Moveable barriers that inhibit fertility, you can be in control.
Have you tried everything?
“A healthy body is a fertile body” (Hechtman, 2016)
Structural issues caused by potentially occult diseases such as chlamydia can cause permanent damage as a result of chronic inflammation leading to sclerosis and subsequent scaring of the reproductive organs, specifically the fallopian tubes (DH, 2011).
In these unfortunate circumstances little can be done to physically alter this issue without surgery, however lifestyle, diet, exercise and herbal support can increase whatever chances of conception that you do have!
The following pages contain some useful information to assist you every step of your journey.
There are several layers that need to be considered in terms of making oneself more fertile, spiritual state, emotional state, mental state, chemical (hormonal) state and physical state, broken down into diet and exercise (Hosseini, and Eslamian, 2014).
As Nauropaths we holistically incorporate every facet that makes us who we are and how we live on a daily basis.
there are many sides to our psyche that require balance and nurturing. Ayuvedic practitioners refer to them as the ‘seven chakras’ or ‘the seven widows or bodies’ http://sevenwindowstothesoul.com/.
Some factors that can affect fertility can include but are not limited to:
Lack of Spiritually
feeling part of something bigger feeling connected.
Emotional, influences
past experiences may not have been dealt with and may still influence your body systems and or your thought processes, creating physical blockages and subsequent stagnation.
Mental, health and well being
how well you cope with the stresses of everyday can impact on your physical health, increasing adrenal function and subsequently increasing the wrong types of hormones.
Chemical, factors
insulin resistance due to a poor diet high in sugar and trans fats, perhaps the knock on effect of an over stressed lifestyle has hormones out of alignment, perhaps thyroid function could be improved.
Physical,
exercise releases endorphins, clears out toxic build up through the lymph and sweat glands, increases circulation which in turn clears out waste and stimulates transport of vital nutrients via the blood (HHP, 2009)
Social, expectations
of pregnancy at certain times in life creates insurmountable pressure from peers and family and from yourself, this can impact on your stress response (Oddens et al, 1998), triggering the adrenal glands and causing hormonal imbalance and excess cortisol in the blood, it’s not difficult to see how each issue impacts on or exacerbates the others, it’s almost like a routine self-sabotaging catch 22 situation.
The most common cause of infertility is anovulation. Literature suggests that lifestyle and dietary factors have a big role to play in this, preceding the malfunction of specific endocrine glands, and a systemic hormonal imbalance (Nhs, 2016).
Recipes, Food swaps, Naturopathic advice and Herbs
Strawberry, Pumpkin Seed, and Royal Jelly
(Thompson, 2014)
Preparation time: 3–4 minutes
Blending time: 2 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups halved strawberries, leaves and stems removed
1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 ripe banana, peeled
1 teaspoon royal jelly
1-1/2 cups water
2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
Method:
1. With the exception of the spinach combine all the ingredients in the blender and apply the lid.
2. Starting at low speed and gradually increasing toward high, blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds or until the mixture contains no visible pieces of fruit.
3. Add the spinach and blend again at medium speed for 15 to 30 seconds, gradually increasing the speed to high. Blend on high speed for another 15 to 20 seconds or until the entire mixture is smooth.
4. Pour the smoothie into two glasses and enjoy!
Per serving: Calories 229 (From Fat 108); Fat 12g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 31mg; Carbohydrate 27g (Dietary Fibre 6g); Protein 9g.
Royal jelly is fed to the queen honeybees to increase their size and ovarian health. It is produced by glands of the worker honeybees. You can easily see why royal jelly is a food known for fertility, and perhaps even one of the most potent natural fertility boosters there is.
Take them during preconception, but after you know you’re pregnant, set the superfood powders aside and focus more on whole foods.
Interchangeable foods include:
(Rodroguez, 2016)
· Almonds for their zinc content
· Papaya, blueberries, oranges, strawberries, and kiwi are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants, and that’s important for keeping your immune system strong.
· Maca powder is known to increase sex drive, so add that to your smoothies to help get things started!
· Magnesium rich foods, green leafy veg.
· Dopamine pre curser foods, all animal products, almonds, apples, avocado, bananas, green tea, oatmeal, and probiotic and fermented food, to name a few (Alban, 2016). http://bebrainfit.com/increase-dopamine/
Exercise and Lifestyle
Idealistically, every part of your life should emulate what it is that you are trying to achieve. Taking care of your body and what you put in it is one avenue but attention must also be paid to other aspects of your life.
Your emotional and mental health is as imperative as your physical fitness. Your spiritual and social health also play vital roles in your well-being (HHP, 2009).
Exercise, increases blood flow, flushing out stagnated waste accumulation and increasing endorphins and oxytocin (Clark et al, 1998).
Rebounding, clean out your lymphatic system by getting on the trampoline, bounce yourself pregnant!
Swimming, is a good all over work out, that gets the blood moving, isn’t taxing on the joints and can be very relaxing.
Hip opening yoga poses can help clear unwanted energy and blockages from your base chakra, assisting in the flow of “chi” in and around your reproductive organs, yoga also helps with the lymph system cleanse and drain lymphatic fluid (Wills, 2008).
Lots of water, at least 2 litres of water should be drank per day throughout the day, if you find your urine is still quite concentrated and yellow, try and drink another half-litre gradually increasing a cup at a time until it is a pale yellow, if it becomes clear reduce your water intake by a cup at a time, you should be aiming to urinate approximately 7 time daily (Popkin et al, 2011).
Fats for hormones, omegas 3 and 6 are needed to make your vital hormones, they are also anti-inflammatory and heal the gut wall (Phelan et al, 2011).
Ginger and cinnamon, are both blood cleansing, cinnamon also balances blood sugar, ginger can help to regulate your period, and is good for flushing out old and stagnant menses, once pregnant though doses should be reduced to culinary specifically cinnamon (Rowe, 2014).
Smile more, endorphins relax, reduces stress hormones and enhance conditions for a good night’s sleep, take at least half an hour to an hour out of every day to mindfully relax. Have a baby making evening off, watch a comedy, have a coffee table buffet full of tasty (not processed) snacks (Alban, 2016).
Other things that can help:
· Socialising, positive thinking
· Enemas and colonic hydrotherapy
· Bowel cleanse
· Skin brushing
· Hobbies
· Support network/support group
· Sole
· Pro and pre-biotics
· Bitters
· Liver detox
· Juicing
· Master cleanse
-Hoola Hooping (Saltin, 2000)
Herbs for encouraging the right conditions for fertility
Paeonia lactiflora
Regulates menses and enriches/tonifys the blood and supports the liver works well with Glycyrrhiza glabra (Shen-nong, 2005).
Vitex agnus castus
Works on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, stabilising reproductive hormones.
Not recommended to be taken with fertility drugs (Rooney and Pendry, 2014).
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Supports the liver and adrenal glands, contributes to hormone production, help to heal a leaky gut (Vibha et al., 2009).
Dioscorea villosa
Hormonal regulator, smooth muscle relaxant and uterine tonic, whilst supporting the liver and the nervous system, works best with the help of health gut flora, take with probitoics (Schuster and Dhula, 2016).
Trifolium pratense
Provides phytoestrogens, tonifys smooth muscle including vessel walls, improving blood flow, acts as an anti-inflammatory and protects against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. (Burdette et al., 2002)
Angelica sinensis
Stop using this herb immediately after conception occurs. Stimulates the production of hormones, reduces the production of androgens, and stimulates blood circulation (Ling et al., 2012).
Mitchella repense
Reduces heavy menses, regulates the cycle, uterine tonic, needs to be used correctly do not self-prescribe (Schuster and Dhould, 2016).
Valeriana officinalis
Antispasmodic relaxant for the central nervous system and smooth muscle groups (Greive, 2016).
Scutellaria lateriflora
Used for calming the mind and the nervous system, tonic, another anti-inflammatory, stimulates blood flow to the reproductive organs, should not be used in pregnancy (Sarris et al., 2013).
Taraxacum officinale
Liver cleanser, laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, stimulates bile secretion and digestive enzymes (Shutz et al., 2006).
Mahonia aquifolium
Liver support and detoxification of hormones, laxative, anti-inflammatory, digestive support and stimulation (Sturluson, 2016).
Arctium lappa
Supports and detoxes the liver, diuretic helps flush the kidneys, stimulates the skin as an elimination organ (Barron, 2016)
References:
ALBAN, D., 2012-2016. How to Increase Dopamine Naturally. Available: http://bebrainfit.com/increase-dopamine/. [Last accessed 10/04/16].
BARRON, J., 2016. Blood Cleansing Herbs & Supplements | Barron Report. Available: http://jonbarron.org/blood-cleansing/cleansing-your-blood#.VxHThqQrLIV. Last accessed 10/04/16
BARTON-SCHUSTER, D. and DOULA, C., 2016. Wild Yam: Herb for Reproductive System Support in Women. Available: http://natural-fertility-info.com/reproductive-system-support-for-women-with-wild-yam.html. Last accessed 10/04/16.
CLARK, A., THORNLEY, B., TOMLINSON, L, GALLETELY, C., and NORMAN, R., 1998. Weight loss in obese infertile women results in improvement in reproductive outcome for all forms of fertility treatment. Human Reproduction. 13 (6), 1502-1505.
GREIVE, M., 2016. Valerian. Available: http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/valeri01.html. [Last accessed 10/04/16].
HARVARD HEALTH PUBLICATIONS, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL (HHP), 2009.The psychological impact of infertility and its treatment. Available: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/The-psychological-impact-of-infertility-and-its-treatment. [Last accessed 10/04/16].
HECHTMAN, L., 2016. Fertility and Infertility. Available:
http://www.naturalhealthfertility.com/Blog/288/Fertility-and-Infertility.cfm. [Last accessed 01/04/16].
HOSSEINI, B., and ESLAMIAN, G., 2014. Association of Dietary Factors with Male and Female Infertility: Review of Current Evidence. Thrita Student Journal of Medicine. 3 (3), 1-9.
LING, F., XUE-FENG, X., CHANG-XIAO L. and XIN, H., 2012. Recent Advance in Studies on Angelica sinensis. Chinese Herbal Medicine. 4 (1), 12-25.
MARGARET C., 2001. Treatments for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Family Practice. 18 (6), 644-646.
NHS ENGLAND, 2015. Infertility Causes. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Infertility/Pages/causes.aspx. [Last accessed 10/04/16].
ODDENS, B., DEN TONKELAAR, I. and NIEUENHUYSE, H., 1998. Psychosocial experiences in women facing fertility problems—a comparative survey. Human Reproduction. 14 (1), 255-261.
PHELAN, N., O'CONNOR, A., KYAW TUN, T., CORREIA, N., BORAN, G., ROCHE, H. and GIBNEY, J., 2011. Hormonal and metabolic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: results from a cross-sectional analysis and a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover tri. Clinical Nutrition. 93 (3), 652-662.
POPKIN, B., D’ANCI, K. and ROSENBURG, I., 2011. Water, Hydration and Health. PMC. 68 (8), 439-458.
RODROGUEZ, H., 2016. The Natural Fertility Diet: How to Eat for Optimal Fertility. Available: http://natural-fertility-info.com/fertility-diet. [Last accessed 10/04/16].
ROONEY, S., and PENDRY, B., 2014. Phytotherapy for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A review of the literature and evaluation of practitioners’ experiences. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 4 (3), 159-171.
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SALTIN, B., 2000. Exercise and Circulation in Health and Disease. Leeds: Human Kinetics. 93.
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