Fertility is a big part of our practice and it’s something I personally love treating. Not only do I love treating it but I love reading about points, herbs, supplements, teas and new theories about how to help women conceive. Today’s blog is going to be about the best tea to drink when trying to conceive. Since I often recommend eating and drinking warm when trying to conceive, the question I get asked most is, “is tea a good thing for me to drink?” The second question I get is, “what kind of tea do you recommend?” Below are a list of teas I recommend drinking when trying to conceive. I haven’t looked into many of the fertility tea blends, but any blends with these herbs are a good place to start. I always recommend making sure you have good quality brands and the tea is organic. Loose tea is always better, but tea bags are ok as well!
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea- This tea is commonly referred to as a “uterine tonic” because it helps bring blood flow to the uterus and helps the uterine muscle fibers contract in a more organized manner. This tea is loaded with vitamins as it contains vitamins A, C, E, iron, potassium and calcium. Many say this tea can help with implantation and miscarriage prevention as well as working to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Because this tea helps with uterine contractions it is also used by midwives to help induce labor, which is why it is contraindicated during pregnancy. Many women take this tea during the first trimester of pregnancy to help reduce the chance of miscarriage, but due to the contractility that may occur I recommend not drinking if you think you might be pregnant.
Green tea- I get a lot of confused faces when I recommend green tea because of the caffeine content. Yes, it has caffeine but a little caffeine is ok for the body and the good outweighs the bad tenfold! This tea is good to help regulate blood sugar, expel free radicals from the body, is high in antioxidants, promotes focus, regulates digestion, can aid in weight loss and potentially help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. How does this help fertility? Aside from the above mentioned, the free radicals in the body can have a negative impact on egg quality which the green tea can help offset.
Stinging Nettle Leaf- When most people think of stinging nettle they think of joint pain and inflammation. This herb has been used for centuries to help people reduce their NSAID dose (anti-inflammatories), it’s also good to help anemia and urinary tract infections. So, from a Chinese medicine perspective, not only does this help nourish blood it also helps to reduce inflammation in the body which is very important. It is also a good source of folate which is important for a healthy pregnancy and is in most prenatal vitamins (which you should start taking before you get pregnant). Some sources state not to take this during pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus too much.
Chasteberry- Chasteberry is an herb that’s great for almost any gynecological condition. It’s good for infertility, pms, breast tenderness and irregular menses.It is not recommended to drink this tea during pregnancy or while still on birth control.
Ashwagandha- Ashwagandha is good for overall well being. It is used mostly for reducing stress, but it also helps increase blood flow, improve focus and help with infertility. This herb is mostly used for male infertility as it can help improve sperm quality. Stress is a big factor when trying to conceive as it can increase inflammation in the body, cause digestive problems and cause us to make bad decisions. This herb/tea is a great way to help calm at the end of a long day.
Red clover- last but not least is red clover. Red clover is mostly known for aiding and improving liver function. It is also good to help increase thin cervical mucus and increase blood flow to the uterus. It has been said that it can also balance hormones and assist in follicle production. There is contradicting data on whether or not to use this with PCOS and it is stated it can help regulate hormones and reduce cystic acne, but due to its ability to increase follicles it can make fibroids worse.
It’s important to know that most of these teas have not been scientifically proven to help fertility- there’s simply not enough evidence. However, some of these herbs have been used for many years in the treatment of gynecological disorders and have worked to help women feel great! Before drinking any teas or taking any herbs I always recommend speaking with your doctor as sometimes it can interfere with different medications. If you’re looking for a specific tea or herbal formula recommendation I recommend speaking with your acupuncturist.
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