Friday, April 25, 2014


Preserving Fertility – Stopping the biological clock

In recent years, the option of freezing eggs has become reality for women. This has been a breakthrough for women in a sense that we can control our time, when we want to be mothers and that we do not have to be dependent on ‘limited time’ that seems to keep on ticking.  Our ever-evolving science gets the credit: we can freeze our eggs at 30 and still choose to become mothers well into our 40’s. 

But before we jump into freezing eggs, we should take some time and evaluate our state of health.  We should approach this process as if we’re getting ready for pregnancy.  The better we can take care of our bodies, the better the outcome maybe.  This is a bonus for the “under 34” population for time is on their hands.  Even if you are in the  “over 34” category, still, preparing for optimal eggs to retrieve to freeze would result in better embryo later down the line. 

So, what can one prepare for egg preservation?  Let’s first start by evaluating the current diet, life-style and attitudes.  What you eat and how you carry yourself will ultimately affect our egg quality.  The burnt out life-style may not be the most conducive in preparing for the best quality eggs to come out.  Yes, we are born with all the eggs that we’ll release in our lifetime.  But they grow and interact with the ovarian environment for sometime before they are ready to ovulate.  Think of this as the soil where the seeds will grow – the ovarian environment is the soil and the egg is the seed.  If the soil is well nourished and well tended, the seeds will have better chance at growth to bear fruit.  If the soil is like sand, nothing will grow – even if the seed is perfect. You want to fertilize the soil before you plant the seed.  This concept is probably one of the most important concepts in Chinese medicine – the importance of preparation before taking an action.  

Here are a few thoughts a woman should consider to begin the process:
·      Make a list of how you will plan the process and how you will take action.
·      Make an appointment to see your PCP and Ob/gyn for a full physical and a fertility screening.
·      Evaluate your menstrual cycle for regularity – in Chinese medicine, women who have healthy, regular menstrual cycles are likely to be more fertile than those who do not.
·      If you are over weight or under weight, the weight within ‘appropriate range’ according to your height and age will be helpful to get you in a more ‘fertile’ state.
·      Start eliminating toxins and environmental contaminants from your daily living such as less use of plastics, microwaves, conventional foods, etc.
·      Start a regular exercise routine, eat organic, hormone free, antibiotic-free and non-GMO foods as much as possible.
·      This will also be a good time to learn about your family medical history – this may or may not affect your fertile capacity but to make sure to have the most healthy eggs as possible. 
·      Attend a special workshop on “Fertility Preservation” on Tuesday, May 20, at 6pm at the Tiffani Kim Institute!

Preparing to freeze eggs will be like preparing to get pregnant.  The healthier a woman prepares herself for the process, then the more likely, the healthier her eggs will be for her journey!

Jeanie Lee Bussell, L.Ac., Dipl OM, MSOM

Monday, August 27, 2012

In honor of September being PCOS Awareness month, we will be having a seminar on what PCOS is and how to use Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat these symptoms.  Join us on Monday, September 10th for our PCOS seminar. 


Learn more at:


Caroline Jung, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., MSOM

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

PMS/PMDD Class


Do you suffer from PMS or PMDD? For many of us, these are common symptoms-but they do not have to be. Please join us on Monday, June 25th for a talk on how to naturally treat these symptoms with acupuncture, herbs, meditation, and much more!





Please visit our website for more details http://www.tiffanikiminstitute.com/pages/menstruation/246.php

Caroline Jung, MSOM, L.Ac.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Fertility-Pregnancy Blog Series


This is our 3rd blog in our fertility-pregnancy blog series. In our last blog, we covered female infertility and in this one will discuss male infertility.

In may come as a surprise to many of us that about 50% of infertility cases are due to male factor. Male factor can be caused by many dysfunctions such as sperm disorders, anatomical abnormalities, hormonal disorders, immunological disorders, lifestyle choices, genetic disease, and others as well. Any of these causes can lead to several dysfunctions in the male reproductive system such as low sperm production, misshapen or immobile sperm, blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm, and other issues. The main symptom of male infertility is not being able to conceive. Other symptoms may include sexual dysfunction, pain or swelling of the testicular area, or decreased facial or body hair that may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance.
In order to be able to conceive, there must be healthy sperm being produced that are able to fertilize the female egg. This process relies on many aspects of the manufacturing and life of the sperm. These include:
  •     being able to produce healthy sperm which stems from healthy reproductive organs, the production of testosterone and other hormones for the manufacturing of sperm    
  • clear pathway for the sperm to move in
  •  a healthy number of sperm-any count below 20 million sperm per milliliter in the semen is considered to be low
  •   motility (movement) and morphology (shape) must be optimal

To have a clearer understanding of what the medical reasons may be that can lead to male infertility, it is also important to know exactly what the medical issue does to the reproductive journey:
·      varicocele- a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle; this may prevent cooling of the testicle, leading to low sperm count and fewer moving sperm
·      infection-some infections can interfere with sperm production; they may also cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm
·      retrograde ejaculation-when semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting through the penis
·      lack of ejaculation-this may be caused by spinal cord damage or certain diseases; this causes an issue with ejaculation but not with the production of sperm
·      antibodies that attack sperm-anti-sperm antibodies that attack the sperm; this is seen often after a vasectomy
·      tumors-can affect the reproductive organs directly
·      chromosomal defects-can cause abnormal development of reproductive organs
·      certain medications-can impair sperm production

Along with the above listed medical causes, male infertility can be strongly impacted by environmental causes such as pesticides, heavy metal exposure, exposure to radiation or x-rays, overheating of the testicles (prolonged hot tub use), and prolonged bicycling. We can also look closely at lifestyle choices that can greatly affect male fertility. These include alcohol use, drug use, smoking, stress, vitamin deficiency, weight, and age.

When going in to have an evaluation with a Western practitioner, there are standard testing procedures that are done. These include a physical examination including medical history and a semen analysis. Other testing such as ultrasound, genetic testing, and others may de done if they are needed. Treatments may include medications, hormonal treatment, or surgery.

When we look at male fertility from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) viewpoint, we look at all aspects of the physical symptoms along with emotional and mental activity that play a role in our physical layers. In TCM, the various energies in our bodies are out of balance in some way that is related to male factor. We see these imbalances in the kidney yin and yang and also in the spleen qi. Another possible cause is a stagnation of damp-heat in the reproductive organs. In the situation of varicocele, we see a blood stasis pattern. These terms and descriptions may sound mysterious but basically they are how we talk about our hormones, tissues, and organs from a TCM perspective. Some common symptoms we see associated within TCM patterns are:
  • ·      kidney yang deficiency: low back pain, aversion to cold, low libido
  • ·      dampness heat: frequent urination, low abdominal pain, phlegmy cough

These signs along with other possible ones can easily and effectively be treated with TCM. Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and nutritional recommendations have quick and impressive results for male factor symptoms. The way these work is by simply naturally adjusting the hormones that may be out of balance causing a symptom or by unblocking an area in the reproductive system that is hindering conception. The changes are seen quickly due to the fact of how many sperm are produced everyday-every (healthy) man produces about 85 million sperm per day. So, this gives us an idea of how many opportunities there are for our bodies to produce many, many healthy sperm. Along with acupuncture and herbs, we see great changes when specific supplements are added into a patient’s daily routine, such as zinc and antioxidants. Also, sleep and stress levels are important factors as well. We must have adequate sleep every night to allow for our housekeeping duties to be taken care of during those hours of each day, such as detoxification. Managing our stress levels has a positive effect on sperm production and conception. Meditation and relaxation techniques are wonderful tools to use to help our bodies physiologically manage stress.
TCM treatment is effectively used along with Western treatments or used alone to help support the reproductive system and producing healthy sperm.

Caroline Jung, MSOM, L.Ac.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Believe it then conceive it!

Are you trying to conceive? Do you have questions and concerns about fertility? We each have our own spiritual path we are on yet we are all moving in the same direction towards health and well-being.
Please join us for our 6-week journey for women trying to conceive. Jenilyn Gilbert, LCSW, specializes in fertility and families.
Please call for details at 312.260.9020.
Caroline Jung, MSOM, L.Ac.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Detox Workshop

Are you suffering with allergies?
Do you have a feeling of "feeling stuck" in your energy?
Then please join us for our Detox Workshop on May7th!
We will be discussing how our detox program works and how you can benefit from it.
Our Metagenics representative will be going into great detail about how a detox effects
all of our body systems and how you can get the most out of your detox!


Visit our website here and fill out the detox questionnaire to learn about your toxic levels!
http://www.tiffanikiminstitute.com/pages/detox_workshop/431.php
Click on the "detox questionnaire" link.

Caroline Jung, L.Ac., MSOM



Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Reproductive Health Open Forum

In Honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, join Dr. Eve Feinberg from Fertility Centers Illinois on Thursday 4/26 from 6-7:30p at the Tiffani Kim Institute. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding fertility! This event is free - please call 312-260-9020 to register to attend.