The Spleen is in charge of transforming the food we eat into Qi, Blood, and other forms of usable energy, and transporting nutrients to all the other organs. Spleen energy manifests in the gastrointestinal system and also is markedly affected by what we eat. Excessive sugar and refined carbohydrate?dates damage the Spleen, and damp, greasy foods clog up its works. When our Spleen system is strong, we have a lot of physical energy; when it's weak, we feel tired and depleted as well.

Because the Spleen is linked with digestion and elimination, the Spleen system is implicated when menstruation is accompanied by loose stools. The Spleen has a causative effect in many presentations of luteal phase defect where spotting precedes menstruation as well.

The emotion that is associated with the Spleen system is worry. Excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen. This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant  brooding . The Chinese believe  over-thinking  or  ruminating  can inhibit the optimal functioning of the energetic processes of the Spleen. This explains why excessive worry causes digestive disturbances like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome-we have so much information that clogs up our minds yet all too often we think far more than we act, producing obstruction or a backup of energy. The inability to make decisions then causes disharmony between the Spleen (thinking), the Heart (spirit) and the Kidneys (will). Exercise is beneficial to the proper functioning of the Spleen energies.

We deplete our spleen energies by taking care of the external world at the expense of our own internal environment. We forget our boundaries; we live for others; and we become our own worst enemies. Our own innate protective system, our internal immune system, turns against ourselves. Even our cells forget who is friend and who is foe. Our immune system can turn against our own reproductive tissue, making us react negatively to our own hormones in some cases, killing implanting embryos in others.

The Liver System, Stagnated Qi and Stress
Both Western and Eastern medicine agree that the liver's main functions include storage and filtration of blood, and metabolic activities including the metabolism of hormones. But Chinese medicine says that the Liver is also involved in the smooth flow and distribution of Blood.

Liver Qi is responsible for all transformations in the body, including ovulation, and for ensuring the smooth flow of emotions and Qi.

The Liver channel runs from the inner legs through the external genital region, the uterus, and up to the chest and breasts. The meridian associated with the Liver's paired organ, the Gallbladder, courses from the lower body up the sides of the abdomen and chest, and around the side of the head including the area behind the eyes and the temporal region. The Liver is important in reproduction largely because of its role in menstruation. During the premenstrual period the Liver shifts the Blood flow from other body parts to the Uterus.

Right before menstruation, when the Liver is busy directing the body to menstruate, it has a tendency to neglect its other functions of keeping the Qi and emotions flowing smoothly. As a result, the emotions are no longer able to flow freely, and depression, anger, sadness, weepiness, or any combination is experienced. There may be headaches, breast pain, cramps, and a wide variety of other physical and emotional symptoms. Blockage in the Liver system is a most eloquent description of why pre-menstrual tension and its associated symptoms occur. At this time any Liver obstruction will cause Qi and blood to  back up  or stagnate. If the channels remain blocked, the flow of energy to the Uterus will be impeded, and then the menses are associated with pain and cramping.

Liver imbalances that cause energetic obstructions can confine the energy of this important system to a very small space. As the laws of physics tell us, this creates a large amount of heat, and heat rises. Since the associated Gallbladder meridian is higher than the Liver meridian, this pathologic heat ascends up the Gallbladder meridian and can cause premenstrual migraine headaches. (In fact, migraines were once referred to as  the megrims,  or bouts of biliousness, a disease associated with the gallbladder.) When diagnosing patterns that are preventing conception, it is absolutely essential to assess where there are blockages in the Liver and Gallbladder.

When the Liver system is not functioning smoothly, the hormonal system is not either. The Uterus itself can become a toxic environment, hostile to implantation. Excess estrogen is not metabolized effectively and can build up, because it is the liver that metabolizes hormones. (It doesn't help that there is a preponderance of synthetic estrogen in our diet, and even in the products we apply to our skin.) Estrogen dominance is implicated in conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and cancer. Most women with these diseases are diagnosed with an element of Liver Qi stagnation.

In addition to its function of governing all transformations and discoursing Qi and emotion, the Liver is responsible for Blood conservation (storage). When the Blood (which is Yin) is depleted (through loss of blood, an overactive lifestyle, too much stress, exercise, and lack of rest and self care), the Liver loses its ability to smooth the emotional energy. Even small annoyances may become exaggerated to the level of frustration and anger. This further inhibits Yin/Yang polarity, and blocks the already pent-up emotional energy. The abundance of Yang within the enclosed system may become inflamed with anger, and turn into self-hatred, depression and rage in the extreme. The emotion of anger especially damages the efficiency of the Liver's functions of transformation (ovulation, menstruation) become disturbed. Here again, stress affects our ability to reproduce. Every woman here is at least somewhat affected by Liver Qi stagnation, as the commonest emotional basis of Liver Qi stagnation is unfulfilled desires.

Alcohol consumption damages the energetic function of the Liver. Therefore women who are diagnosed with an overabundance of stagnant Liver Qi should not consume alcohol when they are trying to get pregnant.

Kidney Deficiency: Patterns of Kidney Imbalance

The emotions pertaining to the Kidneys are fear, fright, and shock (adrenal hormones.) Excessive rumination in any of these emotional states can injure the Kidneys. Extremes of these emotions can also cause severe hormonal fluctuations in any endocrine organ, upsetting our reproductive capacity. Fear causes struggle between Yin and Yang, loss of essence, and cuts of the relationship between the Heart and the Kidney. We reestablish good balance between Yin and Yang through reflective thought.

Since the Kidneys are the root of all other organs, all chronic diseases will inevitably reach the Kidneys. As well, prolonged Kidney weakness may affect any or all other organs.

Most hereditary debility is due to weakness in the Kidney system - poor bone development, mental retardation, etc.

Excessive sexual activity , too much partying, overproduction of ejaculate via intercourse or masturbation, excessive orgasm, or hormonal stimulation all may weaken the Kidney-Essence. Multiple pregnancies, miscarriages, and childbirth deplete the kidney Essence in women

In old age , the Kidney essence declines, and therefore the proper functioning of hearing, skeletal strength, and sexual function decline with age. Again, Qi Gong can delay these functional deficits.

The most common cause of Kidney deficiency is overwork , physical and mental.

Work stress, mental anxiety, lack of relaxation, lack of sleep, long work hours, hurried, irregular eating schedules, or any excessive cerebral activity without physical release draws upon the essence of the Kidney. We use stimulants to power our brains even more. When we lack sufficient excitement, we often use anti-depressants to rev us up again. They all simply borrow Essence from the Kidneys to stimulate the mind. Through Qi Gong exercises we can calm the mental activity and bring the focal point down to our center, rather than the cranium.
Kidney patterns of imbalance are primarily characterized by deficiency:

Not enough basic substance; we've depleted our center, misplaced our core, we feel uprooted.

Physically, these patterns of imbalance can be identified by their manifestations, but are seen as a continuum, as they really can't be fully separated.

* Are your menses scanty and/or late?
* Do you have dry, flaky skin?
* Are you prone to getting chapped lips?
* Are your fingernails or toenails brittle? Are you losing hair on your head (not in patches, but all over)?
* Is your hair brittle or dry?
* Do you have diminished nighttime vision?
* Do you get dizzy or lightheaded around your period?
* Are your lips, the inner side of your lower eyelids, or tongue pale in color?

Heart Deficiency & Infertility

The Heart & The Spirit:
The Chinese concept of the Heart encompasses the aspect of mind and spirit as well as governing the Blood and circulatory system. The Heart endows us with personality, and allows us peace. If there are emotional issues that affect the psyche, this may also influence the ability to nourish a developing fetus.

The heart also provides Blood for the Uterus. The Uterine Vessel, called the Bao Mai, provides the link between the Heart and the Uterus. The Su Wen says:  The Uterine Vessel pertains to the Heart and extends to the Uterus,  and  When the period does not come it means the Uterine Vessel is obstructed.  For functional purposes, however, the Penetrating meridian is treated first when disorders of the Uterus and Heart arise. The Heart is ministered to whenever there are shattered emotional and spiritual issues.

Of course our spirits are shattered when we think we are infertile  What if our own vision of our lives are obliterated after multiple failed reproductive attempts? What if we are convinced we can't bear children? When we believe we've failed ourselves, and that God has failed us, who cares about our Heart or

* Is your menstrual flow ever brown or black in color?
* Do you feel midcycle pain around your ovaries?
* Do you have painful, unmovable breast lumps?
* Do you experience periodic numbness of your hands and feet (especially at night)?
* Do you have varicose or spider veins?
* Do you have red hemangiomas (cherry red spots) on your skin?
* Does your complexion appear dark and  sooty  or dirty?
* Do you have chronic hemorrhoids?
* Does your menstrual blood contain clots?
* Have you been diagnosed with endometriosis or uterine fibroids?
* Is your lower abdomen tender to palpation (resisting touch)?
* Can you feel any abnormal lumps in your lower abdomen?
* Do you have piercing or stabbing menstrual cramps?
* Does your tongue look very dark?
* Do you have dark spots on your tongue?
* Are the veins beneath your tongue twisty and tortuous?
* Do you see dark spots in your eyes?
* Have you been diagnosed with any vascular abnormality or blood clotting disorder?

Excess heat (?H)

* Is your pulse rate rapid?
* Are your mouth and throat usually dry?
* Are you thirsty most of the time?
* Do you crave icy, cold drinks?
* Do you often feel warmer than those around you?
* Do you wake up sweating?
* Do you break out with red acne (especially premenstrually?)
* Do you have a short menstrual cycle?
* Do you have vaginal irritation or rashes?

Dampness (D)
Includes Phlegm - condensed dampness

* Do you feel tired and sluggish after a meal?
* Do you have fibrocystic breasts?
* Do you have cystic or pustular acne?
* Do you have urgent, bright, or foul smelling stools?
* Does your menstrual blood contain stringy tissue or mucus?
* Are you prone to yeast infections and vaginal itching?
* Do your joints ache, especially with movement?
* Are you overweight?
* Do you have a wet, slimy tongue?

DAMP HEAT (DH)

* Do you have signs of heat and/or dampness as indicated earlier?
* Do you have foul smelling, yellow or greenish vaginal discharge?
* Are you prone to vaginal and/or rectal itching during your luteal or premenstrual phase?

Make a fruit salad with sliced bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and sliced grapefruit.

Mineral water with a slice of lemon is a great heat cooler.

• Oat porridge with dates
• Roast sweet potatoes, pumpkin and yams with rosemary
• Chicken stir fry with shiitake mushrooms and rice
• Shepherds pie with beef mince, mushrooms, carrots and mashed potato as a topping
• Peanut Satay sauce with chicken or meat on rice
• Potato and egg salad
• Tuna fish pie made with hard boiled eggs and served with mashed potatoes and peas
• Stir fired Tofu, eggplant and mushrooms with sesame seeds on rice
• Home made muesli slice with honey and dates
Foods to build blood include;

Corn, sweet rice, beetroot, all dark leafy greens, mushroom, apricot, avocado, date, kidney bean, sesame seeds, chicken, mussels, egg and soya milk as well as the obvious iron rich foods such as red meat and spinach.
Examples of every day western foods that can be used to build Blood

• Rice porridges with Soya milk, apricots and almonds
• Dark leafy green salads with avocado and grated beetroot
• Warm chicken salad with artichoke and grapes
• Chicken mushroom casserole served with rice
• Scrambled Eggs with parsley
• Chicken, avocado and watercress sandwiches
• Mussel Chowder with calamari
• Kidney bean and mushroom lasagne with a spinach salad
• Any red meat dish.

(Note the maximum recommended intake of meat in traditional Chinese medicine is 2 –4 oz per serving, 3 –7 times a week).

Cooking methods are also an important consideration, as slowly or lightly cooked foods are seen as more nourishing and kinder to the digestive system. The vital difference between using raw oats in muesli and consuming oats cooked in porridge, or having a lettuce salad instead of stir cooked vegetables. This is the reason why soups (especially chicken), are considered so nourishing in those initial postnatal weeks. While the ingredients from some of the traditional recipes are not automatically transferable to a western diet (soups consisting of black- bone chicken, pig trotters or Astragalus Root and pork liver are usually off-putting through description alone), others are a pleasant way to nourish yourself post birth.
Congees

A congee is traditional Chinese medicinal porridge made from rice or barley. It is seen as a powerful therapeutic food for strengthening digestion, boasting energy and aiding in the recovery from illness.

A basic congee can be made from using one cup of grain to 6- 9 cups of water or chicken stock.

• The amount of liquid you use will determine the thickness of the porridge, which can be thick like an oat porridge or watery like a soup, depending on your preference.
• Polished rice is usually used, however sweet (glutinous rice) can be used to give a sweeter tasting congee

To prepare, simply rinse the rice thoroughly and place with the liquid in a crockpot overnight (on low heat). Or simmer in a heavy pot on a low heat for 4-6 hrs, stirring frequently.
To this basic recipe any combination of Chinese red dates, black dates, cinnamon, cardamonn, fresh ginger, chicken, pork or mushrooms can be added for flavour and medicinal properties. Suggestions include

• Use sweet glutinous rice cooked with apricots or black dates and a little cinnamon for a sweet warming Qi and Blood tonifing congee
• Add fresh Shiitake mushrooms cooked with a little garlic to a plain cooked rice congee, topping with freshly chopped spring onion for a warming savoury Qi and Blood building congee• Grind 25 grams of black sesame seeds, add to the uncooked rice and cook as a normal congee for a blood building congee
• Cook slices of chicken and ginger in a rice congee replacing the water with chicken stock and topping with spring onion for a variation on chicken soup
Chicken Qi and Blood building recipes

Traditional receipies from Lee Yueh-O
Chicken Casserole

600 ml bottle rice wine
5 medium slices fresh ginger
8 fresh chicken pieces
2 tablespoons black sesame oil
Heat pan and add sesame oil. Add ginger and briefly stir-fry. Add chicken and cook until golden brown before adding rice wine. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 –40 minutes.
Chicken Soup

One medium chicken
5 – 6 mussels
3 litres water
Bring water to the boil, add the chicken and mussels and simmer for 3 hrs. Cool strain any impurities that are on the surface, reheat and eat as a soup.
Recipes for recovery post birth
From “Chinese Foods for Longevity” by Henry C Lu

Bring to the boil 10 red dates with 3 grams of Dongui in 1 cup of water. Simmer until the water is reduced to ½ a cup. Drink daily as an energy tonic after childbirth.

Boil until very soft 1 to 3 fresh figs (or 30 grams dry figs) with 2 red dates and 60 grams lean pork. Eat once a day to increase milk secretion following childbirth

Boil 30 g red dates with 1 whole chicken, 4 fresh ginger slices and 30 grams brown sugar in water until chicken is cooked. Eat at meals to relieve weakness after childbirth.

Rest and Recovery time
The concept of adequate rest to ensure women completely recovered from childbirth is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the idea that it will take women at least a month to fully recover from childbirth, an idea not necessarily widespread in Western society. Usually partners or relatives will endeavour to be around to help out after the birth for a week (two weeks if the women are really luckily), then, for most women its back to “normal”.

It may be an appealing idea that “super mums” will be fit and ready for action within a week or two following birth, but this is not the reality for most women. While most will certainly cope (and be rewarded by plenty of verbal feedback on how well they are doing), several months later it is often hard to shake off the tiredness and exhaustion.

While 30 days (or even 100 days in some of the Chinese texts) of recovery time may initially sound a little excessive, it is in reality a reasonable time period if it is considered that this is needed to compensate for not only the birth but also the total experience of being pregnant for nine months. This is not a time for absolute bed rest but rather a time where physical rest is taken at every opportunity, exercise is appropriate (not an exhausting attempt to get back into shape), and attention is placed on a diet, as outlined above so that there is an emphasis on building blood and energy.