#141 | 3 Things You Must Know Before Using Trendy Herbs for Fertility or Hormone Balance

Is Vitex really the “miracle hormone herb” for healing your hormones so you can get pregnant… or could it actually be making things worse?

If you've been seeing Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) all over your feed, marketed as the ultimate fertility fix, you're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Katie Wood breaks down exactly what Vitex does in the body, who it can help, and—just as importantly—who should avoid it. If you're dealing with irregular cycles, low progesterone, or considering herbal support, this episode clears up the confusion and helps you avoid making symptoms worse.

In this episode, you'll...

– Understand how Vitex works on the brain-hormone connection to potentially support ovulation and progesterone

– Learn which fertility struggles may be helped (or worsened) by Vitex

– Discover why personalization and practitioner guidance are essential when adding herbs to your conception plan

Listen now to learn whether Vitex is a helpful tool or harmful trend for your fertility journey—and what to do instead to get pregnant naturally.

👉🏽Take the Ultimate Fertility Blueprint Quiz HERE⚡

🌟Follow and connect with me on Instagram @the_wellness_pharmacist to fast-track your fertility so you can finally get and stay pregnant naturally!⁠

Finally Get Pregnant Naturally is your go-to TTC podcast for holistic fertility support to help you get pregnant naturally by addressing the root cause of unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, and recurrent miscarriage. Hosted by Dr. Katie Wood, a pharmacist and holistic fertility practitioner, this show offers natural fertility solutions for those on a fertility journey struggling to conceive, navigating miscarriage, or dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, or failed IUI or failed IVF. Whether you're trying to conceive, increase egg quality, optimizing sperm health, or healing after a miscarriage, each episode delivers practical guidance to support your fertility journey. Learn how to improve fertility, balance hormones, regulate your fertile window, and conceive naturally through root cause healing, emotional wellness, and mind-body tools—because true fertility starts from within.

DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use it as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. This podcast offers information to help the listener cooperate with physicians, mental health professionals or other healthcare providers in a mutual quest for optimal well-being. We advise listeners to carefully review and understand the ideas presented, and to consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. Under no circumstances shall Pharm to Wellness LLC, any guests or contributors to the Finally Get Pregnant Naturally podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Pharm to Wellness LLC be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Episode Transcript

Katie (00:00):
In this Get Pregnant now quickie episode.
We're going to break down a trendy hormoneherb and whether it's really the magic fix
for hormone imbalances and your fertility.
Welcome to the finally GetPregnant Naturally Podcast.
The podcast helping women identifythe real reasons you haven't
conceived or stayed pregnant, soyou and your partner can finally

(00:23):
grow the family of your dreams.
I'm your host, Dr.
Katie Wood.
Let's dive in, shall we?
In this episode, we're diving into why Clary Sage has gained such a
reputation as a hormone balancing herb.
What the actual science and traditionalwisdom say about its use for fertility,

(00:44):
and whether this herb alone is the keyto unlocking your hormonal harmony,
or is it just another wellness myth?
So let's dive into it.
Clary sage is a flowering plantlong used in herbal medicine.
It's commonly associated with itsessential oil use, but today we're
talking about the whole herb that canbe used in teas, tinctures, or infusions

(01:10):
made from its leaves and flowers.
What's all the hype like, I'm so curiousif you have heard about Clary Sage and
just throwing Clary sage at this hormoneimbalance or this hormone imbalance?
Because I know that I've seenit all over the internet and.
We're gonna break it down.
So Clary Sage has been traditionallyused to support menstrual regulation,

(01:35):
menopausal symptoms, hormonalmood swings, estrogen balance,
and even to enhance fertility.
The plant is considered aphytoestrogen, meaning it contains
plant compounds that may mimic.
Estrogen in the body.
So for those who are low in estrogenor navigating perimenopause or post

(01:59):
birth control transitions, Clary sagemay offer gentle support for hormones.
But here is the thing, no single herbis going to rebalance your hormones
If your fertility foundations aren'tsupported, so if your liver isn't
detoxifying properly, if your blood sugaris swinging all day, if your stress is

(02:22):
through the roof or if your sleep is off,and even if you're not having a daily
bowel movement every single day, thentaking clary sage in a tea or a tincture
once a day is not going to override.
All of that noise going inside your body.
Okay, so here's what I want you to know.

(02:43):
As someone who I'm sure is on aconscious fertility journey, if you're
listening to this podcast, so herbs likeClary sage can be a part of a bigger.
Healing picture for yourhormones and your fertility.
And they can support your endocrinesystem gently when used appropriately.

(03:04):
But we really have to remember,they're not a magic wand.
We can't just throw an herb at oursymptoms and expect everything to go away.
And something else to think about.
Clary sage, like any herb,may not be safe for everybody.
It is not recommended in early pregnancy,so you do have to be careful if you're

(03:27):
actively trying to conceive and if you'retaking hormone sensitive medications,
if you have PCOS or if you have hormonerelated conditions like endometriosis,
you should definitely be consulting witha practitioner before using it regularly.
And if you don't know anything about yourcurrent hormone status, then you should

(03:48):
definitely be working with someone.
So if you've been pinning your hopes onClary Sage to fix your cycle, balance
your mood, balance your hormones, or evenpush ovulation to happen, I want you to
remember that yes, herbs are natural.
But they're potent, they're powerful.

(04:11):
And just because something is naturaldoesn't mean that it's neutral and
can't have a potential negativeeffect on the body, or the opposite
effect of what you're looking for.
So Clary sage, like any herbalally, should be personalized to
the individual and not prescribed.
Broadly from an Instagram post yousaw, or a blog post that you read.

(04:35):
So I would highly suggest that if you'reconsidering adding it into your routine,
that you want to make sure that you'refirst working with someone trained in
herbal medicine for fertility, someonewho can assess whether clary sage actually
makes sense in your specific situation.
So to recap what we covered today,Clary sage is a beautiful, traditional

(04:59):
herb that may gently support hormonebalance for the right person.
It's a phytoestrogen, and it mighthelp modulate estrogen levels,
especially for those with low estrogen.
It's not a magic pillor meant for everyone.
True fertility and hormone balancecomes from addressing root causes

(05:19):
and supporting the whole system withfertility foundations, not just adding
an herb and hoping for the best.
If you love working with herbs likeI do, please do so mindfully and
with intention, and ideally with apractitioner who understands your body
and your fertility story like myself.

(05:40):
So let this be a reminder.
You don't need to chase the latest trendor miracle supplement to get pregnant.
Sometimes the most powerfulmedicine is laying down the proper
fertility foundations, slowing down,tuning in, and listening deeply
to what your body needs right now.
So until next time, trust your body,honor your timing, and keep showing up.

(06:05):
Thank you so much for listening.
I hope you have a wonderful day,and I'll see you on our next episode
released every Tuesday and Thursday.
Are you ready to finally discover why youhaven't been able to get or stay pregnant?
The Ultimate Fertility Blueprint is aquick, insightful quiz designed to reveal
your overall capacity to conceive and helpyou discover potential root causes and

(06:30):
areas to address to improve your fertilityso you can finally get and stay pregnant.
You will find the link in theshow notes as a quick reminder and
disclaimer, this podcast is foreducational purposes only and is
not a substitute for medical advice.
Always consult your doctor orhealthcare provider before starting

(06:50):
any new supplement or protocol,especially if you're actively trying
to conceive or undergoing treatment.