| |  | | Hormone Balancing
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Kari
Posted on: September 25, 1998
What is the best way to make sure that your estrogen & progesterone are where they are supposed to be before & during pregnancy? Also, I have had 2 miscarriages and a stillbirth. What do you recommend in trying to get pregnant again?
I recommend that you read either Amanda McQuade Crawford’s "Herbal Remedies for Women" (Prima Publishing) or "Herbal Healing for Women" by Rosemary Gladstar (available at Richters). To prevent miscarriage when there is a previous history of miscarriage, Amanda McQuade Crawford recommends "sound nutrition, meditation, system tonics", describing tonic herbs for the digestive system, cardiovascular system, urinary tract, muscles and bones, skin and immune system that can be used before or during pregnancy if any of these systems are weak. She advises avoiding lifting heavy weights, taking on extra stress and skipping meals. Both books include information on increasing fertility.
Chasteberry (Vitex agnus castus) is a herb used to balance hormones. It works via the pituitary gland to regulate a proper balance. Before pregnancy, Amanda McQuade Crawford suggests using chasteberry with red clover and dong quai, which will help to nourish and stimulate the liver and endocrine glands.
Dong Quai has an anti-inflammatory action useful in rheumatoid arthritis, spasmodic asthma and muscle cramps; it nourishes the blood and stimulates circulation, and stimulates liver function which helps to improve digestion, ease nausea, vomiting and intestinal problems and to process hormones. Stimulation and nourishment of the liver and endocrine glands make it useful in balancing sex hormones in menopause or infertility. It should not be used in pregnancy.
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