Kristina Conner, ND We’ve come a long way in attitudes about menstruation. In many native cultures, women were often separated during menstruation, forbidden to perform household tasks or communicate with other group members. It was considered natural, but also...
Fertility
Table of Contents
Menopause and Retaining the Female Libido
Emily A. Kane, ND, LAc A sexy woman is, by and large, a young and healthy woman. Typically a young, healthy, reasonably happy and sexy woman has a “normal” libido. A woman who has matured beyond her reproductive years may “suffer” from reduced libido, as all purveyors...
Thyroid Hormone as Fertility Treatment
Lorilee Schoenbeck, ND Americans are having children later than ever. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that between 1960 and 2005, the primiparous woman’s average age at delivery rose from 20 to 26. This translates into more women seeking fertility treatments in their...
The Relationship Between Adrenal Function and Menopausal Symptoms
Kathryn Retzler, ND Many clinicians have observed the increased severity of menopause-related symptoms in patients who have experienced chronic stress. Since the adrenal glands “take over” sex hormone production postmenopausally, holistic treatment for menopausal...
Air Pollution and its Effect on Fetal Development
Mitch Kennedy, ND Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are byproducts of burning fossil fuels (gas, diesel, kerosene, coal) and are common air pollutants throughout the US. Although known human mutagens and carcinogens, their effect on fetal growth previously has...
Decreased Testosterone in Workers Exposed to Phthalates
Mitch Kennedy, ND Phthalate esters (PE) are used in almost every plastic product on the market today. Each year, 2 to 8 million tons of PE are produced worldwide. Phthalates have been shown to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with testicular and ovarian...
Mercury from Fish Does Not Reduce Children’s IQs(?)
Mitch Kennedy, ND The August issue of Environmental Health Perspectives contained a long letter from a Mr. Joel Schwartz challenging the science behind a study published in EHP in May 2005. This is not unusual, as almost every published clinical trial or review...
Mothers’ Exposure to Carcinogenic Pollution Linked to Brain Cancer Risk in Children
Mitch Kennedy, ND An innovative study of prenatal exposure to pollution and later development of brain cancer in children exposes previously unsubstantiated risk to living near polluting factories. The study was based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US...
Herbs for Sperm Disorders
Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG) Decreasing sperm counts and impaired function leading to reduced fertility are a major problem in the Western world, and growing worse. Numerous reports have documented declining mean sperm counts and increasing rates of asthenospermia in...
Tongkat Ali: A Potent Herb from the Rainforest
Ronald Steriti, ND, PhD Long Jack or Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) is a Malaysian herb that is considered a powerful male aphrodisiac, tonic, and energy enhancer. Tongkat Ali has an intensely bitter taste and has traditionally been used to treat fevers and...