From a Chinese medicine perspective, there are many things you can do to help boost your fertility regardless of your age.
Foods to Add - Having a healthy diet and good digestion are both important factors for preparing your body for conception. Consume plenty of fertility boosting foods including the following: eggs, wild caught fish, raw dairy, full-fat yogurt, lean grass fed meats, bone broth, vegetables, seaweed, walnuts, quinoa, black beans, lentils, chickpeas, coconut, pineapples, blueberries, pomegranates.
Foods to Avoid - Eliminating common food allergens like wheat and pasteurized dairy can help decrease inflammation, improve digestion, and increase ovulation rates. Minimize coffee, excess sugar, refined carbohydrates, soy products, and alcohol.
Vitamin Supplements - Taking high quality whole food vitamins, clean fish oil, and probiotics are essential to make sure you are getting enough nutrition.
Herbal Supplements - Maca, also known as Peruvian ginseng, is an herb well-known for its fertility boosting effects. Royal jelly is great for supporting reproductive and hormonal balance because it contains vitamin B6, fatty acids, and protein. Research shows that turmeric increases blood flow to the uterus as well as decreasing inflammation. Drinking a turmeric golden milk latte daily is a fabulous way to relax at the end of the day.
Exercise - Daily exercise like yoga, pilates, moderate work-outs, swimming, and walking are important to maintain overall health, decrease stress, and your keep lymph and blood moving.
Stress Management - Many women are operating in "fight or flight" mode most of the day. Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues. If you cannot change your life stressors, try adding in at least one relaxation technique per day - warm bath, walking, massage, visiting with friends, mediation, breathing exercises, stretching.
Acupuncture - Studies have proven that acupuncture is helpful to increase fertility even in conjunction with Western medical procedures like in vitro fertilization. Balancing the body with acupuncture takes time, so be patient and give it at least 6 months of treatment to see if it will work for you.
Chinese Herbal Medicine - Chinese herbal formulas have been used for centuries for helping women conceive naturally. Each woman has a different constitution with varying imbalances, so formulas are prescribed based on your unique condition. The formulas are to be taken at specific times during your cycle to balance hormones and increase blood flow to the uterus.
Nicole Peterson, LAc, MAcOM is a licensed acupuncturist in Ashland, Oregon. She loves sharing her passion for natural approaches to health through her online blog and at her clinic, Ashland Family Acupuncture. Contact us for an appointment or free consultation. 541-631-9649