Comments on: Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility

By: HCG Diet Dangers

HCG Diet Dangers — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 08:32:58 +0000

You know, there are a lot of crazy things out there but there is so much good to come from herbs. Great tips!

By: wayne

wayne — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:14:55 +0000

I agree. Excellent tips in this article.

By: Cathy Mifsud

Cathy Mifsud — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:52:22 +0000

Hi Sharon
I second what Anita says, check out http://www.westonaprice.org also if you are trying to source particular foods like raw milk / dairy, organic organ meats find your local WAPF chapter leader volunteer through the site, email them, they can help you.

Start taking the Fermented Cod Liver Oil.
Personally I would do IVF, I’d work on diet and I’d include lots of raw animal foods and fermented food like kefired raw milk.

ll the best x

By: sharon

sharon — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:39:13 +0000

hi, im currently going through ivf. my husband has a very low sperm count which makes it nearly impossible for us to concieve. we tried seeing a naturopath first but we got sick from the cocktail of very expensive pills she had us on. my question is do any of you no of a good sperm boosting thing we can try to increase his count.we will try anything . i hate the ivf processs its really taking its toll on my body, and its sucks as im myself fertile.

any advise would be appreciated.

By: Karen McElroy

Karen McElroy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:18:46 +0000

Hi Susun
I found your article interesting, but as a local naturopath & herbalist I have a few questions…..

Have you found that Wild Yam has changed the blood or salivary assay of progesterone?

There is no evidence (that I am aware of) that shows that Wild Yam or the derivative, diosgenin, are able to be converted in the human body to progesterone or LH/FSH for that matter. Certainly, these steroidal saponins can be used as precursors to steroidal hormones - but only through complex chemical steps (only in a lab - not the human body). The glycoprotein gonadotropins FSH & LH are specific hormones produced by the pituitary and not easily replicated. Certainly some herbs (such as Vitex) may act on the hypothalamic pituitary axis or locally at the ovarian level to increase hormone sensitivity or secretion - but they don’t get converted to hormones per se.
My understanding of Wild Yam is that it acts as a SERM (selective oestrogen receptor modulator).
In this way it may be possible that Wild Yam has an oestrogenic activity that will impact on fertility as you said.

I was also interested in the study on wild carrot and contraception….can you provide the reference for this please.

Thanks for your time. I look forward to your thoughts.
regards
Karen McElroy
Naturopath & Medical Herbalist