Childbearing Year

Fertility Herbs while Breastfeeding

Q: Hello there,

I read with great interest your article on StorkNet.com titled, Fertility After Forty, as I am now 40 and hoping to conceive my second child soon. An "amateur herbalist" friend of mine had recommended red clover to help boost fertility, and also dandelion for premenstrual water retention. After purchasing both of these herbs, I had second thoughts and have never used them. My concern is that I am still nursing my 2-year-old daughter and I can't find any information on whether these herbs are "safe" while breastfeeding. She only nurses mornings & evenings, so I could take them after she nurses if that would help minimize the effects to her.

My second question is about comfrey leaves. I've found "comfrey leaves" and comfrey root at my favorite local herb stores, but they are both the Symphytum officinale and not the S. uplandica that you recommend in your article. I've found S. uplandicum (labeled as Russian comfrey) leaves available online, but it says to not use while pregnant.

Can you shed any light on these issues for me? Many thanks!
S.

 

A: Hello S., I understand your concerns. Regarding the comfrey, I believe I have heard Susun say that what you buy through most herbal suppliers is trully the cultivated comfrey she says is safe, even though it is labeled S. officinale. As far as the warning on the internet, this is placed on most herbs. You need to choose which sources you trust because you will find conflicting advice... even amongst those you trust.

Dandelion as a food, or the root tincture, tea, or vinegar is safe for you while nursing little ones. In fact in Susun's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, she recommends you ingest it as well as give it to your newborn when dealing with jaundice, with no warning of a limit to how much.

Red Clover blossom infusions I understand to be a wonderful galactagogue, meaning they help increase the quantity and quality of your milk. Therefore are actually recommended for nursing mothers :)

Please let me know if I can help further!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! Since writing, I decided to pick up a copy of Susun's book but haven't had a chance to read much. I'm glad to know that the comfrey I can get at my local market is the "safe" kind. Thanks again!
S.

 

A: You are welcome S., enjoy!!

write any time :)
Karen Joy

Culinary and Tea herbs while Pregnant?

Q: Hi Susun I’ve just been reading one of the articles that I stumbled upon on the internet. Are you able to email me a list of fresh herbs that are safe to eat during pregnancy? Like for instance, Basil, Rocket, Dill, etc.

Regards
J.

 

A: Hello J., thank you for writing. I can share with you some the following sources of information. One of which may be the article you have already read :)

Herbs that are helpful through pregnancy 
Wild foods for Wise Woman parts one and two

From Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year is a list of herbs and other substances to be watchful of when pregnant:

Before and during pregnancy, completely avoid:

° Smoking
° Alcohol (including beer and wine)
° Raw or undercooked meat
° Radiation (x-rays, video display terminals)
° Caffeine (coffee, black tea, cola, chocolate, maté)
° DES (diethylstilbestrol)
° Aspirin
° Antihistamines, including Ma-huang, Ephedra, Osha root
° Most laxatives, including Flax seed, Senna, Aloes, Castor Oil, Turkey Rhubarb, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada
° Antacids
° Diuretics, including Buchu, Horsetail, Juniper berries
° pHisohex (or hexachlorophene)
° Hair dyes
° Hemorrhoid medications
° Chemical stimulants and depressants (LSD, psychotropics, phenobarbital, barbituates, tranquilizers)
° Motion sickness or anti-nausea drugs (Bendectin)
° Epinephrine (Adrenalin) shots
° Sulfonamides (sulfa drugs) antibiotics
° Vaccines, anesthetics, mercury vapors in dentist's office
° Steroids and herbs containing steroid-like factors, including Agave, Ginseng, Licorice, Hops, Sage (which also decreases lactation)
° Hormones (birth control pills, most commercial meats)
° Acutane (acne medicine)
° Excesses of vitamins A, C, or D (vitamins found naturally in herbs are safer than supplemental vitamin pills)
° Heavy metals: lead, nickel, cadmium, manganese
° Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides (particularly those containing Carbaryl)
° Fumes from paints, thinners, solvents, wood preservatives, varnishes, glues, spray adhesives, benzene, dry-cleaning fluids, certain plastics, vinyl chloride, rubber tuolene
° Lithium, arsenic
° Contact with cat feces
° PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl)

And beware of the risks of:

° Incompatible Rh factors (possibly mitigated by one gram vitamin C with bioflavanoids taken daily during the last thirty weeks of pregnancy)
° Amniocentesis
° Electronic Fetal Monitoring, either indirect (ultrasound or direct electrode)
° Ultrasound in any form
° Prolonged exposure to extremely high temperatures
° Emmenagogues (see pages 9-10), especially during the first and last trimesters
° Common cooking herbs which may encourage miscarriage: Basil, Caraway seeds, Celery sees, Ginger, fresh Horseradish, Savory, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Parsley, Tarragon, Thyme, Watercress (avoid during the first trimester; use sparingly thereafter)
° Golden Seal root (stresses liver and kidneys, raises white blood cell count, and can cause uterine contractions)

I know your request is of herbs that are okay to use while pregnant, but it is far simpler to list those that are ones to be cautious of, and then, even better, to list ones that have extra benefit for a pregnant woman. Please let us know if we can help further!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Thanks so much for coming back to me. I’ll definitely scout through all the info you’ve sent.

Something I find strange though is under the section Common Cooking Herbs which may encourage miscarriage they list Ginger, yet this is the one thing they all tell you to take if nauseous. Funny, I couldn’t stand the smell of Ginger, so never touched it. I also see that Basil is another one, so I guess pesto sauce is out of the questions.

Many Thanks
J.

 

A: What is tricky really is that some of those herbs are fine as they are usually used - as simple spices, or an occasional tea. It is just in excessive amounts they can be harmful. Of course the term "excessive" is very vague. I say do as you did :) and trust your gut. The list is meant to be a guide, and trusting your gut means literally too... you can feel when something is going awry. Early in my pregnancy I could feel it as I was cramping through the night. I soon got Susun's Childbearing Year book and saw that some of what I was taking at the time to combat a massive cold was an emmenagogue. I was taking it in large amounts too. As soon as I saw that I stopped taking it (was vitamin C I think) and soon all felt better. And I carried my son to term :) So if you really like and crave pesto, you may want to try it and see how you feel, if that feels safe for you ... or.... you may try another herb in place of basil for the time, like a wild green perhaps!

All my best,
Karen Joy

Red Raspberry safe for early pregnancy...

Q: Hi,

I hope you can answer my question as soon as possible. I'm 3 months pregnant and have been told that my uterus is low. I've been reading great things about the red raspberry leaf tea. On the other hand, I've been reading to stay away from this tea of herb during pregnancy. Some sites say you can drink it but only during the last 10 weeks to bring on labour and induce contractions. so if I drink this now, will it bring on contractions? Your website has been the most reassuring one but it doesn`t mention anything about possible contractions, etc. Can drinking this herbal tea affect the baby in a negative way? I've been searching for answers to these questions. Please help me. I'm waiting anxiously for your response. Thank you so much

 

A: Hello, thank you for writing. I do understand your concern. I recently answered another similar question and was able to see the wide variety of opinions out there on this topic. At the time of my pregnancy I had studied only a few herbalists, Susun being the primary one. So I did not have the hesitation when choosing to drink this herb right away. In fact early on I was having cramping in the first month and read her Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year and realized the large doses of vitamin C I was taking may have been causing them. Once stopped, the contractions stop. As soon as picking up this book at this point I drank daily Red Raspberry infusions. They eased my nausea and the cramping never returned. So while I think I had a tenuous pregnancy to begin with (before the RR infusions) the Red Raspberry infusions coincided with my pregnancy feeling stronger!

As I read from Susun I also went lighter on the Red Raspberry later in my pregnancy and increased the Nettle leaf infusions. Here is my opinion, one to add to the mix.... Red Raspberry leaf infusions strengthen the uterus. This scares some who think a strong uterus will expel the baby prematurely. I think that is entirely untrue. A strong uterus will hold the baby firmly until it is ready to come out, then have the strength for a wonderful birth. Also those who view this herb as forcing the uterus to contract may wish to increase the herb later in pregnancy to force the uterus to do its job. Instead I see Red Raspberry as an ally to the uterus who is wise in itself and does not need forcing, just support so it can do its job optimally.

As you hear the many ideas out there, and perhaps sit with the plant, live or dried, and even perhaps sip on the tea or infusion, I trust what you feel to be the best choice for your body and your pregnancy. We are all unique.

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com