| Search BackgroundInfertility is a common disease in Gynecology and a difficult problem faced by the doctors in the world. Each year, there is a gradual increase of patients with this condition, causing a wide range of social and family problems. Research on infertility has been very important around the world and is a problem that the gynecological doctors are eager to solve. At present, most modern medicine treatments for infertility are drugs and surgery. In recent years, the development of artificial insemination has been widely used. However, there are many factors that cause infertility and many of them cannot be diagnosed or cured by modern medicine.Traditional Chinese Medicine has nearly 2,000 years of documented literature regarding infertility, there are detailed records from physiology, pathology, anatomy, diagnosis and treatment. In view of this, it will be great for infertility patients find ways to cure infertility using Traditional Chinese Medicine.Purpose:In more than 40 years of teaching and clinical practice, Professor Xinsheng Lai found the "TongYuan Therapy". "Tong" from "Tong Du Yang Shen" means "dredging the Du meridian and tonifying the spirit". "Yuan" from "Yin Qi Guei Yuan" means "leading the qi to its primordial location". The method contains two parts. It is based on the theory of acupuncture with Yin and Yang regulation as the core theory and combined with clinical experience by "dredging the Du meridian and tonifying the spirit" and "leading the qi to its primordial location" to balance the Yin and Yang to cure disease. Dr. Lai’s method, which applies acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs to treat infertility, has significant results and has cured many patients. This study collected data from female patients in the clinic of "Lai Xinsheng Inheritance Studio for Renowned and Veteran Practitioners of TCM" in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and the clinical methodology and experiences of Professor Lai’s "TongYuan Therapy" to treat infertility, and was reorganized by the combination of acupuncture with Chinese herbs. For the increasing number of infertility patients, this study will provide a guidance and improvement in clinical efficacy.MethodsThis study is based on following Professor Lai’s clinical practice, collection of infertility medical records, recordings of the professor’s notes on infertility and treatment methodology and academic points of view. The investigation of professor Lai’s publications, research, academic materials, was collected to compile the clinical thinking, theory and treatment guidelines of infertility of Professor Lai. Research ResultsRecords for 57 patients, a total of 305 visits, were collected during September 2014 to September 2015 in the clinic of Lai Xinsheng Inheritance Studio for Renowned and Veteran Practitioners of TCM in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.1. Western medical diagnosis:After the analysis of 57 infertility patients, ovulation dysfunction and problems of the fallopian tube occurred the most. There are 8 cases solely due to ovulatory dysfunction and 12 cases are combined with other factors, totaling 20 cases (35%); there are 14 cases solely due to problems with the fallopian tube and 6 cases are combined with other causes, totaling 20 cases (35%); there are also 20 cases (35)% with combine etiology. The data shows the complexity of causes seen in patients with infertility.2. TCM diagnosis:Kidney deficiency,97 cases, accounts for 31.8% and is the most common; Liver Qi stagnation with 37 cases, accounts for 12.1%; uterine stasis in 11 cases, accounts for 3.6%; phlegm dampness resistance has 15 cases, accounts for 4.9%. In addition, there are 126 cases of kidney deficiency combined with other syndrome types, and the most common is correlated with kidney deficiency in infertility patients which accounts for 70.8%. In Clinical records, non-single syndrome types are the most common,145 cases, accounted for 47.5%. The complexity of the etiology of infertility patients can be seen from the data from Professor Lai’s clinic.3. Chinese medicine treatment:A total of 163 kinds of traditional Chinese herbs were used among patients, and the use of 4018 times were found in the collection of all records. Herbs used, analyzed by chi-square test using SPSS 16.0 by comparing two syndrome groups based on TCM syndrome differentiation, found that prescriptions which contained Gancao, Dangguei, Danpi, Chishao, Baizhu, Huaishan, Nvzhenzi, Shengdi, Shoudi, Chaihu, Dangshen,Xaingfu and Shanyurou are most commonly used by Professor Lai for treating infertility based on different syndrome types.When prescribing herbs according to the stage of a patient’s menstrual cycle, Gancao, Dangguei, Danpi, Chishao, Baizhu, Huaishan, Nvzhenzi, Shengdi, Shou di, Chaihu, Dangshen, Xaingfu, Shanyurou, Chenpi, Chuanxiong, Yimucao, Yuenling, Sangjisheng and Chuanduan were found as the most commonly used herbs used by Professor Lai for infertility patients. These herbs are similar to Professor Lai’s prescription "Tiao Jin Bi Xiao Fang" in the treatment of infertility.4. Acupuncture treatment:A total of 35 acupuncture points, the use of 2907 times in all the collection records. According to TCM syndrome differentiation, comparison of two groups of herbs by chi-square test using SPSS16.0 through the comparison of various types of evidence, Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao, Tianshu, Zhongji, Guilai, Zusanli, Taichong, Hegu, Quchi, and Waiguan are the basic points common in the treatment of infertility by Professor Lai. According to the classification of the menstrual cycle, the acupuncture points are the same as that of TCM syndrome differentiation. These points are the most commonly used acupuncture points by Professor Lai in the clinical treatment of infertility. The treatment method is based on "Yin Qi Gui Yuan" combined with Jin’s three needle technique of arm three needles Quchi, Waiguan, Hegu and foot three needles Zusanli, Taichong, Sanyinjiao.5. Clinical thinking in the treatment of infertility:Based on Professor Lai’s years of clinical experience, infertility is most related with the organs and meridians. In regards to the organs, the three most important are the liver, spleen, and kidney. Infertility is mainly due to kidney deficiency and could be combined with liver qi stagnation, or spleen deficiency. Regarding the meridians, Du and Ren are the most important meridians. Clinical infertility is divided into four types, kidney deficiency, liver qi stagnation, blood stasis stagnation in the uterus, and the blockage of phlegm. Tonifying the kidney is the basis of treatment, and combined with Syndrome Differentiation, the necessary modification in the treatment may include regulating Chong and Ren meridians, invigorating kidney qi, soothing the liver and moving stagnation, activating blood and removing stasis, and invigorating spleen and resolving phlegm.6. Tongyuan therapy:Tong Yuan therapy includes the two parts of "Tong Du Yang Shen" and "Yin Qi Gui Yuan". It means leading qi to its primordial location and dredging the Du meridian to tonify the spirit. The theoretical basis is "regulating yin and yang to cure the disease". Yin and Yang is the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, balance of Yin and Yang is fundamental to a healthy body. The disorders of the Yin and Yang nature the Tong Yuan therapy is used to adjust the Yin and Yang excess or deficiency to reach the state of "balance between Yin and Yang", this is Tong Yuan therapy basic spirit.Conclusion:In this study, we can understand the treatment of infertility through the collection of cases and data research, as well as the ideas and experience of Professor Lai. He believes the basic pathogenesis of infertility is kidney deficiency. On the basis of kidney deficiency, it can be combined with liver qi stagnation, phlegm blockage and uterus blood stagnation. He emphasizes the combination of acupuncture and medicine in the clinical treatment of infertility. The treatment first focuses on the kidney, then the overall diagnosis of the illness, the patient’s condition and symptoms, using herbs that target the patient’s symptoms. Herbs used are primarily based on Professor Lai’s "Tiao Jing Bi Xiao Fang" prescription with the addition/subtraction of certain herbs subject to a patient’s condition. The treatment method of acupuncture is based on "Yin Qi Gui Yuan" combined with Jin’s three needle technique using arm three needles and foot three needles.Through the collection of books, articles, and recorded lectures, we have a better understanding of Professor Lai’s "Tong Yuan therapy" theory and its characteristics. "Tong Yuan therapy" is based on Yin and yang theory, through the regulation of yin and yang to achieve the balance of health. Meridian therapeutic effect is achieved through the methods of "Tong Du Yang Shen", using Du Meridian and five back Shu Points to connect the Du meridian with the brain to tonify the spirit, and "Yin Qi Gui Yuan" using the Ren meridian and viscera abdominal front Mu points to connect the Ren meridian with the kidney to lead qi to its primordial location. " Tong Yuan therapy" is an effective form of acupuncture therapy that treats the root of the disease by strengthening the body’s defense against pathogenic factors. Clinical treatment application is based on different diseases or symptoms by the combination of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, producing significant results not only in the treatment of infertility, but also in the treatment of many other diseases. |
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