Fertility, Homeopathy and You
Infertility is defined as the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. This 'title' receives recognition when a couple has been trying for over 12 months, when under the age of 34 and 6 months when over the age of 35. It can also be a title donned on a woman who has yet had the opportunity to carry a pregnancy full term. These titles are simply words, and it is my belief that they can further hinder a couple who are already discouraged. It could be argued that words cannot hinder a biological happening, but I disagree. In fact I think that is an error of modern medicine, when it fails to link the mental and emotional state of a person to their physical well-being.
Complementary health is finally gaining recognition in the area of fertility and rightly so. There are some simple ways to help increase a couples chances of conception and also some less expensive routes to getting professional care on the journey to parenthood. Below are some easy suggestions, as well as an explanation of homeopathy in regards to fertility and how I can help.
Your diet can be a very important factor in increasing fertility. An Alkaline diet is recommended by eating foods, such as bean sprouts, peas, and milk, can offset acidity in the cervical mucus, which can inhibit sperm. This also means avoiding acidic foods, such as red meat, citrus, tomatoes and black tea. It is also recommended that you eat foods rich in vitamin E, like vegetable oils, nuts, and eggs, to help protect fatty tissues, which assist in conception. Foods containing essential fatty acids, such as seeds, legumes, and oily fish, are also good.
It is never too early to start on a pre-natal vitamin; some experts recommend that this is begun 6 months to a year before a planned conception. In the very least including folic acid and vitamin B supplements are highly recommended. It is difficult to get sufficient amounts through food sources such as broccoli and spinach, so taking these supplements would be helpful. These are to help avoid anaemic deficiencies that are associated with infertility. Some practitioners also claim that supplements of vitamin B6 may raise levels of progesterone in women with irregular or absent periods.
When shopping for supplements, it is my recommendation to go to health food stores or Comlimentary clinics, so that you are getting food and/or organic derived supplements. Studies have shown that synthetic supplements, which are most often found in pharmacies, are not absorbed by the body in the same manner and thus less effective.
There are also many herbal remedies that are thought to increase fertility, but I caution against self-prescribing as herbs are still chemicals in their own right and can have adverse effects if taken in access or improperly. When there is a desire to use herbs it is best to consult a practitioner who is trained in prescribing them. Please remember that someone who works at a vitamin store may be well aware of their products, but is not necessarily trained in the way those products interact with other herbs or medicines that you may be taking, and how to manage ongoing care.
Those are a few things that you can do to increase your fertility. If, after that, you would still like some assistance you may consider homeopathy.
Homeopathy is a non-invasive treatment that acts as a 'kick-start' to re-engage the body in its own natural function. It is the belief of homeopaths that when a body is not functioning as it should, this is due to a blockage in the body's own vital force, or energy. These blockages can lead to physical dysfunction or an actual physical manifestation. Either way it is the job of the homeopathic remedies to get the body to engage its own healing power to correct this imbalance.
I have worked with many couples who are undergoing IVF treatments, and honour their choice to do so. I have seen evidence of the homeopathic remedies increasing the effectiveness of the IVF treatments by helping to raise, or balance, important hormones such as FSH (Follicle-stimulating Hormone) levels, help strengthen sperm and the effect of the implantation.
However, the majority of the fertility treatments, that I do, tend to be with people who have been diagnosed with 'unspecific' infertility. This technically means that there is no biological explanation for a couple to be unable to conceive.
In homeopathic fertility treatment, we first sit down and have a discussion session where I ask you to share your present and past medical history, as well as your past and present emotional history. It can be very difficult for some people to talk about themselves for over an hour, but it is essential for me to understand all the pieces of your 'health puzzle'. Once I have that information I am able to analyse it and conclude a remedy, or protocol of remedies, that is best for you as an individual. Once you have this remedy, the purpose is to raise the bodies innate vitality, which would help in areas such as energy levels, sleep and pain, but most importantly in the case of fertility, would help to reconnect energetic pathways and prepare the body for its optimum ability to conceive. I often recommend that both the potential mother and father come for treatment, as their is only good that can come from strengthening the vital force of both of you.
I am a parent myself and would love to help you feel the same joy. If you or a friend that you know struggles with or is nervous about fertility, please come in to my office at Effective Health Solutions and see me.