Experience with Vitex (Chasteberry) or Dong Quai Root -- Natural Route

AshleeK4211 · March 2014

Curious about trying a more natural path to reboot my currently non existent menstruation cycle and also help with fertility. My hubby and I have been TTC for nearly a year now and I have been off of birth control for a year. Finished a cycle of Provera a month ago and the result was one day of shedding old blood, and this was barely a day to get excited about as not much happened...that was it, nothing else. My fear is jumping in to a stream of doctor's visits and medications without trying to allow my body to do something that should be so natural. There is a reason it's not doing what it's supposed to at this point, and I am not going to prolong this process forever but, I am wondering what other's experience is with natural remedies? Also researching fertility diets and a cleanse...

tumbleweed123 · March 2014

NariaDreaming -- I would be very wary of taking natural remedies before you've been diagnosed by a doctor. Some issues are less important, and I might experiment -- but your fertility is not something I'd experiment with. A cold or flu, maybe...but not your fertility. If I were you, I'd definitely work with an RE on this, since you've been TTC for a year. That said, a healthy diet is always a good idea and even if it doesn't fix everything -- it can't hurt. I'm so sorry that you are going through this...FX that you sort it out and are back on track very soon.

jaco0207 · March 2014

I do take supplements, but I agree with the ladies above, I think a diagnosis by an RE should be the first step. If you want to add in more natural care, I know a lot of ladies do acupuncture in conjunction with their medical treatment.

Lindsey7348 · March 2014

BFP warning* Hi there! Just wanted to chime in and tell you about my experience with Vitex. In 2012 I had 2 failed IUI's and 2 failed IVF's, with the last one failing in November. December 26th my DH and I moved to a new state for his job. I wanted to put fertility treatments on the back burner. I was emotionally exhausted and I wanted to lose the 20lbs I gained while on hormones. I also thought it would be a nice distraction to be in a new place and explore our new city with each other. I had heard about vitex so I decided to give it a try by itself. I lost the weight, was taking vitex and a month later got my very first BFP! I didnt even test until 3 days late bc i thought yeah right. Dont know if it was me 'not trying or not stressing', the weight loss or the vitex. Could be a combo, but I do think the vitex helped. I ended up m/c at 9 weeks, but I still jumped over my first hurdle of getting pregnant.
Good luck to you whatever you decide!

SweetieShellieH · March 2014

Several months after my m/c I decided to try Vitex to see if it would help us get preggo again. It ended up messing up my cycles waaaay more then they already were. DO NOT TAKE IT! In the end when we finally were able to see an RE we had issues no amount of Vitex would fix anyway. You always have the choice to say no to the medications any doctor might suggest to you, but know what's going on first.

TTCBabyJ · March 2014

My RE was completely against vitex...he said it was too strong. But he did suggest Pregnitude if I just had to try something natural.

AshleeK4211 · March 2014

Thanks girls for all your support, and encouragement!!! I am going to a second doctor who specifically works on getting to the root of the problem before prescribing a medication!! Hopefully I'll figure out why I am not ovulating or getting a period so we can get on with the baby making!!!

Haha!!!!

theholmanherd · March 2014

I'm taking Fertilaid (2 weeks so far), and I'm about to start taking Ovaboost and a thyroid support supplement. All in addition to my regular multivitamin. It's too early to tell, but I'm hoping to get regular on my cycles (it's been almost 3 months since my last but the only thing that's worked to regulate in the past is birth control...phooey).

meld42 · March 2014

I'm a TTTC lurker coming out to answer this!

I tried both those herbs, and evening prime rose oil and it messed up my hormones. I'm now seeing an integrative dietician, she works off of my medical charts with my doctor and recommends diet and supplements. She explained to me that those herbs ACT as estrogens in the body, would be similar to taking an estrogen pill that the pharmacy could make you. Only difference is it's naturally derived from herbs. So, I would not recommend trying those unless a professional is supervising.

Something my dietician recommended me is maca, it helps with energy, stress and reproductive organs. The way maca works is by stimulating your glands and reproductive organs to work better/more efficiently. I'd still always ask a doctor or a professional before taking anything, but maca is proven pretty safe for most people to take a moderate amount.

I honesty love that this dietician does an integrative approach with my doctor, if you can find a dietician or naturopath who works wih what's going on with your doctor, it helps so much. You know what vitamins to take and what food to eat in order to be getting maximum nutrition on health and maximum effects out of any medical treatments. Plus, you don't have to stop what your doctor wants you to do.

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Experience with Vitex (Chasteberry) or Dong Quai Root -- Natural Route

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