Enhancing Fertility Naturally: Holistic Therapies for a Successful Pregnancy (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Subfertility is a relatively common problem but, because it is one that strikes deep into the psyche of couples who experience it, it is often..." (more)
Key Phrases: underweight women, unexplained infertility, tubal surgery, Useful Addresses, Further Reading, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wesson (Natural Mothering, 1997) uses anonymous personal narratives to illustrate alternative medical treatment for infertility. The narratives are striking, but the evidence supporting them is uneven at best. To her credit, Wesson admits this; discussing the adverse effects of biomedical treatment, she states: "The lack of research [in alternative treatment] means there may be drawbacks too." More troubling is Wesson's failure to support her tone of authority. Medical citations are scattered throughout the text, but numerous extremely strong statements (e.g., that there is a "higher incidence of spina bifida" in IVF babies) are left completely unreferenced, perhaps with good reason; the source for this particular quote turns out not to be a clinical study but a 1987 letter to the editor of Lancet! Readers are better served by Judith Steinberg Turiel's Beyond Second Opinions: Rethinking Questions About Fertility (LJ 6/15/98), which will assist them in navigating the medical literature for themselves. Not recommended.ACatherine Arnott Smith, Predoctoral Research Fellow, Ctr. for Biomedical Informatics, Univ. of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

A guide to safe and inexpensive natural alternatives to often hazardous and extremely expensive conventional medical treatments for infertility.

Provides guidelines for using alternative therapies, diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques.

Explores acupuncture, reflexology, homeopathy, cranial osteopathy, aromatherapy, and herbalism.

Includes the personal stories of couples who have successfully conceived using these methods.

Enhancing Fertility Naturally outlines ways in which you can improve your fertility through alternative therapies, diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques and avoid some of the hazards associated with conventional treatments. It discusses the most common causes of infertility and explains how to determine which therapy is most appropriate for you. In vitro fertilization, conventional medicine's most prescribed remedy for infertility problems, is expensive, dangerous, and has a success rate of only 14 percent, yet few of the one in six couples that experience infertility are aware of the effectiveness and safety provided by the wide range of alternative treatments.

Thoroughly researched and packed full of invaluable advice and tips, the book explores such therapies as acupuncture, reflexology, homeopathy, cranial osteopathy, aromatherapy, and herbalism. The author includes case histories for each of the therapies discussed, showing how the therapies helped couples overcome both primary and secondary infertility in order to have the baby they longed for.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892818328
• ISBN-13: 978-0892818327
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #938,540 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars for beginners only, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

I think this book may be helpful to people who have absolutely no experience with holistic therapies, but if you are not new to alternatives, please make another choice. This book will not be worth your money. It basically lists the alternatives available (homeopathy, reflexology, accupuncture, etc.) and some testimonials for each type of alternative.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and comprehensive guide to holistic approaches, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

As a relative newcomer to the field of natural/holistic remedies and appraoches, I found this book to be highly useful. I really appreciated how clearly everything is laid out. I found a great web site, fertileheart.com, that deals with similar topics and would be of interest to those in similar situations.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an ultra-informative resource!, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This book is extremely informative and a great place to start if you're looking to think "outside of the box" about fertility issues. I'd also recommend "Inconceivable" by Julia Indichova.