Herbs and Fertility

Skeptics contend that herbal remedies have little to no medical value, and to the uninitiated, it may seem like herbs are in a similar vein as other forms of alternative healing, such as aura balancing, Reiki and Rolfing, that are so prevalent throughout Los Angeles. Fertility specialists, however, are giving herbs a closer look as they search for better solutions to offer couples dealing with infertility. The fertility doctors at Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC), a prominent Los Angeles fertility clinic, are exploring using herbs as a way of improving fertility.

Why consider using herbs when doctors can give me real medicine?

Herbs ARE real medicine, but most people don’t consider them to be. Many of our patients here at SCRC are surprised to learn that many of today’s established medications actually come from plants. For example, the heart medication digitalis comes from the foxglove plant; the asthma drug theophylline is naturally found in tea leaves and cacao beans; taxol, used as a cancer treatment, is extracted from the needles of the Chinese yew tree. There is a litany of other examples of plant compounds that are used in modern medicine.

Is there really any solid evidence that herbs can help fertility?

Yes. Clinical studies on other animals suggest that certain herbs can definitely increase fertility. In one such recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, female rats with chemically induced infertility were given a traditional Ayurvedic herb called kovai (the scientific name is Coccinia cordifolia). The effect on the rats’ fertility was dramatic: the herb-treated group had 10 times the number of uterine implants as the control group did. Whether this can be translated to humans in a controlled clinical trial remains to be seen; however, the animal studies are very encouraging.

Herbs as one part of a comprehensive infertility treatment plan

While clinical studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that certain herbs have great potential as a fertility treatment, we at SCRC don’t believe that means we have a “magic bullet” to end infertility. As with other medical conditions, we are learning that in fertility problems, a single treatment is often not as effective as a combination therapy approach. For this reason, we consider herbs, along with other therapies from conventional and complementary medicine, to be one such part of an overall fertility treatment regimen.

How do I find out more about herbs as a fertility treatment?

Call SCRC at 866-477-9982 to speak to one of our friendly fertility consultants. They will be delighted to explain the details of our complementary medicine program. We can also schedule a consultation for you with an SCRC fertility specialist. If you prefer, you may also click here to contact us.