Chinese herbs & aromatherapy for infertility

Chinese herbs & aromatherapy for infertility

There are many different causes of infertility in men and women. The main cause of infertility in men is low sperm count. This may be due to constitutional and environmental factors. Chinese medicine can be used to increase blood flow and body temperature, which can help improve sperm count. The same herbs used for this purpose can also improve a man's sex drive and sexual performance. There are also a number of factors involved in female infertility. A common cause of infertility is a blockage in the fallopian tube, which prevents the sperm and egg from meeting. Polycystic ovarian disease can also affect the timely release of eggs. Other gynecological health problems can also cause infertility, such as endometriosis, salpingitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia. At other times, there may be no structural or physical condition causing the infertility. While Chinese medicine and aromatherapy cannot determine the physical factors that cause infertility (this requires diagnostic testing), they can often address some of the causes of infertility once the cause is discovered.

In clinical research studies in China, the Chinese herbs Leonurus (Yi Mu Cao) and Siegesbeckia (Xi Xian Cao) have been shown to open blocked fallopian tubes when used together. The majority of women responded to treatment within 10 days. The blockages in these cases were due to thickening of the tube lining, excessive mucus secretion, partial blockage with scar tissue, inflammation, or infection. One agent that may be well suited to treating this condition in combination with Chinese herbs is the enzyme serrapeptase. Serrapeptase breaks down scar tissue and cystic tissue in the body while promoting blood circulation.

For women suffering from polycystic ovarian disease, a number of herbs and essential oils may be useful. Saw palmetto berries are known to block the production of testosterone, which is known to cause the disease. Chasteberries can help reduce the tendency of ovarian cysts to form and balance a woman's hormones. Cypress essential oil used topically may also reduce the formation of cysts. In general, in Chinese medicine, women with this condition often need to have moist heat removed from the lower burner. They also often suffer from Kidney Yin deficiency as well as Qi and blood congestion in the lower burner.

For women whose mucous secretions are killing their husband's sperm, this could be a condition of excessive congestion and acidity in the body, which can be corrected through diet and lifestyle changes and the use of herbs and essential oils. Changing body chemistry through holistic means can increase the likelihood of conception.

There are also a number of essential oils that can help balance a woman's hormonal and reproductive systems while promoting fertility. Geranium, clary sage and rose essential oil nourish a woman's system and help return it to homeostasis.

Often there is no diagnosable reason or reason for infertility. In these cases, Chinese medicine can be very effective in bringing a woman's mind, body and spirit back into harmonious balance and making her more receptive to conception.

Chinese herbs can also be used to maintain a healthy pregnancy once conception has occurred. Certain herbs such as Xu Duan (teal root) and Tu Si Zi (cuscuta) are traditionally used to prevent miscarriage and promote healthy pregnancy. A certain percentage of miscarriages cannot be prevented (25%) because they are caused by genetic abnormalities in the fetus. However, in other cases, herbs can help increase the chances of pregnancy over a nine-month period.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways Chinese medicine and aromatherapy can be used to increase the likelihood of a couple conceiving a child while preparing the woman emotionally and physically for conception and pregnancy.