top of page

Botanical Medicine to Treat Infertility

fertility support naturopathic medicine

The correct use of Prescribed Botanical Medicine in therapeutic concentrations can be helpful in the adjunctive treatment of many reproductive conditions. Naturopathic Doctors are trained to use Botanical Medicines with a thorough understanding of their effects on the functions of the body. Botanical Medicine can be helpful in the adjunctive care of the following conditions:

​

  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Endometriosis

  • Fibroids

  • Luteal Phase Defect

  • Correct Hormonal Imbalances

  • Painful Menstrual Cycles

  • Mood Disorders

  • Thyroid Conditions 

  • Improve Ovulation Rates - Ovulation Induction

  • Improve Egg Quality and support Ovarian Reserve

  • Improve Sperm Production and Quality

  • Chronic Infections (Vaginal, Urinary, and more)

  • Help stabilize and balance the Immune System

  • Regulate the Menstrual Cycle to optimize Fertile Cervical Mucus production 

  • Help improve Endometrium Thickness for Embryo Implantation

  • Hirsutism (excessive hair growth)

  • Heavy Menstrual Cycles (Menorrhagia)

  • Absormal Uterine Bleeding (Metorrhagia)

  • Absent Menstrual Cycles (Amenorrhea)

  • Menopausal Symptoms (Hot Flushes, Cardiovascular Health, Bone Health, Mood Imbalances, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding and Irregular Menstrual Cycles)

  • Reduce Miscarriage Rates

  • Improve overall Energy & Mood

​

Botanical Prescriptions can be made in a Tablet, Capsule, or Tincture form depending on Patient Preference.

​

Herbal Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

​

How does Herbal Medicine used in Naturopathic Medicinal Treatments improve Fertility?

​

The way a herb affects the body varies by the type of herb. Depending on what is causing the fertility issues, the correct herbal treatment is prescribed to help promote hormonal balance. Herbs can gently work to correct the Hormonal system by improving the body's production of Reproductive Hormones, protecting the function of the Reproductive Hormonal Secretions by reducing the effect of Cortisol on the Pituitary gland, creating optimal balance between Progesterone and Estrogen production in the appropriate phases of the cycle to facilitate optimal uterine lining growth and its blood circulation, and decreasing the effect of other hormones which may decrease the healthy functioning of the reproductive organs. Herbs can also address issues with the immune system, they can calm the immune system when it is over-reactive and help increase its function when there are chronic infections (chronic vaginal infections can affect reproduction and sperm health). There are many more important effects herbs can have on the body to help improve Fertility naturally, and depending on the cause of Infertility the right herbs must be prescribed in the correct dosage and preparation.

​

What is the Optimal Treatment Duration?

​

Everybody's body is unique and the effects of herbs on a patient vary accordingly. Patients can start to see improvements in their health and hormonal balance from anywhere between 1-12 weeks, some may work faster or slower depending on the cause of infertility and each individual patient. Patient compliance is very important to support positive progress in your health. Herbal medicine can help to promote hormonal balance and support healthy reproductive function, helping to create an optimal environment for conception.

​

I am already taking other medications, can I still use Herbal Medicine?

​

Naturopathic Doctors make sure that prescribed herbs do not interfere with prescribed medications. If there are any risks, your Naturopathic Doctor will make you aware of them before prescribing. Using herbs that do not interact with your medications, or herbs that support the function of certain drugs, is advantageous because it allows for a greater positive impact on your health.

​

How often do I need to see my Naturopathic Doctor?

​

This will vary depending on each patient, based on their own health conditions and timing of any In Vitro Fertilization (or other Assisted Reproductive Techniques) cycles (if applicable). After the initial consult at the Ottawa Integrative Health Centre in Ottawa, ON, Dr. Singh, ND recommends most patients to monitor for changes in the first 4-6 weeks with a follow-up at 6 weeks to adjust the dosing of the herbs if required. 

Herbal remedies are powerful agents when it comes to the treatment of hormonal imbalances. They have an ability to achieve changes in the hormones and chemistry that may not be possible with conventional medications. In particular the use of adaptogenic herbs helps to lower the production of cortisol, can help improve energy, reduce feelings of stress and energy, and build resilience against psychological and physical stress. This is a valuable mechanism because lowering cortisol levels in a patient who has chronic stress helps to improve blood flow to the reproductive tract and reproductive organs. In fact, high levels of psychological stress have been suggested in animal studies and limited human trials to decrease blood flow to the uterine lining and reduce the chances of successful implantation for an embryo. 

 

Herbal Treatments for Endometriosis

 

Herbal extracts have been shown to achieve some powerful shifts in the body to help reduce the symptoms and potentially growth of endometriosis. Specific herbal formulas have been shown to help improve progesterone production from the corpus luteum, and this can have a suppressive effect on the growth of endometriomas. Herbal remedies can also limit the production of inflammatory cytokines from the immune system which help to reduce pain, reduce the spread of endometriosis, and reduce inflammation around the tissue. They can also help to excrete excess estrogen in the body in cases of estrogen dominance (where estrogen levels are persistently higher throughout the month in comparison to progesterone levels), downregulating the stimulatory impact of estrogen on the endometriosis. 

 

Herbal Treatments for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

 

Herbal formulas can help to decrease circulating androgen hormones. Androgen hormones continue to push the body in the hormonal imbalance that defines PCOS. By decreasing androgens we allow the body to increase its chance of ovulation naturally as well as improving the body's natural progesterone production. Additional herbal treatments can help to stimulate ovulation by modulating the secretion of two hormones from the pituitary gland in the brain (luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone) which signal the ovary to grow more follicles and ovulate. Certain herbal formulas can also support healthy insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, a key part of the treatment to conceive naturally when overcoming PCOS.

 

Herbal Treatments to Improve Egg Quality

 

Certain herbal remedies have been shown in research to possess very high concentrations of important antioxidants. Antioxidants from these herbs help to reduce the total oxidative stress for the ovary and eggs, in turn helping to improve egg quality by reducing the amount of toxins which damage egg quality. This is very important in the treatment of infertility when you are age 35 or more as oxidative stress around the eggs increases and your antioxidant capacity to suppress this chemical stress noticeably declines. 

 

Herbal formulas can be used for so many different conditions that affect fertility in both male and female patients. To discuss in more detail please schedule an appointment with Naturopathic Doctor Harsimranjeet Singh. 

bottom of page