Alternative Medicines
Infertility is a condition in which a woman has unprotected sexual intercourse and does not conceive a child for 12 consecutive months. For any woman who has a strong desire to have a child, this can be devastating; not only emotionally and physically, but financially as well. The traditional methods for combating infertility consist of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), artificial insemination, a myriad of drugs, and other assisted reproductive technology (ART). As wonderful as these advances in medical technology are they carry a tremendously high price tag and unfortunately, many people cannot afford these high tech treatments. Therefore, women have begun to turn to alternative medical treatments to overcome their infertility issues.
Alternative medicine is any form of medicine that is outside the ‘normal’ medicine that the general population is accustomed to. This can range from different herbal remedies, philosophies, and beliefs. Examples of alternative medicine used to treat infertility include acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathic remedies.
Acupuncture is an old Chinese medical practice in which tiny needles are inserted into a patient’s skin, at various depths, along certain points on the body. It is believed that the human life force (Qi) flows through the body in pathways or meridians and by accessing one or several of the 350 acupuncture points on the body, these meridians can be altered to relieve pain and other medical conditions. Acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for female infertility. According to Chinese medicine, the kidney system controls the reproductive system by affecting the blood flow to the pelvic cavity. Accessing the Live Qi Stagnation (pathway) during the precise time of a woman’s menstrual cycle can actually clear this congestion and within several months, conception can occur.
Although many women boast about the benefits of acupuncture to cure their infertility, you should always be careful to thoroughly research this option and the acupuncturist that you will be seeing. Furthermore, acupuncture may not be able to cure all types of infertility and is traditionally used to treat functional problems associated with infertility such as irregular ovulation as opposed to structural problems. For example, if a woman is infertile as a result of a tubal adhesion caused by another disease, then acupuncture may not help.
Herbal remedies are another type of alternative medicine that more and more women are turning to in order to overcome infertility. The use of herbal remedies to treat infertility can be traced back as far as 200 A.D. and the belief that special plants can increase the chance of conception by having a positive effect on the reproductive system. An herbal remedy is one that originates from plants such as berries, bark, leaves, plants, and roots. Taken by both men and women, herbal medicines can assist with problems such as hormonal imbalances, irregular menstruation, erectile dysfunction, and sperm mobility issues.
Here are the top 5 herbal remedies for women’s infertility problems:
1. Red Clover — Taken once a day orally, as a tea, red clover is high in vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. This is extremely useful in nourishing the uterus and relaxing the nervous system thereby enabling conception.
2. Raspberry Leaf — This herb is most effective when taken along with red clover. Being very high in calcium, raspberry leaf works to restore hormone balances.
3. False Unicorn Root — Similar to raspberry leaf, this herb will work to restore hormonal balances while also stimulating the ovaries and encouraging ovulation.
4. Lady’s Mantle — This remedy is taken as a tincture, once a day and can assist in the building of the uterine lining and in regulating menstruation.
5. Stinging Nettle — Containing high levels of chlorophyll and minerals, this herb is great at regulating hormonal imbalances, menstruation, and ovulation. It is normally taken in tea form once a day.
A third equally common alternative remedy for treating infertility is homeopathic remedies. A homeopathic remedy is a substance that is derived from plants, animals, and/or minerals. They are put through a rigorous process of dilution so that they maintain their healing properties but do not contain any molecules of the original substance. Available in liquid, pellet, or tablet form, it should be taken three times a day for up to three days, under the supervision of a trained professional. A few of the most common homeopathic remedies include sepia 6c, sabina 6c, aurum, silica, and phosphorus. These all work to treat irregular or non-existent menstruation, ovulation, depression, and loss of sex drive.
With the evolving advances in medical technology, there are just as many advances in alternative medicine. Whether it is new techniques or just more information on old methods, there are so many options available to women who are suffering from infertility. But no matter what methods a woman chooses to combat infertility, it should always be done under the supervision of a certified medical doctor or a highly trained, licensed professional.