PART 1: OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS OPTIMAL HEALTH BEFORE CONCEIVING
The concept of cultivating Inherited and Acquired Jing-Essence prior to conception:
When my husband and I decided to embark on the journey to start a family, our health became a paramount focus. Nearing the end of an intense graduate program and years of rigorous clinical work, my vitality felt diminished. As I began to examine my health, an essential theory from East Asian Medicine became my guiding motivation: Jing-Essence.
Rooted in East Asian Medicine, the theory of Jing-Essence is two-fold. The first is that we inherit essence from our parents upon conception: Inherited Jing. Second, as we move through life, we harness and access another type of essence determined by our lifestyle and well-being: Acquired Jing. Inherited Jing-Essence is like our inherent constitution, while the Acquired Jing-Essence reflects our life choices and behaviors. The aim is to cultivate our Acquired Jing-Essence essence while preserving the inherited and finite Inherited Jing-Essence.
With the backdrop of East Asian Medicine, I also pondered numerous other health considerations such as the function of my "organs," the health of my husband, our surroundings, our diet, and more. However, my primary focus gravitated toward my Jing-Essence, particularly after years of feeling depleted.
I felt determined to protect my Inherited Jing-Essence, acutely aware it is a finite resource, and to do all that I could to strengthen my Acquired Jing-Essence. I felt resolute to give my child as robust Inherited Jing-Essence as possible, firmly believing my choices and health status pre and post-conception would set the course of my child’s life.
I decided to leverage the tools, expertise, and wisdom of East Asian Medicine as my primary approach to affect and achieve more robust health before conceiving a child. I worked with my healthcare team to address, with the goal to resolve, my lingering health concerns, replete my well-being, and acquire jing-essence. It is important to note, I was already taking care of my health in most of the ways I share below; I “upped the ante” about three-four months prior to when I thought we would begin trying to conceive.
Acupuncture: Collaborating with my licensed Acupuncturist, I aimed to address musculoskeletal challenges such as neck pain, headaches, and wrist discomfort. He helped me comprehensively care for my physical, mental, and emotional health on a regular cadence, too.
Herbal Medicine: My primary herbal goals were to reduce chronic fluid retention, vigorously replenish my Acquired Jing-Essence, and support my menstruation/reproductive processes. We took full advantage of being able to customize formulations and ingredients specific to my needs and as we came closer to starting to try, she could preemptively adapt treatment strategies and the formulation, if conception occurred while taking herbs. (In this case, my licensed Herbalist was a different practitioner than my Acupuncturist.)
Dietary Adjustments: We leaned into a nutrient-rich diet, emphasizing nourishing foods, those in line with my constitution, and primarily warm meals. My husband, the primary chef in our household, and I focused on choices like bone broths and horsegram. Regular and wholesome meals became a staple for me.
Lifestyle Choices: Recognizing my depleted state, I incorporated daily nature walks, especially at the Arboretum, into my routine. Yoga practices, though self-guided due to a tight schedule, played a part. Emphasizing sleep and stress management, especially during my academic endeavors, became crucial. Furthermore, I consulted with my OBGYN Doctor and enrolled in personal training to further support my musculoskeletal concerns.
Collaboration with My Partner: Preparing for a child isn't a solo endeavor. I felt incredibly supported by my husband's proactive stance and participation in his own self-care. He too harnessed East Asian Medicine, ensuring a collective effort towards our shared goal.
For those considering a similar journey, it may seem daunting. But remember, many of these practices were already part of my life. I merely honed them with a clearer goal in mind. East Asian Medicine's inherent adaptability and deep-seated wisdom can help tailor your efforts effectively.
When the moment arrived for us to take the leap into parenthood, we felt fortified: physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you're charting out your health journey or contemplating parenthood, small adjustments can make a significant difference. Seek expert guidance, and embrace patience.
Additional Thoughts 11/12/23: I recently was listening to a podcast and the conversation discussed how our bodies are made to carry a child, even if the ability to conceive is a challenge, and that preparing our lives for pregnancy and a child is very important and often not discussed. This got me thinking about this blog post. In this post I set out to share my thoughts and approach related to Jing/Essence...With this helpful reminder of preparing not just our bodies (I also took food-based Prenatal Vitamins for about a year leading up to trying to conceive), I prepared my mind with knowledge. I did primarily focus on pregnancy and labor in my knowledge quest, however, my husband and I did explore how our values, ideals, nutrition, etc. would shape how we parent together and what is most important to us. For knowledge here are the 3 resources I found most informative and empowering: 1. friends' experiences; 2. "Expecting Better" and "Crib Sheet" by Emily Oster, and 3. Breast & Bottle Feeding Classes at Babies in Common.
Curious about how you can leverage East Asian Medicine to support your health goals, reproductive or otherwise? Schedule a free Meet & Greet with me to learn how I can support you with East Asian Medicine.
Rachel Burack is a licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist in the State of MA & NH and Registered Yoga Teacher. She is trained to support you by leveraging the full scope of practice and wisdom of East Asian Medicine. She provides compassionate, personalized, and collaborative care in Dedham, MA and via Telehealth. Learn more about Rachel.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Labor, Delivery, & Postpartum Strategies & Recovery