Childbearing Year

Avoiding Cleanses While Breastfeeding

Susun,

I've been interested in doing a cleanse by Dr. Clarke (parasite cleanse) with Black Walnut Hull, Wormwood and clove. According to Dr. Clark, you can give this remedy to a child at six months. But, online there are repeted warnings about using these herbs while breast feeding.

My Naturpathic doctor said that doing a cleanse would release lots of toxins in the body that may go to the blooodstream and then to the baby. But, my midwife says that this cleanse is safe and even good to do while nursing.

What are your thoughts?

Hello,

We strongly advocate agains cleansing, at any time, and especially when pregnant, nursing, or when ill. Cleansing is extremely hard on the body, especially on the organs that naturally keep your body healthy and clean, such as your liver and kidneys.

Instead, we advocate for nourishing your body, so the body can do its work in a supporting environment. Our bodies are not places of filth, they are naturally clean, and the body is naturally designed to keep itself in optimal health, if supported with nourishment and love.

The best and easiest way to nourish your body is to eat a whole foods diet, exercise a different way each day, get plenty of rest, clean water for bathing and drinking, avoiding toxins (such as essential oils in body products, toxic home “cleaning” products, fabric softeners, and highly processed foods). The most nourishing herbs we can use to support our body is in the form of nourishing herbal infusions, safe enough to be considered food, and to be taken daily, at least two cups per day and even up to eight cups per day.

Personally, I have been drinking upwards of six cups of nourishing infusion for decades, through pregnancy and lactation, and my daughter started drinking infusions at four months as soon as she showed interest in mealtime at the table. Now, two and a half, she is a strong advocate for infusions like her mother and grandmother.

Learn more about nourishing herbal infusions at these links below:

http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

to properly benefit from infusions, buy your herb in bulk, at local store or online.

 

Sending you love and blessings,

Justine

www.wisewomanweb.com

You can get your health questions answered by Susun in one of two ways. Call our free herbal/health hot line (845-246-8081) Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:30 pm EST, dates are April through October. Or you may register for a private telephone consultation. You can also join the free women's health forum where hundreds of wise woman can help you. Sign up for the free herbal healing ezine, filled with wise woman wit and wisdom. Visit the Wise Woman Bookshop for online university, gift shop, bookshop, digital downloads, and more. Go to www.susunweed.com for a complete list of offerings including radio show and free videos.

Yellow Dock Usage While Nursing

Hello

I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old.  I often feel light headed and also suffer from anxiety (feeling lightheaded and like I'm going to pass out).  Before I was pregnant the feeling seemed to coincide with my menstrual cycle (get worse as my period got closer).  I'm exclusively nursing my 4 month but have had 2 periods since she was born and I seem to be feeling lightheaded again (I am also more anxious since she's born though, it probably was a little better while I was pregnant). 

My chiropractor suggested I take Yellow Dock root as a blood cleanser .. he says my brain isn't getting enough oxygen.  Is it safe to take while breastfeeding?  I searched your site and couldn't find anything.  Thank you very much for any advice or information you may have.

Hello,

Yes, yellow dock is safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding. Yellow dock is a good ally for blood issues and an easy to absorb source of iron which may well be causing you to feel light headed. If not doing so already, incorporate cooked nettles and dandelion greens, salads with fresh chickweed and make sure to drink herbal infusions daily - especially nettles and oatstraw.

The oatstraw infusion, along with being loaded with vitamins and minerals to assist in maintaining strong health, is also nice at calming frayed nerves. I would use motherwort tincture, 5-10 drops in a glass of water as needed for those times when the anxiety hits you. You certainly have a lot going on with a 3 year old and an infant! No wonder you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. I know it's so hard, but you do have to try and rest as well when they are down. Just let us know if you need anything else.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com

www.wisewomanbookshop.com

www.wisewomanuniversity.org

I can't thank you enough for your response.  I haven't done infusions .. I'm going to read up.  Really, thank you!

Hi,

Sounds good. Infusions are a large part of the foundation of Susun's work and we drink them everyday. Easy to make, inexpensive and taken daily, they can really help to build up overall health. I know that you are extremely busy with the young ones, but I did want to let you know that Susun is offering a free online course that deals with herbal infusions along with other aspects of the Wise Woman Tradition. I'll give you the link for the course at ning. You can access the lessons (which are in PDF format so you can save them to your computer for reading at your convenience) and if you create an account, you can also participate in discussions. But at the very least, download the lessons as part of your reading... Scroll down a bit and you will find them right above Susun's video. Have a lovely weekend yourself. :)

http://wisewomanuniversity.ning.com/group/nourishingherbalinfusions

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com

www.wisewomanbookshop.com

www.wisewomanuniversity.org

You can get your health questions answered by Susun in one of two ways. Join the health hotline teleseminar on Monday and Thursday evenings 8pm EST, through the winter months. Or you may register for a private telephone consultation. You can also join the free women's health forum where hundreds of wise woman can help you. Sign up for the free herbal healing ezine, filled with wise woman wit and wisdom. Visit the Wise Woman Bookshop for online university, gift shop, bookshop, digital downloads, and more. Go to www.susunweed.com for a complete list of offerings including radio show and free videos.

 

 

Herbal Allies for Post Partum Anxiety

Hi there-

I did some research on how to help combat Post Partum Anxiety Disorder and came across tea infusions w/ red clover, oat straw and lemon balm (taken separately).  (My problem is feeling extremely frustrated/angry/out of control since having my second child . . . I have a 2 yr old and a 9 month old who likes to night time feed a lot, so I am not getting a whole lot of sleep either).

I thought taking these tea's would improve my mood as well as help w/ milk production.  I took oat straw for a week and felt pretty good.

Now I am on red clover, but I am not sure it is helping.  I feel like it may be affecting my 9 month old as her night time feedings went from 3-4 hour intervals to 1-1.5 hour intervals.

I have also been reading nursing women should not take red clover becuase of unknown side effects.

Can anyone there confirm whether the red clover may be bothering my 9 month old or if I should not be taking it??  I only drink 1-2 8oz cups a day for 7 days and then switch.

Any help would be greater appreciated...

Hello,

I have not heard of red clover causing problems with feedings, in fact, many women drink the infusions to help with milk production. Some herbalists avoid red clover due to the phytoestrogens it contains, but Susun does not include it on her avoid list. Many of us, myself included drank it throughout pregnancy and nursing. However, you need to decide what feels right for you, so if you think it may be causing these issues, I would stop using it and see what happens.

The oatstraw is important for helping you with your frustrated feelings and anxiety. You say tea infusions, so I just am including this link to make sure that you are preparing these as true infusions. http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

Oatstraw is both soothing, nourishing and promotes a strong nervous system and absolutely a wonderful ally for you at this time.

Some other ideas for calming your emotions would be a tea from german chamomile flowers; motherwort tincture: use 5 drops in a glass of water when feeling overwhelmed, repeat as needed, but do remember that excessive use (more than 4 doses a day for several weeks) can cause you to become dependent on it. You can also try skullcap tincture, again 5 drops in a glass of water when needed. This is not habit forming. Let us know if we can be of further assistance.

blessings,

Kim
Wise Woman Team
www.wisewomanweb.com

www.wisewomanuniversity.org

www.wisewomanbookshop.com

 

You can get your health questions answered by Susun in one of two ways. Join the health hotline teleseminar on Monday and Thursday evenings 8pm EST, through the winter months. Or you may register for a private telephone consultation. You can also join the free women's health forum where hundreds of wise woman can help you. Sign up for the free herbal healing ezine, filled with wise woman wit and wisdom. Visit the Wise Woman Bookshop for online university, gift shop, bookshop, digital downloads, and more. Go to www.susunweed.com for a complete list of offerings including radio show and free videos.

 

Breastfeeding and Essiac

Q:Is wessiac as effective as essiac? And is it safe while breastfeeding?

 

Comparing wessiac and essiac is a bit difficult. First off, the original essiac formula is shrouded in mystery as Nurse Caisse changed the ingredients around throughout the years and never revealed her formula, much has been based on speculation and part of her story of its origin . Also her formula was administered as injections not the tea currently being drunk. I can say that the ingredients of burdock root and yellow dock have shown positive results in cancer treatments (slippery elm is there to provide protection for the intestines) and these are safe to use while breastfeeding.
 
Kim
Wise Woman Team
www.wisewomanweb.com
www.wisewomanuniversity.org
www.wisewomanbookshop.com

You can get your health questions answered by Susun in one of two ways. Join the health hotline teleseminar on Monday and Thursday evenings 8pm EST, through the winter months. Or you may register for a private telephone consultation. You can also join the free women's health forum where hundreds of wise woman can help you. Sign up for the free herbal healing ezine, filled with wise woman wit and wisdom. Visit the Wise Woman Bookshop for online university, gift shop, bookshop, digital downloads, and more. Go to www.susunweed.com for a complete list of offerings including radio show and free videos.

Weaning & Fertility After Forty

Hello Wise Women Team, Susan, Karen, Justine!
 
I cannot even begin to tell you what peace, joy and hope your website has brought me with reading the stories, letters, replies and all of your information. Last week I went to see a new OBGYN simply for an annual and to say my husband and I are ready to get pregnant again and need a new prescription for prenatal vitamins (my previous OBGYN has retired – he was great).  I had one of those “well intentioned” medical professional doctors shock me with their bedside manner of quoting statistics on the 3% likelihood that I would get pregnant at 43 and that I should read a Time Magazine article that came out about career or motherhood and that I should immediately consider IVF.  Enough said.  I began my quest that very night for enlightened information.  My husband is from Europe and was also aghast at her behavior and words, because, as you know, and does he, that women are naturally getting pregnant well into the 40’s throughout Europe.
 
When I got pregnant naturally a little over 4 years ago, I enjoyed preparing my mind and body for conceiving through yoga, and meditation and healthy nutrition for about a year or so before we actually started trying to conceive.  We were blessed and once we decided to go for it we got pregnant in two months. 
 
Now at 43 ¾  years, much like last time, I felt a knowing inside, my intuition is telling me that I feel ready to go for it again, this sense of peace and knowing arose in me about two months ago.  My son is 3 ¾ years old and I feel good all the way around. 
 
I have read all of your articles and beautiful correspondence with others so I know that I am going to begin the red clover and stinging nettle infusions – I can’t wait to feel their effects.  And I have ordered the Wise Woman Herbal for the Child Bearing Year book.
 
My first question is about the weaning of my toddler.  I do know that women often get pregnant while nursing.  However I am imagining that it may be wiser for me to bring this beautiful nursing relationship to a gentle end in order to support a natural conception.  Do you have thoughts on this transition and perhaps herbs to gently support the transition.  Are there herbs that can lend themselves to restoring and preparing my body for fertility after nursing for these years?  Should I wait to begin the Red Clover and Stinging Nettle infusions until my son has weaned?
 
I also wondered if you may know of OBGYN’s who follow and believe in/concur with, and incorporate your natural wisdom and herbs approach to fertility who practice in the Orange County, California area (Southern California).  I live in Costa Mesa, CA, it is a city next to Newport Beach, Laguna, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach cities.  I am trying to find a natural holistic health embracing OBGYN, but this area is not known for this.
 
Again, thank you for being who you are and doing the life’s work that you do.  We are blessed to have women such as yourselves in our culture and society.  I am so looking forward to reading your books and being connected to this natural healing/health community.
 
All my blessing to you...

Hello!
 
Our entire family drinks nourishing herbal infusions daily, including our two year old daughter, who has been drinking infusions since she was less than a year old. Of course, I relied on infusions throughout my pregnancy and during nursing, the nourishing herbal infusions are to be considered foods not medicines, so are safe for continued use and for the entire family.
 
I am 44, and conceived at 41, so I am with you, your age should not be any problem for you, provided you have the proper nutrients and good health, as you do. We don’t have an OBGYN to refer you to..Can you find a local birthing center and then get referrals and conduct interviews with several doctors in your area to find one that is in alignment with your needs?
 
 
There is conflicting support for prenatal vitamins, and some studies show them not being helpful for the baby, maybe even harmful. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/13777/
http://www.alittlebitofgreen.com/2008/09/21/did-my-prenatal-vitamins-cause-my-daughters-allergies/
 
As for the weaning of your son, it is a very personal choice, including when and how. It’s got to be a mutual decision between you and your son, so he does not feel deprived or slighted, especially with a new child coming in to the family. Is there a local la leche league near you, so you can meet other nursing mothers and discuss things they have done during the weaning process. At nearly four years old, your son might be willing to stop if you discuss it with him and allow a gradual process, that he feels a part of the decision making process.
 
 
Love,
Justine
 
 
 

Fennel for colic.

 
Hi Susun.
Thank you for everything...
I have a two week old granddaughter that started having what we thought might me colic. Doctor said it was psychological... and offered no relief for her. We on the other hand had already gone to health food store to get some things you had mentioned on your vids. Thank God we did.  The fennel tea worked wonders for her. Both mom and baby are taking the tea, she is still a bit fussy after feedings but I see it getting better and better beings this  will only be the third day of them both drinking it. I just had to thank you so very much for without this knowledge we would have had to watch her suffer. Any other suggestions you have would be most appreciated.
Green Blessings to you .

so glad to hear of your success with the fennel, hope you will share your findings with the doctor so maybe they can share with other mothers in need in the future. Any other dietary changes the mom makes will affect the baby, whatever she eats goes into the milk…so, if she is eating cabbage and broccoli, she might stop for a while to see if that offers further relief….likewise for onions and garlic…and spicy foods…but do not make too many dietary changes at one time otherwise the mom may be restricting foods from her diet unnecessarily.
 
Sending love, Justine
 

Increasing and maintaining milk flow

I am nursing my 9 weeks old. I have always had struggle keeping him
happy with just breast milk and unfortunately I had to start him on
formula as well. I would like to give him more of breast milk and am
taking fenugreek everyday. I now intend to take a tea which has fennel
seed, anise seed, chamomile, lavender, fenugreek and nettle leaf. I was
wondering if there is any evidence that any of these could be harmful
to the nursing baby. Could you please advise. I am a bit confused
reading the cautions on these products and my doctor is not
knowledgeable in alternate medicines. Thanks, z.





If you are taking a simple tea it should be just fine.  Consider taking
an Infusion of nettles leaf alone, this is the best herb in the mix you
are taking. You would buy a pound of it, and to make an infusion,
you
would put one ounce of herb in a canning jar and pour boiling water
into the jar, let it sit for four hours and then drink. What you do not
drink, should be refrigerated. Sending love, Justine


 

Essiac While Breastfeeding

Q: Hello,
I can't get a straight answer from anyone on whether it is safe to take

turkey rhubarb
burdock
slippery elm
sheep sorrel

aka "Essiac tea"  while breastfeeding. I am currently undergoing all kinds of tests to see if I have ovarian cancer, or a benign growth, and would like to begin these herbs. Any advice or insights here would be so mostly appreciated!

Thank you, and be well!

A: I deeply apologize for such a late reply.  I have a handful of emails in my inbox I have been wanting to get to since injuring my hand and taking a typing break.  I am back now and look forward to speaking with you more as you wish.

Unfortunately I can not answer the question for you.   It is harmful as many things that combat cancer can be.  I imagine any who are nursing and dealing with cancer, or any strong health challenge, have a tough decision to make.  Besides, from my learning of herbs with Susun, I personally do not even recommend Essiac.  I instead favor her version, Wessiac, which may have been the original formula.  I highly value Burdock root and consider it nourishing for both mother and child.  I think slippery elm is great too, though imagine it was added to counter the effects of the turkey rhubarb.  I like to eat sheep sorrel, though do not know its use in this way.

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
http://www.wisewomanweb.com

Conception After 40 and Seizure Disorder

Q: Dear Susun,

I have seen your article regarding childbirth after forty and plan to follow your advice. I thought I'd ask you a few questions specific to my situation to see if you have any other advice. 

I have recently had a yearning to have another child--I have two, five years old and almost 3. had no problem getting pregnant with them, though an earlier pregnancy was ectopic (they believe, never could find the baby on ultrasound--gave me methotrexate to expel any tissue remaining). I will be 44 in Dec but still feel very healthy and fit. My biggest vice of the past couple years has been 2 or 3 cups of coffee a day and I have for the past 6 months been working out vigorously. If I were indeed to start trying again, I would focus on doing all I can nutritionally to conceive a healthy child and would prob cut back a bit on the exercise. I will also take the herbs you recommend.

I have a seizure disorder and take one of the safest meds out there--lamotrigine. Both of my children are healthy and bright and I breastfed both--still am breastfeeding the almost 3 yr old once a day or so.

Question finally is, anything else you think I should take given my health issue (very well controlled--2 grand mal seizures with first pregnancy early on but forgot to take my meds, none with second and only one since bc of med lowering and other extenuating circumstances. I guess I am scared that I am "tempting fate" bc I already have 2 healthy children and worry my age will make another pregnancy more high risk somehow, though I look and feel young! My husband and myself would find a baby with challenges difficult to say the least, although I feel bad saying that. Any words of wisdom or advice for additional herbs to take? 

Thank you,

A: Any of us at any age take that risk. If you are wishing a child I encourage you to consider what is too much to handle, are they things that can be tested for early in  conception, and if you found specific issues what would you two choose at that point? Besides what Susun writes in the article I do not have further herbal suggestions to change your percentage risk. I imagine this is a hard decision, I wish I could help more.

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

Q: I am 44 and in good health and am trying to get pregnant--have tried for only 3 mos. My naturopath who I trust and think is a great doctor--after talking with me today at my visit, "prescribed" 1 tsp of phytoest diluted in water 2 times daily on day 1-14 of menstrual cycle and 1 tsp twice daily of phyto progest on day 15-28 of cycle along with prenatal vitamins, omega 3's, lunaception and something called pregnenolone, to help me conceive. Was wondering if those supplements (specifically the phytoest and phytoprogest by Wise Woman Herbals which is what he sold to me) IN YOUR OPINION make sense for someone looking to get pregnant at 44. I have no known issues with fertility and have a 3 and a five year old currently, although periods seem lighter than before (when younger) and I have some spotting before it starts which I don't recall Also my premenstrual symptoms-sore breasts, irritability, etc. seem to have gotten "lighter" for lack of better word. Cycles are usually somewhere between 28 and 33 days I know you can't diagnose, treat, etc. My children took 3 (1st) and 1 mos (2nd) respectively to conceive so I'm now over that timeline but I am older!!

as I said, I do trust him very much but just remembered I had emailed you and thought I'd ask.......... any info would be helpful

Thanks

A: Hello again!

First, I am curious about the pregnenolone, after reading here:

Due to its antagonistic effects on the GABA receptor in the central nervous system, pregnenolone therapy may be contraindicated in people with a history of seizures. Pregnenolone may inhibit drugs used to increase GABA activity (i.e., neurontin); these drugs are frequently used in the treatment of epilepsy and depression.

I do not see any harm at first glance with the herbs listed in the Wise Woman Herbal product, HOWEVER myself feel odd about using things that are so vague, besides I like one herb at a time. I do not see online if these are tinctures, oils, etc. and how the are used. I myself like to know what plant, how and when harvested, exactly how prepared, etc. before even deciding if safe or not. Those products are as foreign to me as a bottle of vitamin tablets.

So you ask me if it all makes sense for someone looking to get pregnant. It makes sense understanding how some think about it, yes. To me and my approach to health, no. Especially as I see nothing "wrong" needing "fixing" as it sounds you are wonderfully fertile and healthy, just older. And even if I did feel you needed assistance this would not be at all the route I would go.

HOWEVER, part of helping one along one's path is following intuition, whether it makes sense or not. It feels good sometimes to trust someone and add things to our life, whether they make sense or not. I hear you trust this person. That means a lot in my opinion :)

I am not sure if this helps or not. I am glad you asked, and am happy to share my opinion any time. As well I am very happy to support you on the path you choose for yourself, whether or not it is the one I would choose for myself. We are all unique. Besides I will be curious to hear how you are doing.

love and blessings,
Karen Joy

 

An Ointment without Beeswax, for Breasts

Q: Hello Susun,

I am working with breastfeeding mothers and lately we are seeing more and more mothers with big gashes of opening on their nipple. They find that none of the ointments and cream work to help them heal. Other than helping them correct the latch I figured I can come up with an ointment for them.

I made for my family plantain ointment and we just love it. We use it on bruises, scraps, mosquito bites, even on the lips when my boys go outside during the cold winter months.

I have looked up how to make the ointment I also looked up to add calendula which can also help in the healing. My concern is the beeswax and these young babies. Do I need to worry about allergies? Can I use something else other than bees wax?

I would really appreciate any information you are willing to share and give me.

Warmly

 

A: This is an excellent question! I have never heard of concern of this, however myself tend to shy away from beeswax on skin for personal preference. So I use simply herbal oils, and sometimes prepare them in coconut oil for their ability to be more solid when cooler. Perhaps these are options for you?

Thank you for all you do for mothers!!!

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

 

Q: Thank you Karen for the suggestion of Coconut oil. Now I just need to figure out what amount I need in the olive oil and coconut oil. The plantain is now soaking olive oil.

Take care and thank you again.

 

A: I would use the same amount of herb to oil as I do for my olive oil infusions :)

Karen Joy