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Basic Philosophy
Preconception health is an important issue for American women. According
to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about 50% of pregnancies
are unplanned. Regardless, by the time most women seek prenatal
care, at about 11 or 12 weeks of pregnancy, it’s too
late to prevent a number of maternal and/or child health
problems. This product, along with proper nutrition
and lifestyle, helps to optimize prenatal health as well
as assist women who are looking to rebalance their reproductive
systems. It’s important to note that it
will take a least three months to make a positive shift in
preconception health and it is imperative that a healthy
diet and mind body techniques be integrated.
Oona’s Fertility Health Boost attends to a
woman’s body in three important ways. The
first is through a nourishing blood herbal
tonic that targets
hormone producing organs. The second is an herbal
hormone modulator that encourages the body to properly
regulate itself. Last but not least, Oöna’s
Fertility Health Boost includes additional vitamins/minerals
that are particularly important and not supplied in proper
quantities in a multivitamin. We assume that women
are taking a multivitamin that addresses their need for
iron, zinc, Vitamins A&D, and folic acid.
About the Herbs in the
Tonic
Oöna’s Fertility Health Boost updates a classic
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tonic, which is based
on a formula called Si Wu Tang. This formula was known
to nourish and invigorate blood flow by providing a gentle,
nourishing blend of herbs that attends to the health and
vibrancy of a woman’s blood supply and basic cell energies. This
in turn supports vital reproductive organs such as the spleen,
liver and kidneys by protecting them from deterioration or
harmful changes in structure and function.
The herbs in Si Wu Tang are Rehmannia Root,
Ligusticum, Dong Quai and White Peony.
Oöna updated this formula by replacing Ligusticum with
False Unicorn Root. While both herbs are considered energenic,
False Unicorn specifically targets the uterus without losing
the synergies of the overall formula. There are also
some toxicity issues associated with ligusticum that the
company wanted to avoid.
A closer look at the individual herbs:
Dong
Quai – Dong Quai is the principal
or imperial herb in this tonic. That means the other
herbs work to support or focus the overall benefits of
Dong Quai. It is one of the most revered
herbs in Chinese medicine and its use cannot be overestimated
for a wide range of female complaints – particularly
for women who are tired, recovering from illness or have
low vitality. The herb is most often used for strengthening
the blood and toning the five major viscera – particularly
the heart. The five major viscera are the heart, liver,
kidneys, spleen and lungs. As a result, it is known
to help regulate and normalize hormonal imbalances, a
balance that is valuable for fertility. More recent interest
has been in Dong Quai’s support of a healthy cardiovascular
system. The herb has been shown to facilitate a
healthy blood flow, helpful in fighting hypertension. It
has also been shown to strengthen the immune system by
enhancing white blood cell activity. This
herb has been difficult to study as it is most often
used in combination with other herbs. As a single
remedy, it does not show promising results. The
Dong Quai in Oöna Fertility Health Boost is standardized
to 1% ligustilides.
White
Peony Root – Under the name bai shao,
white peony root is used in many diverse Chinese herbal
formulas. While it is highly regarded as a tonic
herb used to build and cleanse the blood, it is one of
the oldest remedies in TCM for diseases of the liver. This
is important for women of childbearing age as the liver
plays a vital role in preconception health. Along
with other important constituents, white peony contains
a unique glycoside called paeoniflorin. Paeoniflorin’s
major effect seems to be to calm nerves and alleviate
spasm. White peony is used to reduce menstrual cramping,
irritability, vaginal discharges and to avert miscarriage. Because
of White Peony’s calming effect, it is also used
as an emotional stabilizer. In addition, White
Peony, China’s national flower, is considered one
of China’s premium anti-aging herbs and is widely
used to promote beauty. It is believed that since it
does such an excellent job purifying the blood (along
with Dong Quai), it also purifies the skin. It
is reported that the skin of women who use white peony
for an extended period of time becomes finer, more clear
and radiant.
Rehmannia
Root – This plant is considered
one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese Medicine. Rehmannia,
deemed an “herb of restoration,” is used
to treat a wide range of ailments. It has been
used to treat broken bones, anemia, swelling, fever,
bleeding and low energy levels, to name a few. Today
it is especially used for treating hormonal disorders
in women. Rehmannia is known for its anti-inflammatory
effect and is a mild diuretic and an immunity booster.
It protects the liver and kidneys as well as nourishes
the adrenal glands when they’ve been weakened by
stress, overwork or overindulgence. Besides containing
vitamins and minerals such as calcium, copper, zinc,
amino acid and vitamins A, B, C, D, a main active constituent
is iridoid glycosides. While the pharmacological
action of these glycosides has not been determined, it
appears that they stimulate the adrenal glands to produce
anti-inflammatories and boost immunity. They are
also some of the same glycosides that contribute to the
body’s production of sex hormones. Also found
in chaste tree berry (see below) it is believed that
these glycosides help with symptoms such as menstrual
irregularity, menstrual cramps and the regulation of
menstrual flow. It also reduces urinary tract issues,
helps insomnia and dizziness. As it is known to
both strengthen the body and nourish the adrenal glands,
it is regarded as an effective fertility enhancer.
False
Unicorn Root – as Chamaelirium luteum. A
Native American plant, this herb is most valued by the
reproductive system. While other herbs in our tonic
address vital organs that regulate and produce hormones,
False Unicorn Root specifically targets a woman’s
reproductive organs. The herb has a long history of use
in maintaining a healthy tone and posture of the uterus
and urinary bladder. It is known to improve the
flow of cervical fluid and cyclical functions of the
ovary – specifically follicular formation. It
is also used for amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, irregular
menstruation, ovarian despondency and emotional irritability
associated with a woman’s cycle. For improved fertility,
it works especially well along side chaste tree berry. Traditionally
it was used to help prevent a miscarriage. While
it’s still used for that purpose, it is now regarded
as an excellent restorative to the uterus and ovaries. As
a result it is also valuable as a postpartum tonic to
restore uterine tone.
About the Herbs in the Hormone Modulator
Based on the success of our Oöna PMS1, we’ve included
our simple formulation to help regulate production of hormones
and, in turn, the menstrual cycle. This daily tablet
is comprised primarily of chaste tree berry with
added black cohosh. Neither black
cohosh nor chaste tree berry contain hormones or hormone-like
substances, however the herbs do influence hormonal activity
through the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.*
Chaste tree berry – or
vitex agnus-castus has been used for centuries for women’s
health. For
preconception health, it is important to establish regular
ovulation and menstrual cycles. Chaste tree berry is
known to work on the pituitary/hypothalamus axis – it
is this axis that orchestrates the release of hormones that
determine the timing of a woman’s cycle. In essence,
chaste tree berry is known to help this axis communicate
better and to relay messages to the ovaries and ensure that
the timing and production of hormones is working properly. It
also helps the body correct any imbalances that may be occurring. In
part, chaste tree does this by stimulating the brain to produce
more of the luteinizing hormone (LH).* It is the LH hormone
that triggers the ovary to release the follicle or egg. The
herb has also been shown to lower prolactin levels* which
in turn raises progesterone levels. It is this hormone
balancing combination of lower prolactin and greater LH production
that achieves a more regular ovulation.* This balance
also provides women with significant relief from a wide range
of PMS symptoms including menstruation related acne.*
Black Cohosh – The
black cohosh in OönaPMS1, a great counterpart to chaste
tree berry,* also helps to normalize hormone production
via the pituitary gland. Although the herb is known mostly
as an aid for peri-menopause symptoms, it helps regulate
hormones more associated with the first half of a women’s
cycle, particularly estrogen. One
noted mechanism is that black cohosh helps regulate estrogen
levels in part by binding to estrogen receptors.* Another
indicates that it runs interference with neurotransmitters.*
Although more research is needed to determine the complex
way in which this herb works, black cohosh has long-established
benefits for women’s hormonal health.
About the Vitamins in Oöna
Fertility Health Boost
While genetics probably play the most prominent role in
determining the strength of our immune system, researchers
have confirmed that specific vitamins and minerals can
maximize its function as we focus on optimal preconception
health. This product
assumes that women are already taking a multi-vitamin that
takes into consideration her specific needs for iron, zinc,
vitamins A and D and folic acid. While multi-vitamins
are beneficial, most simply do not have the room to include
enough of the baby booster vitamins like C, E, B complex
and calcium. Optimal amounts of these vitamins are
therefore included in your Oöna daily pack.
Vitamin
C – Vitamin C is essential for the body’s metabolic process. Not
only is it helpful for absorbing iron (from non-meat sources) and calcium,
vitamin C has been shown to help the ovaries respond properly to fertilization. A
recent study Fertility and Sterility (2003;80:459–61) has shown
that vitamin C can improve hormone levels in women with issues during the luteal
phase of her cycle. (Luteal phase follows ovulations). A number
of factors can cause luteal phase defects, however it is suggested that oxidative
damage may play a role. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E were found
to be significantly lower in women with luteal phase defects. It could
be particularly helpful for women who have suffered recurrent miscarriages. However,
high levels of Vitamin C, over 1000 mg. a day, should be avoided as vitamin
C has an antihistamine effect and could dry up cervical fluid.
Vitamin
E – Vitamin E has been shown to increase fertility in
both men and women. A deficiency has been shown to decrease fertility in
animal studies. It has been called “the fertility vitamin.” It
is known to be powerful antioxidant and important to the body for the maintenance
of cell membranes and cellular respiration (a way a cell transforms food into
energy) In turn, when it comes to fertility, Vitamin E helps normalize
hormone production by rejuvenating the endocrine system. It is also theorized
that it may affect the production of prostaglandins – a hormone like
matter in the body that regulates different body processes (usually having
to do with muscle contractions or spasms) that include reproduction.
B Complex – The B vitamins are necessary for a healthy
nervous system, the intestinal tract and cell metabolism. They help maintain
healthy skin, muscle tone, enhance immunity and the nervous system. They also
play a vital role in helping conception and in protecting the fetus from birth
defects. They are known to work best when taken in combination
so that no imbalances occur. Although B vitamins are water soluble, it
has been shown that they are best absorbed with digestive enzymes. Since
B vitamins are so vital to preconception health, we made sure to include these
important digestive enzymes. In brief, here is the value of each B vitamin
for pregnancy:
- B1 (thiamin) Needed for ovulation and implantation
- B2
(riboflavin) Deficiencies may lead to sterility, miscarriage
and low birth weight. The
liver uses it to clear out old estrogen and progesterone,
insuring the continual production of these hormones.
- B5
(pantothenic acid) Important for fetal development, nerves,
skin, metabolism of carbohydrates and vitamin utilization
- B6
(pyridoxine) Together with zinc, this vitamin is essential
for the formation of female sex hormones and the proper
regulation of estrogen and progesterone. It
is very useful in the luteal phase to encourage the production of progesterone.
- B9
(folic acid/folate) It reduces the risk of neural tube
damage in the developing embryo. Contraception pill depletes
the storage of folic acid. This vitamin should
be taken for at least 3 months before conception.
- B12 Along with folate, B12 is needed for the synthesis of DNA – also
important for a healthy nervous system.
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