Blog

Fertility & IVF Support Blog Posts

Fertility Functional Medicine Testing with Dr. Kali MacIsaac ND: Leave No Stone Unturned

Fertility Functional Medicine Testing If you’re struggling to get pregnant, you may feel like you’ve tried everything and are running out of options. But have you considered doing a deeper dive into looking for the underlying causes of your infertility? In this episode, Lorne speaks with Acubalance’s clinical director of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Kali MacIsaac…
Read More Fertility Functional Medicine Testing with Dr. Kali MacIsaac ND: Leave No Stone Unturned
Qi-Gong_yoga_fertility_vancouver_acuB IVF support Can I exercise while trying to conceive?

Can I exercise while trying to conceive?

Question: “Can I exercise while trying to conceive?”Answer: Yes, but let’s be smart about what you do and when you do it.  Answering “yes” to “Can I exercise while trying to conceive?” can seem a bit controversial. Especially because when someone reaches the point of seeking assistance on their fertility journey (through a superovulation or…
Read More Can I exercise while trying to conceive?

Fertility Recipes that Can Reverse Accelerated Biological Aging and Fertility Decline

You can download a copy of the Acubalance Fertility Diet Book with recipes from the Acubalance website’s home page Inflammaging Aging is a natural part of life. However, many of us are experiencing accelerated aging as a result of systemic chronic inflammation also referred to as “inflammaging”. Inflammaging (chronic inflammation) leads to accelerated aging and…
Read More Fertility Recipes that Can Reverse Accelerated Biological Aging and Fertility Decline

Add This To Your IVF-FET Cycle for Better Results

A study published in December 2022 demonstrated the benefits of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS). In this study, they compared Co Q10 alone or in combination with TEAS plus a control group (no treatment). The study concluded CoQ10 alone or in combination with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) are effective methods for IVF/ICSI-ET adjuvant therapy,…
Read More Add This To Your IVF-FET Cycle for Better Results

How To Get Pregnant Better and Faster

If you are reading this blog, then you are looking to conceive and likely have been TTC for months and years too. I remember at one of the Integrative Fertility Symposiums I chaired there was a panel discussion on integrative fertility care and the benefits of preconception care. The panel was composed of reproductive endocrinologists…
Read More How To Get Pregnant Better and Faster

What PCOS Patients Are Missing When It Comes to Testing and Treatments

I talk with Dr. Mark Perloe MD, IVF consultant, and PCOS expert, about the missing diagnosis and natural treatment approaches for helping women with ovulatory disorders like PCOS, regulate their cycles and get pregnant and carry to term. Dr. Perloe will also be sharing in his integrative Fertility Symposium lecture in May 2021 for health…
Read More What PCOS Patients Are Missing When It Comes to Testing and Treatments

What Men Need to Do Before IVF

I interviewed Dr. Paul Turek after he delivered his male fertility talk for the 2021 Integrative Fertility Symposium for health professionals. I thought those actually going through fertility treatments would like to hear some of the key points from his professional talk. He was generous enough with his time to create a public version for…
Read More What Men Need to Do Before IVF

An Integrative Approach to Miscarriages and Implantation Failure

An integrative approach to miscarriages (recurrent pregnancy loss) and implantation failure. I had the good fortune to moderate a professional lecture for the 2021 integrative fertility symposium by Dr. Ursula Ritz, a trained MD, OBGYN, and IVF specialist, as well as trained in Chinese medicine and acupuncture. After her lecture, I asked her a few…
Read More An Integrative Approach to Miscarriages and Implantation Failure

Unexplained Infertility, Poor Embryo Development, and Miscarriages May Be Related To This…..

Up to 50% of couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility, poor embryo development, and miscarriages may actually now be explainable with some new testing being offered.  Even better, there are some natural and non-invasive approaches to reverse the issues too. Check out this video by Dr. Paul Turek, reproductive urologist on our Fertility Now Channel to find out…
Read More Unexplained Infertility, Poor Embryo Development, and Miscarriages May Be Related To This…..

How Laser for Fertility Was Accidentally Discovered

“Like most discoveries, low-level laser therapy (LLLT/photobiomodulation) forfertility was discovered by accident.  Dr. Ohshiro, a medical doctor and pain specialist in Japan, used LLLT to treatpain. He heard back from a 55-year-old menopausal woman who he had treatedfor back pain that her menses had started again. Months later, another woman inmenopause came in for back…
Read More How Laser for Fertility Was Accidentally Discovered

Should You Really Eat Pineapple Core and McDonald’s French Fries After Your Embryo Transfer?

If you’ve searched anything related to fertility treatment online, you may have run across the pineapple theory. Where did this hype about eating pineapples for embryo implantation? The answer lies in bromelain, an enzyme found in abundance in the pineapple core. Bromelain has powerful anti-inflammatory and anticoagulation properties, important factors for successful implantation. The less…
Read More Should You Really Eat Pineapple Core and McDonald’s French Fries After Your Embryo Transfer?

2 Exercises You Should Avoid If You Are Pregnant Or Trying To Become Pregnant

Exercise is a vital part of staying healthy during pregnancy and when preparing for pregnancy. However, there are two forms of exercise that I suggest staying clear of during these times. (I can only imagine the heaps of hate mail I am about to receive) Okay, here it goes… 1. Hot yoga. There is absolutely nothing…
Read More 2 Exercises You Should Avoid If You Are Pregnant Or Trying To Become Pregnant

Boost Your Fertility With Glutathione

Gluta-what? If you’re reading the title of this post and have no idea what I’m talking about, you’re not alone. In fact, many of my patients who I regularly inject with glutathione have trouble pronouncing the name – but most know at least one of the benefits of glutathione, it’s the body’s master antioxidant. Sounds…
Read More Boost Your Fertility With Glutathione

Could A Probiotic Influence Implantation and IVF Success?

Until very recently, it was assumed that the uterus was a sterile environment – that is, until the advent of next-generation gene sequencing that revealed the presence of an ‘endometrial microbiome’ containing bacteria. In general, most healthy women (without any complaints of vaginal symptoms) have a uterine microbiome that is dominated by Lactobacillus species; it is entirely possible, however,…
Read More Could A Probiotic Influence Implantation and IVF Success?

Laser And Fertility and The Microbiome Connection

The Microbiome Connection In the early days of Acubalance adopting low-level laser therapy (aka photobiomodulation) as part of our fertility and well-being approach, I was interested in what possible mechanisms were involved that could increase fertility and pregnancy rates.  My interest in LLLT / laser acupuncture being applied to my fertility patients quickly grew into…
Read More Laser And Fertility and The Microbiome Connection

Laser For Fertility Low AMH and Repeated Unsuccessful IVF Cycles

Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation and Fertility Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) continues to show some promise for women struggling with infertility. The mechanism behind laser for fertility is as follows: During my literature review on using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for fertility, I came across the paper below from an infertility clinic in Japan…
Read More Laser For Fertility Low AMH and Repeated Unsuccessful IVF Cycles

7 Benefits of Laser for Fertility

There has been a lot of advancements in the field of laser therapy since we introduced laser acupuncture to maximize egg quality and improve IVF success back in late 2008.  Low level laser therapy (LLLT) for fertility, referred to as photobiomodulation (PBM) for fertility by the scientific community may sound like futuristic medicine but the unique treatment…
Read More 7 Benefits of Laser for Fertility

How To Improve Your IVF Results

PRECONCEPTION CARE The last thing patients typically want to hear when they’re awaiting their first second, third, or fifth round of IVF is to use the next 100 days to optimize their fertility.  But those 100 days of pre-conception cate have the potential to make an enormous difference in your IVF results. IV NUTRIENT THERAPY Adequate…
Read More How To Improve Your IVF Results

How To Prepare for An Embryo Transfer

It’s finally that time. You went through the retrieval (or retrievals), and you now have a precious, little embryo to transfer. Now what? What can you do to ensure your best chance of success for your upcoming transfer (FET)?  ACUPUNCTURE: Receiving fertility acupuncture and laser acupuncture treatments leading up to your transfer can improve your chances of success….
Read More How To Prepare for An Embryo Transfer

Combining Laser Acupuncture (LLLT) For Fertility With Assisted Reproductive Technology

At Acubalance we are big proponents of preconception care. The most important time to optimize your fertility is the 100 days before conception occurs. Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or have plans for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), cultivating a healthy mind and body the three months before planned conception can greatly…
Read More Combining Laser Acupuncture (LLLT) For Fertility With Assisted Reproductive Technology
Blood Sugar Hacks to Balance Hormones and Boost Fertility, blood sugar balancing for hormones

10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Your Hormones And Boost Fertility

There is a huge connection between reproductive health and blood sugar. This blog post covers 10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Hormones And Boost Fertility. Insulin, which is secreted from your pancreas in response to glucose from food, communicates with your reproductive organs. For example, insulin tells the ovaries to produce more testosterone. Too much…
Read More 10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Your Hormones And Boost Fertility

What to Expect on IVF Transfer Day

An Acupuncture Orientation Times have changed for the better when it comes to integrative fertility care and being able to offer acupuncture before and after IVF embryo transfer onsite at the IVF clinics. I have been in practice since 2000 and in 2002 I began to establish on-site acupuncture for embryo transfers. The first few…
Read More What to Expect on IVF Transfer Day

Tips For A Smooth Embryo Transfer Day

For anyone undergoing IVF, embryo transfer day can be an anxious one – especially if you have never done it before and don’t quite know what to expect. I have had the honour of being part of hundreds of embryo transfers, performing acupuncture onsite at the fertility clinic around this procedure. Based on the questions…
Read More Tips For A Smooth Embryo Transfer Day
Optimizing Your Fertility

Optimizing Your Fertility

So you’re trying to conceive. You’ve been tracking your cycle. You’re watching for signs of ovulation. You’ve had timed intercourse. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have conceived already, but it’s been over a year and you’re starting to feel worried. Your doctor says most likely everything is fine but refers you to a fertility specialist….
Read More Optimizing Your Fertility
Top 3 Things to Optimize Your 100 Day Fertile Window

Top 3 Things to Optimize Your 100 Day Fertile Window

I find that, often, people reach out to me in my clinical practice or online through Instagram DMs, and they’re confused about all of the things they feel they “should” be doing to optimize their chances of conceiving. There’s a lot of information online, with very specific recommendations, for foods/supplements/lifestyle adjustments. And while it’s great…
Read More Top 3 Things to Optimize Your 100 Day Fertile Window

Pain & Injuries Blog Posts

Back Pain: Do’s and Don’ts

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released guidelines in November 2022 recommending that doctors should not prescribe opioids as the first line of treatment for pain, and instead consider non-opioid treatments such as acupuncture and low level laser therapy (LLLT). Here’s some back pain: do’s and don’ts. Actually, taking NSAIDS (over-the-counter…
Read More Back Pain: Do’s and Don’ts

Low-Level Laser Therapy Heals Your Body At The Cellular Level

Like plants absorb sunlight in order to perform photosynthesis, the human body also possesses certain enzymes in our cells, called cytochromes, that absorb light. Cytochromes (specifically Cytochrome C Oxidase) is the people’s version of chlorophyll and are the molecules targeted during low-level laser therapy. Cytochrome C Oxidase is found in the mitochondria of cells, the…
Read More Low-Level Laser Therapy Heals Your Body At The Cellular Level

Cold Laser “Significantly Superior” To Anti-Inflammatory Medications for Achilles Tendonitis

Cold Laser “Significantly Superior” To Anti-Inflammatory Medications for Achilles Tendonitis. In most cases, the term inflammation goes hand in hand with pain. Achilles tendonitis is no different. Achilles tendonitis, in short, is inflammation of the achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. The cause of achilles tendonitis is typically due to…
Read More Cold Laser “Significantly Superior” To Anti-Inflammatory Medications for Achilles Tendonitis

Laser-Acupuncture for Knee Pain Can Help You Get More Spring Into Your Step!

The freezing cold temperatures and snowy, icy weather are (hopefully) beginning to thaw and give way to a beautiful West Coast Spring. Runners and family walks are beginning to dot neighborhood sidewalks, and local forest preserve trails are getting slightly more populated. It’s that time to stretch those creaky winter joints, breathe some fresh air…
Read More Laser-Acupuncture for Knee Pain Can Help You Get More Spring Into Your Step!

Low-Level Laser Therapy for Shoulder Pain – A Success Story

We have been using the Bioflex Low-Level Laser Therapy system here at Acubalance for quite some time now, however, I am always still amazed every time I witness its incredible healing results. Low-Level Laser Therapy is a system designed to reduce pain and inflammation and enhance tissue healing, both in hard and soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and bones….
Read More Low-Level Laser Therapy for Shoulder Pain – A Success Story

Laser Therapy Effects on Joint Pain And Inflammation

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive, pain-free, light-based therapy that uses red and infrared light to target inflamed, injured, and diseased tissues. It is especially great for reducing inflammation, pain, and edema in damaged joints. LLLT does this by inducing an analgesic effect by disrupting axonal transport in small diameter fibers. Repeated treatments have…
Read More Laser Therapy Effects on Joint Pain And Inflammation

Hormonal Balance Blog Posts

Treatment Strategies for Endometriosis

Our Top 10 suggestions for managing Endometriosis symptoms. Endometriosis is a gynecological disease characterized by the presence and growth of tissue similar to that of the uterine lining (the endometrium) on areas outside of the uterus. It causes symptoms such as painful periods or painful ovulation, chronic pelvic pain, painful bowel movements or urination, fatigue,…
Read More Treatment Strategies for Endometriosis

Unexplained Infertility, Poor Embryo Development, and Miscarriages May Be Related To This…..

Up to 50% of couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility, poor embryo development, and miscarriages may actually now be explainable with some new testing being offered.  Even better, there are some natural and non-invasive approaches to reverse the issues too. Check out this video by Dr. Paul Turek, reproductive urologist on our Fertility Now Channel to find out…
Read More Unexplained Infertility, Poor Embryo Development, and Miscarriages May Be Related To This…..

Your Endometriosis Treatment Plan

Whether for symptom/pain management or fertility, we see quite a few patients with endometriosis at Acubalance Wellness Centre. Endometriosis, the growth of tissue similar to that of the uterine lining on areas outside of the uterus, varies quite a bit in its presentation. There can be painful periods or painful ovulation, chronic pelvic pain, painful bowel movements…
Read More Your Endometriosis Treatment Plan

Which PCOS Type Are You?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common female hormone imbalances that we see at Acubalance, though it doesn’t always look the same in every patient. It is diagnosed based on a set of criteria, the main one being the failure to ovulate regularly. But while some women struggle with hair loss and hirsutism…
Read More Which PCOS Type Are You?

Laser Acupuncture for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a complicated, stressful, and painful disease that affects up to 15% of women between the ages of 24 and 40. With that many afflicted one would hope a variety of treatment options would be available, but unfortunately many are shouldered with the responsibility of their monthly or even daily pain and symptom management…
Read More Laser Acupuncture for Endometriosis

Surgery for Endometriosis

When facing a diagnosis such as endometriosis, there are quite a few avenues of treatment. You may be presented with hormonal options like birth control to eliminate your periods or medication which puts you into temporary menopause, or perhaps you are contemplating surgery. The most important thing when considering treatment for your endometriosis is to…
Read More Surgery for Endometriosis

Mood & Sleep Blog Posts

3 Simple Mind Hacks To Elicit Relaxation For Healing Creativity And Sleep

I was named the Canadian UN World Wellness Weekend Ambassador for Integrative Wellness for the second year and I had the opportunity to participate in the World Wellness Weekend on September 19th, 2020.   The goal of World Wellness Weekend (WWW) is to inspire and empower people to make healthier choices and enjoy an active lifestyle with family & friends. The current health situation…
Read More 3 Simple Mind Hacks To Elicit Relaxation For Healing Creativity And Sleep

Easy Mindfulness Practices for People Who Hate Meditating

I recommend meditation to nearly all of my patients, but not everyone is thrilled to hear it. Sometimes no matter how much you hear the benefits of increased happiness, attention span, fertility, slowing aging, cardiovascular health, etc., it still doesn’t seem to stick. My job isn’t to force wellness down patients’ throats but to provide easy mindfulness practice solutions. If…
Read More Easy Mindfulness Practices for People Who Hate Meditating

How To Begin a Meditation Practice

We’ve all heard meditation is good for you. Studies show that a mindful meditation practice can help ease psychological stresses like anxiety, depression, pain, and dozens of other health conditions. Meditation is also one of those common life hacks advocated by some of the most successful people in the world. But easier said than done, right? Who…
Read More How To Begin a Meditation Practice

Digestive Health Blog Posts

Laser Treatments Benefit Metabolism And Inflammation By Improving Gut Microbiome According To Studies

As if us practitioners at Acubalance needed another reason to sing the praises of laser therapy from the rooftops, a recent study shows that it can also hugely benefit the microbiome of the digestive system. We already know it’s great for pain and injury, fertility, and combating inflammation, but a study on mice showed dramatic increases in beneficial gut bacteria…
Read More Laser Treatments Benefit Metabolism And Inflammation By Improving Gut Microbiome According To Studies

Laser And Fertility and The Microbiome Connection

The Microbiome Connection In the early days of Acubalance adopting low-level laser therapy (aka photobiomodulation) as part of our fertility and well-being approach, I was interested in what possible mechanisms were involved that could increase fertility and pregnancy rates.  My interest in LLLT / laser acupuncture being applied to my fertility patients quickly grew into…
Read More Laser And Fertility and The Microbiome Connection
Blood Sugar Hacks to Balance Hormones and Boost Fertility, blood sugar balancing for hormones

10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Your Hormones And Boost Fertility

There is a huge connection between reproductive health and blood sugar. This blog post covers 10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Hormones And Boost Fertility. Insulin, which is secreted from your pancreas in response to glucose from food, communicates with your reproductive organs. For example, insulin tells the ovaries to produce more testosterone. Too much…
Read More 10 Blood Sugar Hacks To Balance Your Hormones And Boost Fertility
3 Benefits of IV Nutrient Therapy

3 Benefits of IV Nutrient Therapy

When we simplify things down to their core, many of our bodily functions come down to nutrients. How we detox, produce hormones, heal our wounds, and regulate our stress – all these processes depend on nutrients – vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients. NUTRITION CAN BE HARD. We all know nutrition is essential, but it’s one of…
Read More 3 Benefits of IV Nutrient Therapy

Newsletter

No posts