Raw Food Diet - Can It Be Another Unexplained Cause of Infertility

I. What is raw food diet?
The raw food diet is defined as a type of diet of which al least 75% of your daily diet must be unprocessed and uncooked foods or foods can not be heating above 115 degree of Fahrenheit or 40 °C , including fresh fruit and vegetables and raw meats. It believes that the greater the more raw food in your diet, the more healthy you are. While there are many benefits for people eating raw, such as increasing energy for our daily activity, improving skin appearance, assisting digestive process, stability weight loss with no risk of weight re-gaining, reducing the risk of heart and chronic diseases, because the diet contains high in trace minerals, essential vitamins, fiber and phytochemicals and less harmful substances, such as trans fat, saturated fat and salt but it interferes with the natural process of human being over thousand years of eating cooked foods, such as smaller jaws and teeth , shrinking stomachs have shrunk, and longer small intestines and lengthening the digestive surface area.
Some alternative medicine, such as Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine suggested that a raw-only diet may not be appropriate for people living in colder climates, because in order to fight off the constant cold, the depletion of yang qi is inevitable. Since most raw foods eaten in typical American raw food diet are cold, they will decrease the yang qi even further, leading to colding affects in our body, resulting in certain kinds of diseases, including blood stagnation and kidney yin deficiency, causing infertility in some severe cases.

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II. What is Fertility and Infertility and explained causes of infertility
A. Fertility
Fertility is a natural process to insure the survival of human species. Through natural selection, we produce many offspring when the reproductive system works at it's peak in the suitable environment with plenty foods around. On the other hand, the reductive system may completely shut down or work at it;s minimum state and we produce less offspring, when the environment is hostile including less foods around, war, epidemic, etc. But regardless any situation. most women are capable to conceive sometimes before menopause.

B. Infertility
Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse or the cannot carry the pregnancy full term. It effects over 5 million couples alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of an unawareness of treatments, only 10% seek help from professional specialists. In fact, about 35% of infertility is caused by the male's inability to fertilize. 35% is caused by the female's inability to conceive, 10% attributes to both, and 10 % is considered a failure with an unknown cause.

C. The unexplained causes of infertility
Unexplained cause of infertility is defined as a condition of a healthy couple who have found no reproductive structure or medical problems, but for whatever reason, the female partner is unable to get pregnant, and modern technologies and doctors in conventional medicine fail to find the causes of infertility.
According to conventional medicine, a couple are diagnosed with explained causes of infertility can have children by going through the process of artificial insemination or other options such as adoption, or surrogation. Some women may seek help from traditional medicine, because of cost effectiveness or believing that traditional medicine can offer a more natural birth.

III. Before proceeding further, let us take a look of
What is a menstrual cycle ?
The menstrual cycle begins when the level of estrogen start to rise. At certain point, the brain stimulates hypothalamus to produce Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (FSH) which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to produce the Follicle stimulating hormone, leading to initiating the growth and recruitment of immature Ovarian follicles in the ovary. At its peak, the pituitary gland switch to produce luteinizing hormone (LH), the FSH starts to decline which stimulates the mature of follicle and the production of estradiol and thickening the uterus lining as well as promoting friendly cervical mucus, triggering ovulation, resulting in extruding egg from the ovary into the Fallopian tube and initiating the conversion of the residual follicle into a corpus luteum, the the corpus luteum takes over the process, by producing progesterone in preparing the uterus lining for a possible egg implantation. If pregnancy does not occur, hormone levels plumped, and the thickened uterus limning is shed through the vaginal canal.
There are many thing involved to make the cycle regularly, but unfortunately any disruption may cause irregular menstruation and sometimes interferes the natural process of fertility.

IV. How raw food diet affects fertility in TCM perspective
While conventional medicine have never viewed irregular menstruation seriously, traditional Chinese medicine view irregular menstrual period as a tiny micro change in the female ecosystem, if not treat, it will interfere with the normal process of fertility and other women health's diseases such as nervous tension menstrual pain and cramps etc.. Especially if you are diagnosed with unexplained causes of infertility with irregular period, then your menstrual cycle may be the causes.

V. How to treat raw food diet causes of infertility in traditional Chinese perspective
A. Understand the food classification in TCM perspective
By diagnosis the underlying causes and treating each woman as an unique entity and the body as a whole. Depending in what have been diagnosed, you may given advice not to eat some kinds of food which may interfere the normal menstrual cycle and dampen your chance of fertility.

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1. Cold
Cold foods in traditional Chinese medicine are considered as a type of food which may stimulate the colding effects in your body and deplete the yang qi as resulting of our body needs to counter the colding effect with yang qi in the body. Prolong period of taking these kinds of food without balancing them with other warm or hot foods may cause yang qi and kidney yang deficiency resulting in interfering with normal function of the reproductive organ and leading to irregular period. For women who try to conceive should avoid to eat these type of raw foods or counter with at least same amount of hot foods.
a) Bamboo
b) Banana
c) Grape fruit
d) Clams
e) Seaweed
f) Watermelon
g) Bitter melon
h) Etc.

2. Cool
Same as cold food, but they are not as strong. It also depletes the yang qi but moderately, therefore eating these types of foods should counter with some warm food to avoid yang qi and kidney yang deficiency. Women who have irregular period and try to get pregnancy are advised to eat only moderate amounts and for nutrients only. Otherwise, they may dampen the chance of fertility.
a) Apple
b) Lecture
c) Cucumber
d) Pear
e) Spinach
f) Strawberry
g) Tomato
h) Etc.

3. Neutral
Although neutral foods are types of food which have no effects in ying and yang qi in the body, but it may have other side effect such as rice, gain and potato which may interfere with insulin production of the spleen as well as liver function in carbohydrate metabolism.
a) Apricot
b) Beet
c) All kinds of red meat
d) Celery
e) Honey
f) Rice
g) Bread
h) Etc.

4. Warm
Warm foods are considered as food with warming effects in the body. It is most important foods
which are used most often for pregnant women as they can help to maintain the healthy pregnancy as well as protection against miscarriage. Warm foods increase your body temperature and yang qi slightly.
a) Black tea
b) Cherry
c) Chive
d) Leek
e) Peach
f) Raspberry
g Chicken
h5.) Etc.

5. Hot
Foods with hot nature are normally good for improving immune system in fighting against forming of free radicals, bacteria and virus as well as increasing the blood flow to the body including the reproductive organs, but over eating these types of food may cause yin qi and kidney yin deficiency leading to hormone imbalance and interfering with natural process of normal menstrual cycle.
a) Garlic
b) Ginger
c) Pepper
d) Onion
e) Green onion
f) Cinnamon powder
g) Etc.
Finally, we would like you to know that most foods with bitter, sour and salty are classified as yin and hot and sweet are classified as yang.


B. How raw food diet causes infertility
Most raw foods can be either yang or yin pathogens. A typical American raw food diet is most yin and dampness pathogens.
1. Colding and cooling effects
Spleen is important to break down the food and transform them to energy for our body's daily activity. Too much raw foods weaken and slow the digestive system, leading to nutrients deficiency, including the following
a) Fatigue, tiredness and sluggishness
b) Nervous tension
c) Bloating and gas
d) Unclear thinking
e) Cloudy urine
f) Etc.

Typical raw foods diet puts more strain on the digestion. If spleen is damaged caused by prolong intake of raw food, it may weaken the digestive system in absorbing of nutrients, leading to less efficient assimilation of nutrients. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine view the process of transformation of foods and transportation of nutrients are a warm process in nature, and raw foods are more cold in nature, After entering the stomach, our body need to raise temperature before the food can be digested and absorbed.

2. Dampness affects
Raw foods interfere with the spleen in controlling the internal dampness caused by impairment of water metabolism within the body or spleen damage due to prolong in take of raw dampness hot foods, leading to impairing the spleen yang and the development of interior damp-cold, resulting in qi and blood stagnation, leading to delay menstruation and menstrual pain and cramps. Raw foods cause dampen effect including the following
i) Milk products
ii) Celery,
iii) Lettuce, alfalfa,
iv) Raw honey
v) Corn.
vi) Sage,
vii) Parsley
viii) Onion
ix) Etc.
And the symptoms include
i) Fatigue,
ii) Reduced appetite
iii) Abdominal bloating and discomfort
iv) Other related spleen deficiency symptoms

3. Kidney deficiency
Kidney Yang is defined as the foundation of the yang fluid of the body, therefore it helps to moisten, nourish the organs and tissues and maintain the body fluid balance with fire of kidney yang. Raw foods are yin in nature, prolong intake of may decrease the yang qi in the kidney, leading to fluid imbalance, resulting in irregular menstruation and in serve case, causing infertility.
a) Lack of energy
Deficiency of kidney yin causes inability of kidney in stabilization of energy, leading to abnormal flow of energy, disrupting the blood flow to the body organs including ovaries in egg production resulting in distorting the normal menstrual cycle in women, leading to irregular period.
b) Blood Flow
Deficiency of kidney yin also increases the risk of irregular blood flow as the heart must work harder to provide more energy to our body needs, leading to abnormal function of capillaries and interrupting the normal function of small veins in the nervous system including dizziness, hearing problems and ringing in the ear. It also causes abnormal blood flow to the reproductive organs, distorting the menstrual cycle.
c) Digestive system
It also causes abnormal digestive system due to spleen function in absorbing vital vitamins and mineral as resulting of lack of fluid which is necessary for digestive system in stomach acid secretion, leading to constipation and abnormal pain.
d) Burning sensation
People with kidney yin deficiency feel burning sensation not only in the body including the chest, but also see bright yellow color in their urine, leading to oxidative and kidney damage. If the problem is not treated, it may disrupt natural process of normal menstrual cycle.
e) High temperature
It also increases the body temperature that interferes with egg, cervical mucus production.

4. Blood deficiency
Blood deficiency is defined as not enough blood to distribute to our body organs needs. Tradition Chinese medicine view blood deficiency is caused by weakened liver organ as resulting of a weaken spleen due to prolong period intake of raw foods, thereby reducing the liver function in blood formation, causing not enough blood to distribute to the body such as absence of (no blood for) menstruation or scanty menstruation.. It also leads to abnormal function of reproductive system in regulating menstrual cycle, that disrupts the production of egg or produces poor quality egg and makes uterine mucus hostile to sperm
There are many symptoms of blood deficiency including
1. Palpitations caused by your heart has to work harder, because of no enough blood in the body.
2. Forgetfulness and poor memory caused by not enough oxygen delivering to the nervous cells need
3. Insomnia: because of brain cells can not transmit information between themselves, leading to over production of certain hormones.
5. Shortness of breath: you lung has to harder to provide oxygen to your body needs.
6. Dizziness and fatigue is due to oxygen and energy shortage.
7. Constipation due to lack of fluid in the body
9. Pale complexion: lack of blood

5. Blood stagnation
Blood stagnation is defined as qi stagnation or qi deficiency in the liver. In traditional Chinese medicine, raw foods cause freeze and constrict circulation, leading to blood stagnation resulting in menstrual irregularities and sometimes infertility, because of blocking of the blood flow or blood become static to the reproductive organs..
a) Blood stagnation is caused by liver qi imbalance, it reduces the liver function in regulating the secretion of certain hormone in the prostaglandins family thereby, increasing the risk of abdominal cramps, thus causing blood stagnation in the abdominal region.
b) Liver also helps to regulate the secretion of insulin from the spleen, abnormal function of spleen increases the risk of diabetes, leading to blood stagnation in the reproductive organs.
c) Imbalance of liver qi also causes inability of liver in fat and protein metabolism, leading to nervous tension and increasing the risk of hormonal imbalance causing irregular menstrual cycle.
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C. How raw food diet causes infertility by looking back to conventional medicine menstrual cycle in TCM Perspective

1. Estrogen
Estrogen which it is yin pathogen in TCM, is required to stimulate the brain action in production of Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (FSH) by the hypothalamus. Raw food diet increases the kidney yang function, causing hormone imbalance with low estrogen and high progesterone and testosterone. Deficiency of yang ( or high level of estrogen) obstructs each step of in the estrogen phrase of the menstrual cycle, causing irregular production of hormones from pituitary gland in secreting FSH and LH and ovaries function in production of follicles such as poor egg quality, thinner the uterine lining which can support an egg implantation and early ovulation.
In some women, it causes menstrual irregularity, but in severe case, it increases the risk of infertility. The symptoms of kidney yang deficiency include
a) White coat on tongue
b) Pale, frigid appearance
c) Achy pain in joints or muscles
d)Cold extremities
e)Poor digestion
f) Tendencies toward stagnation
g) Depression
h) Emaciation
i) Obesity
j) Etc.

2. Progesterone
Progesterone is considered as yang pathogen. Raw food diet is considered cool or cold in TCM perspective, it reduces the the yang qi to certain degree, depending on types of raw foods consuming daily by each individual. Since the second phrase of the menstrual cycle is the increased production of progesterone ( yang in TCM ), it affects the ability of egg extruding and deter the normal process of supporting the uterus lining in egg implantation as well as increasing the risk of producing cervical mucus which is hostile to sperm invasion. In severe case, it make conception difficult for some women and infertility to others. As the level of progesterone rise, blood is required to support the uterus and the uterus lining in egg implantation and embryo nourishment. Raw foods cause freeze and constrict circulation, leading to blood stagnation and deficiency, resulting in lessening the chance for the normal process of making a baby.

3. Testosterone
Testosterone ( yang in TCM) is produced in small quality during the progesterone phase. Deficiency of yang qi reduce the production of testosterone, leading to low sexual desire, poor muscle tone and fatigue.

4. Menstruation
In traditional Chinese medicine, raw foods cause freeze and constrict circulation thereby reducing the spleen function in food transportation and weaken the liver function in blood formation, leading to blood stagnation in the productive organs including the uterus, causing not enough blood to support the process and for menstruation if pregnancy does not occur.

D. How raw food diet causes irregular period by looking back to 5 phrases menstrual cycle in TCM Perspective
The traditional Chinese medicine divide the women menstrual cycle in 5 phrases
1. The yin phrase according TCM) lasting about 3-4 days
In this phrase The yang ( progesterone) decreases rapidly and the yin (estrogen) starts to rise, leading to the growth of body fluids, supporting the production of blood and producing sperm friendly mucus as well as making the uterus lining thicken for egg implantation. The deficiency of yin or abundance of yang distorts the production of fluids which are necessary for moister and nourish the blood, causing shortening of yin phrase, leading to not enough time for egg to mature and uterine lining to grow thick enough for egg implantation, resulting in lessening the chance of fertility and increasing the risk of irregular period.

2. The Ovulation phase, lasting about 3 days
At the estrogen (yin) at its peak, liver triggers the starts the ovulation phrase, as resulting of stimulating of the brain action in production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (FSH) by the hypothalamus of which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to produce the follicle stimulating hormone, leading to initiating the growth and recruitment of immature ovarian follicles in the ovary. In this phrase, qi and blood moves downward to promote the implantation of the egg and nourish the uterus to support the growth of embryos. Deficiency of yin and blood stagnation caused by raw food diet shorten the ovulation phrase, leading to not enough time for egg implantation and uterus lining to support the growth of the embryo, causing infertility or miscarriage as well as irregular menstruation.

3. The Yang phrase, lasting about 5 days
During the fourth phase, yin decreases to allow growth of yang (mutual consumption of Yin and Yang). Growth of yang helps to warm the Uterus at this time. raw food diet causes yang deficiency, thus colding the Uterus that distorts the normal process of egg implantation.

4. The luteal phrase, lasting about 12 days
The luteal phase also is referred to day after ovulation to the day before period. In this phrase, a mature egg was released at ovulation as resulting of the production of progesterone from corpus luteum in preparing the body for pregnancy. Raw food diet causes yin deficiency and liver qi stagnation, leading to raising of temperature and distorting the luteal phrase process, resulting in increasing the risk of infertility or irregular menstruation.

5. Menstruation phrase, lasting about 5 days
According the to traditional Chinese medicine, this phrase is dominated by the movement of blood and qi moving downward as resulting of dropping of the level estrogen and progesterone( yin and yang), since raw foods cause freeze and constrict circulation, it causes blood and qi stagnation, leading to delay menstruation, delay period and scanty period.

E. How traditional Chinese medicine helps to treat yang deficiency caused by raw food diet with diet in general approach
a) Appropriate diet
If you are raw food diet follower, make sure you increase the percentage of cooked food in your diet.
b) Moderate exercise
While raw foods interfere with the spleen function in digesting and absorbing nutrients, moderate exercise increases the digestive system in production of stomach acid and enhance blood circulation thus promoting a healthy spleen.
c) Relax and rest
Stress and rest are always a problem for people living in this fast pace society, we face stress constantly everyday, such as sickness of your child, workplace pressure, etc. You make sure that you take a lot of relaxation and rest to avoid the abnormal production of certain hormone.

III. The summary
The raw food diet has written an important page in the America (world) health history as its contribution to make us healthier and reduce the death rate of heart diseases and stroke will never be denied. Since traditional Chinese medicine have been round over 4000 years and proven to be one most effective traditional medicine in treating the unexplained causes of infertility, its idea toward raw food diet must be right in some extent. The aim of this article is to provide reader the other point of view, with no intention to offend anyone, including the raw food advocators. If you are offended by this article, I say sorry. If you are raw food dieter and diagnosed with the unexplained causes of infertility, I urge you to give them a try. Even though, I don't consider myself as a raw food supporter, but 50% of my daily food intake are considered raw.
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BACK TO FERTILITY AND INFERTILITY IN TCM PERSPECTIVE

Supplement pages
I believe there are no herb are required if you are diagnosed with unexplained causes of infertility caused by raw food diet. The below pages are for your reference, if you would like to know some herbs used by TCM in treating infertility.
Since each person is treated uniquely and no one treatment for all, depending what have been diagnosed, you may be given some of the following Chinese herbs
In Female
*Bupleurum
a) Definition
Bupleurum also known as Bei Chai Hu, is a very large genus of plants and belongs to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It has used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years in treating infections with fever and liver problems.
b) How bupleurum effects female fertility
i) Liver qi stagnation
The herb is said to have a liver tonic effect that helps to release liver qi stagnation as resulting of accumulating toxins over whelming the body, leading to abnormal function of liver in regulating the spleen function in insulin production resulting in hormone imbalance and irregular menstrual cycle. Also sluggish liver reduce it's function in essential fatty acids metabolism, leading to over production of certain hormone in the prostaglandins family resulting in menstrual cramps and pain and over active uterus that effects the chance of fertility.

ii) Kidney
It not also helps to improve kidney function in urinary extraction but also restores it's function in regulating the steroid growth hormone, leading to hormone balancing and decreasing the risk of irregular menstrual cycle.

ii) Kidney yin deficiency
It is considered as a cool to cold herb, thereby, it helps to release over abundant yang qi that obstructs the normal process of egg production and increases the risk of irregular menstrual cycle.

iv) Immune system
Bupleurum is also a immune function tonic with the "cool to Cold side. beside helping immune system in fighting against bacteria and virus invasion, it also increase the immune system to recognize sperm are part of the body's tissue and not to attack them. It works well if the infection is caused by immune abnormal function in yin qi deficiency

v) Spleen function
It also has an effect in spleen function in production of insulin that helps to reduce the risk of insulin fluctuation, leading to production of certain hormone ( serotonin) and interrupting the hormone production ( progesterone), thereby, increasing the chance of fertility.

vi) Blood flow
It is said that bupleurum helps to reduce the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, therefore it not helps to improve the function of the heart, but also increases blood flow to the reproductive organs, resulting in lessening the risk of infertility

c) Side effects
It may cause
i) Nausea
ii) Reflux
iii) Increase bowel movement
If over dose.

*White Peony root
a) Definition
White peony is the bark of the root of Paeonia suffruticosa and also also known as "moutan" or "mu dan" in China. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating liver cirrhosis.

b) How white peony effects female fertility
i) Liver
White peony has been listed in traditional Chinese medicine medical book for over thousand of year in treating liver qi and fire blood caused by yin deficiency, leading to the qi and blood stagnation in the liver, thereby lessening it's function in carbohydrate metabolism and increasing the risk of hormone imbalance causes of infertility.

ii) Uterus tonic
It is said that white peony also helps the liver in regulating the production of certain hormones in the prostaglandins family resulting in lessening the risk of abdominal pain and cramps caused by over active uterus.

iii) Kidney
White peony not only helps to increase the function of kidney in urinary extraction, but also improve kidney function in regulating the production of steroid hormones, leading to production of testosterone that helps to improve sexual desire and reducing the risk of water retention.

iv) Blood stagnation
Since it helps to release the blood stagnation in the liver, it also improves the blood flow to the abdominal region, resulting in lessening the risk of irregular menstrual cycle and increasing the chance of fertility.

v) Yin qi and blood deficiency
Since it is the herb in the cold side, it helps to restore the harmony in the body, if the infertility is caused by liver blood stagnation and liver yang abundance.

c) Side effects
No Side effect as known

* Engelica roots( Dong Quai)
a) Definition
Angelica is a biennial plant belongs to the family Apiaceae. It's root ( angilica root) also known as dang qui or gong quai has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a reproductive tonic medicine combined with other herbs such as astragalus to treat exhaustion from blood loss.

b) How angelica root (dang Qui) effects women fertility
i) Reproductive organs tonic
Traditional Chinese medicine views angelica roots as queen herb which has been used to enhance the productive system and promote menstrual health. It is said that angelica roots has the power to restore any deficiency caused by hormone imbalance.

ii) Blood tonic
It also is a reproductive blood tonic herb that not only help to increase blood production to replace blood loss for women with heavy menstruation, but also increases the blood flow to abdominal region, leading to enhancing the chance of fertility.

iii) Digestive system
Beside helping to cure diarrhea, it also increases the digestive system in absorbing essential vitamins and minerals, thereby reducing the risks of infertility caused by nutrients deficiency.

iv) Blood and qi deficiency
Blood and qi deficiency in the reproductive region may be caused by blood and qi stagnation in the liver, kidney or some where else in the body, leading to irregular menstrual cycle, absence of period or painful period. Angelica roots helps to increase blood and qi flow, resulting in normalizing the function of reproductive organs.

v) Kidney tonic
It is said that angelica root also helps to improve kidney function not only in regulating water and fluid through urinary extraction, but also improving kidney normal function in regulating the natural menstrual process of the reproductive organs, resulting in increasing the chance of fertility.

vi) Immune system
It is said that angelica root containing variety chemicals that help to strengthen the immune system in fighting against infection and inflammation, thereby decreasing the risk of yeast infection during menstruation as well as forming of irregular cell growth in the reproductive organs.
c) Side effects
i) it may cause skin inflammation and rashes, if it is taken in high dose
ii) Since angelica root causes uterus contraction, a pregnant woman should not take it, unless with the approval of her herbalist.

* Cinnamon

a) Definition
Cinnamon also known as Cinnamomum verum), it is a small evergreen tree belongs to the family Lauraceae and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating kidney yang deficiency.

b) How cinnamon effects women fertility
i) Kidney yang
Since it is a hot herbs, it helps to improve the yang qi in the kidney and increase the chance of fertility, if the infertility cause is diagnosis as yang qi deficiency. By increasing the kidney yang, it also help to enhance the chance of fertility as resulting of improving of sexual desire.

ii) Digestive system
It is also helps to improve appetite and digestive system in vitamins and minerals absorption that are essential to maintain the healthy menstrual cycle and enhance the normal process of conception.

iii) Blood flow
Cinnamon also contain certain chemical agents which help to stimulate the blood flow to the reproductive region, leading to lessening the risks of menstrual disorder and infertility caused blood deficiency of the reproductive organ. It also helps the spleen in regulating the production of insulin, resulting lessening the risks of blood sugar in the blood stream, causing diabetic like symptoms of infertility.

iv) Immune system
As an antioxidant, it helps to improve the function of immune system in guarding our body against the invasion of bacteria and virus that decreases the risks of over active immune disorder, causing production of certain proteins binding to sperm and asking other immune cells to attach it.

v) Dysmenorrhea
It has some chemical properties which help to calm the reproductive organs during menstruation, resulting in lessening the menstrual pain caused by qi and blood stagnation in the region and increasing the chance of fertility.

c) Side effects
Since it is considered as one the hot food in traditional Chinese medicine, over dose may cause
yin qi deficiency ( or toxic effect because of presenting of coumarin in western medicine term)


* Poria
a) Definition
Poria also known as fu ling in traditional Chinese medicine and it has been used in traditional medicine in harmonizing the fale reproductive system.
b) How poria effect women fertility
i) Midle Jiao harmonizing
Midle jiao is defined as the organs in midsection of the body including the spleen, stomach, gall bladder and liver organs. Since it helps to improve the inter relationship of those organs in the midsection, it improves
1) Kidney function in regulating the water retention in the body tissues and normalizing the function of kidney in assisting the natural process of fertility.
2) Spleen function in secreting the amount of insulin in energy processing, resulting in lessening some menstrual cycle symptoms, thereby increasing the chance of fertility.
3) Stomach in food digestion, leading to intestine in absorbing vitamins and minerals that is necessary for women who want to get pregnant.
4) Gall bladder in storing bile in the liver and digestive system in nutrients oabsorption
5) Liver function in regulating the processing of estrogen and essential acid production, thereby, lessening the risk of hormone imbalance and menstrual cramps and pain caused by over production of some remembers in the prostaglandins family.

ii) Blood tonic and hormone imbalance
Poria also contains some chemicals which help to improve blood flow resulting in lessening the risk of over working heart in providing oxygen to the body, resulting in increasing the inter information transmitting that reduces the risk of over production in certain hormone which interfere with process of fertility.

iii) Respiratory tonic
It is also a lung tonic herb which helps the lung function in asorbing oxygen, resulting in increasing the blood stream in providing nutrients to the cell in our body and reducing the symptoms of dizziness, lack of energy, etc.

c) Side effects
There are no known side effect. Since it is a diuretic herb,women take antidiuretic medications should consult with their doctor before taking peria.

* Schizandra
a) Definition
Schisandra chinensis is also known as wu wei zi in traditional Chinese medicine, native to Northern China and Russian. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating all kinds of liver diseases
b) How schizandra chinensis effects fertility
i) Hepatoprotective
Since liver plays a vital role in transforming and clearing chemicals. Weakened liver reduces the liver function in secreting bile in regulating the normal function of spleen in production of insulin, leading to infertility.

ii) Lignans
Lignans are considered a phytoestrogen which helps to occupy the estrogen receptor sites in the body, resulting in lessening the risk of over production of bad estrogen during menstrual cycle that causes hormone imbalance and disrupt the natural process of conception.

iii) Adaptogen
Since schizandra chinensis is an adaptogen, it helps o to increase the body's resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue and promotes over health resulting in normalizing the reproductive system function in the process of natural fertility.

iv) Immune system
It is also contains antioxidant property that helps our immune system in fighting against any reproductive infection and inflammation as well as protecting immune abnormal function in attacking our own body tissues.

v) Aphrodisiac property
It also helps helps to increase kidney function in conserving the kidney fluid until the appropriate time of release, thus consuming schizandrae will increase the sperm quality and sperm count as well as sexual desire in men and women alike.

c) Side effects
No side effect is known, if it is not overdosed

* Lycium
a) Definition
Lycium is also known as wolfberry or goji berry, native to southeastern Europe and Asia. It is considered as the number 1 super foods by some Chinese herbalists in treating immune dysfunction over thousands of year.

b) How lycium effects fertility
i) Heart Tonic
Lycium contains certain chemicals which help to reduce high blood pressure and promote blood flow in the body, resulting in increasing oxygen and nutrients to the body cell, thus lessening the symptoms of nervous tension, including dizziness, anxiety, stress, etc.

ii) Erectile dysfunction
As resulting of increasing blood transportation in the arteries and blood vessels, lycium helps to treat erectile dysfunction and promote production of quality of sperm, thereby improving the chance of fertility.

iii) Liver
It helps to cleanse the body toxins accumulated in the liver, thereby normalizing the liver function in essential fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism, leading to hormone balancing and over all health.

iv) Diabetes
Lycium also has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating type II diabetes by increasing the liver function in regulating spleen in production of insulin, resulting in lessening the risk of menstrual symptoms caused fluctuation of levels of insulin, thus increasing the chance of fertility.

v) Kidney
It not only improves function of kidney in maintaining the right levels of fluid in the body, but also helps to harmonize the kidney yin and yang, resulting in increasing the chance of quality sperm and sperm count in men and reducing symptoms of menstrual disorder in women.

c) Side effects
No side effect has been record.

* Cordyceps
a) Definition
Cordyceps sinensis is also known as dong cong cao in traditional Chinese medicine. It is one of the species of endoparasitoids, native to North Eastern China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating most cases of cirrhosis of the liver.

b) How cordyceps sinensis effects infertility
i) Liver disease
Traditional Chinese medicine believe that the herb contains some chemicals which help to restore the liver function in fighting against the inflammation of liver caused hepatitis B virus, resulting in increasing the liver function in toxins elimination and improve over all health.

ii) Assisting reproductive organ process
It is said that cordyceps sinensis not only helps to increase kidney function in protecting against water retention, but also improve it's normal function in regulating normal function in growth hormone production, leading to increasing the quality of sperm in men and egg extruding in women.

iii) Nervous tension
It also helps to improve the respiratory system, resulting in increasing the transportation of oxygen and nutrient to the nervous cells, thereby decreasing the risks of lack of energy, fatigue, stress and depression.

iv) Sexual desire
It is said that it also helps to increase the production of testosterone by inhibiting the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, thereby, reducing the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT, thus increasing sexual desire for men and women alike.

v) Cholesterol
cordyceps sinensisalso helps to improve blood flow by inhibiting the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood stream, resulting in increasing the blood flow to the body including the reproductive organ and decreasing the risk of heart diseases and stoke.

c) Side effects
It is toxic if over dose

*Gynostemma
a) Definition
Gynostemma pentaphyllum also known as jiao gu lan in traditional Chinese medicine, is an herbaceous vine of the family Cucurbitaceae and native to to the southern reaches of China, southern Korea and Japan. It has been used in treating heart diseases caused by high levels of the cholesterol and triglyceride.
b) How gynostemma pentaphyllum effects fertility
i) Blood flow
Gynostemma pentaphyllum is said contains certain chemicals which help to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood stream, resulting in increasing the blood flow without the need of the heart to work harder, thus reducing the risk of blood stagnation in the the abdominal region, thereby increasing the chance to conceive.
ii) Adaptogen
It is considered as an adaptogenic tonic herb, thereby, increasing the body in adapting to the change of environment in effecting emotional and physical 's stress, resulting in decreasing the over production of certain hormones that disrupts the normal function of the reproductive process.

iii) Antioxidant
It also helps to improve the immune system in guarding the cell duplication process, resulting in decreasing the risk of over reaction of immune system in producing protein biding to the sperm then kill it.

iv) Digestive system
It also helps to stimulate appetite, thus increasing the absorption of vital vitamins and minerals which are essential in nourishing the reproductive organs and enhancing the chance of fertility.

v) Energy
It is said that gynostemma pentaphyllum also contains all property of ginseng, thereby, helping to improve the liver and spleen in carbohydrate metabolism, leading to increasing energy for our body daily activity and balancing the qi and blood in the abdomen.


c) Side effects
There are no known side effect, if it is not over dose.

In Male
* polygonum multiflorum
a) Definition
polygonum multiflorum is also known as he shou wu in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used to rejuvenate the body by promoting over all health.

b) How polygonum multiflorum effects fertility
i) Sexual desire enhancer
By inhibiting the by-product prolactin of testosterone, it helps to stop the production of enzyme 5-alpha reductase, resulting in normalizing the levels of testosterone in the body that helps to protect sexual libido in men.

ii) Reproductive organs enhancer
It is said that polygonum muttiflorum also lower the levels of bad cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood stream, resulting in balancing the blood and qi stagnation in the abdominal region, leading to increase blood flow to the reproductive organ, thereby decreasing the risks of sexual dysfunction and enhancing the chance of fertility.

iii) Kidney
It is also considered as one of best kidney tonic herb, thus stimulating the normal function of kidney in regulating the production of growth hormones that help to improve the normal process of menstrual cycle and enhance the test in production of quality sperm.

vi) Yin yang balancing
It also helps to protect the yin yang imbalance caused by over eating of certain hot and spicy foods. Polygonum muttiflorum is vital for people who love to dine out often.

v) Laxative
It is also helps to move the large intestine, resulting in lessening the symptoms of menstrual disorder for some women.

c) Side effects
It can bind to other minerals making them unavailable to the body, leading to mineral deficiency it also contains oxalic acid.

* Deer Antler
a) Definition
Deer antler has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over thousands of years in treating anemia and sexual impotence in men.
b) How deer antler affects male fertility
i) Reproductive enhancer
It is said that deer antler contains certain chemicals which help to stimulate the production of certain growth hormones as a result of its androgenic and gonadotrophic effects, leading to an increased production of testosterone that not only promotes sexual desire, but also enhances the sperm quality.

ii) Anemia
It is said that deer antler increases the production of red blood cells and improves the iron levels by nourishing the marrow, thereby increasing the absorption of oxygen that is vital for the nervous system in transmitting information between cells and glands. Therefore it leads to reduced symptoms of fatigue, depression and emotional and physical stress.

iii) Kidney
Deficiency of kidney yin and yang not only causes a weakened immune system, and the risk of infection and inflammation to our body, including the reproductive organ, but also decreases the production of growth hormones, leading to a disruption of the natural process of our body that increases the risk of early aging and sexual dysfunction.

iv) Hormone balancing
Deer antler also helps to stimulate the liver function in regulating the spleen in production of insulin, thereby decreasing the risks of insulin fluctuation.

v) Liver tonic herb
Deer antler is considered to be a liver tonic herb. It helps to remove the toxins accumulating in the liver and enhances the liver function in carbohydrate metabolism which reduces the risks of nervous tension, including fatigue and stress.

c) Side effects
Overdose may cause insomnia and restlessness.

* Astragalus
a) Definition
Astragalus is a small shrubs, belongs to the legume family Fabaceae and native to the Northern Hemisphere.It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to invigorate vital energy.
b) How astragalus effect fertility
i) Immune system
Studyshows that astragalus helps to improve its immunostimulant effects, resulting in lessening the risk of infection and inflammation caused by invasion of bacteria and virus and leading to immune system to attack the body tissues, including sperm

ii) Adaptogenic effects
It is also confirmed to be an adaptogenic herb that helps to increase our body in adapting to the change of the environment including toxic chemicals, resulting in lessening the risk of nervous tension, leading emotional and physical stress and anxiety.

iii) Diuretic effects
It also helps to maintain the right levels of fluid in body by secreting extra fluid through urinary secretion, thus reducing symptoms of water retention as well as improving kidney yin and yang that enhances the chance of fertility.

iv) Qi balancing
It is said that Astragalus helps to re balancing the qi in the body, thereby decreasing the risks of qi stagnation in the reproductive organs, causing low sperm count in men.

v) Cell regulating
It not only helps to regulate the normal cells growth in the body, but also enhances the particle ingestion capacity of white blood cells, leading to improving response in treating cancer patients according study from 1980s, researchers in Houston, Texas.

c) Side effects
There is no known side effect, if not over dose.

* Stinging nettles
a) Definition
Stinging nettles are also known as urtica dioica. It is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating lack of sexual desire.

b) How stinging nettle affects fertility
i) Testosterone
Since it contains high levels of 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran, it helps to promote the production of free testosterone, resulting in an increased quality of sperm count and sexual desire.

ii) Kidney
It is said that stinging nettles also helps to balance the yin and yang in the kidney which helps to improve kidney function in regulating the production of growth hormones. This results in increasing sexual desire and improving the reproductive organs for production of sperm in men.

iii) Blood flow
It is said that stinging nettle not only helps to increase the production of red blood cells by stimulating the function of bone marrow, but it also enhances the blood in absorbing oxygen which reduces nervous symptoms including fatigue, loss of concentration, and lack of energy.

iv) Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Study shows that stinging nettle also helps to smoothen the urination in men due to aging, resulting in increased prostate fluid leading to normal ejaculation.

v) Toxin Cleansing
It is said that it also contains substances that help to cleanse the body of toxins through kidney and liver function. This results in balancing the qi and blood in the body, leading to normal functioning of the reproductive organ, including a normal menstrual cycle in women and increased sperm count in men.

c) Side effects
There are no major side effects, but overdose may cause mild stomach upset, fluid retention, and hives or rashes. Please consult with your herbalist.

* Cistanches
a) Definition
Cistanche is also known as rou cong rong. It is a holoparasitic desert plant belonging to the family Orobanchaceae. It has been used in tradition Chinese medicine for replenishing blood and Kidney-Jing.

b) How cistanche affects fertility
i) Sexual desire
It is said that cistanche helps to improve kidney function in regulating the production of steroid growth hormones by replenishing the kidney jing as well as retaining enough fluids in the reproductive organs, resulting in an increased production of testosterone and the chance of fertility.

ii) Nervous system
It also contains chemicals that help to stimulate bone marrow in production of red blood cells and it improves blood circulation by decreasing the high blood pressure, resulting in lessening nervous symptoms, such as a lack of energy, fatigue, stress, and tiredness.

iii) Blow flow to the reproductive organs
Besides reducing the levels of high blood pressure, it also stimulates the blood flow to the reproductive organs that not only helps to increase sperm quality and count in men and restores the normal menstrual cycle in women, but also treat erectile dysfunction.

iv) Kidney
Cistanche also contains substances that help to restore kidney function by balancing the yin and yang qi, resulting in helping the kidney in releasing the qi and blood stagnation in the abdominal region and increasing the chance of fertility and egg implantation into the uterine lining.

v) Constipation
Cistanche also helps to improves the function of the bowels, resulting in healthy bowel movements, leading to increased qi in the digestive system and increasing the digestive system in cleansing toxins, and vitamins and mineral absorption.

c) Side effects
It is no known of side effect. It may be toxic if overdosed.

* Rehmannia glutinosa
a) Definition
Rehmannia glutinosa is also known as di huang in traditional Chinese medicine, belongings to the family Phrymaceae and native to China. It is one of 50 most common used herbs in strengthening the kidney organ.

b) How rehmannia glutinosa effects fertility
i) Kidney Jing
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that rehmannia glutinosa is a kidney tonic medicine when it is used combination with other yang tonic herbs. It helps revitalize the steroid growth hormone in the body by strengthening the kidney jing, resulting in harmonizing the levels of hormones secretion from the glands, leading to increasing the production of quality sperm and sperm count.

ii) Yin Deficiency
Beside stimulating the kidney jing, it also helps to balance the sexual desire as well as erectile dysfunction caused by kidney yin deficiency as resulting in over stimulating kidney yang of other herbs such as deer antler, thereby increasing the chance of fertility.

iii) Anemia
It is said rehmannia glutinosa also increases the production of blood and stimulates the production of iron, thus increasing the blood transportation nutrients and oxygen to the body cell needs, resulting in increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organs, leading to fertility.

iv) Irregular cell growth
It also contains high amount of vitamin A and C, that help to improve immune function in fighting against infection and inflammation caused by foreign bacteria and virus, thereby reducing the chance for irregular cell growth other than where they suppose to be growth such as endometrial adhesion and implants.

v) Spleen
Rehmannia glutinosa also contains certain chemicals which help to improve spleen function in regulating the production of insulin caused by type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia, resulting in lessening the risks of sugar fluctuation in the blood stream of which causing irregular menstruation in women and lower sperm count in men.

c) Side effects
i) It is toxic if over dose
ii) It is not suitable for pregnant women
iii) It may cause bloating and diarrhoea

* Male Silk Moth
a) Definition
Male silk moth extracted is extracted directly from male moth within minutes of escaping from the cocoon, then dried and preserved in the alcohol. It is one most common used Chinese herb and considered as a medicine in strengthening the male reproductive organs and treating male impotency.

b) How male silk moth effects fertility
i) Growth hormone testosterone
It is said that the extracted helps to stimulate the production of testosterone from the glands in the body, resulting in decreasing the risk of erectile dysfunction and improving the production of sperm quality and count.
ii) Kidney tonic herb
Male silk moth also contains certain chemicals which not only helps to boost kidney function in regulating the fluid, but also increases its function in hormone harmonizing, resulting in increasing sexual desire and performance.
iii) Nervous system
It also helps to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs and provide nutrient to the cells in nervous system, resulting in lessening the risk of nervous tension such as fatigue, stress and anxiety, caused by oxygen deficiency, thus decreasing the risk of low sperm count.

iv) Blood tonic
Since it increases blood flow to the reproductive organ including blood to the penis, it helps to decrease the risk of erectile dysfunction in men and increase the sexual performance, including normal ejaculation.

c) Side effects
i) Over dose may cause nervous tension including insomnia, sleeplessness and over active
ii) It is advised that do not used any sexual tonic herb, if you are sick
iii) No Major side effect, if it is not overdosed


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