Fertility boosting herbs I love!
I've assembled a GO TO collection of my favorite herbs and teas to support healthy digestion, liver detoxification, hormone balance and a healthy and robust corpus luteum!
There are so many herbs and tinctures floating around claiming to support fertility that it can be hard to narrow down what ones can support you the best and what ones could potentially do more harm. That's why I love this list of herbs below because they are gentle and can truly be a great addition to nutrient dense diet and healthy lifestyle.
*Disclaimer:
This is not medical advice and you should always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement.
Ashwaghanda
Ashwaghanda is thyroid balancing, helps support stress resiliency, it increases progesterone, reduces inflammation, can increase sperm count, volume and motility, and helps decrease prolactin.
Nettle
Helps reduce oxidative stress, lowers inflammation, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar, rich in vitamins and minerals needed for healthy ovulation
Red Raspberry Leaf
Helps to strengthen the uterus and pelvic area, contains Vitamins C, E, A, B Vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus all needed for healthy ovulation and a robust corpus luteum
Chamomile
Anti inflammatory, a powerful antioxidant, can support healthy LH levels, supports healthy tissue growth in the uterus, ease period cramps and can be supportive for those with PCOS.
Schisandra Berry
Helps to lower estrogen and prolactin
Rehmannia Root
Supports the liver and kidneys, reduces oxidative stress, reduces inflammation, supportive of the reproductive organs especially for heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic congestion pain. It also helps restore thyroid and adrenal function.
Ginger Root
Reduces inflammation, promotes blood flow and oxygen to the uterus, promotes stronger follicular development and increases implantation success, high in antioxidants as well as minerals and vitamins! Supports the liver and also is a powerful tool for digestion including getting rid of bad bacteria.
Dandelion Root
Stimulates digestion & upports liver detoxification to promote healthy and balanced hormones.
Women’s Balancing Tea
This is a great BANG FOR YOUR BUCK TEA! Contains peppermint leaf, raspberry leaf, nettle leaf, ginger root, dandelion leaf, oatstraw, horsetail, chamomile flowers, and rose petals.
Of course you're probably wondering why I skipped over some of the biggest and most popular herbs you are used to hearing about..
things like vitex, dong quai, wild yam or black cohosh.
Vitex- Chaste Berry
This is one women go to often but it is not appropriate for many. While it can be supportive if you are not ovualting/ short luteal phase, it can REDUCE fsh levels and increase LH levels- making this a NO NO for women with PCOS. Since you could be walking around undiagnosed PCOS I do not recommend this unless you KNOW what your hormone levels are.
Dong Quai
This one is supposed to promote healthy estrogen levels, reduce pms and promote healthy cycles. It does have estrogenic effects however, so if you are suffering from estrogen dominance- it could make that worse. It also has been potentially carcinogenic if used in larger amounts and for longer periods of time. Lastly, it can impact body's ability to clot properly so that it something to keep in mind.
Wild Yam
This one is often thought to promote progesterone production but it does not unless it has usp bio-identical progesterone added to it. It can also promote estrogen levels which again is not ideal for those with estrogen dominance.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is thought to stimulate the pituitary to support fsh levels and hopefully balance out fsh:lh levels particularly in women with pcos. It is also supposed to support progesterone production. This one can boost serotonin which in highly anxious people could already be high (we don't want it too high) and it also has been shown to potentially increase liver enzymes.
While I believe that these can deserve a time and place for particular women, I think overall they need some guidance for use.
As always - before adding in any supplements it's always important to have nutrition foundations and a healthy lifestyle in check first! Herbs can be supportive in conjuction with nutrient dense foods, adequate sleep, movement, sunlight and reducing stressors.
I don't like to put too much emphasis on them - but I think adding them in as a daily tea not only can boost your minerals but also support your fertility.
Thanks for stopping by, friend!
Xo,
