Menopause Metamorphosis

http://www.nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

May 13, 2013 in Menopause | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 20, 2013

Buliding Health After Hysterectomy

10 years ago my wife had a total hysterectomy. Overall her body has stabilized compared to the stories I've heard.

She has intermittent mood thingies and energy thingies but overall she is a war horse loving hardworking mother and wife. Zero libido but a caring loving wife.

Is there a book to guide us with diet etc to help her body adjust to the dreaded operation and promote a long happy healthy life?

Hello,

We would definitely recommend Susun's book The New Menopausal Years -- this is a great source, whether menopause is a natural course of events or if we are thrown into it due to other circumstances such as a hysterectomy. Lots of diet and herbal tips, covers everything from fatigue, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, mood swings, etc.

Susun's first step is to always start incorporating herbal infusions into your diet daily - drinking these instead of plain water. More can be read about them at Susun's site here:

Oatstraw infusions are specifically recommended for libido issues....

Susun also teaches an online course that may be of interest to your wife as well: http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000237

And we have an active forum at www.healingwiseforum.com which also has a room dedicated to menopausal issues: http://www.healingwiseforum.com/viewforum.php?f=1

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/june5-2012/weedwalk1.html

April 20, 2013 in Hysterectomy | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 19, 2013

Night Sweats

I am looking for information on severe night sweats. Do I have to buy a book or is there an information page in the website?

Hello,

I would absolutely recommend Susun's book, New Menopausal Years, the Wise Woman Way - it is loaded with great info.

Support your adrenals with nettle infusions, 2-4 cups daily during periods of night sweats should prove helpful: http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

Also oatstraw infusions - a cup a day.... motherwort tincture, 10-25 drops in a glass of water b/f going to bed - keep by bedside and repeat dosage any time you wake up. Garden sage infusions - 1 ounce of dried herb to one quart of boiling water, steep four hours and then add 1-4 tablespoons of infusion into a cup of water and drink. You can keep the sage infusion in the fridge for weeks.... The rose family is a wonderful ally for menopause - I like using rose hip jelly, honey and teas - also the cinquefoils which are part of the rose family:

We have an active forum that has a room dedicated to menopause and you will find lots of good suggestions there as well:

http://www.healingwiseforum.com/viewforum.php?f=1

Another good article from Susun: http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/September04/menopausal.htm

She also has a site with numerous articles here: http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

February 19, 2013 in Menopause | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 29, 2012

Chocolate is Good Medicine

Dear Susun,

I got your book New Menopausal Years. Your book was so inspiring and encouraging. Thank you so much!

I have a question about chocolate. You mentioned in the book that chocolate is heart healthy for various reasons.
I got unsweetened organic baking chocolate to eat a little bit here and there to strengthen my heart.

My question is that I also hear that chocolate has a high level of oxalic acid which would bind calcium, and one can lose bone density. It can also cause kidney stones.

Do you think that the problem of oxalic acid in chocolate outweighs the benefit for the menopausal women?

Thank you very much.

Hello,

Susun believes dark chocolate is wonderful medicine ... Take in moderation and always drink your nourishing infusions daily....

An excerpt from Susun's book, New Menopausal Years: "Although chocolate contains oxalic acid, the levels are so low as to have only a negligible effect on calcium metabolism. An ounce/3000 mg of chocolate binds 15-20 mg of calcium; an ounce of cooked spinach, 100-125 mg calcium. Bittersweet (dark) chocolate is a source of iron. Recent research has found chocolate to be very heart healthy. (See page XXX) As with any stimulant, daily use is not advised. Chocolate is an important and helpful ally for women. Guilt about eating it damaging to your health and interferes with your ability to hear and respond to your body wisdom. If you want to eat chocolate - do it; and get the best. But if you're doing it every day - eat more weeds."

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

December 29, 2012 in Menopause, nourishing herbal infusions | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 26, 2012

Phyto-Estrogenic Herbs and Foods

Hello,

I've been trying everything that Susun suggest in the book, New Menopausal Years. I have asked some questions in the past, and thank you for getting back to me with answers.
I have another question.

I understand that during perimenopause, you get what's called Estrogen Dominance, where because progesterone is low, estrogen become dominant in mid cycle. In this sense, should I not take phyto-estrogenic herbs, foods, infusions during that time when you are estrogen dominant since you are raising the level of estrogen more? And should I take these things just before (like a week before) my period starts when the estrogen level does drop? Or does it not matter because the body will only take the amount of estrogens in herbs and foods (and even tinctures) that it needs and body gets rid of the rest?

I have read Christian Northrup's book, and she said that many medical doctors give estrogen hormone therapies to women when those women are "estrogen dominant" during perimenopause, and this is counter productive.

When you have a chance, please help me with my questions.

Thank you so so much!

Motherwort really helps me, and fermented soy products, as well as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and sunflower seeds really calmed my hot flashes and night sweats.

Hello,

I've never heard Susun suggest that you stop taking phyto-estrogenic herbs, foods, infusions during a particular time in your cycle. A good rule of thumb from Susun:

~ I eat phytoestrogenic foods daily in quantity.
~ I use phytoestrogenic food-like herbs regularly but not daily and in moderate quantity.
~ I take phytoestrogenic herbs rarely, usually in small amounts and for a limited time.

The full article here: http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Phytoestrogens.htm

Remember that taking in phytoestrogens in these natural forms is very different from any kind of estrogen hormone therapies that the medical community may give to women.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November08/healingwise.htm

December 26, 2012 in Menopause, Menstrual Cycle | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 08, 2012

Broken heart syndrome - Stress cardiomyopathy

Hi Susun,

A good friend of mine is in the hospital with what appears to be "broken heart syndrome" which from my quick research mostly affects post-menopausal women middle aged to elderly. I tried searching your web site but didn't see anything particular to this syndrome.

Can you offer any insights for my friend?

The medical term for this condition is Stress cardiomyopathy. Learn more here, seems to not be life threatening in most cases:http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/asc/faqs.html

Hawthorne tincture is healing for the heart…..motherwort tincture is also

Here are a few articles that you can print for your friend or forward links to her, or read them yourself to share the highlights

Take Heart from Hawthorne by Susun Weed

Motherwort by Susun Weed

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July08/wisewoman.htm

Heart Healthy Lifestyle by Susun Weed

http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-118-heart_healthy.htm

Small Ways to Heal Your Big Heart by sHEALy (Sherry Healy)
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July04/intuitive.htm

Herbs that Ease Anxiety and Fear by Susun Weed

http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_Fear_AW1.htm

sending you love,

Justine

December 08, 2012 in Heart Health | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 25, 2012

Chaste Berry for Fibroids

I have fiborids and they are large. Can you help me as I don't want to do surgery?

Hello,

It is possible to shrink the fibroids - don't know your age, but they often go away on their own once you are in menopause. You can begin with doing warm castor oil packs over the area or/and ginger compresses - acupuncture often helps as well.

From Susun: "There are no simple easy cures, but chasteberry tincture, a dropperful taken 2-4 times a day for 3 or more months (sometimes years) has been helpful for hundreds of women."

Here is an article Susun has written about the subject: http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-fibroids.htm.

You may also want to check out our forum for additional suggestions: www.healingwiseforum.com.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

November 25, 2012 in fibroids | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 11, 2012

Featured Website ~ Baby Crone Walking

Featured Website

Baby Crone Walking

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own" Ben Sweetland. This mind set of holding the torch for another is the very heart and spirit of Baby Crone Walking. You're not alone and are encouraged to reach out by expressing your thoughts and needs.

Visit http://babycronewalking.yuku.com/

November 11, 2012 in Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 02, 2012

Hypothyroidism and Menopause

A friend has hypothyroidism and is close to menopause. Hair falling out. They want to do HRT (hormone
replacement therapy) but she doesn't want to. What would you recommend?

Hello,

I would highly recommend Susun's book, The New Menopausal Years which is such a wealth of information and can really help so that you don't resort to HRT. Always a good starting point is the daily infusions - the minerals can help with many issues and is invaluable at any stage of life we are going through. Nettles is especially good for hair - you can drink it, also use externally as a hair rinse, massage into the scalp - also rosemary oil... http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-108-hairy_problems.htm

Include seaweeds in the diet, as much wild foods as possible, good fats, avoid an abundance of uncooked brassica vegetables....

A good article: http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July04/menopausal.htm

We also have a room dedicated to menopause at our forum - a nice spot for additional resources and support: http://healingwiseforum.com/viewforum.php?f=1

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-fibroids.htm

October 02, 2012 in Menopause | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 12, 2012

Herbal Allies to Avoid Hysterectomy

Dearest Susun:

I'm about to undergo an hysterectomy ( I have two tumors in my cervix and a large cyst on right ovary). So, what would you suggest at this point? I'm not comfortable with it, but I just am very concerned. I've also had 3 blood transfusions in the last year and I'm anemic now. I'm wondering what you would suggest?

Hello,

Doctors are very quick to go for hysterectomies. Certainly there are times when it is necessary, but if at all possible, it is best to avoid. Have you tried anything to help with the bleeding? How are you bleeding? Have you been able to try anything to help with it? Shepherd's purse tincture, cotton root bark tincture, Lady's Mantle tincture are all herbal preparations that can help with flooding. Paying close attention to diet to help with iron levels, eating cooked nettles, cooked dandelion leaves, organic red meat, especially liver, eggs, drinking daily infusions especially nettles to help and red raspberry infusions .... Read more about infusions here:http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/

From Susun in regards to bleeding: "The most effective blood-stopping herbs that I know of are:
Shepherd's purse (tincture of the fresh plant): midwives swear it stops uterine hemorrhage in seconds. I used it to stop a thirty day bleed during my menopause. (Took about 12 hours to do it.) Many women have told me it has saved their lives (and their uterus). A dose is a dropperful, repeated every two hours

Witch hazel tincture of the bark (not the stuff you buy in the drugstore, though that is good for external uses). A dropperful is a dose. It is also taken every two hours. Witch hazel is a more effective hemostatic, but does not have a special action on the uterus like shepherd's purse.

Lady's mantle tincture or tea of the fresh or dried leaves is the supreme uterine tonic, used throughout Europe to help women with profuse bleeding. It is much slower acting than shepherd's purse or witch hazel, but helps to insure that the bleeding does not return. It may be used on a daily basis for many months and combined with one of the above herbs. "

Chickweed tincture is good for ovarian cysts, effective but usually takes some time for it to work. Also castor oil packs would be beneficial as they are excellent in dissolving a number of growths.

What is your age? Oftentimes fibroids disappear after menopause. Vitex tincture has helped many women with fibroids. Here is an article of Susun's:

It's a lot to take in but perhaps if you can get the bleeding under control with one of the tinctures, you can postpone the surgery and have a chance to do a bit more research. You may be interested in speaking with Susun. She does offer private phone consultations- you would send in all of the necessary information and what you wish to go over so that the full amount of time can be spent solely on addressing your needs. These are scheduled thru our bookshop:

http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000597

http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000598

We also have a very active forum at www.healingwiseforum.com and a search there will bring up a number of threads in regards to hysterectomies and addressing your concerns. If you decide to wait, you may want to look into Susun's books, New Menopausal Allies and Down There, Sexual and Reproductive Health, the Wise Woman Way as they both contain a lot of information on this topic.

Also has the option of possibly just removing tumors been discussed at all? And if it seems that you must go ahead with the hysterectomy, do what you can to preserve your ovaries and cervix, if possible. Do let us know if you need further assistance.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team