The Ayurvedic Perspective

Both men's and women's fertility levels are on the decline today. The increased levels of chemicals and pesticides in the foods we eat, and the high stress levels associated with modern life have been cited as probable causes. Conventional fertility treatments are expensive and sometimes painful and invasive.

Maharishi Ayurveda provides natural and dignified ways to not only enhance conception but also to enhance the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of the child.

Factors Involved in Creating a Healthy Child

What are the factors involved in creating a healthy child? According to Maharishi Ayurveda, conception takes place due to healthy sperm, healthy ovum, and a healthy uterus. For both men and women, reproductive health depends on the health of the shukra dhatu, or reproductive tissue. In women the shukra tissue creates the ovum as part of the monthly cycle, and in men the semen is formed due to sexual stimulation.

The shukra tissue itself is created as part of a long chain of metabolic transformations, starting with the digestion of food and including the transformation of food successively 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.

Diet and Behaviours to Boost Fertility

There are two classes of foods and herbs that help enhance shukra dhatu, and therefore help enhance fertility. The first is called bringhana -  these foods enhance all the seven dhatus including shukra. The second class is vrishya foods and herbs that specifically support shukra dhatu.

Because the first six dhatus are the raw material for forming the reproductive dhatu, all of the dhatus must be completely healthy in order to form healthy reproductive tissue. That's why the bringhana diet, which nourishes all the seven dhatus, are so important if you wish to conceive.

Foods to Nourish All Seven Dhatus (Bringhana)

• Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Dairy proteins, including milk, lassi, and panir (a fresh cheese made of milk)
• Mung dhal
• 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
• Stewed apple for breakfast
• If your digestion is strong, eat urad dhal (available at Indian grocery stores) cooked with equal parts turmeric, cumin, coriander, and fennel.
• A banana cooked in ghee, cinnamon and cardamom is a tasty and wholesome dessert for people with strong digestion.

Foods to Enhance the Reproductive Tissue (Vrishya)

• asparagus
• broccoli
• milk
• milk-date shake
• milk-mango shake
• rice pudding
• spices such as ajwain powder, cumin (which purifies the uterus in women and the genitourinary tract in men), turmeric (to improve the interaction between hormones and targeted tissues), and black cumin.

In general, it's important to eat a wide variety of foods in order to receive all the essential nutrients. Therefore keep trying new vegetables and fruits, and rotate your menus to make sure you're not eating the same thing day after day.

A Two-Part Fertility Program

 

The Maharishi Ayurveda Fertility System naturally nourishes all the factors related to fertility -- physical, mental and emotional. It's a comprehensive program that addresses all of the key factors, such as diet, internal cleansing, lifestyle, daily routine and environment.

Maharishi Ayurveda has developed Fertility Plus for Men to balance the speed of semen production, purify the semen, and enhances the shukra dhatu. It also supports the quality, quantity and motility of the spermatozoa, which enhances the possibility of more healthy and timely fertilization.

Before taking Fertility Plus for Men it is recommended first purifying the genitourinary tract. Once impurities and obstructions are removed from the area, the herbs can be truly effective in reaching the targeted tissues.

Phase I--Cleanse Before Conception

• Genitrac (2 tablets morning and evening)

• Detox Pitta (MA1663) (2 tablets morning and evening)

Phase II--Increase Fertility during Conception

• Fertility Plus for Men (2 tablets morning and evening)

• Vital Man or Vital Woman [currently not available in the uk] (2 tablets morning and evening)

The internal cleansing program should be done for three months before trying to conceive. After detoxification, the couple should discontinue the purifying herbal compounds and should start taking Fertility Plus and Vital Man or Vital Woman on a daily basis. During this time they should try to conceive. The bringhana and vrishya diet is ideal throughout both stages. Once the couple conceives, the woman should stop taking Fertility Plus and Vital Woman and should focus on a diet and daily routine especially suited for pregnancy.

Enhancing Bliss and Devotion

The Fertility Plus products are unique because they not only take care of the physical aspects of conception by strengthening the shukra tissue, but they also enhance blissful relationships. Positive, happy relations between husband and wife are essential for creating a truly healthy baby. Fertility Plus for Men, for instance, creates enjoyment and bliss by supporting the coordination of mind and senses, enhancing stamina, increasing the coordination between mind and senses, and boosting reproductive function.

Behavioural recommendations that support the shukra tissue and positive relationships include following a daily ayurvedic routine and reducing day-to-day stress by practicing the Transcendental Meditation ^TM, a programme for the Development of Consciousness.

To help allay day-to-day mental stress:

take Peace of Mind tablets (2 morning and evening). The Peace of Mind Tea and Peace of Mind Aroma oil can also help.

 

If you need to balance emotional stress:

take Blissful Joy tablets (2 tabs morning and evening) and diffuse the Blissful Joy Aroma.

 

To balance physical stress:

take Rasayana for Energy (2 tablets morning and evening), use Vitality Aroma oil and Stimulating Kapha Tea, and follow a Kapha pacifying diet.

Increasing Fertility Later in Life

Are there special tips for couples that want to conceive after the age of forty? Both the woman and man should focus more on the diet and routine, on vrishya and bringhana diet. Avoid stress as much as possible. Go to bed on time and don't miss your morning oil massage (abhyanga). Take care of your protein needs, including some dairy protein in your diet, such as panir, milk and lassi. Engage in a spiritual practice such as the Transcendental Meditation technique. For women, it is particularly important to take real rest during menstruation. Follow the ayurvedic guidelines for that time: avoid travelling, avoid skipping meals, eat foods that are warm, light, and easy to digest, and try to avoid foods or aromas that are highly chemicalized. If you want to conceive when you are older, you need to be extra careful about your overall health.

If You Don't Want to Conceive

Even if you don't want to conceive, there is a value in enhancing the shukra tissue. Shukra has a dual function, not only producing the sperm and ovum but also ojas, the finest product of digestion. Ojas creates vigour, bliss, lightness, stamina, immunity, lustre in the skin, sparkle in the eyes, and clarity of mind. Ojas is vital to the health and happiness of everyone. Anyone who wants mental clarity, immunity, and spiritual well-being will find these recommendations useful, because they enhance the shukra tissue and thus enhance ojas. Those people who don't want to conceive, but want to enhance ojas, should still follow the purification phase for at least 45 days, and more if there are more toxins built up. Then they can take the Fertility Plus tablets, but only one twice a day will be sufficient.  Vital Man and Vital Woman are also recommended.

With the help of Maharishi Ayurveda, couples have a chance to conceive, and every parent has the opportunity to give their child the healthiest possible start in life.

For further information about and to order the products mentioned above see How to Order or call 01695 51015 and for information about the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre see www.MaharishiAyurveda.co.uk or call 01695 51008.

DISCLAIMER: These results may not be typical. Results with products may vary from individual to individual. Information presented here is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and neither the information nor the product is intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional. Before making changes to your diet or routine, it is recommended that you speak with your physician.