Natural Remedies for Infertility:
Managing Stress, Adrenals, the Circadian Rhythm, and the Horary Clock

Though we often talk about the circadian rhythm in terms of sleep, this system also impacts fertility. In fact, the circadian rhythm, adrenal system, horary clock, and stress all interact to ultimately affect one’s ability to conceive. In terms of natural remedies for infertility, this is a great place to start. Read on to learn how it all comes together.

The circadian rhythm is an internal clock that follows a 24-hour cycle and controls a set of mental, physical, and behavioral changes. Most animals, plants, and even microbes have one. This internal clock is primarily controlled by the light of the day and the dark of the night (Reddy et al., 2022).

The circadian rhythm helps regulate many bodily functions, including:

• Appetite
• Alertness
• Daily performance
• Reaction time
• Blood pressure
• Body temperature 
• Hormone levels
• The sleep and wake cycle

Recent research shows that changes to a person’s circadian rhythm can also impact their fertility. For example, epidemiological studies show that female flight attendants who work long-distance east-to-west routes have fertility and menstrual issues, as do female shift workers, like nurses. These women can become out of sync with the natural cycle of daylight, which then affects their body’s internal clock. It appears that the changes in circadian rhythm result in altered levels of FSH, LH, and prolactin (Mills & Kuohung, 2019). These are key hormones for fertility and hormone health. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we relate the biological cadence of the circadian rhythm to the Horary clock. This 24-hour clock shows how a person’s energy flows throughout the day. It specifically highlights how energy glides through each of the 12 TCM meridians and their associated organs. Each meridian has a 2-hour period during which it has the most energy.

One can optimize their healthy bodily function by focusing on where they are most energetically active, according to the Horary Clock. In other words, if a person can focus on a specific part of the body during the time when they have the most energy, they receive the most benefit.  

For example, the pericardium meridian is most energized from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. every day. During this time, the body delivers nutrients to the cells as circulation increases. Issues within this meridian can lead to headaches and palpitations, as well as feelings of grief or greed.

The Horary Clock connects the reproductive organs, hypothalamus, and pituitary glands to the pericardium meridian. These hours are a great time to connect with loved ones or have sex (Morris, 2020). This is just one small example of how honoring the Horary Clock can help one balance overall health and boost an area of focus, like fertility. 

Stress also plays a major role when trying to conceive. When the body is under pressure, especially chronic stress, the adrenal system reacts by releasing cortisol. This stress hormone is part of the body’s fight-or-flight response, which is how the body reacts to ensure safety.

When the body senses a threat, it delivers adrenaline and other hormones that prepare itself to act and either fight or run away from danger. It also releases cortisol, increases blood pressure, and raises the heart rate (Russell & Lightman, 2019). Fertility aside, one may find sex less interesting when they are chronically stressed, as these biological responses can cause fatigue.

Studies have found a connection between higher levels of cortisol, psychological stress, and infertility. Stress hormones, like cortisol, can interrupt signals from the ovaries to the brain and inhibit ovulation. This is all a result of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which links these key systems together (Toufexis et al., 2014). 

Considering the above knowledge, it is fair to say that some potential natural remedies for infertility could lie in lowering stress and improving adrenal function. Although this process takes time and commitment, it can be incredibly beneficial for one’s fertility and overall health. Below are a few suggestions on how to start.

Aside from the stress response, the body also releases cortisol when one is in a state of chronic low blood sugar. Aim to eat every three to five hours to keep the blood sugar balanced and avoid getting this extra dose of cortisol (Güemes et al., 2016).

There’s evidence that consuming high doses of caffeine can increase the body’s cortisol secretion (Bennett et al., 2013). By avoiding caffeine, one can bypass this extra source of cortisol.

There’s no proven diet that will help with supporting the adrenal system. However, a high volume of research reinforces the consumption of a Mediterranean diet for reductions in stress-related inflammation. Additionally, inflammation can cause an increase in cortisol levels. Lowering both is important for fertility.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, whole grains, fish, and poultry. Eating this way can not only help lower stress and inflammation but also promotes overall health (Carvalho et al., 2018).

Regular exercise can reduce stress and help create the emotional resilience needed to respond to acute stress (Childs & de Wit, 2014). Still, it is important to avoid putting too much stress on the body by working out, as excessive exercise can also contribute to chronic stress.

It is best to get about 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Additionally, aim to include a few sessions focused on strength training each week (U.S. National Library of Medicine, How much exercise do I need?).

As we discussed above, the circadian rhythm and the Horary Clock also play a role in stress levels. Maintain a proper sleep schedule, and specifically wake while it's light out and sleep when it’s dark out, in order to support these natural biological systems.

While there are plenty of natural remedies for infertility, some are more effective than others. Supporting the circadian rhythm, Horary clock, and adrenal system, as well as lowering stress levels, should be a priority. Although it might seem overwhelming at first, all of these factors are interwoven. When a person takes steps to improve one of these areas, it tends to benefit the other factors as well. 

Carvalho, K. M. B., Ronca, D. B., Michels, N., Huybrechts, I., Cuenca-Garcia, M., Marcos, A., Molnár, D., Dallongeville, J., Manios, Y., Schaan, B. D., Moreno, L., de Henauw, S., & Carvalho, L. A. (2018, November 15). Does the Mediterranean diet protect against stress-induced inflammatory activation in European adolescents? The Helena Study. Nutrients. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266959/

Childs, E., & de Wit, H. (2014, May 1). Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults. Frontiers in physiology. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4013452/

Güemes , M., Rahman , S., & Hussain, K. (2016, June). What is a normal blood glucose? Archives of disease in childhood. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26369574/ 

Jeanette M Bennett, Rodrigues, I. M., & Cousino Klein, L. (2013, December 29). Effects of caffeine and stress on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and women with a family history of hypertension. Stress and health: journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23504818/ 

Mills, J., & Kuohung, W. (2019, December). Impact of circadian rhythms on female reproduction and infertility treatment success. Current opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31644470/

Morris, S. (2020, June 16). Chinese medicine clock - what can it tell you about your health? ZYTO. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://zyto.com/chinese-medicine-clock

Reddy, S., Reddy, V., & Sharma, S. (2022). Physiology, circadian rhythm. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30137792/#:~:text=Circadian rhythm is the 24,Earth's rotation%20around its axis. 

Russell, G., & Lightman, S. (2019, June 27). The human stress response. Nature reviews. Endocrinology. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31249398/ 

Toufexis, D., Rivarola, M. A., Lara, H., & Viau, V. (2014, September). Stress and the reproductive axis. Journal of neuroendocrinology. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4166402/

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). How much exercise do I need? MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://medlineplus.gov/howmuchexercisedoineed.html