Herbs and the Childbearing Cycle

Notes and Slides

Hi CSHS Students!

It's a pleasure to be working with you this weekend. I've posted the slides, notes and resources here so that you can access them. I'll also send the slides along to be added to your class folder.


Resources for the Day


Supporting Materials for Each Topic

Herbal Support for Fertility and Preconception


References (click to open)

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Hekmatdoost, A., Vahid, F., Yari, Z., Sadeghi, M., Eini-Zinab, H., Lakpour, N., & Arefi, S. (2015). Methyltetrahydrofolate vs Folic Acid Supplementation in Idiopathic Recurrent Miscarriage with Respect to Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T and A1298C Polymorphisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS ONE, 10(12). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143569

Joseph, D. N., & Whirledge, S. (2017). Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18102224

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Legro, R. S., Dodson, W. C., Kunselman, A. R., Stetter, C. M., Kris-Etherton, P. M., Williams, N. I., Gnatuk, C. L., Estes, S. J., Allison, K. C., Sarwer, D. B., Diamond, M. P., Schlaff, W. D., Casson, P. R., Christman, G. M., Barnhart, K. T., Bates, G. W., Usadi, R., Lucidi, S., Baker, V., … Dokras, A. (2016). Benefit of Delayed Fertility Therapy With Preconception Weight Loss Over Immediate Therapy in Obese Women With PCOS. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 101(7), 2658–2666. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2016-1659

Mun, J. G., Legette, L. L., Ikonte, C. J., & Mitmesser, S. H. (2019). Choline and DHA in Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Synergistic Implications in Brain and Eye Health. Nutrients, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11051125

Nowak, I., Bylińska, A., Wilczyńska, K., Wiśniewski, A., Malinowski, A., Wilczyński, J. R., Radwan, P., Radwan, M., Barcz, E., Płoski, R., Motak-Pochrzęst, H., Banasik, M., Sobczyński, M., & Kuśnierczyk, P. (2017). The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase c.c.677 C>T and c.c.1298 A>C polymorphisms in reproductive failures: Experience from an RSA and RIF study on a Polish population. PLoS ONE, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186022

Obeid, R., Holzgreve, W., & Pietrzik, K. (2013). Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects? Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 41(5), 469–483. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2012-0256

Pietrzik, K., Bailey, L., & Shane, B. (2010). Folic acid and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate: Comparison of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 49(8), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.2165/11532990-000000000-00000

Rooney, K. L., & Domar, A. D. (2018). The relationship between stress and infertility. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 20(1), 41–47.

Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group. (2004). Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Human Reproduction (Oxford, England), 19(1), 41–47.

Sargis, R. M., Heindel, J. J., & Padmanabhan, V. (2019). Interventions to Address Environmental Metabolism-Disrupting Chemicals: Changing the Narrative to Empower Action to Restore Metabolic Health. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00033

Sharma, R., Biedenharn, K. R., Fedor, J. M., & Agarwal, A. (2013). Lifestyle factors and reproductive health: Taking control of your fertility. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology: RB&E, 11, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-11-66

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Venn, B. J., Green, T. J., Moser, R., & Mann, J. I. (2003). Comparison of the effect of low-dose supplementation with L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate or folic acid on plasma homocysteine: A randomized placebo-controlled study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77(3), 658–662. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/77.3.658

Resources (click to open)

Herbal Support during Pregnancy

References (click to open)

Amzajerdi, A., Keshavarz, M., Montazeri, A., & Bekhradi, R. (2019). Effect of mint aroma on nausea, vomiting and anxiety in pregnant women. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(8), 2597–2601. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_480_19

Cheang, K. I., Nguyen, T. T., Karjane, N. W., & Salley, K. E. S. (2016). Raspberry Leaf and Hypoglycemia in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 128(6), 1421–1424. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001757

Cuzzolin, L., Francini-Pesenti, F., Verlato, G., Joppi, M., Baldelli, P., & Benoni, G. (2010). Use of herbal products among 392 Italian pregnant women: Focus on pregnancy outcome. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 19(11), 1151–1158. https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.2040

Dickson, B., Mansfield, C., Guiahi, M., Allshouse, A. A., Borgelt, L. M., Sheeder, J., Silver, R. M., & Metz, T. D. (2018). Recommendations From Cannabis Dispensaries About First-Trimester Cannabis Use. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 131(6), 1031–1038. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002619

Facchinetti, F., Pedrielli, G., Benoni, G., Joppi, M., Verlato, G., Dante, G., Balduzzi, S., & Cuzzolin, L. (2012). Herbal supplements in pregnancy: Unexpected results from a multicentre study. Human Reproduction (Oxford, England), 27(11), 3161–3167. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/des303

Gallo, M., Sarkar, M., Au, W., Pietrzak, K., Comas, B., Smith, M., Jaeger, T. V., Einarson, A., & Koren, G. (2000). Pregnancy outcome following gestational exposure to echinacea: A prospective controlled study. Archives of Internal Medicine, 160(20), 3141–3143. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.160.20.3141

Gaskins, A. J., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Williams, P. L., Toth, T. L., Missmer, S. A., & Chavarro, J. E. (2018). Pre-pregnancy caffeine and caffeinated beverage intake and risk of spontaneous abortion. European Journal of Nutrition, 57(1), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1301-2

Gunn, J. K. L., Rosales, C. B., Center, K. E., Nuñez, A., Gibson, S. J., Christ, C., & Ehiri, J. E. (2016). Prenatal exposure to cannabis and maternal and child health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 6(4), e009986. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009986

Haider, B. A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2017). Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD004905. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub5

Heitmann, K., Havnen, G. C., Holst, L., & Nordeng, H. (2016). Pregnancy outcomes after prenatal exposure to echinacea: The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 72(5), 623–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-016-2021-5

Herrell, H. E. (2014). Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. American Family Physician, 89(12), 965–970.

Ho, M., Chang, Y.-Y., Chang, W.-C., Lin, H.-C., Wang, M.-H., Lin, W.-C., & Chiu, T.-H. (2016). Oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 to reduce Group B Streptococcus colonization in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 55(4), 515–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2016.06.003

John, L. J., & Shantakumari, N. (2015). Herbal Medicines Use During Pregnancy: A Review from the Middle East. Oman Medical Journal, 30(4), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2015.48

Khorasani, F., Aryan, H., Sobhi, A., Aryan, R., Abavi-Sani, A., Ghazanfarpour, M., Saeidi, M., & Rajab Dizavandi, F. (2020). A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: The Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 40(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1587392

Kolding, L., Pedersen, L. H., Henriksen, T. B., Olsen, J., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2015). Hypericum perforatum use during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.), 58, 234–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.10.003

Lete, I., & Allué, J. (2016). The Effectiveness of Ginger in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy and Chemotherapy. Integrative Medicine Insights, 11, 11–17. https://doi.org/10.4137/IMI.S36273

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Muñoz Balbontín, Y., Stewart, D., Shetty, A., Fitton, C. A., & McLay, J. S. (2019). Herbal Medicinal Product Use During Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period: A Systematic Review. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 133(5), 920–932. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003217

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Resources (click to open)

Herbal Support during the Postpartum Period

References (click to open)

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Hi, I'm Camille

I've been in practice as a licensed nutritionist and registered herbalist since 2006, working in OB/Gyn offices, a fertility clinic and private practice. I'm also a professor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where I teach physiology and pathophysiology.

If you're enjoying this series, you can stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter for practitioners. I work with private clients and act as a mentor for other practitioners

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