Feeling Frisky? Herbs for
Fertility
For thousands of years
knowledge of the herbs and wild plants that could increase
fertility were the secrets of the village wise women. But
after the holocaust against European Wise Women (the
"burning times") and the virtual extermination of Native
American medicine women, this knowledge virtually
disappeared. In fact, many people erroneously believe that
"primitive people" had no means of controlling the
likelihood of pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the
truth.
Many common plants can be
used to influence fertility, including red clover,
partridge berry, liferoot, wild carrot, and wild yam. Some
of these grow wild, others are easy to cultivate, and, with
the exception of wild carrot, all are also readily
available at health food stores.
One of the most cherished
of the fertility-increasing plants
is
red clover (Trifolium
pratense).
Common in fields and along roadsides, it has bright
pink (not really red) blossoms from mid-summer into
the chilly days of fall. A favorite flower of the
honeybees, the tops (blossoms and appending leaves)
are harvested on bright sunny days and eaten as is,
or dried for medicinal use. The raw blossoms are
delicious in salads and nutritious when cooked with
grains such as rice or millet.
To make a
fertility-enhancing infusion, I take one ounce by weight of
the dried blossoms (fresh won't work for this
application) and put them in a quart size canning jar. I
fill the jar with boiling water, screw on a tight lid, and
let it steep at room temperature overnight (or for at least
four hours). Dozens of women have told me that they had
successful pregnancies after drinking a cup or more (up to
four cups) a day of red clover infusion.
It is especially helpful
if there is scarring of the fallopian tubes, irregular
menses, abnormal cells in the reproductive tract, or
"unexplained" infertility. It may take several months for
the full effect of this herb to come on and pregnancy may
not occur until you have used it for a year or two. You can
improve the taste by including some dried peppermint (a
spoonful or two) along with the dried clover blossoms when
making your infusion. Treat the father of the child-to-be
to some red clover infusion too!
That little evergreen
creeper that carpets some parts of the woods around your
house is partridge
berry (
Mitchella
repens), also
known as squaw weed, supposedly because of its ability to
enhance fertility. (My teacher Twylah Nitsch, grandmother
of the Seneca Wolf clan, says that "squaw" is a slang term
meaning "schmuck" or, in the proper term, "penis," and
therefore should not be used in denoting a plant meant to
be used by women.) Keep an eye out this spring and see if
you can catch Mitchella blooming. Then you'll see why she's
sometimes called "twin flower."
Interestingly, when the
paired flowers fall off, they leave behind but one berry to
ripen. (The shiny red berries you've noticed in the forest
winter or spring. Yes, they are safe to eat, but leave some
for the partridges.) The symbolism of two flowers forming
one berry is certainly a suitable icon for fertility. I
make a medicinal vinegar by filling a small jar with the
fresh leaves, adding apple cider vinegar until the jar is
full again. A piece of waxed paper held in place with a
rubber band and a label (including date) completes the
preparation, which must sit at room temperature for six
weeks before use. I enjoy up to a tablespoonful of the
vinegar on my salads or in my beans.
By mid- to late-May, the
yellow blossoms of liferoot (Senecio
aureus)
enliven my swamp (in upstate New York) and the
neighboring roads where there is adequate water and
rich soil. A powerful medicine resides in all parts
of this lovely wildflower. As the root has a
dangerous reputation, I restrict myself to using only
the flowers and leaves, which I harvest in bloom, and
quickly tincture. (For instructions for making your
own tinctures, please see any of my books.) Small
doses of this tincture (3-8 drops a day), taken at
least 14 days out of the month, will regulate hormone
production, increase libido, normalize the menses,
relieve menstrual pain, and improve fertility. The
closely related Senecia
jacobea and Senecio
vulgaris can also be used.
Wild
carrot (Daucus
carota),
better known as Queen Anne's lace, is such a common
roadside plant that most people are amazed to learn
that it is a proven anti-fertility herb. In addition
to being the wild cousin of carrot, it is related to
parsley, dill, caraway, anise, celery, cumin, and a
(now extinct) plant whose seeds were the
birth-control of choice for many a classical Greek or
Roman woman.
The aromatic seeds of wild
carrot are collected in the fall and eaten (a heaping
teaspoonful a day) to prevent the implantation of a
fertilized egg. In one small study the effectiveness rate
after thirteen months of use was 99%. As modern scientific
medicine reports that one-third of all fertilized eggs are
passed out of the body without implanting in the uterus,
this method of birth control seems in complete agreement
with nature.
Of the hundreds of women
currently using this anti-fertility agent, I have heard
virtually no reports of any side-effects. Note that many
books caution you to beware the danger of confusing poison
hemlock and wild carrot. Poison hemlock is rather scarce in
our area, and, at any rate, does not smell or taste of
carrot (as does Queen Anne's lace), so I believe this
warning to be a red herring. In addition, wild carrot
leaves have small hairs on them, while the leaves of poison
hemlock are smooth.
Another anti-fertility
herb that has been tested by small groups of modern women
is wild yam (Dioscorea
villosa).
Since birth-control pills were originally made from
this plant, it is not at all surprising that it has
the effect of blocking conception when taken daily in
rather large doses: either a cup of tea or two
capsules taken three times a day.
Does it have detrimental
effects? Current studies are too small to show any, but
there is a possibility that there could be. Interestingly
enough, if wild yam is taken in small doses (a cup of tea
or 10-20 drops of the tincture daily from onset of menses
until mid-period) it increases fertility! In either case,
the effect seems to be triggered by the large amount of
hormone-like substances found in this root. When taken
daily, these substances may be converted into progesterone,
thus decreasing the possibility of conception. When taken
for the two weeks preceding ovulation, these substances may
be converted into LH and FSH, hormones that are needed to
make the egg ready to be fertilized.
Other common weeds and
garden plants of our area that have been used to increase
or decrease fertility include stinging nettle, oatstraw,
pennyroyal, Jack-in-the-pulpit, rue, and
parsley.
The earth is full of
wonders, and green magic abounds. As more and more women
remember that they are wise women, more of the wonders and
the magic will be revealed. May your days be filled with
many green blessings.
Legal
Disclaimer: This
content is not intended to replace conventional medical
treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are
not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use
should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other
qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula
for you. All material contained herein is
provided for general information purposes only and should
not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a
reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of
medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second
opinion.
Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY
12498