Sage has one of the longest histories of use of any culinary or medicinal herb. Ancient Egyptians used it as a fertility drug (Bown, 1995). In the first century C.E. Greek physician Dioscorides reported that the aqueous decoction of sage stopped bleeding of wounds and cleaned ulcers and sores. He also recommended sage juice in warm water for hoarseness and cough. It was used by herbalists externally to treat sprains, swelling, ulcers, and bleeding. Internally, a tea made from sage leaves has had a long history of use to treat sore throats and coughs; often by gargling. It was also used by herbalists for rheumatism, excessive menstrual bleeding, and to dry up a mother's milk when nursing was stopped. It was particularly noted for strengthening the nervous system, improving memory, and sharpening the senses. Sage was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1840 to 1900.

Sage Tea or infusion of Sage is a valuable agent in the delirium of fevers and in the nervous excitement frequently accompanying brain and nervous diseases. It has a considerable reputation as a remedy, given in small and often-repeated doses. It is highly serviceable as a stimulant tonic in debility of the stomach and nervous system and weakness of digestion generally. It was for this reason that the Chinese valued it, giving it the preference to their own tea. It is considered a useful medicine in typhoid fever and beneficial in biliousness and liver complaints, kidney troubles, haemorrhage from the lungs or stomach, for colds in the head as well as sore throat, quinsy, measles, for pains in the joints, lethargy and palsy. It has been used to check excessive perspiration in phthisis cases, and is useful as an emmenagogue. A cup of the strong infusion will be found good to relieve nervous headache.

The German Commission E approved internal use for mild gastrointestinal upset and excessive sweating as well as for external use in conditions of inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. An unpublished, preliminary German study with people suffering from excessive perspiration found that either a dry leaf extract or an infusion of the leaf reduced sweating by as much as 50%.

In Germany, sage tea is also applied topically as a rinse or gargled for inflammations. Sage extract, tincture, and essential oil are all used in prepared medicines for mouth and throat and as gastrointestinal remedies in fluid (e.g., juice) and solid dosage forms (Leung and Foster, 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).

Sage has been used effectively for throat infections, dental abscesses, infected gums and mouth ulcers. The phenolic acids in Sage are particularly potent against Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro, sage oil has been shown to be effective against both Escherichia coli and Salmonella species, and against filamentous fungi and yeasts such as Candida albicans. Sage also has an astringent action due to its relatively high tannin content and can be used in the treatment of infantile diarrhoea.

Its antiseptic action is of value where there is intestinal infection. Rosmarinic acid contributes to the herb's anti-inflammatory activity.

Sage has an anti-spasmodic action which reduces tension in smooth muscle, and it can be used in a steam inhalation for asthma attacks. It is an excellent remedy for helping to remove mucous congestion in the airways and for checking or preventing secondary infection. It may be taken as a carminative to reduce griping and other symptoms of indigestion, and is also of value in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Its bitter component stimulates upper digestive secretions, intestinal mobility, bile flow, and pancreatic function, while the volatile oil has a carminative and stimulating effect on the digestion. It has a vermifuge action. There also seems to be a more general relaxant effect, so that the plant is suitable in the treatment of nervousness, excitability and dizziness. It helps to fortify a generally debilitated nervous system.

In 1997, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the United Kingdom sent out a questionnaire to its member practitioners on the clinical use and experience of sage. Of 49 respondents, 47 used sage in their practice and 45 used it particularly in prescriptions for menopause. Almost all references were to sage's application for hot flashes, night sweats, and its estrogenic effect. The age range of the menopause patients was 40 to 64, with an average of 49.76. Three-quarters were aged 47 to 52. Forty-three practitioners also noted its use in infections, mainly of the upper respiratory tract, 29 reported its use in sore throat, and 15 reported its use in mouth and gum disease, taken in the form of gargles and mouthwashes. Another main area emphasised by the respondents was its use as a general tonic, for fatigue, nervous exhaustion, immune system depletion, and poor memory and concentration, at any age. Dosage form preference was also reported. Sage was prescribed as tea (aqueous infusion) by 37 practitioners, alcoholic tincture by 30, fresh tincture by 14, alcoholic fluidextract by 2, fresh juice by 2, and fresh leaf by 1 (Beatty and Denham, 1998).

It is well documented that Sage leaf helps to reduce menopausal sweats. In one study, excessive sweating was induced by pilocarpine. The sweating was reduced when participants were given an aqueous extract of fresh Sage leaf. In a further study 40 patients were given dried aqueous extract of fresh sage (440mg) and 40 were given infusion of sage (4.5g) herb daily. Both groups of patients experienced a reduction in sweating.

Sage has a strong anti-hydrotic action, and was a traditional treatment for night sweats in tuberculosis sufferers. Its oestrogenic effects may be used to treat some cases of dysmenorrhoea and menstrual irregularity or amenorrhoea and can reduce breast-milk production.

Research has suggested that the presence of volatile oil in Sage is largely responsible for most of its therapeutic properties, especially its anti-septic, astringent and relaxing actions. Sage is also used internally in the treatment of night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety and depression. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge.

It is thought that Sage is similar to Rosemary in its ability to improve brain function and memory. In a study involving 20 healthy volunteers Sage oil caused indicated improvements in word recall and speed of attention. Meanwhile the activity of Sage and its constituents have been investigated in the search for new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with promising results.

ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) indicate its use for inflammations such as stomatitis, gingivitis and pharyngitis, and hyperhidrosis (ESCOP, 1997).

Bangsi

Bangsi och mamma Tinny

How your menstrual cycle reflects your egg quality

As you may know, there is no one perfect test for egg quality. So, we look at a host of different variables. One of the most helpful is your menstrual cycle.

Each menstrual cycle is governed by the growth of a single egg. This is how it works: over the course of 10-14 days the egg will grow from immaturity within an antral follicle, and turn into a large, hopefully-soon-to-be-fertilized, mature egg in its dominant follicle. Both the egg and the follicle have to be functioning properly for the cycle to go well.

The dominant follicle makes estrogen, and once you ovulate, progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone together govern the activity of your uterus, which you experience as your menstrual cycle

If you have a healthy egg, you have a healthy follicle, and you expect a healthy menstrual cycle.

This means the reverse is true too: when we think that your menstrual cycle is going well, we strongly suspect that you must be making healthy, high quality eggs.

Here are the factors that we look at when deciding if a given menstrual cycle is going well.

Menstrual Cycle History

Day of ovulation

Ideally ovulation will occur days 11 or 12. Delayed ovulation -day 13 or later- is not a sign of egg quality concerns; in fact, it is more commonly a sign of an excess ovarian reserve, generally a good thing. But early ovulation -days 8,9, or 10 of the cycle- implies lower quality eggs.

Premenstrual Spotting

Once the egg is released, the leftover follicle (now called a corpus luteal cyst) makes progesterone. Progesterone stabilizes the lining of the uterus.

A low-quality follicle is less likely to be associated with enough progesterone, and therefore the woman may notice a shorter luteal phase, and/or premenstrual spotting.

Cycle Length

Long cycles are ok, but short cycles are not. If previously-28-day-cycles are now 26 days, it suggests egg quality is failing. Cycles are shorter because of the early ovulation and shortened luteal phases described above.

Menstrual Cycle Lab Values

Peak Estrogen

Just as the woman is about to ovulate, estrogen will be at its maximum level. Estrogen effects may be noticed as spinnbarkeit . We can also measure estrogen levels through blood tests; peak estradiol is between 500 and 1000 pmol/litre per healthy follicle. When cycle monitoring, ask your clinical team what your peak estrogen was: bigger numbers are better. If the level is towards 500 (or lower) per mature follicle, then egg quality may be a concern.

Peak Progesterone

Progesterone is made by a healthy corpus luteal cyst. Peak progesterone values, traditionally measured on “day 21″ of your cycle (but more accurately recorded 7 days after ovulation) is usually 30 ng/ml or higher for a fertile cycle.

It may be hard to believe that eating carbohydrates can impact on your fertility levels, but this is what scientists are claiming in their latest research. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into sugars. These sugars are absorbed into your blood stream causing the pancreas to release more insulin in response.

One of the side effects of high insulin is that it increases the production of male hormones by the ovaries and therefore increases the hormone levels in the blood. This hormonal imbalance can affect the balance that is necessary for reproduction and ovulation and results in ovulatory infertility.

What Does The Research Claim?

The Nurses Health Study which was done in association with Harvard University studied more than 18,000 women. The study looked at diet and lifestyle among women hoping to conceive over an eight year period.

The study revealed that women who ate easily digested carbs (fast carbs), such as sugared soda drinks, white bread and potatoes, increased their chances of contracting ovulatory infertility.

In contrast, those who ate slowly digested carbs that are richer in fiber had improved fertility. These foods included vegetables, dark breads, brown rice and beans.

In addition to the carbohydrate revelation, the study also examined the affect of dietary fats on ovulation and reproduction. They found that women, who have too much stored energy, often have difficulty conceiving. The facts revealed that  women who consume more trans fats, are more likely to suffer from ovulation related infertility. Those who ate more unsaturated fats were less at risk.

What Were The Recommendations?

The research concluded that the quality of the carbs that women are eating, has more influence than the amount. Eating a lot of fast carbs constantly boosts blood sugar and insulin levels. This affects hormone levels and the natural pattern of ovulation, and can reduce the chances of getting pregnant.

Eating foods like whole grains, vegetables and beans which are all good sources of slow carbs, can improve ovulation and your chances of becoming pregnant.

What Is The Connection To Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

PCOS is a condition that affects 5-10% of women of child bearing age, and can cause infertility. Research has found that many sufferers of PCOS have insulin resistance. This causes them to have higher levels than usual of insulin in their blood. These raised levels interfere with ovulation.

A low carb diet can help to regulate insulin levels and in doing so, lead to improved fertility.

Conclusion

Many doctors are quick to prescribe drugs for ovulatory problems such as PCOS. The latest research has raised the notion of treatment through nutritional management. It may not be the magical answer for all fertility problems, however, a nutrition plan that includes low carbs could help to reduce insulin and promote fertility.