Transcript Fertility Herbs – Angela Hywood ND

Core Herbs for Fertility
Angela Hywood, ND
BSc (Complementary Medicine); Dip App Sc
(Naturopathy); Dip Phyto; Dip Hom; Dip CN; Dip
Core Herbs for Fertility
 Tribulus
 Shatavari
 Turmeric
Tribulus for Fertility
 Tribulus is one of the best-researched examples of
the use of a steroidal-saponin containing herb in
botanical medicine for its endocrine effects
 Tribulus leaf is a popular herb in Europe for the
treatment of adrenal fatigue, male and female
fertility, menopause and andropause
Stuthe J, Fletcher M, Lambert L, Penman K, Lehmann R, Kitching W, De Voss J. Chemical
Constituents of Chamaelirium luteum. Poster presented at 50th conference Society of
Medicinal Plant Research (GA) in Barcelona. Spain. Sept 2002
Tribulus Quality Issues
Buyers Beware!
Bulgarian clinical trials utilized 40% furanosterolic
saponins by UV-Vis, with the plant part being the
aerial parts (leaves and stem)
 Chinese and Indian sources typically specify the
fruit analysed at 40% by gravimetric methods
– Gravimetric 40%
– UV
3% by Bulgarian method
 Raw Herb results
– Fruit
0.5%
– Aerial parts 3.5%
Tribulus Quality Issues
Quality Issues
Quality issues do influence clinical outcomes:
 This is because a herb is biologically rather than
chemically defined and:
 may be incorrectly identified
 may vary in chemical content
 may be inappropriately assayed
 active compounds are often unknown
 processing may enhance or detract from quality
 Let the practitioner and consumer beware!
Shatavari
 When translated, Shatavari means:
“She who possesses a hundred husbands”
 It is considered both a general tonic and a female
reproductive tonic
 Shatavari is the main Ayurvedic rejuvenation tonic
for the female (Withania for men)
 Shatavari is used for sexual debility and infertility in
both sexes. It is also used for menopausal
symptoms and to increase lactation
Shatavari
 Shatavari is highly effective in improving fertility
 It tones and nourishes female reproductive organs
and regulates ovulation
 Shatavari is beneficial in amenorrhea,
dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea and pelvic inflammatory
diseases
 Shatavari increases the white blood count and
stimulates macrophages which helps to combat
candida and genitourinary infections
http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-4.pdf
Shatavari
 It is a sweet and bitter herb which is said to be
particularly balancing to Pitta dosha
 Shatavari is regarded as a remedy from the
rasayana group
 Rasayana literally means the path that rasa or the
primordial tissue takes
 A remedy that improves the quality of rasa should
strengthen or promote the health of all tissues of
the body
http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-4.pdf
Shatavari
 Shatavari nourishes the female reproductive organs
and prepares them for conception
 It also prevents miscarriages and is useful as a
post partum tonic
 A clinical study performed in the Department of
Gynecology & Obstetrics, Ayurveda Hospital, Nepal
on The Effect of Shatavari in Threatened Abortion
and High Risk Pregnancy, showed 90% of the
mothers had successful, healthy pregnancies and
deliveries when using shatavari
http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-4.pdf
Shatavari
 Shatavari can be effective in increasing male
fertility
 This was shown in a comparative study, between
Clomiphene” (a medicine which helps in male
infertility) and shatavari
 With shatavari, spermatogenesis increased greater
than with Clomiphene, and with shatavari, a higher
percentage of healthy sperm were seen
http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-4.pdf
Shatavari
 Shatavari has shown an anti-fungal (anti-candida)
function due to its macrophage-stimulating activity in a
study published in J Post Grand Med, by Reg N.N. et al
19931
 A comparable study, using candida as the subject
organism, was done with metronidazole and standard
immunomodulatory peptide therapy
 This showed increased dose dependent phagocytic and
killing capacity by shatavari-strengthened macrophages2
1
J Post Grand Med, by Reg. N.N. et al 1993
2
http://www.vedicsociety.org/the-herb-called-shatavari-a-gift-for-women-a-267.html
Shatavari
 Another study performed by the Department of
Microbiology, Nepal, showed antimicrobial activity
against the following bacteria that are frequently
present in urinary tract infections: E. coli,
Enterococcus fecalis, Proteus unisatriles, and
Pseudomonas species
 The same study showed antimicrobial activity against
the bacteria S. dysenterecea, which is responsible for
acute dysentery, colic pain, blood in the stool as well
as bacteria found in typhoid fever, S. Typhi, and the
Staph bacteria, Staphylococus aureus
http://www.vedicsociety.org/the-herb-called-shatavari-a-gift-for-women-a-267.html
Shatavari: Actions
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Tonic
Galactagogue
Sexual tonic/aphrodisiac
Adaptogen
Spasmolytic
Antidiarrheal
Diuretic
Shatavari:
Therapeutic Indications
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Estrogen modulation
Menopausal symptoms
Low libido
Promoting conception (fertility tonic for both sexes)
Insufficient lactation
Miscarriage prevention
As a tonic for general debility, fatigue, infections
http://www.vedicsociety.org/the-herb-called-shatavari-a-gift-for-women-a-267.html
Turmeric
 The important actions of Turmeric are antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and
DNA protective1
 Studies have found that Turmeric can help to
down-regulate genetic expressions of disease2
1
2
Sharma, O.P. Biochem. Pharmacol 1976; 25: 1811-1812
Ilbey YO Human Reproduction 2005 doi:10.1093/humrep/dep058
Turmeric
Research shows that it may even help fight infertility.
A team of researchers at Gujarat University has
found that curcumin, the principal constituent of
turmeric, is capable of ameliorating infertility caused
by aflatoxins, a family of plant toxins.
Many aflatoxins are known to affect sperm count and
its motility.
www.telegraphindia.com/1071231/jsp/.../story_8726359.jsp
Turmeric
The scientists, led by Ramtej Jayram Verma of the
department of zoology and biomedical technology, orally
fed olive oil spiked with aflatoxin to two groups of male
albino mice, one with curcumin and the other without.
While the animals whose diet included curcumin had
sperm with improved morphological characteristics, the
other group showed a marked reduction in sperm quality.
The findings are reported in the December 2007 issue of
the journal Fertility and Sterility. “We are, however, yet
to ascertain the mechanism behind the curcumin effect,”
says Verma.
www.telegraphindia.com/1071231/jsp/.../story_8726359.jsp
Treatment Aims for DNA Damage
 The major aims of treatment are:
 Treat the underlying cause of the DNA damage
where possible
 Reduce inflammation using anti-inflammatory
herbs
 Provide antioxidant support using herbal
antioxidants
Protocol for DNA Damage
Core Treatment
 Vitanox: 1 tablet twice daily
• Provide antioxidant support and also has
anti-inflammatory activity
Herbal Treatment of Varicoceles
 Antioxidant herbs such as:
 Turmeric
 Green Tea
 Rosemary
 Grape Seed
 Ginkgo Biloba
Tablet Protocol for Varicoceles
Additional Support
 Vitanox: 1 tablet twice daily
 Provide venotonic, vascular protective and
antioxidant activity
Conclusion
 Reproductive health is exquisitely sensitive to
characteristics of an individual's environment
(internal and external)
 The relative effects of these features may vary in
different parts of the world or even within a
country
 Workplace and industrial pollution, as well as
substances that are used commercially or in the
home, may pose the greatest threats
Conclusion
 It is essential to implement safe and effective
treatment protocols in order to:
 remove levels of accumulated toxicity
 provide protection against oxidative stress
 promote the health of nucleic acids (RNA/DNA)
 restore endocrine function
 Duration of treatment is approximately 4 months in
accordance to cycles of oocyte maturation and
spermatogenesis
 Continued gentle and safe support required during
pregnancy and breastfeeding
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Berris Burgoyne
Associate Professor Kerry Bone
and Francesca Naish
for their contribution to this lecture