Struggling to Get Pregnant? Here’s Why You Should Consider Acupuncture

Trying to get pregnant can be one of the most exciting—and stressful—chapters in your life. But if months go by and it still isn’t happening, that excitement can turn into frustration, confusion, and emotional exhaustion.

If you’re struggling to conceive, you’re not alone. Many couples face fertility challenges, and while Western medicine offers powerful tools like IVF and hormone therapy, more and more people are also turning to acupuncture for natural, supportive help. Whether you’re trying naturally or alongside medical treatments, acupuncture may be exactly what your body needs to boost fertility.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a key part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body. These points are connected through pathways called meridians, which guide the flow of energy—or “Qi” (pronounced “chee”).

The goal of acupuncture is to restore balance in the body and optimize the functioning of its systems. When it comes to fertility, that means supporting hormone regulation, improving blood flow to the reproductive organs, and helping your body function at its best.

How Can Acupuncture Help with Fertility?

Here’s how acupuncture supports your fertility in practical, evidence-based ways:

1. Regulates Hormones and Menstrual Cycles

Hormonal imbalances are one of the most common reasons for infertility. Conditions like PCOS, irregular periods, or anovulation (when you don’t ovulate) all stem from disruptions in the hormone cycle.

Acupuncture works to regulate the endocrine system, helping your body naturally balance key reproductive hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone. Over time, this can lead to more regular cycles, healthier ovulation, and better timing for conception.

2. Improves Blood Flow to the Uterus and Ovaries

Good circulation is essential for fertility. Acupuncture helps increase blood flow to the pelvic area, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the ovaries and uterus. This can:

• Enhance egg quality

• Improve uterine lining thickness (which supports implantation)

• Create a healthier environment for conception

3. Reduces Stress and Cortisol Levels

Let’s be honest—trying to get pregnant can be incredibly stressful, and stress itself can interfere with fertility. High cortisol (your stress hormone) can disrupt ovulation, delay cycles, and even affect embryo implantation.

Acupuncture helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system—your “rest and digest” mode. This helps lower cortisol levels, calm the mind, and support emotional resilience. Many patients report sleeping better, feeling more balanced, and even enjoying the fertility process more after starting acupuncture.

4. Supports IVF and IUI Treatments

Even if you’re undergoing assisted reproductive technologies like IVF or IUI, acupuncture can be a powerful complement. Research has shown that acupuncture before and after embryo transfer may improve implantation rates and reduce the chance of miscarriage. It can also help manage the side effects of fertility medications and improve ovarian response.

Many fertility clinics now recommend acupuncture as part of their treatment plans, especially during key stages of the IVF cycle.

What to Expect

Acupuncture for fertility is gentle and tailored to your unique needs. A licensed acupuncturist will take a full health history, review your menstrual cycle, and develop a treatment plan that supports your body through every phase—follicular, ovulation, luteal, and menstruation.

Most patients receive weekly treatments, though this may vary based on your cycle or where you are in your fertility journey. Some women begin noticing positive changes within one or two cycles, such as more regular periods, less PMS, improved sleep, and reduced anxiety.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes—when performed by a qualified, licensed practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe. The needles are sterile, single-use, and so thin that most people barely feel them. Many patients find treatments relaxing, even meditative.

Final Thoughts

If you're trying to conceive and feel like you’ve hit a wall, acupuncture offers a gentle, supportive way to help your body do what it was designed to do. It's not about forcing pregnancy—it's about restoring balance, supporting natural processes, and giving your body the best possible foundation for new life.

Whether you're just starting to try, have been struggling for a while, or are preparing for IVF, acupuncture may help shift things in your favor.

You don’t have to go through this alone—and you don’t have to rely on just one approach. Sometimes, the missing piece is the one that brings everything together.

Medicare Will Now Cover Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

As of January 21st, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) announced that acupuncture to treat low back pain will now be a covered benefit under section 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act. 

The benefit will encompass up to 12 visits within 90 days for covered Medicare beneficiaries if they meet the following criteria. Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is defined in their terms as pain that:

• Lasts 12 weeks or longer;

• Is nonspecific, meaning that there is no diagnosis of a metastatic, inflammatory, infectious, etc. disease)

• Is not associated or resulted from from surgery or pregnancy

On top of the initial 12 visits within 90 days, a patient may also be eligible for eight more sessions for those patients who are demonstrating a marked improvement in their symptoms. However, a maximum of 20 treatments may be administered a covered benefit per year.

And, if a patient is not showing signs of improvement or worse, is somehow regressing, their treatment must be discontinued.

The treatment must also only be performed by a qualified provider CSA defines qualified providers as: “Physician assistants, nurse practitioners/clinical nurse specialists (as identified in 1861(aa)(5)), and auxiliary personnel” that meet all applicable state requirements and have:

• Masters or doctoral-level degree in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM); and

• current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.

Finally, the announcement states, “Auxiliary personnel furnishing acupuncture must be under the appropriate level of supervision of a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist required by our regulations at 42 CFR §§ 410.26 and 410.27.”

To find out exactly what this means for you, call us today to see what benefits you may have under your insurance and if acupuncture is considered a covered benefit for you. If not, don’t fret! We also offer affordable cash rate options for those without coverage — so that healthy healing is accessible to all.

How Acupuncture Can Help Migraines

Anyone who has ever suffered from a migraine knows how painful and debilitating the pain can be. Pressure, pain, nausea, and aversion to light can keep you in the dark, both physically and mentally.

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, a migraine is, “an extraordinarily prevalent neurological disease” and they affect nearly 39 million people in the U.S. and 1 billion people across the world.

Here in the states, 18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of children experience migraines. That’s far too many people that suffer from the all-encompassing pain that is much more than “just a headache.”

Luckily, acupuncture can help

While the root cause of migraines varies from patient to patient, the fact that acupuncture can help remains steadfast. Before you opt for prescription medications, give acupuncture a try.

One of the easiest ways to explain how acupuncture can help is through the release of endorphins. When inserted into the proper meridians, the acuneedle then stimulates nerves that in turn release endorphins (feel-good, pain-relieving hormones.)

Acupuncture also will help to balance qi, and improve circulation which will help to reduce inflammation and pain, too.

If you or someone you know struggles with migraines, let our trained and licensed acupuncturists help. We will work with you closely to formulate a treatment plan that is specifically targeted to treat your unique needs —while helping to reduce both the pain intensity and frequency of migraines and headaches.

Acupuncture for COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a devastating disease that is caused by inflammation of the lung that results in obstructed airflow. Patients experience difficulty breathing, coughing, mucus and phlegm and wheezing and sadly — the disease is caused my long term exposure to harmful gasses or smoke, most often cigarette smoke.

Unfortunately, more than 11 million Americans have been diagnose with COPD, and according to the American Lung Association, millions more may also have it without knowing.

Thankfully, amidst the suffering most COPD patients explore, a recent study has shown that acupuncture can be an effective treatment that is safe, and has a low risk of any adverse effects.

The First Clinical Medicine College of Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine released results of a controlled clinical trial that compared acupuncture treatment among COPD patients with the use of the drug Seretide – a prescription inhaler.

The study concluded that, “both the drug Seretide and acupuncture monotherapy treatments offer significant benefits for patients suffering from COPD,” with improvements including gains in lung function, reduction in symptoms, and enhanced quality of life overall.

Though it was observed that acupuncture treatments resolved the symptoms more slowly than the Seretide inhaler, it showed improvement nonetheless — and holistically at that.

If you find yourself struggling with any symptoms of COPD, the first step is to consult your physician. They will be able to offer you the appropriate diagnostic tests and a thorough assessment.

 If you are in fact diagnosed, know that acupuncture can help. When used in conjunction with traditional COPD treatments, acupuncture can help you to breathe a bit easier and find more comfort — without any side effects or risks.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a Fan of Facial Acupuncture

Ever wonder how celebrities achieve their glowing and age defying complexions? Us, too. 

Unfortunately, not too many celebs are eager to spill their secrets to the fountain of youth. But thankfully, Gwyneth Paltrow just did!

This past Wednesday, Paltrow posted a zoomed in selfie of her flawless face on Instagram with acu-needles perfectly placed. The caption read, “Is anyone else into acupuncture? Check out link for a video with master @iloveacupuncture." 

(PS - We're totally into acupuncture too, Gwyneth!)

Her acupuncturist of three years, who US Weekly reports is Paul Kempisty LAc, is quoted by the publication as saying, “facial acupuncture, also known as facial rejuvenation acupuncture, is performed much like regular acupuncture but with a particular focus on supporting connective tissue, circulation and detoxification of the face.”

He further explained, “The local face points also specifically promote wound healing, collagen production, circulation and relaxed and supple muscles on the face and often produces a feeling of deep relaxation and rejuvenation during and after the procedure.”

Here at NJ Acupuncture Center, we take pride in our facial acupuncture services, which are gaining in popularity.

Our acupuncturists are trained to help clients achieve their skincare goals, whether it be anti-aging, improved complexion, acne treatment and more.  We utilize a variety of techniques to help restore your complexion, fight signs of aging, lift and tone the skin, and improve circulation for an overall fresher look.

If you're interested in incorporating acupuncture into your skincare and beauty routine, please call the office at (201) 668-0343 to schedule an appointment! 

Why Acupuncture is Your Best Bet to Beat That Bad Back

If you’ve felt some back pain recently, you’re not alone. About one in four adults in the US have experienced some sort of back pain over the last 3 months. And many times, particularly as we age, it’s difficult to pinpoint how or why you’ve got that soreness, knot or pulsating pain.

For years, many of us, whether under the orders of doctors or on our own, have reached for the ibuprofen or acetaminophen bottle to try and relieve back pain. But now, the American College of Physicians is recommending a new first line of defense against back pain before trying any sort of medication—natural therapies, among which acupuncture is one of them.

“There’s been a push over the past few years in my practice and in many others to push away from medications ― particularly opioids,” Allen Chen, director of physiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian/The Spine Hospital said to the Huffington Post, adding that this sea change to natural remedies has been long overdue.

There are a number of natural, physiological processes that those who suffer from back pain can opt for, including physical therapy, massage, and yoga. Acupuncture, however, is particularly suited to remedy back pain safely and for the long term because of its ability to treat root causes of pain and restore balance in the body.

For pain like back aches and soreness, licensed acupuncturists are able to “stimulate the proper points, especially polar points on the hands and feet, that rush blood back to the nervous system to assist the body in inflammation reduction," says Mona Ahdoot Dan, an LA-based acupuncturist. This act is similar to what medications are designed to do, but acupuncture is able to do this without the harmful side effects that painkillers and opioids come with.

Thankfully, with the ACP recognizing the benefits of holistic treatments like acupuncture, more and more people will stay away from harmful medications when their back starts acting up.

Breech Baby? Try Acupuncture!

Saying that giving birth can be stressful is a major understatement. An expectant mother will try just about anything do to make the process physically or emotionally easier.

One thing moms-to-be have to worry about is whether their baby is in the breech position when they go into labor.

Breech position describes when the baby is bottom down. This can be problematic during the delivery, causing a number of potential difficulties. Ideally, the baby will be head down, otherwise known as the anterior position. Many babies will naturally move to the anterior position in the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy, but some finicky holdouts stay breech. Thankfully for mothers of these stubborn babies, there is a natural practice that has been turning breech babies into the preferred position successfully for centuries.

Katie, 34, found out at 34 weeks pregnant that her baby was in the breech position. Luckily, that falls right in the window of time that acupuncture and moxibustion become a viable way to safely turn the baby into the correct position. Katie had undergone acupuncture when trying to conceive, with positive results. So she decided to try again to see if it would help her baby move from the breech position.

Katie saw her acupuncturist who performed both moxibustion and acupuncture.  “The increased placental oestrogen caused by the heat from the moxa stick increases the baby’s heart rate and, in turn, encourages the baby to move around,” said Fiona Wolfendon, the acupuncturist.

As acupuncture helped Katie get pregnant, it also helped her delivery become much less stressful than it could have been.

“The baby stayed the right way round and there were no problems with the birth,” Katie said. “There were no complications and I only had a 12 hour labour.”

Sometimes babies just need a little help to make things a lot easier on mommy. Acupuncture has been providing the gentle but effective nudge successfully for a very long time, and will continue to do so in the future for moms everywhere.

Trouble Sleeping? Let Acupuncture Be Your Lullaby

You’ve just had a long day. Work was crazy, the kids were a handful, bills are due...all you want to do is relax and get a good night’s sleep. You get yourself all ready for the eight hours of blissful sleep that will regenerate you to take on another day. But you just can’t fall asleep.

Insomnia affects many of us. Thirty to 35% of people in the U.S. experience brief symptoms of insomnia, 15-20% have short-term insomnia, which lasts less than three months, while 10% suffer from chronic insomnia.

There is no one cause of insomnia, it can be spurred on from various medical and psychiatric ailments, and it can have long lasting and negative effects. Fatigue, the inability to concentrate or focus, low motivation and energy are just some of the side effects that come from lack of sleep. Often, people turn to sleeping aids like Ambien, which come with their own sets of risks and negative side effects.

The reason that acupuncture is safer and more effective than narcotics to treat pain and disorders—including insomnia—is because it doesn’t merely mask symptoms, it attacks the root causes and rectifies them by balancing the body’s energy.

"Acupuncture helps restore the body's natural balance by connecting us more deeply to the subtlety of our own sensory experience,” Aliksandra Keller, Lac, MS, MA, RYT tells PopSugar.com. “In other words, it helps bring a new level of consciousness to what we are truly feeling and sensing, as well as helping us to process our emotions…In the case of insomnia, needles would be inserted to help the body clear its excess and subsequently tonify its deficiency."

When we can’t sleep, it’s because the energy in our body is, in everyday terms, out of whack. Counting sheep, drinking warm milk or—certainly not—sleeping pills treat the root cause of insomnia. Acupuncture does. If you’re in desperate need of a good night’s sleep, acupuncture is there to help.

The Versatile Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular around the world as its wide-ranging benefits become more well-known. But exactly how many different disorders and diseases can acupuncture treat? While the number is by no means exact or binding, the World Health Organization currently recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment for 47 diseases.

Many people seek out acupuncture as a treatment for general pain. But that pain is usually associated with a larger disease or disorder that is acting as the root cause. Those diseases are too often treated with medications that, while come can be effective, many times bring about a whole set of negative side effects as well. And we’ve learned more and more about the addictive properties of opioids, which many people are prescribed to treat all sorts and levels of pain.

“A lot of people are seeking a natural treatment in order to reduce the number of medications they take,” says Ning Qian, licensed acupuncturist with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners who has been performing acupuncture for decades.

Qian treats patients who have consistently dealt with what are considered common illnesses, such as sinusitis, the flu, allergies and tonsillitis, as well as diseases and disorders like Parkinson’s Bell’s palsy, hypertension and more.

The fascinating and thing about acupuncture is that it doesn’t input anything into our body that isn’t already there. That’s why it is both such a safe and versatile treatment. Licensed acupuncturists know the body’s 360 major acupoints and which ones need to be stimulated based on the patient’s pain or disease they may be suffering from.

“When the needle is placed into the acupoint,” Ning says, “it allows blood and energy to flow into the targeted area.”

Acupuncture is also beneficial to people who haven’t been diagnosed with any disease or disorder, but want to increase their day to day energy and vitality. Qian treats patients who have consistently dealt with what are considered common illnesses, such as sinusitis, the flu, allergies and tonsillitis, as well as diseases and disorders like Parkinson’s Bell’s

Acupuncture shown to restore facial movement in stoke patients

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. 140,000 people in the US each year die due to a stroke. However, there are many different levels of stroke, and not all are fatal. In fact, stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the country.

Strokes occur due to restricted blood flow to the brain. When that happens, oxygen is cut off and can’t reach the brain. Depending on the level of the stroke, even a survivor may incur physical ailments as a result of the episode. These include numbness, soreness, muscle weakness and more. One common side effect is facial paralysis, one that can have a very long lasting and difficult, day-to-day impact on health and quality of life.

Thankfully, a recent study shows that one treatment in particular can help restore facial movement in stroke patients: acupuncture.

In fact, it’s a combination of acupuncture treatments that was deemed most successful. Fujian Ningde Hospital in China conducted a study of 60 patients diagnosed with post-stroke paralysis over a two-year period. All patients were administered body acupuncture, while half of the group were administered an additional acupuncture procedure to the scalp.

It’s not surprising that the body acupuncture was found to be quite successful on its own. The results of the study showed a 71% effective rate for those who received only the body acupuncture. But the addition of the scalp acupuncture raised the effective rate to just over 93%. The combination of the two was shown to bring back facial movement in nearly every patient.

“In related findings, laboratory research confirms that acupuncture supports brain repair after a stroke,” the study notes. “Yang et al. note that acupuncture “promote[s] the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the brain.”

Acupuncture is a safe, non-invasive and effective way to treat many stoke side effects, including one of the most common and life-altering.

Acupuncture Helping Veterans

We are fortunate to live in a country where freedom rings. For that, we can thank all the incredible servicemen and women who have fought to defend our country.

Whether they are recently back home from duty or served many years ago, many veterans return home having to deal with any number of difficult physical issues that stem from their time serving. Many times these ailments go untreated, which leads to more pain and discomfort, especially as we get older. Often times, unfortunately, veterans are unable to get the medical coverage they need. A Veterans Affairs office in Oregon is looking to change that.

Michael Belliveau served in the Air Force and worked a daunting physical job as a contractor when he returned home. That amount of physical exertion took its toll, especially on Michael’s shoulders. To treat the pain, Michael had been receiving cortisone shots, which worked but eventually wore off, necessitating another shot and so on. But nine months ago the Roseburg VA started offering acupuncture to treat veterans with all sorts of physical ailments. A prime candidate, Michael has been undergoing consistent acupuncture treatment for his shoulder pain, and he says he’s confident he will feel relief when his latest cortisone shot runs out.

Another veteran, 36-year-old Loy Knutzen, originally hurt his ankle and soon found that the rest of his lower body was in pain as a result. For the pain, Loy was initially given Vicodin, then gabapentin, which is usually used to treat seizure disorders. The medications were not working, and a safer alternative became available. Knutzen saw results fast, and will continue receiving acupuncture to treat his pain.

“Some veterans will describe it as a high. A euphoria can sometimes be felt when those pathways are opened,” Marlene McBride, a nurse at the Roseburg VA said.

If you know a veteran who is suffering from physical or mental ailments, let them know how acupuncture is a safe, effective way to treat pain and restore the body. After, of course, thanking them for the service to our country!