June 1, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils we can eat. Because our Mediterranean climate is so conducive to growing olives, we have easy access to many local producers of excellent quality organic extra-virgin olive oil. Yolo Press, located in Winters, is a two-time winner of Best of Show at the Yolo County Olive Oil Competition, and was one of the very first farms to grow and produce olive oil in Yolo County.
Yolo Press is owned by Mike and Dianne Madison, As a kid, Mike grew up in rural Davis and worked on farms. He studied Botany in college on the East Coast, then went on to work on the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia.
Mike and Dianne later returned to Davis and, after a brief stint working in an office, Mike realized that he really preferred being outdoors working with plants. In 1986, they bought their place in Winters (22 acres) and began farming.
Dianne and Mike decided to start their farming venture with growing flowers for several reasons: 1) they are a high value crop, 2) no one else in the area was growing them, and 3) Mike’s father had been a flower grower. They realized fairly quickly that 4-5 acres of flowers was enough, so they started to plant other things, including olives, apricots, figs, watermelon, and cucumbers.
One of the advantages to growing both olives and flowers is that their growing seasons complement one another. Olive harvest and oil production take place in November and December, a time of year when flowers are less active. Olives are also drought tolerant and have no pests.
The Madisons first began to plant their olives in 1991, at a time when no one else locally was growing them. Mike and Dianne also built the first olive oil mill in the area. Their grove has grown steadily over the years as they have tried out many different olive varieties, and they now harvest their olives from 1700 trees in 16 varieties. Mike’s favorite is Taggiasca, which grows near the border of southern France and Italy, as well as in Albania.
The Madisons pick their olives by hand, ensuring gentle treatment of the fruit. The olives then go directly from the grove to the mill as soon as they are harvested.
Mike and Dianne have chosen to operate their farm as a biologically interesting place. They use no poisons and manage the soil in a way that is congruent with natural organisms. Their olives, apricots, and citrus are certified organic. Because their farm is on a creek, they also have a couple of acres of native riparian forest, adding to the diversity of wildlife.
The name, Yolo Press, was chosen because Mike, who is also a writer, had previously had a publishing business under that name. It was easier to keep the same name than to come up with a new one, and fortunately, it fits well!
Yolo Press’ specialities are their flowers, organic extra-virgin olive oil, and jam, as well as a few other foliage plants used in their bouquets, such as cedar. They also make and sell olive oil soaps, hand salves, and lip balms. It’s important to the Madisons that their skin care products are free of unwanted chemicals, so olive oil and beeswax are the primary ingredients. Yolo Press’ skin care products are recommended by local doctors for people with sensitive skin.
One item unique to Yolo Press is their organic extra-virgin olive oil in small 100 ml (3.4 oz.) bottles. This size makes a great gift and also fits the TSA requirement for liquid carry-on items. They carry larger bottles (100ml, 500ml, and 3 liters) of specific varietal oils (Taggiasca, Leccino, Mission) as well as blends. They also make a flavored oil from Mission olives and Yuzu fruit (a citrus), which is often only available for a short time, due to its popularity.
Three Things to Look for When You Buy Olive Oil
- Dark glass or metal container. Because olive oil is light sensitive, it degrades rapidly if it is packed in clear glass.
- Harvest date. Olive oil should be used within fifteen months of harvest. Older than that, it loses character and may become rancid. Note that bottling date and use-by date do not tell you how old the oil is.
- Olive variety. Just as different grape varieties produce quite different wines, so do different olive varieties produce different oils. The label should indicate which olive varieties the oil was made from.
Olive varieties at Yolo Press:
- Frantoio
- Moraiolo
- Taggiasca
- Koroneiki
- Mission
- Aglandau
- Ceracuola
- Luques
- Leccino
- Pendolino
- Itrana
- Ascolano
- Picual
- Coratina
- Ceringola
- Dolce
Mike Madison would like you to know that Yolo Press guarantees their items and will replace them if you are not satisfied.
The Madisons can be found at both the Wednesday (Mike) and Saturday (Dianne) Davis Farmers Markets. Yolo Press products are also carried at the Davis Food Co-op and Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op.
Yolo Press is not open to the public.
Website: http://www.yolopress.net/
Instagram: @yolopress
May 10, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
4 to 6 Weeks to Recovery
Having a baby is a wonderful and exciting time, but it is also one of the biggest physical, emotional, and spiritual transitions that a woman will go through in her life. In most cultures around the world, the importance of this transition is recognized and a period of 4 to 6 weeks is set aside as the postpartum recovery period. During this time, family and community members step in to care for the new mother and baby, feeding her deeply nourishing foods while she rests, recovers, and adjusts to her new role.
In China, this tradition is called “Zuo yuezi” or “sitting out the month.” Restrictions, such as avoiding cold, bathing, hair washing, or going outside were created to to safeguard the new mother’s recovery back to health, in part to preserve and improve the family lineage. A newer version of this exists today with wealthy women staying at "baby hotels" where they are pampered and encouraged to rest.
In contrast, our culture does not acknowledge or allow time to absorb the importance and impact of major life events, such as birth and death. Often stressed and without support, the new mother is expected to care for a newborn, prepare meals, do housework, regain her pre-pregnancy body (and of course, libido!) and return to work in a short period of time. Medical care is focused primarily on the baby, with no one checking on the mother until her 6-week postpartum visit. It’s a missed opportunity to support breastfeeding or catch early signs of depression.
Preparing in advance, we can incorporate the best of Chinese postpartum traditions (rest, staying warm, eating nourishing foods, help with housework and the baby) without the restrictions that we find too limiting.
How Can Chinese Medicine Help?
- Moxa or “mother warming’ starting at 4-5 days postpartum to warm up a depleted new mom.
- Chinese herbs to promote healing, replenish the body, improve digestion, and support milk production.
- Acupuncture to reduce pain and soreness, improve energy levels, encourage lactation, stabilize emotions, balance hormones, and ease recovery from childbirth. A visit approximately 10-14 days following birth is suggested, ideally having one treatment a week for 3-4 weeks.
Chinese Medicine Can Treat:
- birth trauma
- sore and swollen breasts
- mastitis
- not enough breast milk
- urinary problems
- vaginal soreness
- hemorrhoids
- constipation
- edema/water retention
- hair loss
- fatigue
- body aches & pains
- headaches
- insomnia
- depression
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Symptoms include:
- Anxiety that increases in severity
- Frequent, uncontrollable, or severe crying spells
- Sleep issues – insomnia or excess sleep
- Lethargy, hopelessness
- Guilt, self-doubt, feeling inadequate
- Panic attacks
- Chest tightness and/or heart palpitations
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby
Postpartum depression and anxiety occurs in about 1 out of 7 (15%) of new moms. Due to its similarity to “baby blues,” most women do not seek treatment. If symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks, medical help is necessary. Interventions may be holistic, allopathic, or a combination.
Acupuncture is recognized as one of the most successful natural treatments for postpartum depression and depression symptoms in general. If you need to take medication, you will still benefit from acupuncture; they can be done at the same time.
Researchers from Stanford University found that 63% of women receiving just 8 weeks of acupuncture therapy for postpartum depression responded well to the treatment.
First Month Postpartum Tips
- Lie down and rest frequently - especially the first two weeks!
- Stay warm, well-nourished and hydrated - avoid cold foods and drinks
- No housework or cooking
- Learn to receive, let others care for you
- Ask for and accept help from family and friends
- Limit visitors
Foods to Promote Lactation
- Drink plenty of water!!
- Eat organic foods as much as possible
- Bone-in meats or fish (always organic)
- Dark leafy greens
- Gelatin (from grass-fed sources) or pig trotters (in a soup)
- Seaweed for trace minerals
- Sweet potato or Chinese yam
- Grains: oats, millet, barley, sweet rice
- Legumes: adzuki, chickpeas, lentils, mung beans
- Papaya (especially green) - eat one a day, if possible
- Fennel and fennel seed - increases supply
- Herbal tea, especially mint, rose, and barley
- Coconut water
- Young coconut meat
- Herbs: basil, marjoram, anise, dill, caraway, turmeric (also helps reduce inflammation)
May 7, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
I first learned about Good Humus Produce from buying their Royal Blenheim apricots and Suncrest peaches at the Davis Farmers Market and the Davis Food Co-op. When I later decided to join a local CSA, I discovered that they also offered a fruit CSA, so choosing to go with them was an easy decision!
Good Humus Produce, owned by Jeff and Annie Main, is located on 20 acres of certified organic land in a little valley called the Hungry Hollow in Yolo County’s Capay Valley.
Jeff and Annie Main are both fourth-generation Californians with a family history in agriculture, so farming is in their blood. Annie’s mom always had a garden and Annie remembers visiting her grandparents on their ranch in Santa Rosa, where they grew prunes and grapes. At one time they also had cows and chickens.
Jeff and Annie Main have been two of the mainstays (no pun intended!) of the Davis and Yolo County organic food scene going back 40 years. In the 1970’s, there was a big Back-to-the-Land movement. Jeff (Civil Engineering) and Annie (Renewable Natural Resources) were students at UC Davis at that time and were part of the on-campus cooperative house called the Agrarian Effort. The Ag Effort was part of a buying club, which decided to turn the buying club into a store front. Jeff and Annie, who had been married a year were part of the building of the store and were the first produce buyers for the store that became the Davis Food Co-op.
Annie and Jeff also helped start the Davis Farmers Market. They were living on a ranchette in Woodland, across from Howard Beeman and Susan Pelican, also farmers, who helped them get started in their farming adventure. Everything, the Davis Food Co-op, the Davis Farmers Market, and their venture into organic farming, started right around the same time and the Mains were right in the middle of it.
When the Mains and their friends started farming, there was no question whether to farm organically or not. Rodale Press, which published Prevention and Organic Gardening Magazines, was a big influence on them. They were part of a group of five farmers in the beginning, renting 3 acres. This group eventually became three farms: Good Humus, Everything Under the Sun, and Capay Organic.
Jeff’s dad, Ted Main, and Yolo County resident, Ed Looney, were their mentors. Both men had farmed in the days before chemical fertilizers and pesticides (pre-WW II) and were a great help. Ed joined the newly created Davis Farmers Market on the very second week of the market and continued selling there until his death in 1991.
Ed Looney knew Yolo County well and 
together with a realtor friend found some property and bought it in 1983 for Jeff and Annie to farm. There was no written contract, just a verbal agreement and a handshake, and the Mains are still there to this day. They farm on 20 acres and have built a barn and a house, and have planted lots and lots of trees. Annie and Jeff purchased the property in 1993 and held their first annual Peach Party to celebrate. In 1984, their first child was born. Both their farm and family have continued to grow over the years. They now have three children, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. They also recently added an additional 10 acres with their son, Zach, and his wife, Nicole.
Having spent their lives building their farm and knowing that high land prices have locked younger farmers out of the market, the Mains decided that they wanted to help create a sustainable farm that could continue from generation to generation. They created an agricultural easement as a legally binding way to ensure that their farm remains a farm for generations to come. This easement is the first of its kind in Yolo County, the second in Northern California, and one of only a handful of similar efforts in the United States. What makes this easement different is that they are asking that when the farm changes ownership that the next owners will have to live on the land, farm the land, farm sustainably, and make their income from farming.
Jeff and Annie have two philosophies that have guided the growth of their farm. The first is a belief in the importance of diversity. They have broken their fields into different areas containing mixed fruit orchards, framed by California native hedgerows, cover crops, annual and perennial herbs and flowers, and vegetables. 
Their farm doesn’t just provide food for people, but also provides habitat for an enormous range of species who like to live in and feed on the several hundred different types of plants growing there. Their other philosophy is to stay small and not to stray far from their community in sales and marketing. As Annie says, they do “a little of everything” and it is important to them that their work is done well.
Their name, Good Humus, is a play on words and came about during a conversation with friends about the Good Humor man. If you are old enough, you will remember the Good Humor ice cream delivered by the Good Humor man. Because you need good humus (soil) and good humor to farm, the name “Good Humus” stuck. Unlike now, in those days, hummus (the food) was not very well-known, so no one confused the two!
Good Humus Produce specializes in stone fruit and that season will be starting very soon. Don’t miss out on their amazing Royal Blenheim apricots (a smaller crop this year due to all the rain) and their fantastic Suncrest peaches!
Jeff and Annie open their farm to visits on special occasions. Two upcoming events are the “Hats and High Tea” on Saturday, May 13th and the “Mother’s Day Capay Valley Garden Tour” on Sunday, May 14th. They also host spring visits for elementary school students, as well as their annual Peach Party for their CSA members in early August. Limited tickets are available for the “Hats and High Tea.” Please contact their daughter, Claire Main, at thegardenatgoodhumus@gmail.com for details and ticket information. To purchase tickets for the “Capay Valley Garden Tour,” call (530) 796-3464 or purchase online at www.thecapayvalleygardentour.com.
Good Humus Produce and its products (vegetables, fruit, flowers, herbs, and jam) can be found at the Davis Farmers Market (Wednesday and Saturday), the Davis Food Co-op, Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, and Natural Food Works in Davis.
Good Humus has several quarterly CSA share options: vegetables (year-round), fruit (3 quarters of the year), flowers (spring through fall), and bread from Village Bakery (only available at certain Tuesday CSA drop-off points.) You can sign up for one or multiple options. The summer quarter will be starting soon, so now is a great time to learn more if you’re thinking about signing up!
Website: http://goodhumus.com/
Email: humus@cal.net
Phone: (530) 787-3187
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodhumus
May 6, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
Last summer I was invited to join the Yolo County Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (now known as the Yolo County Maternal Mental Health Collaborative.) The Collaborative is made up of representatives from various county agencies and private individuals who either work with pregnant and postpartum women and their families, or who have personal experience of postpartum depression. Its current vision statement is to “Promote optimal wellness for all mothers in Yolo County so they and their families can flourish.”
The Collaborative has been meeting monthly for the past three years to raise awareness around Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS), commonly known as postpartum depression or PPD. For the past 3 years, Yolo County, along with Humboldt and Santa Clara Counties, has been at the forefront of a social media campaign during the month of May to create public awareness around PMADS. The symbol is the Blue Dot and they are hoping to make it as recognizable as the pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness. They want women and their families to know that PMADS is not their fault and that treatment is available.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the first week, May 1-7, is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.
Below are the most common types of mood changes a woman may experience.
“Baby Blues” is very common and affects approximately 80% of postpartum women. It usually arises and resolves relatively quickly – from approximately 24-48 hours following the birth to up to 2 weeks – and is frequently due to a combination of rapid hormonal shifts and exhaustion.
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PMADS) affects 1 in 7 women (15-20%) and is even higher (up to 50%) in those experiencing poverty. PMADS is not predictable. It can affect women after their first baby or may not show up until their third or fourth is born. It may begin during pregnancy or last up to 2 years after the baby’s birth. Although it usually affects the mom, dads can also experience it. PMADS commonly shows up as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum post-traumatic stress syndrome, and bipolar mood disorder. It affects the mothers and their children, as well as other parent partners and the wider community.
PMADS is more prevalent than gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia combined. Screening is not routinely done, and even when detected, less than 25% of women are treated. Conventional treatment generally consists of medication and talk therapy, but acupuncture is also very effective and has no side effects. In fact, in a recent study, acupuncture was as effective as Prozac, but without the side effects.
Postpartum Psychosis is thankfully relatively rare, affecting 1 in 1000 mothers (or 0.1%). It usually occurs within the first 2 weeks postpartum. These are the stories that you are likely to hear about in the news – women who attempt suicide or try to kill their children. These women experience a break from reality and usually require multiple forms of treatment.
If you know someone who has recently had a baby, reach out to her and ask her how she is doing. Attention is usually focused on the new baby and new moms who are sore and exhausted may not ask for help, especially if they are used to doing everything themselves. They may not even know that their feelings of overwhelm are normal and that support is available.
Yolo County has an amazing wealth of resources:
Suicide Prevention
(530) 756-5000 (Davis)
(530) 666-7778 (Woodland)
(916) 372-6565 (West Sacramento)
Yolo County Department of Health and Human Services CRISIS Line
(530) 965-6647 / TCC (800) 735-2929
Empower Yolo (domestic / sexual violence support)
(530) 662- 1133 (Woodland)
(916) 371-1907 (West Sacramento)
Postpartum Support International
(800) 944-4773
www.211yolocounty.com
www.postpartumprogress.com
You can also contact your doctor or insurance company for help.
April 15, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
Robert Ramming’s wife says about him, “if you cut him, he’ll bleed dirt,” and in talking with him, it’s clear that he has a deep love of the land and all that it supports. Our interview began in the greenhouse, then Robert generously led me on a tour of the farm as we talked.
Originally from Lompoc, the owners of Pacific Star Gardens, Robert and Debbie Ramming, have been farming on their property on Road 99 since the early 1990’s. Like many others in the mid-1960’s to mid-1970’s, Robert was influenced by the Back-to-the-Land movement. He had grown up on small family acreage, dabbling in gardening and small livestock, went into the tech industry with his brother in the ’80’s, then decided to leave to go back to working with the land.
Robert’s farming journey has been one of lots of ideas, adventures, experimentation and adaptation, and it continues to this day. His first Pacific Star Gardens venture was with his dad in the early ‘90’s, building the greenhouse. Wanting to grow organic off- season tomatoes year round, he quickly discovered that the huge overhead with greenhouses added too much risk, so theirs became a propagation house. He also learned that tomatoes grown outside have much better flavor than the same type grown in a greenhouse.
By the mid-90’s, he was growing vegetables outdoors, in particular, wholesale tomatoes. The name, Pacific Star Gardens, was chosen when the Rammings were planning to grow wholesale tomatoes to ship all over the Pacific Rim. Even though plans changed, the name stayed.
Wholesale farming is difficult to make work on a small-scale farm such as theirs, so Robert’s wife, Debbie, suggested that they try retail farming. Their small roadside stand, located on Road 99 between Woodland and Davis, was run by their four kids and became an instant success. They were in an ideal location and customers loved their tomatoes. Then Debbie got them into Farmers Markets in Sacramento and they discovered that they really enjoyed connecting with their customers and seeing their customers’ faces light up at finding tomatoes and melons that smelled and tasted the way they remembered. Later, they added U-pick fruit and that has also been a big hit.
An advantage to retail farming is that it can be done on a very small scale. And with the model that Pacific Star Gardens uses (mostly roadside U-pick), there are no marketing, advertising, transportation, packaging, distribution, or outside labor costs.
I first learned of Pacific Star Gardens in 2002, when my daughter’s second grade class went there on a field trip to pick organic strawberries. Since then, I have stopped by many times to pick strawberries, as well as the other types of berries (boysenberries, olallieberries, marionberries) they grow.
Although I have picked berries at Pacific Star Gardens many times, it turns out that I had only seen a small part of the farm. The “back twenty” of their 40 acres contains black walnut trees, a wildlife/irrigation pond surrounded by native grasses and shrubs, and a watering station for local birds, complete with a solar-powered pump built by the Rammings’ son. Eventually, they hope to put in a windmill to pump more of their own water. Attracted to the pond area are ducks, coots, Swainson’s hawks, kites, swallows, and redwing blackbirds.
The philosophy at Pacific Star Gardens is to enhance their environment, to work with nature, and to create a more diverse local economy. Their farm certainly has done that. They rotate crops each year, have several orchards, rows of blackberries, wind breaks, a wildlife/irrigation pond, and chicken and turkey runs.
While the term, “sustainable,” can mean different things to different people (to most farmers, it means that they earn enough to stay in business and have a decent quality of life), the original idea was to maintain healthy soil, keep the water source clean, and keep the soil in place to stop erosion. Over time it has also come to mean build up the soil, enhance habitat, and support wildlife.
Robert’s plan for the future is for their farm to be truly sustainable - to provide good, healthy food, and eventually, their own energy. While their eggs are not currently organic (because the feed is not), they hope to grow their own chicken feed in the near future as they have grown grains before. They also hope to go into beer-making, adding bread and possibly goat cheese in the future.
Farming certainly has had its share of adventures, from hail wiping out their strawberry crop, to the rabbits who’ve proliferated in the past few years after someone shot all the coyotes in the area, to the ground squirrels who try to make off with their chicks. To adapt, the Rammings have added an electric fence to keep out the rabbits and Debbie removes the chicks as soon as she can and moves them into the brooding house.
As Robert and I talked, he told me about the different classes of soil. There are 8 classes, with class 1 being the “best of the best” and class 8 being totally unsuitable for crops (like cliffs). We have extremely good farming soil in our area – much of the soil in Yolo County is prime farmland (class 1 or 2) –and Pacific Star Gardens is fortunate to be in an area with class 1 soil.
They are also open to having partners for the future. Fred Blum of Flowerstone Farm is currently using some of their land to grow his produce. Their goal is to have 2-3 farming families on their property.
The farm currently offers U-pick organic strawberries, blackberries, and apricots, free-range eggs, (and through Fred, CSA boxes). They also occasionally raise meat chickens and try to have some turkeys available for their customers at Thanksgiving. Pacific Star Gardens is open all day, every day. Farm tours, arranged in advance, are available for a small fee.
Pacific Star Garden strawberries are now ripe! It’s a fun experience for kids of all ages, plus they let you taste them while you’re picking too. Enjoy!
Location: 20872 County Rd. 99, (out West Street, south of Woodland)
Email: pacificstargardens@yahoo.com
Phone: (530) 666-7308
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pacificstargardens
April 15, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
According to Resolve, the National Infertility Association, 1 out of 8 couples struggles with infertility. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after 12 months of trying to conceive. For women over the age of 35, the time of trying to conceive is reduced to 6 months.
Approximately 30% of infertility is due to female factor and 30% is due to male factor and in some the cases, infertility results from problems in both partners. In approximately 50% of infertility cases the cause is “unknown.”
Conventional approaches to infertility include fertility drugs, surgery, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Other possible pathways to parenthood are IVF with donor eggs or donor embryos, surrogacy, or adoption.
As a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, I am certified in treating infertility using Chinese medicine. I’m often asked by prospective patients if Chinese medicine can increase fertility and the answer is yes!
How Can Acupuncture Help Fertility?
One of the strengths of Chinese medicine is its ability to tap into the body’s own healing abilities. By increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and by normalizing hormonal activity, acupuncture:
- Promotes relaxation and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
- Improves ovulation function and follicular development
- Increases blood flow to the uterus and stimulates the growth of healthy uterine (endometrial) lining to help promote implantation
- Regulates hormonal activity and menstrual cycles
- Treats other impediments to conception such as endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS
- Enhances ART success rates and improves outcomes of IVF
- Reduces side effects of fertility medications
- Speeds post-surgical recovery time
- Decreases uterine contractions to aid in embryo implantation
- Helps implantation and reduces the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
- Improves sperm count, morphology and motility
Can Chinese Medicine Help Me Conceive Naturally?
For couples wishing to conceive naturally, a program of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and relaxation exercises is recommended. Chinese herb formulas, in the form of pills or tinctures, are individually prescribed after a thorough health evaluation. This treatment can also be beneficial for couples who are taking a break from conventional fertility treatments and who want to improve their overall physical and mental health.
Can I Combine Chinese Medicine with Assisted Reproductive Technology?
Studies show that acupuncture increases conception success rates of IVF/IUI and decreases negative side effects of medications. You can be treated at any time during the process of trying to conceive, even while undergoing IVF. Your doctor may prefer that you not take herbs when on IVF medications, but acupuncture is perfectly safe.
By combining fertility acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs with an understanding of Western diagnostics and evidence-based protocols, I join the wisdom of an ancient medicine with the research and technology of today. This combination of two cultures has helped many couples grow their families.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Ideally, couples will begin weekly treatment during the preconception phase, 2-3 months before IVF/IUI or before trying to conceive naturally. During the medication phase of IVF, 1-2 acupuncture treatments per week are ideal. Acupuncture treatment is also recommended both pre- and post embryo transfer.
But What About the Men?
Most fertility treatment focuses on women, even though the male factor accounts for 40-60% of all infertility cases. While treatment with Chinese medicine successfully improves sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, and poor liquifaction, it can also improve overall health, relieve stress, and increase libido.
Conventional fertility treatment has little available for male factor aside from IVF. Because sperm production takes about 72 days, expect to be in treatment for 2-6 months, although good results can occur in a shorter time. Acupuncture is still recommended even if ICSI will be used in IVF to increase the quantity and quality of available sperm.
April 11, 2017 by Johanna Utter, L.Ac., FABORM
Johanna Utter with Robin Ray Green, L.Ac., author of Heal Your Child from the Inside Out
I recently returned from attending the third annual Integrative Fertility Symposium (IFS) in Vancouver, BC. This year’s theme was the Reproductive Circle of Life and there were classes on fertility, pregnancy, pediatrics, and menopause.
While the majority of attendees were from the US and Canada, it was truly international – I also met people there from Belgium, Germany, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK. Most of the people there were acupuncturists, but there were also others from outside the Chinese medical profession: naturopaths, MD’s, urologists, and reproductive endocrinologists.
The pre-symposium class I attended was on Pregnancy and Maternity Acupuncture Care, taught by Debra Betts (NZ), Sarah Budd (UK), and Claudia Citkovitz (US). These three women have each had careers spanning 2-3 decades and currently train others in safe obstetrical care using acupuncture.
At the symposium itself, I attended courses on fertility, pregnancy-related conditions (back pain, hyperemesis gravadarum, recurrent pregnancy loss), labor preparation, menopause and practice management. A delightful surprise for me was seeing and having lunch with a former patient of mine who is now a well-known acupuncturist and was speaking at the IFS about pediatrics and Chinese medicine!
One of the highlights of the symposium was the keynote speech by Ray Rubio, founder of ABORM (the American Board of Oriental Medicine) and one of the creators of the IFS. Ray was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December. Knowing that he might not make it to the symposium, his keynote speech was recorded in January and was shown to us at the opening of the symposium. Watching it was especially poignant because Ray passed away on March 4, less than three weeks before the symposium took place.
Ray was about my age and prior to attending acupuncture school, he worked in the LA film industry. What he shared with us was powerful, painful, poignant, and inspiring. Below are a few themes he shared with us from his life’s experiences, influenced in part by his work in the entertainment industry.
- Know your story:
Ray had a challenging childhood, but did not let that limit him. He accepted all of it, but did not let the bad parts define who is was. His story allowed him to empathize with others and to model other ways of interacting with people. Each of us has a story to share – why we do this work, the difference we want to make in the world – and he invited us to be more open with each other. This became a theme at the symposium and various presenters used it as an opportunity to share more personally about themselves and their life path with this powerful medicine.
- You can always rewrite your script:
In the film industry, changes are constantly being made to scripts by the director and actors. The first draft is never the final one. Part of “rewriting” our script means that we are the authors of our lives and have more say over what we do, think, and experience than we realize. None of us is limited by life’s circumstances or our past experiences. We can choose to go in a different direction at any time. We can also “rewrite” how we see what we’ve experienced and see the silver linings – acknowledging those who’ve challenged us or helped us and the ways we’ve grown.
- Surround yourself with the right cast:
The people you surround yourself with matter and they can hinder you or support you, and you can choose a different, more supportive cast at any time. In Ray’s words, “Look around you. Take the time to tell the people that you consider to be part of your family and your tribe. Take the time to tell them: I value you. My life would be less joyful and less full if you weren’t in it.” - There are always people guiding and supporting you.
Each of us has people in our lives who've greatly influenced us and often they are the quiet people who see something that we might not see in us and help us develop it. Notice and appreciate the kind words, the smiles, and the encouragement. Look for ways you can be that kind of person in someone else's life.
This is my third year of attending the Integrative Fertility Symposium. Each year I recognize more people and am more grateful for my larger community of colleagues. I am grateful, too, for you, my patients, who continue to teach me and inspire me to learn!
