio Quinoa Sage Shrimp Star Anise
Yang Deficiency is related to warmth. Yang is a masculine , warming energy. When it is deficient, particularly in the Kidney which is closely related to the Uterus, it causes the Uterus to be cold, which leads to a poor environment for embryo implantation.
With Yang deficiency, you may have: cold hands and feet, cold abdomen and bottom and you may feel the cold. Fertility issues include: low progesterone, short luteal phase, BBT chart slow to rise after ovulation and miscarriages.
Follow the advice for Qi deficiency if you have Yang deficiency as they work alongside each other.
Foods to Nourish Yin:
Apple Asparagus Shellfish Egg Honey
Yam Lemon Mango Pea Ginger Thyme Watermelon
Pear Pineapple Pomegranate Seaweed Sesame Tofu Tomato
Cheese and Milk (if you don't have Damp)
Yin Deficiency is related to cooling energy. Yin is a feminine energy. When it is deficient, it causes dry skin, night sweat, hot flushes and will affect the follicular phase and reproductive hormones.
With Kidney Yin deficiency, you may have: low AMH, short or long follicular phase, poor egg or embryo quality, over active thyroid, thin uterine lining.
Foods to Move Blood Stasis:
Chive Brown Sugar Chestnut Chilli Spring onion Turmeric
Crab Hawthorn Berry Mustard Leaf Onion Vinegar
Blood follows Qi. When the Qi stops flowing, so does the Blood. When there is a blockage of Blood, we call it Blood Stasis in Chinese Medicine.
Blood Stasis can cause blood clots and pooling in the fertility organs, preventing implantation and causing heavy, painful periods, large clots, fibroids, polyps and endometriosis.
Foods to Nourish Blood:
Avocado Red meat Beetroot Egg Dandelion Lentils
Blackcurrant Bone broth Kale Spinach Fig Grapes Kidney Beans
Nettle Cherry Carrots
When the Spleen Qi is weak, it fails to make Blood. This can lead to Blood Deficiency which may show up as the following symptoms:
Light periods, dull headaches, dizziness, thin uterine lining, long follicular phase, PCOS.
Foods to Clear Heat :
Apple Cabbage Mung Beans Asparagus Clams Elderflower Potato
Bamboo shoots Grapefruit Banana Lemon Tofu Barley Millet Watermelon
Excess can develop when the Qi or the Blood isn't flowing properly. When there is heat in the Blood, it can lead to: heavy periods, mid-cycle bleeding. You usually see this alongside other diagnoses which cause implantation issues and IVF failures.
Fertility patients usually have more than one diagnosis. In acupuncture, we treat the diagnosis that is causing the most issues first. But we also clear excess before we treat deficiencies. We also treat according to the stage of your cycle.
Therefore for the most effective dietary advice:
Book an appointment to discuss your Chinese Medicine diagnoses and which is the most prevalent.
Follow the lifestyle advice sheet (Working With Your Cycle) which includes exercise and tips at home, not limited to diet alone.
Don't be strict with your diet, enjoy yourself too!
I hope this helped!
Natalia
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