Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 16(Suppl), June 2017, pp. S 69-S 74

The role of Traditional diet and Yoga for infertility: A blend and balance of
Traditional knowledge and Modern medicine
Kochhar KP1*, Oberoi AK2, Hazra S3 & Lal PR2
1
Department of Physiology, AIIMS, New Delhi- 110029;
2
Department of Food and Nutrition, Lady Irwin College, Delhi University, New Delhi-110001;
3
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, AIIMS, New Delhi- 110029
E-mail: kpkochhar6@gmail.com

Received 14 March 2017, revised 10 April 2017

Today, we are faced with numerous illnesses particularly related to genetics, lifestyle and environment such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, cancer, infertility and various others, some of them being modifiable than the others.
Modern medicine integrates various traditional diets and practices including yoga to promote health, longevity, quality of
healthcare and plays a significant role in combating various lifestyle related disorders as a preventive and rehabilitative
method. Yoga has been considered as a complementary and alternative medicine for treating infertility. By improving the
integration of physiological as well as psychological systems, yoga therapies play a significant function in improving
reproductive function. Holistic approaches to infertility management, such as Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remains the most ancient yet living traditions playing a vital role in prevention of
infertility by strengthening body’s self healing and balancing mechanism and by regulating hormones such as follicle
stimulating hormone and Luteinising hormone. These are perceived as being lower cost, safer, or more effective treatments.
This review examines the role ancient traditional dietary practices combined with yoga as evidence based protocol to face
the current challenges in healthcare with special reference to infertility.

Keywords: Traditional diet, Yoga, Infertility, Diseases, Food, Medicine

Infertility, a Public health problem economic burden on the society as well affecting
Infertility is a problem of global proportions many countries and many different health systems.
and has been recognized as a public health The WHO estimates the overall prevalence of primary
issue worldwide1. The burden of infertility in the infertility in India to be between 3.9 and 16.8 %4. It
community has so far been under-recognised. has been well documented that lifestyle factors can
Although some perceive infertility as a quality of-life affect general health and fertility lifestyle factors,
issue, the practice committee of American Society for including age when starting a family, nutrition, weight
Reproductive Medicine, 2013 regards infertility as a management, exercise, psychological stress, cigarette
disease leading to decreased levels of personal well- smoking, recreational and prescription drugs use,
being with serious implications on social, emotional alcohol and caffeine consumption, environmental
and psychological wellbeing resulting in distress, occupational exposures, preventative care, and other
depression as well as discrimination and ostracism2. It behaviors are modifiable and may impact fertility.
is a critical component of reproductive health and has Dietary profile and nutritional status have been
often been a neglected issue3. implicated as causative factors in female infertility
The importance of infertility as a public health with special reference to ovulatory infertility and a
problem affecting the individual and the family's role in its prevention5,6.
mental and social wellbeing has resulted in its
inclusion in the National program for reproductive Traditional diets and transition to modernity
and child health Infertility and its treatment lead to The history of dietary prescriptions dates back,
—————— perhaps to the origin of the human race. Modern
*Corresponding author Nutrition has undergone an epidemiologic shift and a
S 70 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 16 (SUPPL), JUNE 2017

significant transition in dietary preferences and cells and a wide ranging array of putative beneficial
practices over the last few decades, more so in India. effects on human health via action on gastrointestinal,
Diet has played an important role in both cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, reproductive,
preventive and therapeutic medicine and traditional neural and other systems.
Indian medicine has always laid emphasis on Several active ingredients of spices including
physiologic individuality and also on culinary and capsaicin (red pepper) piperine (black pepper),
prescriptive remedies with reference to food, what to curcumin (turmeric), eugenic acid (clove), ferulic acid
eat and what not to eat across various times of the (turmeric) and myristic acid (mace amla) have been
day, seasons, geography, physiological and reported to influence lipid metabolism predominantly
psychosomatic states7. Nature endowed genetic by mobilization of fatty acids. Curcumin and capsaicin
profile versus nurture induced epigenetic altered bile salt secretion to make it less lithogenic and
modifications debate has also been revisited and come also lowered cholesterol levels. Garlic and turmeric are
full circle from integrative systems physiology potent vasorelaxants as well as reduce the atherogenic
through the various ‘omics’ to again nutritional properties of cholesterol. Curcumin, inhibited platelet
systems biology traversing proteomics, metabolomics, aggration induced by arachidonate, adrenaline and
adipo biology, gut microbiomics, geronto biology. collagen and thromboxane B2 production from
From peri implantation, through fetal, natal, exogenous arachidonate with a concomitant increase in
paediatric, adulthood, aging to trangenerational via the formation of 12-lipoxygenase products. Dietary
various physiologic epiphenomena, imprinting, bio modifications will only work if they are in consonance
rhythms oscillations, metabiolic and neuronal with individual preferences, culture values, and
programming and malprogramming, mitochondrial philosophical orientations toward health and disease.
function and dysfunction and chromosomal changes
Traditional food aspects related to Infertility-
or silencing of DNA expression damage can affect
the role of Traditional medicine
our epiphenolype and carry it forward. What our
The traditional use of medicinal plants and foods to
maternal grandparents ate, where they lived can all
treat different diseases including fertility problems is
influence our health and disease profile. Extensive
widespread throughout the world. The two most
research within the last few decades from our
significant factors in restoring fertility are:
laboratory and others has indicated that
phytochemicals and dietary additives including spices  Utilizing an understanding of the Psycho-
and herbs in traditional Indian diet and Indian lifestyle physiological composition of the individual along
practices may prevent various chronic metabolic and with the dietary factors that helps in managing the
degeneratives illnesses including cancerous, diabetic, emotional and chemical factors.
cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal,  Mapping traditional foods and herbs that creates a
neurological, and dermatological, Infertility and synergic hormonal balance aiding in fertility.
autoimmune diseases. Either before or when allopathic treatment does
Dietary spices: Kitchen to Pharmacy not work, infertile patients tend to seek other
Herbs, condiments and spices have been used since methods, such as Ayurveda, homeopathy, Unani
ancient times by physicians and laymen to treat a and other traditional methods, or visit holy places
great variety of human diseases, yet many of them and spiritual healers8. The use of traditional
need to pass tests of modern, controlled, clinical medicine and medicinal plants has always been a
experimentation. India with its wide climatic source of efficient natural medicines for people.
conditions and topographical features is perhaps Herbal medicines are available, have a variety of
unrivalled in the world and a wide variety of species health benefits and public interest is growing
of herbs can ever be grown with ease. With these toward their use.
factors, naturally the Indian medicinal flora is one of Increased side effects, lack of curative treatment
the richest and cosmopolitan one with high for several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs,
therapeutic potentialities. microbial resistance and emerging diseases are some
Dietary spice maintain human health by their reasons for renewed public interest in complementary
antioxidative, chemopreventive, antimutagenic, and alternative medicines9. It has been postulated that
antiinflammatory, immune modulatory effects on by 2010 at least two-thirds of the United States
 KOCHHAR et al.: THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL DIET AND YOGA FOR INFERTILITY S 71

population will be using one or more of the alternative milk, excess starch, and canned produce destroy
therapeutic approaches. Ayurveda, the Traditional fertility. Food such as ghee, milk, nuts, dates, sesame
Indian medicine (TIM) and Traditional Chinese seeds, pumpkin seeds, saffron, honey, and avocados
medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living help regulates ovulation and enhances fertilization11.
traditions. TCM which is based on scientific Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
approaches is widely prevalent. Government of India protein from plant sources like beans, and peas, sweet,
also has expressed support and encouragement for the juicy fruits such as mangoes, peaches, plums, and
TIM. A separate department for Indian Systems of pears, asparagus, broccoli, spices such as ajwain
Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) now known powder, cumin (purifies the uterus in women and the
as AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, genitourinary tract in men), turmeric (to improve the
Homoeopathy) was established in March 1995 to interaction between hormones and targeted tissues),
promote indigenous systems. and black cumin boost fertility. Root vegetables,
Holistic approaches to infertility management, such grains, arugula, watercress, onions, garlic, chives
as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) might improve circulation and nourish the blood.
address some of the needs of women experiencing It is believed that urad dhal which is cooked with
infertility, not met in the western medical approach. equal parts turmeric, coriander, cumin and fennel or
Traditional Chinese medicine treatment encompasses banana cooked in ghee, cinnamon and cardamom
herbal medicines, acupuncture and lifestyle build Shukra Dhatu. Jaggery and Black sesame seeds
counselling based on the individual’s underlying are both rich in iron and seeds are rich in vitamin E
TCM pattern diagnosis using tools such as pulse, and the phyto-chemicals in the seeds modulate
tongue, general physical and emotional wellbeing, hormones causing changes in the female body. Diet
and menstrual history. Recent meta-analyses of should be free from Trans-fats as they block arteries,
randomised controlled trials of TCM herbal therapy threaten fertility and harm the heart and blood vessels
for female infertility revealed a 2 to 3.5-fold higher and therefore, must be avoided. Foods such as beans,
likelihood of pregnancy within a 4-month treatment spinach, pumpkin, tomatoes, and beets, boost iron and
period compared with Western Medical drug therapy promote fertility. It is of utmost importance to keep
In addition, a meta-analysis of cohort studies the body well-hydrated by drinking warm water and
involving more than 600 women suggested a mean digestive teas. It is believed that cooking and eating
vegetables such as Colocasia with old-garlic improve
clinical pregnancy rate of 50 % using Chinese herbal
progesterone and fertility chances in women. Meat
medicine10. Bridging the gap in knowledge and
soup, flesh with fats, Hing, spices, boneless fish
practice between Western and Eastern medicine are
boiled to make stuffing with spices. Seasoned meat,
important issues in the fertility field.
minced, roasted fried meat; meat cooked with fruits,
TIM has been successful in treating infertility since vegetables, rice, flour, ghee is good for who want to
several thousand years without the help of modern indulge repeatedly for sexual intercourse. Sweet
advances in medicine as it gives the ability to the preparation with wheat flour, milk, ghee, guda or
infertile women or couples through treatment to honey or sugar or with cardamom, pepper, ginger are
become fertile, to improve the overall health of the useful preparations11.
women to be able to conceive naturally without the It is vital to include a wide range of foods in the
aid of western medicine. Certain food related home diet to ensure the body is getting all the nutrients it
remedies are thought to be useful in treating female needs to aid conception. Eating small, regular and
infertility. Jamun leaves (Eugenia jambolana or well balanced meals builds overall health. However,
Syzygium cumini L.), root of Banyan tree, Winter there is paucity of data regarding links between diet,
Cherry are believed to lots of green vegetables, fresh traditional foods, herbs and infertility in India and is
fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, milk, honey, curd, cheese, relatively new area of research. Therefore, there is a
sprouts, beans, etc. All these things are needed for need to conduct studies on exploring the dietary
having a healthy body5. information of these infertile women.
Eating whole foods not only provides fiber that Yoga as a medicine
influences hormonal levels but also provides all Researches focus on yoga as an ancient Indian
nutrients for the health of the body. Processed philosophy. The use of yoga for the purpose of
carbohydrates, antibiotic and hormone laden meat and therapeutic intervention began early in the twentieth
S 72 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 16 (SUPPL), JUNE 2017

century and takes advantage of the various bending may be useful due to association with the
psychophysiological benefits of the component lower abdomen & pelvic area, the home of second
practices and is considered as a natural mind body chakra15. It is also known as primary energy centre
medicine. The physical exercises (asanas) may and controls the flow of energy from the lower vessel
increase patient’s physical flexibility coordination, of the lumber spine as well as the sexual organ16.
and strength, while the breathing practices and Yoga and meditation can help women experiencing
meditation may calm and focus the mind to develop the challenges of infertility. The practice of
greater awareness and diminish anxiety12, resulting in meditation and relaxation can help increase the clarity
higher quality of life. Other beneficial effects might of the mind, maintain healthy body chemistry, and
involve a reduction of distress, blood pressure, and give patients the patience to undergo the rigors of
improvements in resilience, mood, and metabolic infertility treatments. When one understands and can
regulation13. attain physical relaxation, one tends to feel better
about the body itself, and begins to treat the body with
Role of Yoga in fertility more respect. This understanding can lead to healthier
Yoga boosts functioning of reproductive system. lifestyle habits as well as increased sensitivity
There are certain yoga asanas and postures that regarding symptoms and body processes. This is
especially target the reproductive organs and the beneficial to both doctor and patient as the patient can
pelvic area. These asanas increase blood circulation report with more clarity and sense cycles and physical
and stimulate the energy in these areas. People with
issues more readily.
infertility problems often report feeling better,
Yoga exerts it effect on the brain behaviour
stronger, more powerful and confident about their
relationship often considered as the psycho-
body after yoga practice. Yoga focuses on improving
physiological profile of both infertile men and women
healthy body14.
thereby improving their reproductive functions.
Yoga is an ideal mind body therapy that is
Research has shown that yoga modulates the
indigenous and one that can be effectively applied in
hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, balances the
the Indian scenario to optimize the psychological
hormonal profile and reduces the level of stress and
milieu of the sub fertile undergoing treatment.
improves the overall quality of life. Therefore, Yoga
Fertility yoga is a type of yoga that is designed to
exerts its effect on different domains of life (Table 2).
assist couples who are having difficulty getting
pregnant. Yoga for fertility improves both male & Table 2—Effect of Yoga on different domains
female fertility (Table 1) capacity by minimizing
Parameters/domains Studies on Yoga intervention
stress, which in turn balances the hormones of the
Stress (Chandra et al., 2012)17(Brown &
body as well as mental health. In yoga, forward
Gerbarg, 2005)18 (Chong et al., 2011)19
Table 1—Yoga and fertility enhancement24 Depression (Brown & Gerbarg, 2005)18 (Pilkington
et al., 2005)20 (Uebelacker et al., 2010)21
Parameters Description Fatigue (Bower et al., 2011)22 (Krisanaprakornkit
Enhances fertility in Yoga therapy focuses on the energy et al., 2006)23
women by increasing system present in the body with Anxiety (Krisanaprakornkit et al., 2006) 23
energy flow. numerous different chakras and areas. (Field, 2011)24 (Saeed et al., 2010)25
The yoga position increases the second Physical fitness (Roland et al., 2011)26 (Ross & Thomas,
chakra’s energy flow which is called 2010)27
as the seat of creation, where the
reproductive organs are present. Cardiovascular (Field, 2011)24 (Raub, 2002)28
disorders
Enhances fertility in The yoga therapy also helps in softening
women by increasing the abdominal region and removes any Menopause (Cramer et al., 2012)29
blood flow. kind of tension around the area of uterus, Cancer (Bower et al., 2011)22 (Cramer et al.,
ovaries and fallopian tubes. It stretches 2012)29 (Smith & Pukall, 2009)30
the abdominal region which increases the (Lin et al., 2011)31
blood flow to the reproductive organs. Male reproductive (Hu et al., 2013)32 (Sengupta et al., 2013)33
Enhances fertility in Stress is a major cause of infertility and it health
women by controlling interferes with the woman’s menstrual Pregnency and Labour (Kinser et al., 2017)34 (Babbar and
stress cycle, thereby, delaying the ovulation. Pain Shyken, 2016)35(Koyyalamudi et al.,
The stress can be released with the 2016)36 (Polis et al.,2015)37(Kinser &
regular practice of yoga. Masho, 2015)38 (Sengupta, 2014)39`
 KOCHHAR et al.: THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL DIET AND YOGA FOR INFERTILITY S 73

Alterations in brain waves (basically an increase in centers for Yoga in JIPMER, NIMHANS, AIIMS and
alpha waves) and decrease in serum cortisol level was DIPAS to promote all aspects of Yoga in these
observed during yoga therapy17. premier medical institutions of India.
Major fertility problems of women like ovulation,
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis Conclusion
and fibroids are linked to hormonal problems and The art and science of Yoga provide answers to
poor dietary choices. Yoga therapy is inexpensive, most health problems troubling modern humankind.
natural and also safe. Yoga for infertility treatment The therapeutic potential of yoga has been recognized
involves certain specific poses that increases the world over and studies have shown its beneficial
fertility naturally. Yoga has a lot to contribute in effects in numerous psychosomatic disorders like
combination with modern medicine to the health diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis and other
status of woman kind making puberty and menopause chronic diseases that are a great burden on our
an easier transition. healthcare delivery system. In today’s world the worst
challenges faced by couples is Infertility. Yoga can
Practising yoga does not only improve the quality help people cope with the challenges of infertility.
of eggs but is excellent for prostrate health and sperm Simple postural, breathing, relaxation and meditation
quality and motility. Yoga helps to treat mild erectile practices would lead to enhancement of fertility. The
dysfunction by reducing stress and anxiety. Yoga is practices include specific postures, mantras and
beneficial since childhood. Yoga helps children breathing techniques. These exercises enhance
develop endurance, balance, flexibility and strength. It fertility by stimulating hormone levels and improving
plays a crucial role throughout puberty which is a blood and nutrients supply to reproductive organs like
period of rapid reproductive growth and sexual ovaries, eggs, tubes, uterus, testes and prostate. In
maturation in both boys and girls. As men matures, doing this they maximize the vitality of these organs.
the emphasis of yoga shifts to maintenance of health. Regular Yoga practice helps release stress and most
Due to increased stress and anxiety, erectile importantly yoga can help regain sexual stamina.
dysfunction is common in adults. Yoga is beneficial in Thus, Yoga can be an effective approach for many
elderly as well by promoting adequate functioning of couples to let their dreams come true along with
cardiovascular health, immune system, endocrine and balance diet with special reference to traditional ones.
circulatory systems, releases stress and anxiety.
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