What is the Berkley Method?

The Berkley Method represents an integrative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of the infertile patient.

This is unique within the community of most acupuncturists treating infertility.

Most acupuncturists in the U.S. diagnose and treat strictly from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. While this method of treatment is rather romantic it does not represent an East meets West approach to care which is the standard currently used in China.

The East meets West approach is the more scientific approach; one which combines traditional Chinese medical applications such as acupuncture and herbal medicine along with scientific and medical approaches to care. For example, we are one of the few acupuncture centers that knows how to utilize herbal medicine in conjunction with clomid or gonadotropins and other medications such as dexamethasone, Lupron, Antigon, Tamoxofin, Letrazole, Naltrexone, etc. We also have extensive knowledge in treating disorders of pregnancy with herbal medicine such as sub chorionic hematoma and placenta previa. Most practitioners are not comfortable treating pregnant patients with herbal medicine because of their lack of clinical experience with herbs. We have saved many impending miscarriages with the use of herbs.

Integrative means that we combine both Western medical findings and traditional Chinese medicine findings when performing a diagnostic evaluation and creating a treatment plan. For example, a patient with endometriosis will be treated very differently than a patient with PCOS. A patient with high FSH will get very different treatment than one with high LH. A patient with low estrogen levels will get treated very differently than a patient with low FSH. These distinctions are very important when diagnosing and treating patients. You’ll want to know if your acupuncturist can make these distinctions and treat based upon them.

We are one of the few if not the only acupuncture center in NY that treats in this manner. We request and review the semen analysis, day 3 blood work, and thryroid findings. We also request testing for immunological factors and blood clotting (thrombophilic disorders) when necessary. We also request testing in some cases which may reveal a ‘hidden’ pathology of sperm which the typical semen analysis does not do.

We are probably the only acupuncture center that knows when to request certain tests and importantly how to interpret the results of these tests.

We are also the only fertility acupuncture center in Manhattan that has a Board of Advisors composed of some of the finest reproductive endocrinologists in NY State ( see our website to view our Board of Advisors).

The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness is the first acupuncture fertility center in New York City to specialize in infertility treatment. As the leader in our field we feel that we have learned to successfully integrate ancient and modern medicine. This gives our patients the best environment for care with the greatest chance of pregnancy and live births. We strongly believe that the best outcome for successful pregnancy and live birth is to be treated by a reproductive endocrinologist as well as an acupuncturist/herbalist who truly specializes in this field.

We are pleased to offer free mini consultations so that your questions may be answered and your concerns addressed. Bring in your reproductive medical findings and be prepared to have an active, interesting and informative conversation about your case. Hopefully, at the end of this lively dialogue you will have a lot more information than you had before you came in. This consultation in no way obligates you to be under our care. We offer this free mini consultation to help you make an informed decision when choosing your acupuncturist. In fact, you should have at least three FREE consultations with three separate practitioners – this way you can really have an informed opinion as to which practitioner is most suited to meet your needs.

We maintain relationships with many fantastic reproductive endocrinologists such as Drs. Alan Copperman, Tanmoy Mukherjee, Dan Stein, Dan Levine, Joel Batzofin, Glen Schattman, Robert Kiltz, Owen Davis, Sami David, Jonathan Scher, and many others.

These relationships make it easier for us to coordinate care with your reproductive endocrinologist providing you with a well rounded and highly coordinated patient centric-approach to care.

You should also know that we are available 24/7/365 for pre and post embryo transfer acupuncture treatment.

We are the first and the most experienced acupuncture clinic specializing in the field of oriental reproductive medicine in the United States.

Call us for excellence in care. 212-685-0985

Infertility, Endometriosis, Pain Management

Changes in my Acupuncture Protocol


After 13 years of study and clinical experience in treating infertility I have refined my approach to treating patients with acupuncture.
Previously I had always treated patients lying on their backs facing upwards.

Now I treat with three successive protocols: 1)Patient is on back facing upwards; 2) Next visit the patient is on his/her side and I needle the front and back simultaneously; 3) 3rd visit, I treat the patient face down and use acupuncture points on the back only.

This multi-faceted approach allows me to access many important acupuncture points on the body and potentially improve efficacy.

For those of you who are acupuncturists, I am using front mu points, back shu points and points of the 8 extra meridians as well as points which are appropriate for the pattern of disharmony being addressed.

I am starting to see good results with this new appropach.

Endometriosis

Recently, I have added endometriosis as a disease which I am treating.

Treatment is geared towards ameliorating pain AFTER a laparoscopy is performed; potentially slowing down it's re-growth after a laparoscopy by potentially regulating and stabilizing the immune function of the endometrium (for REI's: reduction of MMP's and aromatase IN THE uterine cavity. This is obviously experimental, but if success is manifest then many will be helped - if not, then I will strictly deal with pain management).

So, endometriosis patients are welcome!

Meditation & Pain Management

Lastly, we just completed our second Joanne Verkuilen, Fertility Meditation and everyone loved it! Thanks Joanne for a great job! Joanne is the Co-Founder of Circle+Bloom an incredible organization.

Oh...one more thing, I have hired two excellent acupuncturists whose expertise is in pain management. So, if you, a friend, or a loved one suffers with headache, back-pain, neck-pain, arthritis, etc., have them call Abbey Fromkin, L.Ac. or Jeff Wolf at The Berkley Center they will receive excellent care.

Ciao for now!