GHS Natural Health Blog

With the average age of first-time Australian mums increasing, many couples concerned about their ability to conceive are seeking natural ways to boost their fertility.

While you can’t turn back time, you can effectively reduce your biological age by two years if you follow a healthy diet and supplement with essential fertility nutrients and herbs for at least four months before conception, claims leading fertility expert Francesca Naish.

The benefits of supplementing

In addition to vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, various herbal extracts can help to balance hormone levels and promote fertility. As well as helping the body do what comes naturally, they are also beneficial for your overall health. Herbs contain antioxidants and other important compounds that boost immune function, fight off illness and benefit your cardiovascular system, to name a few! So you are not only boosting fertility, you are promoting general wellness at the same time. Often a combination of herbal extracts is the most effective tool, each working synergistically with the other.

Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris): Better known for its perceived benefits in building muscle, the positive effects this herb has on both male and female fertility are sometimes overlooked. Tribulus acts as a general fertility tonic and aphrodisiac and is used to restore vitality and reduce the physiological effects of stress.

In one study, Tribulus extract given at a dose of 750 mg per day for five days, demonstrated an increase in sex hormone production for both men and women. In another study 36 infertile women were given Tribulus; 6 per cent became pregnant as a result of normalised ovulation; 61 per cent demonstrated normalised ovulation and no pregnancy; and 33 per cent demonstrated no effect from Tribulus. Studies also show that protodioscin, the active component of Tribulus, has several beneficial effects on sperm production, improving the quantity and quality of sperm produced as well as sperm motility (the ability to swim and reach the female egg). In a double blind study of 45 infertile married men, 36 were treated with Tribulus daily for three months. The control group of nine men were given a placebo for the same period.  Spouses of eight of the men in the treated group achieved pregnancies after their husbands’ treatment, whereas no pregnancies occurred in the spouses of the men in the control group. The researchers also noted improvements in sperm quality and composition after the treatment period. The recommended daily dose of Tribulus extract standardised to contain a minimum of protodioscin is 240 to 360 mg. It is best used on days five to 14 of the menstrual cycle for enhanced female fertility. Males can take this supplement continuously.

Asparagus (Shatavari): Not to be confused with the humble vegetable you buy in the supermarket, Asparagus racemosa is extremely useful for both male and female sexual and reproductive health due to its tonic and rejuvenative properties. In males, Asparagus root has been shown to improve seminal qualities by increasing sperm count and motility. In females, it nourishes and cleanses the blood and reproductive organs, as well as regulating premenstrual symptoms and minor imbalances in the menstrual cycle. Asparagus is often used to control excessive menstrual bleeding because of its healing effect on the endometrium. Asparagus root improves egg quality in older prospective mothers and also breast milk production in nursing mothers. The recommended dose is 2g daily.

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus): Also known as Vitex (Chaste Tree berries) are one of the most well known natural fertility herbs for women. It stimulates the pituitary gland, which produces the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and stimulates the ovulation process. Particularly useful when there is a low level of progesterone production, this herb acts as a rejuvenating tonic to the reproductive system. More specifically, Chaste Tree has been used successfully by women suffering from irregular ovulation and by women with shorter luteal phases (the period between ovulation and the end of the menstrual cycle). Chaste Tree has also been shown to restore normal ovulation after discontinuing use of birth control pills. The recommended daily dose of the powdered berries or fruit is 1.5g.

Withania (Ashwagandha): In Sanskrit, Ashwagandha means ‘the smell of a horse’ because the strong odour of the fresh root resembles horse urine. It is also considered to bestow the sexual vitality of a horse on the user and is traditionally used in cases of sterility and infertility. In India, Withania is regarded as one of the best male rejuvenating tonics, promoting sperm production, blood flow and tone to the reproductive organs. It also regulates hormonal function in men. The traditional recommended daily dose of the powdered root is 2 g daily.

Coenzyme Q10: A 2004 study demonstrated daily supplementation with coenzyme Q10 can help improve sperm movement in infertile men. Coenzyme Q10 is active in the testes and plays an important role in forming membranes and other structures within cells by fighting the effects of oxidative stress. Researchers looked at the effects of daily oral supplementation with 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 in 22 infertile men with low sperm motility. At the start of the study, researchers found the men had lower-than-normal levels of coenzyme Q10 in their seminal fluid. After six months of supplementation with the antioxidant, the men experienced a significant increase in these levels. The researchers also found a significant increase in sperm motility, which was linked to the rise in coenzyme Q10 levels. Coenzyme Q10 may also protect the ovaries in older mothers, a likely result of its antioxidant properties.

The jury is in

Foresight, a British Medical Association for the promotion of preconception, conducted a study between 1990 and 1993, using a nutritional and lifestyle modification preconception care programme. The results were nothing less than remarkable. There was a tenfold reduction in the expected incidence of miscarriage and birth defects and more than an 80 per cent success rate with unexplained infertility. Out of the 367 couples in the study, 327 (89 per cent) successfully became pregnant and 327 children were born. All the babies born were healthy. Among the 204 couples with infertility problems, 175 (86 per cent) were able to achieve a healthy pregnancy.

These results clearly demonstrate that herbs and supplements play an important role in achieving a trouble-free pregnancy and a happy, healthy baby.

Restricting the simple sugar glucose from your diet, while avoiding vitamin supplements, may extend your lifespan, according to German researchers.

While your body needs glucose, a sugar found in high amounts in sweets, too much of it is harmful.

When the researchers used a chemical to block worms’ ability to process glucose, their lifespan was extended by up to 25 percent, which is equal to 15 human years.

The beneficial effect came from an unlikely source: free radicals. Typically, free radicals are thought to cause damage to your body, and many consume antioxidants and vitamins to fight them.

However, when the worms were unable to use glucose for energy, they increased energy power from other cells — a process that generated more free radicals than normal.

In response, the worms generated enzymes that fought the free radicals and strengthened their long-term protection against the damaging molecules.

The study also points to a reason why antioxidants may not be beneficial in the long run.

When some of the worms were given antioxidants, the free radicals were neutralized. However, this also prevented the worms from generating the beneficial, long-term defences.

Reference: Mercola

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is made of an amino acid and a sugar molecule and is a raw material for making connective tissue in joint cartilage. In supplement form, it is derived from chitin, the hard material in crustacean shell. It can also be made from plant material such as corn, known as vegetarian glucosamine.

How does it work?

Glucosamine feeds and stimulates cartilage repair. It’s one of cartilage’s key building blocks and also encourages self-repair by stimulating the process that creates moisture-holding molecules.

Uses for Glucosamine

As we age, the body’s ability to produce glucosamine can decrease and this causes joint cartilage to lose it water holding capacity. The cartilage breaks and becomes less effective as a shock absorber, leading to joint stiffness. Supplementing the body’s natural glucosamine production has been shown in clinical trials to repair and rebuild worn or damaged cartilage. As the condition of the joint cartilage improves, pain is reduced and mobility increased.

What are the key benefits?

• Helps repair and rebuild damaged cartilage
• Can improve joint mobility and flexibility
• Symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis
• Helps reduce further cartilage damage
• Temporary relief of joint inflammation
• Temporary relief of joint pain

How does it compare?

Conventional osteoarthritis treatment involves anti-inflammation medicines. While they can be effective in relieving pain, they do not address the cause of the problem. Unlike these medicines, glucosamine has been demonstrated to effectively act on the cause of osteoarthritic pain – cartilage breakdown. By addressing the root the problem, osteoarthritis joint pain can also be relieved.

Where’s the evidence?

Given glucosamine works mainly as a structural compound to maintain cartilage, it’s more sensible to measure changes in joint structure, than pain reduction, to quantify glucosamine’s effectiveness. A review of a number of clinical trials that used X-rays to measure improvement concluded glucosamine can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis progression by 54%.

Glucosamine has also been shown in some clinical trials to work as effectively, if not better than some other commonly used arthritis medicines. Some studies show that it relieves pain and this is more marked in people with moderate to severe symptoms.

Does it really work?

Aside from the functional evidence above, thousands of glucosamine users are benefiting from the effects of glucosamine with about 400m tablets a year being consumed. In fact Choice Magazine found about 75% of their online members who were arthritis sufferers claimed they were experiencing a benefit from using glucosamine.

The acne industry is a greedy trade. All they are after is lots of money while acne sufferers live in pain and misery. In this article you will discover a secret acne cure that the greedy acne industry is to selfish to tell you.

There are so many acne solutions on offer it is hard to know which one will or won’t work. Curing acne effectively becomes a guessing game. A very boring and painful one. The only way you can really find a cure is through trial and error. Essentially this means trying things out and seeing if it works to clear your spots. If it doesn’t, move onto the next treatment. However, there is an easier way…

A better way is to find someone who has already tried many acne treatments and eventually after many years found a cure for themselves. This method produces faster results than any other, and one I personally used to find my acne cure. I basically asked lots of questions to ex-acne sufferers and pieced together a cure for myself.

What I found is that the best way I could prevent acne was to do three simple things.

1. I found that not eating sugar and vegetable oil stopped 80% of all my acne. I discovered that eating lots of healthy nutrient packed food and taking some supplements got rid of 15% of my acne.

2. I found that not eating sugar and vegetable oil stopped 80% of all my acne.

3. I also found out that I had a harmful fungi infection, which I got rid of and that took care of any remaining acne (the last 5%)

It is so simple to stay acne free with these three easy steps that practically anyone can do it. This is a simple acne cure that the acne industry doesn’t want to tell you. And with good reason. They make miraculous amounts of money with their ‘magic solutions’ that make you come back for more in the hope that maybe it’ll work after a few more weeks or months.

As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 21 million Americans. Marked by pain and inflammation caused by cartilage breakdown in various weight-bearing joints (e.g., knee), sufferers commonly treat their symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription medication. But relief can often be offset by side effects and complications, such as gastrointestinal upset, ulcers or worse.

Luckily, you can quell your joint pain and swelling with a number of natural alternatives that are easier to tolerate. Here is a short guide to six options.

Glucosamine (with Chondroitin)

How It Works: Supplements of glucosamine, which slows and may even prevent progression of joint changes that cause osteoarthritis, are derived from either the shells of crustaceans, or are manufactured from vegetable materials such as corn.

What the Science Says: Results from a 24-week study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that taking glucosamine and chondroitin together may help reduce pain in individuals with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis; the combination didn’t seem to help those with mild symptoms, however. It may take several weeks to experience the full pain-relieving effects.

The Best Way to Use It: Use the recommended doses–1500mg daily for glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride and 800-1200mg daily of chondroitin sulfate. Also, go for quality. “The quality and biologic activity levels of chondroitin and glucosamine sources vary, and good products use the most active components. Many of the cheap brands contain inexpensive and often inactive chondroitin, for instance,” says Jason Theodosakis, MD, author of The Arthritis Cure and other books.

Caution: Glucosamine may adversely affect insulin sensitivity, a potential issue for diabetics.

Product Example: Glucosamine & Chondroitin Tablets by Thompson’s

Ginger

How It Works: Ginger contains active compounds that may decrease joint pain and inflammation in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What the Science Says: Study findings from the University of Miami show that among 247 subjects, 63 percent of people taking 255mg of ginger extract twice daily reduced their OA knee pain. The ginger users were also able to reduce their need for “rescue” medication, namely acetaminophen.

The Best Way to Use It: Ginger is available in multiple forms, including capsules, extract and tincture. Follow dosage guidelines on the label or consult your doctor. You can also use ginger root to make a compress to apply directly to painful joints.

Caution: Talk to your doctor first if you are taking antacids and/or any medication for blood pressure, blood thinning, heart disease or diabetes–ginger could interact with these drugs.

Product Example: ArthxRelief by Rainbow Light (with ginger, plus glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, turmeric and other nutrients).

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine)

How It Works: SAMe, a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is also available as a supplement, treats pain, stiffness and joint swelling, improves mobility, rebuilds cartilage; also used to treat depression, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

What the Science Says: Findings to date indicate that SAMe relieves pain as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but with fewer side effects.

The Best Way to Use It: The standard dosage is 600-1200mg daily for OA, best taken under a doctor’s supervision. Also, take on an empty stomach.

Product Example: Pretorius SAM-E Tablets.

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

How It Works: MSM is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, animals and humans. “Sulfur is the third most common mineral in the body and is critical for the structure of connective tissues, including those in and around the joints,” says Theodosakis. MSM has an anti-inflammatory effect, and is believed to help repair damaged connective tissue associated with joint degeneration.

What the Science Says: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 50 men and women, ages 40-76, with knee OA pain showed pain reduction and improved mobility after using MSM (3g, twice daily) for 12 weeks. “MSM became popular mostly through anecdote, but now the research is catching up,” says Theodosakis.

The Best Way to Use It: MSM is available in topical and oral forms. The typical oral dosage for OA is 1000-3000mg daily, with meals. To avoid minor gastrointestinal symptoms, try gradually increasing the dose. Follow label directions for topical forms.

Caution: If you are using any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, take several hours before or after taking MSM, as some drugs can bind with mineral-containing supplements. Theodosakis also recommends the American-made, distilled form of MSM; the Chinese version may not have the same quality standards or purity.

Product Example: MSM Joint Support Powder by Blackmores.