As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. It effects over 5 millions couple alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of unawareness of treatments, only 10% seeks help from professional specialist.We have spent most of the time in this series discussing the conventional and Chinese medicine in treating fertility. I believe, it is the best time to change the subject by discussing how to treat infertility with herb – sarsaparilla (smilax officinalis).

I. Definition
Sarsaparilla is also known as smilax officinalis in herbal medicine, it is a perennial trailing vine, native to Central America and has been used in traditional herbalist as reproductive organs and glands tonic medicine.

II. How sarsaparilla effects fertility
1. Liver detoxification
herbalist believes the plant contains substance which helps to remove toxins from the liver, thereby increasing the liver function in regulating hormonal production ( estrogen and prostaglandins family) and levels of insulin in the blood stream, leading to reducing the risk of irregular menstrual cycle and increasing the chance of fertility.

2. Blood purifier
It also is a blood tonic herb. Besides helping to increase the transportation of nutrients to the body cell needs, it aslo increases blood flow to the reproductive organs, resulting in decreasing the risk of reproductive organs blood stagnation.

3. Immune system
It also increases the immune function in fighting against infection and inflammation caused by foreign invasion, resulting in increasing the chance of fertility.

4. DNA regulating
Sarsaparilla also helps to regulate the DNA duplication in normal cell growth, thereby decreasing the risk of endometrial adhesion and implants and other tumors which grow somewhere else in the reproductive region.

5. Antibody antigen
Since it helps to increase the immune function as resulting of expelling the toxins through urinary extraction and stool, it reduces the risk of immune system abnormal function in attacking it’s own tissue and viewing sperm as foreign invasion.

III. Risks
Over dose of sarsaparilla may causes digestive disorder and kidney impairment.