For a couple desperately trying to have a baby, the realization that their efforts are not working can be devastating. Worse yet, conceiving with medical assistance can be a long road--one that is expensive and not always effective. For couples who want to try a more natural route, companies promote several herbs for boosting fertility. But keep in mind, formal scientific evidence for such solutions is generally scant, and if you are approaching the end of your potential childbearing years, it is important to discuss options with your doctor so you do not waste valuable time.
Evening Primrose Oil
The evening primrose plant's oil contains the essential fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid. Since the 1930s the oil has been used to treat eczema, and it is now used for a variety of other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cancer, a host of women's conditions such as menopausal symptoms, and infertility. The idea, for women trying to conceive, is to use evening primrose oil to produce more of the right kind of cervical fluid--thin, clear and stretchy--to best help sperm cells live long enough inside the woman's body to fertilize an egg.
Saw Palmetto
The saw palmetto's fruit can be used in ground or dried form or as whole berries, and it can be bought in tablet, capsule, liquid extract or infusion forms, and even as a tea. The Fertility Shop says it can "tonify and strengthen the male reproductive system" and is "a primary herb for male impotence, low libido and prostate health." The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, however, says a side effect of saw palmetto can actually be a decline in sex drive.
Chasteberry
The chaste tree got its name because monks during the Middle Ages supposedly used its fruit to suppress libido. Chasteberry may help to correct luteal phase defects and bring down high prolactin levels, according to the Fertility Shop. Small studies have suggested it may be effective for certain types of infertility, but the evidence is still inconclusive, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese traditional medicine has a long history of using herbs to treat infertility in both men and women. No particular herb stands out for this purpose, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine. In fact, about 150 ingredients are in common usage, typically in formulas involving at least 15 substances. In the United States, naturopathic practitioners, acupuncturists and medical doctors with knowledge of Chinese traditional medicine can prescribe herbal remedies for infertility.
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