Chinese Medicine

Why Working with an Acupuncturist Creates Better Live Birth Rates in an IVF

Why Working with an Acupuncturist Creates Better Live Birth Rates in an IVF

Many studies demonstrate that acupuncture helps improve outcomes when performed during IVF retrieval cycles and embryo transfer cycles. It also helps manage the intense stress and anxiety that can go along with struggling to conceive. The potent combination of IVF treatments, which increase the odds of creating and transferring chromosomally healthy embryos and using acupuncture to support each stage, improves pregnancy rates. But as demonstrated in Dr. Hullender Rubin’s study, working with an acupuncturist in the months leading up to and including IVF retrieval and embryo transfer cycles helps those pregnancies turn into healthy babies and mothers. For patients who need more in-depth nutrition/meal planning, bodywork, and talk therapy to manage their journey, Lily + Horn also has an in-house fertility-focused nutritionist, massage therapist, and talk therapists.


5 Simple Diet Changes to Improve Fertility

5 Simple Diet Changes to Improve Fertility

When we support fertility patients in our clinics, we always customize diet plans to cater to their needs and goals. For meal planning, we refer to our in-house nutritionist and dietician, but our Acupuncturists always go over diet in the first session and make suggestions that can improve overall health and fertility in each patient. While these suggestions are based on how each patient’s body and cycles are functioning, there are some common themes that form the foundation for a good fertility diet. If you are looking to make simple quick changes to your diet with maximum impact on fertility and IVF outcomes, here are our 5 most consistent tips.

Navigating the Holidays when Struggling to Conceive

Navigating the Holidays when Struggling to Conceive

We know the holidays are typically sources of joy and gathering with loved ones. But when in the midst of a fertility struggle, these same gatherings and special days can be triggering and filled with anxiety and grief too. We joined together with our colleagues from The Calla Collective to give you some tips to make this time of year easier. Read on to learn diet tips, managing holiday stress and anxiety, and ways to use this time to prepare for getting pregnant in the new year.

Impacts of Vaccinations and Pandemic Stress on the Menstrual Cycle

Impacts of Vaccinations and Pandemic Stress on the Menstrual Cycle

Whether you’ve had a few irregular cycles during the pandemic already or are waiting longer than normal for a period, you are not alone. While we’ve known for ages that stress or changing times zones can temporarily shift the timing of the menses, so too can colds, flus, COVID and as it turns out, the COVID vaccine. While it can be weird, especially if your periods are like clockwork or you’ve not experienced this before, if you are trying to conceive naturally, this can be really frustrating.

Endometriosis…the Hidden Cause of Many “Unexplained Infertility” Cases. How an Acupuncturist Can Help

Endometriosis…the Hidden Cause of Many “Unexplained Infertility” Cases. How an Acupuncturist Can Help

Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates anywhere from 24-50% of infertility cases might be due to underlying endometriosis. Luckily, there are things you can do with or without a diagnosis if you suspect you might have it contributing to your fertility struggles. Here are some tips from a fertility acupuncturist and herbalist to help you navigate trying to conceive with this condition in the mix.

Improving Sleep Quality Naturally

Improving Sleep Quality Naturally

Getting a good night's sleep can be a challenge for some of us. As NYC is getting busier and frenetic again, we are noticing people reporting more difficulty sleeping. Stress can stimulate the adrenal hormones and make it harder to fall and stay asleep. Here are some ideas to try to optimize sleep health when stressed...

Optimizing Fertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine

Optimizing Fertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal medicine is a sophisticated herbal practice in which specific herbs are combined into targeted, customized formulas to help support each patient’s health goals. It has a wide applicability, supporting digestive issues, insomnia, headaches, and many more conditions, and has been shown in studies to enhance fertility in multiple ways…

5 Ways To Use The Best Of Chinese Medicine To Boost Your Fertility

5 Ways To Use The Best Of Chinese Medicine To Boost Your Fertility

For a pregnancy to occur, there are many factors in a woman’s body that must be balanced and healthy. Men must also have normal strong sperm, which can be affected by diet, lifestyle and overall health. When we are young, we are typically naturally more fertile and resilient, but as we age and are exposed to…you know, life (stress, environmental toxins, poor dietary and lifestyle choices, the progression of disease processes, the natural decline of cellular quality), it can become more challenging.