Testimonials
Testimonail 1
A life without Noah.
When you start the fertility journey with respected and recognised doctors you never once doubt that you could still remain childless. The doctors are professional, they tell you the process and procedures involved, they tell you it may take time.
What they don’t tell you is the emotional strain, the relationship challenges and the pain of failure when a cycle cannot be completed or the cycle is unsuccessful. Nothing can prepare you for that news, it leaves you feeling empty and broken.
After 2 years and 12 fertility treatments came the news that nothing further could help us become parents. Life becomes harder to bear and emotions even harder to express.
But it is through the failure of the Western methods that you start to explore the world of options.
There are many methods and guru’s promising fertility success but only Shen Therapies promotes and focuses on the couples health and well being.
After all the loss and hardships it was a rough road to start again. With the assistance of Dr Andrew Orr, his amazing staff and Chinese herbs we were able to first rebuild our health and then focus on fertility.
Shen educated us that the individual must first be strong and healthy in both body and mind. That health is more than just your body weight, your height and your hormone results, it’s all about your peace of mind and well being.
Through the Shen Therapies methods of diet, lifestyle and herbal therapy, we were able to achieve wellness, which lead to healthy fertility. Within 8 weeks of the Shen program we were confirmed pregnant.
Thanks to Shen, we had an amazing fertility journey which brought us our greatest dream of our child Noah, a 7 pound beautiful healthy baby boy.
Without Shen, life would be without Noah.
Katrina & Chris
Testimonail 2
I originally came to see Andrew in February 2004 to help my husband and I fall pregnant. We had only started trying 6 months previous but had already been down the beginning of the assisted fertility track – several attempts at timed injections and 4 attempts at artificial insemination. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy journey, having moderately severe endometriosis which was diagnosed in 1997. I had horribly painful periods and was in a great deal of pain a lot of the time, really 3 out of 4 weeks a month. I had had 7 laparoscopies by this stage and had been on clomid for 6 months. I had over the years been on all of the various drugs they can prescribe for endometriosis but none had done anything for the disease but give me horrible and lasting side effects.
I also have irritable bowel syndrome, mild asthma, reflux, allergic rhinitis and a host of allergies. I would get every cold going around but suffer it worse than most and get infections in odd places in and on my body. Andrew really had his work cut out for him. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy treatment regime and it took almost 9 months before I felt well and my pain under control for the endometriosis. At the 12 months mark things started to turn around health wise and felt a lot better.
I had gained a lot of weight due to my treatment for endometriosis over the years and also due to bad habits. Andrew suggested going on the Keto system diet in 2005 which my husband and I did, me loosing 13kg and my husband 10kg. We were able to keep the weight off successfully. After loosing the weight I felt a lot better again but we had started the IVF journey which was proving to be a very difficult journey to undertake. I had varied reactions to the drugs for each IVF cycle we did, nearly hyper stimulating each cycle and was also diagnosed with poly cystic ovaries. This came as shock; I couldn’t understand why this hadn’t been picked up on before. Andrew kept reassuring me that I just need to be patient and stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle and I will fall pregnant on my own. I wasn’t a believer and became quite blue after each failed attempt but sort great comfort and relief in coming to Shen Therapies for treatment and support.
In 2007 and after another 3 laparoscopies, so 10 in total by this stage and 6 IVF full cycles and countless frozen transfers we were still not pregnant. We were referred by my current gynae/fertility/obstetrician to another fertility specialist for a second opinion as he was at a loss as to what to do with us. We sought the second opinion but decided not to continue treatment as we had finally had enough and couldn’t cope emotionally with another failed cycle. This was in June, by the beginning of October I started to feel sick and my period was late. This was no revelation, having PCO my cycles were all over the place anyway. Just as a precaution hoping that nothing was amiss, went to GP who did a pregnancy test but this was negative and was told it was just my ovaries playing up and symptoms were due to hormonal imbalance. A week later still felt awful so did a test at home and to my absolute shock was positive. Went to the GP who did another and this was also positive. We had a date scan done and I was almost 8 weeks pregnant. What a little miracle, this wasn’t an assisted fertility baby. He happened all on his own!!
I had a great pregnancy, mild morning sickness which Andrew successfully treated. I felt wonderful and on cloud nine the whole nine months. I saw Andrew to start the natural induction process at 36 weeks which got my baby to drop instantly. I came back at 37 weeks for another treatment and was in labour within 30 hours of that second treatment. My contractions weren’t painful really but more uncomfortable than anything and we lasted at home until they were 5 minutes apart. At the hospital they examined me and I was only 1 cm dilated so the obstetrician broke my waters and left. But my baby was in a hurry to say hello and immediately after my waters being broken the pain was intense. We asked for an epidural and were going to have pethidine in the meantime but my baby just couldn’t wait for either and within 10 minutes of getting on to the bed for an examination he came. So I gave birth to my son within 1 ¼ hrs thanks to the great work of the Wesley Hospital midwives. I felt great, had a small tear but no stitches and didn’t have the after effects of any drugs. My baby was just on 6lb but was healthy and passed the APGAR with flying colours.
I attribute my health, pregnancy and birthing experience all to my treatments that I had been receiving over the years from Andrew. I wished that I had found Shen Therapies many years before, may have saved my sanity as well as my health and bank account from having surgery and having to take nasty medications. I suffered intensely with my endometriosis and had tried all the medical treatments offered with no relief, that was until I stuck it out with Chinese Remedial Therapy. The relief wasn’t instant but once it had happened I haven’t looked back and hope that we can be blessed again with another baby or two!
Mia Bowen
Testimonial 3
Hi Andrew, Nicole and the Shen Therapies Team,
This is my story of how you have helped our family…
Due to my medical history, when my Husband and I got serious about starting a family, I was infertile and we needed help. So I saw a Gynaecologist, started fertility treatment and after a few unsuccessful treatments I felt wrecked (physically and emotionally), my Husband felt helpless and our hopes of having a baby were getting further from our reach.
Around this time we saw a segment on television about Shen Therapies. The stories that we heard really hit home and the holistic treatment philosophy made sense. Straight away, we decided to take a break from Western Medicine and start fertility treatment at Shen Therapies. This was a decision that changed our lives.
Within weeks of my first appointment I’d gained a new Gynaecologist (who was determined to help me and my husband conceive), a Psychologist (who helped me get through the emotional aspects of infertility), a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (who really knew their stuff when it came to fertility (that’s Andrew, of course)) and the support of the other members of the Shen Therapies Team.
Over the following months I underwent cycles of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and had regular treatments at Shen Therapies to enhance the effectiveness of the IUI/IVF. It was an emotional rollercoaster. The high hopes of a potential pregnancy, the stressful wait for results and the overwhelming disappointment of an unsuccessful cycle. It was also physically taxing.
Having treatments at Shen Therapies helped to ease the rollercoaster ride. I looked forward to my appointments as they were relaxing and helped me to feel grounded, balanced and refreshed. And, if I’d been experiencing physical side effects leading up to my Shen treatments a few carefully placed acupuncture pins would relieve these too.
We count our blessing that it only took 6 months after my first appointment at Shen Therapies to have a successful IVF cycle. This pregnancy was such a precious gift that I continued having regular treatments at Shen to safeguard my and our unborn child’s health and wellbeing. And safeguard it did. I had an uncomplicated pregnancy, a natural labour and a healthy baby girl.
Our little girl is almost a year old and everyday we are grateful for our daughter and appreciative to the medical professionals who helped her come to be. Thank you Shen Therapies, your care has changed our lives for the better!
Love from Chantelle, Justyn and Olivia
Testimonial 4
Hello Andrew & Nicole,
We'd like to thank you for the care and support when we were desperately trying for a baby. Times were very different then when things sometimes looked reasonably pessimistic. Here is the fruit of our combined efforts, young Sophie who on July 28th will be 6 months old.
Thanks again from Osaka,
Lee Chang & Machiko
Testimonial 5
I was introduced to Andrew Orr and Shen Therapies through a Brisbane based friend of mine after having a miscarriage four years ago.
I live in Sydney and contacted Andrew via email having read his website and the information posted on the site. Andrew responded to me immediately and sent through a questionnaire for me to complete. Once this was completed and we had held a few telephone discussions, Andrew would send me herbs in the post for me to take. Following a three week course of herbs I became pregnant again (which hadn't really been my problem) and continued with some other herbs briefly into my pregnancy. This is what I believe assisted me in having a very healthy, full term 4.4kg little boy. For me, personally, I was even mentally feeling positive undergoing the course of herbs as I felt I was doing something positive and natural to assist my body in carrying a baby full term. Andrew concentrates on getting your cycle/health into the right condition.
When the time came for us to try for our second child I thought we might be able to just go ahead and do it. This unfortunately was not to be and I suffered another two miscarriages within 7 months.
Again, I sought the help of Andrew.... who remembered me from two years previous. Again, he has helped us and I am currently 6 months pregnant, having a wonderful pregnancy. This child is due two days prior to my 40th birthday!
Apart from the knowledge and expertise in the areas of TCM and acupuncture, Andrew is just a pleasure to deal with. Many a time Andrew has phoned me in Sydney with a response to my email and he always takes time to answer my questions, following up with an email. After our conversations, I always feel very calm, reassured and nurtured.
I was so impressed with Andrew during my first pregnancy that we went quite a bit out of our way to pay a visit to the Brisbane practice whilst on holiday a couple of years ago. I wanted to meet Andrew and his team who were so helpful and interested in my progress. I was greeted by a kiss on the cheek, which after our many phone calls was very natural. Andrew and Nicole are such warm, genuine and loving people, you instantly feel comfortable. I have a lovely massage and a terrific acupuncture session (I was pregnant at the time).
Recently, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and I again contacted Andrew in relation to TCM and acupuncture to assist with this condition. Andrew provided me with lots of information and experts to see in Sydney to which I took my parents. They have been most helpful and we are looking forward to seeing an improvement in his overall well being in the coming months due to acupuncture and extra vitamins etc.
I have recommended Andrew to many friends, particularly women facing fertility issues and they would all agree to the above.
I cannot recommend Shen Therapies highly enough. It gives me great pleasure to provide this testimonial.
Lynda Lynch
Testimonial 6
Hi Andrew
My name is Matt Rees, I'm Debra's husband....a VERY happy husband at that.....
I just want to thank you so much for your advice to Debra and myself and the Herbs.....whatever they were and whatever was in them obviously did something!!!!
You are a legend. Thankyou so much, as you can gather we are totally blown away and over the moon about all of this because it was totally unexpected....we thought we would have to go through this for a while before we saw any results.....
Once again Andrew, I can't thank you enough for your help and advice over the past few months....I'm sure Debra will stay in contact with you anyway but thanks again.
If you are doing what you did for us with other couples trying to conceive and its working, then you deserve a medal.
Matt Rees
Testimonial 7
I started seeing Andrew and his team due to a number of reasons. I had recently been diagnosed with Post Natal Depression (PND) (1 1/2 years after the birth of my son). I also had Polycyctic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as well as wheat and gluten allergies.
I sought help from dieticians, obstetricians, gynaecologists, GP's and naturopaths without any success. Each of the specialists treated each issue individually. However, I knew that in order for me to fall pregnant I needed to look at all the symptoms I was experiencing, not to mention the emotional issues that were causing my body not to heal. Andrew was the only one who looked at all the symptoms both individually and as a whole. He helped me truly heal the real cause of the problems.
After only a few treatments I no longer felt the need to see my PND councillor. i started feeling more energetic, positive and not to mention emotionally and mentally at peace. By the 5th treatment I was pregnant!
Before I went to Shen Therapies I was desperate. I felt I had tried a variety of avenues but none of the specialists I saw seemed to want to truly help me. It was like they didn't really have the time to care. I was at a loss, confused and almost ready to give up. Thank goodness someone told me about Andrew and Shen Therapies. Now I can't wait till my next appointment and really look forward to sharing my pregnancy journey with them all. I know my growing baby and I will be well looked after thanks to the expertise of Andrew and his awesome team.
Joanna
Testimonial 8
Hi Andrew/Nicole
Just thought I would send you a quick email to let u know that I came from the doctors yesterday and it is confirmed. We are 6 weeks PREGNANT.
I am not due to come in for my next appointment until mid October so I thought I would just send you a quick email in case there were some herbs that you think I should start taking that you could possibly charge to my card and pop in the post.
We are VERY HAPPY. Just would like to say a HUGE THANKS, you have assisted in making our dreams come true.
See you in a couple of weeks.
Yours in Trophies
Nicky G
Testimonial 9
Hi Andrew,
Thought you might like to add this success to your statistics!
I came to see you on July 6 to try to get labour started. I left your rooms at 4.30pm and labour started at 10.30pm.
Sophia flew into the world after 2 hours labour! So thanks for that little bit of help needed to get things underway.
Gina Blackberry
Testimonial 10
To Andrew, Nicole and Staff.
I am writing this to you to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU! I have been trying to conceive for approximately 3 years now and I must say with my age creeping ever upwards I was beginning to think it was never going to happen for me.
I first started with fertility treatments almost 18 months – 2 years ago, and after numerous tests and treatments month after month my journey was going nowhere. Then IVF was suggested and we began this treatment. During this time I ended up in hospital very sick and the emotional rollercoaster ride I was on was almost unbearable.
Then one evening I had a conversations with a close friend whom was singing your praises, I took your number from her and put it in my purse. I went through a further 2 embryo transfers which both came to nothing. My husband begged for me to take a break from all this and I agreed only to turn around and call you.
This call changed my life.
After my initial appointment with you I came home and cried. I felt inadequate as a person unable to even do something as simple as eat the right food. But I took your advice and decided I would do everything you said even if it killed me. Thankfully it didn’t and slowly but surely my weight started to decrease and I felt a lot better within myself. I came to your rooms every 2 weeks and after only about 3 or 4 visits to yourself and taking on and adhering to all your advise not only was I finally ovulating on my own but I was able to conceive in this timeframe also.
I have been singing your praises and I encourage everyone I know going through similar journeys as my own to contact you. I thank you and I will be forever eternally grateful for what you have been able to help me achieve.
Thanking you forever
Julia De Rosa
Testimonial 11
Hi Andrew
I received your newsletter in the mail today and I remembered I had not let you know how things went after my two appointments with you for a natual induction.
I saw you on the Thursday 26th and Friday 27th May. I got my first labour pains on Saturday night. Our beautiful daughter Claire was born 11 weeks ago on Sunday 29th (10 days overdue). I was booked in for a medical induction at the hospital on Monday morning, so Claire arrived just in time.
It was a relatively easy labour (so I'm told). But even from my inexperienced perspective, I didn't need any pain-relief drugs and the whole birth was certainly was better than I had imagined.
I had been doing Pregnancy Yoga with Meredyth Sauer which I think also helped to relax me. It was Meredyth who told me about you when I became overdue.
So thank you very much. Please keep me on your distribution lists for the newsletter as I find it very interesting.
Julie
Testimonial 12
Hi Andrew,
We met in February for my induction... well two of them as the first one didn't work! I can't remember if I had thanked you... So thank you!!!
The evening of the second induction I went into labour and had our first son, Thoran the next day. The labour was very intense, and I had regular strong contractions about 4 min apart within the first 30 min! I got to 8-9cm dilated within 4-5 hours. All went very well at the birth centre, but ended up having a caesar (after all that effort to have a natural birth!). The boy was coming through just slightly crooked, but it may have had more to do with the size of his head compared to my pelvis... he got stuck before entering the birth canal, and didn't move after a couple of hour of pushing.
Our baby is incredibly gorgeous (of course!!) and very healthy as we have not used traditional vaccinations. I've attatched a couple of photos for you!!
I have since recommended you to other pregnant ladies, but neither came to see you.... they went on the drip instead! I couldn't imagine that!!
Thanks again,
Lisa and Gordon and Thoran Brough
Testimonial 13
Hi there
Just thought I’d let you know that I am now 15 weeks pregnant and so far everything seems fine. As expected, as soon as we moved to Perth and got a few details such as a house and job out of the way, everything else fell into place. So thank you for all your help in getting things going.
I am planning a trip to Brisbane in October and hopefully will come in for a treatment while I am there – there clinics here just don’t compare.
Thanks again
Siobhain Williamson
Testimonial 14
All my life, I have assumed that one day I will have children. With a busy career, I didn't meet my husband until my early 30's, so we were already fighting the age war.
Once the wedding was over, we embarked on creating our own family, without any luck. The first hurdle we faced was finding out that my husband had a very low sperm count and the only way we would conceive is via IVF. We were devastated. We are both very fit and healthy people, so why could this happen to us? I was soon to find out that there are many aspects of your being that effect your physical body.
Being an emotional person, I found IVF very difficult. I came to Andrew after our first failed attempt at IVF. I was reluctant at first, mainly to do with the amount of money it costs on top of all the IVF fees incurred. Shouldn't the fertility specialist be able to make this happen, without needing help from others? As time ticks away and one becomes quite desperate, I dragged my husband along to see Andrew. Being very practical people, we both immediately related to Andrew and his processes, due to all the research and information that he had available. Andrew also knows all the fertility doctors and everyone related to the industry so it was very easy to share information and ask his opinion. Not only is he practical, he also provided me with so much emotional support during the process. After being through the cold doctors, their support staff ,scientists and hospitals, I found that the only person who really understood me and what I was going through was Andrew.
After the second failed attempt we changed fertility doctors, had a laparoscopy (with mild endometriosis) and fell pregnant first attempt with the new doctor! From my experience, I do believe that your emotional mind has a lot of control and effect over your body, and how important it is to lead a healthy, well balanced life, surrounded by positive people.
Since falling pregnant, I have been seeing Andrew for pregnancy maintenance, as I have grown quite attached to Andrew and his team and have found that Andrew is a miracle worker and can fix anything from morning sickness to back pain!
I cannot thank Andrew more for his time and patience with me, as without him, I would have given up and lead a painful life without children.
Thank you Andrew - you are the best!
Cassandra
Testimonial 15
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for the opportunity of providing you with an account of my response to your treatment.
I had difficulty conceiving our first child, even with the use of fertility drugs, and we were recommended to start IVF. We were lucky enough to conceive whilst on holidays in 2001.
We subsequently attempted a second pregnancy with fertility drugs, which resulted in a miscarriage of twins in 2003. After 8 attempts at IVF, during which it was determined that my egg quality was not great, I decided to try alternate therapies.
I had been trained in allied health with a very western medicine perspective, but had positive results with acupuncture for the treatment of my hay fever. I decided that if we were to have only one child, so be it, but I would leave no stone unturned until all options were exhausted.
I started naturopathy and chiropractic in October, and acupuncture in November 2004. I fell pregnant around Christmas of that same year, and we now have a beautiful daughter.
Thank you for all your help and support. Wishing you all the best,
CC
Testimonial 16
Dear Andrew & Nicole,
I am pleased to let you know of our little arrival, Keegan Anders World, born 2.23 am on Monday 27th March. He weighed just 3.2 kg and measured 54cms. My labour lasted just 5 hrs, from when my waters broke Sunday night at home. Gotta love that Labour Ease . Aidan is quite taken by his new baby brother and loves to sit and cuddle next to me to watch when Keegan has his milk.
I am attaching a couple of photos for you, so hopefully it works and you can see them ok. Hope you and all your family are well.
Thanks for all your wonderful care throughout this pregnancy. Hope to come out again soon, but could be a while considering the new addition.
Thanks again
Andrea World
Testimonial 17
I was referred to Shen Therapies by my neighbour who was very happy with the Professionalism, and caring nature of Andrew and his staff. I must admit I was a little apprehensive on how Chinese Medicine could help me and in actual fact whether it would work or not. However, being one of these people who will try anything once and based on how happy my neighbour was decided to make an appointment with Andrew. It turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done. Andrew explained to me that what I was experiencing wasn't normal and that he could help. Thanks to Andrew I have achieved normal period duration's, no pain leading up to and during my periods they now just sneak up on me, he has normalised my uterus lining so it doesn't shed ahead of time, and has woken up my left ovary to produce follicles again. Thank you, Andrew without you I could never have achieved this.
D Dolzan
Testimonial 18
Hi Andrew, Nicole everyone else at Shen Therapies, I am sorry that it has taken some time to respond to your request but with a five year old and two six month old babies life is pretty hectic.
I have wanted to have an opportunity to thank everyone there for assisting me with fertility, the success of that speaks for itself with a healthy boy, Callum 4 pounds 12 and a healthy girl Chloe, 5 pounds 12 being born on December 11th 2007.
I came to Shen Therapies at a very low point in my life, I do not think I realised how ' infertility' was affecting myself and my family so deeply until we became pregnant. The emotional support that both Andrew and Nicole showed me when all I had experienced was the traditional medical model was greatly received.
The holistic approach that Shen Therapies offered in terms of the changing of my diet and eliminating certain stress factors in my life still assists me today. I am under more stress with raising three children and will be returning to work soon but I have implemented support to assist me where I need it and recognise when my body is stressed now.
I have referred a number of people to Shen Therapies and will continue to do so, I found Andrew extremely understanding and extremely aware of how ' infertility' affects people he is extremely comforting and found him very supportive. I also found him extremely professional and always felt as though I was in capable hands.
So thank you to all you guys for your help ands support and I would gladly sing your praises - and results to anyone who needed assistance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy Shaw
Testimonial 19
Hi Andrew
Congratulations to all of us! We’re pregnant and may be expecting twins (or triplets)!
We tested at the clinic on Thursday, 10 days after the FET and my HCG levels were 200+. Our Doctor feels that it may bet twins or more, we have our fingers crossed for twins.
Andrew, thank you and Allah yehfazak (God bless you)!
Megan
Testimonial 20
We were blessed to conceive our first child almost straight away in 2003 after only on month of trying and we both thought we had plenty of time in our early 30's to have other children about 2 years later. 2005 went past - nothing, then 2006 we sought help from our obstetrician and started fertility treatment. After 6 Artificial Inseminations (AI's) and a laproscopy which revealed all was fine, in May 2007 we made the big decision to go IVF (which was a really hard decision for us both as we still couldn't understand why after conceiving one healthy child, we had to take such a huge step.)
After this failed we contacted Andrew at Shen Therapies in June of the same year and we both started on a high protein diet and a course of Chinese herbs and vitamins. Not only did Andrew help us both mentally as a couple to believe that we could conceive again but with additional acupuncture treatment in conjunction with the second IVF in August it enabled us to handle another stressful time (as this also failed for the second time). However three months after seeing Andrew and a holiday to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in the Whitsunday's we conceived our beautiful second little boy in September 2007 who was born a healthy 9lb 3 oz on June 8th 2008.
We both believe that our little miracle happened because of a our strong Christian faith, positive mental frame of mind and the encouragement, treatment and support from the great team at Shen Therapies. Thank you so much for all that you did for us during this time!
P & D Moloney
Testimonial 21
Andrew and all the staff at Shen Therapies have been wonderful!
Not only have they been supportive, caring and professional throughout my treatments but I now have a pain free and regular menstrual cycle.
Many thanks!