Chinese Herbs & The Ovaries

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine recommend potent herbal formulas to maintain healthy ovaries. Small but mighty, the ovaries generate egg cells and produce the hormones that control menstruation and reproduction. Dr. Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, states that Chinese herbs support ovarian function, maintain hormonal balance, and may correct disorders that affect female fertility. The use of Chinese herbs to promote reproductive health is not supported by conclusive clinical evidence or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Function

In menstruating women, the ovaries go through a monthly cycle that results in the release of one or more egg cells. Traditional Chinese medicine links ovarian function to kidney health. When the body's "qi," or life energy, is flowing freely, the kidneys supply the ovaries with nourishing fluid, allowing them to complete this cycle. Ovarian health is essential to the development of egg cells and the growth of the corpus luteum, the layer of the egg that produces the hormone progesterone after ovulation. Progesterone promotes fertility and cues the uterus to prepare for implantation of a fertilized egg.

After assessing a client's menstrual patterns, body temperature, pulse, complexion, urination, and other physical features, a Chinese herbalist will devise herbal blends to maintain healthy ovarian function. The herbalist will recommend a different formula at each phase of the reproductive cycle to nourish the ovaries and uterus, fine-tune the balance of hormones, and make up for potential defects in the eggs.

Consult your health-care provider about your treatment options before beginning any herbal therapy program.

Imbalances

Hormone imbalances can disrupt the phases of ovulation, causing irregular periods and making it difficult for a woman to get pregnant. An example is Luteal Phase Defect, a common cause of infertility. In the luteal phase, a fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus. If the corpus luteum does not produce enough progesterone, the luteal phase may be too short. By the time the fertilized egg reaches uterus, the uterine lining has begun to slough off, and miscarriage may occur.

In a 2006 case study of a 45-year-old woman who was having trouble conceiving, Chinese herbalist Inga Heese, BSc TCM, reported that herbal treatments helped to stabilize her client's progesterone levels. Heese attempted to correct her client's hormonal imbalances with herbs like Dang Gui, Shen Di Huang (Rehmannia), and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix rubra). By invigorating her client's kidneys, nourishing "qi," and stimulating blood circulation, the herbal treatments created a healthy reproductive environment, according to Heese. After five months of daily treatments, Heese's client conceived.

Although Heese was able to show improvement in her client's fertility markers after herbal therapy, there is not enough clinical evidence to link the use of Chinese herbs directly to conception. The herbs mentioned in this case study have not been approved for use as fertility treatments by the FDA.

Blockages

When vital energies are blocked by disease or nutrient deficiencies, fluids stagnate in the tissues. In traditional Chinese medicine, simple ovarian cysts are considered a manifestation of blocked "qi" energy, or congested fluids. Dr. Dharmananda proposes that herbal therapies restore balanced function to the kidneys by drawing fluids to the ovaries and resolving cysts. The Cinnamon and Hoelen Formula is a remedy for stagnant or "cold" kidneys. This herbal blend releases barriers to "qi," tonifies kidneys, and relieves the fluid congestion that causes ovarian cysts. Although Western medical research hasn't verified these claims, the use of herbs to treat reproductive blockages is an ancient practice in Chinese medicine.

Treatments

Specialized herbal therapies support each phase of ovulation or address specific ovarian disorders. Talk to your health-care provider before trying any of these herbs. Current medical data does not provide enough evidence to prove their effectiveness.

Herbal formulas that balance kidney yin and yang--the complementary female and male energies that are vital to health--may harmonize the phases of ovulation. Herbs like Yin Yang Huo (Epimedium) support kidney yang, while Nu Zhen Zhi (Fructus Ligustri lucidi) nourishes kidney yin.

Herbal combinations that nourish "qi" draw nutrients and oxygen to the reproductive organs. These formulas might include Dan Shen (Salviae miltiorrhizae), Dang Fu Cyperi rotundi) and Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis).

Dang Gui is also recommended for treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a disorder that causes the ovaries to produce more androgens than estrogen and progesterone, leading to complications with fertility.

Considerations

Consult an experienced Chinese herbalist to find the ideal combination of herbs for your reproductive health. A knowledgeable practitioner will advise you on medication interactions and which herbs can be safely taken during pregnancy or nursing. Review the recommended remedies with your health-care provider before beginning any herbal treatment program.