Acupuncture and Chinese medicinals can assist couples in becoming pregnant when dealing with male infertility factors just as they can when dealing with female infertility issues. For example, one couple I treated came in with a Western medical diagnosis of male infertility caused by a varicocele. This led to poor sperm motility and morphol-ogy. The husband’s semen analysis reported a total count of 80 m/ml, a volume of 2.5ml, a motility count of 18 m/ml, and a motility per-centage of 22%. Gross morphology was very low, reported at only 4%.
Normal values for each of these qualities are a total count greater than 25 m/ml and a volume of greater than 2.0 m/ml, while a normal per-centage of motility is considered greater than 50%. A healthy mor-phology is greater than 50%.
The husband’s Chinese medical pattern discrimination was kidney and blood vacuity with qi stagnation and blood stasis. His symptoms included fatigue, dizziness, stress and anxiety, poor digestion, includ-ing flatulence, abdominal distention, and occasional nausea, as well as chest oppression and pain. He caught a cold during the course of treat-ment. He also experienced ongoing back and knee pain and soreness and an aggravation of a rib injury. His tongue was red and dusky with white fur. His pulse was small, bowstring, and weak in both cubit positions.
Based on the above, I chose Xiao Yao Fang (Rambling Formula), i.e., Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), Bai Shao (Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralanesis), as this patient’s base pre-scription. Modifications were added and/or removed as needed during the course of treatment. For improving sperm motility, Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis), Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae Chinensis), and Sha Yuan Zi (Semen Astragali Complanati) were added. Ba Ji Tian and Tu Si Zi both supplement the kidneys and invigorate yang, while Tu Si Zi also enriches yin. Sperm morphology can be enhanced by increasing the blood flow to the testicles. Therefore, Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) was added for that purpose. To increase the sperm count and volume, Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis) and
Shu Di Huang (cooked Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae) were added to nourish the blood and supplement yin. For the patient’s low energy, Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) and Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae) were added, and, to improve sleep, Suan Zao Ren (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) was added. For chest oppression and pain, Tao Ren (Semen Pruni Persicae) or Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi Grandiflori) were included. Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) was added to improve digestion and reduce abdominal distention and flatulence. Since the patient suffered from high stress and anxiety and showed signs of heat, Zhi Ke (Fructus Citri Aurantii), Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis), and Dan Pi (Cortex Radicis Moutan) were used to course the liver and rectify the qi, clear heat and resolve depres-sion. Mai Men Dong (Tuber Ophiopogonis Japonici) helped nourish heart yin and drain heart Fire so as to alleviate anxiety. Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii Chinensis) was used to nourish the blood and help reduce the patient’s dizziness, while Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae) was added for nausea.
The basic acupuncture prescription I used with this patient for improv-ing sperm quality was Zu San Li (St 36), San Yin Jiao (Sp 6), Tai Xi (Ki 3), Tai Chong (Liv 3), He Gu (LI 4), and Yin Tang (M-HN-3).
Modifications over the course of treatment included the addition of Zi Hu-Bao Men (Ki 13) with Guan Yuan (CV 4) and Qi Hai (CV 6) for improving testicular function and sperm production. Bai Hui (GV 20) was used to stimulate the pituitary gland for production of FSH which stimulates the testes to produce testosterone. Xue Hai (Sp 10) was added to quicken the blood. Tian Shu (St 25) was used to regulate and improve digestion. Ear points Kidney, Spleen, and Shen Men were used together since they address the major viscera responsible for reproduc-tion and fertility. The kidneys store the essence and are the root for overall growth and reproductive capability, while the spleen is respon-sible for latter heaven engenderment and transformation of the qi and blood. Shen Men quiets the spirit and promotes the smooth and easy flow of the liver qi. The liver qi controls the qi mechanism and an unin-hibited qi mechanism is essential to physiological health.
The patient’s on going back and knee pain were treated with Chinese medicinals added to the base prescription, Xiao Yao Fang (Rambling Formula). Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) and Sang Ji Sheng
(Ramulus Sangjisheng) were added to assuage impediment and relieve pain by quickening the blood and guiding the effects of the formula to the low back and knees. For the rib injury causing soreness, Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae), Yan Hu Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis Yanhusuo), and San Qi (Radix Notoginseng) were added to free the flow of the channels and relieve pain. Acupuncture points used to treat body pain were Fei Shu (Bl 13), Xi Shu (Bl 15), Pi Shu (Bl 20), Shen Shu (Bl 23), Da Chang Shu (Bl 25), Wei Zhong (Bl 40), Cheng Shan (Bl 57), Kun Lun (Bl 60), and Tai Xi (Ki 3). These urinary bladder chan-nel points not only reduced his back and knee pain by local chanchan-nel stimulation, they benefitted the overall condition of sperm quality due to their direct relationship with the internal organ systems. Dan Zhong (CV 17) and Ri Yue (GB 24) were used to loosen his chest and relieve rib-side pain.
To treat this patient’s common cold, he was prescribed Xiao Chai Hu Fang (Minor Bupleurum Formula), i.e., Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae), Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralanesis), Sheng Jiang (uncooked Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis), and Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis), modified by the addition of Qing Hao (Herba Artemisiae Annuae) and Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) for bloating and gas, Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) to fortify his spleen, and Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae) to stop cough. Acupuncture points to treat the cold symptoms included Lie Que (Lu 7) to downbear and depurate the lungs, Yin Tang (M-HN-3) to dispel wind, Wai Guan (TB 5) and Qu Chi (LI 11) to resolve the exterior, rectify the qi, and quicken the blood.
Tian Rong (SI 17) and Ting Hui (GB 2) were used for ear congestion due to the cold.
After three months of treatment, the patient’s wife became pregnant without the use of IVF or other interventions. Unfortunately she mis-carried. Treatment continued with the husband for another two months until his wife conceived again. They now have a three month-old baby girl. (See the following case history for the wife’s story.)