Herbs for Reproductive System

Question 1

Key herbal actions for the reproductive system

Answer 1

Key herbal actions for the reproductive system include:

• Hormone modulators: Regulate and balance hormonal activity e.g., chaste berry.
• Emmenagogue: Promotes menstruation e.g., Dong quai.
• Galactagogue: Promotes breast milk production e.g., fennel seeds.
• Reproductive tonic: Promotes reproductive health and fertility e.g., shatavari.
• Anti-prostatic: Reduces symptoms form the prostate gland e.g., saw palmetto.

Question 2

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Answer 2

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa):

• Parts used: Root, rhizome.
• Energetics: Cool.
  Only use cultivated sources.
• Key constituents: Triterpenoid glycosides.
• Actions and uses: Emmenagogue, oestrogen-modulating (isoflavone content), uterine tonic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic; menopausal symptoms, spasmodic dysmenorrhoea, PMS, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cramps.

Intake: Decoct 1 tsp of dried root per cup of water.

Safety: Avoid in pregnancy, caution in those with oestrogen-dependent tumours and liver disease.

Question 3

Chaste berry (Vitex agnus castus):

Answer 3

Chaste berry (Vitex agnus castus):

Intake: 1 tsp dried berries decocted * Parts used: Berry. 1-2 daily, or as per

• Energetics: Warm. label.
• Key constituents: Flavanoids, iridoid glycosides.
• Actions and uses: Prolactin inhibitor and indirectly progesterogenic (binds to dopamine D 2 receptors ↓ prolactin pituitary secretion - in turn ↑ progesterone through normal corpus luteal development). galactagogue; PMS, luteal insufficiency, dysmenorrhoea, anovulation, hyperprolactinaemia, recurrent miscarriage (↓ progesterone), insufficient lactation, after OCP to regulate cycle.
• Safety: Avoid with progestogenic drugs and HRT

Question 4

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)

Answer 4

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis):

• Parts used: Root.
• Energetics: Warm.
• Key constituents: Essential oil, ferulic acid.
• Actions and uses: Uterine tonic (regulates the HPO axis), antiinflammatory, ‘blood building/tonic’, circulatory stimulant, anti-
  platelet, anti-arrhythmic, mild laxative; dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis; menopause, PMS, irregular or absent periods, weakness after the period, after giving birth or while breastfeeding.

Intake: 4.5–9 g / day dried root, or as per label.

Safety: Avoid in pregnancy, heavy menses and with anticoagulants.

Question 5

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosa)

Answer 5

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosa):

• Parts used: Root, rhizome.

Energetics: Cool.

• Key constituents: Steroidal glycosides, alkaloids.
• Actions and uses: Aphrodisiac (attributable to the testosterone-like effects of key constituents), galactagogue, adaptogen, antiinflammatory, demulcent; menopausal symptoms incl. vaginal dryness, infertility or low libido, male impotence, to promote lactation. Intake: 1–2 teaspoons of fine powder or decoct 3–30 g dried root a day. Products as per label.

Safety: Caution in pregnancy.