Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic practitioners, herbalists, and naturopathic physicians have used herbs for thousands of years. The reproductive system is a complex network of responsive, hormone-emitting glands and organs. Fertility depends on a sensitive balance of these hormones and organ functions. Herbal medicines can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional fertility medications. Whether you're using only herbs or adding them to other fertility-enhancing treatments, experts caution to do so only under the supervision of medical practitioners.
Commonly Used Herbs
Some herbs have become relatively well-known among patients and practitioners as being relatively safe to take for boosting fertility. Their effectiveness is most often questioned more than their safety, however. These include chasteberry, also known by its Latin name, Vitex; dong quai; red clover blossom; red raspberry leaves; licorice; black cohosh, wild yam, and false unicorn root. Perhaps more importantly, there are many herbs that are dangerous to pregnancy. Even some herbs used to increase chances of conception are on Pregnancy Today's list of more than 50 herbs that can be harmful to pregnancy.
Ovulation & Sperm Production
Dr. Randine Lewis uses Helonias or false unicorn root, Vitex or chaste tree berry, Epimedium or horny goat weed, and Eucomia to stimulate ovarian function. For men who have had semen analysis showing low sperm count or poor motility, which is sperm cell movement, she says ginseng and the Chinese herb Cornus can help.
Older Mothers-to-Be
Dr. Lewis treats many women who are entering perimenopause and still want to conceive. For them, she often recommends dang gui, angelica or liu wei di huang wan. Another alternative practitioner, Breea Johnson, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., rarely tells her patients who are older than 40 to use herbs, since most of them are using conventional fertility medications.
Related Reproductive System Benefits
Some of the herbs used by Dr. Lewis and other traditional Chinese practitioners can assist the body readjust during and after conventional fertility medication cycles. She explains how her prescriptions are not simple formulas and must be individually tailored. "We can gear Chinese herbal formulas to help with implantation, help the liver detoxify the excess hormones, and respond to [fertility drugs] better."
Structural Infertility
Some causes of infertility will not respond well to herbal therapies. Notably, structural causes, such as blocked fallopian tubes in women or absence of the vas deferens in men, warrant either surgery or assisted reproductive technology, like in vitro fertilization.
Precautions
Herbs are unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Conventional physicians may, therefore, be hesitant to recommend any herbs to their infertility patients. Even alternative fertility experts, like Dr. Randine Lewis, urge patients who have already established therapeutic relationships with conventional physicians to clear any herbal recommendations. She suggests consulting licensed Chinese herbalists who work closely with reproductive medicine specialists. Generally, adverse side effects of herbal therapies tend to be mild. Even so, some herbs can actually counteract any positive benefit of other medications. For example, nutritionist Breea Johnson at Pulling Down the Moon says that chasteberry, an herb commonly used for general fertility enhancement, can help boost progesterone in some women, but it could interfere with other medications.
References
- Randine Lewis, Ph.D.; The Fertile Soul Program; North Carolina
- Medscape Today: Safety Issues with Herbal Medicine: Regulations
- Pregnancy Today: Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy
- Breea Johnson, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.; Pulling Down the Moon; Chicago
