April Newsletter

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:50:56 +0000

Explore your Sacredness and Rediscover yourself….

View our April Newsletter click here

Full Moon Sacred Night April 06, 2012 6pm

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 02:03:43 +0000

Full Moon Dance of Light

April 06th Friday 6-8pm

lead by Dr. Leonor Murciano-Chen@ our Pembroke Pines Wellness Center.

Call to reserve space @ 954.450.4548

Join us as we become aware of the beauty of the Full Moon dance of Light that exists within us and move into bridging the inner connection of our soul with the reality of living in this Light and Love. We will begin the evening with a healing meditation and culminate in expression of this Light through movement, rhythm and sound. Come experience the Full Moon Dance of Light inside and out. Completely Free.

10031 Pines Blvd., Suite 104, Pembroke Pines Florida

Fertility; Hormones & Our Adrenals: Discovering the connection

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:26:07 +0000

Many patients experiencing fertility are suffering from adrenal imbalance and low levels of cortisol which create a complete imbalance on the hormones necessary for conception and maintaining a pregnancy viable. The Adrenal glands produce reproductive hormones which are a precursor to progesterone, and survival hormones; cortisol and adrenalin. Due to our stressful lives and the constant sense of danger, the adrenals end up constantly producing cortisol and adrenalin until it cannot keep up and they become exhausted and diminished in their capacity to produce adequately. What happens is the adrenals are forced to choose between stress hormones or making babies and of course it chooses survival. With the diminished level of progesterone, conception is difficult at best and especially difficult to maintain pregnancy full term. Even if you start with adequate levels of progesterone, your body may not be able to produce the amount needed for an IVF cycle, or to maintain pregnancy viable.

Progesterone and the interplay of reproductive hormones is also responsible for miscarriages, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, and other reproductive imbalances. It is important to understand that your body needs progesterone to produce your stress hormones. Many fertility protocols resort to supplementing progesterone and DHEA, which only ends up being converted to cortisol, because the body’s priority is survival and creating stress hormone when they are depleted.

So what is there to do? You can start by requesting a 24 hour adrenal saliva test, not blood, which will show you where your cortisol levels and then you can begin to restore your body’s endocrine balance from the core. If your cortisol levels are low, there are many ways to restore their function. Specific Adrenal supplements, Acupuncture and Chinese herbology can restore your adrenals and not only make your physical body balanced but also harmonize your emotions. Cultivating a spiritual practice nourishes your being and reduces stress. Incorporating a daily practice of meditation, yoga, reflective walking, aromatherapy, etc… is also imperative to address the underlining emotional and mental factors underlining the adrenal imbalance.

The key in this case is learning, as women, to nourish our own bodies and change the way we are living. Furthermore, I find it interesting to note how the body, in its own intelligence forces us to change our habits and reevaluate our way of living before we continue to reproduce and continue to perpetuate a mode of living that isn’t satisfying. Perhaps our mode of living isn’t bringing joy or happiness into our being; thus forcing to change something about ourselves, our perceptions, how we treat ourselves, how we live our lives and how worthy we feel about really bringing the love in for ourselves. Life is born out of love. On the deeper level this condition is asking us to connect with something deeper that is the source of that love, so that we can experience it practically in our own lives and create our family out of this same love.

Women’s Care package..what element do you need.?

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:47:43 +0000

New Book Release, “Feminine Wisdom: Rise of A New Creation” 2011

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:53:49 +0000

“for women that are faced with fertility challenges”

“Feminine Wisdom: Rise of a New Creation is a gem of a book. Beautifully written and highly practical. This is a manual for tapping into the wonder of our creative feminine essence.”

Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers: Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

“The only true healer is within; that heart wisdom that calls us to the awareness of our miraculous potential. Dr. Murciano-Chen invites us into the most courageous realm of radical feminine transformation where we can find true healing – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”

Randine Lewis, Ph.D., L.Ac.
Founder of The Fertile Soul
Author of The Infertility Cure and The Way of the Fertile Soul

Now available on Amazon.com

Also available on our website store

or at any Barnes & Noble.com or local store

Feminine Wisdom: Rise of A New Creation – Integrative Medicine enhances Reproductive Endocrinology and Unlocks Secrets for Overcoming Female Sterility

A new approach to women’s fertility problems is offered by Leonor Murciano-Chen, doctor of Oriental Medicine, in Feminine Wisdom: Rise of a New Creation. Her Nourishing Women™ system combines the best of Chinese medicine and an integrative approach to offer hope to the 6.1 million women who have trouble conceiving or bringing a pregnancy to full term.

Murciano-Chen has helped thousands of women as founder of the Nourishing Women Wellness Center in South Florida. She uses integrative medical practices to heal the hearts and health of women. The three-step program focuses on emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. (Nourish physical body, Cultivate inner consciousness and Nurture with wellness products).

Murciano-Chen has worked intensively with reproductive endocrinologists in the field of infertility. She is the first physician to adopt of the first pre- and post- acupuncture protocol combined with In Vitro Fertilization treatment, here in the U.S., adapted from the German study in 2001. [What does pre-acupuncture and post-acupuncture mean? Do you mean acupuncture is used before and after the in vitro procedure?- YES ( and I was the first physician to start using that procedure here… now many clinics do it..it is very well known… I took the points from the study… and used most of those but tweeked it a little]

Murciano-Chen approach uses acupuncture, herbology, nutrition, meditation, spiritual healing and counseling. In conjunction with publication of the Feminine Wisdom, Chen has introduced Nourishing Women™ Therapeutic Products that use pure aroma essences to balance body and soul in the tradition of Chinese medicine.

The first step Murciano-Chen discusses in Feminine Wisdom is helping the woman discover “an innate deeper truth of her feminine wisdom, transforming old patterns of guilt, hopelessness and fear.” Case histories illustrate how the process starts.

The second step clears negative thinking and develops positive visualizations. “I firmly believe that health is a reflection of deeper states of our being; therefore infertility can be addressed by looking at the whole picture and unraveling the emotional, mental and spiritual layers, as well as exploring wholistic therapies to care for the physical body,” Murciano-Chen says.

The third step is transforming the energy field and its interaction with the physical body. The Nourishing Women™ products use botanical oils for perfume, bath salts, and soap to facilitate this process. Murciano-Chen also recommends a healthy natural foods program.

Last, Murciano-Chen tutors her patients in the spiritual dimensions of feminine wisdom. Murciano-Chen explains, “The Real Medicine is the healing that comes by honoring our Truth of the Divine within. As women, that deep wisdom is weaved innately in the very soul of our being; in the soul of the Feminine.”

Feminine Wisdom offers a complete, integrative approach to “helping women regain hope and health, when faced with fertility challenges,” Murciano-Chen emphasizes. The book is available for $35.00 at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and NourishingWomen.com.

Secrets of the Feminine

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:58:30 +0000

Secrets of the Feminine

Have you ever asked yourself what does it mean to be a Woman?… Most of us have not really pondered that question and yet we live under the unconscious limiting images and beliefs ingrained within us from our societal culture. Unfortunately, in the last 2000 years women have been challenged severely in many ways, some obvious and others, thus unconsciously we carry many generations of pain, judgment & anger against ourselves. Most of these hidden judgments, as well as unrealistic expectations, create ongoing suffering which contributes to our physical and emotional disorders of physical pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, menopausal disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, panic, hopelessness, general disillusion, cancer and many more. Our physical bodies are a reflection of what is happening on these deeper subtle aspects of our being. In order to create health and wellbeing, both emotionally and physically, we must address these underlying conflicts.

Now is the time to shed some of these judgments and begin to honor the true essence of the Feminine within, not in a way that dishonors men, or the male energy, but in a way in that complements it, each valuable in their own right. We heal as we step in to deal with our deepest pain about ourselves and what we have been led to believe about what our roles are as mothers, wives, professionals, etc.; what we deserve or don’t deserve, what mistakes we have made and what we haven’t forgiven ourselves for.

Mystical Practices & Ancient Secrets

Our sessions will allow us to explore the Secrets of the Feminine Essence through the use of Spiritual Teachings, Healing Meditations, Women’s group support and sharing, Asian 5 element theory, Sufi mysticism, Breathwork, Chakras, Mantras and Middle Eastern mysticism.

Change our Inner World… Change our Outer Reality

Group Objectives

Learn the deeper meaning of the root of your physical, mental or emotional suffering, challenges or pain, as you explore how to listen to the body’s messages to resolve the suffering and start living in joy, beauty and love.
Helpful for those suffering with physical pain, depression, panic, or women’s issues of menstrual, hormonal, fertility, menopause and just plain unhappiness.
Heal lingering anger and resentment by delving into our darker shadow side of personality and bringing what is needed in our hearts and learning how to receive that.
Explore teachings about forgiveness, shame and judgment and coming to terms with what your heart really needs.
Clear deep disappointments that you have lived with until now.
Explore how to live in joy and peace within yourselves and how to completely honor your own feminine, ending the cycle of shame and pain.
Address the underlying anger, resentment and judgment most women feel about their own physical bodies and their own role of being a woman.

Key Concepts

We believe a new era is upon us and women are bringing forth the true balance of the definition of being nurturing, compassionate, living in peace and love; for ourselves and our world. Before we are able to do that we have to find these qualities within ourselves and heal any places that are blocking that truth from its existence.
We believe that women carry the sacred essence of manifesting spirit into matter, and thus there is a holiness at our very core of who we are.
We believe that neglecting ourselves only causes pain and suffering, and yet we have not been taught how to be responsible for ourselves spiritually, emotionally and physically. By not doing so, we have accumulated tremendous amount of pain and suffering within our being.
We believe that it is possible to live in health, wellbeing, peace and love. Our bodies and our lives are reflections of a deeper dynamic that lives within ourselves. When we are experiencing pain, either physically or otherwise, it is a call for attention, something to heal, in order for us to move from pain and suffering to love and peace.

“Woman is the radiance of God; she is not your beloved. She is the Creator- you could say that she is not created.” (Rumi) Explorations of the Divine Feminine in Sufism, and other mystical traditions…

“To know Woman is to know oneself, and Whoso knoweth his self, knoweth his Lord.” (Ibn Arabi)

“The process of giving birth to the spirit is the feminine principle. That to which has been given rebirth, only the masculine principle can be born, for the feminine principle is the process itself. Once birth is given to the spirit, this principle remains as Fatima, the Creative Feminine, the Daughter of the Prophet, in a state of potentiality within the spirit reborn.

“I am al-Rahman. I created the womb and I derived its name from My name. I will be connected to whoever stays connected to it, and I will be cut off from whoever stays cut off from it.” Hadith Qudsi

We see the Divine Feminine , as the Source of Life, being expressed first by the means that humans may understand the Divine Feminine, in other words, Wisdom, being a Feminine word, second by the two most holy names of Allah: al-Rahman and al Rahim which express in a universal way ( spanning cultures as varied as Egyptioan, Hittitie and Celtic that the Source of Life is the Divine Feminine.

The perfection of the human state, al- insan al kalil, means the perfection of both the masculine and feminine qualities together.

Classes coming Soon…. 2012

Study: Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy Rate in Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproduction Therapy

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

INFLUENCE OF ACUPUNTURE ON THE PREGNANCY RATE IN PATIENTS WHO UNDERGO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION THERAPY

Wolfgang E. Paulus, M.D.,[a] Mingmin Zhang, M.D.,[b] Erwin Strehler, M.D.,[a]
Imam El-Danasouri, Ph.D.,[a] and Karl Sterzik, M.D.[a]

Christian-Lauritzen-Institut, Ulm, Germany

Result(s): Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group.

FERTILITY AND STERILITY® VOL. 77, NO. 4, APRIL 2002
Copyright ©2002 American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Published by Elsevier Science Inc., Printed on acid-free paper in U.S.A.Received June 5, 2001; revised and accepted October 16, 2001.
Reprint requests: Wolfgang E. Paulus, M.D., Christian-Lauritzen-Institut, Frauenstr. 51, D-89073, Ulm, Germany (FAX: ++49-731-9665130; E-mail: paulus@reprotox.de).
[a] Department of Reproductive Medicine, Christian-Lauritzen-Institut.
[b] Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China.
0015-0282/02/$22.00
PII S0015-0282(01)03273-3

Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction therapy (ART) by comparing a group of patients receiving acupuncture treatment shortly before and after embryo transfer with a control group receiving no acupuncture.Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: Fertility center.

Patient(s): After giving informed consent, 160 patients who were undergoing ART and who had good quality embryos were divided into the following two groups through random selection: embryo transfer with acupuncture (n = 80) and embryo transfer without acupuncture (n = 80).

Intervention(s): Acupuncture was performed in 80 patients 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. In the control group, embryos were transferred without any supportive therapy.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy was defined as the presence of a fetal sac during an ultrasound examination 6 weeks after embryo transfer.

Result(s): Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group.

Key Words: Acupuncture, assisted reproduction, embryo transfer, pregnancy rate

Acupuncture is an important element of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which can be traced back for at least 4,000 years. Acupuncture has been shown to alleviate nausea and vomiting, dental pain, addiction, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma. Both physiologic and psychological benefits of acupuncture have been scientifically demonstrated in recent years.

However, so far there have been only a few serious trials concerning the use of acupuncture in reproductive medicine. Publications focus primarily on acupuncture therapy for male infertility (1, 2). Electroacupuncture may reduce blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women (3). A positive impact of electroacupuncture on endocrinologic parameters and ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome has been demonstrated (4). In addition, auricular acupuncture was successfully used in the treatment of female infertility (5). In the present study, we chose acupuncture points that relax the uterus according to the principles of TCM. Because acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system, such treatment should optimize endometrial receptivity (6). Our main objective was to evaluate whether acupuncture accompanying embryo transfer increases clinical pregnancy rate.

Materials and Methods
This study was a prospective randomized trial at the Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany. It was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Ulm. A total of 160 healthy women undergoing treatment with in vitro fertilization (IVF; n = 101) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; n = 59) were recruited into the study. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 43 (mean age: 32.5 = 4.0 years). The cause of infertility was the same for both groups (Table 1). Only patients with good embryo quality were included in the study. Using a computerized randomization method, patients were assigned into either the acupuncture group or the control group.

Table 1
Descriptive data on acupuncture and control group (mean ± SD or total number).


	Control group	Acupuncture group	Statistics
	(n = 80)	(n = 80)	Statistics

Age of patients (years)	32.1 ± 3.9	32.8 ± 4.1	NS
No. of previous cycles	2.0 ± 2.0	2.1 ± 2.1	NS
No. of transferred embryos	2.1 ± 0.5	2.2 ± 0.5	NS
IVF (n)	54	47	NS
ICSI (n)	26	33	NS
No. of cycles with male factor infertility	46	47	NS
No. of cycles with tubal disease	21	22	NS
No. of cycles with polycystic ovaries	2	2	NS
No. of cycles with unknown cause of infertility	11	9	NS
Endometrial thickness (mm)	9.9 ± 2.7	9.1 ± 2.4	NS
Plasma estradiol on day of embryo transfer (pg/mL)	1001 -± 635	971 ± 832	NS
Pulsatility index of uterine arteries (PI) before embryo transfer	2.00 ± 0.56	2.02 ± 0,45	NS
Pulsatility index of uterine arteries (PI) after embryo transfer	2.19 ± 0.52	2.22 ± 0,44	NS
Pregnant	21/80 (26.3%)	34/80 (42.5%)	P=.03

NS = not significant (P>.05).
Paulus. Acupuncture in ART. Fertil Steril 2002.

Ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval, and in vitro culture were performed as previously described (7). Transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of follicular fluid was performed 36 to 38 hours after hCG administration. Immediately after follicle puncture, the oocytes were retrieved, assessed, and fertilized in vitro. Sperm preparation and culture conditions did not differ for either group.

In cases of severe male subfertility, ICSI was preferred, as described in the literature (8). Forty-eight hours after the IVF or ICSI procedure, embryos were evaluated according to their appearance as type 1 or 2 (good), type 3 or 4 (poor), as described in literature (9).

Just before and after embryo transfer, all patients underwent ultrasound scans of the uterus using a 7-MHz transvaginal probe (LOGIQ 400 Pro, GE Medical Systems Ultra-sound Europe, Solingen, Germany). Pulsed Doppler curves of both uterine arteries were measured by one observer. The pulsatility index (PI) for each artery was calculated electronically from a smooth curve fitted to the average waveform over three cardiac cycles.

A maximum of three embryos, in accordance with German law, were transferred into the uterine cavity on day 2 or 3 after oocyte retrieval. For embryo replacement, the patient was placed in a dorsal lithotomy position, with an empty bladder. The cervix was exposed with a bivalved speculum, then washed with culture media prior to embryo transfer. Labotect Embryo Transfer Catheter Set (Labotect GmbH, Go¨ ttingen, Germany) was used for atraumatic replacement owing to the curved guiding cannula with a ball end, allowing the set to be used reliably even with difficult anatomic conditions. The metallic reinforced inner catheter shaft al lowed safe passage through the cervical canal. When the catheter tip lay close to the fundus, the medium containing the embryos was expelled and the catheter withdrawn gently. After this procedure, the patient was placed at bed rest for 25 minutes. All oocyte retrievals and embryo transfers were performed by one examiner using the same method. The examiner was not aware of the patient’s treatment group (control or acupuncture).

At the time of the embryo transfer, blood samples (10 mL) were obtained from the cubital vein. Plasma estrogen was determined by an immunometric method using the IMMULITE 2000 Immunoassay System (DPC Diagnostic Product Corporation, Los Angeles, CA).

Luteal phase support was given by transvaginal progesterone administration (Utrogest®, 200 mg, three times per day; Kade, Berlin, Germany). Progesterone administration was initiated on the day after oocyte retrieval and was continued until the serum ß-hCG measurement 14 to 16 days after transfer and, in cases of pregnancy, until gestation week 8.

Each patient in the experimental group received an acupuncture treatment 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. Sterile disposable stainless steel needles (0.25 X 25 mm) were inserted in acupuncture point locations. Needle reaction (soreness, numbness, or distention around the point = Deqi sensation) occurred during the initial insertion. After 10 minutes, the needles were rotated in order to maintain Deqi sensation. The needles were left in position for 25 minutes and then removed. The depth of needle insertion was about 10 to 20 mm, depending on the region of the body undergoing treatment. Before embryo transfer, we used the following locations: Cx6 (Neiguan), Sp8 (Diji), Liv3 (Taichong), Gv20 (Baihui), and S29 (Guilai).

After embryo transfer, the needles were inserted at the following points: S36 (Zusanli), Sp6 (Sanyinjiao), Sp10 (Xuehai), and Li4 (Hegu).

In addition, we used small stainless needles (0.2 X 13 mm) for auricular acupuncture at the following points, without rotation: ear point 55 (Shenmen), ear point 58 (Zhigong), ear point 22 (Neifenmi), and ear point 34 (Naodian). Two needles were inserted in the right ear, the other two needles in the left ear. The four needles remained in the ears for 25 minutes. The side of the auricular acupuncture was changed after embryo transfer. The patients in the control group also remained lying still for 25 minutes after embryo transfer. All treatments were performed by the same well-trained examiner, in the same way.

The primary point of the study was to determine whether acupuncture improves the clinical pregnancy rate after IVF or ICSI treatment. Student’s t-test was used as a corrective against any possible imbalance between the two groups regarding the following variables: age of patient, number of previous cycles, number of transferred embryos, endometrial thickness, plasma estradiol on day of transfer, method of treatment (IVF or ICSI), and blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries (pulsatility index). Chi-square test was used to compare the two groups. All statistical analyses were carried out using the software package Statgraphics (Manugistics, Inc., Rockville, MD).

Results
A total of 160 patients was recruited for the study. Patients who failed to conceive during the first treatment cycle were not reentered into the study. According to the randomization, 80 patients were treated with acupuncture, and 80 patients underwent the usual therapy without acupuncture.

As Table 1 shows, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to the following covariants: age of patient, number of previous cycles, number of transferred embryos, endometrial thickness, plasma estradiol on day of transfer, or method of treatment (IVF or ICSI). Clinical indications for ART were the same for patients of both groups. The blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries (pulsatility index) did not differ between the groups before and after embryo transfer.

The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for the acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% vs 26.3%; P=.03).

Discussion
The acupuncture points used in this study were chosen according to the principles of TCM (10): Stimulation of Taiying meridians (spleen) and Yangming meridians (stomach, colon) would result in better blood perfusion and more energy in the uterus. Stimulation of the body points Cx6, Liv3, and Gv20, as well as stimulation of the ear points 34 and 55, would sedate the patient. Ear point 58 would influence the uterus, whereas ear point 22 would stabilize the endocrine system.

The anesthesia-like effects of acupuncture have been studied extensively. Acupuncture needles stimulate muscle afferents innervating ergoreceptors, which leads to increased ß-endorphin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (11). The hypothalamic ß-endorphinergic system has inhibitory effects on the vasomotor center, thereby reducing sympathetic activity. This central mechanism, which involves the hypothalamic and brainstem systems, controls many major organ systems in the body (12). In addition to central sympathetic inhibition by the endorphin system, acupuncture stimulation of the sensory nerve fibers may inhibit the sympathetic outflow at the spinal level. By changing the concentration of central opioids, acupuncture may also regulate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis via the central sympathetic system (13).

Kim et al. (14) suggested that Li4 acupuncture treatment could be useful in inhibiting the uterus motility. In their rat experiments, treatment on the Li4 acupoint suppressed the expression of COX-2 enzyme in the endometrium and myometrium of pregnant and nonpregnant uteri.

Stener-Victorin et al. (3) reduced high uterine artery blood flow impedance by a series of eight electroacupuncture treatments, twice a week for 4 weeks. They suggest that a decreased tonic activity in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibers to the uterus and an involvement of central mechanisms with general inhibition of the sympathetic outflow may be responsible for this effect. In our study, we could not see any differences in the pulsatility index between the acupuncture and control group before or after embryo transfer. This may be due to a different acupuncture protocol and the selected sample of patients with high blood flow impedance of the uterine arteries (PI ≥ 3.0) in the Stener-Victorin et al. study.

As we could not observe any significant differences in covariants between the acupuncture and control groups, the results demonstrate that acupuncture therapy improves pregnancy rate.

Further research is needed to demonstrate precisely how acupuncture causes physiologic changes in the uterus and the reproductive system. To rule out the possibility that acupuncture produces only psychological or psychosomatic effects, we plan to use a placebo needle set as a control in a future study.

References

1.	Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B. Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Andrologia 2000;32:31-9.
2.	Bartoov B, Eltes F, Reichart M, Langzam J, Lederman H, Zabludovsky N. Quantitative ultramorphological analysis of human sperm: fifteen years of experience in the diagnosis and management of male factor infertility. Arch Androl 1999;43:13-25.
3.	Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Andersson SA, Wikland M. Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1314 -7.
4.	Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Tagnfors U, Lundeberg T, Lindst-edt G, Janson PO. Effects of electro-acupuncture on anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000;79:180 -8.
5.	Gerhard I, Postneek F. Auricular acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. Gynecol Endocrinol 1992;6:171-81.
6.	Stener-Victorin E, Lundeberg T, Waldenstrom U, Manni L, Aloe L, Gunnarsson S, Janson PO: Effects of electro-acupuncture on nerve growth factor and ovarian morphology in rats with experimentally induced polycystic ovaries. Biol Reprod 2000;63:1497-503.
7.	Strehler E, Abt M, El-Danasouri I, De Santo M, Sterzik K. Impact of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone and human menopausal gonadotropins on in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil Steril 2001;75: 332-6.
8.	Palermo GD, Schlegel PN, Colombero LT, Zaninovic N, Moy F, Rosenwaks Z. Aggressive sperm immobilization prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection with immature spermatozoa improves fertilization and pregnancy rates. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1023-9.
9.	Plachot M, Mandelbaum J: Oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic growth in vitro. Br Med Bull 1990;46:675-94.
10.	Maciocia G. Obstetrics and gynecology in Chinese medicine. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998.
11.	Hoffmann P, Terenius L, Thoren P. Cerebrospinal fluid immunoreactive beta-endorphin concentration is increased by voluntary exercise in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Regul Pept 1990;28:233-9.
12.	Andersson SA, Lundeberg T. Acupuncture-from empiricism to science: functional background to acupuncture effects in pain and disease. Med Hypotheses 1995;45:271-81.
13.	Chen BY, Yu J. Relationship between blood radioimmunoreactive beta-endorphin and hand skin temperature during the electro-acupuncture induction of ovulation. Acupunct Electrother Res 1991;16:1-5.
14.	Kim J, Shin KH, Na CS. Effect of acupuncture treatment on uterine motility and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in pregnant rats. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2000;50:225-30.

Divine Blessings… Sacred Births

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:08:42 +0000

Welcome Ella and Kane… congradulations mom and dad ! April 2011

Rita & Violet… May 03, 2011 Welcome these two blessings !!!

Kane & Ella updated ! How much Joy…

Nourishing Women System™

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Sun, 15 May 2011 03:02:54 +0000

Here at Nourishing Women Wellness we have helped thousands of women heal their reproductive endocrinology with our three simple steps that comprise the Nourishing Women Healing Program. As we integrative medical practices to heal the hearts and health of women that have been faced with fertility challenges, we have consistantly applied our three step program which focuses on emotional, mental, and spiritual healing.

Nourishing Women System™ consists of:

Evolve the Physical Body.
Cultivate Divine Feminine.
Nourish Heart and Soul.

Evolve the Physical Body

Our body is the temple, housing our Spirit…

Every limitation, every disorder, every bit of pain and suffering is a doorway…

It speaks to us… quietly… gently… and persistently…

Through our hearts we connect with our Spirit… which unveils the secret language of our body…

Learning this language enables us to listen and receive what our heart is yearning for, and thus bringing our body into alignment.

Our expression is our body… our expression of Spirit.

Everything we need to fulfill our happiness is within contain in the Spirit.

Our physical body is a reflection of our inner levels of being… Listen quietly and a whole new world will appear.

Be gentle because it deserves your deepest politeness. It houses the ocean of Love and Mercy….

Let your body evolve, along with your Spirit…

Cultivate Divine Feminine

You are the question and you are the answer…

Deep within your being is your guide, your spirit, your wisdom.

You carry that Inner Wisdom, she has been there always loving you, holding you, ready to bring to you everything beyond your wildest dreams.

You open the door by allowing, by intending… and your whole world changes by letting her guide you.

She holds the Peace, the Love, the Mercy, the Joy and all the delights in your heart, until you are ready to receive them.

She is the reason for living.

She is the caring you feel for another, she is the Love.

And there is nothing to get, to fix, to do… but just to be.

Nourish the Heart and Soul

Our hearts ache as we have been separated by illusion and fear…

Our hearts are heavy as we have lived depriving ourselves of nourishment…

Our hearts and souls need the True light, connection with the Divine and our true essence.

If the heart is aching, the body never truly heals… the pain is still felt deep within our being.

The Real Medicine is the healing that comes by honoring our Truth of the Divine within, and that heals our Heart and our Soul.

Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in Ovulation Induction

Dr. Leonor Nura Murciano-Chen — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in Ovulation Induction

Cai Xuefen
Obstetrical & Gynecological Hospital,
Zhejiang Medical University, Zhejiang Province 310006

Source: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 17 (2):119-121,1997

By using human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), fairly good clinical therapeutic efficacy has been obtained in the treatment of infertility. However, difficulties are brought about due to the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) easily induced by these two drugs. Therefore, we attempted to use acupuncture instead of HCG in the induction of ovulation from 1989 to 1992, and satisfactory therapeutic effect was achieved as reported in the following.

General Data

Ten patients were hospitalized with confirmed diagnosis of infertility and totally observed for 11 menstrual cycles (one patient had recurrence of OHSS for 2 times). Their ages ranged from 27 to 30 years with an average of 29 years. After treatment by HMG, all patients manifested OHSS in varying degrees. In accordance with the criteria for grading of OHSS issued by WHO, among these 11 menstrual cycles 4 cycles were mild (ovarian slight enlargement less than 5 cm with symptoms of slight malaise of lower abdomen); 7 were moderate (marked enlargement of ovary with nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension); no severe case occurred (extreme enlargement of ovary with hydrothorax, ascites, pycnemia and electrolyte disturbance). In order to prevent the exacerbation of OHSS caused by combined use of HMG and HCG, acupuncture was used after HMG treatment to replace HCG for the ovulation induction in 11 menstrual cycles of these patients.

Therapeutic Method

1.5-3 cun long filiform needles (no. 28-30) were used. The acupoints used for needling were Zigong (Extra 16), Shenshu (UB 23), Ciliao (UB 32), (the above acupoints were used bilaterally) and Guanyuan (Ren 4). Baohuang (UB 53) and Zhongji (Ren 3) were selected according to the signs and symptoms as adjuvant points. The manipulation techniques included twirling, rotating, lifting and thrusting. Reinforcing method was used in Shenshu point and the remaining points were punctured by reducing manipulation. The needling sensation should be transmitted toward both sides of lower abdomen. When arrival of Qi, retained the needles for 15 min. and manipulated the needles intermittently during the retaining period to enhance the stimulation. Moxibustion with moxa stick was used for some of these acupoints.

Observation of Therapeutic Effect

Criteria for assessment of therapeutic effect: Therapeutic effect was appraised mainly by comparison of ultrasonic B examination after needling with that before treatment and referred to the score of cervix uteri and basal body temperature to sit judgment on ovulation. Ovulation occurred within 24 h after 1st needling was considered as marked effect; ovulation within 72 h after 2-3 times of needling was effective; no ovulation occurred after 72 h after more than 3 times of needling was scored as ineffective.

Results of Treatment

Of the 11 menstrual cycles, marked effect was shown in 5 cycles, effective in 5 cycles and failed in 1 cycle. Among the 10 markedly effective and effective cycles, ovulation was induced in 2 cases after needling and diagnosed pregnancy by blood HCG assay and ultrasonography. In 9 of the 10 cycles treated with acupuncture for ovulation induction without using HCG and other drugs, the symptoms of OHSS were significantly remitted or even disappeared. Only in one cycle, HCG (with dosage less than for ovulation) was used after needling to maintain the function of corpus luteum and resulted in exacerbation of OHSS and finally remitted by drug treatment.

Typical Case

Fang, 27-year-old, suffered from polycystic ovary syndrome. She was unpregnant after married 2 years and the menstruation was only 1-2 times a year. The basal body temperature was monophase. No effect was observed using clomiphene and then treated with HMG. From the day 5, for bleeding due to withdrawal of progesterone, intramuscular injection of HMG was given at a dose of 150 U once a day for 8 days. The score of cervix uteri was 12 mark. The ultrasonogram showed that the size of right ovary was 9.6 cm x 7.8 cm x 4.6 cm and the left side was 9.2 cm x 7.2 cm x 4.7 cm. Both sides of ovary had 10-20 follicles with maximum size 1.8 cm. In order to avoid severe OHSS, acupuncture was used instead of HCG for ovulation induction after stopping HMG treatment. On the next day after the first needling, the basal body temperature elevated from 36.3°C to 36.8°C and the score of cervix uteri fell from 12 mark to 9 mark, and ultrasonic B examination suggested that part of the follicles were ovulated. After the l9th day of ovulation, the blood concentration of HCG started rising and after 40 days the blood level of HCG reached to 35.6 ng/ml. The ultrasonogram showed that the diameter of embryonic sac was 1.5 cm and early pregnancy was diagnosed.

Discussion

It was reported in literature that using HMG-HCG in the induction of ovulation, the ovulatory rate was about 70%-90%, but the incidence of OHSS might be 10%-15.4% and even life-threatening in the severe case. At present, there were no satisfactory measures for the prevention and remission of OHSS. In most reports, it is considered that when OHSS inclines to occur, stopping injection of HCG is the effective way to avoid severe OHSS. However, stopping HCG would not only discontinue the ovulation of HCH, but also gave up the already developed follicles. Our clinical practice demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in ovulation induction and also the remission of OHSS induced by HMG. Furthermore, we also noted that in most OHSS patients enlarged ovaries and numerous developed follicles were revealed. As a result of excessive follicles developed, dysplasia of ova and insufficiency of corpus luteum often occurred, thus leading to uneasy pregnancy after ovulation. So it is reasonable to infer that using some Chinese drugs benefiting the function of corpus luteum or using certain amount of progesterone as supplementary treatment after acupuncture, the pregnancy rate could be raised.