Natural Fertility Treatment Approaches – Let Mother Nature Assist You to Motherhood!
If you are planning a pregnancy or have been trying to conceive without success you may benefit from the support of nutritional and herbal medicines. Particularly if there are no infertility factors apparent or you have been diagnosed with "unexplained" infertility you may be in need of subtle hormone balancing and this is just what nutritional and herbal medicines can do! In addition if there are specific hormonal imbalances identified, such as high prolactin or abnormal thyroid function, these too are quite treatable by natural means. The following are some of the more common identifiable hormone health issues as well as more subtle onese that may affect fertility and some treatment approaches:
Hyperprolactinemia – or high prolactin levels. This hormone is involved with lactation and if high can interfere with ovulation and conception. Prolactin levels can be balanced by the herb Vitex agnus castus or Chaste tree. High prolactin often leads to a loss of periods due to its inhibition of other hormones. Paony and Licorice are useful to re-establish the menstrual cycle in this case.
Thyroid dysfunction. Hyperthyroidism or excessive thyroid functions can be balanced with a herb called Bugleweed. Hypothyroidism or low thyroid function can be positively influenced and subtle dysfunction can be corrected with gentle thyroid stimulant herbs such as Rhodiola, Blue Flag and Bladderwrack. Nutritional supplementation for a sluggish thyroid includes selenium, iodine, Vitamin E and tyrosine.
Low estrogen states – associated with long, irregular cycles or no periods. These can occur for a variety of reasons including smoking, inadequate body fat, overexercising and low Vitamin A. Once these contributing factors are corrected estrogen production can be inhanced with a number of herbs including: False Unicorn Root, Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, Shatavari, Red Clover and Hops.
High estrogen states or estrogen dominance – associated with short cycles, often painful periods and PMT/PMS. In order to balance estrogen the approach is to stimulate ovulation and progesterone production. Herbs utilised include Chaste Tree, Cramp Bark, Sarsparilla and Pulsatilla.
Nutritional approaches include the correction of potential subtle or not so subtle deficiencies. Supplementation with the following nutrients is often recommended: zinc, magnesium, B6 (plus a B complex), B12, B2, Vitamin E and folic acid (as folinic acid).
Dietary approaches to encourage hormonal balance and functional fertility include consumption of high lignan foods such as rye, buckwheat, millet, flax and sesame, sources of resorcylic acid such as oats, barley, rye and rice, and foods high in isoflavones such as all whole grains, beans, cooked greens, berries, olive oil, root vegetables, garlic, parsley and pomegranate.
Hyperprolactinemia – or high prolactin levels. This hormone is involved with lactation and if high can interfere with ovulation and conception. Prolactin levels can be balanced by the herb Vitex agnus castus or Chaste tree. High prolactin often leads to a loss of periods due to its inhibition of other hormones. Paony and Licorice are useful to re-establish the menstrual cycle in this case.
Thyroid dysfunction. Hyperthyroidism or excessive thyroid functions can be balanced with a herb called Bugleweed. Hypothyroidism or low thyroid function can be positively influenced and subtle dysfunction can be corrected with gentle thyroid stimulant herbs such as Rhodiola, Blue Flag and Bladderwrack. Nutritional supplementation for a sluggish thyroid includes selenium, iodine, Vitamin E and tyrosine.
Low estrogen states – associated with long, irregular cycles or no periods. These can occur for a variety of reasons including smoking, inadequate body fat, overexercising and low Vitamin A. Once these contributing factors are corrected estrogen production can be inhanced with a number of herbs including: False Unicorn Root, Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, Shatavari, Red Clover and Hops.
High estrogen states or estrogen dominance – associated with short cycles, often painful periods and PMT/PMS. In order to balance estrogen the approach is to stimulate ovulation and progesterone production. Herbs utilised include Chaste Tree, Cramp Bark, Sarsparilla and Pulsatilla.
Nutritional approaches include the correction of potential subtle or not so subtle deficiencies. Supplementation with the following nutrients is often recommended: zinc, magnesium, B6 (plus a B complex), B12, B2, Vitamin E and folic acid (as folinic acid).
Dietary approaches to encourage hormonal balance and functional fertility include consumption of high lignan foods such as rye, buckwheat, millet, flax and sesame, sources of resorcylic acid such as oats, barley, rye and rice, and foods high in isoflavones such as all whole grains, beans, cooked greens, berries, olive oil, root vegetables, garlic, parsley and pomegranate.
Source...