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Every day in the clinic I balance on this fine line between scientist and total hippie weirdo

I like it that way. One of the most beautiful things about Chinese medicine is how it holds space for the “both and’.

Channel theory is one of the cornerstones of Chinese medicine, describing how Qi moves through our bodies, nourishes us, and drives every function in our organs and cells. Networks of channels, like river systems, deliver life-giving energy to every corner of our being. One such of these channels, which is essential to menstruation, fertility, and pregnancy, is the Bao Mai.

What is the Bao Mai?

The Bao Mai is a meridian which links the heart and the uterus, allowing them to communicate with each other. In Chinese, Bao (胞) refers to the uterus and Mai (脈) refers to a meridian or channel. In order for there to be regular menstrual cycles, successful conception, healthy pregnancies and births, the Bao Mai needs to facilitate a smooth conversation between these two systems.

Conception necessitates regular menstrual cycles. After all, if you’re not ovulating, there’s nothing to fertilize. If you’re not getting periods, you can’t very well get your menstrual cycle started in the first place. Chinese medicine theory says that sufficient Heart Qi has to properly descend to the uterus so that it can open and ovulation to take place (or the period for that matter). If that Heart Qi isn’t enough, or not moving properly, it can’t go down and ovulation or a period never happens.  Or if there is too much heat in the heart, caused by that stagnant Qi, it can enter the Bao Mai and cause the uterus to open too early, resulting in too early ovulation, periods, or even pregnancy loss. Have you ever been sick, travelled or so stressed out to the point that your period was really early, really late or you even missed a period? That would be an example of how heat or stagnation can impair the function of the Bao Mai.

The Bao Mai and Reproductive Health

As Chinese medicine sees it, reproductive health hinges heavily on a smooth Qi flow in the Bao Mai so it can open and close properly, allow out what needs to be discharged, and contain what is precious and needs to be held. Of course, the scientist in me can just relate this to how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland talk to the uterus and ovaries via hormone signaling, but the hippie weirdo in me prefers to speak to it in terms of energy helping to open or contain via this amazing channel called the Bao Mai. There’s that ‘both and’ at work.

In the clinic, the Bao Mai is one of my main focuses. Where someone is just trying to regulate their cycles, I’m working to ensure Heart Qi can smoothly descend at the right time while eliminating any factors preventing that. Equally with fertility I’m doing the same thing, whether someone is trying to conceive on their own or through medicated cycles with or without IUI and IVF. Once the implantation window has passed, or the embryo transfer is done, my work changes to keeping that heart energy calm and serene so that the Bao Mai will stay closed and contain what is within.

Do any of these reproductive health issues sound familiar to you? Give us a call or set up a consult online and let’s talk about how we can help you. I’ll put on my science hat or my hippie hat, whichever you like.

 

Molly Kubinski, L.Ac.

 

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