Getting Pregnant Naturally_ Healthy Choi - Winifred Conkling [19]
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus or Rubus strigosus)
The leaves of this herb are rich in calcium and can relax and strengthen the uterus. Red raspberry is also used to treat diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
USAGE: For an infusion, use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep fifteen minutes, strain, and drink up to three cups a day. The infusion is especially beneficial when combined with red clover (use one teaspoon of red clover and one teaspoon of raspberry in two cups of water). Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: This is generally a safe herb. Avoid using it if you are pregnant, since it can stimulate the uterus during early pregnancy.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
This herb is widely used as a sedative and treatment for insomnia and nervousness, as well as a treatment for infertility. It is high in minerals that support a healthy nervous system. It is sometimes used in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
USAGE: For an infusion, use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep fifteen minutes, strain, and drink up to three cups a day. (You may want to add sugar, honey, or lemon to disguise the bitter flavor.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Skullcap can cause confusion, muscle twitching, nausea, or diarrhea.
HIS
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
This East Indian herb is considered a sexual tonic; it is good for promoting fertility and overcoming impotence. It is often referred to as Indian ginseng.
USAGE: Add one teaspoon of root powder to boiled warm milk; take up to two cups a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Ashwagandha is generally regarded as a safe herb.
Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)
This herb is known to promote overall good health, in addition to boosting fertility by strengthening the male reproductive organs.
USAGE: For a decoction, boil one teaspoon of root in three cups of water for thirty minutes. Drink up to three cups a day. In a tincture, take one-half to one teaspoon up to three times a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions. Combination products often include damiana and sarsaparilla (see page 83).
PRECAUTIONS: Burdock root can cause stomach upset.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa aphrodisiaca)
This herb helps stimulate testosterone production, increasing fertility and helping with impotence. Some experts believe that the herb slightly irritates the urethra, making the penis somewhat more sensitive. It is often used in combination with other herbs.
USAGE: For an infusion, use one teaspoon of powdered herb in one cup of water. Steep fifteen minutes; drink up to one cup per day. For a tincture, take up to one-half teaspoon three times a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: This herb should not be used by men with prostate problems, without a doctor’s supervision.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
This herb is recommended for the treatment of impotence; it also helps balance both high and low blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar levels, and clear respiratory and digestive infections.
USAGE: Use garlic liberally in cooking. For an infusion, chop six cloves of garlic per cup of cool water and steep for six hours. For a tincture, soak one cup of crushed garlic cloves in one quart of brandy; shake daily for two weeks, then take up to three tablespoons a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Garlic has anti-clotting properties; it should be avoided by people with clotting disorders without a doctor’s supervision. It can also cause stomach upset.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
This herb helps relieve impotence and erectile dysfunction caused by damage to the arteries in the penis because it is a peripheral vasodilator. (It increases blood flow to the penis—as well as other veins—without changing systemic blood