34 year old Amy has been coming to the clinic for infertility issues. She has a history of mild depression and an allergy/sinus issue. She tends to have energy blockage which presents itself as bloating, gasy, and right rib pains. The strategy has been to move her energy and blood so that her liver qi and liver blood can flow better to get ready for fertilization.

A typical herbal formula used for this purpose shows:

Zhi Qiao - 4g, Mu Xiang - 4g, Dan Shen - 5g, Mu Dan Pi - 5g, M Huang Qi - 6g, Rou Cong Rong - 5g,He Shou Wu - 5g, Shu Di - 6g, Dang Gui - 6g, Bai Shao - 6g, Chuan Xiong - 5g, Bai Zhi - 5g, E Zhu - 4g, Xiang Fu - 4g, Rou Gui - 4g, Wu Zhu Yu - 3g, Chuan Niu xi - 4g, Huang Qin - 4g, Yin Yang Huo - 4g, Bo He - 3g, Xiao Hui Xiang - 3g, Lu Lu Tong - 3g.

The formula totals to 98 gram per week, which is our standard dosage. Amy was instructed to take three and half spoonfuls with hot water two times a day for one week. The formula was modified each time as she returns either two or three weeks for an update on her condition.

In four weeks, she reported that she was pregnant. Then Amy had a problem with morning sickness. Amy experienced nausea all day long, she lost her appetite and could not eat much. Although Amy did not have heart burns, she did experience a difficult time going for her bowel movement. It's typical during the first trimester that a pregnant woman's uterus is growing the placenta to protect and insulate the woman from the effect of a growing fetus. By the time the second trimester comes along the placenta will be in place and the discomfort like nausea, dry heaves, and vomiting feeling will be gone. From a Chinese Medicine's point of view, it's important to maintain a good appetite for an expectant mom so she can draw enough nutrition and energy from the food she eats. It is also critical to make expectant mom to have easy bowl movements. The pressure of her pushing bowls may do harms to the fetus. So the herbal treatment strategy includes:

• Reduces effect of morning sickness, sooths stomach, increases appetite (The dosage of this part consists of 50% of the total fomula's dosage.)
• Tonifying Spleen Qi, blood, and Kidney essence.

Other minor issues like sinus and post nasal drips was set aside temporarily. Preventing miscarriage was our number one priority then.

The herbal formula used reflects these issues:

Huang Qin - 6g, Huang Lian - 3g, Jiang Ban Xia - 4g, Jiang Zhu Ru - 4g, Xuan Fu Hua - 4g, Wu Zhu Yu 3g, Sha Ren - 4g, Chen Pi - 4g, Zi Su Gen - 4g, Zhi Qiao - 4g, Shen Qu - 5g, Jiang Shan Zha - 5g, Chao Mai Ya - 5g, Tu Si Zi - 5g, Sheng Bai Zhu - 6g, Mi Huang Qi - 6g, Du Zhong - 6g, Xu Duan - 6g, Dang Sheng - 5g, Hou Pu - 3g, Sheng Da Huang - 3g, Huo Ma Ren - 3g.

This case was treated under the tutorledge of Dr. Tao Xie of Quincy, Mass in our herbal clinic during the summer and the fall of 2008.