Herbs to Avoid While Trying to Conceive

With more than six billion people on the planet, you can't help but think that having babies is easy. After all, women are born with around 400,000 eggs, and you would think that one of them could easily become fertilized. But for many people, it just isn't that easy, and they need to work a little harder to get pregnant. It's estimated that about 10 percent of the reproductive population experience infertility each year.

Maybe you're thinking that 10 percent isn't much, and it's not really something you need to worry about. However, if you are in that 10 percent, the statistic doesn't matter, as it can be a painful and emotionally trying process to work through. There are many factors that can contribute to infertility, including herbal supplements.

What to Avoid?

It is recommended to avoid all herbs if you are trying to conceive. If you are having some trouble getting pregnant, take a look and see if you are using any herbs. Make sure you ditch the St. John's Wort, Echinacea and gingko biloba. They may come highly recommended by your best friend for various reasons, but they are believed to also inhibit your chances of getting pregnant. The best thing to do is not take any chances, and stop using all of them for a while.

Because there isn't extensive research on these supplements, it's also not known if they could harm your baby, should you become pregnant while using them. Additional reasons to avoid herbs during conception are that they can have estrogenic substances that can impact hormone concentration; they may hurt sperm production; and they may effect fertilizing capability.

Where to Find It?

Although experts recommend that you avoid using all herbs while trying to conceive, you may not be aware that some things you use have herbs in them. Today you can get herbal supplements in many forms and products. You could be drinking something that has an herb in it and not even know it. Here are some common herbs you should avoid while trying to conceive. These products can be found in various forms, including pills, liquid extracts and even some teas.

St. John's Wort: This supplement also goes by the names hypericum perforatum, goatweed, klamath weed, amber touch-and-heal, milleperituis and rosin rose. It has been widely used today for treating depression. Among other things, this supplement is used for anxiety, insomnia and stomach upset.

Echinacea: Other names that Echinacea goes by include comb flower, hedgehog, snakeroot, scurvy root and American cone flower. This supplement has become popular to use when you have a cold or flu. Its use is to stimulate the immune system.

Ginkgo biloba: The ginkgo extract has been used in Chinese medicines throughout history. People use it to reduce inflammation, improve blood flow and as an antioxidant.

Dong Quai: This supplement also goes by the names tang-kuei, dang-gui, Angelica polymorpha and Chinese angelica. People who use this often do so to help with menstrual cramps, anemia, managing high blood pressure and arthritis.

Black cohosh: Alternative names for black cohosh include black snake root, rattleroot, baneberry, richweed, Cimicifuga racemosa and bugwort. Some of the things that this supplement has been used for include menstrual cramps, menopause symptoms and high cholesterol.

Wild yams: Other names to describe wild yams include yuma, Mexican yam, Dioscorea villosa, China root and rheumatism root. This supplement has been used for menstrual cramps, symptoms of menopause and rheumatic conditions.

The Bottom Line

If you are trying to get pregnant, you should refrain from using any herbal supplements. Once you get pregnant, you will need to continue to stay clear of many of them as well. Once the baby is born, you should consult your physician about using them again if you plan to breastfeed.