Helen Thompson Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine

15/07/2025

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks, but I’m making the time to share some of the more challenging and rewarding cases that I’ve seen recently.

I first met Ms. L, aged 38, around 16 months ago. She had been trying to conceive for over 10 years and came to me seeking guidance and support.
Ms. L had a diagnosis of endometriosis and had previously suffered three early miscarriages, all at around 7 weeks.

She had been told by her GP that these were likely related to a hormonal imbalance caused by the endometriosis. Ms. L had undergone 5 rounds of Clomid-assisted ovulation, which didn’t lead to success, and had been through 6 failed IVF cycles over a 4-
year period.

When I first met Ms. L, she was clearly emotionally drained and expressed a deep fear of injections and medical procedures. She had low energy, reported bloating and experienced digestive
discomfort, irregular cycles, and light, short periods. She also had cold extremities, low mood, recurring infections, and struggled with weight and low libido. Her tongue appeared pale
and slightly swollen with scalloped edges, and her pulse was thin and slow.

Based on Chinese Medicine principles, I diagnosed Ms. L with a Spleen Qi and Kidney Yin deficiency, a pattern that reflects chronic depletion affecting her digestive system, immune function, and reproductive health. I started her on weekly acupuncture sessions and prescribed a custom Chinese herbal formula focused on nourishing blood and strengthening Qi (energy). I also recommended a combination of high-quality supplements including Omega-3, ubquinnol coq10, multivitamin and zinc.

I encouraged consistent movement through gentle exercise like walking and yoga, and gave Ms. L dietary and stress-reduction advice.
At my suggestion, she arranged for a comprehensive blood panel through a fertility clinic. Her partner, Mr. D, completed a semen analysis which came back with no significant concerns.
However, Ms. L’s blood work showed suboptimal thyroid levels, and follow-up testing confirmed Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. She was
started on thyroid hormone therapy, and she had acupuncture to support her body’s response to the medication.

After about 7 months of treatment, Ms. L and Mr. D chose to try IVF again. While I believed a natural conception was still possible, I respected their decision and supported them through this next step.

Their fertility specialist added immune-modulating and anticoagulation therapies to the protocol. I also encouraged them to do pre-implantation
genetic testing (PGT) to help ensure a healthy embryo was selected.
Two rounds later, they proceeded with a frozen embryo transfer. I treated Ms. L immediately before and after the transfer and continued weekly acupuncture during the two-week wait.

Last October, she called me crying tears of joy after getting her positive pregnancy test.

Given her history of loss, I continued weekly acupuncture and herbal support until 12 weeks, then reduced to biweekly treatments until 20 weeks, and monthly thereafter. The journey was long, and at times it tested their resilience as a couple, but they remained
committed and hopeful.

This case shows just how multifaceted infertility can be often involving a mix of structural, hormonal, immune, and emotional factors. The integration of Chinese Medicine with
targeted Western medical approaches helped bring this story to a happy ending thankfully.
Mr. D and Ms. L welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world a few days ago. I feel very privileged to have been part of their journey and I can't wait to meet their bundle of joy ❤️

22/06/2025

Berberine is an amazing herbal extract. It can improve insulin sensitivity (reduce insulin resistance), lower blood sugars, supports healthy blood pressure. It Improves lipid balance, decreases inflammation, protects the brain and neurons, modulates the gut microbiome and support weight loss!

Best known for anti-microbial activity, berberine also has a potential impact on blood glucose levels. In this article we review the research & evidence...

22/06/2025

Personalised medicine, made possible through things like DNA testing, will form a big part the health secretary's new plan for the NHS.

22/06/2025

Interesting read...

The winning essay in the Max Perutz science writing award 2022, published below, was written by Emily Cornish, a research training fellow and PhD candidate at University College London

16/06/2025

A review related to Crohn’s disease and traditional Chinese medicine practices, such as acupuncture, concluded that they may help increase the likelihood of symptom remission for Crohn’s disease patients.

Acupuncture is a popular treatment for people with Crohn's disease in various parts of the world. Learn the science behind its possible benefits here.

15/06/2025

I met Ms. X, aged 31, at the end of September 2024 following a referral from her G.P. She had been struggling with infertility for over three years and had experienced four miscarriages within a 13-month period. It had been six months since her last miscarriage.

Her partner, Mr. Y, aged 48yrs, presented with fitness concerns, a sedentary lifestyle, and high s***m DNA fragmentation, as measured by SCSA (S***m Chromatin Structure Assay). While his semen analysis showed a normal s***m count, the elevated DNA fragmentation raised concerns regarding embryo viability and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Ms. X’s menstrual cycle was irregular, ranging from 30 to 39 days, with scanty, pale bleeding. She reported chronic fatigue, cold limbs and coldness in the lower abdomen, low libido and frequent urination. Her pulse was deep and weak, particularly in the Kidney position, and her tongue was pale and swollen with a thin white coating. Hormonal testing showed she was not ovulating, with a serum progesterone level of just 2 nmol/L in the luteal phase.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, I diagnosed Ms. X with Kidney Yang deficiency, a pattern often linked to reproductive challenges, especially those involving cold, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and anovulation.
I also suspected immune dysregulation, particularly elevated Natural Killer (NK) cell activity, as a contributing factor in her repeated pregnancy losses. This suspicion was confirmed by immunological testing at a fertility clinic.

We initiated a tailored medicinal mushroom protocol aimed at regulating immune function, reducing NK cell activity, and supporting adrenal and hormonal balance. Concurrently, Ms. X began Lymphocyte Immunotherapy (LIT) to help reduce alloimmune activation and gently desensitise her immune system to paternal antigens from Mr. Y.

She attended weekly acupuncture sessions to warm the uterus, tonify Kidney Yang, and calm the immune system. Chinese herbal medicine was prescribed to nourish Jing (Essence), support Qi and Yang, and help regulate the endocrine system.

Both partners made significant lifestyle and nutritional changes.
Ms. X adopted a warming fertility diet rich in lamb, ginger, bone broth, cinnamon, and nuts. Cold and raw foods were avoided. She also added high-quality supplements, including Vitamin D, Zinc, CoQ10 (ubiquinol), Omega-3, and a multivitamin rich in B vitamins and antioxidants.

Mr. Y was placed on a personalised plan to address his high DNA fragmentation. In addition to antioxidants such as L-Carnitine, Vitamin E, Maca, and CoQ10, we introduced a gradual movement program that included daily walking, mobility exercises, and functional resistance training to improve circulation and overall well-being.

After 4 months of treatment, Ms. X reported significant improvements: her cycle stabilised to 30–32 days, bleeding became healthier in colour and flow, and she experienced increased energy and libido. Her serum progesterone had risen to 30 nmol/L, indicating a return of ovulation. Immune markers had also stabilised. Based on this progress, Ms. X was advised to begin trying to conceive again.
By early March 2025, Ms. X conceived naturally. Her recent 12 week scan confirmed a healthy foetus with a strong heartbeat. Ms X will continue to receive acupuncture treatments weekly to support the pregnancy and will taper to monthly once the pregnancy stabilizes.

This case illustrates the importance of a comprehensive, integrative approach to recurrent miscarriage, especially when immune dysregulation is involved.
By regulating NK cell activity through a combination of medicinal mushrooms and LIT, supporting hormonal health with acupuncture and herbs, and addressing male factor DNA fragmentation through lifestyle change and targeted antioxidants, a successful outcome was achieved.

This demonstrates the value of involving both partners and treating the underlying systemic imbalances for improved fertility outcomes.

20/04/2025

https://www.nutriadvanced.ie/news/best-supplements-for-endometriosis/

06/03/2025

Great article on how stress impacts Thyroid function....
https://www.nutriadvanced.ie/news/top-5-ways-stress-affects-thyroid-function/

06/03/2025

https://www.nutriadvanced.ie/news/5-benefits-of-broccoli-to-support-healthy-ageing/

11/12/2024

Merry Christmas to everyone and hope you all have a wonderful new year.
These are my working hours for the coming weeks.

27/09/2024

The Essential Role of Iodine in Women’s Reproductive Health

https://www.nutriadvanced.ie/news/the-essential-role-of-iodine-in-womens-reproductive-health/

26/09/2024

Case study: unexplained infertility

I Initially met Ms. W age 35yrs approx. 11months ago. She presented with primary infertility. Herself and her partner had been trying to conceive for 4 years. Ms. W was a patient in the doctors practice that I work in and her GP. referred her on to me.

Medical tests (hormonal profile, semen analysis, hysterosalpingogram, uterine biopsy, Leukocyte antibody test, TH1/TH2, HLA DQ Alpha test) showed no abnormalities.
Ms. W’s cycles were mostly regular, and she had moderate stress, mild anxiety, night sweats, constipation, thinning of hair, and digestive issues. Her skin was dry, her cervical mucus was scanty, and she complained of insomnia. Her tongue was thin, red, dry with no coating with cracks towards the centre. Her pulse was fine and rapid.

Despite normal fertility parameters, the couple had been unable to conceive. They had been diagnosed with unexplained infertility in Western Medicine and Ms. W was stressed and emotional the day I met her in the clinic.

Unexplained infertility refers to a situation where a couple fails to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected in*******se, despite normal results in standard fertility tests (e.g. s***m analysis, ovulation tracking, tubal patency). While conventional treatments like ovulation induction or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be suggested, often many couples explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an alternative approach, with the aim to address underlying imbalances not detected by Western medicine.

In TCM, unexplained infertility is often related to subtle energetic imbalances that may not be evident in modern medical tests. These imbalances might include disharmony in the body’s vital energy (Qi), stagnation of blood flow, or deficiencies in Kidney (related to reproductive health), Spleen, or Liver functions.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, I diagnosed Ms. W with a Kidney Yin deficiency. Yin describes the functions of the body that are cooling, nourishing and dampening. Without enough yin, the body gets hotter & dries out. This is reflected in low oestrogen levels, thinner uterine lining, & less cervical fluid. Yin naturally depletes with age, but some people use up their yin faster through lack of sleep, poor diet, & exercising in intense bursts.

In women, it’s often the result of low or inconsistent oestrogen levels that result in a thinner uterine lining & less cervical mucous. It can present as dry skin, thinning hair, restless sleep, hot flashes, night sweats, sweaty palms, anxiousness, scanty cervical mucous or constipation. It is often linked to an inability to nourish the reproductive system.

Ms. W’s tongue was red which indicated internal heat from a Yin deficiency. The lack of coating and shape reflected fluid deficiency (night sweats, scanty cervical mucous). The dryness of the tongue was due to a lack of yin fluids.
The fine pulse in TCM reflects a deficiency of fluids also. The speed of her pulse was rapid, and this was indicative of an internal heat generated by the deficiency.

I prescribed Ms. W a herbal Kidney Yin formula to strengthen her reproductive organs and regulate her menstrual cycle. Ms. W had acupuncture weekly for the first three months and bimonthly thereafter to regulate her body’s energy flow (Qi), balance hormones and reduce stress.

I advised Ms. W to hydrate, incorporate fatty acids into her diet, consume nutrient rich foods and iron from animal/plant sources. She avoided alcohol and spicy food as this is considered a heating beverage/food in TCM and with everything that was going on for her, we wanted to avoid pouring petrol onto the fire! She avoided excessive exercise, took up yoga and walked most evenings to clear her mind.

Stress management is key in TCM for addressing fertility. Practices such as yoga, or meditation are often recommended to calm the mind and improve energy flow.

After six months of consistent TCM treatment, including acupuncture and herbal supplementation, the patient noted reduced stress levels, improved digestion and more balanced emotions. Her menstrual cycles became more regular with enhanced cervical mucus production, indicating improved fertility potential. After eight months of treatment, the couple successfully conceived.

Acupuncture has been shown in research to improve fertility outcomes by regulating hormonal function, reducing stress, and improving uterine blood flow.
Herbal formulations tailored to specific TCM patterns have been linked to improved reproductive health by regulating the menstrual cycle, improving ovarian function, and balancing hormonal levels.

Studies suggest that TCM can enhance the success rates of fertility treatments like IVF by improving endometrial receptivity and ovarian function.

Ms. W had her 12 week dating scan this week and both babies are measuring well!

This case illustrates how TCM can address subtle energetic imbalances in unexplained infertility. By focusing on individual patterns of disharmony, TCM can enhance reproductive health, balance emotions, and support overall well-being, leading to a successful conception.