The Parent Blogger’s Network sent me the book “The Tao of Fertility” to review. I was very interested in this tour, because I have infertility issues. I also have an interest in “alternate” forms of medicine and I thought this would be a good combination of the two.
The author, Daoshing Ni, is very knowledgeable about fertility and infertility. The book examines a “healing Chinese Medicine Program” designed to help prepare your body to become pregnant as well as dealing with some of the issues related to infertility.
Ni doesn’t discount Western medicine. He discusses the pros and cons of things like IVF and he explains how you can utilize Chinese medicine to improve your odds. In fact, when I took the fertility readiness quiz included in the book, my score indicated that I should “Seek the help of a reproductive medicine specialist right away.” (That was kind of a bummer. I was hoping my score would say, “Stay away from sperm! You are a ripe fertile woman!!!)
The book includes a 28 day fertility program that is designed to help optimize your chances of conceiving. There are recipes and food programs, self-help acupressure, and imagery exercises. Although this advice slightly borders on “just relax and you’ll get pregnant,” the book works at explaining why Ni recommends these things. I really thought that I wouldn’t like this book because I didn’t feel like a diet change or some imagery exercises would be able to unblock my fallopian tubes or locate my missing ovary. But I got the impression from reading the book that Ni isn’t trying to say that. He admits that some fertility challenges require surgery. That IVF might be necessary. But he also offers some things you can do to help yourself out. And creating a healthy body and mind never can hurt. The better shape your body and mind are in when you are trying to conceive the better, and so for that reason I found the book quite well done.
It is not for everyone, but if you are attempting to have a child and you are open to other forms of medicine, I would recommend The Tao of Fertility. After all, what’s the harm in trying? It might just be what works for you.
May 20, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Fwiw I personally know several women who bore healthy infants at the end of their fertility (39-40) after undergoing Chinese medicine. And they did alternative insemination.
May 21, 2008 at 8:05 am
I co-wrote The Tao of Fertility based on my personal experience with Dr. Dao. Chinese Medicine is complementary medicine – in my case, it made all the difference in how successful the Western fertility treatments were. But other women interviewed for the book were able to get pregnant using Chinese Medicine alone – and more importantly, have healthy children. Thank you for the thoughful review!
May 25, 2008 at 9:00 am
[...] The good doctor, who is a descendant of more than 70 generations of Taoist masters, doesn’t downplay Western medicine’s strengths in the infertility arena. One reviewer thought this might be the case. At first, she was skeptical: “I didn’t feel like a diet change or some imagery exercises would be able to unblock my … [...]
October 24, 2008 at 6:25 am
I am interest to know how we can treat infertiliy in traditional chanise
medicine. how we used acupuncture point and herbs for traeting infertility.
thanks
October 24, 2008 at 6:28 am
Hello Dr Dao
I am very intrest to know how the chinese medicine can treat the infertility
wouuld you please send me email and show me.
Thanks