Autumn follows on the tail of the harvest, signaling that it is time to prepare for winter. The sap of trees settles into the interior, sinking down toward the roots. With fall comes a sense of gathering in, stocking up, mingled with a sense of loss as the light begins to fade and the air chills. It is a time to eliminate what is unnecessary and become aware of what is essential. In our human body we find that our "Qi" dives deeper; for preservation of cold weather ahead. We are more likely to want to "toast" in our beds each morning rather than jump out of bed to start our day.

Things you can do today to help optimize your IVF success (click here to watch the free 70 minute recorded webinar)

drink enough water

avoid or reduce caffeine, flour, sugar, animal dairy

reduce wheat & gluten

get enough sleep

include high protein high fiber breakfast (i.e. oatmeal, egg whites)

make a commitment to gentle, restorative exercise

regular deep relaxed breathing

schedule things you enjoy & do them - time with friends

I love watching the deeper healing that happens in my clients after a strong trust is formed, commitment to treatment is established, and a movement beyond mere physical health begins. The following is a email I received from a client after sending her a recommendation to watch the documentary 'Hungry for Change'. The later in italics is my response.

Hi Spence,

The 'fertility diet' in a nutshell (keep reading). An old client of mine just requested an appointment as they are starting down the path to baby #2. When I haven't seen someone in a while I always get them to fill out my intake forms, again, as people change and Chinese medicine takes a close look at each person head-to-toe, to determine where things are at at that moment in time, so as to implement effective individualized treatment...

The 'DIRTY BAKERS DOZEN' 13 foods that everyone should always buy certified organic. The following list of foods are known to contain high levels of pesticide residue that have been linked to reproductive problems (infertility, miscarriage, endometriosis, sperm disorders), cancer, and many health concerns in children.

Americas largest reproductive medicine conference just finished in sunny Orlando Florida last week. Many notable new pieces of fertility evidence were presented, but possibly the most important being how diet relates to sperm.

A recent study published in The Journal of Reproductive Medicine demonstrated increased rates of celiac disease (gluten intolerance) in women who present with unexplained infertility. Each participant underwent serologic screening for celiac disease as well as routine infertility testing. The diagnosis of Celiac disease in women also diagnosed with 'unexplained' infertility was significantly higher when compared to other types of infertility.

I believe asking questions about important things in life is necessary to keep the 'powers that be' in check. While it is not my intention to perpetuate conspiracy theories, a little shock and awe to get people questioning authority is the underpinning message of this blog entry.