In this episode Jennifer talks with Libby Horesh, MAOM, LicAc, FABORM, about how a whole-systems approach to traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, food, movement and lifestyle working together) can help rebalance the body and support fertility, whether you're trying naturally or using fertility treatment. 

Libby is the founder of Nurture Acupuncture and one of only a handful of fellows of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM), now the Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine, in Massachusetts. She also serves on ABORM's board. 

Her path to Chinese medicine was personal: after being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, now PMOS) in her 20s, she chose Chinese medicine over conventional treatment, and her symptoms resolved. Before that turning point, she studied English and environmental geoscience at Boston College and worked as an environmental scientist. She then earned a master's in Oriental medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture and became board-certified in reproductive medicine. 

For the past 17 years she has treated fertility and reproductive health in both women and men, along with a wide range of other health issues, drawing on her scientific background to care for the whole patient. When she's not in the clinic, you'll find her cooking creatively, spending time with her husband and two kids, and getting outside as much as possible.

Key topics discussed: 

• More than needles: what a “whole systems” approach to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) really includes, from herbs and nutrition to movement and breath
• Libby’s own PCOS (PMOS) story: how one look at her tongue changed her diet, and how her cycles began to regulate within a few months
• The IVF study worth knowing about: roughly 61% live birth rates with whole-systems TCM vs. about 48–51% with usual care or acupuncture alone, and what may be driving the difference
• Why you can’t rebalance your body in the 30 minutes before and after an embryo transfer, why three months of preparation is ideal, and why it’s still worth starting wherever you are
• Could your lunchtime salad be draining your energy? Raw and cold foods, digestion and directing your body’s energy toward the uterus and ovaries
• The surprising case for red meat: “blood deficiency,” what your period has to do with it and plant-based options for vegetarians
• Is your workout helping or hurting your fertility? Hot yoga, half marathons and matching movement to the energy you actually have
• TEAS (Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation): an at-home tool between sessions for IVF stims, a stubborn uterine lining, PMOS and painful periods, plus how some PMOS patients went from 60-day to 30-day cycles in two-to-three months
• Scared of needles? What really happens at a first appointment, from tongue checks and pulse reading to “baby needles,” why most patients fall asleep and the 10-point drop in blood sugar Libby saw on her own glucose monitor
• What to tell your fertility doctor, why herbs are usually paused once injectable medications begin and why your partner deserves a seat on the table too

Resources Mentioned:

• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine (formerly ABORM), including its worldwide practitioner directory: aborm.org
• Food, mood and poop journal, a tool Jennifer uses with clients to notice how foods make them feel
• Gaia Herbs Plant Force Liquid Iron and Floradix, liquid iron supplements Libby uses as a “blood tonic”
•  “Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes.” Hullender Rubin LE, et al. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2015 (the retrospective cohort study of about 1,200 IVF patients discussed in this episode)
• TEAS (Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation), using a TENS unit on acupuncture points; work with a qualified practitioner for your point protocol

 Connect with Libby:

• Website: www.nurturewholehealth.com
• Book an appointment online through the website, with offices in Concord and Bolton, MA, and evening hours available
• Questions? Email and phone number are listed on the website
• Instagram: @nurture.acupuncture

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.