Getting Pregnant Naturally_ Healthy Choi - Winifred Conkling [21]
USAGE: For a decoction, simmer one ounce of bark in two cups of water for five to ten minutes. Strain and drink one to two cups 15 to 30 minutes before making love. (You may want to add 1 gram of vitamin C per cup of decoction to reduce the likelihood of stomach upset.) Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Yohimbe can cause dangerous low blood pressure; this herb should not be used by people with hypotension. It can also cause nausea.
COUPLES
False Unicorn Root (Chamaelirium luteum)
This herb has earned a reputation of being very effective in the treatment of infertility by correcting hormone imbalances. It is a uterine stimulant that can be useful in the treatment of irregular periods in women; it is also useful in treating impotence in men. It is believed to have a beneficial effect on the ovaries, kidneys, and bladder, and it is sometimes used to prevent miscarriage. Commercial products often combine false unicorn root with black cohosh (see page 68) and wild yam (see page 84).
USAGE: It is available in commercial combination tinctures and capsules; follow package directions. (Herbalists have been known to warn couples taking this herb for other medical conditions of its potency in promoting fertility.)
PRECAUTIONS: False unicorn root can cause nausea and vomiting.
Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis and Smilax febrífuga)
This herb boosts fertility by stimulating the production of progesterone in women and testosterone in men. It also has diuretic properties. Caribbean and North American Indians used the herb to keep people young, vigorous, and potent.
USAGE: For a decoction, use one to two teaspoons of powdered root per cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for fifteen minutes. Drink up to three cups a day. In a tincture, take one-fourth to one-half teaspoon up to three times a day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Sarsaparilla can cause stomach upset and a burning sensation in the mouth. Because of its diuretic properties, women should avoid sarsaparilla if there is any chance that they could be pregnant.
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
This herb contains hormonelike substances that are very similar to progesterone. In fact, it was used to make the original contraceptive pills before synthetic hormones were available. In women, wild yam can help normalize hormone levels. In men, it helps relax peripheral blood vessels, which can improve blood flow to the penis.
USAGE: For an infusion, add one teaspoon of dried herb to one cup of boiling water. Steep twenty minutes; strain and drink up to one cup per day. Commercial preparations are also available; follow package directions.
PRECAUTIONS: Since it stimulates hormone production, this herb should be avoided by people with a history of reproductive disorders. It should also be discontinued once pregnancy has been achieved.
Try One or More Herbs for Stress
Each of the following herbs listed can help reduce anxiety and stress, which can contribute to infertility. (For more information on stress and infertility, see Chapter 7, “Mind-Body Connection,” on page 123.)
USAGE: For an infusion, use one to two teaspoons for dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep for fifteen minutes. Strain and drink up to three cups a day. Add honey or sugar to mask the bitter flavor, if necessary.
Kava Kava (Kava Kava)
This herb is a nervine relaxant, which can be used to soothe frazzled nerves.
PRECAUTIONS: This herb can cause headaches or nausea.
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
This herb has been used for more than two thousand years in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, and depression; it is also used to boost the immune system and to help with