Ask the Herbalist--Pregnancy & Nursing

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ANSWERS FROM LORYHL:
QUESTION: Nearly 2 years ago I had my tubes tied, and I was looking into having a tubal reversal.  I was surfing the internet and came across a tampon called Felopio.  It was said that this tampon is to be inserted once every 24 hours for 24 days straight or until your next menustrul cycle. Is this a way of unblocking my tubes or is it best to surgically have my tubes reversed, or is this basically the same thing. Please help me understand.

ANSWER: I am not a medical Dr. and am not familiar with this, new tampon.  I do know some people have a tube reversal, as far as I know it can only be done with surgery.
If you would like some herbs to help you, and build your health, we can help you there.

QUESTION: Do you know of an herb that will help increase breast milk production?

ANSWER: I have always used with great success the herb, milk thistle seed, and milk thistle herb. 
Drink, 2-3 cups two times per day and this will promote the production of milk. Make sure you eat well, avoid caffeine, soda, and processed foods, drink lots of pure water, and drink the herb tea, as suggested.  Eat nuts, fruits, fish and some red meats, if not vegetarian.

QUESTION: I was very excited when I saw your website, extremely helpful and I will make sure and keep it close to me.  I have a question that I hope you can answer. I have been trying to get pregnant for 4 years now, tried everything under the sun except IVF, tried acupuncture, homeopathic drops and more. Right now I am using some herbal remedies for infertility that I got at Whole Foods as well as a colon cleanser, I just got fed up with doctors and doctors so I am now doing something for myself. I am all about getting pregnant naturally and don't think 43 is too old to get pregnant naturally. Please help me if you can.

ANSWER: Pregnancy for most people is attainable, if the uterus lining is receptive, the gall bladder clean, cigarette, drug and alcohol addiction is not part of the scene. Also what is the MD's diagnosis of your infertility?  I will need to know a little more about you, like the diet you are eating, and your blood type if possible.  Please look at the downloads in this email, for cleanse to follow. We have the herbs, and will make some special blends for you if needed.  What you are doing from Whole Foods is fantastic, and along the right road.  Looking forward to assisting you, in this most important adventure.

QUESTION: Hi, I'm a 24 year old female. I found out when I was 18 that my fallopian tubes were blocked. Since then I have had an IVF and two laposcopies. I'm still worried that my fallopian tubes may have blocked again and was wondering if there were any herbs that could help unblock them without me going back into surgery or paying for another IVF.

ANSWER: Thank you for the inquiry.
            Please read the download, on diet suggestions with some of the herbs you could take, and also remember to add as many fish meals as you can like wild caught Salmon, Halibut etc, with the 3-6-9 omega oils in them, this is important for your reproductive health, and to open the tubes.
           Do a gall bladder flush, this will help to soften the tubes also see a very skilled chinese acupuncturist, this will help shed some light on the existing condition and pre disposition to the tubes being blocked.
            There are several supplements that are recommended:
- Life Force Fiber Food, mild detox and softening of mucous membranes
- Vitamin E , 800 IU daily for 3 months, full range tocopherols
- Borage oil, 6 capsules daily
-raspberry leaf tea blend with other herbs for you specifically, we will mix this if desired
-after finding out a little more about you, age, what your personality is like, and your blood type, then I can further suggest , herbs and essences as well, the above suggestions can get you started, and read the downloads

QUESTION: I am a big proponent of natural healing and herbal remedies.  I am not certified in any way but take all my information from books, especially those of Susun Weed and debaracli Levy.  My daughter has recently become pregnant while in the midst of battling with severe Crohn's disease.  She is presently weeding off narcotics and high doses of steroids.  We are trying to keep her as medication free as possible since she is already compromised.  I am trying to anticipate what she may need to keep her and baby safe thru the next 7 months.  I read a lot about stinging nettle tea being beneficial during pregnancy and just thought I'd get your opinion on that before I actually start.  I wasn't sure if it was contraindicated with steroids or dilaudid that you might be aware of.
       Also, I would like to make some marigold cream for sore nipples and wondered if you could direct me to a recipe that you felt was safe. 
      If there is anything else that you feel would be beneficial for her, books included, I would be most interested in hearing about it.

QUESTION:  Hi, I'm a 24 year old female. I found out when I was 18 that my fallopian tubes were blocked. Since then I have had an IVF and two laproscopies. I'm still worried that my fallopian tubes may have blocked again and was wondering if there were any herbs that could help unblock them without me going back into surgery or paying for another IVF.

ANSWER:  Thank you for the inquiry.
Please read the download, on diet suggestions with some of the herbs you could take, and also remember to add as many fish meals as you can like wild caught Salmon, Halibut etc, with the 3-6-9 omega oils in them, this is important for your reproductive health, and to open the tubes.
     Do a gall bladder flush, this will help to soften the tubes ( see other download) also see a very skilled Chinese acupuncturist, this will help shed some light on the existing condition and pre disposition to the tubes being blocked.
     There are several supplements that are recommended:
- Life Force Fiber Food, mild detox and softening of mucous membranes
- Vitamin E , 800 IU daily for 3 months, full range tocopherols
- Borage oil, 6 capsules daily
-raspberry leaf tea blend with other herbs for you specifially, we will mix this if desired
-after finding out a little more about you, age, what your personality is like, and your blood type, then I can further suggest , herbs and essences as well, the above suggestions can get you started, and read the downloads

QUESTION:  I have been given some tablets from a Chinese Practitioner.  Can you please advise if any of the ingredients could be harmful if I am trying to conceive or perhaps already am pregnant.  The pills include:
Rehmannia chinensis
Cornus officinalis
Dioscorea opposita
Poria cocus
Paeonis suffruticosa
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Glycyrrhizae uralensis

BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBES
QUESTION: I went on your website and was very interested in the information that you provided.  I am a 28-yrs. old female who has been married for 5 years and has been trying to conceive for over 2 years.  I was on the pill for 1 year.  I've seen a specialist and had a Hysteroscopy done last year.  The result, as I was told, was that my fallopian tubes are blocked where they meet the uterus.  My only option, as they told me, is IVF. My husband and I are not very comfortable with that option.  Through research, I found your site and want to know what herbs are appropriate for my case.  I would truly appreciate your response, for I like that you are personal and truthful in your answers.

ANSWER:  Do we know why the tubes are blocked and are they blocked 100%? If endometriosis is why they think your tubes are blocked, I may have something to help you. It's called Endo Tea and is specifically formulated for women with endometriosis. Of course there are never any guarantees, since each person is unique as are their health issues. But, if you follow a regimented diet and work with the tea, it may be a healthy alternative to IVF which not only involves, the invasive procedure, but lots of chemicals you don't want in your body. 
           If you're interested in the product, you can find it on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com in the Apothecary section of the Shopping. It's under medicinal teas and is called Endo Tea. In addition to the tea, you need to take vitamin E supplements as vitamin E helps break down excess estrogen which is responsible in part for the formation of endometriosis. Evening Primrose oil or flaxseed oil will supply GLA which is also essential. At least 500 mg per day. Now here's the hard part. The diet. You need to avoid the following completely: refines processed foods, sugar in all forms, alcohol and caffeine. Avoid foods that tend to raise the estrogen levels like wheat, citrus, and yams. Take a quality vitamin B complex. www.trivita.com has a very good one that I like. Also, lots of green leafy veggies as they contain vitamin B. Shitake mushrooms are said to inhibit abnormal tissue growth, so if you can eat these several times a week, that would also be helpful.

TAKING HERBS WHILE NURSING
QUESTION: I was wanting to know if it is safe to drink and eat items with Ganoderma Lucidum in them while nursing my 4 week old baby?

ANSWER: Depends. Ganoderma Lucidum is reishi mushrooms and they are very good for you. If you are taking something "with" reishi in it, my question would be, what else is in there that could be harmful to  your baby? The best possible course when nursing is to stay simple. Eat all the reishi mushrooms you want, but don't start taking a bunch of formulas or compounds that may have other things like fillers, preservatives etc. that you certainly don't want going to your baby.

PREVENTING MISCARRIAGE
QUESTION: Hello, I was wondering if you ever recommended black haw to prevent recurrent first trimester miscarriage.  I am 28 and have had consecutive 3 miscarriages in the past 18 months, all at about 6 wks. King’s  states:  "The condition for which black haw is most valued is that of threatened abortion. It is the most prompt drug in the materia medica to check abortion, provided the membranes have not ruptured. In all cases of habitual abortion it should be given in small doses for a considerable length of time. The abundant testimony as to its value in this condition alone gives it a high place among drugs. By its quieting effects upon the irritable womb, women who have previously been unable to go to full term have been aided by this drug to pass through the pregnancy without mishaps which would otherwise have proven disastrous to both child and mother. Small doses of the specific black haw should be administered throughout the dangerous period, and may be continued with good results until parturition. Dr. Phares, who introduced it as all antiabortive, states that it will prevent abortion, whether habitual or otherwise-whether threatened from accidental cause or criminal drugging." (The information that I have found on it is here: http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/viburnum-prun.html).  I have also read that black haw can be combined with false unicorn root which can have a similar calming effect on the uterus.   To your knowledge is there any information that might indicate that black haw is not safe for early pregnancy?

ANSWER: Black haw is very effective as an anti-abortive herb. So is cramp bark. You might also increase your intake of Vitamin E to 600 I.U. per day. Both black haw and false unicorn root are safe for use during your pregnancy, but please use the false unicorn root sparingly as it is endangered

DRYING UP MILK
QUESTION: I know that you can take sage for drying up breast milk.  I pump and feed her with a bottle due to the fact that I produce so much milk, over 100 ounces a day.  I have sage leaf capsules and my question is how many can I take per day to help reduce this enormous amount of milk?  Thanks so much!

ANSWER: Wow! Too bad you can't bottle it! I have so many customers who just can't get enough milk to come in. another herb you can try is Parsley. But you know you cannot express the milk at all if you want it to dry up. If you pump it, it will continue to come in.  Don't know where you got the sage caps, but  if it was tea, I'd say 3-4 cups a day would be fine. You might want to add the parsley. It's very good for you and nutritious. Aren't there instructions on the sage caps? I can't estimate since I don't know what's in them, how much, is it organic etc etc etc. If there's no instructions on the bottle, I'd just start with 2 caps 3 times a day and gradually increase until you start to see some results. I'm not aware of any contraindications with sage, as long as it's pure and organic. If not, then all bets are off.

GETTING PREGNANT
QUESTION: Thank you so much for taking questions!!  I am 26 years old and in good health.  I became pregnant 18 mos. ago but miscarried.  I have always had slightly longer cycles ever since I can remember, so after miscarrying, I went to see my doctor about getting pregnant again since it had not happened in five mos.  She did a laparoscopy and found cysts which she took care of. I then began to take Vitex (500mg/day) because I heard it helped to regulate the cycle for pregnancy.  I have been taking it for nine mos., but I stop
for four or five days during my period.  I added Dong Quai (1.5 g/day) about four mos. ago for only the first part of the cycle up to the LH surge.  I then stop until day five or six of my period.  I have recently consulted a
fertility specialist because I have not yet become pregnant, although I have noted an increase in my menstrual regularity and ovulation regularity, I believe because of the herbs.  However, I have also noted that sometimes my period is shorter than usual, but sometimes it is a regular five days.  I am wondering about the side effects of the herbs and for how long I should take them to try for a pregnancy.  The fertility specialist said my hormone levels are fine, but it appears I have a lower amount of eggs than I should for my age, and he wants me to stop with herbs.  Could the herbs have reduced my egg numbers at all?  The doctor also wants me to take fertility drugs, but I really don't want to do this.  Any ideas on how long it would be safe for me to take the herbs for achieving pregnancy before I consider fertility drugs?

ANSWER: This letter made me laugh. Your "doctor" says that the herbs are decreasing the number of eggs your ovaries produce? Frightening. And he/she wants you to get off the herbs and start taking "fertility drugs". Hmmmmm. What could that be about?  Money comes to mind. Sheesh.
               My opinions are not going to be the same as the doctor's. Why? I don't make big money off the pharmaceutical companies for the drugs I sell. Also, I don't want to see you taking them for longer than you should so I can make even more money, while you get depressed that you aren't getting pregnant. I'm not saying those drugs don't work. In some cases, I'm sure they do. But to tell you to stop taking something natural with virtually no side effects so they can put you on something that will possibly screw up your hormones and system while costing you thousands of dollars is just beyond me.
             OK. I'll climb off my soap box now.  Vitex is very good for women and many women use it and never have a bit of a problem with it. Come to think of it, most of them have several little ones running around now! You only need to produce 1 egg per month. Anything more than that, with the possible exception of twins, isn't the norm. Fertility drugs are going to have you producing multiple eggs. Sure, it increases your chances of conception. It also stresses your hormones, your ovaries and your pituitary and adrenals.
               The following herbs are recommended to increase fertility. Most of them the man in the family can take as well. (Are we sure the problem isn't with Dad?)
wild yam root, licorice root, vitex, dong quai - substitute ginseng for men, ginger root, false unicorn root.  I have a tea on my website called Fertili-Tea which contains all of these plus some others. If you're interested, you can find it at http://www.allgoodegifts.com/  in the Apothecary.
                One last note, if it were me, I'd find a doctor who is a little more sympathetic to your health. Just a suggestion.

TAKING HERBS AND BECOMING PREGNANT
QUESTION: I have a question in which I am hoping you can answer. I have been taking herbal liquid from my naturopath for sometime. In it there is a specific herb which makes me ovulate but she said that if I
take it I can’t fall pregnant as it might harm the baby. I don’t know the name of the herb as she is on holidays I can’t get an answer. I stopped taking the liquid for 2 months during this I have fallen pregnant. I think
I am 4 weeks pregnant.  I wanted to know what the possibility was for a deformed baby.

ANSWER: I have no way of knowing what's in the formula. Doesn't it have a label on it? For future use, even if you trust your herbalist, NEVER buy or use something that isn't labeled with what's inside.
           There are several herbs that are tonic to the reproductive system, but I can't think of any that would cause a deformed baby. Usually, we don't want women taking anything, especially in the first trimester as some herbs can cause the lining of the uterus to pass, thereby possibly aborting the baby.
            As long as you've stopped taking it now, hopefully you should be fine. And find out what it is you were taking. Always be an informed consumer. Just because something is natural, you still need to be educated and aware.

LACTATING AND NOT PREGNANT?
QUESTION: Hi, my name is Nalaya Robinson and I'm a 20 year old college student from
Florida. I've noticed lately that I'm lactating in my left breast. I'm extremely worried and I'm wondering if I might be pregnant. Does lactating necessarily mean that someone is pregnant? I am sexually active and I do use protection, but this is kinda freakin' me out. Do you have any answers or suggestions?

ANSWER: Take a pregnancy test right away. If it's true lactation, you very well could be pregnant. It could also be that the birth control has your hormones screwed up. If the pregnancy test comes back negative, see your GYN and make sure it's not an infection or something more serious.

MALE FERTILITY
QUESTION: I wrote to your earlier but I have just started my husband on Usana Essentials vitamins (one Mega Antioxidant 3x daily and one Chelated Mineral 3x daily) so I wanted to get your opinion on these to help increase his sperm motility (currently 40% but could be better right?) and improve overall health.

We live in the Cayman Islands so access to herbs and natural remedies are hard to come by. What else should we be doing? We have experienced three pregnancy losses (one ectopic and two after successful IVFs) but want to give it a try naturally for one year before we consider IVF again.

Supplement Facts - Mega Antioxidant
Serving Size: 3 tablets

Amount per serving*
VITAMIN A (AS BETA CAROTENE)15000.0 IU300%
VITAMIN C (AS CALCIUM, POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, & ZINC ASCORBATES)1300.0
mg2170%
VITAMIN D450.0 IU110%
VITAMIN E (AS D-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL SUCCINATE)450.0 IU1500%
VITAMIN K (AS PHYLLOQUINONE)60.0 mcg75%
VITAMIN B1 (AS THIAMINE HCL)27.0 mg1800%
RIBOFLAVIN27.0 mg1590%
NIACIN (AS NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE)40.0 mg200%
VITAMIN B6 (AS PYRIDOXINE HCL)27.0 mg1350%
FOLATE (AS FOLIC ACID)1000.0 mcg250%
VITAMIN B12 (AS CYANOCOBALAMIN)60.0 mcg1000%
BIOTIN300.0 mcg100%
PANTOTHENIC ACID (AS D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE)90.0 mg900%
Olivol (Olive Extract, Olea Europaea L., Fruit)30.0 mg†
BIOFLAVONOID COMPLEX (RUTIN, QUERCETIN, HESPERIDIN [CITRUS SPP. L.,FRUIT],
GREEN TEA EXTRACT-DECAFFEINATED [CAMILLIA SINENSIS HUNT, LEAVES],BILLBERRY
EXTRACT [VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L., FRUIT])193.0 mg†
INOSITOL150.0 mg†
CHOLINE BITARTRATE100.0 mg†
N-ACETYL-L-CYSTEINE65.0 mg†
BROMELAIN50.0 mg†
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID15.0 mg†
COENZYME Q1012.0 mg†
GLUTATHIONE10.0 mg†
CURCUMIN EXTRACT (CURCUMA LONGA L., ROOT)15.0 mg†
LUTEIN (TAGETES ERECTA L., FLOWER)600.0 mcg†
LYCOPENE1.0 mg†
BROCCOLI CONCENTRATE (BRASSICA OLERACEA V. BOTRYTIS L., FLOWER)15.0 mg†
† Daily value not established.
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, PREGELATINIZED STARCH,
CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, DEXTRIN, COLLOIDAL SILICON
DIOXIDE, DEXTROSE.
Supplement Facts - Chelated Mineral
Serving Size: 3 tablets
Amount per serving%DV*
CALCIUM (AS CALCIUM CITRATE)270.0 mg30%
MAGNESIUM (AS MAGNESIUM CITRATE, AMINO ACID CHELATE, AND OXIDE)300.0 mg75%
IODINE (AS POTASSIUM IODIDE)225.0 mcg160%
ZINC (AS ZINC CITRATE)20.0 mg135%
SELENIUM (AS L-SELENOMETHIONINE AND AMINO ACID COMPLEX)200.0 mcg285%
COPPER (AS COPPER GLUCONATE)3.0 mg150%
MANGANESE (AS MANGANESE GLUCONATE)5.1 mg255%
CHROMIUM (AS CHROMIUM PICOLINATE** AND POLYNICOTINATE)300.0 µG250%
MOLYBDENUM (AS MOLYBDENUM CITRATE)50.0 mcg65%
BORON (AS BORON CITRATE)3.0 mg†
SILICON (AS AMINO ACID COMPLEX)3.0 mg†
VANADIUM (AS VANADYL SULFATE)30.0 mcg†
ULTRA TRACE MINERALS3.0 mg†
† Daily value not established.
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, PREGELATINIZED STARCH,
CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM, COLLOIDAL SILICON DIOXIDE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, DEXTRIN, DEXTROSE.


ANSWER: I can't speak to some of the ingredients, as they are not herbal, so I'm not familiar with them. One of the best tonics you can give your husband is ginseng. It's wonderful for the male reproductive systems. I'm sure you can get it in the Caymans, so either fresh or powdered, but try that.

TWINS
QUESTION: Is there any "natural" way to help my chances of conceiving twins? My husband and I both desperately want to conceive twins.  Is there an herbal aid for increased ovulation to help multiple eggs drop during ovulation? Does Chasteberry or False Unicorn Root have this effect? Thanks

ANSWER: Twins are genetic and run in families. If they are not present in either you or your husband's family lines, then the chances of this happening naturally are pretty null. As for trying to "force" it, I wouldn't recommend it. As with fertility drugs, any time one tries to interfere with that delicate balance, there can be problems. Personally, I don't think the risk outweighs the benefit.

NURSING
QUESTION: I am wondering if it is safe/counterproductive to take fenugreek while also taking chasteberry.  I take chasteberry three times a day to help alleviate PMS and want to take fenugreek to increase milk production for my 2.5 y.o daughter who is telling me "no more milk" (please don't tell me that a child that old shouldn't nurse )-: ).  I was wondering if taking the fenugreek would compromise the efficacy of the chasteberry or just terribly confuse my hormones!  If you don't recommend taking fenugreek to increase
milk production while simultaneously taking chasteberry, are there any other supplements I could take that would help the PMS yet also bring in more milk?  Thank you so much for such a wonderful resource!

ANSWER: I won't tell you that a toddler is too old to be nursing, but your body may be. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and in spite of what's in vogue, our bodies know exactly the right time to "shut things down" or regulate things, so that may be what's happening whether your toddler likes it or not. Milk production is tied to your hormones and they don't answer to 2 year olds! (Or any other age for that matter!)
 
That said, as far as interactions, I find no evidence for it in my reading. As a matter of fact, vitex is sometimes given to nursing mothers to help ensure a healthy supply of milk due to its stimulation of the production of prolactin. Note I said "help ensure a healthy supply" and not extend it past what the hormones are telling the body. I don't know that there is a way to just prolong your milk production indefinitely. But the vitex (or chaste berry) and fenugreek are not contraindicated, so shouldn't cause any problems when used together.

OVULATING
QUESTION: I just had a question about Black Cohosh. My friend told me it helps with ovulating and makes it so you do. I just want to know if that is true

ANSWER: Black Cohosh is often used for it's estrogen effects. If you aren't ovulating, then it's probably an issue with your hormones. Are you menstruating? How do you know you aren't ovulating? Have you been diagnosed, and if so, what did your medical professional tell you? Hormones are pretty complex things and I don't think just one herb by itself is going to "make you start ovulating" Usually a combination of herbs to address the underlying issue, which can be an imbalance in your hormone levels, is the best approach.

HEMORRHOIDS DURING PREGNANCY
QUESTION: Hi, I am 7 weeks pregnant, I’ve been suffering from hemorrhoids for a long time. I have a calendula cream that helps me. Can I use it now when I am so early in pregnancy? I’ve read many different facts about this herb...i am confused! I don’t want to harm the fetus or have a miscarriage

ANSWER: There is a lot of stuff out there on calendula and we were just discussing it on the herb net this morning. Personally, I use it in lots of topical applications and have NEVER had any adverse reactions in me, my family or any of my customers.  I think the big fear is ingestion of the herb. If it is a topical application and has worked for you up to now, I would say, go for it.

QUESTION: My husband and I have been trying to conceive for about 1 1/2 years.  We were thrilled in January when we finally got pregnant, but unfortunately I miscarried at 11.5 weeks.  This was our first month trying again after the loss, and our timing was perfect, so I'm now anxiously awaiting the time when I can take a pregnancy test.  I just ordered the Fertili-TEA so I plan on using that if we aren't blessed this month.  Additionally, I plan on getting some raspberry leaf and taking that ASAP.  I do have one concern
though:  last night I drank some tea that was recommended to me on a recent cruise to help detoxify the body.  I have never used anything like this, but thought I'd give it a try since my digestive system isn't the greatest (I don't have a gall bladder), and I have a lot of water retention following the miscarriage.  I used Yogi Tea- Detox, and here is a list of the ingredients:
Cinnamon Bark, Sarsaparilla Root, Licorice Root, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, Ginger Root, Juniper Berry, Black Pepper, Cardamom Seed, Clove Bud, Natural Sarsaparilla Flavor, Philodendron Bark, Honeysuckle Flower, Forsythia Fruit, Gardenia Flower, Scullcap Root, Black Cohosh Rhizome, Coptis Rhizome, Rhubarb Root, Winter Melon and Plantago Seed. I was surprised at how drowsy I felt after taking it.  I woke up several
times during the night to use the restroom and could barely open my eyes, which is not like me.  I am usually pretty alert when I get out of bed, even if it is in the middle of the night.  Anyway, I went online to research each of the ingredients, and was horrified when I saw on http://www.doctorphyto.com/Library/safety_guidelines.htm  that one of the ingredients (cinnamon leaf, which I'm assuming is very similar to cinnamon bark) could be abortifacient.  So, now I have two concerns:  1.  Should I be feeling this drowsy?  If not, should I discontinue the tea even though I feel great today after the detox?  And 2.  Is there a chance that I've just ruined my chances of conceiving this month by drinking this tea?  If I am pregnant, I ovulated on 3 days ago (2 nights before drinking the tea). Thanks for your help!

ANSWER: I went to the site and you've misread what is there. Here is the excerpt -
"Essential Oil: Cinnamon Leaf essential oil is often preferred over Cinnamon Bark or Bud as the latter two may in some cases cause a  severe skin reaction, having a large proportion of Cinnamic Aldehyde often the cause of skin sensitization. Nevertheless, Cinnamon Leaf is a very powerful oil and should be used  with care. Best avoided in pregnancy as it could be abortifacient. High dosage could cause convulsions."

Essential oils are a different thing all together and when they are talking about high dosage, they mean like a tablespoon or something. If you are taking the herb, it's fine. Cinnamon is used all over the world by many on a daily basis. There are many essential oils that can be toxic if taken improperly. I can't attest as to which herb caused you to be so drowsy, but I would caution you to read very carefully anything you are taking. It's easily taken out of context and can cause confusion as this did.

TAKING HERBS WHILE NURSING
QUESTION: I have a question. If you could answer it I would really appreciate it. I am nursing my son who is 2 days short of 4 months. I would like to begin taking St. John's Wort and  cordyceps.  I have genital  herpes and I know that St. Johns Wort is good for this I also wouldn’t mind the positive mood.  I also want to take cordyceps for energy with exercise because I am trying to loose weight. My baby weighs 20 pounds. Would there be any side effects from these herbs that will be negative for my breast milk supply and or my almost 4
month old. I nurse him on demand. Right now he is exclusively breastfeeding. I currently take garlic pills and an iron and multivitamin.  If you need more information feel free to email me.  Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: Cordyceps is a tonic that helps the body build strength, improve the organic functioning, strengthen the immune system and bring longevity. I'm not sure why you are using it to give you energy. It is also used for impotence in men, so no, I would not recommend you take this while nursing. The St. John's Wort either.
        Anything you ingest will go straight to your baby, so unless you would give your 4 month old St. John's wort, you shouldn't be taking it yourself while you are nursing in my opinion.

DEVIL'S CLAW WHILE NURSING
QUESTION: My question is whether a nursing Mom can use devils claw to treat arthritis
or could it be harmful to the infant? 

ANSWER: I certainly wouldn't use devil's claw while nursing. It can cause diarrhea and in an infant that can be quite serious. Also it reduces blood pressure which can reduce the force of heartbeats and slow the pulse.
           I don't usually recommend new mothers take anything while nursing unless absolutely necessary as everything goes straight to the baby and their little systems can't handle even mild herbs sometimes.

QUESTION: My partner and I have been trying to conceive for 4 years now, unexplained infertility. I’ve seen so many recommendations on what herbs are best etc., wondered if you could help?

ANSWER: That's not much info to go on. Unexplained infertility? What does that mean? You've been checked by a fertility specialist and everything is normal/fine? What's your age? Any surgeries? Use of birth control? any STDs on either side, ever? etc etc etc. It's pretty complex, so hard to answer with so little info. Sorry.

MORNING SICKNESS
QUESTION: I want to be very honest with you.  Every time I have been pregnant, like clock work, by week 5 I experience extreme morning sickness.  It gets really, really bad that I am usually hospitalized (w/an IV in my arm). The last time I was pregnant, I was in the hospital for 3 months and it was torture. I am never, ever able to keep anything in my stomach (not even water, chicken broth, crackers) I literally mean nothing. I weigh 112lbs and always dwindle down to 90-95. It never fails. Karen, I start to see things (i.e. little people running underneath my bed, birds flying in my room) and this last time around it was really really scary! I am a very spiritual person Karen.  I prayed and prayed and prayed. I kept my bible by my side. The medications given to me by doctors either a) gives me severe headaches b) causes my tongue to go numb c) gives me a horrible case of "dry mouth"  or it JUST DOESN'T WORK. As a result of this,  I have always terminate the pregnancy or loose the pregnancy. I am pregnant again and I am at wits end. I cant continue to hurt my body (both from terminations and the effects of morning sickness). Can you help me Karen, if not, can you point me in the right direction. I'm scared.  I can't take the nausea (it's not normal) I really get sick. Do you know what it's like not to be able to eat or drink anything for months at a time? It's not healthy for me or the baby...and the really horrible part is when the dr.'s tell me "It's all in your mind".  Can you imagine? So between that, not eating and seeing things anyone is liable to lose their minds.

ANSWER: I have a tea for pregnant mommies. Peppermint and ginger seem to be very effective for many of my customers going through morning sickness. Of course the things you are experiencing could be attributable to the medications they have you on, I can't say for sure, but I certainly wouldn't be taking anything while I'm in the first trimester.
         Yes, I can certainly relate. I too, like clockwork at week 6 got terrible nausea and it lasted until my 4'th month. Of course, terminating the pregnancy just because of nausea is probably not a good idea. Those things in themselves can wreak havoc on your system. I don't know how many times you've chosen to do that, but it can't be good for your reproductive system or the endocrine system.
          If you decide to purchase the tea, it is called upset tummy tea and can be found on the website at www.allgoodegifts.com in the Apothecary under medicinal tea blends.

SPERM COUNT
QUESTION: Hello, I am a healthy 46 year old male, but I would like to know if there is a way to increase the amount of semen ejaculated.  All I ever get is about one or two teaspoons.  Thanks for your suggestions.  .

ANSWER: Exactly what are you trying to accomplish here? If you are indeed healthy, you have enough sperm in 1 drop of semen to produce a child. And 2 tsp is a normal amount.

CONCEPTION
QUESTION: I am 37 years old.  My husband (44 yr old) is an identical twin.  I have been pregnant 4 times.  My height is 5'5" and my weight is 145 lbs.  I am currently on a 24-25 day cycle and definitely ovulate between days 12 -14. I currently have an IUD and expect to conceive fairly quickly after having it removed.  I wonder if the IUD will reduce my chances of conceiving.  Also, even though I know that my husband being an identical twin doesn't increase our chances of conceiving twins, I am wondering if my chances are increased due to my age and that this would be pregnancy number 5. Thanks for your answer.]

ANSWER: I'm a little confused by your question. Perhaps I don't understand what you're asking. "I wonder if the IUD will reduce my chances of conceiving." Well, yea, isn't that why people use IUDs? Or do you mean since you were wearing one will it decrease your chances after removal? IUDs set up a constant irritation in the uterus so the environment is not conducive to pregnancy. I would guess that after being in that state for awhile, it will take your system a little while to get "back to normal". What makes you think your husband being an identical twin doesn't affect your chances of conceiving twins? Of course it does! Twins are genetic! That means if the two cells coming together have that programming in them, the chances are better than if they don't.

QUESTION:  I live in Jamaica.  I have recently done a HSG test along with blood test and an ultra-sound.  The result of the HSG test shows that one of the tubes is blocked because the fluid inserted wasn't going straight up.  Blood test is OK.  Ultrasound shows that there are tiny fibroids outside of my womb and those are not a problem to my fertility.  I am trying to get pregnant for 9 months now.  A friend introduced me to herbal drink aloe and I am now drinking it for the past 3 weeks now.  Please send me some good advice.  I am planning on going to a specialist shortly. 

ANSWER: I have a special tea that I make that is helpful in bringing the reproductive and endocrine systems back to a state of health, wellness and balance. It is called Fertili-TEA and can be found on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com  in the Apothecary under medicinal teas.

BLOCKED TUBE
QUESTION: I am 25 years old and was diagnosed with infertility due to a blocked fallopian tube. According to the doctor it is blocked with scar tissue and adhesions. I had a cyst removed from the ovary about 10 years ago, and about 13 years ago had my right ovary and tube removed due to a cyst that ruptured and damaged both. SO I now have one tube and ovary remaining. The infertility specialist  has said that the only my husband and I can become pregnant is through IVF. I have had 2 HSG's done, and was told that I have a
hydrosalpinx in the one tube. I would like to try a herbal remedy to clear the scar tissue, adhesions, etc., before trying IVF. I saw one person ask a question regarding Felopio, and I've tried that before. Of course it didn't work, so I would like to try an internal approach. Thank you for any assistance/information.

ANSWER: I've answered every question possible on infertility in this column. My suggestions to you would
be the same. There are several herbs that can help the system back to a state of health and wellness. Please go to the archives and read everything there.

B VITAMINS
QUESTION: I have just recently starting taking extra vitamin B to help with mood swings (about 1 1/2 weeks)I am a person who has regular cycles.  This month I had my cycle on the 7th and end on the 10th.  For the last 3 days I have been spotting and having cramps.  I called my gynecologist to ask if I could be pregnant (because I missed carried earlier in the year).  She advised me to take a pregnancy test which was negative.  I am a person who is 37 years old, I have always had cycles that you could set your clock to.  I am just wondering if the extra vitamin B could be giving me to much vitamin B and throwing off my cycle.  I am two weeks early for my cycle.  Any advice you can give me would be great.  I am just worried that I could becoming pregnant and miscarrying?  Could these be symptoms or reactions to too much vitamin B?
 
ANSWER: The body does not store Vitamin B. If you don't use it, your body will pass it. I've never heard of vitamin B causing such things nor can I find any incidence of it in my research. Are you taking anything for fertility or trying to get pregnant? Over the counter pregnancy tests are not 200% accurate, so I would get a firm test from a doctor. Are you taking any other herbs or medications that could be causing this? I'm almost certain it's not the Vitamin B unless of course, it is some sort of "Blend" with other things in it. Pure vitamin B shouldn't.


LEMON JUICE AND FERTILITY
QUESTION: I would like to know, drinking two glasses a day of lemon juice, does it effect fertility in any way?

ANSWER: Drinking lemon juice is not going to affect your fertility. Douching with it might change the acidity, but I wouldn't recommend it. 

FERTILITY
QUESTION:  I've been diagnosed with secondary infertility and we have been trying for our second child for over a year.  I've been reading you postings and would like to ask if there's something I can take to increase the amount of my cervical mucous.  I have not found a posting regarding that.  I am planning to buy your Fertili tea, but would like to know how often I should be using it.  Does it come with instructions?  Also, when you answer this question, will it be via a posting or will you answer me directly?

ANSWER: I think I've already sent out your order, but the reason  your cervical mucous is out of balance is hormonal. The progesterone in your body is what affects it. When the progesterone levels are off, the mucous isn't quite right. The Fertili-Tea will help balance your hormones, so this should take care of the problem.

BLOCKED TUBES
QUESTION: I recently took an HSG (dye test) and was diagnosed with Hydrosalpinx in both fallopian tubes.  My uterus was fine.  I'm 39 years old and my husband and I have been trying for the past 4 months to have a baby.  Is there anything that can unblock my tubes?  I'm hoping there is an herbal medicine or tea you can recommend to open my tubes so I won't have to consider either surgery or IVF.  This would be my first child and I really would like to make sure I have a healthy pregnancy.  I've been trying to eat right and I've been taking prenatal vitamins for the past 6 months.  I'm also taking calcium pills because my calcium level is a little low.  I hope you are able to help me as I find myself crying almost every night thinking the worse. I hope you will be able to recommend something that will help me with this problem.

ANSWER: Do you have a diagnosis? What is blocking the tubes specifically? Has the doctor said? I need a little more information before I can make any suggestion.

FERTILITY
QUESTION: The only way my wife and I can conceive is through IVF (her tubes are gone).  We tried it and during the procedure, she was told by the doctor that she has high follicle stimulant hormones that prevented her from producing healthy eggs thus halting the continuation of the entire procedure.  Are there any herbs that you know of that controls these hormones?  Anything you can provide us will be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: I have an herb tea called Fertili-TEA that helps to normalize the reproductive and endocrine systems to aid in fertility. You can find it on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com under TEAS.


FERTILITY
QUESTION: I'm age 38, had a reversal 12 month ago, have had 1 miss @ 5 weeks, 1 miss @ 12 weeks and trying again.  I have had 3 other miscarriages with a previous partner @ 8 weeks, 10weeks and 14 weeks with 3 living children in between. I'm not sure if you ship to the UK and have you any advice, I am currently
taking a prenatal multi vitamin.

ANSWER: I just returned from the UK. You have some wonderful herbalists there. I don't currently ship internationally, but if you have a local herbalist, I would suggest you go and spend some time with them and see what they recommend. The Fertili-Tea I offer is made up of herbs that tone the endocrine and reproductive organs and systems.

FERTILITY
QUESTION: I need some advice.  I am a breastfeeding mother of an 8 month old son.  He has never taken a bottle and is eating solids now.  I got my cycle back at 10 weeks pp.  I got pregnant when he was 61/2 months old and lost the pg early.  I went through 2 1/2 years of infertility to get our son.  I had PCOS and did acupuncture and herbs and it worked.  My husband and I would like to have another baby now and weaning is not an option.  I think I might have LPD (luteal phase defect) which would explain the early miscarriage.  I
would like to do this naturally as I do everything that way.  Please advise.

ANSWER:  I have a tea called Fertili-TEA which works on toning the reproductive and endocrine systems and organs. You can find it on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com in the Apothecary.

MALE INFERTILITY
QUESTION:  I wrote to your earlier but I have just started my husband on Usana Essentials vitamins (one Mega Antioxidant 3x daily and one Chelated Mineral 3x daily) so I wanted to get your opinion on these to help increase his sperm motility (currently 40% but could be better right?) and improve overall health. We live in the Cayman Islands so access to herbs and natural remedies are hard to come by. What else should we be doing? We have experienced three pregnancy losses (one ectopic and two after successful IVFs) but want to give it a try naturally for one year before we consider IVF again.

ANSWER: The best male tonic for fertility is ginseng. It is readily available most places and you can also order it over the web. that would be my suggestion. The supplement you have him taking seems fine, though there are several things in there that I'm not familiar with, so I can't say for certain. I would work on toning the system. Make sure he's eating a healthy diet, and try abstaining from sex for a month and see what happens. It's working wonders for the men coming home from the Gulf! Sometimes, we try too hard and all we need to do is relax and de-stress a little.

INFERTILITY
QUESTION:  I am 25 years old and my hubby is 28. we have been together for 3 years and have been trying to get pregnant for 2 and a half unsuccessful years. I think that we have conceived but I have had early miscarriages. A friend recently told us that we should take false unicorn and cramp bark. Will this work? Oh
I also have ovarian cysts and have half of one of my ovaries removed. Almost every other month I don't ovulate. I have been taking my temp and checking my vaginal fluids regularly so I know that I am ovulating. I really want a baby. Any information would be helpful.

ANSWER: I have a tea that I can't keep on the shelves called Fertili-Tea. You can also now get it in tincture form. It is designed to tone the reproductive organs and system as well as the endocrine system. You can find it at www.allgoodegifts.com in the apothecary. False Unicorn root is certainly helpful and is contained in the Fertili-tea, but cramp bark is a nerve sedative. It will reduce tension and encourage sleep, which may help the problem, but it isn't something I usually recommend for infertility issues.

FERTILITY ISSUES
QUESTION:  I have several issues going on. first, my husband has a problem ejaculating. the sensation is there but that's about it. usually with coaxing a little will come out. when he had a sperm count done it came back normal, though (with what he could give). Is there anything that can help with this issue? if so what can
be done. I have a lot of different issues, my tubes are blocked from scarring, but when they put the dye in
there was enough open for the dye to come through slowly on the x ray (very painful procedure by the
way). my tubes are also attached to the ovaries. my eggs weren't producing as they should and my periods
have always been irregular. lately I have only spotted, then I started taking birth control (ortho lo) to regulate my periods and it worked but now my period won't stop (it's been 26 days today) but I noticed that it looked like old blood and I think I've started my regular period yesterday (new blood). I've thought the old blood was my system cleaning itself out from not having a regular cycle for so long. my plan was to regulate then stop taking the pill to jump start fertility ( it worked with my sister in law twice and about 5 other people i know) also start taking herbal supplements to help with the fertility. I figured I must be ovulating because i do have a period and my cervical mucus is like it's supposed to be at the time of month it's supposed to be. Also I am obese, but I am currently working on that. i just wanted to know what can help me and my husband in my struggle for pregnancy? What can help me produce the eggs and get them fertilized? what can help my husbands problem? I want to start taking your Fertili-TEA but since this is the first time I'm going herbal I'm kind of cautious. Please help me, it's been 7 years and I'm desperate for a family.

ANSWER: Fertility is such a complex issue. It doesn't matter how much your husband ejaculates, it only takes one cell to fertilize the egg and if there's room in your tubes for the cell to get through, then that wouldn't be the problem. If you are obese, that is a problem. You need to deal with that issue first It can affect fertility as well as your periods and the entire system. It's as though the body "knows" that getting pregnant in that condition isn't good for you or the baby. Trying to get pregnant while obese is very dangerous. My suggestion would be to work on that first and then think about having that family. The herbs in the Fertili-tea are not a magic pill. They are to tone and rejuvenate your systems and organs. If you are not eating healthy and exercising, it's like putting rocket fuel in a jalopy - it's not going to do much. Good health is an all-around approach, not just one thing we do. It needs to be a combination of things to keep us in balance. Herbs are just the helpers.

INDUCING LABOR
QUESTION: I had a question regarding herbs to induce labor.  I am almost 2 weeks overdue and I was scheduled for an induction.  Due to a previous c-section 13 years ago, my doctor said he didn't want me to deliver vaginally and wants me to consent to another c-section.  I have seen an OB doc who said there was no reason why I cannot have a vaginal birth.  I was wondering if there was any herbs I can take to start my labor?

ANSWER: I don't ever recommend inducing labor unless the mother or child is at risk. There are just too many things that can go wrong. If you saw another OB who said there's no reason you can't deliver vaginally, then my suggestion would be to stick with him and let him see you through the delivery.

INDUCING LABOR
QUESTION:  I am 38 weeks into my pregnancy and My family practitioner has told me that I'm ready to go. She will not induce chemically is there something natural that you can suggest?

ANSWER: I would never suggest inducing delivery in a healthy woman. The baby will come when it's ready, and not until. Inducing can be extremely dangerous for both of you and if your medical practitioner has refused to do it, then I must assume there is no immediate threat to either of you. Just try to relax and be patient.

GREEN TEA WHILE PREGNANT
QUESTION: Hello. I am 13 weeks pregnant and I would like to know if it is safe to drink decaffeinated green tea. I have been drinking the tea for a few weeks but I recently read in the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that it may be unsafe to drink and should be avoided. It specifically says that it "may interfere with cell development and growth" (pg. 65). Now I'm concerned that it may have harmed my baby. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: I'm not aware of anything in Green Tea that may be harmful. As long as it's caffeine free, you should be fine. Be sure it is a good quality tea, though and hopefully organic.

NURSING AN ADOPTED CHILD
QUESTION:  I’m going to adopt a baby in 2 months and I want to breastfeed him. What herbs can I take to start milk flow in my breast? I have 4 children but my youngest one is 14 now. I breastfed all of them. Please help me out.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Breast milk is produced by the hormones in  your body. This is controlled by the endocrine system and try as we may, we cannot duplicate it. Producing breast milk when you aren't pregnant or nursing is probably not a good idea. Anything that's going to alter the natural function of your hormones will not be in your best interests.  Might I suggest goat's milk if you don't want to go the formula route.

QUESTION:  I am 38 years old and my husband is 43.  My husband suffers from low sperm motility and we have undergone two IVF/ICSI procedures.  Two fertilised embryos were place back but no pregnancy was forthcoming.  We are seeing a herbalist who has prescribed the following to me:
Marigold
Ladies Mantel
Nettle
Oats
Milk Thistle
Liquorice

Can you advise me if these are suitable.  We cannot afford another IVF procedure so our only hope is to conceive naturally - is there anything my husband or I should be taking that may increase our chances naturally?

ANSWER: Increase your vitamin B complex to start. Get your husband on some ginseng. Add wild yam, vitex or chaste tree berry, dong quai and false unicorn root to the mixture you described and you will be on your way to toning and strengthening your reproductive and endocrine systems.

QUESTION: Hi there I am taking a fertility aid with Chaste Berry, Dong Quai red clover, licorice, Sub ginsing, chinese red ginseng root, and some other things In it.. and this is my problem.    I started taking this product on about June 20th.. then I started my menstrual cycle on about July 13th.. and I was bleeding continuously since. (menstrual cycle started way early) started with spotting and so forth. Then got heavier and seemed to get light like it was over and then started again. I put it off taking the herbs as I  was regulating my cycle and I have not taken any for 3 days now..   However I guess what my question is, is should I take 3 a day to slow the bleeding or take 1 a day to slow/stop the bleeding.. ( I was taking 2 as instructions said).. I have been as regular as clockwork my whole life. No problems with menstrual cycle
at all. Someone told me chaste berry is 3 weeks on and 1 week off.. I am really confused!!!

ANSWER: First of all, what "other things" are in this blend you're taking? If it's for fertility, I don't know why all the ginseng. I don't give that to women. I do give it to men to increase their fertility. If your periods have been normal up until the time you started taking this mixture, I would stop it immediately. It is obviously screwing up your system. I can't explain what's going on. My Fertili-Tea has some of the herbs you mentioned in it, but I haven't had anyone report the kinds of problems you are experiencing. To curb the excessive menstruation, I would suggest the following: shepherd's purse, yarrow flowers, nettle and whit oak bark. Avoid Dong Quai at all costs, as that can increase menstruation.

QUESTION: I´m 34 yrs. old and my husband is 44, we have been unsuccessfully trying to have a baby for 5 years now. I´ve been diagnosed with hostile cervical mucus (I have plenty of it every month), it´s too thick and won´t let sperm swim through (there´s no problem with sperm antibodies). Everything else seems just fine, I have great ovarian reserve, my hormone levels are always right, no blocked tubes and just a mild endometriosis which they removed in a laparoscopic procedure. My husband is also fine. We´ve already had 4 intrauterine inseminations and 1 IVF with no success. What would you recommend to increase the quality of my mucus and of my fertility in general? Traditional medicine apparently has no remedy regarding cervical mucus and the IVF and the IUI are really invasive and very stressful methods and I´m really through with them. Thanks

ANSWER: The cervical  mucous issue is becoming more and more common, though hostile cervical mucous only makes up between 1-2% of infertile women. It is believed to be an imbalance in the hormones as the levels of estrogen and progesterone control the consistency and thickness of the mucous. My Fertili-Tea is designed to bring your endocrine (hormonal) system as well as your reproductive system back into balance. Also, stress is a major contributor to infertility in young women. Judging from what you've told me, you've had enough stress in your live to affect you adversely. Not to worry. Get yourself on a quality vitamin B complex right away. You can purchase them locally at the health store, or online, but make sure it's a good one. You get what you pay for, so don't scrimp at this point. You can purchase my Fertili-Tea on the website at www.allgoodegifts.com under Teas in the Herb Shoppe. Expect to be on this for anywhere from 1-3 months to give your body time to heal from all the invasive procedures.

INDUCING LABOR
QUESTION: Do you have any suggestions on what to take to induce labor?

ANSWER:  I don't advocate inducing labor ever. It's extremely dangerous, not only for you, but for your baby as well. Are you under the care of a medical practitioner or midwife? Why exactly are you trying to induce? Trust me, when those babies are ready, they'll come. If it is an emergency situation, my advice is to get to a doctor or hospital immediately. There are some instances when medical care and attention are crucial, and this would be one of those.

QUESTION: I'm a day overdue my estimated delivery date and just wondered how long do
you think raspberry leaf tea will take before i go into labour?

ANSWER: One day is not that long, and I don't think I'd recommend you drinking raspberry leaf tea to force the labor. Raspberry leaf tea is normally used to stop heavy bleeding. If anything, I think it would prolong it. Do not use teas or anything else to hasten labor simply because you are impatient. It can be dangerous not only for you, but for your baby. Each child has its own birthing rhythm and it should not be disturbed. Many times that rhythm doesn't correspond to  the calendar, the doctor's predictions or our own impatience and desire! Those babies will come when they're ready, trust me. If you are in an emergency situation, your doctor or midwife can induce labor, but I strongly recommend against trying to do it yourself.

QUESTION: I read w/ interest your Q&A on Herbnet.com.  I am 42 1/2 and trying to conceive baby #3.  We have tried for 5 months now.  I have two children already w/ no problems getting pregnant or w/ pregnancy.  I don't know if there is a problem, but am concerned because of my age.  I have also discovered I have poor
quality cervical mucus.  I have been drinking a locally produced fertility tea as well as lots of water, no caffeine (other than green tea), no sugar and carrot juice daily.  In June I had great CM but didn't conceive.  In my last cycle I had non-existent CM.  (I had started eating a little sugar and stopped the fertility tea because I thought I would have conceived in June w/ my great CM).  I think your tea may be better b/c it has many herbs in it that the current tea I'm using does not.  Would you recommend anything other than your fertility tea?  Thank you.

ANSWER: First, I wouldn't start eating sugar again. One month will not fix the issue. Several things could be going on. You could be pre-menopausal in which case things are starting to change with you. Just because the CM was good one month doesn't mean your system is totally functional. The herbs in my tea are to tone and build up the reproductive and endocrine systems. It usually takes from one to 3 months, depending on how depleted your system is. Again, if you are pre menopausal, that could be the issue. But there are plenty of women who have children in their 40's with no problems. Your diet is extremely important, as is your stress level. Make sure you are taking a quality B complex supplement every day. Stress is the number one issue of infertility in young women. Also, no preservatives, white flour, white sugar or artificial sweeteners of any kind, especially aspartame! Use honey or molasses or pure maple sugar and syrup if you have a sweet tooth.

FATIGUE DURING PREGNANCY
QUESTION: I think this is the third time I have emailed you with a question.
The answers you send are very informative and easy to understand.  This is for my daughter. She is going to have a baby in mid to late November and she asked me what she could do about being tired all the time. She said she even falls asleep at work sometimes. What can she take to help give her more energy? Again thank you for your time.

ANSWER: I'm assuming she is under the care of a medical practitioner and is taking a pre-natal vitamin with iron. If not, that would be my first recommendation. Pregnancy takes a lot out of you, as you well know, and iron deficiency is one of the biggies. Make sure she's getting plenty of iron and B complex. Natural remedies that are good for her and the baby include Spirulina, 1-2 Tblspns daily, Bee pollen, 1-2 tspns daily, however, make sure she is not allergic to it. Take just a few grains the first couple of times to ensure she doesn't have a reaction to it. Seaweeds and kelp are wonderful and have lots of iron in them. She also needs to ensure she's getting extra sleep. 8 hours a day may not do it in her condition. And of course, I have a tea and a tincture that are very helpful for uplifting and providing a high level or iron.  If you are interested, e-mail me with the word ORDER in your subject line for more information.

FERTILITY
QUESTION: I has pcos syndrome where I don't ovulate but I have a cycle every month. I only have one tube due to an ectopic pregnancy last year. My husband and I have been try to get pregnant but no success. I was taking Clomid for the ovulation but it cause cyst. So I decided to stop taking it and I wanted to try something natural that will help me conceive. Can you help? 

ANSWER: You said you have a cycle, but don't ovulate? How do you know you're having a cycle? You shouldn't be menstruating without ovulating. Please give me more information so I can try to help you. Have you seen a medical professional? Have you had blood tests? What did they reveal? How long were you taking the clomid? Has your husband been checked? Everything OK there?  Let me know and we will go from there.

FOLLOW-UP ON THE ABOVE QUESTION:
I'm 27 years old Well yes I have been to the doctor. And had blood test done and when the test came back he told me that I have pcos. because at the time my cycle was irregular at the time and I had to take provera to make it come down. I was put on in 2002 clomid because I was not ovulating and I take the clomid for six months and I stop taking it because get was a little expensive every month. 2003 I became pregnant but I miscarriage at six weeks then five month later became pregnant again and it was an ectpoic pregnancy and I lost my left tube and the doctor told me that yes I can conceive again but it may take me longer to conceive. Starting the second month if this year my cycle are regular but I just I don't know what day it comes but I do have one every month. And it not a 28 day cycle maybe like a 32 and 33 day cycle. My husband has been tested everything is. Do you have herbs the can help me conceive. Because I do not want to take the clomid again because every women I talk to said that they miscarriage and causes tumors on the ovary but after you stop taking it goes away.

ANSWER: I have an herb tea that I sell to women who are trying to conceive, called Fertili-TEA. I don't recommend taking it with any medications. You can find it on my website at www.allgoodegifts.com under teas in the Herb Shoppe. The herbs are tonics for the reproductive and endocrine systems to help build up and strengthen. The tea is safe to take until you confirm you are pregnant. At that point, I would stop taking it. Let me know if you have any other questions.

HERBS TO GET A GIRL
QUESTION: I have two boys and really want a girl.  My husband is in the Army and he said that one more baby and that's it!  So what herbal medicine can I take to enhance my chances for a girl.  As of now I just take prenatals and Skin, Hair & Nails.

ANSWER: There's lots of things out there on affecting the sex of your baby, but I'm not aware of any herb that will do it. Supposedly, there are special diets etc that will help, but again, nothing substantiated with any type of reliable research.  I'd opt for healthy!

SUPPLEMENTS DURING PREGNANCY
QUESTION: I am 22 years old and was diagnosed with Chrohn’s Disease two years ago, was taking prednisone for quite some time and just
about 4 months ago I changed my diet and started eating a lot of vegetables & fruit and started taking 4 super enzymes caps a day.  This has controlled my disease. It has betaine hci -200 mg, pancreatin 4x- 200 mg, ox bile extract(45% cholic acid) -100 mg, bromelain 2,400 gdu/g - 50 mg, papain 2m usp units/g powder- 50 mg, pepsin nf 1:10m units powder -50 mg, papaya fruit powder & pineapple fruit powder -45 mg, cellulase 1m fcc/g powder-10mg. I want to know if I would get pregnant will these ingredients have any side affects on my child?

ANSWER: The hardest thing for you will be to eat a healthy diet so your baby is strong and healthy. I don't advocate anything except vitamin supplements for pregnant women, but speak with your medical