A Boost from Two Berries Chasteberry acts like a mild progesterone, says Dr. Collins. When you take it, you’re lending support to half of the progesterone/estrogen team. If infertility is the result of the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio being out of balance, chasteberry might tip the scales just enough to improve your chances of success.
Chasteberry is especially good for women who are just coming off birth control pills, says Dr. Brett. The pills seriously change your hormone levels to prevent conception. With chasteberry, you can help restore the levels that encourage conception.
This herb is also recommended for women who have had repeated early miscarriages, notes Dr. Collins. Early miscarriages are often the result of a progesterone deficiency. By taking chasteberry to help boost pro gesterone levels, there’s a chance that the herb can help prevent another miscarriage. She recommends the standard dosage, which is 175 to 225 milligrams a day.
Red raspberry leaf is another herb that can be used to increase progesterone levels, says Dr. Brett. It’s a phytoprogesterone, she notes, which is a plant that acts like progesterone in the body. It is also often recommended to pregnant women to calm the uterus. Dosages vary depending on the concentration. For a 400-milligram supplement, a typical dose is one or two capsules two or three times daily at mealtimes.
The Estrogenic Herbs False unicorn and red clover are herbal supplements for women that can act like weak estrogens in the body. Naturopathic doctors believe that they help balance hormone levels, either making up for a shortfall of estrogen or encouraging your body to excrete excess amounts.
The recommended dosages will vary with each of these herbal supplements, so Dr. Brett recommends following the directions on the packages.
False unicorn may be taken as a tincture or a tea. For either, follow the directions on the label. For tincture, that’s typically 6 to 8 drops taken in a little water two or three times daily. Be aware that false unicorn may cause nausea and vomiting in doses higher than 5 to 15 drops of tincture, ½ cup of infusion, or 3 to 4 cups of tea blend per day.
For red clover, a typical dose for 430-milligram capsules is one or two capsules three times daily with water at mealtimes.
Remember that you should take only two of these four herbs at a time. One balancing pair, for example, is red raspberry leaf, which provides progesterone, and false unicorn, which supplies estrogen. Once you’ve made your choices, take both herbs every day until you know that you’re pregnant, Dr. Brett says.
This month is the ONLY month I have ever had a significant/huge amount of CM and it has to be because of the EPO because that and the Omega is the only thing I have done different.
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Here is the info i found on NOT using flax during pregnancy
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding The use of flaxseed or flaxseed oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Animal studies show possible harmful effects, and there is little information in humans. Flaxseed may stimulate menstruation or have other hormonal effects and could be harmful to pregnancy.
Women should be careful about the types of fish and fish oil that they consume while they are pregnant, nursing, or even when they are experiencing pregnancy symptoms.
Flaxseed oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids. Some people prefer flax seed oil instead of fish oil. But some doctors believe that pregnant women should not take flax seed oil. The main reason that some doctors don’t approve of taking flax seed oil while pregnant is because flax seed seems to have an effect on estrogen and hormones which might interfere with your body during pregnancy. Flaxseed provides lignans, phytoestrogen, which are estrogen-like phytochemicals.
Therefore, flax seed may alter hormonal balance during pregancy. And since women during pregnancy and fetus are in their hormone-sensitive period, caution is advised on the dosage of flax seed intake. Most information on flax seed and flax seed oil and the effects it has on pregnant women is inferred from studies on animals. In animal studies, intakes of high dosages of flax seed have caused reproductive complications. Regardless make sure you talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
On the other hand fish oil has been found in some studies to greatly support pregnancy and healthy baby development. It may even help prevent miscarriage. This is obviously very important.
Bottom Line:
Pregnant women should talk to their doctors about the effects of flax seed and pregnancy or fish oil and pregnancy
Flax seed and fish oil has been used at normal doses in pregnancy. Higher than normal doses are not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using flax seed, flax seed oil, or fish oil.
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I just KNEW I could count on everyone~! I usually am the first to 'research' and find the info.....thanks so much and GIGANTIC hugs to everyone!!!
Thank you so much, I had heard about the omega 369 and EPO from I dear Sis on my Nov. thread and she is now prego......
I will start my next cycle YAY
I have hear about natural red clover but I dont know enough to write about it. I read that it is good for blocked tubes and scar tissue something I hear alot on this thread.
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Hi I found this on a fertilty web site, hope it helps.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) lowers cholesterol, helps to alleviate pms and most importantly here, aids in the production of fertile quality cervical fluid. EPO is an essential fatty acid that contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA). It is converted to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 which has anti-inflammatory properties and may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. The anti-inflammatory properties help people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. We want to discuss the effects EPO has on pms and cervical fluid.
If you suffer from pms - this is a sign that you are deficient in the fatty acid contained in EPO. EPO can help the body to alleviate the pms symptoms. EPO does a world of good in treating aliments of all sorts.
EPO helps the body to produce more fertile quality cervical fluid also known as "egg white cervical mucus." This is because fertile cervical fluid is thin, watery, clear and "stretchy" and easily aids the sperm to swim through the uterus and into the fallopian tube, and to the egg. If there is a lack in this type of cervical fluid, it can impede and/or prevent fertilization. Some women are very dry, and have problems in producing an adequate amount of fertile quality cervical fluid. Drinking a lot of water and taking the EPO can certainly help in the production of fertile cervical fluid. Also, this type of fluid helps the sperm to stay alive for up to five days inside the fallopian tube, thus enabling conception to happen even if you don't have intercourse again by the time ovulation occurs.
EPO should only be taken from menstruation to ovulation. This is because EPO can cause uterine contractions in pregnancy. The dosage taken should be 1500mg to 3000mg per day. I usually took around 2000 mg of EPO. Since essential fatty acids are necessary, you can take flax seed oil in place of EPO after ovulation. This may be taken throughout pregnancy. Check the label to see the correct dosage.
There are many remedies out there to help with fertility, but few are as good as EPO. EPO is excellent for women because of the help it gives in alleviating pms symptoms, and even menopausal women can benefit from taking it. I have heard of many praises to EPO and the fact that it definitely increases the fertile type cervical fluid. This may take a month or two to build up, and produce the results you are looking for. It is imperative that you chart your fertility symptoms and signs, so you can know when you have ovulated. By knowing this information, you can discontinue the EPO after ovulation and start the flax seed oil. Unless you are very regular, charting your fertility signs is the best tool to determine where you are in your cycle
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EPO is Evening Primrose Oil. This is an essential fatty acid our bodies need. Yes, it does help with EWCM. You cannot take it after ovualtion because it is know to allow cramping in the uterus which is what we do not want after ovulation.
Flax seed is a continuation of esstential oils. My acupunturist recommended it to me as well as my R/E. Since I still am regualr in my cycle I do not think I am menopausal??? I will research this as I have never heard of this b4
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Sorry to bust in but Chris EPO is evening primrose oil...I don't know what it does, I thought it was to help with ewcm but I am sure I am wrong. I read in numerous places that flax seed should only be taken by women in menopause, women of childbearing years should get their omegas from fish oil based supplements and you should ensure that it is pharmacutical grade so it is free of any heavy metals/mercury that is found in many fish.
I'm with Meridith ;-) Could you please tell us what the initials E-P-O stand for? Also, what is the purpose of the primrose oil and the flaxseed oil. I need all the help I can get... One of my favorite sayings is: "Talk to me like I am four". lol.
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EPO are broken down into b4 O & after. I am taking Primrose oil from CD1 till O, 1200mg 2x/day with meals. Then flax seed oil 1300mg from O until AF.
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Berta- I was looking into this as well...due that O on the later side....Mamasoup (Traci Nov gal)took this and she is now BFP w/a sticky bean! Here is her reply to me....
"Jenn- as you might remember, I did start using the omega 3-6-9 the cycle I got my BFP- hope it works for you too!! I started taking it from CD3 until O and took 1 softgel (1200mg) twice daily with meals. It caused my typical O day to move from CD17-18 to CD13 for that 1 month I tried it. Additionally, I was taking EPO twice daily from CD3 till O, and buffered vitamin C with Cassava Root on the same cycle days. I couldn't tell you if any of these did the trick, but it didn't hurt!"
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