Jennifer Aniston opens up about infertility; can Chinese herbal tea help you get pregnant?

Jennifer Aniston, who is loved for playing Rachel in the hit sitcom ‘FRIENDS’, has opened up for the first time about her struggles with infertility during her 30s and 40s, putting an end to rumors that her marriages ended as she refused to have any children.

“I was trying to get pregnant. It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,” she spoke in an exclusive interview to Allure.

“All the years and years and years of speculation... It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it. I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor.’ You just don’t think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed,” she added.

Blends of Chinese herbal medicine, including teas and infusions, have been used for thousands of years to help boost health, including fertility. There is evidence that some traditional Chinese herbs could improve fertility and help women conceive successfully.

Studies claim that these can regulate the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce ovulation, improve the uterus blood flow and menstrual changes of endometrium (inner layer of the uterus).

Components of fertility formulas of these Chinese herbs are derived from roots, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits. These are available for consumption in the form of pills, tablets, granules or decoctions (teas).

A typical fertility treatment course of Chinese herbs involves taking medicinal herbs everyday for at least 3 months or as advised by the Chinese Medicine practitioner after examination. This will roughly be the time of a complete cycle of maturation of both eggs and sperm.

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Chinese herbs can help regulate the menstrual cycle, overcome hormonal imbalances, relieve stress-related dysfunction. For men, these are believed to improve sperm count, motility, and morphology.

When used with Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) and fertility drugs, these herbs can also minimize the negative side effects and toxicity from drug therapy. According to studies, they can also strengthen health in general, increasing healthy pregnancies with IVF procedures.

Studies in China indicate that about 70% of all cases of infertility in males and females, who were treated with Chinese herbs, resulted in successful pregnancy or restored fertility.

Infertility treatment success rates of these Chinese herbs range from about 50% to over 90%, depending on various factors.

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It is important to note that these types of medications should be used with care. It can react with other medicines and may also have serious side-effects. It is important first to consult your doctor if you are considering Chinese herbal infusions for infertility treatment.