Acupuncture - Did you eat a special diet during treatment?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone eat a special diet while doing acupuncture? I was told that I needed to eat a high protein/low carb/alkaline diet of warm foods, broths and teas...no ice water, nothing cold at all (which is challenging in the summer!). Can anyone share what they ate during their treatments which may have contributed to their success? TIA!

[Anonymous]

I did acupuncture for 8 months while TTC and was told exactly the same thing as you. After a while I felt like the diagnosis was a "catch all" and not really personalized for me. She never took my pulse, looked at my tongue or asked about BBT or anything so I became a little weary of it. Especially because I tried to stick with it about 85% of the time and I did not conceive. I did the "diet" while undergoing IVF and was unsuccessful, and did the diet plus chinese herbs for 6 months trying naturally and was unsuccessful. I've stopped going but have thought of seeking another practicioner. I checked my insurance provider list and there really aren't any that are closer geographically to me, and with working long days proximity to work or home is a must.

Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I had to add an egg each day, eat more protein and get more sleep; DH had to drink a special tea. I don't know if this worked or not.

[Anonymous]

OP here...hmm....your acupuncturist didn't take your pulse or look at your tongue? Who did you see? I am seeing Kerri Westhauser and she seems pretty good and comes recommended on this board. She has offices in DC, Falls Church and in MD somewhere. She gave me a diagnosis of spleen chi deficiency, which explained a lot of my other health issues (anemia, low blood pressure, migraines) that I never told her about until after her diagnosis. Maybe you could switch to someone who is more thorough?

But as much as I like my acupuncturist so far...I totally hear what you are saying. I am not buying into the diet and acupuncture 100% but I definitely think both will help increase bloodflow to my pelvis/reproductive area which can't hurt. After two failed natural cycle ivf's (one with donor sperm), I'm willing to try anything before I start my first round of stimulated IVF in the fall...even this horrible diet! I'm missing my cheese pizza and caesar salad!

Thanks so much for responding! Best wishes to you as well.

[Anonymous]

To OP - I just saw Kerri Westhauser recently too and although I recall her saying chi deficiency, I don't recall her mentioning spleen. I think for me, she kept saying blood deficiency. Same diet prescription as you though...

I'm really hoping acupuncture will work.

[Anonymous]

10:52 poster here. I too saw Kerri for all those months. I honestly liked her a ton, she is so nice and easy to talk to. But, after reading some other posts I started thinking "Why doesn't she ask about my basal temp, why didn't she look at my tongue, why didn't she check my pulse ever". I think I was kindey yang and blood deficiency too. I read the book she recommended, and it seemed to contradict a few things she said. And, unfortunately I didn't get pregnant either. I really did like her but kept wondering if there should be more questions, etc.

To posters that use other acupuncturists, how did they diagnose you???

[Anonymous]

To poster 21:41...I've been seeing Kerri and she looked at my tongue and took my pulse...also asked me a ton of health questions (and I offered up a lot of info about myself as well) before she diagnosed me with spleen chi deficiency, liver deficiency and blood deficiency. Maybe it might be worth asking her why she didn't look at those things for you and how she came up with her diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

I see Laura Berkebile at the Teal Center. At my first visit I filled out a huge questionnaire with things ranging from length of time TTC, menstrual cycles, exercise, diet, general health, etc. She also pored over my BBT charts not just at that first visit but at every subsequent one, and spent about 5 minutes on my pulse each time, feeling it both before the treatment, during, and after. She also looks at my tongue each time. I can't say that acupuncture helped me get pregnant - I did if for 7 months and ended up pregnant a month I did it but also took 100 mg of Clomid and had an IUI - but I found her to be very thorough.