My Health Mojo, Homeopathy,Fertility

Links, magazine spring edition 2005, also published an article on Liz Lalor’s Fertility Program; which was previously published in Similia Australia 2003 and Homoeopathic Medical Panorama June 2004 India. Following the article in Links Lalor consulted daily via email with hundreds of homeopaths world-wide who are currently using her program. It was their questions and need for clinical guidance which has inspired Lalor rewriting the program with clinical step-by-step information for the follow-up consultations. This publication is an updated version that includes the ideology of Dr. Leon Vannier which was the inspiration behind the formulation of the program. Lalor’s book A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility is the first Materia medica to be sold in mainstream bookshops in Australia. Lalor is altruistically inspired to have homeopathy reach the mainstream public; as with her book, her successful treatment of infertility, has attracted couples who would never have tried homeopathy. Infertility is a modern-day problem faced by millions of women. Lalor has worked with 119 different women and been successful with 100 babies born. Lalor practices homeopathy in Melbourne, Australia.

Dr Leon Vannier, a French homeopath wrote La Pratique de L’Homoeopathie in 1950; this work has been translated into English by E.A.A.A.D. de Ruyter. Ruyter wrote, “Dr Leon Vannier stressed that the cause is usually not just one miasm, but a combination of miasms which he called the patient’s ‘quotient toxinique.’ This may be translated into English as ‘Toxic Ratio.’ Hahnemann himself accepted that two to three miasms might be responsible for a patient’s symptoms. Different miasms do not necessarily affect a particular patient to the same extent at any particular time. For instance one miasm might have the greatest influence, a second one a lesser one and a third, or even a fourth one still even less. Hence the idea of a Toxic Ratio. Dr Vannier divided homoeopathic remedies into three groups: The patient’s Fundamental remedy has a long-lasting and profound effect on the patient’s condition. If a fundamental remedy is given in high-potency to a patient who has not been given preparatory homoeopathic treatment, a sudden aggravation of his or her condition may occur. Vannier regards this as an ‘eliminatory crisis:’ a sudden elimination of toxic substances which overwhelm the organism. According to Dr Vannier an acute aggravation can always be prevented by using what he calls Drainage treatment. Vannier’s third group of remedies are the patient’s Lesion remedies which are used if the patient is suffering from organic lesions and lesion symptoms.” In 1911 Vannier first described drainage as: “Drainage is the combination of measures to be used to ensure the regular elimination of toxins that burden the body of a person.” [Pp.46-47. Ruyter.]
The Vannier system consists of 4 remedies that must all be compatible; i.e. Not able to antidote each other; and are perceived to work together as one whole. Vannier stated “The drainage remedy must be selected according to Materia Medica indications. Drainage remedies are only a part of a patient’s homoeopathic treatment. The main part of the treatment is the selection of the simillimum.” [P.48. Ruyter.] The simillimum, Vannier also called the fundamental remedy.

• Remedies 2. and 3. cover the disturbance of the physical. “Dr Vannier stressed that regulating treatment and drainage are two methods which must not be separated: they form two parts of the complete homoeopathic treatment of the individual.” P.48. Ruyter.

The following program I worked out using my own individual modified version of a Vannier method. This program came about because case after case I found myself using the same remedies in the same order, even though I continually repertorised each individual case.

The change in dose and increase in frequency of remedies is designed to match the level of suppression and toxicity in the present day infertility issues.

The following program is designed to undo the suppressive effect of the OCP, and it is designed to get women to ovulate. I am very aware that my program outlined below is a method using standardized prescribing. I have not written this article in support of standardized prescribing, I am a constitutional homeopath. I only ask that each homeopath consider the statistical successes in my practice, and in the practice of homeopaths around the world that have used my program before dismissing this approach.

Consistently it is my experience that a woman can come to see me with fibroids or a history of PCOD; Polycystic Ovarian Disorder, and I can get her pregnant within two cycles. This has happened over and over again, even if she has not been having a menstrual cycle or ovulating for several years. On the other hand, I see young women who have been on the OCP; Oral Contraceptive Pill, for up to ten years, in some cases seventeen years, and even as little as three years, and they do not ovulate, and it has consistently taken me up to a year to get them pregnant; that is, until I came up with this program. Why? - Because the OCP is suppressing ovulation. What is also most worrying is that a lot of the younger women that I see have used the contraceptive medication in the form of an implant or injection continually, i.e. avoiding menstruation altogether. Young women, nowadays, often choose to have one, at the most two periods a year because of the inconvenience that bleeding can be to their work commitments. It is now an accepted known fact amongst doctors that it can take up to one year for the woman to ovulate after coming off the OCP. It is my clinical experience with the women who have come to see me that it can easily be two years, and they still have not ovulated. If the woman is thirty-one that is still within a workable time frame, if the woman is thirty-eight the time clock is ticking too fast.

Vannier devised a method that is absolutely perfect for the ill effects of the suppressive effects of the OCP.

Vannieris based on the assumption that the remedies will work far better if you clear the pathways. The pathways in this case are accumulated toxicity and lesional damage from the suppression of ovulation by a drug called the OCP.

In my program I have changed and adapted the system according to the severity and intensity of the Lesional and Functional damage from age and toxicity.

I view the following program as an acute standardized prescribing treatment precisely because it is not exceptional, or unique, or unusual, or characteristic of a remedy picture. If the lack of ovulation is as I suspect associated with years of being on the OCP then a Vannier system that includes several detox Drainage and Lesional Remedies as outlined below will be successful. If the infertility is from the effects of aging; i.e. resulting in the lack of viable eggs or from the onset of early menopause; then the treatment of the case is viewed as Chronic. I have never been able with the following program been able to treat a woman who has no viable egg production. A Chronic case needs to be treated with either the Constitutional Remedy or Miasmic Remedy picture; not with my adapted Vannier prescribing method. [Refer to Endnote 1. for a breakdown of the case successes.]

This program is a very small part of my practice, and I do not profess to be a supporter of one approach to homeopathy over another; however, I do have 100 babies and 100 couples that are very happy. I have played around with this program considerably always swapping the order, and introducing new remedies, and taking out others, but if I do it as follows it works, that is my only gold card that I can hold up to support the publication of this program for infertility. I just ask that if you would like to work in this area just try it with a few patients, it has consistently come back to me from homeopaths using it all over the world, that the success rate matches my own statistical success, which I have to say, is far higher than Western Medical In-Vitro Fertilization programs.

How long has the couple been trying to conceive? OCP use, and if so how long. Drug use in either partners history? General health? Emotional stress? Work stressors? Asthma Mdx? –re Candida.

Mx pain, lack of flow , stagnate dark blood, Mx too short, irregular Mx, spotting from Ovulation, no sexual surges, blood clots, = all can indicate low progesterone.

Ask does she know by her mucus discharge when she is ovulating? Mucus is meant to be noticeable and thick enough to stain the woman’s underpants. When I ask this question, I consistently have the response that it used to be like that when they were a teenager or in their early twenties. Invariably it always has not been present since starting the OCP. If Candida is an issue it is important to get the patient to change their diet; Candida can impact directly on the consistency of mucus in the vagina. If the mucus is not of the right consistency it is not possible for sperm to be able to climb up the strings within the mucus. Along with this advice, I also emphasize the importance of not using perfumed products near the vagina. These products also upset vaginal health and Ph. Even something like perfumed toilet paper is an issue! NB: Is the lubrication poor during sexual intercourse? The factors contributing to lubrication are of course varied, but it can indicate low progesterone.

LH strips for 5 days over the ovulation period to indicate the surge correctly. Check via a 21 day blood test of the progesterone levels. [5.0 -90.0 Luteal Phase range.] If the reading is towards the lower end of that range this indicates she has not ovulated. If the reading is towards the lower end of that range this also indicates the progesterone is not high enough.

Repeated Hx of thrush / poor quality mucus / poor lubrication during sexual intercourse.

Sperm get where they are going by climbing up the strings of healthy stringy mucus. If the quality of mucus is poor, suspect an acidic vagina and a condition called ‘hostile vagina.’ Do not use lubrications for sexual intercourse other than Replens.™ Do not use perfumed soaps or anti deodorant sprays on the vaginal area.

Candida Causes ;   Excess sugar, multiple courses of antibiotics / prednisolone, becatide or rhinacord, immune system failure,. Food allergies, HRT, OCP=Oral Contraceptive Pill.
Symptoms;   Fatigue, confusion, depression, emotional ups and downs, sugar cravings, muscle aches, bloating / excess wind, itching skin / especially thrush, bowel disturbances = diarrhoea or constipation, unformed stools.
Diet Advice;   High protein / High complex carbohydrate i.e. lots of fruit and veggies as apposed to lots of processed carbohydrates like bread. Stick with a low sugar and a low processed carbohydrate diet.

Supplies can be bought from good health food shops. Most good bread shops now stock yeast free / sugar free sour dough breads. I have had two women, who decided that a Candida diet was too hard at the very first consultation with me, and they decided to do IVF; I do not know if they were successful or not. (This is an issue to consider as some people find the Candida diet very difficult.)

Check with the LH strips. Determine on the basis of the first show of mucus. Sex on Days 8,10,12,14,16,18,20 will be the likely range. When the strip shows on the LH strip this indicates a potential release of the egg in the next 48 hours. It takes 2 days of swimming for the sperm to join the egg; so sex 2 days before the LH surge is essential. There is no sex for 3 days before day 8 and no masturbation on the man’s part for 3 days before day 8 and during this ovulation period.

If you feel stress is significantly interfering note this, and consider a gentle relaxant like the herbs passionflower or chamomile. Do not be ideologically closed to everything working to help; these herbs can help her relax. Trying to conceive is very emotionally exhausting for both the woman and man. If the couple have been trying for some time this stress level will be very distressing. I find it crucial working in an emotionally sensitive area to have strict guide lines and integrity. I do not work longer than 4 months with a couple. If I have not been successful within 4 months I do not believe that the above program is going to work. This is a contract that I outline at the first consultation. Infertility is a very tragic and emotionally damaging and painful experience. I believe that it is crucial to not promise something that you can not deliver. It is too traumatic. Every woman I have worked with is far healthier at the end of the above program than at the start, and it is this, that you must emphasize in the first consultation and do not string them along for a long time in the hope that it will work in the future.

Consistently the time clock for women is ticking and if you are not successful with the homeopathic treatment you have to trust that you are sending them off to conventional medical treatment in a far healthier state. I say this even though my statistical success rate is good; as health practitioners it is important to know when to admit you are not able to help someone.

Check the sperm results. Does he use marijuana, cocaine; drink excessively or smoke? Is he stressed from performance anxiety; i.e. does he have erectile problems when he is expected to perform on cue. For the man Tribulus 7g 1/day, and the Zinc 25mg 1/day can help to support sperm motility and libido. Libido can suffer with the stress of trying to have a baby. Stress causes high Cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol affects sperm quality and motility. Excessive alcohol, tobacco and drug use, in particular excessive marijuana use, also all affects sperm quality. (Past Hx of sporting injuries to the testes can also affect production of sperm, check this in the Hx.)

The rest of the prescribing method is not worked out on an individual case basis.

NB: make sure 30 minutes at least between remedies, and the weekly remedies should be a few days apart and consistently repeated on the same day each week.

The woman must note that the mucus is more noticeable, thicker more copious daily; at the time of Ovulation, and during sexual intercourse. The mucus at Ovulation should be milky and with strong strings in it.

The woman must note an increase in sexual energy at time of Ovulation and pre Mx.

The woman must note that the Mx flow was without spotting, regular periodicity, no PMT, flow was stronger and longer , immediate, no clotting, good rich red color, not dark stagnant blood, and no pain. Sexual energy also high pre Mx.

The only remedy to consider adding second cycle is the Pulsatilla 30 1/day mornings. Why and when? – add if Mx are not heavier, or the Mx are still clotted. Add if you think after 6 weeks of the Candida diet the mucus still appears to be acrid. If you have given Medorrhinum first cycle now change to Thuja 200 weekly – why? – Thuja is more applicable to Dysmenorrheal inflammation of uterus.

I use a pregnancy multi vitamin with the right balance of Folate and B vitamins, in particular B6 50mg and B 12 400mcg. 1/day. (NB make sure your vitamin formulas do not exceed 2500 IU of vitamin A.) Folate needs to be 500mcg a day.
A pregnancy Zinc formula is best with at least 25mg of Zinc and Magnesium 10mg. I also use Tribulus 7g, which is a herb to increase FSH and Estradiol if taken - Day 5 -to day 14 of the MX. cycle. Day 1 is day one of the menstrual cycle, i.e. day one of bleeding.

This program also includes Australian Homeobotanical™ herbal treatment as drainage and nutritional treatment which may, put off some homeopaths. This is a program that is able to be used only using homeopathic remedies as drainage, and I outline all the homeopathic remedies that can also be used as drainage and lesional support in preference to herbal remedies. I have used Homeobotanical herbal treatment 12x potency, only because it is quicker, and as the women that come to see me as patients are so anxious, it has been helpful to get ovulation happening quickly.

The time frame without Australian Homeobotanical herbs is a difference of only one month.

Unfortunately, my clients that come have been so stressed and anxious, by the time they come to see me that I have had to also use the herbs to get the process moving quickly. If time is not a pressing issue, and the couple is not overly anxious, I cannot emphasize more strongly that the homeopathic component of this program works 100% and stands in its own right. I run an advice service to homeopaths all over the world via email, and their statistical success rate matches my own. I have used just the homeopathic component and been successful 100% but it takes 4 cycles each time to get the couple pregnant as opposed to 2-3 cycles with the herbs. Ovulation without the herbs added does not happen until the 3 cycle. I have not used the herbs three times, and have still been successful just using the homeopathic treatment.

I use an herbal Australian Homeobotanical formula F for drainage support. The herbs are all 12x potency. The herb dose is 10 drops 3 t/d in water.

The herbs are Cimicifuga racemosa, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Vitex angus-castus, Viburnum opulus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Leonurus cardiaca, Anemone pulsatilla, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Mitchella repens, Dioscorea villosa.

Liz Lalor is the author of A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility (published by North Atlantic Books) which is an innovative analysis of constitutional types using examples in over 50 different romantic films to help explain relationship compatibility and Materia medica. A review of her book is in the spring edition 2005 of the British Homeopathic Association magazine, Health and Homeopathy, and the autumn edition of Homeopathy in Practice UK, and the December edition of Similia Australia. Liz Lalor has published extracts of her book in Homeopathy in Practice, UK; Links, Homeopathy International, UK; the American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine and Similia, Australia.

Aside from working as a homeopath Lalor also uses constitutional homeopathy within a conventional counselling practice to help her patients understand more about themselves as a particular ‘homeopathic constitutional type.’ Lalor is able to draw upon her experience of counselling the more ‘unusual’ constitutional remedy pictures and has written articles on the remedy picture of Agaricus and Alice in Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; published in Homeopathy in Practice UK. Links magazine have published Lalor’s essay on the characters Frodo and Gollum, and the remedy pictures of Anacardium and Mancinella, in Tolkien’s tale of The Lord of the Rings. Homeopathy in Practice UK 2005 published Liz’s essay on the character of Hamlet as the remedy picture of Muriaticum acidum.

De Ruyter, E.A.A.A.D. Computer Homoeopathy and a Summary of Dr. Leon Vannier’s Theories on the Paratuberculous and Paracancerous States, self publication, Australia, 1994. Pp.46-48.
Schroyens, Frederik, M.D. Synthesis, London, Homeopathic Book Publishers, 1997.
Vermeulen, Frans, Prisma, Haarlem, The Netherlands, Emryss bv Publishers, 2002.

Vermeulen, Frans, Synoptic Materia Medica, Haarlem, The Netherlands, Merlijn Publishers, 1992.

My success rate so far is 100 babies born - 19 failures.

8 of the women who I have not been successful with got pregnant the first or second time of trying IVF. This indicates a healthy endometrial health, which I attribute to my program; but I do not include women who do IVF after seeing me in my statistics.
Of the remaining 11 women who I did not get pregnant 6 decided they were too traumatized to continue the program and wished to stop trying. All 6 were in the age group 43-46, and all had one child which was conceived at least 5 years old; consequently age and the lack of viable eggs is the probable reason for not being successful.
One woman aged 46 has adopted a child from China; she already had one child.
4 are still trying several cycles with no success at IVF because of unsustainable egg production.
Seven miscarriages have occurred in the 19 failures. One woman has had 3 miscarriages with me. 2 other women one miscarriage each, of these they are included in the numbers currently doing IVF; unfortunately with no success because of lack of viable eggs.
I have currently 2 women on my program who have had one miscarriage. 1 woman is aged 44 so the chances of sustainable eggs are diminished by age. She has had 2 other children. The other woman has had 3 miscarriages and is facing the knowledge of genetic incompatibility with her partner.
I am currently working with 6 other couples.
The one outstanding common denominator amongst 10 of the couples that I not been successful with is that one or each of the couple has been a frequent user of the drugs cocaine and ecstasy. The drug Marijuana has not been a significant issue with women; but has been a strong contributing factor to low motility and low sperm numbers with men. The herb Tribulus has corrected the lack of either sperm motility, or sperm numbers within one month of taking it.
I also have worked with 15 couples who were currently doing IVF treatment when they first came to see me. The reasons they were doing IVF in the majority of the cases were to avoid family genetic diseases which can now be genetically screened with IVF. I do not include the work with these women in my statistics; however I have used the homeopathic component only; as the herb Vitex in particular is incompatible with the down regulation cycle of IVF. 13 couples were successful with the subsequent rounds of IVF. The remedies Kali carbonicum as a Lesional Remedy, and Carcinosin as a Miasmic Remedy have consistently been successful to repair the exhaustion and toxic overload from repeated IVF cycles.

If there is an Hx: of PCOD or miscarriage = use 1 dose only of Syphilinum 200 OR Carcinosin 200 first; you must decide which remedy based on the individual miasmic Hx.

The best Materia medica analysis of the use of Folliculinum and the damaging effects of the OCP. are in Vermeulen Synoptic Materia Medica 2. Sx include heavy Mx, Mx too short , infrequent Mx, Mx clotting, low libido, PMT, cysts, Hx of fibroids, vaginal dryness and Candida in particular.

The choice of the remedies Natrum Muriaticum, Borax, and Sepia and Pulsatilla were made on the basis of repertorising case after case.

The following Rubrics were continually used in case after case.
R. Leukorrhea: acrid, excoriating:
R. Leukorrhea: transparent:
R. Menses: absent:
R. Menses: frequent; too:
R. Menses: ceased; after the regular menstrual cycle has:
R. Menses: scanty:
R. Menses: suppressed:
R. Sexual desire: diminished:
R. Sterility:

Aside from Natrum Muriaticum covering Mx problems and infertility it is of course a good choice to cover the grief and potential loss of not being able to conceive, consequently I use it solely and purely as a Fundamental Remedy. Natrum Muriaticum is also a good remedy for poor quality mucus. NB the sperm get to where they have to go by swimming up the strings of healthy mucus, if the woman has Candida and acrid health in the vagina from the OCP the sperm will not get there. Natrum Muriaticum is also a good remedy for suppression. Natrum Muriaticum reestablishes a regular periodicity of the Mx.

Know your remedies. Look at Vermeulen’s Prisma Materia Medica. Vermeulen’s Prisma has been an exceptional book in helping me understand the use of remedies. Borax I classify in this program as a Drainage Remedy for - the disturbance of the function of the organ – it is the remedy to facilitate tissue drainage – Borax helps Estradiol and Testosterone absorb – both essential for FSH and LH and the production of viable eggs. As the Lesional Remedy Borax must reflect the anatomical structural change in the organ – it must match the functional disturbance of the physical - Borax is excellent for heavy painful Mx that is too frequent. It is also excellent remedy for acrid poor quality mucus and Candida.

Sepia I also classify in this program as a Lesional Remedy and Drainage Remedy. I use Sepia here to deal with the suppression of sexual energy from the OCP, Mx stasis, discharges and Candida. As a Lesional Remedy Sepia must reflect the anatomical structural change in the organ – it must match the functional disturbance of the physical. Sepia is an excellent Drainage Remedy for Mx stasis, scanty Mx and Mx pain. Vermeulen notes in Synoptic Materia Medica Volume 1. that Sepia is a N.W.S the OCP remedy. I have continually noted that the OCP now causes considerable depression.

NB. I only use the Pulsatilla if there has been any Hx of miscarriage. Pulsatilla is also a Lesional Remedy and I use this also for suppression. Pulsatilla is also my preferred Drainage Remedy to use if I do not use the herbal support. Pulsatilla is a good inflammatory remedy so the application for repeated miscarriage and its affinity for repair are applicable in this program. As already mentioned I consider Pulsatilla as a Drainage Remedy but I have also used it as an emotional support remedy if the woman is very emotional and teary after the second cycle and she is still not pregnant. Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum as homeopathic remedies are also of course excellent Drainage and Lesional Remedies to use for ovarian suppression and potential miscarriage respectively. Dioscorea is an excellent remedy to consider after miscarriage to rebuild the health of the endometrial tissue because of its strong progesterone based affinity. Kali carbonicum is I have found good after repeated miscarriages for women doing IVF. Once again I gained this information from Vermeulen’s Prisma Materia Medica. Thuja antidotes Pulsatilla, so the Pulsatilla must always follow the Thuja.

Medorrhinum I find particularly useful in a case with excessive drug use in the Hx. It is in the program for women with PCOD. Medorrhinum is good for dark clotted suppressed Mx, and acrid vaginal discharges.

Mx flow should be in proportion to the health of the endometrial tissue i.e. strong flow for at least 2 days. The amount of blood flow indicates the health of the progesterone or endometrial lining.