Getting Pregnant Naturally_ Healthy Choi - Winifred Conkling [20]
USAGE: This herb is typically available only in commercial preparations; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Ginkgo can cause irritability and restlessness. Since it can inhibit blood clotting, it should be avoided by people with clotting disorders.
Ginseng (Panax quinquefoliaus/American ginseng; Panax ginseng/Chinese ginseng; Eleutherococcus senticosus/Siberian ginseng)
This herb boosts sperm counts by helping men manage their stress and anxiety; it also helps promote overall health and normalize blood pressure. Ginseng has a long history as a male “tonic,” and American Indians used to mix ginseng into love potions. Animal studies have found that this herb can promote growth of the testes, increase sperm formation, raise testosterone levels, and increase the frequency of sexual activity.
USAGE: To make a decoction, add one-half teaspoon of dried root powder to one cup of boiling water. Simmer ten minutes; drink up to two cups a day. Commercial products are widely available; look for products made of whole, unprocessed roots that are at least six years old (the medicinal properties are found only in mature roots). Follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Ginseng can cause insomnia or breast tenderness. Since it has anti-clotting properties, ginseng should be avoided by people with clotting disorders.
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)
This herb helps to strengthen the cardiovascular and circulatory systems, improving blood flow to the penis and throughout the body. The Greeks and Romans associated this herb with marriage and fertility.
USAGE: For an infusion, add two teaspoons of crushed dried leaves to one cup of boiling water. Steep twenty minutes. Strain and drink up to two cups a day. (You may want to add lemon, sugar, or honey to mask the bitter flavor.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Can cause low blood pressure and fainting; people with heart problems should consult a physician before using hawthorn.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
This herb boosts sperm counts by helping men manage their stress and anxiety; it also helps promote overall health, normalize blood pressure, and heal ulcers and other gastrointestinal-tract problems.
USAGE: To make a decoction, add one-half teaspoon of powdered herb to one cup of boiling water. Simmer ten minutes; drink up to two cups a day. Licorice—also known as “sweet root”—is fifty times sweeter than sugar, so you shouldn’t need to enhance the flavor. As a tincture, use one-half to one teaspoon up to two times a day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Licorice can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. It is not recommended for people with high blood pressure.
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum)
This herb may be helpful when diminished prostate secretion plays a role in male-factor infertility. Pygeum has been shown to increase the volume of prostatic secretions and to improve the composition of the seminal fluid.
USAGE: For an infusion, add one teaspoon of herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep for twenty minutes. Strain and drink one cup per day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Pygeum is generally considered a safe herb.
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
This herb strengthens the male reproductive system and enhances the male sex hormones. It also improves overall health.
USAGE: For an infusion, add one teaspoon of herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep for twenty minutes. Strain and drink one cup per day. Commercial products are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Saw palmetto is generally considered a safe herb.
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimba)
The bark of the evergreen African yohimbe tree has earned a reputation as an herbal aphrodisiac, and it can be very effective in the treatment of impotence and erectile dysfunction. In fact, yohimbe is