Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that can accompany you and help you during this difficult time.
Traditional Chinese medicine and miscarriages
Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to TCM, a balanced person is a happy person. When an imbalance occurs, ailments appear.
Most miscarriages are the result of a physical imbalance stemming from an empty Kidney and/or Spleen.
In some cases, chromosomal abnormalities of the foetus can cause a miscarriage. Fortunately, acupuncture can prevent them.
Organs according to TCM
Acupuncturists use the theory of five elements as grid to find and analyze the signs and symptoms of a person. As you can see in the following grid, each organ is associated to an element.
|
Element |
Associated organ |
|
Wood |
Liver |
|
Fire |
Heart |
|
Earth |
Spleen |
|
Metal |
Lung |
|
Water |
Kidney |
The vision of the organs in TCM is different from what Western medicine as accustomed us to.
The Liver and Spleen are the organs involved in a miscarriage.
Kidney: According to TCM, Kidneys are our roots. They are our innate and acquired, what our parents gave us at birth and what we make of our lives. Kidneys are very important during growth, puberty, reproduction, pregnancy and menopause. They are our reserves. They must be strong to allow pregnancy and avoid miscarriages.
Spleen: The Spleen transports and transforms food. It has a crucial role in the production of blood that must feed muscles, organs, brain, uterus and foetus. A pregnant woman must have enough blood to create a welcoming living environment for the embryo and to feed it.
Liver: The Liver allows storing blood and making it circulate in the body. Our liver is affected by our Western lifestyle. Stress, anger, alcohol, tobacco and coffee are elements that disrupt our Liver and prevent the free flow of blood in the body.
Acupuncture, a curative and preventive medicine
In the West, we usually consult a doctor or an alternative therapist when we experience discomforts or symptoms. However, a great part of acupuncture lies in its preventive aspect.
In addition to being an interesting alternative to help women recover from miscarriages, acupuncture is very effective during preconception or during the first stages of pregnancy. It helps tone the body and prevents miscarriages.
Acupuncture after a miscarriage
“In Chinese gynaecology, it is said that miscarriages are worse than childbirth”. 2 In addition to an important blood loss, women suffer serious emotional and mental shocks. This loss brings a lot of sadness and is too often underestimated. It suddenly unbalances the body.
Acupuncture rebalances the body and mind by toning the blood, Kidney and Spleen and soothing the Liver. These treatments help women recover faster after a miscarriage and prepare the body for a new pregnancy.
Normally, a few treatments are enough to restore the balance and women will see many benefits:
- Increased energy
- Better sleep
- Good digestion
- Decreased anxiety, restlessness and stress
Acupuncture in preconception
Women who experienced one or several miscarriages should consult acupuncturists for a few treatments in preconception.
During your first appointment with an acupuncturist, he will ask you a few questions regarding the reason for your visit but also regarding you general health and history. He will figure your energy balance and will be able to find imbalances.
Preconception treatments aim to invigorate the body to stimulate fertility and prepare the body to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.
Acupuncture in early pregnancy
Unique miscarriages are different than repeated miscarriages (more than three). Luckily, it is not because you had a miscarriage that you will have another next time.
Acupuncture in early pregnancy is very effective to reduce the risks of miscarriage. Therefore, treatments are highly recommended for women who experienced more than one. Indeed, toning the Kidneys and Spleen, we can avoid several miscarriages that are the result of an emptiness in the body.
We usually recommend one treatment per week until the end of the first trimester (12 weeks). In addition to making your body stronger, the acupuncturist can treat other little discomforts such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Anguish, anxiety stress
- Insomnia
- Constipation
At the same time, you will enjoy a beneficial and well-deserved rest.
References
1 Statistics Canada, 2007
2 Maciocia, Giovanni, Gynécologie et obstétrique en Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise, p.79
