Apr 7, 2019
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode three. Missed it the first time around? Well we’re back with a remastered version. Loved it back in the day? Re-listen and re-love it (and maybe pick up on some gems you didn’t hear when it first aired). This episode is meant to give you a glimpse at how herbs can be safely used in treating infertility. I could do an entire show just on herbs alone, so this is meant to give you the basics so you have a better understanding of how herbs might help and why exactly we are prescribing what we are. Herbs can seem scary for a gal that’s used to prescriptions and my hope is that this episode can shed a little light on not only how helpful they can be, but to help you feel more secure about how and why to use them. And if you are one of those that wants to do it all yourself, I’ll point you to some resources to find more information on your journey of self-discovery. For those of you that want to know why, but prefer to let a board-certified practitioner diagnose and prescribe, I’m going to tell you how to find one of those too. So let’s dive in.
Takeaways:
[4:20] Herbs are amazing tools to treat infertility and have been used by most cultures on the planet to enhance fertility for thousands of years. There is historical evidence that the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Indian cultures all used them in this fashion.
[5:57] The 8 Pillars and the philosophy behind enhancing fertility when using TCM is this. Balance the body out and it will get pregnant on its own. Truly it’s that simple.
If there is heat, cool it.
If there is cold, warm it up.
If there is dryness somewhere in the body, find it, find the herb that moistens that part of the body and use it.
If there is dampness, dry it.
If there is deficiency, supplement it.
If there are signs of excess, drain it.
[6:59] Western Herbalists like an “eye for an eye” treatment; western herbalists tend to get into the makeup of the herb and many of the herbs contain flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenoids. Eclectic medicine was a branch of American medicine which made use of botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices, popular in the latter half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries.
[9:22] TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is incorporated more into their everyday life and cooking. TCM can treat the unexplained and confusing occurrences in the body that sometimes Western medicine can’t.
[11:41] Aryuvedic uses the doshas.
The three doshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — are derived from the five elements. Also known as mind-body types, the doshas express unique blends of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. In Ayurveda, health is defined as the dynamic state of balance between mind, body, and environment. You can achieve and maintain a vibrant and joyful state of health by identifying your mind-body type and creating a lifestyle that supports your unique nature.
Continue Your Journey:
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine
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