Type A Personality

So I am now in my 10th year of private practice. I have seen many, many women for the treatment of infertility. By far, I can say that most of the women I see for infertility are type A personalities. So I have been learning ways to help patients let go and relax. At the end of the day all we can really change about ourselves is our perspectives. We can't change our personality types, we can't change those little thoughts that pop up in our minds. But -- we can change the we look at ourselves and put theses thoughts aside. We can change the patterning of our thoughts. In the last 4 years I have been studying meditation and yoga. Yoga means to Unite. In practicing yoga we are uniting the mind and body. In doing this we help our minds to except our bodies and our bodies to except our minds. Why not we are what we are. All to often we are way to serious about life. In fact taking everything we do and judging it is very hard on our bodies. But, if we can remember to take a step back and laugh at ourselves we lighten up and become much more fulfilled. Many people won't even begin to try yoga because they say they are not flexible enough, it is boring etc. But the fact is -- we go to yoga to become flexible. Flexible in the mind and body. We do meditation to be more flexible in the mind which helps us become more flexible in the body. When one doesn't judge the self as bad or good, but looks at themselves as this is how I am today at this moment at this time we become more loving towards ourselves and guess what happens? Our bodies can relax, our minds can relax. When we learn to relax about life our bodies can work just the way they are suppose to. Acupuncture helps the mind relax. It helps with regulating hormones and increased blood circulation. Studies have shown that it increases fertility. Yoga helps unite the mind and body. Meditation helps us let go of all those little thoughts racing around our minds. Those little thoughts are really only little thoughts, worries, judgements, or stories we tell ourselves. They are not the truth. To find the truth you must go a lot deeper in your body. If you believe you are not flexible enough to try yoga -- Check in with your mind--How flexible is it? Becoming open to your purpose in life, not trying to force what you want is often the key to understanding. Relax and be kind to yourself.

Acupuncture & Yoga for Infertility

More and more research and information are becoming avaiable about how Acupuncture and or Yoga help with infertility. While I am past the point of trying to have children, I am really into Yoga. In fact I practice 1-3 times per day and look forward to it everytime! What it does for me is to bring my mind to a state that I may be exhausted but I am totally in the moment. You cannot think of anything else while trying to do the poses. I practice what is call Anusara Yoga. It has been a true blessing in my life. Anyway back to being in the moment. Women I treat are often so into getting pregnant that is all they can think about. It controls their life. When they have something that strong controlling their life it puts their body into stress mode. When in stress mode our minds tell us we can't conceive because we are to stressed.
I recently have been getting all my patients who come in for infertility to also start a yoga program. I am seeing the combination of the two are incredible. Women are beginning to blossom mentally understand the process and GET PREGNANT! Give it a try!

Time to Begin Again

It has been along time since I published a post. I have been busy moving my office and deciding how I can most help my patients. There is so much being said about becoming a specialist in fertility Acupuncture that I felt it was time for me to make a choice if that is what I wanted to do or not.
The decision I finally made is I do not wish to go through the process of getting my specialization in Fertility Acupuncture for many reasons which I will share a few. I believe Oriental Medicine is meant to treat the whole body. When our body is balanced a women should be able to conceive. If she still doesn't we must question what is really going on in her body and is it beyond what Acupuncture can heal.
The whole process of infertility can be very, very stressful. Becoming calm, surrendering to what is suppose to be in our life and excepting our purpose has to be excepted.
After going to Acupuncture School many years ago, taking many extra classes throughout the years on infertility, studying alot of Western Medical reasons for Infertility I have found that I love treating women and men experiencing this, but also love treating anyone who walks through my door.
Helping people create their journey through life is what I love. Women whatever you decide about your treatment choice for infertility -- The goal is to have a healthy, happy baby. Not just to be pregnant.

What Does High FSH Mean In Chinese Medicine?

Very common question. I have found that high FSH is a sign that the womens body is out of balance, and is just not nourishing the reproductive system. When women who have been diagnosed with high FSH come into our office, they feel hopeless. Their spirit has been broken.

The good news is that I have seen many women who have very high (80-100), come in, change their diet, get regular Acupuncture treatments and sometimes take herbs. Within 3-6 months often their FSH count is much lower.

I have seen many women with higher than normal FSH become pregnant, and have healthy, happy little ones.

The FSH is checked on the 3rd day of a womens cycle. In most clinics of Western Medicine the FSH should be 8 or under.

Does Acupuncture and Herbs work for everyone? I wish I could say yes, but -- I truely believe that we all have a purpose in life. Some of us will be mothers to our children, and some will be mothers to the world. There are just some women, that cannot conceive -- but that does not me you are less of a women, or that you don't have a purpose. It means that you were meant for something else that is just as dear and just as special as having your own children. Once you determine what that purpose is, you will be just excited as finding out you are pregnant.

It probably doesn't feel that way at this time, but time heals.

My Body is Attacking My Husbands Sperm --

Please share your story, along with the types of treatments you have tried. Please let us know what you have found to be successful.

Story to long for comment? email me: katiemc@ancientartsaustin.com

Timing of Acupuncture and IVF

As far as what I see in my office, the patients who come in for Acupuncture usually 1 time per week for 12 weeks plus 1 treatment right before the IVF procedure and 1 treatment right after the IVF procedure have the best success conceiving.
I do have patients that call me for the first time right before the IVF procedure and have the 2 treatmnets (1 before and 1after IVF procedure.) I can say that if this is their second or third time to have IVF, the Acupuncture often seems to have a positive effect. It is difficult time to know if it is their first time through IVF, because you don’t really know if they would have conceived or not.
What I can say is that it often really helps the patient relax stay calm and feel good about the process. Which in turn can’t help but increase the patients odds. I also believe that the Acupuncture will either help or not, but has no negative effects.

katiemc@ancientartsaustin.com

Infertility

If your doctor is just prescribing medications such as Clomid because you have not been able to conceive, make sure and ask them how this medication is going to help. Feel free to ask the to do blood work to try and determine what is creating the problem. Test that may help determine what is going on with your body are:

FSH
LH hormone
Progesterone
Thyroid
Estradiol

It is not really good just to take medications because they worked for other women. it is best to determine the problem and then treat. When women come to me with these test results we are ahead of the game.

When you come in for your treatments, we will be keeping a basal body temperature chart, we will see how the chart looks each month. We will see how your tongue and pulse are. With this information we will have a idea what is going on with your body. Together with the blood test results we will be able to confirm what we are seeing with your body.

Exercise & Infertility

I have found that exercise is one key to living a healthy lifestyle. Keeping your body in the best shape you possibly can of course increases your chances of conceiving. Do you have to have the perfect body? No, what is perfect anyway? You do have to do the best YOU can by eating a healthy diet, and exercising.

Not everyone is going to enjoy going to the gym, running, swimming etc. But, you can find something you enjoy if you try. Sometimes walking while using a stretch cord is fun. You can turn on music and dance around your home for 30 minutes or more. You can mow the lawn, etc., etc.

Studies have shown that if you are within 20% of your "perfect" body weight your chances of conceiving are greater. It has also been shown that if you have a positive attitude your chances of conceiving are greater. People feel better about themselves if they exercise. Give it a try.

My doctor isn't interested in my BBT chart.

It doesn't seem that most Western Medicine Physicians are interested in the BBT chart. Althought there are some that use are. Personally, I have learned that the BBT chart can give you alot of very good information as long as it does not stress you out. What I do is just have my patients email me their temperatures daily, so they are not looking at the charts and over analyzing. At anytime they wish to see their charts I email it to them, but it puts the burden more on myself and they are a little less stressed.

I guess the BBT chart just does not help most Physicians in their treatment process. But with Eastern Medicine, it is important to know all the symptoms, the tongue, pulse and to see the temperatures. It can tell us if you have a yin or yang deficiency, a blockage, if you are ovulating, if you have enough progesterone, if you cycles are the correct length, etc.

Would you like me to look at your chart and give you my thoughts? Please email it to me:
katiemc@ancientartsaustin.com

Weather Changes

I was at the hospital the other night when we had one our few storms of the summer. My daugher had called because her water had broke. My mom had always said that when storms come in women go into labor. I always thought it was just a old wise tale.

Well, what mom had told me must be true. There were so many women who's water had broke that there were not enough nurses or enough rooms. We were told they see this very often when a storm blows through. Most of the babies were smaller than normal, because most of the women had the same thing happen as my daughter, where their water had broke, but, they were not actually in labor.

The happy ending is that even though baby Wesley was 3 weeks early he was 7 lbs. 8 oz. Mom and son are doing fine.

What began as a business is now a passion

Open your mind.

Open you heart.

Meditate.

Pray.

Visualize.

Open your mind.

Open your heart.

Meditate.

Pray.

Visualize.

What To Expect When I Come In

I receive a lot of calls of people asking what to expect when they come to Ancient Arts Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine.

1. We have two Acupuncture clinics under one roof. Matthew is my son owner of McBrearty Acupuncture & I am Katie McBrearty-Shields owner of Ancient Arts Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine.

2. You will always see the same person unless you request to see the other.

3. We do not have office staff, because it makes it too expensive for the patients. In order to keep your cost down, we make all of our own appointments, and do our own paper work. We do not file insurance for you.

4. Our office is very calm and relaxing. You will get to know us, and feel very welcomed and relaxed in our office.

5. You will not have to wait for your appointment. I see all of my patients at their scheduled time.

6. If you can't afford the treatments talk to me. I believe anyone who wants to take care of them self should be able to.

7. You can call me in the evenings or on the weekends if you have questions.

8. You can email me and I will get back with you within a few hours.

9. Eat a little something before you come in for treatment. Come dressed as you are.

10. Acupuncture does not hurt.

Already One New May Baby!!!

Yes, we have one new baby on the way at Ancient Arts. Early next year we will get to meet him/her. Very exciting. This is going to be the year of the baby at Ancient Arts. How many more babies do you thing we will have on the way?

Make your guess, and whoever is closes will when a free treatment.

Remember to call in if you plan on coming to pre-natal yoga. The class is very full, and we need to make sure everyone has enough space to practice.

Tell your friends -- we are starting a regular yoga class for beginners. It is filling quickly, so give us a call and see what times are still available.

Common Questions

1. Do you charge more to treat infertility, than allergies or pain?
No, women me who are experiencing infertility are under enough stress. It is my belief that
there is no reason to charge extra. Keeping the cost down eliminates extra stress, and I have
there is no reason to charge more. Yes, perhaps it takes time doing more research, or making
make personal formulas, but, the reward of helping couples experiencing infertility is so great,
I would not charge more.

2. How many patients do you see per hour? Usually, I see 1 per hour. I like to spend a lot of
with each patient. Patients who call and need to be seen come in on the 1/2 hour, so
sometimes there are two patients per hour.

3. Will I always see you, or do you rotate patients between Matthew and yourself? My patients
always see me, and Matthew's patients always see him. If one of us are out of town we tell
our patients ahead of time, and they can choose to come in, or wait until we return.

4. Do you accept insurance? We do accept some insurance. Give us a call and we can let you
know if we take yours or not.

5. Can I bring my child with me? Of course. We have a large office, and are happy to have little
ones visiting with mom or dad.

Are You Stressed?

If you are under a lot of stress, for any reason, that could be the reason you cannot conceive. Take time for yourself. Practice Tai Chi, Yoga, or meditation. Learn deep breathing exercises that will help you learn to calm your mind and body.

Try Acupuncture!!! It works great for releasing the qi and letting your energy flow freely.
It is very important that your energy is free to flow the way it was meant to. With qi stagnation, problems occur.

How does your qi flow? Want to know more? Give me a call 512-653-6131.

Tai Chi Practice

Every Wed. at noon we have a group of people that get together. Our office is located at 1501 Koenig Lane. Please call if you would like to join us. Cost is by donation.

Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal Yoga is continuing at Ancient Arts. We have three more openings, if you are interested.
Classes are held on Monday at 6:00pm. Please give me a call if you are interested.
512-653-6131. Classes are $10.00 per class.

4 New Babies will be born to our Ancient Arts family!

At Ancient Arts Acupuncture we are very excited to say that 4 of our patients will be giving birth in about 9 months. This was a very exciting month for our patients.

How Many Patients Do You Treat Per Hour?

I see one patient every 45 minutes. I believe each and every patient needs this much time most of the time. We usually talk for 20-30 minutes and the rest of the time my patients are receiving acupuncture. Each visit usually lasts a total of 1 hour.

I usually see about 15 patients per day.

Eating for Fertility

The research is in -- but then it changes. Constantly changing. Nutrition, diets, foods, what is good what is not? Let's break it down to the simplest form that can just make sense.
Stop caffeine it can't hurt. Can't stand it? Have one small cup of coffee with cream.
Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and at this time you need all the blood flow possible.

Eat whole foods. Why not it is much better for everyone. Vegetables, grains, seeds, lean meats, beans, legumes and nuts. Can't go wrong.

We all need water, not sweetened drinks. Not high energy or vitamin drinks. WATER.

If it is in a package, ready to eat -- don't do it. Too many chemicals, preservatives.

Dairy? Don't drink cows milk. Too many hormones. You can get enough calcium from leafy dark greens.

Eat breakfast -- Eat a healthy snack -- Eat lunch -- Eat a healthy snack -- Eat dinner
Skipping meals can disrupt your blood sugars. Can make you eat fast food, because you become too hungry and make bad choices.

Would you like to know more? Call me 512-653-6131