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Alternative Health Care Methods of Improving Fertility
Introduction
Time and money are precious commodities to us Fortilians
and dealing with infertility requires a lot of both. Pursuit
of alternative methods is often dismissed as speculative,
time consuming and expensive, but how different is it to
spend $10,000+ on an ivf cycle that promises only a 20%
chance of success? Not only do alternative methods sometimes
succeed in improving fertility, but they work on your entire
system, so you end up with enhanced overall health and
a greater sense of control. In addition, alternative medicine
is gaining acceptance and becoming so common that it is
now being referred to as complementary medicine as more
and more people are combining it with traditional medical
intervention. If you do, however, decide to combine
alternative methods with more traditional fertility treatment,
let your physician or RE know about any herbs, remedies
or supplements you are taking.
This information is for general reference only
and not intended to treat, diagnose, or prescribe. It is
advised that you discuss your specific needs with the appropriate
health care professional.
How to Choose an Alternative/Complementary Health Care Practitioner
- Ask about qualifications - where trained, how long in practice, etc.
- Ask about experience treating infertility in general and experience treating
your particular condition.
- Ask for a treatment plan and make sure you understand it.
- Ask about the anticipated length of treatment and total cost.
- Ask whether treatment mid cycle could harm an early, undiagnosed pregnancy.
For more information, see:
- Questions to ask if you are seeking help with infertility from alternative
treatment practitioners.
- Resolve Fact Sheet
-
Vitamins and Minerals for Optimum FertilityToday's food is over processed and
grown in mineral-deficient soils and today's lives are hectic and full of conditions
that quickly deplete vitamins. Taking supplements may be necessary - especially
when trying to have a baby. Be advised that too high a dose of supplements can
upset the balance of other important vitamins, may damage vital organs, and may
not be safe during pregnancy. It is recommended that you consult a registered
dietician or other knowledgeable healthcare practitioner regarding your individual
nutritional needs. Nutrients give the body the energy needed to carry out vital
functions such as reproduction. It is not surprising that deficiencies in some
vitamins and minerals have been shown to cause infertility:
- Vitamin B6 (pyroxidine) deficiency raises estrogen at the expense of progesterone
and may be the culprit in some cases of unexplained infertility and chronic
miscarriage. Insufficient quantities of this vitamin have also been shown
to raise serum prolactin, a hormone that can interfere with ovulation. Substances
that may deplete B6 include birth control pills, alcohol, and caffeine.
- Calcium deficiency can result in decreased estrogen output that affects
egg production as well as ovulation. Note: excessive calcium prevents absorption
of magnesium and some sources now suggest we need as much (or even more)
magnesium as calcium.
- Magnesium is necessary to relax smooth muscles (such as those in the uterine
wall), to help the body utilize B vitamins, and to help inactivate excessive
estrogens. Deficiency of this vitamin is widespread (especially in women
with PMS) and supplementation has been shown to remedy some cases of infertility
and repeated miscarriage. Magnesium can be depleted by chronic stress, alcohol,
high intake of phosphorus (found in beef, carbonated beverages, and food
preservatives), and excess consumption of sodium, vitamin D, and dairy foods
high in calcium. Please note: women with kidney disease should get physician
permission before taking magnesium supplements.
- Vitamin E supports development of a healthy uterine wall and placenta
and thus may help prevent miscarriage. Caution should be used when supplementing
this vitamin, however, as E can accumulate in the liver and become toxic.
- Vitamin C and bioflavinoids help strengthen the blood vessels lining the
uterine wall. When C is too high, however, it can decrease the absorption
of copper, a mineral necessary for ovulation, and increase the risk of both
infertility and miscarriage.
- Folic acid may affect both the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in their
job of regulating sex hormones. A deficiency in folic acid can increase the
risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and birth defects.
- Iron deficiency can affect the menstrual cycle, but too much iron (and
thus too much vitamin C which enhances iron absorption) can cause infertility
in people who suffer from a common disorder called hereditary hemochromatosis.
- Vitamin A deficiency can result in male infertility because this vitamin
is essential to sperm production.
- Supplementation of vitamin E has been shown to improve sperm quality.
- Vitamin B-12 has been shown to improve both sperm counts and motility
rates that are very low. The amount of B-12 required must be given by injection,
so a doctorís visit is necessary for this treatment.
- Zinc deficiency, even a marginal one, can cause male infertility. Supplementation
has been shown to increase both sperm production and motility, but continued
use over the long term may interfere with copper absorption.
- Amino acid L-arginine may improve sperm count and motility. Please note:
men with liver or kidney disease should get physician approval before taking
arginine supplements.
- Vitamin C can enhance sperm quality and prevent sperm agglutination.
For more information, see:
- Getting Pregnant: What Couples Need to Know Right Now
- by Niels Lauerson, M.D. & Colette Bouchez;
- Nutrition and Endometriosis
- by Nancy Edwards Merrill in Endometriosis Association Newsletter, Vol.
17, Nos. 5-6;
- A nutritional approach to male fertility
- by Gretchen Rose Newmark in Lets Live, August 1993;
- Preventing Miscarriage: A Guide to Healthy Pregnancy
- by Carolyn Reuben in LA Weekly, March/April 1990.
FastingFasting is used in many cultures for religious, spiritual, or healing
purposes and can sometimes be used to reverse infertility caused by an overload
of toxins. A therapeutic juice-fast (consisting of fresh fruit juices and vegetable
juices and sometimes herb teas and cooked vegetable broth) that lasts 10 days
or less is usually safe for most people. Be advised, however, that fasting should
not be tried while taking any kind of medication or when pregnant or nursing
and that vitamins and supplements should be discontinued for the duration of
a fast.
For more information, see:
- Food and Healing
- by AnneMarie Colbin.
HerbsHerbs can promote fertility over time by cleansing, strengthening, and balancing
the organs of reproduction. They are often used in combination and are best used
under the supervision of a qualified herbalist, especially when taking fertility
drugs. Please note that pregnant women should not use estrogenic herbs. Herbs
recommended for improving fertility include:
- Red Clover
- flower, rich in vitamins and minerals, nourishes the uterus, relaxes the
nervous system, balances the hormonal system, and may make the pH of the
vagina and uterus more conducive to pregnancy.
- Nettle
- leaves act as a tonic for the uterus, the hormone system, the kidneys
and the adrenals.
- Red Raspberry
- leaves are rich in nutrients (especially calcium) and contain an effective
uterine tonic. Some sources say red raspberry should not be used during the
first trimester of pregnancy.
- Don Quai
- root, rich in vitamin E, cobalt and iron as well as compounds called coumarins
(that relax smooth muscle such as uterine tissue), can promote fertility.
Don quai is best used between ovulation and menstruation and some sources
recommend it not be used during pregnancy.
- False Unicorn
- root acts as a uterine tonic and may remedy ovarian dysfunction.
- Black Cohosh
- contains phytoestrogens and is a potent uterine tonic used to balance
hormones. Black cohosh is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
- Kelp
- is rich in trace minerals essential for regulating hormones. Kelp's iodine
content may be helpful in preventing miscarriage caused by underactive thyroid.
- Wild Yams (different from the common store variety)
- contain steroid-like substances that trigger FSH and stimulate the ovaries
to release an egg.
- Ginseng
- can stimulate testosterone production in men.
- Pumpkin
- seeds are rich in zinc, a nutrient that can affect sperm count.
- Bee pollen
- rich in B-complex, has been shown to improve sperm production. It should
not, however, be used by anyone allergic to pollen.
- Saw palmetto
- berry is used as a male tonic and may improve fertility. Clinical trials
show it has a positive effect on the prostate gland.
- Sarsaparilla
- root contains substances used in the production of synthetic steroids
and is used as both a male and female tonic.
For more information, see:
- Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years
- by Susun Weed and
- Overcoming Infertility Naturally
- by Karen Bradstreet.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese MedicineAcupuncture is part of Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) - a system of healing over 2,000 years old. It is a holistic
therapy that treats each patient individually, taking into account physical constitution,
emotions, diet, lifestyle, and vital energy force. This vital energy,
called "chi", flows throughout the body and is key to diagnosis and treatment.
According to this system, disease is caused when the flow of energy gets disrupted
so acupuncture tries to find and open energy blockages via thin needles inserted
into appropriate points on the body. Acupuncture and TCM can improve fertility
in both sexes by working on the system that controls our hormones - the autonomic
nervous system. Millennia ago, before hormones were discovered, TCM focused on
naturally observable phenomena like the monthly flow of menstrual blood. TCM
doctors concluded that female infertility was caused by either deficiency or
stagnation of blood in the womb area, so treatment centered on correcting patterns
of disharmony. In addition to acupuncture, patients may also be asked to take
Chinese herbal tonics specific to their condition, get more exercise, reduce
stress, avoid eating specific foods, and warm certain acupuncture points by burning
a "moxa stick" close to the body. Be advised it is crucial that your acupuncturist
use disposable needles!
For more information, see:
- Endometriosis, Infertility & Traditional Chinese Medicine
- by Bob Flaws.
HomeopathyHomeopathy is a holistic method of therapeutic treatment discovered
in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann believed
the role of the physician was to stimulate a patient's natural healing mechanism
rather than override it using drugs. He developed homeopathy around the idea
that "like cures
like." This principle, called the Law of Similars by Hahnemann, was not at all
new - it was used for over 2,000 years by Ayurvedic physicians, was central to
the medicine practiced by both Hippocrates and sixteenth century physician Paracelsus,
and is the basis for our present-day system of immunization. Hahnemann soon discovered
the Law of Infinitesimals that says the smaller the dose, the more effective
against illness. Homeopathy views infertility as a sign that things are out of
balance. It treats each person as an individual and considers a patient's physical,
emotional, and mental states in order to select the homeopathic medicine most
similar to the symptoms presented. The medicine chosen is dilute enough to be
safe but strong enough to stimulate the patient's own natural system of healing.
There are
no side effects from homeopathic medicine.
For more information, see:
- How Natural Remedies Work
- by Jo Serrentino.
©
1997 by Virginia Balogh (CrystClear@aol.com) |
