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Boosting fertility levels
I had my first child 16 months ago and at 39, am now very keen to conceive again. Are there any herbs I can take to boost my fertility? A good start might be to take something to re-regulate my monthly cycle again which does not seem to have settled back down.
One of the combination essences in the increasingly popular Australian Bush Flower Remedies range includes a plant called She Oak, which produces fruit that are the exact same size and shape as human ovaries. In traditional herbalism, this is known as the Doctrine of Signatures - which describes the notion that a plant will often give you a clue as to what it should be used for.
There is no clinical evidence proving any of these flower essences work but possibly only because nobody has initiated trials to test their efficacy. What does exist is an impressive body of empirical evidence - i.e. patients and practitioners reporting back that they work - and so taking Woman essence, which contains the She Oak, would be a good start.
The other less well known but traditional herb used to help re-regulate the menstrual cycle and prepare the body for pregnancy is the delightfully-named False Unicorn (Chamailirum luteum). The root of the plant has long been used as a uterine tonic and was chewed by Native American Indian women to help prevent miscarriages.
Contemporary research has shown how the root contains compounds called steroidal saonins, which have a normalizing effect on the ovaries but the same plant can also be used to help overcome male infertility too. One reason it may be so effective is that it is a rich source of zinc - a nutrient that is crucial for reproduction in both sexes but which is a very common deficiency in kids and adults. You can further swing the odds in your favour of a pregnancy by taking a therapeutic dose of 30mg of zinc a day.
*Woman essence is available from Ancient Roots (020 8421 9877). There are no restrictions on the sale of False Unicorn root but it is not commonly sold over-the-counter. That said, Fresh & Wild, the organic food and natural remedies chain which will be launching a new nationwide mail order service this month, does sell it. For details call 0800-0323456.To find a qualified traditional herbalist in your area contact The National Institute of Medical Herbalists on 01392-426022.