Fertility Herb {Red Clover}

photo credit - donielle

While on a walk a few weeks ago with my littles I happened to notice a large patch of red clover, wildly growing up a hill across from our home. Much to my husbands chagrin, I headed back inside, grabbed a basket, and my children and I began picking the deep pink blossoms to bring home.

When I was a young girl, I’d pick the red clover to feed to my horse – an indulgent treat for a grass eater – so why pick this “weed” growing beside the road?

Red Clover is a herb that Susan Weed considers “the single most useful herb for establishing fertility” and it has health benefits for most people.

Benefits of Red Clover

• Dr. Tamminga mentioned in a short talk he did at our local health food store, that red clover is an effective blood cleanser. Though Varro Tyler discredits this notion in his book. Seems to be one of the “one study says one thing…” types of things.

• It has a high vitamin content that supports the uterus

• High in protein to aid the entire body

• Contains easily absorbed calcium and magnesium (supports the nervous system)

• Also has a high mineral content (due to super deep roots)

• Alkalizes the body

• Four isoflavones are found in red clover; formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, and genistein, which have mild estrogenic activity. These may alter hormone production, metabolism, intracellular enzymes, cell production, and growth factors. (this is also an area where one study finds benefits, one may find damages)

• Helps to clear mucous in the body

• It also has antibiotic properties and is effective against many strains of bacteria.

• It’s a liver stimulant and activates the gallbladder, may have a slightly laxative effect.

• Also used as a nerve tonic to calm a person.

• Known as a female tonic to strengthen the ovaries

How to Harvest Red Clover

Harvesting red clover is as easy as picking the blossoms. If you gently grab the blossom between two fingers under the leaves at the base of the blossom, a quick pull upward will easily remove it from the plant. After a thorough washing (no bugs!) you can dry them in a dehydrator for a few hours until completely dry. If you don’t have a dehydrator, set out in the hot sun for the day, gently turning every few hours.

How to Consume Red Clover

You can add red clover blossoms to salads as well as make tea.

I often take a handful of dried blossoms and pour 1 quart of boiling water over them, allowing them to infuse for a few hours before I strain them out. A bit off raw honey stirred in makes the tea more palatable, I usually drink it cold for ease in consumption.

I also began adding a bit of peppermint to the blossoms while infusing as well – this makes it quite palatable without any added sugars. And while I was referring to my Susan Weed book for this post, she also mentions using peppermint as well – saying that the ‘mints’ are also sexually stimulating.

Have you ever used red clover blossoms to eat or drink?

Sources
The Little Herb Encyclopedia by Jack Ritchason ND
The Wise Woman herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed
Tyler’s Honest Herbal by Varro E Tyler PH.D.

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Electromagnetic Radiation and Fertility

photo credit: dawidone

{the following is a guest post by Lloyd of Electric Sense}

EM Radiation Pollution and Fertility

Most people give little or no thought to the electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in their environment. But EMFs have worked their way into just about everybody’s daily life.

Twenty years ago, most people did not own a cell phone, they had never heard/seen a cordless phones and they would not have had a clue what WiFi even meant.

All this technology is great. It has simplified our lives significantly. But did you know that it also uses electromagnetic fields to make it work and that more and more people are beginning to ask questions about the possible adverse health consequences of these EMFs. Much of the debate centers around cell phone use.

Only a few days ago, the World Health Organization, proclaimed that cell phones were possibly carcinogenic. They have publicly stated that as little as 30 minutes per day on a cell phone could have adverse health consequences.

But what about electromagnetic fields and fertility? Could there be a link?

You might be surprised to learn that there is a growing body of research pointing to the adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation on human fertility. Only last month researchers in Austria and Canada found that cell phone use may lead to lower sperm quality and a decrease in fertility.

Tim Ferriss, bestselling author of the Four Hour Work week ran tests on his own sperm count and found it to be low. He started to do some research on the subject and realized that electromagnetic radiation could be the cause. He stopped carrying his cell phone in his pocket for 3 months and his sperm count doubled in three months.

EM Radiation In The Home

Here are some other important sources of electromagnetic radiation in the home and what to do about them:

• WiFi – some WiFi is now operating in the 5 GHz range, higher than many cell phones (higher frequencies tend to have more harmful health consequences). You can take the bold step of going back to a wired connection. If you don’t want to give up your WiFi, make sure it is a good distance from your office chair and switch it off at night when you’re not using it.

• Cordless phones (DECT) – these use the exact same technology as cell phones. The dangerous part is the phone base which acts like a mini cell phone antenna. If you don’t want to go back to a corded phone at least banish the base unit from your bedroom, where it will do the most damage.

• Microwave ovens – these wouldn’t be so bad were it not for the fact that most of them leak (like all the ones that I have tested have done). The problem is the door seals, over time they no longer do their job and the radiation permeates out into the room and surrounding rooms – EM radiation goes through walls.

• Video game consoles – the Nintendo Wii, for instance is reliant on electromagnetic emitting handheld controllers. The PlayStation 3 does exist in a wired version but most people buy the wireless version which emits electromagnetic radiation. You are best advised to limit the time you spend using these devices.

If you are serious about improving your chances of conceiving a child then you cannot afford to overlook your Electromagnetic radiation exposure. Limiting your cell phone use is a good start but if you really want to understand what EMFs exist in your home and work environment then an inexpensive EM radiation meter is a good investment. We all like our gadgets, EM radiation is here to stay, just make sure you’re not overdoing it.

Have you taken any steps to reduce electromagnetic radiation exposure?

Lloyd Burrell became electrosensitive through using a cell phone about 10 years ago. He started writing about cell phone radiation protection on his own website back in 2009. He now blogs on this subject and the dangers of EMFs generally.

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