The use of complementary and alternative medicine as a form of treatment has risen in recent years. One of the ways in which complementary and alternative medicines have been used to replace or supplement treatment is through infertility. The purpose of this paper is to research how naturopathic medicine influences female infertility, the different types of complementary and alternative treatments used, and the added benefits of said treatments.
Background
Contemporary and Alternative methods (CAM) are diverse medical and health care systems that are considered as part of conventional medicine. Research indicates that in the United States an approximated 38% of adults and 12 percent of children use some form of CAM ( O’Reilly et al., 2014) . In the East countries like China, India, Korea, and Japan have made huge strides in the field of alternative treatments. These approaches have been in existence for ages and were initially largely used in China. Today, CAM is for the population willing to take the risk of trying these techniques.
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Research indicates that in every 8 couples in the United States, one couple experience difficulties in getting pregnant. There are different factors associated with infertility in women. Failure to ovulate is the biggest cause of infertility in women. Ovulation problems are caused by dysfunction communication of the hormonal system that is controlled in the pituitary and hypothalamus gland in the brain and the ovaries. Obesity in women has been identified also to largely contribute to infertility in women. Women who tend to produce excess testosterone which give the male characteristics such as baldness or facial hair and acne also face the infertility challenge. Lifestyle habits such as drug use or extreme weight gain or loss are also associated with an increase in infertility in women.
Physicians identify some factors that are overlooked that lead to a decrease in women’s fertility. Stress is known to significantly reduce conception probability. Environmental pollutants such as chemicals and heavy metals are known to disrupt the female hormonal systems. Medications drugs such as the non-steroid inflammatory drugs affect the female reproductive system. Nutritional deficiencies and poor diets are also associated with decreasing fertility in women. An increase in infertility in women and other health problems has led to the use of contemporary and alternative treatment methods. One of the widely sought methods of addressing women infertility today is the use of the natural methods and resources known as naturopathic approach.
Female infertility naturopathic treatment is aimed at correcting fertility challenges in women through correcting hormonal imbalances, addressing nutritional deficiencies and improving the overall reproductive health. The approach uses natural methods to address the various factors that are thought to be contributing to infertility ( Hornstein et al., 2010) . The aim of such treatment is to address factors that contribute to infertility in women. The medication is specific to an individual meaning that they are used to address the key areas causing infertility.
Naturopathic physicians focus on the nutritional health of the patient as the importance of a healthy diet cannot be overstated. Vitamins and minerals are largely required for the proper functioning of the female reproductive system. For example deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, or folic acid may contribute to women infertility. Consumption of natural foods rich in these nutrients or the use of supplements may improve the reproductive health of the patients and improve the ability to conceive ( Hornstein et al., 2010) .
The relationship between stress and infertility is largely documented. Relaxation therapies are some of the approaches that Naturopathic physicians prescribe to female infertility patients. Strong emotions such as depression or anxiety are linked to the cases of an increased level of prolactin. Elevated levels of prolactin lead to low secretion of the progesterone and early luteal regression. Women experiencing infertility are said to experience a high level of depression and anxiety. As a response, physicians recommend the body-mind program which is classified under relaxation therapies. Relaxation therapies help women to control the emotions that reduce anxiety level and depression consequently reducing the number of stressors ( Miner et al., 2018) .
Stress reduction approaches highly employed by the naturopathic doctors include diaphragmatic breathing, yoga, body awareness, and meditation. The vital element of the stress reduction technique is to focus wholly and completely on the present and avoid mind from racing focusing on future plans or past experiences. The physicians also require patients to reduce the number of stressors in life ( Miner et al., 2018) . It is the process of practicing stress reduction.
Herbal medicines help in improving infertility and women health, in general, are also used. Herbal drugs rarely have any form of side effect. Well-developed herbal medicines have been allowed for the use to address the problem of infertility in women. The herbs help in improving female reproductive health and promote fertility ( Hornstein et al., 2010) . There are different drugs known to the public that is used to improve female fertility health. For example black cohosh that is known to balance hormones. Chaste tree is known to correct the ovarian dysfunction, raises progesterone and lower the estrogen levels.
Addressing Lifestyle Problems
Naturopathic doctors recommend addressing infertility trough focusing on life-threatening behaviors. Lifestyle behaviors such as smoking of cigarette, shisha, marijuana and the use of alcohol can reduce the level of infertility in women. The doctors recommend that women who smoke should avoid the behavior because to minimize the problems associated with infertility and risks of tubal pregnancy. The physicians also advise women to protect their body against environmental hazards, chemicals, and heavy metals. The doctors recommend taking extra oxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E. Physicians advice women to watch their weight. Obesity affects women health that reduces infertility. Doctors need women to watch their weight by avoiding fluctuations such as extreme weight gain or loss ( Miner et al., 2018) .
Energy Therapies
Homeopathic remedies, flower essences, and traditional medicines are some of the energy therapies that are used to improve the level of fertility in both women and men. Homeopathic remedies are herbs or natural medicine derived from minerals, animal or plant tissues. Energy is drawn from the plant in form of in dilute form that is prepared and used by patients. The remedies are administered to the patient in tiny pellets on the tongue and are given to a patient according to the infertility problem.
Plant flowers also can be prepared in the same way like the homeopathic remedies such that the doctors use the essence of the flower which is harnessed and used for treatment. Pomegranate flowers, for example, are used to treat imbalance in women who lack focus and self-awareness. Traditional medicines such as Chinese herbs and acupuncture have been used for many years to treat a range of health conditions including infertility ( Cochrane et al., 2014) . It is a form of medication that helps energy to flow in the proper channels to the right organs creating harmony and balance to organs utilizing the energy. For example, Chinese women began acupuncture a month before becoming pregnant it was continued throughout the first trimester.
Across the world, naturopathic treatment has existed for a long time. In Asian and African countries like China, India thee approaches have long been used for their benefits. A large number of adults in children in the United States have opted for the use of contemporary and alternative approaches. The reason for the use of these approaches includes that they are effective, less costly, minimal side-effects and effective treatment. The naturopathic practice aim at treating underlying disorders by restoring the normal functions of various body parts by enhancing their healing abilities. Naturopathic treatments are highly individualized ( Lans, Taylor-Swanson, & Westfall, 2018) . Contemporary treatment strategies for women help improve the reproductive health of women effectively. Disease prevention and preventing progressive health problems such as infertility.
Conclusion
Many couples today struggle with the problem of infertility. Infertility in women can be caused by different factors such as nutritional deficiencies, poor immune system, environmental pollutants and strong emotions such as depression. These factors affect the reproductive system of the woman affecting the ovulation process. Today, contemporary and alternative methods of treatment have been on the rise and a high percentage of people are using them. Some of the CAM used in treating infertility include mind/body programs, correcting hormonal imbalance using nutrients, addressing lifestyle issues such as drug abuse, use of herbal medicine and so forth ( O’Reilly et al., 2014) . These naturopathic approaches are preferred today as they have little side effects, improved efficiency and improve the health system of the patients.
References
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Hornstein, M. D., Gibbons, W. E., Barbieri, R. L., & Barss, B. A. (2010). Optimizing natural fertility in couples planning pregnancy. Up To Date. Rose, BD (Ed), Up To Date, Waltham, MA .
Lans, C., Taylor-Swanson, L., & Westfall, R. (2018). Herbal fertility treatments used in North America from colonial times to 1900, and their potential for improving the success rate of assisted reproductive technology. Reproductive biomedicine & society online , 5 , 60-81.
Miner, S. A., Robins, S., Zhu, Y. J., Keeren, K., Gu, V., Read, S. C., & Zelkowitz, P. (2018). Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review. BMC complementary and alternative medicine , 18 (1), 158.
O’Reilly, E., Sevigny, M., Sabarre, K. A., & Phillips, K. P. (2014). Perspectives of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners in the support and treatment of infertility. BMC complementary and alternative medicine , 14 (1), 394.
