Here at my clinic in Wolverhampton, we recommend dietary choices based on the patient's constitution, along with their Chinese Medicine fertility diagnosis.
Some common foods for fertility might be suitable for your body type and diagnosis; however some may be detrimental. Let's have a look at what this means....
What are some common diagnoses for fertility patients?
Qi Stagnation
Qi Deficiency
Damp
Yang Deficiency (Cold)
Yin Deficiency
Blood Deficiency
Blood Stasis
Heat
These conditions are listed in their basic form. I haven’t explained which organs they’re related to. For example you may have been diagnosed with Liver Qi Stagnation or Kidney Yang Deficiency. The organ is less relevant in terms of diet, so let's keep it simple!
For a full explanation of the organ involvement and a list of symptoms, simply complete a contact form to receive your free gift 'Working With Your Cycle’ which explains all diagnoses in detail.
Foods to Move Qi Stagnation:
Coriander, which relives period pain
Vegetables like carrots, garlic and radish
Cayenne pepper
Herbs, seeds and aromatic flowers like basil, dill seed, turmeric and clove
Orange peel
If you’re wondering what Qi is, it’s a type of energy. When its flow is impaired, it is called ‘Qi Stagnation’.
Qi Stagnation can cause blockages in the fertility organs, preventing implantation and causing PMT symptoms, emotional changes and period pain.
Foods to Nourish Qi Deficiency:
Pulses like lentils and rice
Mackerel and chicken
Fruit like cherries, dates and grapes
Coconut
Oat
Sweet potatoes, yams, potatoes and squash
The popular herb Gingseng
Qi Deficiency is related to the Spleen, which makes Blood and Qi in Chinese medicine. The Spleen likes warm foods and naturally sweet flavours.
Cold and uncooked foods damage the Spleen. It’s therefore vital to always eat warm, cooked foods, and avoid fridge cold foods and salads if you have a Spleen Qi deficiency. If you're unsure, most people have some Spleen Qi Deficiency!
Foods that Help to Clear Damp:
Adzuki beans, kidney beans and rye
Alfalfa or marjoram
Anchovy
Barley and corn
Parsley
Onions, turnips, celery, button mushrooms and horse radishes
Green tea and Jasmine tea
Mackerel
Damp is also related to the Spleen. A strong Spleen should enable the fluids of the body (and fertility organs) to flow freely.
If the Spleen Qi is weak, the fluids become stagnant and cause Damp Accumulation. If this occurs in the Sacral chakra and fertility organs, it can cause blocked tubes, polyps, cysts, ovulation disorders, PCOS and implantation issues.
If you have Damp, it’s important to avoid dairy, peanuts, bananas, raw and cold foods, processed foods, or beer.
Foods to Tonify Yang:
Basil, clove, sage and Star Nise
Dill seed, fennel seed, chive seeds, and fenugreek seed
Chestnut
Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and thyme
Trout, lobster, shrimp
Pistacchio
Quinoa
Yang Deficiency is related to warmth. Yang is a masculine, warming energy. When it is deficient, particularly in the kidney which is closely related to the uterus, it causes the uterus to be cold. This leads to a poor environment for embryo implantation.
With Yang deficiency, you may have: cold hands and feet, cold abdomen and bottom and you may feel the cold. Fertility issues include: low progesterone, short luteal phase, BBT chart slow to rise after ovulation and miscarriages.
Follow the advice for Qi deficiency if you have Yang deficiency as they work alongside each other.
Foods to Nourish Yin:
Fruit like apples, mango, pears, pineapple, pomegranate, lemons, tomatoes and watermelon
Asparagus, yams and peas
Shellfish and seaweed
Eggs
Honey
Sesame
Tofu
Cheese and milk (if you don’t have Damp)
Ginger
Thyme
Yin Deficiency is related to cooling energy; Yin is a feminine energy. When it is deficient, it causes dry skin, night sweats, hot flushes and it will affect the follicular phase and reproductive hormones.
With Kidney Yin deficiency, you may have: low AMH, short or long follicular phase, poor egg or embryo quality, over active thyroid, or a thin uterine lining.
Foods to Move Blood Stasis:
Chive
Brown Sugar
Chestnut
Spring onion, chili and onions
Turmeric
Crab
Hawthorn Berry
Mustard Leaf
Vinegar
Blood follows Qi. When the Qi stops flowing, so does the Blood. When there is a blockage of Blood, we call it ‘Blood stasis’ in Chinese medicine.
Blood stasis can cause Blood clots and pooling in the fertility organs. It prevents implantation and can cause heavy, painful periods, large clots, fibroids, polyps and endometriosis.
Foods to Nourish Blood:
Nettles, dandelions
Red meat, eggs
Carrots, spinach, avocados, beetroot, and kale
Cherries, grapes, figs, blackcurrents
Bone broth
Kidney beans
When the Spleen Qi is weak, it fails to make Blood. This can lead to Blood deficiency which may show up as the following symptoms:
Light periods, dull headaches, dizziness, thin uterine lining, long follicular phase, PCOS.
Foods to Clear Heat :
Apple, grapefruit, banana, lemon, banana or watermelon
Cabbage, asparagus, potatoes, mung beans
Clams
Elderflower
Millet (a type of small seeded grasses)
Tofu
Bamboo shoots
Barley
Excess can develop when the Qi or the Blood isn't flowing properly. When there is heat in the Blood, it can lead to heavy periods or mid-cycle bleeding. You usually see this alongside other diagnoses which cause implantation issues and IVF failures.
Fertility patients usually have more than one diagnosis. In acupuncture, we treat the diagnosis that is causing the most issues first. But we also clear excess before we treat deficiencies. We also treat according to the stage of your cycle.
Therefore, for the most effective dietary advice:
Book an appointment at my clinic in Wolverhampton to discuss your Chinese Medicine diagnoses and which is the most prevalent.
Follow the lifestyle advice sheet (Working With Your Cycle) which includes exercise and tips at home, not limited to diet alone.
Don't be too strict with your diet- enjoy yourself, too!
I hope this has helped!
Natalia
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