INFERTILITY
BENEFICIAL HERBS
- Panax ginseng is a great fertility and virility aid
- Herbs that are useful for building up the female reproductive system, especially for women that have irregular menstruation, difficulty in conceiving, or repeated miscarriages include squawvine, cramp bark, motherwort, and raspberry
- Dong quai (angelica), false unicorn root, kelp, Siberian ginseng, and licorice root are good herbs for women. Cautions: Do not use ginseng or licorice if you have high blood pressure
- Damiana leaf is reputed to be a sexual organ tonic. Take in tea form
- Saw palmetto berry is often used with damiana to promote sexual health
- Astragalus extract may stimulate sperm motility. Caution: Do not use this herb in the presence of a fever.
- Sarsaparilla plays a role in the stimulation of progesterone
- Pygeum africanum, saw palmetto, and yohimbe enhance sexual function in men. Caution: Because of the yohimbine content of yohimbe bark, the Food and Drug Administration FDA classifies yohimbe as an unsafe herb. Yohimbe can be toxic and should be avoided. Self-medication is strongly discouraged because of its side effects. Yohimbine from yohimbe bark can produce significant side effects even in moderate to small amounts, especially if taken over a long period of time.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Eat foods high in B vitamins and magnesium
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION
A well balanced diet is a more natural source of nutrients and it is best to get as much as possible from food. If you are not eating a varied mixture of the main food groups or foods high in a certain nutrient needed for your health situation then make up the remaining through vitamin and mineral supplementation.
- Selenium 200-400 micrograms. Deficiency leads to reduced sperm count and has been linked to sterility in men and infertility in women.
- Vitamin C: 500 milligrams 1-2 times a day.
- Vitamin E: 400–800 IU. Caution: If you are taking anticoagulants, you should not take vitamin E supplements
- Zinc: 15 milligrams. Caution: Do not exceed a total of 80 milligrams daily from all supplements. Taking over 80 milligrams of zinc daily can weaken the immune system
Note: Experts say that too high amount of any nutrient can impair fertility. More is not necessarily better.
NON DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Avoid vigorous exercise, hot tubs, and saunas, as they may lead to changes in ovulation and reduced sperm count.
- Avoid all alcohol; it reduces sperm count in men and can prevent implantation of the fertilized egg in women.
- Do not take any drugs except those prescribed by your physician.
In some cases, herbal products can interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be dangerous. Herbal remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, while there is an abundant supply of information circulating about herbs, not much of it has been scientifically proven. Consult your physician. Informing your doctor and pharmacist of what herbal products you are using is just as important as letting them know what drugs you are taking. Your physician and the pharmacist on duty at your pharmacy can assist you in deciding which herbs
are safe.