Infertility

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.

      Infertility is a heartbreaking situation for many women. Many leap too soon to the conclusion that they may be infertile. But you shouldn't even begin to consider that you may be infertile until you have tried to get pregnant for at least one year. Even then, do not despair - it sometimes takes even longer to conceive.
      For me, it took 3 years, while for a maternal aunt, it took 7 years! At the time I knew next to nothing about herbs and going to a fertility clinic was out of the question - they weren't around then!
      Herbs are most successful in treating a woman's infertility when the problem is the result of a hormonal imbalance. An imbalance can occur for a number of reasons, including the menstrual cycle being disrupted by birth control pills. Herbs also help the estimated on-twelfth of women in the U.S. who are infertile due to uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease, as long as there is no scarring or other structural damage. Structural problems, such as a blocked fallopian tube, are difficult to treat with herbs - they usually require surgery.
      Before you can treat infertility, you must first determine the root of the problem. To start, rule out the most obvious possibilities, along with some not-so-obvious ones. And remember, the chances are 50/50 that the source of the problem lies with your partner. If you are extremely athletic or underweight, you may not have enough body fat. Recently, the medical community has determined that women whose fat falls below one-quarter of their total body weight have trouble conceiving because they often do not ovulate. This condition affects some world-class women athletes.
      Plain stress can be another factor. The body can actually prevent conception in times of stress. The release of stress hormones may interfere with the reproductive hormones, creating a vicious cycle if you and your partner are especially eager to have children. Researchers at the Mind/Body Program for Infertility at New England Deaconess Hospital in Massachusetts found that one-third of previously infertile women became pregnant after they learned relaxation techniques.
      There are a number of herbs that increase fertility, such as vitex, Siberian ginseng, don quai from China and the aptly named motherwort. Numerous studies on don quai show that it helps the ovaries function better and helps to re-establish a normal cycle and fertility.
      For many women, the problem is not becoming pregnant, but avoiding miscarriage once they are pregnant. Fertility experts say that women often miscarry before they even realize that they are pregnant. In Germany, quite a bit of research has been done on vitex. This herb has been found to increase levels of three hormones in pregnant women: progesterone, prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH). All of these hormones work together to help a woman become pregnant, sustain pregnancy and promote the production of breast milk. These fertility increasing herbs also decrease the likelihood of miscarriage. Another way to prevent miscarriage is to keep the uterus relaxed with wild yam and cramp bark.
      There may also be a connection between early miscarriage and the immune system. Medical researchers at Methodist Hospital in Indiana discovered that the immune systems of almost half of the infertile women they examined were either too lax or too aggressive. Many women who were prone to colds and flus were unable to conceive, and once they had built up their immune systems, found themselves pregnant.

Fertility Tea

      Place herbs and water in a pot and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and steep for 20 min., strain out herbs. Drink 2 cups a day. These herbs can also be taken in tincture form.
      Once you are pregnant, to prevent stretch marks, use a massage oil specially designed for the expanding skin of your growing belly.

Pregnant Belly Oil

      Pop open the vitamin E capsules and squirt contents into almond oil. Heat mixture in a saucepan over low heat. Add cocoa butter. After cocoa butter melts, remove mixture from heat and let cool. Add essential oil and stir to blend. Massage the oil on your belly - or get someone to do it for you - at least once a day, or as often as you like.


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Sources:
      All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden, Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D