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Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility
c. 1999 by Susun S. Weed
For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild plants that could
increase fertility were the secrets of the village wise women. But after
the holocaust against European Wise Women (the "burning times")
and the virtual extermination of Native American medicine women, this
knowledge virtually disappeared. In fact, many people erroneously believe
that "primitive people" had no means of controlling the likelihood
of pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Many common plants can be used to influence fertility, including red
clover, partridge berry, liferoot, wild carrot, and wild yam. Some of
these grow wild, others are easy to cultivate, and, with the exception
of wild carrot, all are also readily available at health food stores.
One of the most cherished of the fertility-increasing plants is red
clover (Trifolium pratense). Common in fields and along roadsides, it
has bright pink (not really red) blossoms from mid-summer into the chilly
days of fall. A favorite flower of the honeybees, the tops (blossoms
and appending leaves) are harvested on bright sunny days and eaten as
is, or dried for medicinal use. The raw blossoms are delicious in salads
and nutritious when cooked with grains such as rice or millet.
To make a fertility-enhancing infusion, I take one ounce by weight
of the dried blossoms (fresh won't work for this application) and put
them in a quart size canning jar. I fill the jar with boiling water,
screw on a tight lid, and let it steep at room temperature overnight
(or for at least four hours). Dozens of women have told me that they
had successful pregnancies after drinking a cup or more (up to four
cups) a day of red clover infusion.
It is especially helpful if there is scaring of the fallopian tubes,
irregular menses, abnormal cells in the reproductive tract, or "unexplained"
infertility. It may take several months for the full effect of this
herb to come on and pregnancy may not occurs until you have used it
for a year or two. You can improve the taste by including some dried
peppermint (a spoonful or two) along with the dried clover blossoms
when making your infusion. Treat the father of the child-to-be to some
red clover infusion, too!
That little evergreen creeper that carpets some parts of the woods around
your house is partridge berry (Mitchella repens), also known as squaw
weed, supposedly because of its ability to enhance fertility. (My teacher
Twylah Nitsch, grandmother of the Seneca Wolf clan, says that "squaw"
is a slang term meaning "schmuck" or, in the proper term,
"penis," and therefore should not be used in denoting a plant
meant to be used by women.) Keep an eye out this spring and see if you
can catch Mitchella blooming. Then you'll see why she's sometimes called
"twin flower."
Interestingly, when the paired flowers fall off, they leave behind but
one berry to ripen. (The shiny red berries you've noticed in the forest
winter or spring. Yes, they are safe to eat, but leave some for the
partridges.) The symbolism of two flowers forming one berry is certainly
a suitable icon for fertility. I make a medicinal vinegar by filling
a small jar with the fresh leaves, adding apple cider vinegar until
the jar is full again. A piece of waxed paper held in place with a rubber
band and a label (including date) completes the preparation, which must
sit at room temperature for six weeks before use. I enjoy up to a tablespoonful
of the vinegar on my salads or in my beans.
By mid- to late-May, the yellow blossoms of liferoot (Senecio aureus)
enliven my swamp (in upstate New York) and the neighboring roads where
there is adequate water and rich soil. A powerful medicine resides in
all parts of this lovely wildflower. As the root has a dangerous reputation,
I restrict myself to using only the flowers and leaves, which I harvest
in bloom, and quickly tincture. (For instructions for making your own
tinctures, please see any of my books.) Small doses of this tincture
(3-8 drops a day), taken at least 14 days out of the month, will regulate
hormone production, increase libido, normalize the menses, relieve menstrual
pain, and improve fertility. The closely related Senecia jacobea and
Senecio vulgaris can also be used.
Wild carrot (Daucus carota), better known as Queen Anne's lace, is
such a common roadside plant that most people are amazed to learn that
it is a proven anti-fertility herb. In addition to being the wild cousin
of carrot, it is related to parsley, dill, caraway, anise, celery, cumin,
and a (now extinct) plant whose seeds were the birth-control of choice
for many a classical Greek or Roman woman.
The aromatic seeds of wild carrot are collected in the fall and eaten
(a heaping teaspoonful a day) to prevent the implantation of a fertilized
egg. In one small study the effectiveness rate after thirteen months
of use was 99%. As modern scientific medicine reports that one-third
of all fertilized eggs are passed out of the body without implanting
in the uterus, this method of birth control seems in complete agreement
with nature.
Of the hundreds of women currently using this anti-fertility agent,
I have heard virtually no reports of any side-effects. Note that many
books caution you to beware the danger of confusing poison hemlock and
wild carrot. Poison hemlock is rather scarce in our area, and, at any
rate, does not smell or taste of carrot (as does Queen Anne's lace),
so I believe this warning to be a red herring. In addition, wild carrot
leaves have small hairs on them, while the leaves of poison hemlock
are smooth.
Another anti-fertility herb that has been tested by small groups of
modern women is wild yam (Dioscorea villosa). Since birth-control pills
were originally made from this plant, it is not at all surprising that
it has the effect of blocking conception when taken daily in rather
large doses: either a cup of tea or two capsules taken three times a
day.
Does it have detrimental effects? Current studies are too small to
show any, but there is a possibility that there could be. Interestingly
enough, if wild yam is taken is small doses (a cup of tea or 10-20 drops
of the tincture daily from onset of menses until mid-period) it increases
fertility! In either case, the effect seems to be triggered by the large
amount of hormone-like substances found in this root. When taken daily,
these substances may be converted into progesterone, thus decreasing
the possibility of conception. When taken for the two weeks preceding
ovulation, these substances may be converted into LH and FSH, hormones
which are needed to make the egg ready to be fertilized.
Other common weeds and garden plants of our area that have been used
to increase or decrease fertility include stinging nettle, oatstraw,
pennyroyal, Jack-in-the-pulpit, rue, and parsley.
The earth is full of wonders, and green magic abounds. As more and
more women remember that they are wise women, more of the wonders and
the magic will be revealed. May your days be filled with many green
blessings.
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Susun Weed’s books include: |
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Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
Author: Susun S. Weed. Simple, safe remedies for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and newborns. Includes herbs for fertility and birth control. Foreword by Jeannine Parvati Baker. 196 pages, index, illustrations.
Order at: www.wisewomanbookshop.com
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Healing Wise
Author: Susun S. Weed. Superb herbal in the feminine-intuitive mode. Complete instructions for using common plants for food, beauty, medicine, and longevity. Introduction by Jean Houston. 312 pages, index, illustrations.
Order at: www.wisewomanbookshop.com |
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NEW Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way
Author: Susun S. Weed. The best book on menopause is now better. Completely revised with 100 new pages. All the remedies women know and trust plus hundreds of new ones. New sections on thyroid health, fibromyalgia, hairy problems, male menopause, and herbs for women taking hormones. Recommended by Susan Love MD and Christiane Northrup MD. Introduction by Juliette de Bairacli Levy. 304 pages, index, illustrations.
Order at: www.wisewomanbookshop.com
For excerpts visit: www.menopause-metamorphosis.com
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Breast Cancer? Breast Health!
Author: Susun S. Weed. Foods, exercises, and attitudes to keep your breasts healthy. Supportive complimentary medicines to ease side-effects of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or tamoxifen. Foreword by Christiane Northrup, M.D. 380 pages, index, illustrations.
Order at: www.wisewomanbookshop.com
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Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way
Publication date: June 21, 2011
Author: Susun S. Weed
Simple, successful, strategies cover the entire range of options -- from mainstream to radical -- to help you choose the best, and the safest, ways to optimize sexual and reproductive health.
Foreword: Aviva Romm, MD, midwife, 484 pages, Index, illustrations.
Order at: www.wisewomanbookshop.com
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Abundantly Well - Seven Medicines
The Complementary Integrated Medical
Revolution
Publication date: December 2019
Author: Susun S. Weed
Seven Medicines build foundational health and guide you to the best health care when problems arise.
Includes case studies, recipes, exentsive references and resources. Introduction by Patch Adams illustrated by Durga
Yael Bernhard 352 pages, index, illustrations
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Susun Weed's Video & CD's: |
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Weeds to the Wise DVD Video
Visit Susun's farm for a weed walk. Hear her talk on the Three Traditions of Healing. Make infusion with her. Fun! (1 hour VHS video) Please note: this VHS video tape is in NTSC format which may not be compatible with video players outside of the USA and Canada.
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Susun
Weed, green witch and wise woman, is an extraordinary teacher with
a joyous spirit, a powerful presence, and an encyclopedic knowledge
of herbs and health. She is the voice of the Wise Woman Way, where common
weeds, simple ceremony, and compassionate listening support and nourish
health/wholeness/holiness. She has opened hearts to the magic and medicine
of the green nations for three decades. Ms. Weed's Six herbal medicine
books focus on women's health topics including: menopause, childbearing,
and breast health. Visit her site www.susunweed.com for information on her workshops, apprenticeships, correspondence courses
and more! Venture into the
Menopause site www.menopause-metamorphosis.com to learn all about the Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way. Join Susuns Mentorship site for personal one on one mentorship!
We also invite you to visit our commerce site www.wisewomanbookshop.com to learn about our Wise Woman publications, workshops, correspondence courses. As well as online courses at Wise Woman School.
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