Herbs For Fertility: Part 1 (The Offenders)

Most websites have simple lists of herbs suggested for women (and men) to take when trying to conceive. And often these same websites make very little mention about the herbs one should not take.

So that's why we're starting this section with The Offenders.

It is wise to check any and every herbal supplement and vitamin + herbal supplements for any of these listed herbs. And if you have any questions please call the manufacturer and/or a herbalist.

Herbs to Avoid When Trying to Conceive

• Black Cohosh


• Blue Cohosh


• Ginseng


• Pennyroyal


• Ginger


• Dong Quai


• Licorice


• Fenugreek


• St. John's Wort


• Echinacea


• Gingko Biloba


• Goldenseal

This is the scary part about online self-prescribing of herbs.

Typing in "Herbs for Fertility" in Google I hit my first site: The Fertility Shop.

The Fertility Shop has a link back partnership with Ovusoft, maker of fertility software and huge message board for women looking for support when trying to conceive.

The very first herb on offer is Black Cohosh.

Black Cohosh
According to their website: "Black cohosh is used primarily for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh, a phytoestrogen, is the most promising herbal remedy to treat mood swings, hot flashes and vaginal dryness associated with menopause. Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal, plant-derived substances that bind or activate estrogen receptors in various areas of the body. In post-menopausal women, phytoestrogens typically act as weak estrogens.

An improvement in overall menopausal symptoms, reduction in hot flashes and stimulation of vaginal changes were observed in a series of clinical studies in more than 800 women. Few or no toxic effects were observed."

No where in this blurb does it say you absolutely Must NOT take this herb while trying to conceive. It has been indicated in miscarriage and is used in folklore for at-home terminations.

Debbie Craig at Suite 101 advises: "Black Cohosh and Blue Cohosh - These two herbs should NEVER be taken while trying to conceive or while pregnant. They cause uterine contractions, which can lead to miscarriage during pregnancy. They can be taken, in very small doses and only under the supervision of a Midwife or Herbalist, during the last two weeks of pregnancy. Many 'herbal vitamin' products contain either black or blue cohosh, so always read the ingredient label."

I have used Black Cohosh to successfully treat hot flashes while on large doses of the steroid Prednisone. However you must not ever actively ttc while taking this herb.

Women who feel they are peri-menopausal or close to 40 and are trying to conceive think they can combat these early signs of 'menopause' and take Black Cohosh. I have seen 3 accounts of women doing this on Ovusoft and these women actively miscarried each pregnancy while on this herb.

Blue Cohosh

Please refer back to Black Cohosh as these herbs are related and often combined.

Sister Zeus writes: " Blue Cohosh contains at least two uterine contracting substances, an oxytocic effect, {oxytocin is a hormone produced during childbirth which causes the uterus to contract} and a substance called Caulosaponin which is a unique substance found only in Blue Cohosh which causes the uterus to contract. It is also an estrogenic herb meaning it contains estrogen-like substances and can have estrogen-like side effects (those with estrogen-dependent tumors should not use this herb). If you are not suppose to use the pill, then you should not use this herb unless under the guidance of your herbalist."

This herb is used in folklore to terminate pregnancies and in modern midwifery to encourage labour. This herb has no place in trying to conceive.

Pennyroyal

Kurt Cobain famously sang: "Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea/ Distill the life that's inside of me". Legend has it that his then girlfriend, Courtney Love, drank a cup of pennyroyal tea to induce an abortion at home.

While there's no certainty to the legend, the truth is this herb is incredibly dangerous, and not only to pregnant women.

Sasalog.com contains this information: "There are two forms of 'pennyroyal', American Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegoides) and European Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).

Pennyroyal is a well-known abortificant which causes the uterine muscles to contract, it is said to be very effective and is sometimes combined with Blue Cohosh, or mugwort.

If you wish to avoid damaging your unborn child, please stay away from this herb during pregnancy.

The essential oil of pennyroyal should NEVER be used orally/internally. It is a deadly poison. Several women have reportedly died very painful deaths from ingesting small amounts of the essential oil in an attempt to end suspected pregnancy."

Ginseng

According to Medical News Today Ginseng has been found to alter the health and cause abnormalities in rat embryos.

"The researchers tested the effect of various concentrations of a compound called ginsenoside Rb1 on nine-day-old rats.

They found that embryos exposed to more than 30 micrograms per millilitre of ginsenoside Rb1 showed signs of significant developmental abnormalities, including problems with their heart, eyes and limbs.

At the highest dose of 50 micrograms the problems were even more pronounced. The embryos were significantly shorter in body length and had fewer immature muscle cells.

Dr Chan said the study provided strong evidence that ginsenoside was capable of causing malformations in rat embryos - known technically as a teratogenic effect.

It was also possible that lower doses of compound led to more minor developmental problems which would not always be picked up."

Ginseng is offered on most Fertility stores online and should be avoided completely while trying to conceive.

This raises the question: Should men discontinue use of supplements containing ginseng while trying to conceive? How much ginseng does it take to alter the health of sperm?

Dong Quai/Dang Quia/Angelica

Dong Quai is an excellent herb for thinning the blood. When used in menstruating women it can increase bleeding and if taken while menstruating it can cause excessive loss of blood. Dong Quai has two very different effects on the uterus, it has the ability to stimulate contractions and also to relax the uterus thus inhibiting contractions. Which effect you get depends on how you prepare the herb.

For most women, with 'normal' menstrual cycles, Dong Quai would be a herb to avoid. However, for women with established infertility Dong Quai can be a successful addition to your herbal regime, if troubled implantation is an area of diagnosed infertility. I do not recommend women without diagnosed implantation issues to begin this herb.

According to Sister Zeus: "Dong Quai's relaxing effect on the uterus comes from the volatile oils contained in the root. Volatile means that the oils are easily destroyed. When the desire is to capture them, brew a medicinal tea or infusion. "Studies indicate that dang gui hot water extract regulates uterine and intestine contractions, relaxes the uterus and even inhibits spasms."1 The relaxing effect of Dong Quai is useful for dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).

When the desire is to stimulate strong, coordinated, regular contractions, for aiding in childbirth, stimulating delayed menstruation, and causing miscarriage/abortion, then a decoction, tincture or capsules are used. In these preparations the volatile oils are destroyed or not captured in the process; the simmering of the herb while making a decoction destroys the oils, leaving just the uterine stimulating properties, in a tincture the oils are not extracted into the alcohol, and capsules also seem to have the uterine stimulating properties as well, it is possible that the volatile oils are damaged or destroyed when grinding the root into powder for placement within the capsule."

I believe it is a herb that requires great skill to take and regulate and would not recommend it for many women. However, it seems Dong Quai is indicated for women with clotting issues who are not taking any sort of anti-coagulant therapy, like aspirin.

You must NOT take Dong Quai with any sort of anti-coagulant and it must not be taken during menstruation. It is recommended for women looking to increase their chances of successful implantation. Therefore I would recommend, with great caution, women take this herb after ovulation and cease taking it before menstruation begins. I would recommend taking it from 1dpo to 10dpo and must advise caution not to exceed
the standard dosage. Please, please, please consult a practioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine before starting this herb.

You must not take Dong Quai with warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), and others; ardeparin (Normiflo) and there have been numerous side effects reported. Take care with your sun exposure.

Healthline.com reports the following: "Stop taking dong quai and seek emergency medical attention or notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following rare, but possibly serious, side effects:

* an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
* unusual bleeding or bruising;
* a rash or a sunburn; or
* changes in skin color or moles.

Other less serious side effects have not been reported with the use of dong quai, although they may occur. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome."

Licorice

Licorice is another controversial herb when it comes to trying to conceive. Licorice can benefit the body in many ways and is a unique herb that has yet to be fully understood. However, recent reports indicate this herb isn't one to take during the conception period and pregnancy.

But anecdotal evidence suggests that licorice can help increase cervical mucous in women who do not produce enough cervical mucous to enable conception. Contrary to this are several websites that include licorice in this warning: "Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage."

My advise would be to pass on the licorice and find an essential fatty acid and increase your water consumption to increase cervical fluid.

Fenugreek

Again, this is an anecdotally supported herb for increasing cervical fluid because it helps the body stimulate all mucous production. Much like licorice it has some evidence but none has been adequately studied and the safety of the herb during conception and pregnancy is unknown. It is widely used to increase milk supplies for breastfeeding mothers.

VitaminStuff.com reports: "Fenugreek seeds contain diosgenin, a phytoestrogen compound that seems to mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen. Fenugreek has been used for many years as a form of natural hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. The diosgenin in fenugreek is thought to help increase libido lessening the effects of hot flashes and hormone-induced mood fluctuations; however, fenugreek is also traditionally used to promote weight gain and stimulate breast growth. In fact, fenugreek is often used as an active ingredient in natural breast enlargement supplements, and fenugreek sprouts are said to be particularly effective for breast enlargement."


St. John's Wort

NOTE: If you are taking this herb and trying to get pregnant you must speak with a herbalist. Dropping this herb suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms and increase incidences of depression and mania.

Babycentre.co.uk reports: "It is currently recommended that St John's Wort should not taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, if you are already taking St John's Wort for depression it may not be wise to stop suddenly in case you suffer a relapse. Speak to your doctor before deciding what to do. It may be that other medication would be safer.

At present the consensus is that it is probably best to stop taking St John's Wort at least a month before you start trying to get pregnant. This is because there is very little good quality research concerning its use and effect during pregnancy.

There is some evidence from animal studies that St John's Wort increases uterine (womb) muscle tone and so theoretically may lead to an increased risk of premature labour. Some animal studies show lower birth weight in male offspring. Hypericum, the ingredient in St John's Wort, also contains tannic acid, which may interfere with iron absorption. Iron is essential for a mother and baby during pregnancy.

The effect on the baby's central nervous system is unknown, although one study involving 30 breastfeeding women who took St John's Wort showed the babies to be more lethargic, drowsy and to have an increased incidence of colic when compared to a group of mothers not taking the medication."

If you have been taking St. John's Wort, or looking to take it, to help with symptoms of depression please consult your doctor. There is no shame in treating the symptoms of depression or anxiety and there are many, many safe options for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Echinacea

Echinacea is marketed as a herb you should consume to avoid infection, colds and the flu. However, there is little evidence that the herb is helpful when consumed during a cold, flu or infection. So it makes sense to take the herb before you get ill.

You might find yourself trying to conceive and preventing illness at the same time, so it makes sense to turn your attention to Echinacea.

"Other names that Echinacea goes by include comb flower, hedgehog, snakeroot, scurvy root and American cone flower. This supplement has become popular to use when you have a cold or flu. Its use is to stimulate the immune system." (Source)

Most people recommend women stop all herbal supplements unless working with a naturopath and Echinacea falls into this category. Most people don't realize but Echinacea should be used for no longer than 6 to 8 weeks. If you are taking this herb in a supplement you might be consuming average doses for longer than this period and most sources argue this is setting the patient up for an allergic reaction.

The same holds true for pregnancy. Because the herb Echinacea is noted in allergic reactions there is some arguement that the pregnancy might be exposed to this allergenic substance and the body could react against the pregnancy not the herb.

However, this is all speculation as there are no real herbal studies on Echinacea and pregnancy. So it's probably best to watch your consumption of the herb and avoid it while pregnant. However, minimal exposure to the herb shouldn't affect the body unless you are allergic to the herb.

There is some noted evidence that Echinacea can trigger Lupus flares so it must be avoided by patients with little or no immune system, which is contrary to the publications produced for the herb.

Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba has caught recent attention in the past decade as a super herb for brain function. I remember when starting university someone gave me a bottle of gingko biloba as a key to my studies. "The traditional Chinese uses of Ginkgo include the relief of asthma and cough, and to support brain function. Currently, Ginkgo is widely prescribed in Europe for conditions including brain dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease and erectile dysfunction, with more than 10 million prescriptions written worldwide in 1989." (Eclectic Physician

What most people don't realize is that Gingko is a blood thinner and must not be used with ANY drug that is contraindicated for blood thinners. It must be stated that European companies are looking towards Ginko Biloba as a form of contraception because the effect on the reproductive cycle and pregnancy is so pronounced.

In 2001, a US study found that Ginko is extremely toxic to developing fetuses and must not be used, ever, by pregnant women. Ginko is often added to many multi-vitamins as it is a rather 'trendy' herb for increasing brain performance and function.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is a herb that is used in many different multi-herb preparations. You will most likely find it in digestive, urinary, and cold prevention mixes. "Practitioners promote the use of goldenseal for a wide variety of conditions, including digestive problems (e.g., peptic ulcers, colitis), urinary tract irritation, constipation, poor appetite, bleeding after childbirth, painful menstruation, eczema, itching, ringing in the ears, tuberculosis, cancer, and other ailments. Some claim goldenseal stimulates the immune system and recommend it for colds. Goldenseal has been used on the skin (externally) to treat wounds, herpes sores, and other skin conditions. It is sometimes made into a tea and used as a mouthwash or as a douche." (Source))

Like Echinacea, Goldenseal has a high potential for allergic reactions. And these reactions can be quite severe, even fatal. However, most preparations involve small amounts of Goldenseal unless it is a single ingredient remedy.

Since detox programmes are becoming increasing more popular Goldenseal is finding itself into more and more herbal remedies. This is a rather worrying trend as Goldenseal has a history of being used to induce abortions.

James J Gormley writes: "Patients with central nervous system (CNS) problems, neuro-muscular dysfunction, hypoglycemia, hypertension, and respiratory and/or circulatory problems should avoid goldenseal, unless instructed to use it by a licensed physician; due to traditional use as an abortifacient, pregnant women, and those trying to conceive, should avoid this herb, altogether."

And, if you didn't think that was bad enough, Berberine, one of the active compounds in goldenseal, has a systemic wide effect on the body.

"Berberine is known to reduce sperm motility in bulls, which could cause fertility problems. Based on this information, men who are trying to conceive may wish to avoid goldenseal until human studies are done. In pregnant women, there are concerns that high doses of goldenseal might tighten the womb and cause miscarriage or early labor. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use goldenseal unless further studies show it to be safe." (Source)

Other offenders include: Borage oil, Comfrey, Elder, Henbane, Horsetail, Motherwort, Nutmeg, Rue, Shepherd's Purse, Uva Ursi, Yarrow

I have not gone into great depth because I don't believe many women come into contact with these herbs unless they are using them for a particular purpose and are already taking these herbs in a specific remedy. You must consult a herbalist if you are taking these remedies and wish to conceive.