Chinese medicine views the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle energetically. We see that the kidney essence must be adequate to produce progesterone and hold the heating aspect of the menstrual cycle. Spleen qi must be able to “hold” the energies that allow implantation. The qi and blood must be unobstructed, without excess heat or dampness.

HERB-005 Tonify Kidney Qi: Luteal Phase Support helps the body encourage progesterone production by strengthening corpus luteal function. It encourages your body to develop the vascularization, glandular development and proteins necessary for implantation, and hold the kidney energies. This formula may be used following any follicular phase formula. It may be used alone or can be combined with Vitalize Spleen, Resolve Stagnation, and Invigorate Blood formulas.

Soaking your feet in a warm Epsom salt bath each night can also help tonify the kidney energies. Eating walnuts,, pumpkin seeds and yams can also help build up the energies that support progesterone production.

I do not advocate limiting your activities during the luteal phase, unless you tire easily. Any mild exercise that you enjoy during the first half of the cycle is appropriate for the latter half of the cycle. Throughout history, nature did not intend that you even know that you might be pregnant until a period was missed. Nature wasn’t mistaken. I think the wisdom of nature was well aware that if the human psyche got involved in thinking we could control implantation, our own stress mechanisms would make it worse. Relax. It’s the best thing you can do for your fertility. Live your life as if your future child was evaluating what life with you would be like. Would they want you to be stressed? Neurotically trying to control their entrance?

I had some luteal phase issues, and the one month I thought there was no chance I could be pregnant, I stopped supplementing with progesterone. I stopped taking my herbs. I went on a ski trip that I never would have gone on if I thought I might be pregnant. Nature knew better. That was the month I let go, and all of the things that I had been doing (acupuncture, meditation, qi gong, and herbs) were finally allowed to take hold. The one missing ingredient was that I was trying to control all of these things. When I let go the energies opened up and allowed a pregnancy.

Fortunately, Chinese medicine has found curative relief for endometriosis. Herb-004 Invigorate Blood: Uterine Health Formula is based on a Chinese remedy to revitalize patterns of static blood in the uterus, reducing the inflammatory reaction and immune involvement.

I do not find it particularly valuable to know if one has been diagnosed with endometriosis. If there are symptoms of menstrual pain; blood clots; sticky black, brown or dark purple menstrual flow; and/or painful intercourse, it is an indication that the static blood needs to be enlivened so implantation can be allowed. This process often takes many months (3 – 9) to calm down, depending on its severity.

In addition to Herb-004 Invigorate Blood, I also recommend the following adjunctive treatments for endometriosis:

-       application of castor oil packs to the lower abdomen and uterine massage

-       follow the spleen qi diet, reduce red meat and animal fat

-       supplement with USANA essentials, proflavanol, and visionex

-       OPC, 250 mg/day

-       Wobenzym, taken between meals on an empty stomach

-       Nattokinase, take as directed

This regimen has been found curative. I have treated patients with Stage IV Endometriosis, who, after a few months on this plan, on repeat laparoscopy, had no evidence of endometriosis. Of course, the symptoms subsided as well.

More information: http://thefertilesoul.com/shop/herbs/chinese-herbs

If you view the connection between the pituitary gland and the ovaries as a river, disorders of sugar regulation could be likened to sludge in the river bed, reducing the flow of communication between the messages from the pituitary gland and how quickly they are received and responded to by the ovaries.

One particular herb in the formulation, gleditsia spine, has been reported to reduce the waxy capsule around the ovaries that can hinder the release of the egg during ovulation. Gleditsia spine is not to be taken during pregnancy, which is why we stress taking this formulation prior to ovulation only.

Women with delayed ovulation may find ovulation coming earlier and earlier with continued use of this formulation during the follicular phase. It does not have this effect in women whose ovulation occurs during the expected mid-cycle range.

Women who have disruptions in sugar metabolism that impact ovulation can also benefit from supplementing the diet with NAC, chlorophyll, chromium picolinate, inositol, fenugreek, and bitter melon.

Sylvia had no formal diagnosis of PCOS, insulin resistance, or glucose intolerance. Yet, she always felt a little light headed when she was hungry, and craved sweets most of the time. She felt sluggish and tired and had a few immunologic markers. Her physician started her on Clomid, and prescribed Glucophage, although her glucose levels were within the normal range. These drugs made her feel even worse, and she did not become pregnant. Before proceeding with the suggested IVF, Sylvia removed sugar, refined carbohydrates, gluten and cow’s dairy from her diet. She supplemented with antioxidants, NAC, and chromium picolinate, and took the Resolve Damp formulation during the follicular phase followed by the Vitalize Spleen Qi formulation during the luteal phase. Immediately she felt the results. Her energy improved, her cycles shortened, ovulation came earlier each month, and she became pregnant in less than six months.

More information: http://thefertilesoul.com/shop/herbs/chinese-herbs

This nourishing formula may even be used concurrently with ovarian stimulation, with your doctor’s approval. This formulation has been shown to lower FSH, encourage folliculogenesis, raise AMH values and encourage ovarian response. I encourage its use in women with premature ovarian failure, poor ovarian response, advanced maternal age, or to build up the reproductive energies before or after a stimulated cycle.

More information: http://thefertilesoul.com/shop/herbs/chinese-herbs

H2O. Two atoms of the first element, and one of that which infuses us with qi.

Chinese medicine ascribes great value to the element water, the most abundant element in life. Our bodies are composed of about 80% water. Embryos are approximately 99% water. If we die of old age, we will probably be about 70% water. Water is depleted as we age. The reproductive system belongs to the element water, that which gives rise to life. Water governs the process of growth, maturation and decline. It oversees hormonal functioning. It is responsible for water balance of the kidneys and urinary bladder. Water produces the will to survive, and the instinct of fear. Water also governs the ears and sound, the carrier of vibration, and our potential to bring forth life. Energetically, that which gives rise to water thrives in stillness, and requires deep restoration.

Water is depleted by fear, overwork, exhaustion, and overstimulation.  It is restored by relaxation, quiet, meditation, and by having a deep sense of knowing who we are. It is nourished by conserving our reserves; and not squandering them by the demands of life.

In Eastern thought, the sound Om connects us to the original vibration of creation. When we allow ourselves to deeply touch into our depths, we often find fear of the unknown, of our own origin. But when we allow ourselves not to run into the demands of life and face our own origin, our own fears, the result is a courageous wisdom that allows us to live from the strength of water’s greatest virtue – the spirit of water or zhi. The Chinese character for zhi is ? Zhi – A shoot emerging from the depths of the heart, or an inner direction that develops like an emerging plant, lifting up from the underground. Zhi describes the deepest aspect of who we are, that which provides us a rooted direction in life. It is our deepest remembering of who we really are.

We have access to recognize the spark of the divine within, through which life arises. The power of water is the place between stillness and life, where our deepest wisdom resides, giving rise to an instinctual power that ignites the flame of organic processes.

The characteristic of water is to seek the depths, always penetrating into the unfathomable origin. Consider this yourself. Can you rise above your deepest fears by penetrating into your own depths:

What vibration are you emitting? Is it in resonance with your deepest self? Can you find the courage to touch into your own subconscious mind? Can you dare to come into your greatest wisdom, found in stillness that brings forth the miraculous potential of how your highest vibration may be made manifest? This is where creation is expressed. This is fertility. This is your birthright.

A full breath triggers the respiratory center in the medulla to activate peptides and endorphins, the initiators of your hormonal system, These peptides are released into the central nervous system and circulate throughout the body. The microcosmic orbit activates the respiratory center, circulating its messages of relaxation and receptivity throughout the entire body, most notably the HPO axis. Perform this breathing exercise any chance you have.  As you become experienced, the microcosmic breath should begin to flow as a single movement, and will be done effortlessly.

The Original MCO Breath

1. Place tongue on the roof of mouth, behind the front teeth.
2. Inhale through the nose and down the center of the body, through the lungs down the rib cage, expanding the belly fully.
3. Feel a pool of energy form in your uterine/ovarian area (the dan tien).
4. As you are nearing the end of the inhalation, draw the energy down the pelvis to the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina or the perineum.
5. Release, and as you exhale, let the belly fall back in, and send the energy from the coccyx up the spine to the top of the head, down the forehead, and out the nose.

When you are comfortable with the MCO breathing process, you can enhance its effects with three areas of focus.

1.       With your attention on the womb area, focus on what this original, creative energy feels like. Open up to your original qi; that which has been present before you were even born. Feel its infinite potential to create. Spend a few minutes with your awareness on this area.

2.      As you inhale, expand the feeling of an open heart, bringing the immensity of your heart’s energy down to the dan tien. With each exhalation, feel as if you are pulling down any excess unwanted energy to the base of the perineum for release as you exhale up the spine. Spend a few minutes focusing on release.

3.       Between exhalation and inhalation, notice the area between and behind the center of your eyebrows. This is the energetic area where perception of your environment is translated into chemical messages that orchestrate the entire endocrine cascade. Spend a few minutes becoming aware of the sensation of miraculous potential, as your perception of your world turns into a hormonal message.

Allow yourself to make this breathing meditation your very own. Some days you might be more drawn to focus on the womb, and your own infinite potential. Other days you might need to spend more time releasing. There also might be more of a call to a particular area of the body – the head, the heart, or the pelvis. Make this process come alive for you.

from: Theresa Hall

Korma: Hot and Spicy Enlightenment

Make sure your area for quiet time is free of distractions. Make sure the phone is on silent mode. If you have pets/roommates/a partner/kids that could interrupt quiet time, then close the door to the room, and ask them not to interrupt (please). You may want to listen to soothing music. I use Dr. Jeffrey Thompson’s brain wave CD’s. You can check him out here. I use the Alpha or Theta Wave CD’s for meditation.

Remember that meditation is not about emptying your mind of thoughts. This is pretty impossible! Rather, it is about being conscious of the thoughts, rather than getting caught up in the mind’s wheel. You know how sometimes you just zone out and the brain is running like a hamster on a wheel? Well, this might happen while you are meditating. This is okay. The important thing is to realize that you zoned and pull yourself back to your breath. And then when it happens the next time, just pull yourself back again. And remember to be gentle with yourself! You are not “messing up” by getting caught in thought. Instead, be glad that you were aware of it.

One meditation instructor said that all you have to do to meditate is to make that space for meditation and sit. This is so true. There are so many ways to meditate. It’s all about finding what is right for you. All methods start with deep belly breathing. You may find it helpful to have your hand on your lower abdomen so you can feel its rise and fall. You may want to close your eyes, or you may want to leave them open. You may want to sit comfortably, or lie down. Here are a couple of methods that work for me:

1. Focus on the in and out of your breath. When a thought enters your mind, acknowledge it and let it become raindrops that fall into a pristine pool of water. Or you might want to envision your thought becomes part of a waterfall. Use whatever water analogy works for you.
2. Another way is to do a yogic breath called the ujjayi breath. It sounds a bit like the ocean. I like to use this breath because since it is audible, it is impossible not to focus on it. The noise also tends to drown my thoughts. How do you do it? Purse your lips and pretend you are sucking on a straw. Do you feel how the back of your throat closes slightly? Next close your mouth and breathe through your nose, but keep the same slight tightness in the back of the throat. It may take a little practice, but once you get it, you’ve got it. Here is a link to a video of the ujjayi breath.

So the main lesson to take away from this is to do what feels right for you, and to not be hard on yourself when you get caught up in your thoughts. Just keep shining that light of awareness on your thoughts, and you are doing great!

Liz Roseman, L.Ac.