Getting Pregnant Naturally_ Healthy Choi - Winifred Conkling [18]
USAGE: Commercially prepared tinctures are available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Estrogen-promoting herbs, such as chi shao yao, should be avoided by women with a personal or family history of breast or reproduction system cancers.
Dong Quai or Dom Kwai (Angelica sinensis or Angelica polymorpha)
This Chinese herb contains plant substances similar to female hormones; it strengthens the female reproductive organs and helps regulate menstrual periods, in addition to boosting fertility. It is the female counterpart to ginseng.
USAGE: For a tea, boil six cups of water and add one medium to large whole root. (For additional flavor, as well as for the overall health-enhancing benefits, you may also want to add one tablespoon of licorice root, one tablespoon of freshly grated ginger root, and a one-half-inch piece of cinnamon stick.) Simmer for twenty minutes. Drink two to three cups per day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: It can cause breast tenderness.
Gota Kola (Centella asiatica or Hydrocotyle asiatica)
This herb helps to achieve hormone balance and promote fertility. It also helps relax the nerves, enhance the immune system, speed wound healing, and improve blood circulation to the legs (which helps prevent varicose veins).
USAGE: For an infusion, use one-half teaspoon of herb per cup of boiling water. Simmer for twenty minutes, strain, and drink up to two cups a day. (You may want to add sugar, honey, or lemon to disguise the bitter taste.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions. This herb is most effective when taken for four to six weeks, followed by a two-week break.
PRECAUTIONS: High doses can cause headaches, skin rash, or itching.
Nettle or Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Because of its high mineral and chlorophyll content, this herb is considered a powerful tonic for the hormone system. It also increases milk flow in nursing mothers. Native American women believed that drinking nettle tea during pregnancy would strengthen the fetus; they also used it to stop uterine bleeding after childbirth. Nettle is also used to treat hay fever symptoms, high blood pressure, and gout.
USAGE: For an infusion, add one to two teaspoons of dried herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep for fifteen minutes, strain, and drink up to two cups per day. As a tincture, use up to one teaspoon twice a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Nettle can cause stomach upset, burning skin, and suppression of urine. Pregnant women should avoid this herb since it can cause uterine contractions; do not use it if there is any chance that you are pregnant.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
In the body, red clover mimics the female hormone estrogen. It helps balance hormonal functions, and it is an excellent source of calcium and magnesium, which relax the nervous system and enhance fertility, in addition to offering a rich supply of many trace minerals essential for reproduction. In addition, red clover can help the body maintain a vaginal pH (acid/alkaline level) that favors conception. It is sometimes used to relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings.
USAGE: Fresh red clover flowers can be added to salads, or a tablespoon of dried flowers can be added to rice during cooking. To prepare an infusion, add one to three teaspoons of dried flower to a cup of boiling water. Steep for fifteen minutes, strain, and drink up to three cups a day. (You may want to add one teaspoon of peppermint to improve the flavor.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. Women with a history of breast or gynecological cancer should avoid red clover, as well as other herbs containing plant estrogens. Women with a history of heart disease or stroke should avoid this herb because it can increase the risk of developing