Fertility Program

Fertility Treatment Guidelines
Pregancy Care Program
Musculoskeletal Balancing: Key to Whole-Body Healing
Success Stories
Testimonials
Benefits of Chinese Medicine

Pregnancy Care Program

For over thirty years of clinical practice, Dr. Angela C. Wu has questioned long standing beliefs prevalent in Traditional Chinese Medicine and tested new cutting edge approaches, the foremost being needling pregnant women, something traditional acupuncturists, restrained by centuries of tradition, historically did not do.

Her pioneering efforts led to the development of a successful and effective fertility program. Dr. Wu discovered that the most important aspects for ensuring a healthy pregnancy are lifestyle changes including changing eating and drinking habits.

Her comprehensive fertility treatment program includes eating and drinking guidelines, special herbal formulas, and stress reducing techniques designed to maximize your fertility potential.

The benefits of Dr. Wu’s fertility Treatment guidelines, include: Less tiredness, increased vitality, fewer emotional outbursts, greater calmness, less nausea, and a normal appetite, a tremendous decrease in miscarriages, and full term pregnancies.

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Musculoskeletal Balancing: Key to Whole-Body Healing

In the spirit of holistic medicine, treating body, mind, and spirit, Wu’s Healing Center is pioneering a new definition of “whole body” healing — one that addresses “internal” conditions by also healing the body’s infrastructure: skeleton, muscles, and tendons.

The spine, for example, integrates all the major energy channels associated with vitality and longevity. A healthy spine is particularly important in treating infertility because it manufactures the blood cells vital to conceiving and carrying a baby. When the spine is congested or misaligned, blood and Qi — life energy — cannot flow freely. When the spine and the channels it supports are open and balanced, all the body’s organs and core functions are optimized.

Dr. Angela C. Wu — who practices Traditional Chinese Medicine — and Devin G. Wu — whose clinical practice incorporates both acupuncture and physical therapy techniques — have discovered that treating the body’s skeletal core can make a significant difference in overcoming a wide variety of health challenges, including infertility. While Dr. Wu works with clients to balance and harmonize the body’s internal environment, Devin focuses on musculoskeletal balancing, with an emphasis on the spine — opening up the flow of energy to all internal organs.

Clients who include both “internal” and “external” approaches in their therapy find that, in addition to addressing back, neck, and other musculoskeletal problems, they’re better able to achieve and maintain the whole-body balance and harmony required to conceive, carry, and deliver a healthy baby. Most important, they also discover that maintaining a healthy infrastructure delivers benefits far beyond babies — including general vitality and longevity.

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Testimonials

May 31, 2008

My husband and I started trying to conceive a little over 3 years before coming to Dr. Wu for treatment. Because I was 30 at the time, we tried for a year on our own, dutifully recording my temperature every morning. We then consulted with my OB/GYN. After running several tests that did not show any reason I couldn't conceive naturally, she had me do 6 cycles with Clomid which were all unsuccessful. We followed that with 2 unsuccessful cycles of IUI with injectable medications. The next step was to have a laparoscopy which did not give any more insight into why I wasn't conceiving. After all of that, I decided I needed to take a break.

Six months later I went to see Dr. Wu after reading an article in San Francisco Magazine. We worked together for a year before I went through an IVF cycle which was successful. I continued seeing Dr. Wu throughout the pregnancy. Two months after my son was born, I went back to Dr. Wu for post-partum treatment. We worked together for about 2 months and she was very happy that my body had maintained a healthy state after the pregnancy.

In December 2006 I conceived naturally - something that had never happened before. My husband and I were shocked. Not only was I still breast-feeding my son (which I had always heard reduces chances of conceiving), I was convinced that I would have to go through IVF again if I wanted to have another child. I credit Dr. Wu with getting my body into a
"baby-friendly" state so that this "miracle" could take place.

Anonymous

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May 29, 2008

It never occurred to me that it would be difficult to have a child—that when I was ready, I would become pregnant immediately. (It seemed like I had spent most of my adult life trying not to get pregnant!) I got married when I was 37 and it wasn’t until I was 40 that I started trying to have a child.

After a year of trying I went to a fertility doctor. I had a couple of things against me—age (41) and a thin uterine wall. I was given a 20% chance of having a child through IVF. We went against the odds, and after an unsuccessful IVF, the doctor said I had a 5% chance of having a child with another IVF and if I did become pregnant it would be a very difficult pregnancy (bleeding) due to my thin uterine wall. If I used donor eggs, my chances improved to 30%. We went so far as to visit a donor agency, but I wasn’t convinced this was the right thing for us to do.

I remembered having read an article about Dr. Wu a couple of years earlier, and decided if we were going to go through another cycle with donor eggs, I wanted to consult her first. I explained my history to Dr. Wu and she wanted to know why I was considering donor eggs. She said it wasn’t necessary and she could fix my problems. I must say I was overwhelmed after my first visit. There were so many changes I needed to make in my life—not all of which I understood, but I trusted Dr. Wu.

Six months after my first visit I became pregnant naturally and had not a single problem during my pregnancy. No bleeding, no stretch marks, no excessive weight gain (28 pounds)—I felt great. I was religious about taking my herbs and having my massages and acupuncture. But, I must say, the diet was very difficult for me. Everything I used to eat (and loved) was on the off-limits list. But it was a small sacrifice. Fifteen months after I first walked into her clinic, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I know that it would not have been possible without Dr. Wu and her staff.

I saw Dr. Wu a couple of times after I had my daughter, but did not have regular appointments, because I was too busy with my new baby. However, about seven months after she was born, I had what I thought was a bout of the flu. I went to see Dr. Wu, and I realized that I had been feeling this way for a couple of months during my period. I began to see her regularly and my energy and health improved immensely.

Around the age of 45 I began having strange symptoms. I had tingling in my extremities, electric shock sensations under my skin, night sweats and gastrointestinal problems. I thought I had some terrible disease and went to my doctor who found nothing wrong and prescribed anti anxiety medication. My husband asked me why I had even bothered with him and not gone to Dr. Wu instead. She said I was not ill and together we discovered that my symptoms were from perimenopause.

I see her regularly (every two weeks). And, at the age of 48 have had probably 30 of the 34 symptoms of perimenopause at one time or another, but all of my symptoms have been easy to manage. (All done without hormones.)

I initially went to see Dr. Wu to become pregnant, but now realize that regular “maintenance” is just as important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I am a true believer!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dr. Wu and staff

Cory Cassasa

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May 28, 2008

I am a 36 year old woman, who first came in to see Dr. Wu in the spring of 2007 after being diagnosed with a high FSH level combined with a blocked fallopian tube. In addition, I had had surgery the previous year to remove a septimation in my uterus, which would have made it very difficult to carry a pregnancy to term. The fertility specialists that I talked with felt that my only option with the combination of these conditions was to do IVF, a step I didn’t feel ready to take.

While I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Wu’s Healing Center program, I was immediately drawn to their approach to fertility and overall body wellness, which I felt at the very least, would give me back a positive connection, both mentally and physically, with my body. My husband and I decided to try doing some cycles of IUI in conjunction with Dr. Wu’s program, to give her process a chance to work and see if we could avoid having to do IVF immediately.

I followed Dr. Wu’s fertility regime as closely as I could over the next five months, in addition to doing three cycles of IUI combined with Letrazole, a fertility drug similar to Clomid. After two unsuccessful attempts, the lab informed me before beginning a third, that my husband’s sperm count had inexplicably dropped dramatically, and that he would have to possibly also take fertility medication. As a result of this, they felt that we now really had no other option but to prepare to do an IVF cycle in the fall.

I was disappointed, but thanks to Dr. Wu’s program, I felt mentally much more competent to deal with the IVF process and physically I felt great and had even lost twelve pounds following her diet. We decided in August to begin IVF treatments in the fall and while we were waiting to set up this process, we tried conceiving the old fashioned way, without any assisted reproductive techniques or drugs.

We were completely surprised to learn a few weeks later that I was pregnant and even amazed my husband’s fertility specialist, who told me that with my husband’s current numbers, “you must be incredibly fertile!” Dr. Wu had predicted that it would take at least four to six months following her program to prepare my body for pregnancy and she was uncannily accurate.

I continued working with Wu’s Healing center throughout my pregnancy and with Devin Wu, whose physically therapy treatments saved me from overwhelming nausea and discomfort through first trimester. Later, during second trimester, I was diagnosed as having an incompetent cervix and was placed on bed rest for four months, during which time, I received regular home treatments from senior staff member Katie. L, which kept my circulation flowing and helped tremendously with cramping, due to inactivity.

My son was born on April 25th, two weeks early but he weighed over six pounds and was completely healthy. Thanks to the herbal supplements I took prior to delivery, he never developed jaundice and all the nursing staff commented on his great skin after birth. I am convinced that my successful pregnancy was due to the acupuncture and fertility treatments I received from the Wu’s Healing Center and I will be eternally grateful to them for the miracle of my new baby.

Thank you Dr. Wu and staff!

Rachel

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May 24, 2008

When I first came to Wu's Healing Center in November 2007, I was 43 years old and had just gone through a failed Invitro Fertilzation (IVF) procedure.

I didn't respond at all to the IVF-related hormone injections and didn't produce enough follicles.

The Western doctor I was working with told me I could try another IVF procedure in a few months, but that my chances didn't look very good.

Another Western doctor said I should start thinking about donor eggs. To put it mildly, I was shocked and disappointed and was feeling that I had waited too long. So, after thinking about things for a bit, I decided to try Dr. Wu's treatment of acupuncture, acupressure, diet, and herbs for a few months before I tried the second IVF procedure.

Dr. Wu quickly made me feel confident again about my body's potential to have a baby. Reading all her testimonials, and listening to what she had to say to me, gave me renewed hope. After following Dr. Wu's methods for just three months, I got pregnant the natural, old-fashioned way with my boyfriend. It only took one try!

I couldn't believe it happened so easily and effortlessly. I am now five months pregnant, and my baby is healthy and normal in every way. In addition, my pregnancy has been smooth and easy, with none of the typical pregnancy-related problems, like morning sickness.

I am so grateful to Dr. Wu and all of her fabulous staff at Wu's Healing Center for giving me renewed hope, supporting me through this journey, and helping me achieve this long-time life goal. I am looking forward to saying "welcome baby" in October!

Tracie Reynolds

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May 9, 2008

As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a mother. When my husband and I married when I was 38, we started trying casually to get pregnant. I never thought we would have any problems, since we were both healthy and had both gotten pregnant with other people when we were very young.

After two years of trying, I decided to go to a fertility clinic and see if there was something wrong. I was told that although my FSH level was okay, I had low progesterone levels and would probably need help to get pregnant. After the doctor looked at my eggs through the ultrasound, he told me I had a 1% chance of getting pregnant. Because I had a “low egg reserve”, the doctor opted to pump me up with the highest level of hormones possible. The experience of injecting myself twice a day with the hormones was stressful and humiliating, but I thought that if it would help me get pregnant, I would do it. Unfortunately, even after the hormones, I still only produced one viable egg. We went ahead with the IUI, but the doctor told us that it probably would not be successful. Because I wasn’t producing enough eggs, he recommended that I not try IVF and go for donor eggs. I had, as he put it, “poopy eggs”. I left the fertility clinic feeling that my body was inadequate and that I had failed as a woman.

At this point, I was devastated, but I still had this nagging feeling that there was a baby up there waiting for me. Miraculously, three months after our failed IUI, I got pregnant naturally. I was elated and excited. After 8 weeks, I miscarried. Although this was disappointing and painful, now I knew that I could get pregnant. My husband and I grieved for about three months until we were ready to try again. A friend told me about Dr. Wu and said she was a “fertility goddess” who could work wonders. We decided to give it one more try. Because I was 41 at the time, I felt this was my last chance.

From the moment I walked into Dr. Wu’s clinic, I began to feel optimistic about my chances. Instead of giving me statistics about what wasn’t possible at my age, she dared me to believe in what was possible. When she told me I would have to wait about two or three months until my body was ready, I lamented that I couldn’t wait much longer because I was too old. She laughed and said, “You’re not too old”. Her staff was supportive, positive, and full of humor, which I believe contributed to my success. The diet, herbs, and seemingly outrageous requests from Dr. Wu were difficult to stick to, but I did everything she told me to do.

After two months, I got pregnant. “Now the real journey begins,” Dr. Wu told me. I was anxious about this pregnancy, since I had miscarried only five months earlier. Dr. Wu and her staff continued to support me and to help balance my life and body so that I could have a healthy pregnancy.

Dr. Wu handled my pregnancy with both humor and concern. She can be stern if she thinks you aren’t following her guidelines, but this is only for the child’s well being. Usually, Dr. Wu has a wonderful sense of humor, which makes her visits a delight. One of Dr Wu’s many requests was that I abstain from intercourse during the first trimester of my pregnancy. When my husband wanted me to ask Dr. Wu “when we could have sex again” I carefully broached the subject with her during a treatment. I asked her, “ So my husband has a question for you—“ I didn’t even need to finish, however, as she already knew what I was asking. “Tell him next week if you relax this weekend.” Her answer immediately endeared her to my husband who had been waiting patiently for the right time.

At this point, I am 36 weeks pregnant and am carrying a healthy baby girl. I am grateful to Dr. Wu for helping me allow my body to heal itself and to unlock its own potential. Dr. Wu has given me the tools to create my own miracle!

Molly

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May 5, 2008

My husband and I are expecting our second child in a few months and delighted to be writing this testimonial during the 32 week of what has been a smooth and comfortable pregnancy at age 40.

While I was in my mid-30’s we conceived our first child naturally but was diagnosed with unexplained infertility when trying to conceive our second child only two years later. Western doctors were at a loss. I had a low FHS score (around 4), undergone a long battery of blood work and other tests that all came back “normal.” We eventually underwent countless IUI’s and later two IVF procedures that ended in a devastating miscarriage at 9-10 weeks into pregnancy. It was at that stage we realized we needed to do something more holistic and came to see Dr. Wu.

While we don’t pretend to understand how it all works, under Dr. Wu’s care and guidance, I regained my physical as well as mental strength. Six months later, with Dr. Wu’s help as well as that of my reproductive endocrinologist (we continued a course of western medicines but did not pursue IVF again) we became pregnant again. This time all tests, both western and eastern, have showed that it is a very different and strong pregnancy.

We have so much to be grateful for and thank Dr. Wu, Wu’s Healing Center staff and Devin for all their support, dedication and optimism. We will take your lessons of thinking, believing and acting holistically beyond this year – and into the future and across all aspects of life.

Anonymous

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April 15th, 2008

Dear. Dr. Wu,

We are writing to express our deepest gratitude for the year we spent under your unsurpassed care and guidance, which resulted in the natural conception and birth of our healthy son. Our lives are forever changed by the arrival of this wonderful new person, whom we love so very much.

We came to you in August of 2006, after two years of unsuccessful efforts, which had included an early loss, four failed IUI’s, and an IVF with numerous fertilizations but no implantation. We had undergone several immune treatment procedures, including LIT, to no avail. It was a confusing and discouraging time.

You asked us to give you four months. We had recently begun working with Dr. Toth regarding detection and treatment of reproductive pathogens, and you encouraged us to continue following his antibiotic regimen. You also supported my continued use of Lovenox and IVIg. You treated my husband as well, and he and I both began to see significant and increasing positive changes.

We were amazed by your ability to diagnose symptoms we didn’t know were significant and to detect subtle problems. I remember one time when you checked my pulse and said, “I can’t believe you ate bread! What were you thinking?!” We appreciated your occasional kind yet stern admonishments, and we carefully followed your advice. I checked with you, from time to time, about food items that weren’t “on the list,” but which I hoped would be acceptable in moderation. Do you remember when you insisted keeping a cookie I brought, saying you couldn’t decide based on the ingredient list, and had to eat it to be sure? I always appreciated your humor and spirit! We genuinely believed in the guiding principles of your treatment, and could feel your care and concern for us as your patients.

When I became pregnant, naturally and without fertility medication, your support was unparalleled. From an outside perspective – even that of my OB – my pregnancy was easy and without complication. But, you and Dr. Toth and I knew differently. You not only encouraged me to continue care with Dr. Toth, you requested a copy of his book and began learning about his treatments and recommending his care to certain patients. My husband and I couldn’t have been more impressed. It was an interesting time; I had biweekly and tri-weekly appointments with you, depending on how well things were going. I would breathe a sigh of relief whenever you would nod that everything was good. You also helped me to sort through ongoing treatment decisions related to pathogens and immune issues. Our goal was to make it safely to 30 weeks, and what a delight when our baby went full-term, thanks to careful monitoring and treatments along the way.

Our son was born naturally and outstandingly healthy. He is VERY happy and has reached all of his markers far ahead of schedule. We can’t tell you what a relief it is to see him thriving and well. But, we suspect you know what we are feeling.

Angela, thank you again for everything you have done for us and for our family. We will be forever grateful. May you receive as much goodness and you contribute to the world, and may others be as fortunate as we to meet you and receive your care.

Anonymous

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March 2008

Exactly four years ago, my journey with Dr. Wu began. In the course of that time Dr. Wu has transformed my understanding of health and diet, and far beyond that, she and her team have played a
vital role for our family in realizing our dreams.

My husband and I found one another relatively late in life. We married as soon as we could, but with our birthdays touching 40, we also set out right away to create a family. Although we had a couple of setbacks with natural pregnancies and early miscarriages, our son Benjamin was born the year after our wedding, a healthy, beautiful boy. The dream of having a second child didn’t diminish though—if anything, it grew stronger. We hoped so deeply that Benjamin could have a sibling, and that we could have the joy of raising another child. Two years and another miscarriage passed without any luck, but finally the recommendation of caring friends brought us to Dr. Wu’s door. I remember the first treatment vividly—the energy that it released in my body, how right everything felt physically and in what I was being told. Dr. Wu said that I hadn’t really recovered from the first birth, and she was right. Within two weeks of following her herbs and diet, I lost the 14 heavy pounds that I was still carrying, and more importantly, regained the energy and sense of vitality that had been so elusive, as well as a plan and a vision for realizing our goal. And I gained a whole team who believed in our dream, who
didn’t feel, as so many of the western doctors did, that it was just too late for us.

We pursued fertility the best we could, financially and otherwise, doing IUI’s, and even an IVF treatment, though at age 45 the chances were minimal for success. Through it all, Dr. Wu was an extraordinary ally, bringing all of her years of experience, insight and wisdom to bear on our situation, cultivating my energy and system to get ready to carry a baby, and guiding us along the path. I remember looking at all of those beautiful baby pictures on the wall in her office, and wondering when we might be part of that happy portrait. After a treatment, feeling strong and integrated, I never doubted whether it would happen, but when. The strength of Dr. Wu’s confidence in us carried me through many a dark night, when even friends would gently suggest that it might be time to move on, and I would lie awake wondering whether perhaps they were right. At last we had the financial resources for a donor egg cycle, and incredibly, the gift of a close friend who was willing to be our donor. We got some ‘truly beautiful’ embryos from the cycle, perfect in quality, and with Dr. Wu’s team preparing my body to receive the embryos, and to help them implant, we felt that we had truly done everything that we could. Through all of the uncertainty of having undertaken such an expensive procedure, the thorough care of Dr. Wu and her staff made us feel that we were given the absolute best possible chance for success. It truly was a ‘preparation of the garden.’

The results of the first beta to test for pregnancy were the best one could hope for, and the second test confirmed the first. We were pregnant! The dream just kept unfolding from that point on. Regular treatments with Dr. Wu throughout the pregnancy kept me feeling fit, energetic, and radiantly happy. I had far more energy that I had during my first pregnancy (pre-Dr. Wu) when I was six years younger—a fact that I attribute to the herbs and treatment of these amazing people. We sailed through the pregnancy in absolute joy. The baby grew perfectly, with every doctor’s appointment a confirmation of his health, and every treatment with Dr. Wu leading us closer to our goal. My overall health and energy level kept attesting to the amazing and positive effects of the treatment, herbs and diet. Then, on his due date, our son Jeremy was born. Healthy, happy, quick to settle into a rhythm, he is a radiant little boy. As he sleeps in my arms, his tiny hand holding onto my mine, I think of all of the healing hands that brought him into the world in such health and peacefulness: the years of practice and wisdom of Dr. Wu, the healing hands of all of her staff who focus on each person with such attention and skill. I am eternally grateful for the gift that they have all given us, and that they always believed in, in partnership
with us. Our hearts are filled with gratitude beyond measure for Dr. Wu and her practice.

BB

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Liz T.
San Francisco, CA

5 star rating on Yelp.com
03/21/2007
Dr. Wu's specialty is fertility treatment (notice I say "fertility," not "infertility").

I've been a patient at Dr. Wu's clinic for several months. First of all, let me just say that she is AMAZING. It's not just her technical skill that I'm talking about, it's her intuitive healing ability, and her way of cutting thru any b.s. that you might inadvertently be running in the foreground.

Now let me say something about her staff. She has a small army of staff, most of whom are massage therapists and/or acupuncturists/TCM practitioners. If you are being seen there in the Fertility Program, you have these in-depth appointments with several people working on you over the course of 2 hours (organ massage, meridian massage, acupuncture, moxibustion). I must say that every single person who has worked on me (which includes 8 or 9 people)have been great. They're all different, but all very talented. She really has good people.

The support staff are great, too. (Especially [Shawn], who will make you laugh by complimenting you on your beautiful make-up and hairdo, which look very *special* by the time you walk out of there!).

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February 25, 2008

I began seeing Angela in 1993, when I decided to try acupuncture to relieve terrible sinus headaches and seasonal allergy symptoms. Western medical techniques were no longer working and I didn’t want to become dependent on drugs to relieve the pain, which seemed to be worsening every year. After my first appointment, I not only felt immediate relief from the headaches, but felt more relaxed and centered in my body than I had in a long time. Over the next few months I noticed that my energy level increased, and that my PMS symptoms were decreasing in intensity, even though I wasn’t seeing Angela for those issues specifically. I’m happy to report that I have not had a sinus headache or significant allergy symptoms in 15 years! I’ve maintained excellent health going into middle age when so many of my peers are beginning to rely on prescription medication to alleviate aches, pains, and symptoms that I know could be treated easily and effectively with acupuncture. Whenever anyone asks how I stay so healthy and energetic, I immediately tell them about Angela and the wonderful experience I’ve had with her and the rest of the staff at Wu’s Healing Center. I’m so grateful and happy to have found Angela, and thanks to our work together, I look forward to many more years of excellent health.

Julie

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02/19/2008

Raquel S.

I've been going to Wu's Healing Center since 2000 and have recommended many people ever since. I should really get a referral fee for the amount of people I  have sent there, but I digress.

Dr. Wu and her staff are great and have treated me and my family for years. I have gone to Dr. Wu for everything from allergies to nerve damage to stress and back pain and she always fixes me right up.
They are on the pricey side if your insurance doesn't cover any portion of acupuncture but it is well worth it.

If you are looking for a new acupuncturist or just want to try it out for the first time, I would definitely recommend Dr. Wu. She is friendly, extremely knowledgeable, kind, funny and has a great bedside manner. She also has a crazy good memory so don't try and pull one past her because she will remember.

Be prepared if she prescribes herbs or tea because I will admit that sometimes the mixtures smell scary and taste like dirt, but they always work and once you're done you're usually good to go. None of this refill crap for a "virus," if you know what I mean.

Parking is a pain, it is Clement after, just be sure to give yourself plenty of time to circle the block and bring lots of quarters. Even better, try to find non-metered parking because a typical appointment will be over an hour and those meters are 1 hour max. and you won't be able to feed the meter during your treatment.

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Nov. 28, 2007

I wanted to write this letter to thank you and your staff for helping to make a significant change in my life over the past 4 months. When my wife and I came to Wu’s Healing Center for infertility treatment I figured that I would come for a few visits but leave most of the work to my wife. You encouragde me to come for regular appointments along with my wife, as that would accomplish the goal of total health for both partners in the couple. I took your advice and am very glad that I did.

In just 4 months of weekly visits and adherence to your diet recommendations I have lost 12 pounds, I feel great and have stopped taking medication for my high blood pressure as it is now under control. I had been on blood pressure medication for 15 years and my cardiologist has now recommended that I stop taking it. Amazing.

Thank you again for your wisdom and support. I am sure I have added years to my life as a result of working with you and your staff.

Sincerely,
David Riedel

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October 20, 2007

I began treatment with Dr Wu in hopes for baby #2 in the summer of 2006. I had previously suffered a miscarriage before I became pregnant with my son. I became pregnant in October 2006 but unfortunately suffered another miscarriage at 9 weeks. I stayed committed to my treatments at Dr Wu and became pregnant again in January 2007.

The first trimester moved slowly but the encouragement and the support of Dr Wu and her staff helped get me through those long weeks. I had severe nausea and fatigue but following treatments I always felt my best. I continued treatment with Dr Wu throughout my entire pregnancy. Having a toddler exposed me to many germs, and the treatments helped keep my immunity strong. I suffered through a couple of colds but for the most part was healthy and felt good. In addition, Dr Wu’s treatments helped with my varicose veins and also kept the swelling of my body to a minimum.

On October 16, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl: Beatrice Grace Morfit. She was 7 lbs, 14 ounces and 21 inches. I was in active labor for 6 hours and it went incredibly smooth. I felt strong and healthy throughout labor and didn’t suffer from any tearing and only had to have one small stitch. The most amazing part of Dr Wu’s program is how good I have felt after giving birth. I haven’t suffered from any post partum depression and feel quite balanced. My milk supply has been great but without suffering from any painful engorgement or other issues. My baby is calm and happy which I believe is a result of the acupuncture treatments.

Thanks to Dr Wu and staff for taking such good care of me the past year. It was definitely worth the time and money and I will be back for #3 sometime in the future.

Best Regards,
AM

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October 24, 2007

After a miscarriage and two Ectopic pregnancies, I began a fertility program at the USCF Women’s Fertility Clinic. At that point, with both fallopian tubes removed, my only option for conceiving was via IVF. It was my Western doctor who recommended that I concurrently visit Dr. Angela Wu to help quell my increasing anxiety and to aid me along my path to well being and conception.

I had seen other acupuncturists prior to visiting Wu’s Healing Center and was slightly skeptical since I never felt confident that their methods worked to heal the parts of my body that were stressed or to help me conceive. However, at my first appointment at Wu’s clinic, I noticed that the Forward in her book Fertility Wisdom, was written by Dr. Fujimoto, who is the Director of the UCSF Women’s Fertility Clinic. Right then I felt comforted by the fact that there was a mutual respect between Eastern and Western fertility practices, at the very least a liaison between my Western doctors at UCSF and Wu’s Healing Center.

Upon meeting her, I immediately had the impression that Dr. Wu knew what she was doing. She and her staff were all very professional and knowledgeable about women’s fertility issues. Not to mention the constant stream of women (and men) in her clinic was quite impressive. Somehow, it seemed right.

After my first visit, I was started on a strict fertility regimen. My diet was altered significantly which was definitely hard to adjust to, but over time it became easier and I did feel the effects it was having on my body. I lost weight, had more energy and was sleeping better. I was receiving acupressure and acupuncture 1 to 2 times per week. Slightly overwhelmed at first, I gradually adjusted to the change in my lifestyle and became more open to whole Eastern process. I truly believed that the work Dr. Wu was doing was aiding the Western process of IVF.

The IVF process went very smoothly. I had no reactions at all to the drugs and I harvested a healthy lot of 14 eggs, 11 of which then fertilized into viable embryos. We transferred 2 embryos, both of which took. I am now in my 34th week of pregnancy with twins. Throughout the IVF process, Dr. Wu respected my treatments with my Western doctors and her goal was to enhance the positive outcome by making my body as welcoming and healthy an environment for conception and carrying the babies.

Alongside Dr. Wu’s treatments during conception and throughout my pregnancy, I also saw her son Devin Wu for therapeutic acupuncture on my neck, lower back and hips. These parts of my body harbored my stress and Devin did amazing work to relieve pressure and make my body feel relaxed.

Dr. Wu and her staff take their work seriously. While they encourage you to follow a full program, they respect and work with you to adjust programs based on schedules and resources. Each time I walk into the clinic, I’m greeted warmly with smiles and well wishes. I highly recommend Wu’s Healing Center for any fertility or therapeutic needs.

KMR

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May 2007

Age 39, Natural Conception with high FSH

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant, worked with Dr. Wu for eight months prior to conceiving naturally and have continued working with her throughout my pregnancy. Dr. Wu, from day one, has been so supportive in helping my husband and I start our family. She seemed confident that I would conceive naturally when western doctors indicated that the odds were stacked against me to conceive both naturally and with IVF.

When my husband and I decided we wanted to start our family, my OB/GYN ordered blood work to check my ovarian reserve, as I was 38 years old. I thought nothing of it until I received a call from her telling me I had an elevated FSH level of 15, a sign of diminished ovarian reserve. I didn’t really understand what this meant and when I asked her what I could do to lower it she said nothing, it was genetic. The doctor also indicated that depending upon how aggressive I wanted to be that I could see an RE [reproductive endocrinologist]. I was completely devastated. While I poured through websites trying to make sense of what elevated FSH levels meant, I also immediately started to search for a Chinese Medicine doctor who was experienced in treating fertility issues. At first blush, it would seem unusual that I would choose the eastern medicine approach as I had always relied on western medicine in treating illness. But that was just it; I did not consider an elevated FSH level to be an illness, rather I believed it to be an imbalance which acupuncture could potentially address.

Within two months of seeing Dr. Wu and following her program (note – I had never stuck to a diet before this one), my FSH dropped from 15 to 11 (still elevated) and then two months later it had dropped to 6.7 (considered normal range). I mentioned this to my doctor and asked if this could just be a coincidence, but she indicated she thought there was something very special happening at Dr. Wu’s office. These tangible results encouraged me to continue with the program. More significantly, throughout this process, what I have learned and really benefited from is gaining a better understanding of my mind & body. I always ran a mile a minute trying to excel at everything I did. Not a surprise, but this put quite a bit of stress on my body, which I believe impacted my being able to conceive.

In working with Dr. Wu, I began to approach my life differently and once I conceived I made even more adjustments to my lifestyle to support a healthy pregnancy. Some of the decision I had to make, particularly related to career, were tough but I have to say, I have never felt more at peace. My husband has been amazed at how happy and calm I am as I approach motherhood and attributes much of this to the influences of Dr. Wu and her clinic.

Anne Morrissey

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April 30, 2007

When I started seeing Dr. Wu, we were at the end of our fertility rope. My partner and I had been trying to get pregnant for two and a half years, with monthly iui's and all of my hormone results being normal. All the doctors told me I should have no problems getting pregnant, but there we were- still not pregnant. After a year and a half of iui's, a lapraoscopy was performed. My doctor assured me that she thought she'd find nothing. Unfortunately a good amount of endometrioisis was found. Was that the problem? In addition to western treatments, clomid, femera, and three rounds of injectible drugs, I started seeing an acuppuncturist. I saw the acupuncturist for a year, but didn't feel any different. Six months after the lap, my periods started getting painful again. The endometriosis was coming back. Finally Kaiser Oakland said they didn't have any other recourse for me and I was cut loose.

Frustrated and feeling out of control I stopped seeing my East Bay acupuncturist and started seeing Dr. Wu. I had heard she was more hardcore, and I needed hardcore. At the first appointment she asked who in my family had blood pressure problems- well everyone but myself! I was impressed, but still unsure because a lot of people have blood pressure issues in their family. I jumped right in to the dietary guidelines, and started the herbs. By the end of the week my feet were no longer cold and I felt different- better! After seeing Dr. Wu for a week I felt better than I did seeing my other acupuncturist for a year.

I continued to see Dr Wu and stay on the herbs and food guidelines as my partner and I decided whether to try IVF or have my partner get pregnant and I step down. My periods had gotten less painful after a few months seeing Dr Wu, and my partner had some fertility issues that needed treatment before we could try with her. We shopped around and finally decided to go with Dr Wu's IVF suggestion- Zouves Fertility Center. We liked the fact that Dr Zouves supported eastern approachs to fertility and that he also believed in an immune system connection to fertility. We thought had my allergies worsened around ovulation, and suspected an immune component.

Dr Wu and her staff gave us lots of support and encouragement as we started the IVF cycle. She kept on me about following the food guidelines and made me laugh! I remember her telling me I needed to "march" after eating. She demonstrated the elevated knee action she expected, marching around the table I lay on. March, march, march to get my blood moving! Her chiding always made me laugh and helped me
stay on course with the challenging regiment. Her support and focus was vital. The cost of IVF meant this was a one time shot for us! We> didn't produce a lot of eggs. I had definite egg envy and started worrying I was too old approaching 37. Maybe that's why I hadn't gotten pregnant. I had become a source of advice for my sister-in-law and several sets of friends- how to figure out when you ovulate, where to get cheap opk and pregnancy kits etc. Everyone I had helped was
now pregnant or had delivered. Of course Dr Zouves concluded I had an immune issue- elevated natural killer cells - so I started IVIG treatments and took injections for rhuematoid arthitis adding to our expenses and increasing our stress. We had all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak!

Seeing Dr Wu, taking the herbs and abiding by the food guidelines gave me something to do. I needed to feel I could do something. We followed Dr Wu's suggestion that I stay in bed a week after the embryo transfer instead of the western doctor's suggestion of a few days. We took it easy afterwards and enjoyed the home visits for acuppuncture. The day before our blood test I was sure I wasn't pregnant, tearful and feeling guilty for all the money and work we'd put into this seemingly
fruitless goal. The day we were to go in for the pregnancy blood test, I took a home test. I wanted to prepare myself for the negative result by phone later that day. Miraclously it was positive! That made going in to take the blood test that much easier!

The beta numbers came back higher- I was pregnant, very pregnant. The numbers kept going up and up! We got tested at Kaiser and they confirmed I was pregnant too and scheduled our first ultrasound for seven weeks. Dr. Wu encouraged us to take it easy and I was, sleeping a lot!

On a weekend trip, my partner and I were walking out of a grocery store. I wasn't carrying anything, following Dr Wu's suggestion not to carry anything heavy, when I felt a gush between my legs. We dashed home, I was bleeding bright red blood. We were only six weeks pregnant, and three hours from our doctors. There was nothing we could do. On Monday, after bleeding on and off over the weekend, Kaiser was able to do an ultrasound. Turns out we were still pregnant and had twins! We weren't able to see a doctor. The IVF clinic had released us from their care, and the Kaiser fertility doctors had us set up our appointment for prenatal care, but not for another six weeks! During this time we had several more bleeding episodes and emergency appointments with various doctors at Kaiser- none of which could/would tell us why I was bleeding or what to do about it. The only stable feedback we had was from Wu's Healing Center. We were in a no man's land being handed off between IVF doctors, fertility doctors and the regular prenatal path.

The pregnancy continued, with Dr Wu speaking as an advocate for the twins, reminding me to slow down. The bleeding episodes were often after I exerted myself. She made me aware that my body was giving me feedback- I really needed to take it easy to nourish these two little babies. The western doctors weren't as proactive. My body was telling me what it wanted, if only I'd listen! Luckily Dr. Wu could translate and helped me learn to listen better. I watched my tongue and tried to eat right, take it easy and drink my water.

In the end, I carried the babies 38 weeks. They were delivered via c-section as they were both breech. Both were healthy. The girl weighed 7 lbs 12 oz, and the boy was smaller at 5 lbs 6 oz.

Stephanie Griffin

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April 11, 2007

I first came to see Dr. Wu in April 2006 after following only Western medicine protocols. In the summer or 2005, I started with two rounds of AI [artificial insemination] and then proceeded to IVF in December. In my first retrieval, and prior to any acupuncture and diet changes, I produced 17 eggs. A good result I was told for my 35 years of age. After one fresh transfer and two frozen transfers and no pregnancy, I was depressed and without hope. At this point, I knew I needed to try a different approach to fertility.

Hearing about Dr. Wu’s Healing Center through two different girlfriends, I thought I’d give it a try. Up until this point I had been unwilling to make the dietary and lifestyle change that were necessary with the Eastern approach to fertility. But after all the failed attempts, I was willing to commit myself to anything! I read all the recommended books on diet and nutrition, changed my eating and drinking habits and changed my mental approach. Dr. Wu’s team provided the support and coaching I needed to make these changes and stick to them. In June, Dr. Wu said I was ready for another retrieval. My Western medicine doctors had me follow the exact same protocol as before – same drugs, same amounts for the exact length of time. The time I produced 47 eggs of which 80% fertilized! These are amounts seen in women in their early 20’s. I attribute this success t Dr. Wu, her team, and my diet and attitude changes. When I asked the Western doctors if they wanted to know what I did differently this second time, they were simply uninterested in what I had to share.

The fresh transfer in June 2006 resulted in my first ever pregnancy, but unfortunately it was ectopic and had to be terminated to preserve my life. This pregnancy, however, did reveal a problem with my fallopian tubes, which subsequently had to be removed in October. I believe that this pregnancy had to happen in order to shed some light on the real problem which had been undiagnosed up until this time. I believe that this pregnancy was a direct result of working with Dr. Wu and her team.

In November 2006, I was ready again for another transfer. This time is would be a frozen transfer, which typically is not as successful as a fresh cycle (but the cycle IS without all the awful stimulation drugs, so the experience is a lot more pleasant). I found out on December 3rd 2006 that I was pregnant! I think I held my breath for the first 3 months, but now I am 22 weeks along and feeling great. My husband and I look forward to the arrival of our baby in August.

Most importantly, I have my body to thank for all its hard work and response to the acupuncture and acupressure treatments. While the Western approach left me feeling hatred and contempt for my body, Dr. Wu helped me to feel love and appreciation for my body. I’d like to thank Dr. Wu and her team for their dedication to bringing healthy babies into the lives of women and men who so genuinely want them.

Julie Templeton

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March 20, 2007

Progress report. I am a 59 year-old woman who has been attending Dr. Angela Wu’s Healing Center for eight weeks. During this time, I have experienced many pleasant changes in my health. I can to Dr Wu for help in three areas: allergies, insomnia, and back pain. In this brief period of time, my allergies have been greatly reduced, my sleeping has improved, and the back problems are lessening.

When I first arrived at Dr. Wu’s clinic, my seasonal allergies (hay fever, which begins for me in January and lasts until June), were in full force. I was miserable with itching eyes, a scratchy throat, itchy skin, a runny nose, difficulty relaxing, and only a little relief from the allergy pills which I took constantly. I have had seasonal allergies for 20 years. I have also used shots to help control these allergies. This year, however, starting out in January, my symptoms were much worse than usual, and after stopping the shots three years ago, I was surprised at how strongly my reaction to hay fever came back. Within the first few visits, these symptoms began to lessen. At this point, I no longer have any of these symptoms, and I am completely comfortable. Most days, I still need to take a 12-hour Claritin only during the daytime, and occasionally at night I have a little trouble. But this is a great improvement from my original state in January, when even these medications did not stop my discomfort. I am very grateful for the vast improvement to my condition, and I look forward to a time soon when I no longer need any allergy pills.

I am also experiencing some improvement in my ability to sleep. In fact, I am finally able to go to sleep some of the time without a sleeping pill for the first time in almost two years. I generally feel calmer overall. In addition, my energy level is much higher and I no longer need a rest period each afternoon.

And as another unexpected benefit of my treatments, I no longer have any gas pains or stomach discomfort (a relatively minor issue for me). And, although this was not a goal, through the changes to my diet, I have been losing a little weight easily without feeling at all hungry. The food recommendations have definitely helped my general health. Finally, the chronic back pain of 14 years is beginning to dissipate, thank to the treatments of Devin Wu, who started to work on this issue three weeks ago.

Thank you Dr. Angela Wu, Devin Wu, and staff for your excellent work!

LTF

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February 26, 2007

Dear Angela,

We are writing this letter to thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts for your help in successfully getting pregnant with our second child.

As you know, we previously had two early miscarriages, so we went to a fertility clinic. After the doctor’s examination, he told us that all signs indicated that our chances for successfully having our own baby, even with IVF, were extremely low.

Shortly thereafter, we heard about your fertility clinic from a friend. Our friend said she knew of another couple in a similar situation whom you successfully helped. We decided to give it a try, although our hopes were still low and guarded.

Five months later, we were pregnant (naturally). Even more significant, this pregnancy has lasted, and we are now in the third trimester, expecting a successful birth very soon. This result has indeed overcome the difficult odds given by the medical doctor.

In addition, as an added bonus when we started our treatment at your clinic, James had a bad case of sciatica, which had so far lasted for several months. The sciatica gave him constant pain, and he was taking multiple ibuprofen tabs a day to deal with it. After several sessions at your clinic, his sciatica pain went away such that no ibuprofen was needed.

Again, we thank you so very much. We look forward to sending you a picture of our baby after she is born.

With many thanks,
Mimi Wong and James Okamoto

Update: Mimi and James delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl in April 2007.

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October 10, 2006

It is difficult to believe what we don’t understand. I think this is part of the reason why many believe more in Western Medicine rather than the power of Eastern Healing Methods. In my quest to become pregnant, I can honestly say that I am a true believer in Eastern Medicine and its healing techniques.

In 2004, my husband and I decided that we wanted to have a child. I, being a banking consultant traveling from San Francisco to New York every week, decided it was best to run some tests to give myself peace of mind that my husband and I were fertile and able to conceive. My husband’s sperm analysis came back normal. Unfortunately for me, my doctor sat me down and told me that my FSH was borderline (11.1) and that I would probably never conceive and I would have a slim chance of ever conceiving even if I tried IVF. I was 36 years old at the time. I was devastated. My husband and I had not even tried to conceive yet and we were given this grim news.

I quickly got online and did some research on acupuncture and fertility. Immediately, Dr. Wu’s name appeared before me on my computer screen. The testimonies I found throughout my web research were enough to convince me to pick up the phone and call Wu’s Healing Center.

On my first visit to Wu’s Healing Center, I didn’t have much hope. I explained to Dr. Wu my FSH problem and also informed her that my doctor had prescribed Clomid as a “shot in the dark”. Dr. Wu looked at my tongue and checked my pulses. She advised me not to take the Clomid and assured me that I would be able to conceive naturally if I followed her program. She said this with such conviction, that I truly believed in her and I did not take the prescribed Clomid. I religiously followed her recommended diet, moxabustion twice a day, and I took the herbs she prescribed. I also stopped flying and talking on my cell phone constantly. I had weekly appointments for acupuncture, meridian acupressure and cupping Two weeks later, Dr. Wu asked me if I had taken a pregnancy test. I thought she was kidding. I told her no, as I was confident I was not pregnant. She told me to go home and take a pregnancy test. To my surprise, IT WAS POSITIVE! How did she know? My husband and I were shocked and excited by the wonderful news! Then, the “journey” began.

When I was 12 weeks pregnant, I had a Nuchal Translucency test to screen for chromosome problems. The screening indicated that our baby had a 1 in 17 chance of having Down Syndrome [Trisomy 21]. My husband and I were devastated. We opted to have a CVS test performed the next day, as this test is 99% accurate in testing for chromosome problems. We had to wait 7 days for our results. During the long, stressful 7-day wait, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Wu. When I got to her office, I broke down and could hardly explain the situation to Dr. Wu. She calmly took me into her office and gave me some calming herbs. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “Your baby is fine. It does not have any chromosome problems.” She then gave me her personal cell phone number and told me to call her and give her the “good news” once my test results were in. Dr. Wu was correct. Our long awaited CVS results came back indicating that our baby was perfectly healthy and that our baby did not have any chromosome problems. I called Dr. Wu with the good news. She was not surprised with the news. Again, how did she know?

We were not out of the woods yet. Because we had a high Nuchal screening test, statistically there could be still be a problem with our baby’s heart or other organs. Again, I went to Dr. Wu in tears. Again, she calmed me down and looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Your baby is fine.” She said she knew this from my pulses. We had an EKG on our baby’s heart and at 20 weeks we had a full scan of all the organs to ensure that there were no issues. Again, Dr. Wu was correct. We were relieved to know that our baby was healthy and there were no problems with any of our baby’s organs.

Despite the questionable results from our screening test, I had a wonderful pregnancy, free of sickness, illness, and exhaustion. I was energized, healthy and extremely grateful. On July 4th, 2005m our daughter Sophia Christine was born! She is beautiful and healthy. We are so fortunate!

Additionally, after Sophia was born, I continued to experience other healing with the assistance of Dr. Wu. During Sophia’s delivery, I developed severe pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was dangerously high. After the delivery, my blood pressure remained on the higher side. Dr. Wu treated my blood pressure with acupuncture and healing sounds and was able to get my blood pressure down from 124/90 to 104/68. My blood pressure has stabilized and is now under control. Again, I can thank Dr. Wu and Eastern medicine.

My belief in Dr. Wu and in Eastern medicine only grows stronger over time. Recently, my husband and I decided that we would like to have another baby. I decided that I had better run some fertility tests to understand my current situation. I was concerned that my FSH level would only be higher than it was in 2004 as I am now 2 years older (age 38). It is also rare that FSH levels go down after time, as they usually only get worse (go up) as you get older. Dr. Wu assured me that my FSH should be much lower now as I have been seeing her weekly for the past 2 years. I have continued to eat the recommended foods per her advice. My ER told me that if my FSH came back higher than it was 2 years ago, he couldn’t help me get pregnant. He told me that I would not even have a good chance of conceiving with IVF. I informed my ER that I was stills seeing Dr. Wu, taking her herbs and following her recommended diet. My ER stated that he would be extremely surprised if my FSH came back lower 2 years later. Against medical odds, my FSH results came back with an FSH of 7.6. It dropped 4.5 points! My ER was amazed and stated, “There must be something to Dr. Wu’s work.” My husband and I are again grateful that we found Dr. Wu and we are confident that we will be able to work successfully with Dr. Wu on conceiving baby number two!

Through our pregnancy “journey”, Dr. Wu has been our partner. She has been there for us medically, emotionally, and spiritually, and she has been a good friend. We are so blessed to have found Dr. Wu. She has truly mastered the practice of Eastern medicine and has an incredible intuition.

As I stated before, it is difficult to believe in something you don’t understand. I can only speak from my experiences and I fully believe in the power of Eastern medicine as I believe in Dr. Wu. I don’t fully understand how Eastern medicine works, especially in the fertility arena. As we all know, fertility as many unknowns. Is it difficult to treat and it is difficult to become successful in many cases. I can confidently say that a Western doctor told me that I would never get pregnant and with the help of Dr. Wu, I was pregnant 2 weeks later. I delivered a healthy little girl. In my quest to learn more about Eastern medicine so that I can better understand how it has helped me and how to help myself in the future, I have read Dr. Wu’s Fertility Wisdom. Eastern medicine is complex; Fertility Wisdom explains the practice of Eastern medicine in understandable terms. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in how traditional Chinese medicine can help overcome infertility. I also highly recommend Dr. Wu and Wu’s Healing Center. I can not say enough about the practice as they have helped me give my husband and me the most precious thing in life – they have given us a precious life – our daughter. For this we are so grateful.

Linda White

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August 2004

With Reed’s low sperm count of only 5 million per mL, sperm motility at less than 35% and 98% abnormal sperm (normal values are 20 million+ sperm per mL, greater than 50% motility and less than 40% abnormal sperm), fertility specialists told Susan, 27 and Reed, 36, that their chances of conceiving naturally were very poor. Intra-uterine insemination and possible in-vitro fertilization were recommended as their best options for conception. Deciding to give acupuncture a try before they opted for more conventional Western treatment, Susan and Reed found themselves in Dr. Wu’s waiting room on March 22, 2004. Deciding upon a weekly course of acupuncture, organ and meridian acupressure for Susan and organ and meridian acupressure for Reed, as well as herbs for both, Dr Wu recommended 6 once a week visits to start. But it only took 5 visits, however, before Susan was pregnant! Reed had his semen analysis checked again and discovered that 5 treatments with Dr. Wu had resulted in a sperm count of 22 million per mL, 65% motility and less than 30% abnormal sperm. The baby is due in late January, 2005.

Anonymous

"I have apprenticed myself to the world's best instructors, read volumes, memorized every lesson, and tested my skills against the brightest minds," the student replied. "I know the laws of nature, man, and the universe. What can I learn from you -- an old hermit?"

As the student spoke, the teacher poured...and poured...and poured...until the tea overflowed onto the table, then the floor.

"Stop!" cried the student. "Can't you see that the tea is overflowing?"

"Yes, I see," said the sage, "that I cannot serve you, because your cup is already full."