Getting Pregnant Naturally (16 page)

   
U
SAGE:
For an infusion, add two teaspoons of crushed dried leaves to one cup of boiling water. Steep twenty minutes. Strain and drink up to two cups a day. (You may want to add lemon, sugar, or honey to mask the bitter flavor.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Can cause low blood pressure and fainting; people with heart problems should consult a physician before using hawthorn.

Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza glabra)

This herb boosts sperm counts by helping men manage their stress and anxiety; it also helps promote overall health, normalize blood pressure, and heal ulcers and other gastrointestinal-tract problems.

   
U
SAGE:
To make a decoction, add one-half teaspoon of powdered herb to one cup of boiling water. Simmer ten minutes; drink up to two cups a day. Licorice—also known as “sweet root”—is fifty times sweeter than sugar, so you shouldn’t need to enhance the flavor. As a tincture, use one-half to one teaspoon up to two times a day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Licorice can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. It is not recommended for people with high blood pressure.

Pygeum
(Pygeum africanum)

This herb may be helpful when diminished prostate secretion plays a role in male-factor infertility. Pygeum has been shown to increase the volume of prostatic secretions and to improve the composition of the seminal fluid.

   
U
SAGE:
For an infusion, add one teaspoon of herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep for twenty minutes. Strain and drink one cup per day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Pygeum is generally considered a safe herb.

Saw Palmetto
(Serenoa repens)

This herb strengthens the male reproductive system and enhances the male sex hormones. It also improves overall health.

   
U
SAGE:
For an infusion, add one teaspoon of herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep for twenty minutes. Strain and drink one cup per day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Saw palmetto is generally considered a safe herb.

Yohimbe
(Pausinystalia yohimba)

The bark of the evergreen African yohimbe tree has earned a reputation as an herbal aphrodisiac, and it can be very effective in the treatment of impotence and erectile dysfunction. In fact, yohimbe is the source of yohimbine, a prescription drug used to treat impotence. Yohimbe should not be used on a regular and ongoing basis because it can elevate blood pressure; do not use this herb for more than two weeks at a time. This herb
has been found to be ineffective when impotence stems from organic nerve trouble.

   
U
SAGE:
For a decoction, simmer one ounce of bark in two cups of water for five to ten minutes. Strain and drink one to two cups 15 to 30 minutes before making love. (You may want to add 1 gram of vitamin C per cup of decoction to reduce the likelihood of stomach upset.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Yohimbe can cause dangerous low blood pressure; this herb should not be used by people with hypotension. It can also cause nausea.

False Unicorn Root
(Chamaelirium luteum)

This herb has earned a reputation of being very effective in the treatment of infertility by correcting hormone imbalances. It is a uterine stimulant that can be useful in the treatment of irregular periods in women; it is also useful in treating impotence in men. It is believed to have a beneficial effect on the ovaries, kidneys, and bladder, and it is sometimes used to prevent miscarriage. Commercial products often combine false unicorn root
with black cohosh (see page 68) and wild yam (see page 84).

   
U
SAGE:
It is available in commercial combination tinctures and capsules; follow package directions. (Herbalists have been known to warn couples taking this herb for other medical conditions of its potency in promoting fertility.)

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
False unicorn root can cause nausea and vomiting.

Sarsaparilla
(Smilax officinalis
and
Smilax febrífuga)

This herb boosts fertility by stimulating the production of progesterone in women and testosterone in men. It also has diuretic properties. Caribbean and North American Indians used the herb to keep people young, vigorous, and potent.

   
U
SAGE:
For a decoction, use one to two teaspoons of powdered root per cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for fifteen minutes. Drink up to three cups a day. In a tincture, take one-fourth to one-half teaspoon up to three times a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Sarsaparilla can cause stomach upset and a burning sensation in the mouth. Because of its diuretic properties, women should avoid sarsaparilla if there is any chance that they could be pregnant.

Wild Yam
(Dioscorea villosa)

This herb contains hormonelike substances that are very similar to progesterone. In fact, it was used to make the original contraceptive pills before synthetic hormones were available. In women, wild yam can help normalize hormone levels. In men, it helps relax peripheral blood vessels, which can improve blood flow to the penis.

   
U
SAGE:
For an infusion, add one teaspoon of dried herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep twenty minutes; strain and drink up to one cup per day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Since it stimulates hormone production, this herb should be avoided by people with a history of reproductive disorders. It should also be discontinued once pregnancy has been achieved.

Try One or More Herbs for Stress

Each of the following herbs listed can help reduce anxiety and stress, which can contribute to infertility.
(For more information on stress and infertility, see
Chapter 7
, “Mind-Body Connection,” on page 123.)

   
U
SAGE
:
For an infusion, use one to two teaspoons for dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep for fifteen minutes. Strain and drink up to three cups a day. Add honey or sugar to mask the bitter flavor, if necessary.

   
Kava Kava
(Kava Kava)

This herb is a nervine relaxant, which can be used to soothe frazzled nerves.

   
P
RECAUTIONS
:
This herb can cause headaches or nausea.

   
St. John’s wort
(Hypericum perforatum)

This herb has been used for more than two thousand years in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, and depression; it is also used to boost the immune system and to help with wound healing.

   
P
RECAUTIONS
:
Do not use when taking amphetamines, narcotics, diet pills, asthma inhalants, nasal decongestants, or cold or hay fever remedies. Also avoid beer, wine, coffee, salami, yogurt, chocolate, and smoked or pickled foods. Avoid sun to prevent sunburn.

   
Skullcap
(Scutellaria lateriflora)

The Chinese have used this herb as a tranquilizer for centuries. Modern herbalists use it for insomnia, nervous tension, and premenstrual syndrome. It is used in many commercial sleep preparations in Europe.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Skullcap can cause confusion, muscle twitching, nausea, or diarrhea.

   
Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis)

This herb is the active ingredient in more than one hundred over-the-counter tranquilizers and insomnia remedies in Europe. It has been used for centuries both as a “nervine tonic” and anticonvulsant.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
Valerian can cause headaches, giddiness, blurred vision, nausea, or restlessness.

   
Vervain
(Perbena officinalis)

This herb is used as a tranquilizer, pain reliever, fever reducer, and expectorant. It acts like a mild aspirin, relieving stress and pain and reducing inflammation.

   
P
RECAUTIONS:
This herb can lower heart rate; it should be avoided by anyone with congestive heart failure or a history of heart disease. It also should be avoided by asthmatics and people with respiratory problems.

FERTILITY CHECKLIST

HERS

• Black cohosh
  

• Chaste tree
  

• Chi shao yao
  

• Dong quai
  

• Gotu kola
  

• Nettle
  

• Red clover
  

• Red raspberry
  

• Skullcap