For those of you who pray

[Personal Chef]

While saying a your prayers tonight, if you happen to think of it, please throw in a good word for us. We've been trying to conceive for 11 cycles now and am nervous and a little discouraged that something may be wrong. I'm ovulating tomorrow so keep kind thoughts for us and thanks in advance for your prayers. I'll say one for all of you tonight.

[Jazzmatazz49]

I don't think I've ever prayed for a couple's lovemaking session before! But I'm glad to do it, and hope it's successful!!!;)

[Personal Chef]

I'm chuckling. I didn't think of it that way. Thanks for the prayers Jazz.

[Jessica]

Sending good thoughts your way.

[DocAgocs]

Good luck! Unsolicited advice, but get the book "Healthy Parents, Better Babies" by Naish and Roberts. Incredible book, details a natural preconception protocol for parents-to-be. I've had patients with incredible stories after doing these things. I know an herbalist/naturopath who works in Naish's clinic in Australia (the first natural fertility clinic in Australia) and she said they have an 85% success rate using these methods, and that's with all sorts of hardcase fertility problems. I'd also have your doctor contact Diagnos-Techs lab in Spokane, WA and find out how to do and interpret the Expanded Female Hormone Panel saliva test. It's a detailed look at the female cycle in a way that blood tests can't even begin to compare and the results are usually shocking to women who are having trouble conceive. Some of these things are talked about in the book.

It's out of print, but I found several copies at BN.com in the used network and I think it only cost me $8. It could very well make all the difference in the world for you. Makes so much sense you'd wonder why there is no such thing as preconception health care in the United States (maybe it's because it DOES make sense!). I'd loan you my copy, but you need your own!

[HejazSunKat]

Originally posted by Jazzmatazz49
I don't think I've ever prayed for a couple's lovemaking session before! But I'm glad to do it, and hope it's successful!!!;)

My thoughts exactly! I hope realizing all of us will be thinking of you doesn't ruin the mood. :D Enjoy and hope you'll be sharing happy news with us soon.

[Personal Chef]

Doc, I was wondering what your thoughts are on the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

[DocAgocs]

I don't know a whole lot about apple cider vinegar. What are you using it for? I have a book called Vermont Folk Medicine by Jarvis, which is sort of "the" book when it comes to using ACV. I loan it out to patients, but I've never read it.

I know that some ACV can have bacteria in it or yeasts, maybe, so sometimes people who are trying to "acidify their systems" because of candida and yeast are doing themselves a disservice.

I don't buy into the whole "acid/alkaline" thing, personally. The only fluid in the body that maintains a critical pH level is blood. Your body will do everything possible to maintain a constant pH in the blood. Everything else can change pH quite easily depending on the situation. Some people use ACV to help acidify their GI tract and stomach, which is fine, but I prefer using supplements like Cal-Amo or Zypan or Betaine HCl to accomplish the same.

With things like ACV, if people have been doing them and I don't suspect they're a problem for their health or a waste of money, I don't tell them to do anything different. But, knowing why you're using ACV would give me a better insight as to how to answer your question.

[Personal Chef]

I read ACV can detoxify your body. After reading that I was wondering what your thoughts were because I couldn't find many articles discussing the benefits of ACV. Thanks for your opinion.

[DocAgocs]

Detoxifying the body is much more compliated than taking one substance like ACV. There is a lot about detox in the book I recommended. That's the majority of the preconception protocol they utilize and it really works. Typically I do a 21-day detox program with patients that is completely based on using whole foods to cleanse the liver, gallbladder, GI tract, kidneys. It's wonderful and it works great.

I have another patient that couldn't do this program because of a stomach operation and was having all the side effects possible from an antidepressant her MD put her on (she thought she was taking a stomach drug, he never told her it was an AD). A few weeks later she was having a terrible time and the pharmacist let her in on the "joke." Against MD's orders she went cold turkey and 2 weeks later was still having all the side effects. I used an herbal protocol with her because it was less stuff to eat/take and she was fine in a week.

So, there are many ways to do it, depending on the patient and the circumstances. Some docs just use homeopathics to do it, some use different herbs from what I would use, some use different foods from what I use. My approach is science-based and I can provide documentation for every substance I use and why, based on clinical or laboratory research. But, it's more involved than just ACV, and because of it's nature you could actually be doing more harm than good with it?