Medicinal Herbs for Conception

There are a number of herbs that have traditionally been used to assist conception. Most of these herbs are readily available in herbal and health-food stores in a variety of forms. Some of the herbs are also available in commercial combination formulas; making it easier for those without an herbal background to mix them in the right combination and amount.

Flowers

• Red clover flowers make a delicious tea.

  Red clover flowers are commonly recommended to increase conception success. The flowers are high in vitamins, calcium, magnesium and trace minerals. Red clover promotes fertility and balances hormones. Sperm die when the vaginal and uterine pH levels are too acidic. Red clover assists fertilization by alkalizing the body and balancing the pH of the uterus and vagina.

  Red clover flowers blended with peppermint leaves are useful as a sexual stimulant. Red clover flowers combined with red raspberry leaves support the female body in all stages of life.

  Red clover flowers are most often made into tea, and several commercial red clover teas are available. The herb can also be purchased in dried herb, tincture, extract, ointment, pill and capsule forms.

Herbal Fruits

• Berries from the vitex or chasteberry tree are commonly used to promote fertility. The berries stimulate the pituitary gland to release the leutenizing hormone while inhibiting the follicle stimulating hormone. This process makes conditions more favorable for fertilization. Vitex normalizes and encourages a regular menstrual cycle by balancing female hormones.

  Vitex is available in tincture, extract and dried herb capsule forms.

  Squaw vine relieves congestion in ovaries and uterus, restores menses and promotes fertility. Flowers, berries and leaves are used to create tinctures, teas, extracts and capsules. Squaw vine can also be used at the end of pregnancy to make childbirth easier and quicker.

Leaves

• Stinging nettle leaves can be challenging to harvest.

  Stinging nettle leaves are an excellent uterine tonic in tea or tincture form. The leaves strengthen kidneys and adrenals, nourish and balance hormones, and provide a high mineral source to support conception. Stinging nettle can be purchased in dried leaf, extract, tincture and capsule forms. Caution should be taken when harvesting the plant as the fine hairs along the stems can inflame skin and cause a rash.

  Red raspberry leaves, especially when brewed into tea, are highly recommended for women in all stages of life. The high iron and calcium content is beneficial for conception, The herb strengthens and tones the uterus and induces ovulation. Red raspberry is most effective when combined with red clover. The herb can be purchased in dried leaf, extract, tea, tincture, ointment, pill and capsule forms.

Roots

• Dong quai root balances hormones, normalizes and regulates menstruation, nourishes female organs, promotes fertility, rebuilds blood supply and increases circulation. It is normally referred to as a woman's herb and is often recommended throughout her adult life. Dong quai should only be used in combination with other herbs. The herb can be purchased in dried root, extract, tincture and capsule forms.

  False unicorn root nourishes male and female sex organs and is historically noted as a remedy for infertility in men and women. False unicorn may be difficult to find as a raw herb, but can be found in combination tinctures and capsules.