Journal Tag: fertility

How acupuncture helps PCOS

Written by Merna El Chaaban, FGHG acupuncturist

Do you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? Or have you recently been diagnosed with PCOS and are confused with what that means?

You’re not on your own. PCOS affects 12-20% (1) of women and for many cases women remain undiagnosed.

What is PCOS?
Many women will have polycystic ovaries (PCO) identified on an ultrasound but not all will have PCOS.

You may be asking yourself “what is the difference between PCO and PCOS?”

Many women may just have polycystic ovaries and have no other symptoms of the disorder. Though a pelvic ultrasound may reveal 12 or more cysts on one or both ovaries, women with PCO can ovulate and don’t have the other symptoms that go with the syndrome, PCOS.

PCOS is a common hormonal condition. There are a number of symptoms that the syndrome is based on, which can include:

  • Increased androgens, which may result in increased hair growth, acne or increased blood testosterone levels
  • Insulin resistance meaning your body struggles with regulating your blood glucose levels. This can lead to weight gain or women struggling to lose weight and keep it off.

Having PCOS may also mean that you do not ovulate and your periods may be irregular or absent. Some women only have one period a year, and in some cases it is not until women start to try to conceive that they begin questioning why things are not going to plan. It may simply be because they are not releasing an egg and ovulating regularly.

What can be done to help PCOS?
If you are trying to conceive it is important to understand that having PCOS doesn’t mean that you will not be able to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. There are a number of ways you can help your body and manage your condition. This includes lifestyle and dietary changes.

One of the most common patterns of PCOS in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is phlegm and dampness. From a TCM perspective this describes the cysts and symptoms present which can include being tired, difficulty losing weight, heaviness, bloating, swelling and fluid retention in feet and ankles, slow metabolism, dizziness and poor appetite. Your acupuncturist will ask about your symptoms in detail.

The TCM diagnosis always takes into consideration the symptoms that manifest in every individual, as we understand that not everyone is the same and this is why TCM can be a great way to tailor each treatment to every individual person. What works for one person may not work for another and no two people are the same.

Now that you have this information, what can you do? Here is how acupuncture may be able to help:

1. It is a great way to naturally regulate your hormones (2)

2. Can induce ovulation by selecting specific points along the body which have a direct effect on the uterus and ovaries (2)

3. Assists in reducing your cravings, i.e. If your blood glucose levels drop throughout the day it can result in sweet cravings (3)

4. Supports metabolism and regulating your appetite. If you have a lack of an appetite this can affect your weight management as your metabolism maybe sluggish. When you have an appetite this is a great way to know your body is on track (4)

5: Chinese herbal medicine generally complements the use of acupuncture, a great way to support your body in targeting all your individual symptoms.

What to expect with acupunture treatments

When you see your highly qualified acupuncturist, a thorough assessment and TCM diagnosis will be prepared for you. In accordance with research based treatment guidelines, weekly acupuncture sessions may be needed as part of your treatment plan.

You should allow yourself a period of up to three months or more to help regulate your body. Remember that this condition has probably been years in the making and hormonal conditions cannot be regulated overnight, however, you may start noticing improvements right away.

The main role of Acupuncture is to encourage blood flow through the uterus and ovaries (5). This is performed by placing needles along different points in the body that correspond to different channels and organs. Your body responds to the stimulation of the points. In some cases there maybe blockages that need to be released.

Acupuncture for PCOS is generally placed in the abdominal region as well as hands and legs. Depending on your symptoms and where you are in your cycle these points may vary.

Understanding and listening to your body is vital for a good outcome. Your body is your most important asset. At times your body sends you signals that something isn’t right and when you have a better understanding of your condition, things start to make more sense and you can begin to relate the symptoms that you have been experiencing to your diagnosis of PCOS. Your acupuncturist will help to explain what is happening for you and provide you with tools to support your health outside the treatment room. Remember that although it can take a while, acupuncture can help to shift the hormonal imbalance underlying PCOS, so the sooner you can begin your commitment to the treatment the sooner you can reap the benefits.

Merna El Chaaban, FGHG acupuncturist

Merna colour

Merna is an experienced acupuncturist and traditional Chinese herbal medicine practitioner. She has developed a passion for treating women’s health and fertility as well as supporting women during pregnancy. Merna aspires to assisting women and men of all ages by providing healthcare advice to people seeking a holistic approach and acknowledges that your body is your most important asset. She is committed to supporting you through the journey of life.

References

(1)Boyle J, Teede H J, 2012,Polycystic ovary syndrome An update, https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/october/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/,RACGP Volume 41, No.10 October2012,Pages 752-756.

(2)Huang ST, Chen AP, 2008,Traditional Chinese medicine and infertility. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18460933,Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol, PubMed.

(3)Stener-Victorin E, Kokosar M, Maliqueo M, Sazonova A, Johan Behre C, Hojlund K, Benrick A, Tivesten A, Ohlsson C,2015,Repeated Acupuncture Treatments Increases Whole Body Glucose Uptake and Decrease Circulating Testosterone in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/endo-meetings.2015.RE.7.THR-099,Endocrine Society

(4)[ Zhou JY, Zhang XY, Yu ML, Lu SF, Chen X,2016,Effect of Transcutaneuos Acupoint Electrostimulation on Serum Sex Hormone Levels and Expression of Ovarian Steroid Hormone Metabolic Enzymes in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats],https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27141614,Zhen Ci Yan Jiu, PubMed

(5)Johansson J1, Redman L, Veldhuis PP, Sazonova A, Labrie F, Holm G, Johannsson G, Stener-Victorin E., 2013,Acupuncture for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial,Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, PubMed

Could massage really help you conceive?

By Consuella Garreffa, FGHG Remedial Massage Therapist

So you’ve had the chat and decided that having children is on your agenda. There’s a new found freedom as many years trying not to conceive has finally turned tables. Contraception has been thrown out the window and the fun has begun!

Unfortunately it may not be that easy. In Australia only 3 out of 5 couples will conceive within 6 months of trying and 1 in 4 will take anywhere up to a year, with the rest of us taking even longer. All this often leads to a physical and emotionally demanding journey. What can begin as quite an adventure, can lead to stress and fatigue with cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) often grabbing the reins and taking over.

This is exactly what you don’t need. Cortisol’s intention in the body is to help us deal with stress, it peaks as a reaction from the sympathetic nervous system and was originally intended for our flight or fight response; like that instant a thousand years ago where we were being chased by the wandering beast and needed a little more than the average power of our legs to get out of there.  Now-a-days there are many reasons why cortisol spikes and adapted threatening like situations still trigger its hefty rise – that deadline to have the paper in by Friday, the forty-six car build up you’re banked up in, or even a disturbing news headline, not to mention the waiting for ovulation or waiting for pregnancy results.

When trying to conceive, even sex can become stressful as pressure mounts to “get it right” and timing, position, to orgasm or not to… all comes under question and can lead to feelings of pressure. It may be reason to sky rocket your body’s stress response, launching these hormones, in particular – cortisol.

Our bodies are pretty fabulous; they want to nurture a little human to the best of their ability and chemically they are aware that a time of increased stress is not the ideal time to conceive. Instead, in stressful times our reproductive functioning is not on the main agenda, often resulting in hormone imbalance and trouble conceiving. The altered hormones can sometimes lead to altered menstrual cycle in women with anovulation and for men, high cortisol may lead to a low sperm count and decreased sperm motility.

‘Should we quit work and go on a baby making holiday?’ you may be asking. Whilst it’s not such a bad idea, we need to be a little realistic. What your body may be screaming for is to be nurtured and find relaxation closer to home on a more regular basis. A therapeutic massage will do just that.

Massage has been found to decrease cortisol levels by a huge 30% while simultaneously increasing the feel good hormones serotonin and dopamine – at an average of 28% and 31% respectively. Serotonin, the power molecule for mood stabilisation has the capacity to increase focus and calm, and decrease anxiety. Serotonin is also responsible for the production of melatonin – the sleep hormone. By optimising melatonin the body is able to recharge by having a restful sleep when the lights are switched off at the end of the day.

By adding therapeutic massage into your weekly baby making routine it will encourage your hormones to re-balance; lowering excess cortisol, increasing serotonin, dopamine and melatonin and enhancing your body’s ability to nurture a new little human.

Consuella_Garreffa colourBy Consuella Garreffa, Remedial Massage Therapist

Consuella Garreffa is a Remedial Massage therapist with years of valuable experience. Since birth Consuella has been immersed in natural living principles, growing up on a vineyard in Mildura where traditional methods were opted to prevent disease and treat any health complaints. For the past two years Consuella has been treating in Brisbane and has relocated to Melbourne to join Fertile Ground Health Group.

 

Fertility specialists challenge the status quo

By Charmaine Dennis, FGHG naturopath and director.

Every year the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA) holds a scientific meeting attracting experts in reproductive health from around the world, to present research and discuss new technologies and treatments. This year’s 2017 Merck symposium delivered plenty of healthy debate with it’s provocative main question for the day – Are we selling truths or false truths?

I was fortunate enough to be there to hear the thought leaders in our field contemplate the difficult questions around fertility treatment. The symposium was a fabulous day of learning and challenging of outdated, ineffective or unjustified approaches.  Speakers were asked to refute or defend a controversial statement – which made for some juicy discussion and debating. A very healthy approach to challenging the status quo!

Among many gems, great debating and interesting insights, my favourite for the day was UK researcher and Professor of Ob/Gyn Nick Macklon who was given the topic – “Technology offers more hope for fertility treatment than nutritional or lifestyle interventions”. It was the final session for the day and as you can hear from my agreeable murmurings in the video I took to share with you, I was rapt to hear this being presented to a large room full of fertility specialists, IVF nurses and counsellors.

See if any of this sounds familiar?!

He said that “major technological advances in IVF medicine have been impressive over the past decade in particular, but have done little to impact on outcomes”. Percentages of take home babies per IVF cycle have changed little in the past decade, with very similar rates over time.

Prof. Macklon made the call to support much more of the kind of work we do in preconception health – to actually improve the quality of the gametes – the eggs and sperm, and therefore the resulting embryo. He went on to say that “marginal gains are important, and even if small, these will add up over time and are cumulative as you add in all of the different interventions”. The small benefits from lifestyle intervention that are “CHEAP, NOT TOO DEMANDING, SIMPLE and SAFE .. may be far better than spending a lot of money on technology which would need to have huge impacts to justify it’s costs”.

Furthering his argument, and with joy to my heart, he said “we’re not just focusing on getting the woman pregnant, we need to focus on producing lovely healthy babies too. It’s becoming more and more evident that periconception phase is where it all happens – where pregnancy complications have their origins, where preeclampsia starts, where probably PCOS, obesity, and heart disease starts. Lifestyle change is not just for the patient, its for the health of her offspring, and possibly her offsprings, offspring. Many studies now are demonstrating this intergenerational effect of preconception behaviours”.

With a sigh of relief from me as he refuted the topic at hand, Professor Macklon made a strong call to support lifestyle and dietary interventions in IVF. “We need to risk assess – for both medical complications or lifestyle problems (and) we need to optimise health and fertility as part of the IVF cycle. The cycle starts well before we start gonadotropins, and hopefully we can focus on not just selling a positive pregnancy test but the healthy child we all want”.

It is always a bit of a thrill to hear this kind of presentation at a medical conference, and to see how far science and medicine has come in support of the work naturopaths have been doing for so many decades now. This is where the bridges can be forged between complementary medicine and medical science and is so supportive of the collaborative values that FGHG holds so strongly.

Preconception and preventative health care is what naturopaths do best. Chipping away over all the years, it seems that fertility specialists are now recognising the importance of this work more fully. Finally we can make some real impact to public education around preconception care, supported by the medical approach, scientific research and some of the worlds best IVF specialists.

The work required by us as a profession and as a patient group is to help our medical fertility colleagues understand the scope of what we are actually doing with patients and why you come to see us. It’s not crystal balls and herbal “potions”, astrology, tears from a Tibetan yak or “fish slapping” (seriously while many are supportive and even refer directly to us, many others still have no idea what we do and make a whole bunch of unfounded assumptions!). It’s not because you are “crazy” or “desperate” but because you know it makes sense that what you do in your life, what you choose to eat, how nutritionally replete you are, how stressed you are and how every other thing to do with your health (think thyroid function, blood sugar imbalance, lack of sleep etc etc) may impact on your outcomes. You want to know that you are doing everything possible to achieve a healthy pregnancy and baby and that all of the boxes for best outcomes have been explored and ticked!

We will keep writing letters, educating and researching. You can help by making sure you tell your Drs about the improvements you have made in your diet and lifestyle due to the work you have done with us to help them understand the value – giving up smoking, alcohol, moving towards a healthy weight, exercising, getting the timing right for sex in your natural cycles, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals around the home and at work, stress management… and every other way you feel more healthy as you are working with us towards trying to conceive.

Nutritional supplements and herbal medicine may be a part of what you require to optimise your health and outcomes, but addressing the causes for the imbalances we treat are the key to a healthy life and conception. Finding the healthiest diet and lifestyle for you are such an important part of our approach and will always inform the basis of our work with people trying to conceive – naturally or with IVF.

The future is bright! 🌟

CharmaineDENNISCCharmaine Dennis (FGHG naturopath and director)

Charmaine Dennis is a naturopath, fertility and health expert, mentor, writer, mother, and businesswoman. She is the founding director of Fertile Ground Health Group, co- creator of the Be Fertile relaxation CD series and co-author of The Breakfast Project, among other health inspired projects. Her greatest gift and inspiration is making health, wellbeing, and passionate living accessible, inspiring and achievable for everyone. 

 

 

 

Paraphrased from Prof Macklon’s conclusion and the final say from the whole day of presentations: (see video)

“We shouldn’t forget the less sexy side of our work…. if we are really going to improve gamete and endometrial quality…. we’ve got to go back to the patient to see what we can to make them to grow a better egg, grow better sperm or allow a better culture medium for that embryo to implant. There is increasing evidence now that there are interventions that can genuinely impact on these elements, so let’s start looking at them.

RCTs are beginning to show that even short nutritional interventions may be of benefit so we need to look at that.

If we can just apply this marginal gains approach then over time we will see significant impact. on IVF outcomes”

Your Fertility,  Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA), Andrology Australia, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide Fertility and Sterility

Is smoking really that bad for my fertility?

By Charmaine Dennis, Naturopath.

The hard facts about the effects of smoking on your fertility might be difficult to hear. If you are a smoker your brain will have been rewired to demand the reward that nicotine gives. Over time, this becomes a powerful force that is very difficult to resist. Research indicates that simply stopping is merely abstaining from addiction and the real key to recovery is to replace the addiction with a fulfilling life that includes:

  1. The right balance of support from home and community
  2. Motivation from purpose and a desire to be healthy

If you are trying to conceive you may already be thinking about quitting cigarettes and you may well have that sense of purpose, that desire to be healthy and that support from home and community already on your side. Either way we hope to inspire you and arm you with knowledge on how to prepare for successful smoking cessation. Your future baby will thank you!

Are you ready? Here are the hard facts…

Female smokers: 1-4

  • Take longer to conceive
  • Are twice as likely as non-smokers to be infertile (60% increased risk of infertility)
  • Have an increased risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy (with the risk increasing with each cigarette smoked: there is a 1% increase in risk per cigarette smoked per day)
  • Are more likely to suffer implantation failure in IVF and poorer embryo quality
  • During pregnancy are more likely to develop complications such as birth defects, low birth weight, placenta praevia, placental abruption, premature labour and eclampsia (a life-threatening pregnancy condition)
  • Will reach menopause ~ 2 years earlier (or for passive smokers: 1 year early); not ideal when you are trying to conceive!
  • Increase the DNA (genetic) damage in the egg

Interesting fact: smoking is associated with a thicker zona pellucida (the outer shell of the egg).5 This is the outer layer that the sperm must penetrate in order to fertilise the egg and thus the thicker it is the more difficulty the sperm will have, thus making it less likely that conception will occur. It is the same impact for active and passive smoking.

Male smokers are more likely to have;

  • Impotence and erectile dysfunction (not helpful when you are trying to conceive!)5
  • Poorer sperm health (on all semen parameters including numbers, motility and morphology)6
  • Increased DNA (genetic) damage in the sperm7

We also know that even if a woman doesn’t smoke but her male partner or sperm donor does, she is much less likely to conceive naturally or with IVF, and is more likely to miscarry.8-10 Passive smoking or exposure to second hand smoke (work or home) has also been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and ectopic pregnancy (i.e. passive smoking is only slightly less harmful than active smoking).9, 1

If you do manage to beat the odds and conceive, if either parent is a smoker at the time of conception, it is likely to substantially affect the health and wellbeing of your baby with increased risk of;

  • Small babies (and all the associated health complications)11
  • Asthma, decreased lung function12
  • SIDS13
  • Birth defects (e.g. cleft lip and/or palate)14
  • Leukaemia and cancer later in life15, 1
  • An increased risk of neurological and behavioural issues e.g. attention deficit disorders, impulsivitiy, etc.16
  • Increased risk of smoking as an adult (double the risk)17
  • Increased risk of most psychiatric disorders during adulthood18
  • For female babies; smoking impacts the development of their ovaries 1

It is good to know that most of the effects of smoking on your fertility will be reversed one year after quitting and you will experience improvement every week that goes by without a cigarette. The effects of passive smoking are not much different to actively smoking yourself so it is a good idea to remove yourself from any smoky environments and encourage your smoking partner to quit. The benefits to fertility start immediately.1

 Do I have to give up completely or is the occasional cigarette ok?

To achieve the best impact on your fertility you do need to quit completely.19 Having the occasional one or two cigarettes often leads to an increase in cravings and stronger withdrawal symptoms and makes it more difficult to quit entirely. Also, as mentioned previously, the risk of miscarriage and/or ectopic pregnancy increases with every single cigarette you smoke. If you also consider the harmful chemicals entering your body with each cigarette you smoke (lead, cyanide, nicotine etc.) and the impact this has in reducing the oxygen supply to the eggs and sperm, then the sooner this exposure is ceased the better all round.

I know I have to quit but I’m struggling

Having said all of that, if you are a smoker, giving up is not easy! It is certainly much easier if you know why you are doing it and you have a goal to achieve – a healthy happy bubba.

What will support your intention to give up the smokes for good?

Helpful hints to give up those cigarettes for good

  1. WHEN – Identify when you are likely to have a cigarette or feel like a cigarette
  2. WHY – Consider why you feel like smoking at those times
  3. HOW – Think about how you can avoid those scenarios/situations or put in place alternative options. How can you distract yourself from the moment of smoking and then replace smoking with an alternative positive action: glass of water, a walk, anything but a cigarette.
  4. WHAT – what will you replace it with that provides a sense of purpose and fulfilment to motivate you? What will motivate you to be healthy? Could it be a new hobby or passion, hanging out with non-smoker friends, exercise, dancing, the thought of making your child?…

For example, if you only tend to smoke when you drink alcohol, then avoiding the alcohol is a good start. Or if you know that you smoke when you are stressed, focusing on stress management techniques and treatment will help make it easier.  If it is certain people or situations that weaken your will power, it might be good to avoid them for a while until you get the cravings under control and can easily say no.

We had one patient who realised that she only really smoked to escape from work. Having a cigarette break was a way for her to get out of the office and away from a job she hated. After making this realisation she began looking for another job and fortunately was lucky to find one that she enjoyed relatively quickly. She had stopped smoking for good by the end of the first week at her new job.

However, not everyone will find quitting smoking as easy as finding a new job (and looking for a new job isn’t necessarily easy either). If you are struggling to give up then go to the experts. Good and proven options for support in quitting smoking include:

  • Quit Line
  • Acupuncture
  • Naturopathy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Nutrition
  • Counselling
  • Along with a useful website, Quit Line also has a free app (MyQuitBuddy) you can download that helps support you in your journey towards a smoke-free life.20 You can program the app so that it sends you alerts during your “danger times” that remind you of why you need to quit.  It also helps you set realistic goals as well as gain support from others. It can be a useful addition to your quit smoking program.

 

CharmaineDENNISC

Charmaine Dennis is a naturopath, fertility and health expert, mentor, writer, mother, and businesswoman. She is the founding director of Fertile Ground Health Group, co- creator of the Be Fertile relaxation CD series and co-author of The Breakfast Project, among other health inspired projects. Her greatest gift and inspiration is making health, wellbeing, and passionate living accessible, inspiring and achievable for everyone. 

 

What is Fertility Massage?

Written by Michelle Lowe, FGHG Massage Therapist

Fertility Massage is a deeply relaxing and nurturing massage that combines various techniques to help realign your sacral energies and physical body. It is a gentle, natural and non-invasive massage that is suitable for people who are trying to fall pregnant, who suffer from menstrual conditions causing pain and discomfort or have a menstrual condition that may be affecting the outcome for fertility.

Fertility massage aims to release tension within the abdominal muscles, soft tissue and pelvic area that may be impinging on the function of your reproductive system. Through massage and other gentle techniques, we can improve circulatory, digestive, lymphatic, nervous and immune system function, decrease tension within the area and aim to create a more harmonious environment that can help to enable a healthy pregnancy.

Fertility massage helps to improve the flow of circulation as well as break down any scar tissue within and around the reproductive and digestive systems, allowing for more blood flow to nourish the area. With increased circulation comes increased nutrient delivery and removal of metabolic waste. This means that the ovaries and the eggs produced are healthier and makes for a more favourable uterine environment for fertilisation and implantation to occur.

What to expect during a Fertility Massage

A typical fertility massage will consist of massage to the gluteal (buttock) muscles, lower back and abdomen from the pubic bone up to the bottom of the rib cage. Depending on what your goals are, where you are within your cycle, and if you are undergoing any IVF or fertility treatment, the uterine area may be avoided.

Pulsing (gentle and rhythmical rocking) may also be applied during a massage, releasing emotional tension and dissipating body armouring. It also gently encourages fascia in the body, which wraps around every muscle and organ, to release and relax. This allows a misaligned uterus to ‘shimmy’ back into her rightful place.

To complete each session, a ceremonial rebozo wrapping takes place to help bring your whole self back into your body, helping you to feel more centered and grounded. It’s a wonderful experience being wrapped up as you feel supported and free to let go of all your troubles.

After a treatment, most women will report that they feel deeply relaxed, centered, light and good within their body. It’s a sensation that many women experience differently, but find hard to express. However, most women will likely feel more relaxed, calm and better physically and emotionally. It is important to acknowledge that as we shift the energies we hold within us, we may experience emotional and/ or physical releases after a treatment – this is just one of the ways the body gets rid of what no longer serves us.

Best time to have a treatment

You can receive fertility massage at any stage of your menstrual cycle or IVF cycle, however at certain times and depending on your fertility journey. individual circumstances or symptoms, we may avoid treatment around the womb. We will discuss this along with any other considerations before each massage treatment to ensure best outcomes for you.

The best time to come in is after the last day of your bleed and before you ovulate (the follicular phase of your cycle), allowing your practitioner to treat all areas.

 

Michelle-Lowe-clr

Michelle Lowe, Remedial, Fertility & Pregnancy Massage Therapist

Michelle utilises all her knowledge, skills and past experiences to determine the best treatment for all patients. She understands that everyone has different influences and demands in their life and finds that not all techniques and advice work for everyone, which is why she develops a treatment plan that best suits an individual’s needs. There’s nothing that makes Michelle happier than knowing that she has helped someone to achieve their desired outcome for their health and wellbeing.

 

 

 

Time for a mini-detox?

written by Gina Fox, Naturopath

Get ready for an internal Spring clean!

After a cold winter with lazy time on the couch the kilos can creep on.  Even if your weight’s the same this is a good time for a mini-detox to re-boot your body and feel energised and ready for more activity as the weather starts to warm up.

The concept of detoxing seems to get a lot of negative press.  Mainly this is due to a lack of understanding of what most detox programs hope to achieve.  Most of the negatives focus on the fact that our bodies can detox themselves through normal elimination pathways so further efforts in detoxing are not required.  There also seems to be a need to criticise the notion of “toxins” in our bodies.  So, we’d like to clear a few things up and show you why a detox can be a fantastic thing – if done correctly.  There are all manner of detox approaches out there from the sensible to the ridiculous.  We’re talking about eating clean, simple and wholesome foods that our bodies will thrive on. Here are our tips on getting it right and keeping it sensible, real and achievable.

A detox basically involves some kind of elimination – usually things commonly known to make us feel less than amazing in one way or another (fatique, bloating, mood and blood sugar swings, dehydration, etc.).  Common exclusions are refined sugar, soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, wheat, dairy, red meat, processed foods, fried foods and baked goods.  Eliminating these things means that while you are detoxing, your diet remains light, fresh, wholesome and very healthy and your body has less heavy processing to do on a day to day basis.

Am I likely to feel worse before I feel better?

Let’s face it, the adjustment period may be challenging to get through (cravings, headaches, nausea, fatigue, constipation or diarrhoea etc. usually kicks in on day 1-3 and usually lasts no longer than 3 days) but it will be worth it.  And once you break the habits and addiction cycle of some of these foods and substances, you will most likely find the cravings all but disappear as your body adjusts and begins to enjoy all the benefits of your hard work and perseverance. Cleaning up your diet and lifestyle with a detox is only challenging in the short term. Your body will thank you for it and reward you with a healthier, more vibrant and energetic you.

And to top it all off…..

The truth is, a few days, weeks or even a month of a detox program, restricting your diet and some lifestyle choices can make huge inroads to a healthier you.  The real goal is taking the pressure off: just giving your body time and resources to rest, recover, heal and make time for all the other things it is capable of doing – like making babies or running or healing your skin problems.  When your body is overloaded, these things get shunted down the hierarchy while it deals with more pressing issues. Restricting certain foods  whilst choosing to eat only fresh, whole, organic foods during your detox enables and boosts your natural detoxification and elimination pathways and lets your body heal long standing problems that it hasn’t had time to get to because it is so busy processing the things that don’t work for it.  After a short period of adjusting most people notice improvements in metabolism, immune system, energy levels, sleep, general bodily comfort, weight loss, appearance – particularly brighter skin and eyes, fresher breath and most importantly, smoother, easier, formed and satisfying bowel movements!

Finally, we believe one of the best things that can happen as a consequence of a detox, is that you notice or learn something that really works for you: a new recipe or food that you love, or you might notice how much you like plain water with lime instead of coke, or you might discover how tired alcohol is really making you and without it, you don’t need so much coffee either!  And then maybe one or two of these things become incorporated into your daily life – not just the detox period.  If you do a detox 2 or 3 times a year, that adds up to a continuous improvement process that really adds up over time and leads to an exponentially healthier you.

For help with a specific detox program book in with one of our FGHG naturopaths.

 

Gina-Fox3

Gina Fox, Naturopath, FGHG

Gina is a naturopath with over 15 years’ experience. She trained under Francesca Naish (author of Better Babies) and has a Masters in Reproductive Medicine. As well as being an experienced clinician she is a speaker, naturopathic lecturer and student clinic supervisor.

Gina is highly skilled in providing naturopathic care for women’s health issues, pre-conception health, infertility, IVF support, pregnancy care and through menopause.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Tina & Gina!

Both Tina Jenkins and Gina Fox recently received their Masters of Reproductive Medicine (with Excellence). Here’s a picture of Tina at the graduation ceremony in NSW. Well done ladies!

Here’s what Tina had to say about getting her Masters degree…

“Obtaining a Masters degree has been a long process for me; 4 years of hard work and study alongside my usual consulting work at Fertile Ground and my weekly student clinic supervision for final year naturopathic students. I have always been more academically minded and furthering my knowledge in the very specialized area of fertility was my main inspiration for embarking on the journey towards my Masters. A Masters in Reproductive Medicine requires a Health Sciences degree as a prerequisite along with clinical experience and the course itself is primarily done by GP’s, obstetricians/gynaecologists, nurses and embryologists. All the subjects are medical subjects (Clinical Reproductive Endocrinology, Laboratory Techniques in the IVF lab etc). There were very few naturopaths studying with me, however I was really fortunate to have my Fertile Ground colleague Gina Fox completing it at the same time. Not only did completing my Masters allow me to continually keep up to date with the latest research in the field of fertility, it also allowed me the privilege of learning from some of the great IVF specialists currently working in Australia. All the subjects were taught by renowned IVF and fertility specialists who were all in clinical practice and who were all continually taking part in cutting edge research  in the area of infertility.

I have no doubt that my patients have benefited significantly as a result of this additional training. Not only do I have a much greater depth of knowledge in regards to the medical approach to fertility issues, but I also have a greater knowledge of the latest medical advances in this area. This has not only helped me to work more collaboratively with patient’s medical professionals and specialists but has also allowed a greater level of understanding of  my patients medical issues and their fertility medications.

On another level, it has also enhanced my teaching knowledge so that the students I supervise in student clinic benefit in turn.

Personally it has also been a significant achievement for me. Balancing looking after a young family alongside work commitments (and still trying to have some downtime!) has been an achievement in itself and one of which I am extremely proud.”

Staying calm during the first 12 weeks

We are very excited to share this article written by our Head Naturopath Gina Fox, recently published with Concieve Baby…

Staying Calm During the first 12 Weeks

If you’ve just conceived it’s usually a happy time but may be tinged with feeling anxious about the development of your baby, especially if you’ve taken a while to get here or if you’ve suffered a previous pregnancy loss.  Typically the stress and worry builds up before each scan and then a feeling of relief floods through you at the scan; but often this relief is short lived.  What you can do to take back control, is to to take steps to change the storyline in your head. You may have noticed that the negative story we tell ourselves seem to stick whether it’s based on anything real or not.

In reality you don’t know the outcome and it’s useless to second guess but the truth is that at this very moment you are pregnant.  Developing a trust in your body (which can sometimes be difficult) that it knows what to do and that the hormones are effortlessly doing just what they should to support the growth of your baby.  I can hear you saying “that’s all very well but how exactly do I do that”?

How does keeping calm help your baby?

There are plenty of good reasons to support your emotional health during pregnancy and most importantly it’s been shown to be beneficial for the bub.  Short term stress is fine and normal and will be helpful for the the baby to be resilient.  The problem is ongoing stress during pregnancy – if you’re rushing around, feeling overwhelmed and constantly worrying, or experiencing low or anxious moods then this needs attention.

The stress hormones that course through your blood also cross the placenta and this heightened state of stress can cause change in the baby’s own response to stressors. Worry, anxiety and depression in pregnancy are all risk factors for adverse outcomes including pre-term delivery, lower birth weight, poorer infant development and behavioural and emotional problems in childhood (1).   It can have direct effects on early brain development leading to a delay in cognitive function and dysfunctional response to stress (2).

What can I do to help me stay calm?

This is not said to alarm you but to assure you that you can take more control. The benefits of meditation are now so well recognised for our health and wellbeing showing a positive impact on reducing stress and depression, improving our immune system, better sleep, heart health; in fact it supports a better functioning all round.  Pregnancy is a natural time of higher stress on the body and it makes sense to support yourself with a regular practice. Not only good in the first trimester but meditation is also a great preparation for labour and improved mood during the pregnancy and less risk of postpartum depression.  Allowing some quiet time also gives space for you to connect with your baby as well as feeling more energised and able to cope with everyday challenges.

You may not be able to change the stressful events in your life but you can change your emotional response to them and the effect they have on your own and your baby’s health.  Put aside some time for yourself each day to release tension and relax your body and you’ll both be glad you did.

To help women connect with and trust the process of the pregnancy happening within their body Be Fertile have created guided relaxations especially for this often tricky and worrisome first trimester.  These mindfulness meditations guide you with words which is often easier than meditating  in silence when you have a busy mind.  The very act of a daily relaxation activity gives a cumulative benefit – it helps your peace of mind and it helps your baby too.

You can also watch Gina’s Webinar on Stress and Fertility and register for the Webinar Series.

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WTF is MTHFR?

By Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) and Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist)

We are thrilled to announce the latest in our informative podcast series WTF is MTHFR – an interview by Joanne Sharkey with Gina Fox on the ins and outs of MTHFR.

Have you heard of MTHFR? What is it? Why is everybody talking about it? Could it be affecting your chances of conceiving a healthy baby? Implicated in miscarriage, sperm defects, neural tube defects like spinabifida, and even chromosomal issues like down syndrome, MTHFR needs attention in a practice like ours with a special focus on fertility and helping people conceive healthy babies.

What if you do have it? Can it be treated? Will treatment actually help? Is there a bigger picture than this reductionist approach?

There are so many questions when it comes to MTHFR. Get all of your answers here on this fabulous and comprehensive podcast with FGHG acupuncturist Joanne Sharkey interviewing FGHG fertility naturopath Gina Fox

Listen to the podcast now

Acupuncture for IVF support

Research shows that acupuncture can be used to enhance IVF outcomes. Did you know that acupuncturists can help with preconception care, support around egg collection, pre- and post-transfer treatments and miscarriage prevention? Listen as Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) interviews Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist) about the how’s and why’s of acupuncture to support IVF.  What do you want to know? It’s all covered here!

We are so excited to share this podcast from Fertile Ground Health Group practitioners! Podcasts are such a convenient way to learn, as you can tune in anytime you are able to listen – in the car, on the train, out for a walk in the sunshine, in the bath… you don’t have to be pinned to your desk for yet another session of research on what might help your chances of conceiving.

Listen to the podcast!

We would love to hear your thoughts, as well as answer any questions you may have about the discussion between Jo and Gina.

Feel free to reply directly onto the podcast itself, or send us a message any time. We are always happy to hear from you!

Thanks for listening, and for sharing this information with anyone you know who is struggling with their fertility or embarking on IVF. There are so many benefits of acupuncture (along with scientific confirmation that chances of conceiving are increased up up to 65%!), it may be the thing that makes the difference for success with the next cycle. Given the difficulties and stress of undertaking IVF to conceive, let alone the out-of-pocket costs, why wouldn’t you do this?

Acupuncture is available Monday to Saturday at Fertile Ground Health Group, including daily sessions in our much-loved Multi-bed project.

For more information on all the ways we can support your fertility, please see our website. We will love to help you create your healthy family.