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The Herb Garden
Gillian 'Herb Girl' Smith The Many Faces of Fertility and Herbs to Go With Them
It is Spring. The Northern Lights danced in the sky while I drove back from an all-day event in my present hometown of Lillooet, BC, celebrating International Women’s Day. There, I was surrounded by fertility: pregnant women, babies, children. Crones were there too, fertile with wisdom and stories to share with the younger women on their way to Cronehood. All of those women, combined with the Dance of the Aurora Borealis, inspired me to think a little outside the box when thinking about Fertility. I am thus feeling fertile with ideas, dreams, and creativity. Here are three faces of fertility: the Body, Mind and Soil. (yes, soil!).
FERTILITY OF THE BODY. Women are often the focus of fertility questions, but did you know that 40% of infertility can be attributed to problems with the sperm? It’s true that avoiding tight pants and underwear, wearing only cotton undies, avoiding placing laptops or other heat-producing machines on the lap, not wearing cell phones on the body, and doing pelvic floor exercises will help both sexes increase their fertility. Also for both sexes, increasing animal protein in the diet is recommended for those who partake, since meat and most dairy are “yang tonics” which help increase testosterone and sexual function,while cholesterol is the building block for hormones. This may explain why fasting or strict dieting may inhibit conception in some women, though it may be beneficial in a preparatory phase before trying to conceive. Avoid caffeine (switch to decaf if you’re a coffee lover) and all stimulants, alcohol, smoking (tobacco and marijuana can both slow down sperm and contribute to ovarian problems), stress, deep-fried and highly refined foods, you know, the usual baddies. Consuming fish oils low in heavy metals, taking Selenium, vitamins C and E, and Zinc supplements, drinking non-chlorinated water from glass bottles, and avoiding all foods and beverages packaged or heated in plastic, are some more suggestions for anyone wanting to increase their body’s
fertility.
Here’s something I just read: if you are pierced in the midline region, your belly button for example, and you are having trouble conceiving, try switching your jewelry to gold; the midline is right on the Conception Meridian, and it seems that silver can interfere with conception.
I highly recommend to all menstruating women of any age or stage, to chart their cycle on a calendar; this can reveal connections between diet, lifestyle or life happenings, phases of the moon, and your cycle. If your menstrual cycle needs some regularity, which is helpful in planning conception, then try taking Chaste Tree Berries, aka Vitex. This herb is THE choice herb for regulating menstrual cycles by increasing progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone. It’s excellent for those stopping the birth control pill as well, whereby 2-3 months minimum are recommended for the body to adjust before trying
to conceive. Nettles (my springtime favourite), Red Clover, Oat (in food and herb form), Eleuthero (aka Siberian Ginseng), Ashwaganda, and Panax Ginseng are all recommended herbs to take daily, preferably in
tea form but tinctures will help too for those on the go. Oh ya, if you are really trying to increase your body’s fertility, then slowing down to smell the roses helps too!
The topic of fertility can include more than just how to make more babies. Many of us want to prevent conception, and I’ve included the names of some books (see below), that address the topic of so-called “managing” our fertility, or consciously conceiving, or consciously not
conceiving.
FERTILITY OF THE MIND: Be it to enhance dreams or dream recall, or to clear the mind and increase mental health, memory and mindfullness, herbs and diet can definitely help. Dream herbs include Mugwort, Chamomile, Skullcap, Vervain, Valerian, and Hops. Use Mugwort sparingly internally and avoid completely during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Here is a nice dream tea: ½ part Mugwort, 1 part Chamomile, 1 part Skullcap, ½ part Vervain, and 1 part Lemon Balm and or Lemon Verbena. Brew and drink thirty minutes to one hour before bed. There is a Jungian theory that suggests the unconscious mind will be more open or available if there is a half of a glass of water beside the bed while you sleep (it’s worth a try!). Writing out your dreams as soon as you open your eyes is also an incredibly revealing way to record your dreams, which seem to slip away as consciousness takes over upon awakening. Dream pillows are nice too, using the above-mentioned herbs mixed with Rose petals and Lavender blossoms.
Memory enhancement can be supported with Rosemary, Gotu Kola, Panax Ginseng, Eleuthero, and Gingko leaves. A tea or tincture blend of three or four of these herbs should be taken on a regular basis (two to three times a day) for a month to see any results. As always, eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep, exercise and fresh air, restricting time in front of computer or TV screens, limiting or eliminating cell phone use, will contribute
to better memory and mental function. If depression is a factor, and all the above suggestions are considered, then try St. John’s Wort, either in a capsule form (make sure it is an oil extract) or a tincture form. Again, usually this has to be taken on a regular basis for a month or two before results are obvious.
Meditation and other forms of quiet contemplation canalso benefit those who have difficulty shutting the mind off. Burning or smudging with Frankincense, Myrrh, White Sage, Sweetgrass, and/or essential oil of Basil will help you get grounded, and help leave the thinking mind
behind to make space for the unconscious mind to come forward. My acupuncturist advised me that whenever my mind starts to chatter about “He said, She said”, or “Wonder what they think”, or other judgmental conversations inside my head, to start singing. Sing any old thing, Rubber Ducky, the ABC song, whatever – it works!
FERTILITY OF THE SOIL: As a gardener, I can’t consider fertility without thinking of worms. Earthworms that is, red wrigglers to be specific. At the time of this writing, I am anxiously waiting for my compost pile to fully defrost before I peel it back to reveal how many if any worms survived the winter. It would have been wise to cover it
with old hay or even some tarps for extra protection, but the snow beat me to it – which may have been enough insulation, we’ll soon see. Not enough can be said about the benefits of compost in increasing your garden soil’s fertility. My first gardening mentor always said: When
in doubt, COMPOST! Meaning, if you are pulling your hair out trying to figure out what nutrient to add to your soil because the plants aren’t looking so well, COMPOST! If you ‘re wondering what to add to the garden in the spring or fall to top things up, use compost. Worms and
other critters digest garden waste, kitchen scraps, leaves, lawn clippings, old hay or straw, animal manure (not the kitties’ or dogs’ please!), and even human and animal hair, to make the perfect soil for the garden, aka Black Gold. There is an exact science to composting,
but if you’re adverse to rules like I am, simply pile your
kitchen scraps (without the meat or cooked foods to prevent rodents), and any garden waste such as weeds, leaves or lawn clippings all together in as compact a mound as you can make it; some people put chicken wire or other such fencing around it to keep it contained and
keep the larger critters out (dogs love digging up composts, sigh). If you find that the breakdown is sluggish, or maybe there’s an offensive smell to it, you can boost your compost by adding coffee grounds, Comfrey and Nettle leaves. Its best to either chop up the leaves as
much as you can (use a lawn mower or weed whacker), or make a tea in a barrel and add that. Instead of regularly turning it over as the manuals will suggest, you can get away with raking the pile from the bottom onto the top, continuously making it taller as it gets larger.
Earthworms will find your pile; they know what’s good for them. If there is a drought, water the compost – it should be damp but not soggy, nor dry, or your worms will take their leave. After a while, depending on the shape and size of your pile, you should see soil forming on the
bottom or in the lower inside. It should smell like dirt, nothing else. I like to screen my compost, taking out the rocks and non-rotted avocado peels and pits and “Organic” stickers (a nemesis of mine). What I’m left with is pure, 100% organic, yummy, dirt. Simple, and free!
Individual articles could have been written on each of these topics, but in my multi-tasking, many-irons-in-the-fire way, I’ve chosen to give you tidbits on each, and hopefully leave you with a thirst to learn more. PLEASE contact me should you have any questions or comments, I welcome feedback.
Enjoy your Spring, and remember, Fertility is within us all, at any given time.
Spring Blessings,
Gillian
Here is some recommended reading:
Conscious Conception: Elemental Journey Through the Labyrinth of Sexuality, by: Jeannine Parvati Baker, Tamara Slayton, and Frederick Baker
The Garden of Fertility: A Guide to Charting Your Fertility Signals to Prevent or Achieve Pregnancy--Naturally--and to Gauge Your Reproductive Health, by: Katie Singer
The Male Biological Clock: The Startling News About Aging, Sexuality, and Fertility in Men, by: Harry Fisch and Stephen Braun
Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, by: David Winston and Steven Maimes
Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-to-Earth Guides), by: Stu Campbell
Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up & Maintain a Worm Composting System, by: Mary Appelhof
Related Articles:
Herb Garden: Fall into Winter with Herbs & Good Food(Fall/Winter 2007-08)
Herb Garden: Manifest your Inner Herbalist (spring/summer 2007)
Herb Garden: Backyard Herbs (Fall/Winter 2006-07)
Herb Garden: The Spring Herb Walk (spring 2006)
 Gillian 'Herb Girl' Smith is a full time mother, herbalist and community member, living in the beautiful Shulaps mountains outside of Lillooet, BC. She dislikes writing bios and loves helping people! She has a small consulting practice and owns and operates an herbal products company, Gillians Herbs. Her and her partner are building a straw bale house on their homestead over the next few years…all things considered!
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