As with men, hormonal abnormalities can lead to infertility in women and should be ruled out with blood tests. Uterine fibroids (benign tumors of fibrous tissue), endometriosis (abnormal location of uterine tissue in the pelvic cavity), ovarian cysts and infections of reproductive organs can all impair fertility and are easily detected by a physician.
Lack of ovulation can also be a cause of infertiltiy. Lab tests can document ovulation, but a woman can also determine ovulation by noting, throughout the month, variations in her body temperature and vaginal mucous. A woman's morning temperature usually increases half a degree around the time of ovulation and remains high until the menstrual period begins. Many medications and factors, such as excessive use of alcohol, electric blankets and restless sleep, can disturb this variation in body temperature. Prior to and after ovulation, when a woman isn't fertile, cervical mucous tends to be thick and sticky. At ovulation, the mucous becomes thinner, more watery and abundant.
Conditions that cause irregular menses or cycles without ovulation can also lead to infertility. These may stem from ovarian and uterine abnormalities. Women who are anemic may stop menstruating as their bodies attempt to avoid the loss of blood. Treating anemia and its underlying cause may restore fertility. Women who exercise vigorously or who have extremely low body fat may be below a critical body weight to sustain menstruation and pregnancy. Backing off the heavy exercise and gaining a few pounds is sometimes all that's required to become fertile.
As with men, the objective is to diagnose and treat any illness or imbalance that might secondarily cause infertility. In the absence of an underlying cause, hormonal therapies can sometimes help correct ovulation problems or irregular menses. Both pharmaceutical and botanical treatments may restore the hormonal rhythms that control ovulation.
Clomiphene citrate is a commonly prescribed fertility drug. It stimulates the brain to release luteinizing hormone, which causes egg maturation and release from the ovary. The drug is taken for just a few days and then stopped. A brief fertile period may follow. A drawback is that more than one egg may be released, resulting in a multiple pregnancy. In addition, nearly half of all pregnancies achieved in this way result in spontaneous abortion.10 Perhaps the miscarriage rate is so high because such medications only force ovulation without correcting underlying deficiencies or hormonal abnormalities. Botanical medicines on the other hand, nourish and support the female reproductive system to restore hormonal balance.
Herbs That Can Restore Fertility
Here are a few herbs, listed in order of importance, that are often recommended by naturopathic doctors and herbalists to help restore female fertility.
Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus): This herb stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland in the brain. This, in turn, promotes ovulation. Chaste tree berry may restore normal periods in women with amenorrhea (lack of menstrual periods).11
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis): Widely used for female complaints, including menstrual irregularities and infertility, dong quai can tone a weak uterus by promoting metabolism within the organ,12 regulating hormonal control and improving the rhythm of the menstrual cycle.13
Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense): These beautiful little flowers are categorized in many herbals as fertility promoters. Chemical analysis shows that the herb is rich in coumestans and isoflavones, estrogenlike compounds that may promote fertility, particularly in women who are deficient in estrogen.14
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This plant contains hormonally active compounds categorized as saponins.15 A Japanese study found licorice-based medicines improved menstruation in women with infrequent periods. The study also found that licorice helped women with elevated testosterone and low estrogen levels, as commonly occurs in polycystic ovary disease.16
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): This and other tonic botanicals can improve fertility by enhancing overall health and vitality. Siberian ginseng also acts on the brain to promote regulation of reproductive hormones.17
Maintaining Pregnancy
Sometimes a woman's fertility problem lies not in conceiving, but in maintaining pregnancy. For habitual spontaneous abortion, several hormonal, nutritional and herbal therapies may help continue the pregnancy. In addition, numerous botanical medicines can improve both uterine tone and hormonal regulation. Here are a few:
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): Like chaste tree berry, black cohosh enhances pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone with subsequent ovarian stimulation.18,19 It contains isoflavone constituents, which can bind to estrogen receptors in the body.20
Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides): Sounding the same but of an entirely different genus than black cohosh, blue cohosh is a uterine tonic, meaning it can relax a hypersensitive uterus as well as increase the muscular tone of a weak uterus. Early American herbals list blue cohosh as a uterine botanical helpful in cases of infertility.21
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): This feminine-sounding herb affects the nervous, cardiac and female reproductive systems. It is indicated for anxiety, tension and heart palpitations caused by heart weakness, nervous disorders, menopause, premenstrual syndrome and other hormonal imbalances. Motherwort is also a uterine tonic, useful for cramps and as well as uterine weakness.22
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa): Very popular in recent years, wild yam contains plant hormones including the steroidal saponins diosgenin, pregnenolone and botogenin.23 For several decades, the pharmaceutical industry has used wild yam as a raw material in the synthesis of pharmaceutical steroids such as progesterone, cortisone and prednisone. In its crude form, wild yam has a weak hormonal activity in the body that may help prevent habitual miscarriage due to hormonal insufficiency.
Squaw vine (Mitchella repens): Used by Native Americans as a fertility and pregnancy tonic, squaw vine is a uterine tonic that increases uterine circulation and reduces uterine congestion. It also improves uterine tone, yet relaxes uterine spasm.24
Crampbark (Viburnum opulus) and black haw (V. Prunifolium): Both these herbs are considered uterine sedatives and tonic plants that are helpful for chronic miscarriage and uterine pain and cramps. Both are also used as preparatory herbs to condition the uterus for pregnancy and childbirth.25
Unicorn root (Chamalerium luteum), also called blazing star: A uterine tonic, unicorn root is especially useful for women who have a tendency toward pelvic congestion, a condition typically experienced as a sensation of heaviness. This herb may help prevent miscarriage and menstrual bleeding due to uterine weakness.26
Some midwives and obstetricians recommend that women at risk for spontaneous abortion use herbs such as those listed above for several months prior to conception to improve uterine tone and hormonal regulation. They should lower the dosage during the first trimester. A formula used by early American physicians combined in equal parts blue cohosh, crampbark, unicorn root and squaw vine. The recommended dosage was 2-4 mL three times daily. Such herbs were also used during the last trimester of pregnancy to facilitate an easy delivery and rapid recovery, particularly in women with difficult or prolonged labors.
After a medical workup has ruled out serious diseases as the cause of infertility, natural medicines can offer a great deal. Just paying closer attention to the body's cycles can enhance a woman's fertility awareness. For men and women, a nutritious diet supplemented with a multivitamin and free of hormones and pesticides goes a long way toward improving both reproductive and overall health. Botanical medicines selected by a knowledgeable practitioner can further enhance hormonal rhythms and general vitality. Just add romance and you have the prescription for fertility.
References
1. Hargreave, T.B. "Incidence of serum agglutinating and immobilizing sperm antibodies in infertile couples." Int J Fertil: 27-90, 1982.
2. Foye, W. Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 3rd edition: 463. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger, 1989.
3. Skandhan, K.P., et al. "Serum electrolytes in normal and infertile subjects. II. Zinc." Experentia, 34(11); 1476-77, 1978.
4. Netter, A., et al. "Effect of zinc administration on plasma testosterone, dehydrotesterone, and sperm count." Arch Androl, 7: 69, 1981.
6. Haas, E. Staying Healthy with Nutrition: 101-2. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts Publications, 1992.
7. Papp, G. et al. "The role of basic amino acids of seminal plasma in fertility." Int Urol Nephrol, 15(2): 195-203, 1983.
8. Schachter, A., et al. "Treatment of oligospermia with the amino acid arginine. " J Urology, 110 (3): 311-13, 1973.
9. Haas, E. op. cit., p. 47.
10. Krupp, C. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment: 467-69. Los Altos, CA, Lange Medical Publications, 1984.
11. Weiss, R.F., op. cit., p. 317.
12. Zhu, D. "Dong Quai," Am J Chinese Med, XV (3-4): 117-125, 1986.
13. Zhiping, H., et al. "Treating amenorrhea in vital energy-deficient patients with Angelica sinensis." J Trad Chin Med, 6 (3): 187-190, 1986.
14. Duke, J. A. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs: 489. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985.
15. Leung, A. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics: 290-91. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1980.
16. Yaginuma, T., et al. "Effect of traditional herbal medicine on serum testosterone levels and induction of regular ovulation in hyper-androgenic and oligomenorrheic women." Nippon Sank Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, 34(7):939-944, 1982.
17. Darymov, L.V. "On the gonadotrophic effect of Eleutherococcus glycosides." Lek. Srd. Dalinego Vostoka,11:60-65, 1972.
18. Jarry, H., et al. "Studies on the endocrine effects of the contents of Cimicifuga racemosa, 1: in vitro binding of compounds to estrogen receptors." Planta Med., 1:46-9, 1985
19. Jarry, H., et al. "Studies on the endocrine effects of the contents of Cimicifuga racemosa, 2: influence on the servum concentration of pituitary hormone in ovarectomized rats." Planta Medica, 1:46-9, 1985.
20. Duker, E.M., et al. "Effects of extracts from Cimicifuga racemosa on gonadotrophic release in menopausal women and ovarectomized rats." Planta Medica, 57(5): 420-4, 1991.
21. Ellingwood, F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy, 11th edition: 593. Cincinnati, Ohio: Lloyd Brothers Publishing, 1919.
23. Mowrey, D. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine: 107-115 & 151-156. New Canaan, CT: Keats, 1986.
24. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 480.
25. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 694.
26. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 404.
Jill Stansbury, N.D., maintains a private practice in rural southwestern Washington state where she specializes in botanical and natural therapies. She heads the botanical medicine department at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland and recently published a brief materia medica, Herbs for Health and Healing
Astragalus, garantovano pomaže u zaštiti od bolesti tako što stimuliše proizvodnju i cirkulaciju imunoloških faktora u krvi .. Vise o Astragalusu
Reiši, Dokazano jaca imunološki sistem ljudskog organizma, ima izrazita antivirusna i anti bakterijska svojstva .. Vise o Reishi
Ašvaganda, je efikasan antistres adaptogen koji ima umirujuce dejstvo na organizam, ali mu daje energiju, za razliku od sedativa koji ga omamljuju. .. Vise oAšvagandi
Coprinus, Coprinus reguliše nivo šecera u krvi, gasi upale u organizmu i povrh svega sprecava kardiovaskularne bolesti izazvane dijabetesom. .. Vise o Coprinusu
Cordyceps, sa svojim sastavom delujuci na epifizu podstice proizvodnju melatonina, univerzalnog antioksidanta sa mocnim delovanjem na suzbijanje bolesti.. .. Vise o Cordycepsu
Sources Of Female Infertility
As with men, hormonal abnormalities can lead to infertility in women and should be ruled out with blood tests. Uterine fibroids (benign tumors of fibrous tissue), endometriosis (abnormal location of uterine tissue in the pelvic cavity), ovarian cysts and infections of reproductive organs can all impair fertility and are easily detected by a physician.
Lack of ovulation can also be a cause of infertiltiy. Lab tests can document ovulation, but a woman can also determine ovulation by noting, throughout the month, variations in her body temperature and vaginal mucous. A woman's morning temperature usually increases half a degree around the time of ovulation and remains high until the menstrual period begins. Many medications and factors, such as excessive use of alcohol, electric blankets and restless sleep, can disturb this variation in body temperature. Prior to and after ovulation, when a woman isn't fertile, cervical mucous tends to be thick and sticky. At ovulation, the mucous becomes thinner, more watery and abundant.
Conditions that cause irregular menses or cycles without ovulation can also lead to infertility. These may stem from ovarian and uterine abnormalities. Women who are anemic may stop menstruating as their bodies attempt to avoid the loss of blood. Treating anemia and its underlying cause may restore fertility. Women who exercise vigorously or who have extremely low body fat may be below a critical body weight to sustain menstruation and pregnancy. Backing off the heavy exercise and gaining a few pounds is sometimes all that's required to become fertile.
As with men, the objective is to diagnose and treat any illness or imbalance that might secondarily cause infertility. In the absence of an underlying cause, hormonal therapies can sometimes help correct ovulation problems or irregular menses. Both pharmaceutical and botanical treatments may restore the hormonal rhythms that control ovulation.
Clomiphene citrate is a commonly prescribed fertility drug. It stimulates the brain to release luteinizing hormone, which causes egg maturation and release from the ovary. The drug is taken for just a few days and then stopped. A brief fertile period may follow. A drawback is that more than one egg may be released, resulting in a multiple pregnancy. In addition, nearly half of all pregnancies achieved in this way result in spontaneous abortion.10 Perhaps the miscarriage rate is so high because such medications only force ovulation without correcting underlying deficiencies or hormonal abnormalities. Botanical medicines on the other hand, nourish and support the female reproductive system to restore hormonal balance.
Herbs That Can Restore Fertility
Here are a few herbs, listed in order of importance, that are often recommended by naturopathic doctors and herbalists to help restore female fertility.
Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus): This herb stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland in the brain. This, in turn, promotes ovulation. Chaste tree berry may restore normal periods in women with amenorrhea (lack of menstrual periods).11
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis): Widely used for female complaints, including menstrual irregularities and infertility, dong quai can tone a weak uterus by promoting metabolism within the organ,12 regulating hormonal control and improving the rhythm of the menstrual cycle.13
Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense): These beautiful little flowers are categorized in many herbals as fertility promoters. Chemical analysis shows that the herb is rich in coumestans and isoflavones, estrogenlike compounds that may promote fertility, particularly in women who are deficient in estrogen.14
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This plant contains hormonally active compounds categorized as saponins.15 A Japanese study found licorice-based medicines improved menstruation in women with infrequent periods. The study also found that licorice helped women with elevated testosterone and low estrogen levels, as commonly occurs in polycystic ovary disease.16
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): This and other tonic botanicals can improve fertility by enhancing overall health and vitality. Siberian ginseng also acts on the brain to promote regulation of reproductive hormones.17
Maintaining Pregnancy
Sometimes a woman's fertility problem lies not in conceiving, but in maintaining pregnancy. For habitual spontaneous abortion, several hormonal, nutritional and herbal therapies may help continue the pregnancy. In addition, numerous botanical medicines can improve both uterine tone and hormonal regulation. Here are a few:
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): Like chaste tree berry, black cohosh enhances pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone with subsequent ovarian stimulation.18,19 It contains isoflavone constituents, which can bind to estrogen receptors in the body.20
Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides): Sounding the same but of an entirely different genus than black cohosh, blue cohosh is a uterine tonic, meaning it can relax a hypersensitive uterus as well as increase the muscular tone of a weak uterus. Early American herbals list blue cohosh as a uterine botanical helpful in cases of infertility.21
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): This feminine-sounding herb affects the nervous, cardiac and female reproductive systems. It is indicated for anxiety, tension and heart palpitations caused by heart weakness, nervous disorders, menopause, premenstrual syndrome and other hormonal imbalances. Motherwort is also a uterine tonic, useful for cramps and as well as uterine weakness.22
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa): Very popular in recent years, wild yam contains plant hormones including the steroidal saponins diosgenin, pregnenolone and botogenin.23 For several decades, the pharmaceutical industry has used wild yam as a raw material in the synthesis of pharmaceutical steroids such as progesterone, cortisone and prednisone. In its crude form, wild yam has a weak hormonal activity in the body that may help prevent habitual miscarriage due to hormonal insufficiency.
Squaw vine (Mitchella repens): Used by Native Americans as a fertility and pregnancy tonic, squaw vine is a uterine tonic that increases uterine circulation and reduces uterine congestion. It also improves uterine tone, yet relaxes uterine spasm.24
Crampbark (Viburnum opulus) and black haw (V. Prunifolium): Both these herbs are considered uterine sedatives and tonic plants that are helpful for chronic miscarriage and uterine pain and cramps. Both are also used as preparatory herbs to condition the uterus for pregnancy and childbirth.25
Unicorn root (Chamalerium luteum), also called blazing star: A uterine tonic, unicorn root is especially useful for women who have a tendency toward pelvic congestion, a condition typically experienced as a sensation of heaviness. This herb may help prevent miscarriage and menstrual bleeding due to uterine weakness.26
Some midwives and obstetricians recommend that women at risk for spontaneous abortion use herbs such as those listed above for several months prior to conception to improve uterine tone and hormonal regulation. They should lower the dosage during the first trimester. A formula used by early American physicians combined in equal parts blue cohosh, crampbark, unicorn root and squaw vine. The recommended dosage was 2-4 mL three times daily. Such herbs were also used during the last trimester of pregnancy to facilitate an easy delivery and rapid recovery, particularly in women with difficult or prolonged labors.
After a medical workup has ruled out serious diseases as the cause of infertility, natural medicines can offer a great deal. Just paying closer attention to the body's cycles can enhance a woman's fertility awareness. For men and women, a nutritious diet supplemented with a multivitamin and free of hormones and pesticides goes a long way toward improving both reproductive and overall health. Botanical medicines selected by a knowledgeable practitioner can further enhance hormonal rhythms and general vitality. Just add romance and you have the prescription for fertility.
References
1. Hargreave, T.B. "Incidence of serum agglutinating and immobilizing sperm antibodies in infertile couples." Int J Fertil: 27-90, 1982.
2. Foye, W. Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 3rd edition: 463. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger, 1989.
3. Skandhan, K.P., et al. "Serum electrolytes in normal and infertile subjects. II. Zinc." Experentia, 34(11); 1476-77, 1978.
4. Netter, A., et al. "Effect of zinc administration on plasma testosterone, dehydrotesterone, and sperm count." Arch Androl, 7: 69, 1981.
5. Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medication: 117, 121, 254. Beaconsfield, England: Arcanum Press, 1988.
6. Haas, E. Staying Healthy with Nutrition: 101-2. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts Publications, 1992.
7. Papp, G. et al. "The role of basic amino acids of seminal plasma in fertility." Int Urol Nephrol, 15(2): 195-203, 1983.
8. Schachter, A., et al. "Treatment of oligospermia with the amino acid arginine. " J Urology, 110 (3): 311-13, 1973.
9. Haas, E. op. cit., p. 47.
10. Krupp, C. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment: 467-69. Los Altos, CA, Lange Medical Publications, 1984.
11. Weiss, R.F., op. cit., p. 317.
12. Zhu, D. "Dong Quai," Am J Chinese Med, XV (3-4): 117-125, 1986.
13. Zhiping, H., et al. "Treating amenorrhea in vital energy-deficient patients with Angelica sinensis." J Trad Chin Med, 6 (3): 187-190, 1986.
14. Duke, J. A. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs: 489. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985.
15. Leung, A. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics: 290-91. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1980.
16. Yaginuma, T., et al. "Effect of traditional herbal medicine on serum testosterone levels and induction of regular ovulation in hyper-androgenic and oligomenorrheic women." Nippon Sank Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, 34(7):939-944, 1982.
17. Darymov, L.V. "On the gonadotrophic effect of Eleutherococcus glycosides." Lek. Srd. Dalinego Vostoka,11:60-65, 1972.
18. Jarry, H., et al. "Studies on the endocrine effects of the contents of Cimicifuga racemosa, 1: in vitro binding of compounds to estrogen receptors." Planta Med., 1:46-9, 1985
19. Jarry, H., et al. "Studies on the endocrine effects of the contents of Cimicifuga racemosa, 2: influence on the servum concentration of pituitary hormone in ovarectomized rats." Planta Medica, 1:46-9, 1985.
20. Duker, E.M., et al. "Effects of extracts from Cimicifuga racemosa on gonadotrophic release in menopausal women and ovarectomized rats." Planta Medica, 57(5): 420-4, 1991.
21. Ellingwood, F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy, 11th edition: 593. Cincinnati, Ohio: Lloyd Brothers Publishing, 1919.
22. Felter, H.W. Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacognosy, and Therapeutics: 443. Cincinnati, OH: Lloyd Bros Publishing, 1922.
23. Mowrey, D. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine: 107-115 & 151-156. New Canaan, CT: Keats, 1986.
24. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 480.
25. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 694.
26. Felter, H.W., op. cit., p. 404.
Jill Stansbury, N.D., maintains a private practice in rural southwestern Washington state where she specializes in botanical and natural therapies. She heads the botanical medicine department at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland and recently published a brief materia medica, Herbs for Health and Healing