The Green Pharmacy for infertility

October 10, 2005

Sun, 9 Oct 2005 20:10:01 -0700 (PDT)

JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo

The " Green Pharmacy " for Infertility

The " Green Pharmacy " for Infertility JoAnn Guest

Oct 09, 2005 20:08

PDT

In the early 1990s, there was a rash of articles

reporting that sperm

counts seem to have fallen significantly (about 40

percent) since the

1930s. We began seeing headlines like these:

" From Silent Spring to Barren Spring " (Business Week)

" What's Wrong with Our Sperm? " (Time)

" Downward Motility: When It Comes to Sperm, You're

Half the Man Your

Grandfather Was " (Esquire)

After these alarming articles appeared, however, some

studies reported

that all is well and the typical ejaculate still

contains 100 million

sperm, just as it did 60 years ago. But these studies

have to be

weighed

against others reporting a sperm count closer to 60

million, a

substantial decline.

In Search of Sperm

Among other responses to the studies, researchers

began asking what

could be causing the decline. Some evidence suggests

that pesticides

and

other pollutants are estrogenic, meaning that they

have chemical

effects

that mimic those of the female sex hormone. Expose the

male of the

species to enough estrogenic chemicals for long

enough, and you get a

feminization effect, including a lower sperm count.

Here's some of the evidence that feminization is, in

fact, taking

place:

In Lake Opopka, Florida, there was a big spill of an

estrogenic

pesticide in 1988. Subsequently, male alligators

developed abnormally

short penises, reproductive impairment and female-like

hormone levels.

In the lower Columbia River in the Northwest, juvenile

male otters have

testicles that are only one-seventh normal weight.

They, too, show

evidence of exposure to estrogenic chemicals.

Florida panthers were exposed to the estrogenic

pesticide DDT for

years,

and they ate other animals that were exposed. Panther

fat has high

levels of DDE, a DDT breakdown product. The panthers

also have

unusually

high levels of abnormal sperm, low sperm counts,

undescended testicles

and thyroid dysfunction.

A growing number of scientists are calling for

controls on all of these

estrogen-like chemicals. I think we should listen to

them. But guess

who

disagrees? The chemical industry.

No surprise there. I just hope that we figure out

whether this falling

sperm count is real, and if it is, what we're going to

do about it to

keep the human race reproducing.

Infertile Territory

Infertility is now generally defined as an inability

to conceive after

six months to one year of trying. An estimated 20

percent of couples

have trouble conceiving. While it appears that falling

sperm counts may

be part of the problem, rising maternal age is

certainly a factor, and

as women are having babies later in life, the risk of

infertility

rises.

Treating infertility has become a huge medical

industry during the past

few decades, with doctors doing everything from

prescribing fertility

drugs to arranging for test-tube babies (in vitro

fertilization). These

well-publicized procedures can cost up to $10,000

apiece.

While some infertility problems in women can be

addressed by having

children earlier, men need to try some tactics to

raise their sperm

counts. The following section highlights primarily the

natural

alternatives that can be helpful for men.

Green Pharmacy for Infertility

Infertility is a major heartache, and it may require

going the

high-tech

route. But before you try a high-tech solution, you'll

want to

thoroughly explore possible causes with your doctor to

find out whether

there are lifestyle or other changes that you can make

to improve your

chances of conception. And while you're at it,

consider some natural

alternatives.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and other foods

containing vitamin B6.

People who advocate micronutrient supplementation

often recommend

vitamin B6 for infertility. The best sources of this

nutrient, in

descending order of potency, are cauliflower,

watercress, spinach,

garden cress, bananas, okra, onions, broccoli, squash,

kale, kohlrabi,

brussels sprouts, peas and radishes.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale). According to reports of

research with

animals in Saudi Arabia, ginger significantly

increased sperm count and

motility. I hesitate to extrapolate one animal study

to humans, but

ginger is so safe and tasty that if I were troubled by

a low sperm

count

or poor sperm motility, I wouldn't hesitate to reach

for ginger tea,

ginger ale, gingerbread and dishes spiced with this

tangy herb.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng). California herbalist Kathi

Keville, author of

The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia and Herbs for Health

and Healing,

tells two stories of infertile men who started taking

ginseng,

schisandra and saw palmetto to build up their physical

stamina. Some

time later, both of their wives became pregnant.

While I wouldn't hang my hat on this anecdote, ginseng

has been revered

in Asia for centuries as a male potency and longevity

tonic. There is

some research with animals suggesting that ginseng

stimulates sexual

activity, and of course, you need that to conceive.

Guava (Psidium, various species) and other foods

containing vitamin C.

For treatment of male infertility caused by sperm

abnormalities or

clumping, vitamin C supplementation has been shown to

be as effective

as

several fertility-enhancing drugs. Melvyn Werbach,

M.D., assistant

clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of

California, Los

Angeles, School of Medicine and author of Nutritional

Influences on

Illness, suggests taking 1,000 milligrams a day.

(Although the Daily

Value for vitamin C is only 60 milligrams, taking this

much is

considered safe.)

Besides guava, other good plant sources of vitamin C

include bitter

melon, emblic, rosehips, bell pepper, red peppers and

watercress.

Herbal formulas for men. The Chinese herb cangzhu

(Atractylodes lancea)

dominates two formulas widely prescribed in China for

male infertility.

One, called hochu-ekki-to, contains 4 grams each of

cangzhu, astragalus

and ginseng; 3 grams of Japanese angelica; 2 grams

each of bupleurum

root, jujube fruit, citrus unshiu peel (a Japanese

citrus fruit); 1.5

grams of Chinese licorice root; 1 gram of black

cohosh; and 0.5 gram of

ginger. In one study, this formula boosted sperm

concentrations and

motility considerably after three months.

A similar formula called ninjin-to contains three

grams each of

cangzhu,

ginger, ginseng and Chinese licorice.

If you'd like to try either of these formulas, I'd

advise against

attempting to mix them up yourself. Instead, consult a

Chinese

herbalist.

Herbal formula for women. For women, Maine herbalist

Deb Soule, founder

of Avena Botanicals and author of The Roots of

Healing, offers several

fertility formulas. Here's the one she suggests most

often: two

tablespoons each of chasteberry, Chinese angelica

(also called

dang-quai) and false unicorn root and one to two

teaspoons of blessed

thistle steeped in a quart of boiling water for 15

minutes. She

suggests

drinking two to three cups a day four or five days a

week.

Jute (Corchorus olitorius) and other herbs containing

folate. For

years,

naturopaths have suggested folic acid, a B vitamin,

for women who are

infertile. And the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention in

Atlanta

have been urging pregnant women to get more folic acid

because it

prevents severe spinal birth defects.

Everybody's been touting folic acid supplements, but I

generally

recommend getting nutrients from foods whenever

possible, and there are

a number of foods that provide good amounts of folate,

the naturally

occurring form of folic acid. According to my trusty

database, the food

with the greatest amount of folate is edible jute, at

32 parts per

million on a dry-weight basis. This is followed by

spinach, endive,

asparagus, papaya, okra, pigweed and cabbage.

Noting that many of these same plants are well-endowed

with zinc, which

is critical to male reproductive vitality, I suggest

that this same

assortment of vegetables might also help the man of

the house.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and other herbs containing

zinc. Several

studies suggest that zinc deficiencies may be tied to

male infertility

and poor sperm quality. Good sources of zinc include

spinach, papaya,

collards, brussels sprouts, cucumbers, string beans,

endive, cowpeas,

prunes and asparagus. Simmer most of these together in

a big pot, and

you've got the makings of a good soup.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and other herbs

containing arginine.

Naturopaths often recommend supplementation with the

amino acid

arginine

for men with low sperm counts. They call for getting

four grams of

arginine a day. That's the amount found in about two

ounces of

sunflower

seeds.

Sunflower seeds are the highest entry for arginine in

my database at

8.2

percent on a dry-weight basis. Other herbs rich in

this vital nutrient

include carob, butternuts, white lupines, peanuts,

sesame seeds,

soybeans, watercress, fenugreek, mustard, almonds,

velvet beans, Brazil

nuts, chives, broad beans and lentils.

Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera). Ayurvedic physicians

feel about this

herb the way the Chinese do about ginseng, that it's a

tonic for the

male libido and sexual function, particularly erection

problems.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and other herbs

containing choline.

Scientists at the University of North Carolina School

of Medicine in

Chapel Hill have found that in male rats, a deficiency

of dietary

choline, one of the B vitamins, is associated with

infertility. I

hesitate to make too much of a single study done with

animals. But

reproductive systems in mammals are more similar than

different, and

getting a little extra choline probably can't hurt.

In my database, fruits of the bottle gourd, a

white-flowered vine

suggestive of gourds, are highest in choline at 1.6

percent on a

dry-weight basis. Other good herbal sources of choline

include

fenugreek

leaves and shepherd's purse. The following run well

behind in the

amount

of choline they contain but are still worth

mentioning: ginseng,

horehound, cowpeas, English peas, mung beans, sponge

gourd, lentils and

Chinese angelica.

Oat (Avena sativa). Oats make horses frisky and have

long been

considered a male sexual energizer, hence our phrase

" sowing his wild

oats. " Some herbalists suggest that oats boost male

human fertility as

well. You can get oats cheaply in oatmeal or more

expensively in

concentrated oat extracts found in many health food

stores.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Raspberry leaf tea is

usually recommended to

pregnant women to calm uterine irritability. But

animal breeders add

raspberry leaves to male animal feed to increase their

fertility.

Keville suggests that infertile men try raspberry leaf

tea. There's

little or no harm in it, and the tea is quite tasty.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/41/71.cfm

________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

October 11, 2005

I wish I had this info when I had infertility problems. I can't tell you all the expense, doctors, testing and finally a surgery I had to go thru for 2 years to get pregnant with my 12 year old. There is a reason my kids' ages are 22, 12 and 5! And my baby, Noelle Emmanuel, got her name because I was never supposed to be able to have her! She was the result of a nutritional experiment! It worked! She is not only a miracle, but a true blessing! She was my biggest motivation (as well as my other 2 kids) for survivng my cancer!

Blessings, Renee"Kelly W." <kellykebby wrote:

Sun, 9 Oct 2005 20:10:01 -0700 (PDT) JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjoThe "Green Pharmacy" for InfertilityThe "Green Pharmacy" for Infertility JoAnn Guest Oct 09, 2005 20:08 PDT In the early 1990s, there was a rash of articlesreporting that sperm counts seem to have fallen significantly (about 40percent) since the 1930s. We began seeing headlines like these: "From Silent Spring to Barren Spring" (Business Week) "What's Wrong with Our Sperm?" (Time) "Downward Motility: When It Comes to Sperm, You'reHalf the Man Your Grandfather Was" (Esquire) After these alarming articles appeared, however, somestudies reported that all is well and the typical ejaculate stillcontains 100 million sperm, just as it did 60 years

ago. But these studieshave to be weighed against others reporting a sperm count closer to 60million, a substantial decline. In Search of Sperm Among other responses to the studies, researchersbegan asking what could be causing the decline. Some evidence suggeststhat pesticides and other pollutants are estrogenic, meaning that theyhave chemical effects that mimic those of the female sex hormone. Expose themale of the species to enough estrogenic chemicals for longenough, and you get a feminization effect, including a lower sperm count. Here's some of the evidence that feminization is, infact, taking place: In Lake Opopka, Florida, there was a big spill of anestrogenic pesticide in 1988. Subsequently, male alligatorsdeveloped abnormally short penises, reproductive impairment and female-likehormone levels. In the lower Columbia River in the Northwest,

juvenilemale otters have testicles that are only one-seventh normal weight.They, too, show evidence of exposure to estrogenic chemicals. Florida panthers were exposed to the estrogenicpesticide DDT for years, and they ate other animals that were exposed. Pantherfat has high levels of DDE, a DDT breakdown product. The panthersalso have unusually high levels of abnormal sperm, low sperm counts,undescended testicles and thyroid dysfunction. A growing number of scientists are calling forcontrols on all of these estrogen-like chemicals. I think we should listen tothem. But guess who disagrees? The chemical industry. No surprise there. I just hope that we figure outwhether this falling sperm count is real, and if it is, what we're going todo about it to keep the human race reproducing. Infertile Territory Infertility is now generally defined as an

inabilityto conceive after six months to one year of trying. An estimated 20percent of couples have trouble conceiving. While it appears that fallingsperm counts may be part of the problem, rising maternal age iscertainly a factor, and as women are having babies later in life, the risk ofinfertility rises. Treating infertility has become a huge medicalindustry during the past few decades, with doctors doing everything fromprescribing fertility drugs to arranging for test-tube babies (in vitrofertilization). These well-publicized procedures can cost up to $10,000apiece. While some infertility problems in women can beaddressed by having children earlier, men need to try some tactics toraise their sperm counts. The following section highlights primarily thenatural alternatives that can be helpful for men. Green Pharmacy for Infertility Infertility is a major

heartache, and it may requiregoing the high-tech route. But before you try a high-tech solution, you'llwant to thoroughly explore possible causes with your doctor tofind out whether there are lifestyle or other changes that you can maketo improve your chances of conception. And while you're at it,consider some natural alternatives. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and other foodscontaining vitamin B6. People who advocate micronutrient supplementationoften recommend vitamin B6 for infertility. The best sources of thisnutrient, in descending order of potency, are cauliflower,watercress, spinach, garden cress, bananas, okra, onions, broccoli, squash,kale, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, peas and radishes. Ginger (Zingiber officinale). According to reports ofresearch with animals in Saudi Arabia, ginger significantlyincreased sperm count and motility. I hesitate to extrapolate

one animal studyto humans, but ginger is so safe and tasty that if I were troubled bya low sperm count or poor sperm motility, I wouldn't hesitate to reachfor ginger tea, ginger ale, gingerbread and dishes spiced with thistangy herb. Ginseng (Panax ginseng). California herbalist KathiKeville, author of The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia and Herbs for Healthand Healing, tells two stories of infertile men who started takingginseng, schisandra and saw palmetto to build up their physicalstamina. Some time later, both of their wives became pregnant. While I wouldn't hang my hat on this anecdote, ginsenghas been revered in Asia for centuries as a male potency and longevitytonic. There is some research with animals suggesting that ginsengstimulates sexual activity, and of course, you need that to conceive. Guava (Psidium, various species) and other foodscontaining vitamin C.

For treatment of male infertility caused by spermabnormalities or clumping, vitamin C supplementation has been shown tobe as effective as several fertility-enhancing drugs. Melvyn Werbach,M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles, School of Medicine and author of NutritionalInfluences on Illness, suggests taking 1,000 milligrams a day.(Although the Daily Value for vitamin C is only 60 milligrams, taking thismuch is considered safe.) Besides guava, other good plant sources of vitamin Cinclude bitter melon, emblic, rosehips, bell pepper, red peppers andwatercress. Herbal formulas for men. The Chinese herb cangzhu(Atractylodes lancea) dominates two formulas widely prescribed in China formale infertility. One, called hochu-ekki-to, contains 4 grams each ofcangzhu, astragalus and ginseng; 3 grams of Japanese angelica; 2

gramseach of bupleurum root, jujube fruit, citrus unshiu peel (a Japanesecitrus fruit); 1.5 grams of Chinese licorice root; 1 gram of blackcohosh; and 0.5 gram of ginger. In one study, this formula boosted spermconcentrations and motility considerably after three months. A similar formula called ninjin-to contains threegrams each of cangzhu, ginger, ginseng and Chinese licorice. If you'd like to try either of these formulas, I'dadvise against attempting to mix them up yourself. Instead, consult aChinese herbalist. Herbal formula for women. For women, Maine herbalistDeb Soule, founder of Avena Botanicals and author of The Roots ofHealing, offers several fertility formulas. Here's the one she suggests mostoften: two tablespoons each of chasteberry, Chinese angelica(also called dang-quai) and false unicorn root and one to twoteaspoons of blessed thistle steeped in

a quart of boiling water for 15minutes. She suggests drinking two to three cups a day four or five days aweek. Jute (Corchorus olitorius) and other herbs containingfolate. For years, naturopaths have suggested folic acid, a B vitamin,for women who are infertile. And the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention in Atlanta have been urging pregnant women to get more folic acidbecause it prevents severe spinal birth defects. Everybody's been touting folic acid supplements, but Igenerally recommend getting nutrients from foods wheneverpossible, and there are a number of foods that provide good amounts of folate,the naturally occurring form of folic acid. According to my trustydatabase, the food with the greatest amount of folate is edible jute, at32 parts per million on a dry-weight basis. This is followed byspinach, endive, asparagus, papaya, okra, pigweed and

cabbage. Noting that many of these same plants are well-endowedwith zinc, which is critical to male reproductive vitality, I suggestthat this same assortment of vegetables might also help the man ofthe house. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and other herbs containingzinc. Several studies suggest that zinc deficiencies may be tied tomale infertility and poor sperm quality. Good sources of zinc includespinach, papaya, collards, brussels sprouts, cucumbers, string beans,endive, cowpeas, prunes and asparagus. Simmer most of these together ina big pot, and you've got the makings of a good soup. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and other herbscontaining arginine. Naturopaths often recommend supplementation with theamino acid arginine for men with low sperm counts. They call for gettingfour grams of arginine a day. That's the amount found in about twoounces of sunflower

seeds. Sunflower seeds are the highest entry for arginine inmy database at 8.2 percent on a dry-weight basis. Other herbs rich inthis vital nutrient include carob, butternuts, white lupines, peanuts,sesame seeds, soybeans, watercress, fenugreek, mustard, almonds,velvet beans, Brazil nuts, chives, broad beans and lentils. Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera). Ayurvedic physiciansfeel about this herb the way the Chinese do about ginseng, that it's atonic for the male libido and sexual function, particularly erectionproblems. Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and other herbscontaining choline. Scientists at the University of North Carolina Schoolof Medicine in Chapel Hill have found that in male rats, a deficiencyof dietary choline, one of the B vitamins, is associated withinfertility. I hesitate to make too much of a single study done withanimals. But reproductive

systems in mammals are more similar thandifferent, and getting a little extra choline probably can't hurt. In my database, fruits of the bottle gourd, awhite-flowered vine suggestive of gourds, are highest in choline at 1.6percent on a dry-weight basis. Other good herbal sources of cholineinclude fenugreek leaves and shepherd's purse. The following run wellbehind in the amount of choline they contain but are still worthmentioning: ginseng, horehound, cowpeas, English peas, mung beans, spongegourd, lentils and Chinese angelica. Oat (Avena sativa). Oats make horses frisky and havelong been considered a male sexual energizer, hence our phrase"sowing his wild oats." Some herbalists suggest that oats boost malehuman fertility as well. You can get oats cheaply in oatmeal or moreexpensively in concentrated oat extracts found in many health foodstores. Raspberry (Rubus

idaeus). Raspberry leaf tea isusually recommended to pregnant women to calm uterine irritability. Butanimal breeders add raspberry leaves to male animal feed to increase theirfertility. Keville suggests that infertile men try raspberry leaftea. There's little or no harm in it, and the tea is quite tasty. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/41/71.cfm________________JoAnn Guestmrsjo-www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets AIM Barleygreen "Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future" http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

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