Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years in China and Asia and for hundreds of years in the West.
Unlike Western medicine which is based on observable cause and effect, TCM understands illness as being caused by an imbalance in the body’s energy (known as “Qi”). TCM is a holistic system of medicine that links the state of mind of the patient with their physical health and symptoms. A TCM practitioner therefore seeks to diagnose the imbalance of energy in the mind and body that is seen as the cause of a patient’s illness or symptom and use acupuncture and herbal preparations to restore the balance.
Because Traditional Chinese Medicine is tailored to the individual patient rather than a specific symptom or disease it is not possible to say that the benefits of acupuncture and herbal medicine have been “proven” in the Western medical terms. Because of this the UK’s Committee for Practice in Advertising will only allow advertising material (including websites) to claim acupuncture is effective for the treatment of specific conditions. It is therefore necessary to say clearly that Traditional Chinese Medicine should be considered as a complementary therapy and the Fertility Support Company does not advocate it as an alternative to Western medicine. If you are in any doubt about your health or symptoms you are experiencing you should consult your doctor. The Fertility Support Company and its practitioners do not claim to “cure” infertility or any other ailment.
That said, there is a significant and growing body of evidence-based research demonstrating the effectiveness of certain acupuncture protocols for a wide range of conditions. While scientific debate continues, a 2003 World Health Organisation review of clinical trails recognised the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating a range of conditions.
If you would like to read what some of The Fertility Support Company’s patients have to say about the support they have received please see the Baby Gallery.
For more information on the conditions for which the Committee for Practice in Advertising has approved claims for the efficacy of acupuncture please see the British Acupuncture Council’s website. For more information on research into the efficacy of acupuncture please see the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre website.
As with any medical treatment, the response of any individual to acupuncture and herbal medicine may be different to that of others and there is always the possibility that a small minority of patients experience side effects. If you experience any side effects please consult your practitioner immediately.