In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture, By: Teri Calandra, L.Ac & Kristine Ward, L.Ac

I love the fact that there are so many options for us to explore in regards to complimenting IVF treatments. Please read below and article from my guest bloggers Teri Calandra and Kristine Ward. Your comments are always welcomed!

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture
By: Teri Calandra, L.Ac & Kristine Ward, L.Ac
South Loop Acupuncture: Chicago, IL

Acupuncture has been the primary medical system in China for thousands of years. Many people are aware of the benefits of acupuncture for stress reduction, addictions, and pain management. However, most people are still in the dark about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an adjunct to woman’s health and infertility.

Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and Tui Na (a type of Chinese medical massage). For the purposes of IVF and TCM the most beneficial combination is acupuncture and Chinese herbs. In addition, diet and lifestyle changes may also be recommended by the TCM practitioner.

Infertility and Traditional Chinese Medicine

It is important to mention that the diagnoses of conventional pathologies (such as infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome) are not within the scope of practice for a licensed acupuncturist. Chinese Medicine views the inability to become pregnant and sustain pregnancy as a symptom of a number of different patterns that can be treated.

The accepted statistic of infertility according to the World Health Organization is that one in seven couples has difficulty in getting pregnant. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be conducive for increasing your IVF success rates, sustaining pregnancy, decreasing aches and pains, decreasing stress, and easing labor and delivery.

Chinese Medicine is also able to help with male infertility. It is recommended to combine acupuncture and Chinese herbs to increase sex drive, and increase the quantity and viability of seminal fluid.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system for diagnosis and treatment. The individual is seen as an integrated whole. Every part, process, thought, and emotion within the individual is considered in terms of its contribution to the healthy functioning of the whole person. Each disease and disorder is not seen as an isolated event but as an outward manifestation of the whole person being out of balance.

Acupuncture is able to influence health and sickness by stimulating certain meridians or, “energy pathways” along the body. These “energy pathways” are stimulated using single use needles that are as thin as a hair. The goal of acupuncture is to put your body into a state that allows it to heal itself.

TCM (acupuncture & Chinese herbs) can also utilize stress reduction techniques that can have an effect on subtle and non-mechanical reasons for infertility. Irregular ovulation, low sperm counts, or undiagnosed causes respond the best to a combination of TCM and IVF treatments. IVF is the best means to obtain pregnancy in cases of tube blockage. However, acupuncture is able to keep the body in a homeostatic state to maintain the body as nurturing environment for the embryo. (Lyttleton 379)

The following are just a few of the many articles and books that support acupuncture and IVF.
- W. Paulus, M.D., M. Zhang, M.D., I. El-Danasouri, Ph.D., E. Strehler , M.D., and K. Sterzik,M.D, “Influence of acupuncture on pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy”, Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 77, No. 4, Apr. 2002
o “The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% versus 26.3%”
- Johnson, D “Acupuncture prior to and at the embryo transfer in an assisted conception unit-a case series”, Acupuncture in Medicine: Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp 23-8, Mar. 2006
o “This was a success rate of 57.7% compared with 45.3% for patients in the IVF unit not treated with acupuncture”
- Liang L. O.M.D., Ph.D, L.Ac. 2003 “Acupuncture and IVF” Blue Poppy Press, Boulder , CO
- Lyttleton J. 2004 “Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine” Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, UK
- Zhi-Qiang C, Li-Yun L. 2008 “Male and Female Infertility” People’s Medical Publishing House, Beijing, China

Teri Calandra and Kristine Ward both have a background in massage therapy, and graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine with their Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. They are both NCCAOM board certified and are licensed through the state of Illinois. Teri and Kristine have been working together since 2005, and they co-own South Loop Acupuncture in Chicago. South Loop Acupuncture offers acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination (NAET). Together they have combined specialties in woman's health, digestive, and respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, and allergies. Both practitioners have a strong belief that where one medicine leaves off the other picks up. They believe that it is important to work with all medical modalities in order to offer the greatest care to the patient.

LMFAO performing live 41 thousand feet in the air on Virgin Blue baby baby!!

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Christina Aguilera Back to Basic

Her 3rd English studio album, Back to Basics, released August 15, 2006, debuted at number one in the United States, the United Kingdom and 11 other countries. She described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful." The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching number two on the World Chart, number six in the United States, and number two in United Kingdom Producers on the album included DJ Premier, Kwamé, Linda Perry, and Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Christina Aguilera & her former producer Scott Storch. In an interview Christina Aguilera said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that." Christina Aguilera received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer Matthew Rolston which was inspired by The Andrews Sisters. According to Sony BMG, Back to Basics has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide.

In late 2006 She collaborated w/ Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. Christina Aguilera also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007. After this, Christina Aguilera toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on August 3, however Christina Aguilera canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final 2 in Auckland due to an illness. Aguilera's extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli. It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007. In early 2008, Christina Aguilera released her concert DVD Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.

At the 49th Grammy Awards, She again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". Christina Aguilera made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In January 2007, Christina Aguilera was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million.

She performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. Christina Aguilera and Tony Bennet, they performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Christina Aguilera MP3 Downloads

Christina Aguilera Back to Basic

Her 3rd English studio album, Back to Basics, released August 15, 2006, debuted at number one in the United States, the United Kingdom and 11 other countries. She described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful." The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching number two on the World Chart, number six in the United States, and number two in United Kingdom Producers on the album included DJ Premier, Kwamé, Linda Perry, and Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Christina Aguilera & her former producer Scott Storch. In an interview Christina Aguilera said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that." Christina Aguilera received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer Matthew Rolston which was inspired by The Andrews Sisters. According to Sony BMG, Back to Basics has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide.

In late 2006 She collaborated w/ Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. Christina Aguilera also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007. After this, Christina Aguilera toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on August 3, however Christina Aguilera canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final 2 in Auckland due to an illness. Aguilera's extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli. It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007. In early 2008, Christina Aguilera released her concert DVD Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.

At the 49th Grammy Awards, She again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". Christina Aguilera made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In January 2007, Christina Aguilera was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million.

She performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. Christina Aguilera and Tony Bennet, they performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Christina Aguilera MP3 Downloads

Parties

DEEP HOUSE x Trip-Hop x GOOD VIBES.
THIS FRIDAY!!

Tomorrow!! THURSDAY 8th DJ Thrill LIVE at Auld Shebeen.

Check out the new LMFAO Wikipedia page!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMFAO_(band)

Shwayze added to LMFAO Party Rock Tour

SHWAYZE JOINS LMFAO ON PARTY ROCK TOUR

Santa Monica, California, October 6, 2009 – They just finished up their own sold out headlining tour and now Shwayze has announced they will join their friends LMFAO on the Party Rock Tour!

Shwayze is set to release their 2nd album, “Let It Beat” on November 3rd, 2009, just 2 days before the tour begins. Shwayze’s first album, the self-titled Shwayze, rocketed the duo into world wide success. A string of multiple hits (“Buzzin’,” “Corona and Lime”) fueled by millions of internet plays carried them to top ten album sales, landed them a coveted slot on the Vans Warped Tour, and turned them into reality television stars on MTV. “Let It Beat” will take them to a whole new level. “We can’t sit on the beach with an acoustic guitar forever!” proclaims Cisco Adler. With contributions including New Orleans hip-hop duo The Knux, Shwayze’s lifelong hero Snoop Dogg, Ric Ocasek from the Cars, and Darryl Jenifer, bassist for legendary D.C. punk band Bad Brains, “Let It Beat” is a fearless venture held together by the guidance of Adler’s production and vocals and Shwayze’s natural flow.

"We've been friends with the guys in LMFAO for years and have watched them grow into a powerhouse.” says Adler, “We cannot wait to join them on the Party Rock tour and keep it in the family. It’s gonna be a crazy time. Let it Beat ya'll!!”

To read more, purchase tickets, get contact info and check out more links, CLICK HERE: http://partyrockpeople.com/page.aspx?id=50