Herbal Remedies & Supplements for TTC

**CeeCee** · August 15th, 2008, 06:53 PM

Hello
I have seen my acupuncturist again this morning, and she is concerned that my ovaries and womb may be too cold... and so the progesterone may not be reacting as it should. As a result, she has put me onto some chinese herbs which unfortunately are in powder format rather than tablet. Not nice...

They should help my liver, spleen and general indigestion, progesterone and general well-being. Here's hoping. I am feeling a bit more in control I must say, through taking the herbs, having acupuncture and seeing the FS. So, as a result feeling more positive. In saying that I am at 11 dpo, day 25 of a 28 day cycle. Hard to keep my mind off anything but the dreaded upcoming AF possibility!
Ceecee

**Lynsey** · October 9th, 2008, 01:13 PM

Hi!

I am currently taking Vitamin B6 and Vitex. I was hoping that someone, anyone, everyone could help me with this question:

I've read that you shouldn't take Vitex once you know that you're pregnant as it can increase the odds of miscarriage. Is this true? Also is there something else I could switch to once I've discovered that I'm pregnant to help the pregnancy stick? I've read that False Unicorn Root may be helpful.

Thanks in advance ladies!

Lyns

**MumofLewis** · November 2nd, 2008, 06:18 AM

I am trying the natural route after DS#1 was conceived using IVF.

I am having acupuncture once a fortnight and have started taking TAO HONG SI WU YANG capsules as prescribed. I think after 7 days I will be changing to something else.

I have unexplained infertility so am hoping as I carried one child my body will let me do it again.

**Justin Keane** · November 2nd, 2008, 05:47 PM

Hi mumoflewis, that is a famous and very popular formula due to its simplicity and effectiveness. It is often prescribed premenstrually and during menses to aid in the shedding of the endometrium. This improves the quality of the lining in the next cycle, often, other formulas are given as nessecery to effect different stages of the uterine and/or the ovarian cycle.
GL with your journey!

**emstar** · December 15th, 2008, 10:49 AM

Hi all! I went to a chinese herbalist on Saturday. My periods are very regular, every 28 days but for some reason I'm not falling preg. DH is fine and apparently I'm ok...

The herbalist said my body is too hot! I know about people who've been too cold to fall preg but I'm too hot! ha. Also I have very low yin and yang energy.... which i could tell anyway - I've been struggling to do much at all for months now

so have been told to cut out:
red meat
spicy food
deep fried food
mangoes
cigarettes (pretty obvious one)
cut down alcohol

and I have to boil these herbs every day. yucky!!!!! Am going back this Saturday.

I'll let you know if this works, have a feeling it will!

**Hannahchem** · May 26th, 2016, 01:58 PM

Chinese herbs have been proven as an effective and natural way to treat many conditions and ailments with great success over the past years in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). The herbal remedies and supplements are lab tested for maximum potency and free of heavy metals, allergins, sulphurs, and pesticides, which should be necessary.

**OriginalP** · January 9th, 2009, 07:44 AM

Justin & Lyndsay, interesting posts on Vitex. My naturopath has prescribed it to me yesterday to try and boost low progesterone levels and sustain me through to the 12th week of pregnancy. Ie - to prevent MC. I have great faith in my naturopath - she's a Jocelyn Centre acolyte and helped us get pregnant after three years TTC, so she's more than wary of putting anything at risk. Hard to know what to think.

OP.

**patricia scutt** · May 1st, 2009, 11:34 AM

Hi Justin,
I respectfully disagree with your statment that over the counter supplements are rubbish. They have worked for me helping my body prepare for the conception of my second child, a gorgeous boy named Max. But I didn't just take a supplement, I went for a change in lifestyle too and tried accupuncture. I guess the combination worked very well for me even though I was 5 years older than in my first pregnancy. Did not feel comfortable at all though with Chinese or Brazilian herbs... I found them a bit scary...

**Baby Dreamtime** · May 1st, 2009, 12:50 PM

Hi WLAB, just saw your post re folate, I am taking a 5mg folate for MTHFR, I had to ask for it specifically at the chemist, it was behind the desk. Incidently cheaper that the stanard 500mcg tablets. I take 2 x Blackmore sPregnancy daily also, the folate in this is so small it is not really a double up.

**JellyBean** · May 1st, 2009, 01:25 PM

Hi Justin,

I am currently taking Blackmores Preg & Breastfeeding Supplement (no. 2 is on the way- yay!), although I am coming to the end of my supply. My Naturopath seems to think this supplement is fine, but please advise if there is a better pregnancy supplement available that you recommend.
Also, the Omega source in blackmores comes from Tuna Oil - and I know it says on the packaging that the tuna is screened for mercury - but it still makes me a little nervous.
The pregnancy supplement I took in the United Kingdom with DS1 was organic, and it contained hemp seed oil as the main source of Omega so mercury was not an issue there. Are there any preg supps in Aust that contain vegetarian Omega sources?

Ta!

**Cassius2** · May 1st, 2009, 01:41 PM

hi guys!

hoping to get some insight here on the best way to move forward regarding preparing my body for the TTC train...

some background that may help 'enlighten': I have had endometriosis in the past, and had low chance of conceiving without IVF measures; went to a homeopath and started a big regime of medication to get my body balance into shape and fell pregnant within 6-7 weeks of treatment; had a beautiful little girl!

more recently i have been battling with chronic tonsillitis (approx 9 months constant) and this affected my iron levels (level of 2 ATM). was prescribed an iron supplement but this in turn strengthened the tonsillitis so switched to spirulina 500 (currently taking 4 a day).
my tonsils have been taken out now and i am taking my spirulina and probiotics (dr prescribed ones).

SO, (gosh took forever for me to get to my point

), was wondering if there were stronger supplements that i could take to improve my health and get my iron back into action. ideally we would like to start TTC at the end of the year, but the GP thinks that my iron is shot for at least the next 12 months...

TIA

**Justin Keane** · May 1st, 2009, 07:13 PM

Hi jellybean,
If your naturopath is happy, then I too would be happy, this is their specialty and I would like to think my advice was 2ndary to the experts in the field. I must qualify my previous statement re over the counter supplements, in that it was in the context of the treatment of a medical deficiancy, and how I approach the treatment of a couple ttc ;-)
Please ask your naturopath re vegetarian sources of omega 3. I use a seperate supplement for this (panaxea) and it's from wild caught sardines and anchovies. I use this b/c I read a paper about the effect of the diet of farmed salmon on the quality of the fatty acids. The vego thing is interesting though I will mention it to Nic next week.

Cassius, same for you, check with your naturopath, Nicole at BB is awesome and successfully treated my wife for iron deficiancy, previously I have given iron in tablet (practitioner only) and liquid (otc)form concurrently to hasten the re-establishment of iron. There are a few paths open to you, the best advice is to act on that given personally rather than on forums etc if that option is open to you. All the best in your journey, let me know if I can help out further, perhaps we'll see you in the centre soon!

**katleen** · August 10th, 2009, 12:49 PM

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over a year now. I am now seeing a fertility specialist who prescribed me (1) Letrozole (to take on days 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7), Premarin (0.625 mg) (to take starting on day 8) and Duphaston (to take starting on day 3 after ovulation). In addition to these I also take Materna (prenatal vitamines ) and red raspberry leaf tablets (both every day whole cycle)

My question is: is it safe and recommendable to also take herbal supplements, such as Evening Primrose Oil tablets (period till ovulation) and Flax Seed Oil tablets (after ovulating) in addition to the hormonal supplements my specialist prescribed?

**liddy105** · August 31st, 2009, 01:08 PM

Hi everyone,

This is my first post so I hope I do it right

My husband and I started TTC no. 2 last month and through charting I discovered I have a 10 day luteal phase (it used to be 11 but has dropped).

I've started taking 25mg B6, 1000mg EPO and 620mg Vitex. I'm also taking the Blackmores prenatal vitamins. I was planning on only taking the EPO & Vitex up until ovulation and then stop. Does anyone know whether this combination is safe and/or effective? I've taken Vitex previously and found it worked well when I was taking it full time but after reading different reports on it's safety after ovulation I'm not sure whether taking it for only the first half of my cycle will be helpful or actually unhelpful?

I've read so much conflicting information about Vitex and B6 that I've totally confused myself. I really don't want to end up with a stuffed or anovulatory cycle.

**CharlieBrownGirl** · August 31st, 2009, 01:18 PM

Hi Liddy,
You're not alone in your confusion re: Vitex and EPO.
Last cycle I took both Vitex and EPO up until O'ing and stopped. It resulted in a longer LP, 14/14 = 28 day cycle.

I consulted with my Chinese Herbalist who said that taking Vitex through the entire cycle is not an issue, only STOP when pg.

HTH, tho its always recommended consulting with a professional when taking various medications.

All the best
CBG

**OriginalP** · September 15th, 2011, 08:59 AM

Hi Liddy,

My naturopath who works out of Darling Street Health prescribed me vitex in liquid form to help me with an irregular luteal phase after surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. I found it was very effective in getting me back to a nice 14 day phase.

Justin, the naturopath who responds on this thread, does not recommend vitex if you think you are pregnant. However, when I achieved my first pregnancy, my naturopath prescribed vitex in liquid form to help me keep the pregnancy. I took it faithfully until week 12. My son is now two years old. I questioned my naturopath about the research I had seen that said vitex is not safe during pregnancy. She told me she had prescribed it to hundreds of women to avert miscarriage, and not one baby had been lost to date.

My advice regarding using vitex is to do so under the guidance of a practitioner that is extremely experienced in the use of herbal remedies for fertility support. In Sydney I would recommend The Jocelyn Centre or Darling Street Health. Don't go it alone on this one. Vitex has a dramatic and immediate effect on hormone production, but let a professional advise you on what to do.

Cheers,
OP.

Hi everyone,

This is my first post so I hope I do it right

My husband and I started TTC no. 2 last month and through charting I discovered I have a 10 day luteal phase (it used to be 11 but has dropped).

I've started taking 25mg B6, 1000mg EPO and 620mg Vitex. I'm also taking the Blackmores prenatal vitamins. I was planning on only taking the EPO & Vitex up until ovulation and then stop. Does anyone know whether this combination is safe and/or effective? I've taken Vitex previously and found it worked well when I was taking it full time but after reading different reports on it's safety after ovulation I'm not sure whether taking it for only the first half of my cycle will be helpful or actually unhelpful?

I've read so much conflicting information about Vitex and B6 that I've totally confused myself. I really don't want to end up with a stuffed or anovulatory cycle.

**miloro** · January 8th, 2011, 06:34 PM

After reading this thread I went to see a Naturopath who advised me to take B6, vitex and preg vitamins. I also take EPO and Vit E. Don't know if this combo is going to improve LPD and help to get our BFP but I have felt calmer with moods and bbs hurt much less. They usually ache most of the month due to fibroid adenomas.