Herbs for Fertility

It seems more and more people are having trouble conceiving these days. Healthy couples in their 20’s who are ‘doing everything right’ are struggling with this issue. I myself have endured 2 miscarriages and 2 ectopic pregnancies. I was told by doctors that I may never be able to carry a baby to term before I discovered the wonders of supporting my fertility naturally. I now have 2 beautiful daughters and I am thankful for the nourishment I was able to give to my body to be able to bring them earthside!

There are many factors that can influence your fertility and you should always consult with your doctor or midwife about using any plant medicine while trying to conceive. These plants have been used traditionally to support, tone and nourish your body to provide the best environment for a healthy pregnancy to take place.

Most of these herbs can be found growing in the wild if you are a forager and up for gathering them. They can also be easily purchased from a health food store and used just the same. There are many more herbs out there that can be used for fertility, in this article I will be highlighting my top three.

1) Stinging Nettle

One of the most nutritious and medicinal wild plants in existence, this is an herb not only great for boosting fertility, but nourishing your entire body at any point in your life. One of North America’s greatest superfoods in my opinion, it comes loaded with vitamins and minerals. It is especially high in Vitamins A, C & K, Iron, potassium, manganese and calcium. Nettles contain high amounts of chlorophyll which has been known to include benefits such as improving detoxification, digestion, weight control, skin health and is a strong antioxidant. In addition to being used as a tonic for women’s reproductive health this herb is commonly used for kidney and bladder problems, arthritis and osteoporosis and strengthening the adrenal glands as well.

One or more cups of nettle tea daily for several months begins to tone and nourish the uterus and prepare the woman’s body for conception and sustaining pregnancy. This herb is commonly used throughout the entire pregnancy. You should always consult your doctor or midwife before doing this however.

This plant grows everywhere in the united states and particularly likes stream beds and undisturbed areas, the best time to go looking is in the spring and harvest while the plants are young, before they flower and seed. Be cautious because the plant does give off a light stinging or burning sensation. They are fairly easy to identify, but that notorious sting, will always help you confirm for sure!

Before consuming this plant, you will want to steam or blanch in boiling water to dispel the sting. I usually make infusions with this herb when using it medicinally, but if you would like to try it as a food, it is delicious sauteed in butter or used in pesto! One of my fondest memories of living the the Willamette Valley of the Pacific Northwest is making nettle pesto! It grows abundantly there because of the heavy rainfall and this is something I looked forward to doing every spring with my family. Infusions and tea can be made easily by hang drying the herb, using a screen or a dehydrator. When using this method, I recommend using about an ounce of dried plant matter in a court glass jar and covering with boiling water, screw the lid on tight and let it steep at room tempurature for a good 4-24 hours. You can also easily purchase teas from most health food stores or online from Mountain Rose Herbs.

2) Red Clover

This beautiful plant is red clover, it has an incredible amount of health benefits that have been used by wise women and shamen traditionally over the years. These benefits include supporting healthy hormone production for fertility and menopause, blood, heart, respiratory, immunity, skin and breast health. Red clover is a source of many nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. Red clover is a rich source of isoflavones (chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants).

Many women have had success with for its fertility boosting properties. After several months or a year of drinking a red clover infusion daily there have been countless stories of women getting pregnant. It is very useful traditionally for women who have struggled with scarring in the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and irregular periods.

Red clover is one of the easiest plants to forage yourself. You may see it in your own backyard or growing right along the sidewalk. It’s growing season is early summer and you can identify it by it’s pinkish purple pom-pom shaped flower. It’s leaves come in a group of 3 and the plants can grow about a foot tall.

My favorite way to prepare red clover for fertility is an infusion. The same way you would prepare the nettle infusion. Start by drying the flowers or using purchased dried flowers, use about an ounce of the dried plant matter in a court glass jar and covering with boiling water, screw the lid on tight and let it steep at room tempurature for a good 4-24 hours. Men and women, drink one to four cups a day. You can also easily purchase teas from most health food stores or online from Mountain Rose Herbs. Some people do not like the slightly bitter taste that red clover has and I have heard many herbalists recommend using mint in your infusion to add a nice flavor. You can use the fresh flowers in a salad or a garnishment to any dish as well!

3) Oatstraw

This miraculous, nutrient dense plant has been known to improve reproductive health for men and women! It is used for a wide variety of ailments and supports health tremendously. People have claimed health benefits such as, lower anxiety levels when consuming oatstraw, as well as healthier bones, teeth, nerves, blood vessels and milder menstraul cramps. It can be used with many benefits for the entire pregnancy process including conception, pregnancy, post-partum and lactation (always consult your midwife or doctor before use).

Oatstraw is high in organic calcium, this type of calcium (as opposed to in-organic calcium) is much more absorbable than a supplement by your body. Oat straw contains high amounts of vitamin A and C, as well as many B vitamins including B 6, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine. It contains low amounts of vitamins E, and K. Oat straw is rich in minerals such as calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, silicon, and sodium; and contains low to average amounts of cobalt, manganese, potassium, tin, and zinc. Additionally, oat straw contains protein and some amino acids such as arginine, histadine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan.

Oatsraw is also known to be helpful for fertility as a powerful afrodesiac, so not only is is supportive of the nutrients for baby making, but also can help get both men and women in the mood for it! You may want to keep it around for the toddler years to help keep yout nerves calm.

Disclaimer: The statements presented above have not been evaluated by the FDA. The suggestions offered on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases. Always check with your physician before taking any supplements. Do not take if you are allergic to any of these products.