herbs for conception

I thought I would also add a new post about the herbs I am taking. I have consistently taken Agnus Castus for the past three months as well as Angelica and White Peony this month up to ovulation. Agnus Castus is probably the best studied herbal medicine. I have never seen anything that suggest it may be toxic (even in pregnancy) so I continue taking it twice a day until I know if I am pregnant. The other two are to help build up a better lining. Surprising enough the first time I took them my lining was better than in the four months before. Could be coincidence, maybe not. I am taking them as tinctures. I can’t be bothered with boiling herbs and straing the tea every day. My life is busy enough as it is. Luckily you can buy tinctures on the internet.

I also massaged my tummy every day in the morning for about 10 minutes, all over in circular motion. If nothing else it stimulations digestion…..

good read for all who need some encouragement

I am so glad I found this book. It deals with Traditional Chinese Medicine and what TCM can do to help you conceive (and have a healthy pregnancy). It’s easy to read which amazes me as I often find texts that deal with TCM a bit unscientific, using fuzzy definitions that I can’t understand. This one is written by an American woman who came to study and practice TCM after she struggled to conceive herself. The book explains the different underlying patterns that cause infertility in a way that you can recognize them in yourself. Suggestions for massaging acupressure points and supplementing with herbs are given if you like to self medicate. I would rather consult a professional but it’s really helpful to be able to understand what your health practitioner is doing.

I got a lot of encouragement from the book. It presents a lot of case studies that all result in successful pregnancies and you may find one that sounds just like your own. There is hope out there for all of us who struggle to have a baby.

And should it never happen there is also a chapter about accepting your life without being a mother (I hope I won’t have to read that again). There is one about recurring miscarriages (nor do I want to have to go there), and about the grief that comes with losing a baby.

The book is called “The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Programme for Getting Pregnant” by Randine Lewis. It’s in paper back and not very expensive. A good read, definitely.

acupuncture

Had another acupuncture appointment today. I quite enjoy them now. The acupuncturist is from Switzerland so I can speak German to her which, funny enough, is sometimes harder than speaking English! What’s the German word for uterus lining?

She places the needles in different spots every time depending on where in my cycle I am. I’d love to know more about why and how she chooses the spots but maybe a bit of mystery is good. I’ll see her again on d-day which likely is Monday.

I also started taking herbs to support my body sorting my hormones out. Agnus Castus, Black Cohosh and Siberian Ginseng. Agnus Castus is balancing hormones, helping with progesterone in the second half of the cycle. Black Cohosh – who knows, it all reads quite vague - the most consistent information is improved blood circulation in the pelvic region (where I want it!), and Siberian Ginseng is to energise the body and lift the spirit! What a combination. I got it from a herbal remedy sold in the US which is extraordinarily expensive. If you buy the herbs on their own (tinctures) they are quite cheap.  I’ll post some links soon if anyone wants to read more about them.