Fertility Herbs

In the majority of fertility cases, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help a woman’s body become more balanced and efficient, and help strengthen her body to be a more welcoming place to nurture a baby. Fertility treatments, including the processes of IUI and IVF, benefit immensely from complementary acupuncture and herbs, and can increase the chances of success for conception. Typically both elements are part of a treatment plan, but in indivual cases or special circumstances, the treatment plan can include herbs only.

Herbs can be a very important part of a Traditional Chinese medicine treatment plan, as they are integral in nourishing the body in ways that it may be deficient. Whereas herbs can be used to supplement needed nutrients into the body, acupuncture works in tandem because it is especially good at moving the blood, effectively circulating the nutrients and oxygen to all the parts of the body that need them. By working together, acupuncture and herbs efficiently help your body to be working at its optimal level, allowing it to become the fertile place it naturally can be.

I’m interested in talking about fertility herbs with Melani. What can I expect?

You can easily schedule an appointment to come in to the office for a full herbal consult, which lasts less than an hour.  During that time, I get a very thorough understanding of your health and reproductive history from a Chinese medical perspective, viewing the body as a whole. I am able to give a diagnosis that allows me to tailor a treatment plan specifically to the needs of your body, which is one of the core strengths of traditional Chinese medicine. A typical intake also includes a tongue observation and pulse diagnosis.

How much will herbs cost?

Customized herbs taken in powdered or raw form can cost roughly sixty dollars a week, or seven dollars a day. Whether the herbs are being delivered or picked up directly can affect cost as well.

Because Chinese medicine allows for tailoring to the specific nature of each patient’s fertility issues, I usually recommend customized formulas which can be altered in detail, and usually come in raw form to be boiled into a tea.  Depending on the patient’s preference and my recommendation, herbal formulas can also be taken in a simple pill form or a powdered form, which is mixed with water. 

Although it usually is not my first recommendation, herbs taken in pill form can be effective for some fertility issues, and are easy to ingest.  They are about ten dollars a week. The differences among the different forms can be compared to eating your vegetables: raw is most potent because the nutrients are least processed, powdered herbs can be compared to eating vegetables in frozen form, and pills to eating canned.

What herbs will I be taking while I’m trying to get pregnant?

Most herbal treatment plans include pre-ovulation (follicular) and post-ovulation (luteal) formulas.  These are highly specialized to accommodate the patient’s individual needs. In some cases, additional cycle-specific formulas are written for during ovulation and during menstruation.