With pressures of modern life, mental and emotional stress, and lack of love in relations, infertility cases are on the rise. More and more couples are unable to produce children. Moreover, with one in four early pregnancies ending in miscarriage, Ayurveda’s approach can help preempt any untoward chances of such cases. The benefits of following Ayurvedic principles go far beyond just a trouble-free pregnancy. The traditional medical science does not just help you to increase fertility with diet, change in lifestyle, and herbal supplements; it also focuses on how to conceive a truly healthy child.
Ayurvedic approach to Conceiving a Healthy Child
According to Ayurveda, preparing for conception can be easily compared to the process of farming. Just like the health of a crop depends on the quality of soil, seed, timing of sowing, and amount of watering it gets, the health of a baby depends on the health of its parents. For a pregnancy to be healthy and successful, a couple needs to take care of the following four essential factors: Sperm/Ovum (Seeds), Uterus (Soil), Nourishment (Water), Time for Conception (Timing of Sowing). Reproductive health, in both men and women, depends on the health of the reproductive tissue or shukra dhatu. In women, shukra creates the ovum as part of the monthly cycle, and in men the semen is formed due to sexual stimulation. The shukra is created as part of a long chain of metabolic transformations. It starts with the digestion of food, then goes on to transformation of food to nutrient fluid, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, and finally, to shukra tissue. Healthy shukra tissue, then, according to Ayurveda, depends on the health of all the other tissues in the body.
Ayurvedic Diet to Boost Fertility
According to Ayurveda, healthy diet plays an important role in boosting fertilty. Our diet should comprise of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy proteins, including milk, lassi (buttermilk), and paneer (fresh cheese made of milk), mung daal (split green beans), soaked almonds or soaked walnuts (you can grind them and add them to your vegetables), sweet, juicy fruits such as mangoes, peaches, plums, and pears, dried fruits such as dates, figs, and raisins, green leafy vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, spices such as ajwain (bishop’s weed), cumin seed (which purifies the uterus in women and the genitourinary tract in men), turmeric (to improve the interaction between hormones and targeted tissues), cinnamon, cardamom and black cumin, besides banana.
Foods to Avoid as per Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, foods containing preservatives and other chemicals; such as artificial sweeteners, foods high in fat, alcohol, red meat, soft drinks, diet soda (containing aspartame) should be avoided. Caffeine should also be limited, especially if you’re having trouble conceiving. Refined carbs, such as white bread, pasta and rice, should be limited.
The Right Lifestyle as per Ayurveda
It is very important for couples who wish to conceive a child to have positive mental feelings. They should avoid tension or anger and keep their mind relaxed. They are advised to practice meditation, Pranayama and Yoga on a regular basis to keep their bodies and minds fit.
The following lifestyle factors can greatly hamper your ability to get pregnant. Smoking presents a major risk to not only your overall health and well-being, but also to your reproductive health. Smoking decreases your ability of getting pregnant because it interferes with your body’s ability to absorb vitamin C and zinc. Drugs can also affect women’s reproductive health. Both over-the-counter and illegal drugs affect the body’s natural functions as well as impair nutrition. Women who are trying to conceive should limit their exposure to pesticides and chemicals as they can hinder your chances of getting pregnant. Stress can have a major impact on women’s fertility. The importance of a positive attitude is essential when trying to get pregnant. Being both overweight and underweight can impair a woman’s odds of getting pregnant. If you are underweight, your reproductive system will shut down because of the body’s inability to maintain a pregnancy. On the other hand, being overweight or obese reduces a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. Staying physically fit is essential when you’re trying to get pregnant. However, it is important to note that excessive exercise is unhealthy and can impair your ability to get pregnant.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Treating Infertility
Shukra nourishing herbs such as Kapikachhu (Mucuna Pruriens), Bhilawa (Salmalia Malabarica), Gokhsura (Tribulus Terrestris), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Salabmisri (Orchis mascula) and Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) are known to improve the quality and quantity of reproductive fluid in males. Where as, Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus), Ashoka (Saraca asoca), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), Kumari (Aloe barbadensis) are known to improve fertility in women.
