Childbearing Year

Echinacea Goldenseal while nursing

Hi Susun

I've recently purchased an Echinacea Goldenseal supplement by Gaia Herbs and didn't see, until after getting home, that it is recommended to avoid consumption of goldenseal while nursing.

I have a 14 month old, and he is breastfed on demand. I'm curious of a few things. I figured scouring the internet would only return a handful, at best, of reputable sources so why not come to the wellspring of women's herbal knowledge!

1. Is it in fact safe? I've searched in your Wise Woman books and have only turned up that it can be used topically on babies. What has been found out that has anything I find on the subject saying that it is not safe?
2. What are the associated risks vs benefits that I may need to weigh to decide on my own if there isn't much known about the relationship of it and nursing mothers? Would it be an OK supplement for me to take on occasion at the very least?

This info will not only help me, but future clients who may be curious as well. I sincerely appreciate your time.
theresa

Hello Theresa,
What form is this in? Susun does not recommend herbs in capsule form. Susun also does not recommend the use of goldenseal at all ... Echinacea tincture, not a problem... As for deciding on what to take... of course, we cannot give a hard and fast rule to that. Many herbs haven't been studied, so they always err on the side of caution and say do not use them... when they do study them, often the various constituents are extracted, studies separately, apart from the whole... which is why when it does come to herbs, Susun recommends the use of whole form... the nourishing herbal infusions, medicinal vinegars, etc. 

Perhaps you can call in during Susun's health hotline? That way you can discuss it with her directly... She holds it every Tuesday from 7:30pm - 9Pm Eastern...
646-929-2463; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

Also, not sure if you have Susun's book, The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year? If not, I would recommend ... lots of good info on herb use from before conception thru breastfeeding ...  

 

blessings,
Kim
Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com
www.wisewomanbookshop.com
www.wisewomanuniversity.org
www.wisewomanmentor.com

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call in with your questions or email ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Visit the link for more info:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

 

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If you're ready to go deeper with your herbal studies, join Susun on her new Mentorship website. Get new content weekly such as the expanded herbal ezine, replays of teleseminars, videos, audio of Susuns past lectures, many articles by Susun, and even personal one on one mentorship from Susun.
www.wisewomanmentor.com

Soothing Sitz Bath, Healing Bath

Soothing Sitz Bath, Healing Bath
Soothes inflamed and tender tissues, heals trauma, lubricates

Soak 2 ounces/60g dried or 8 ounces/250g fresh mallow (malva neglecta) (pictured)
or comfrey roots, leaves, and/or flowers in 2 quarts/liters of cold water in a pot overnight.

Then bring to a boil.
Cover, remove from heat, and steep for 4–6 hours.
Strain.
Warm the liquid, pour it into a small tub and sit in it.
Alternately, pour it into a hot bath.

Or refrigerate and drink it.
A dose is a cup or more a day —heated or iced, sweetened or not — daily for at least ten days.

Excerpt from: Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way

Herbal Infusions

Herbal Infusions

Herbal infusions differ from herbal teas: They are darker in color and richer tasting because their long brewing extracts many more nutrients -- especially minerals. My favorite nourishing herbal infusions for are oatstraw, red clover blossoms, stinging nettle leaves, and comfrey leaves.

To prepare your infusion: Put a quart of cold water up to boil. Weigh one ounce of dried (not fresh!) herb into a quart canning jar. Go brush your teeth and count your grey hairs until the teapot whistles. Pour the boiling water into the jar with your herb (only one herb at a time, please!), screw on a tight lid, turn off the light, and go to bed. Next morning strain out the herb and drink the liquid: cold, hot, or at room temperature. Add honey, tamari, or milk if desired.

Learn more in this online course:
www.wisewomanschool.com/p/nourishing-herbal-infusions

🌿

Congestion during pregnancy

My daughter is expecting her first child, is in her fourth month. She has a bad chest cough and chest congestion. Docs have given her all the antibiotics she's allowed during pregnancy with no improvement. Do you have any very simple single herb tea or remedy I can send to her or she can get in Washington DC? I live in Minneapolis in the matter is rather urgent. I have your book healing lies and herbal childbearing year. She is a nurse as a fertility clinic. Her pregnancy docs are very negative against her taking any herbs during pregnancy because they said they're not safe. So of course I have to be sure that they are safe.

Thank you so much,
Adrienne

 

Hello Adrienne,

Your daughter is welcome to call in during Susun's free health hotline to speak directly with Susun... She would need to speak with her since it is not good to work thru second hand information. If she is able to call in, Susun holds the hotline each Tuesday evening from 7:30pm - 9pm Eastern and the number for calling in is: (646) 929-2463
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

Mullein is a wonderful supporter of lung health and is gentle and safe .... She can make the infusions, drink either hot or cold -- Susun likes to drink them half and half with whole milk for the extra benefits... Some sources on this below:

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/june03/herbalmedicine.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjCHcjG8d0

blessings,
Kim
Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com
www.wisewomanbookshop.com
www.wisewomanuniversity.org
www.wisewomanmentor.com

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call in with your questions or email ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Visit the link for more info:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

 

---

If you're ready to go deeper with your herbal studies, join Susun on her new Mentorship website. Get new content weekly such as the expanded herbal ezine, replays of teleseminars, videos, audio of Susuns past lectures, many articles by Susun, and even personal one on one mentorship from Susun.
www.wisewomanmentor.com

Spotting between periods

Spotting between periods

A caller on blogtalkradio says she has been reading Susun books, Down There and Childbearing year, and she would like to know if there are any herbs to help with spotting. Susun asks her some questions, about timing, and diet. She lists various reasons for spotting and gives some suggestions.
This audio is over 4:00 minutes long.

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call in with your questions or email ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Visit the link for more info:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

Nourishing herbal infusions

 

From the Wise Woman perspective, the perfect way to maintain bone health, bone flexibility, and resistance to fracture is to use mineral-rich herbs and foods. Because minerals are bulky, and do not compact, we must consume generous amounts to make a difference in our health. Just as eating a teaspoon a carrots is laughable, so is taking mineral-rich herbs in capsule or tincture form. Because minerals are rock-like, we need to break open cell walls to get at them. Raw, fresh foods do not deliver minerals to our bodies. To extract minerals, we need heat, time, and generous quantities of plant material. I prefer to extract minerals into water or vinegar.

To make a nourishing herbal infusion, I pour one quart/liter boiling water over one ounce/30 grams of dried herb in a canning jar, covering it tightly, and letting it brew overnight. In the morning, I strain out the mineral-rich liquid and drink it -- over ice or heated, with honey or milk, mixed with black tea, seasoned with mint, spiked with rum, however you want it. You can drink the entire quart in one day, but do finish it within two.

My favorite nourishing herbal infusions are made from oatstraw (Avena sativa) or nettle (Urtica dioica) or red clover (Trifolium pratense) or comfrey leaves (Symphytum uplandica x). I sometimes add a little bit of aromatic herb such as peppermint (Mentha pipperata), lemon balm (Melissa off.), or bergamot (Monarda didyma) to change the flavor.

🌱
https://www.wisewomanschool.com/p/nourishing-herbal-infusions
💻

St. John's/Joan's wort Conference May 1-10, 2023

☀️ It's almost Time!! ☀️
The Hypericum Conference: Time to End the Nonsense
St. John's/Joan's wort
May 1-10, 2023

Hypericum perforatum is one of my favorite herbs. It makes me sad (and mad) to see it banned, outlawed, and feared. Come on! Let's end the nonsense. Join me, Susun Weed, and 21 other lovers of St. John's/Joan's wort, while we share our decades of personal and clinical experiences, thoughts, visions, and research.
There is so much to do at the Hypericum Conference.
* Every new day brings new presentations on ways to prepare, use, and think about Hypericum.
* And every day each presenter is available to answer your questions in live a zoom session.
* There will also be Hypericum Shorts, Hypericum Marketplace, the Hypericum Kitchen And more!
☀️
Only $49.50! (price will increase to $99 after May 5th)
💻
Learn more and Register Now:
https://www.wisewomanschool.com/p/sjwcon
🌱🌱

*

Growth in Uterus

hi,
I have a growth in my uterus and i am wondering if chickweed tincture would work to shrink that?
Also is the tincture the same as extract?
Thank You so much!!!!
Sarah

 

Hi Sarah,

Chickweed works well for cysts ... I imagine you are talking about fibroids and would be looking at a different approach. Susun recommends a dropperful of vitex or saw palmetto tincture, 2-4 times a day, also 2-3 quarts of nettle and raspberry leaf infusions per week... There is also a recommended vinegar that does include chickweed among it's ingredients - easy to make and depending on where you live, now would be the time to put together:
http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Triple_Goddess_Elixir.html

You might want to check out Susun's book, Down There, Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way which offers more suggestions as Susun has a chapter devoted to fibroids. And an article from Susun's other book Menopausal Years:
http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-fibroids.htm

Susun offers a free health hotline each Tuesday evening from 7:30pm - 9pm Eastern time - you are welcome to call in and discuss further with her. You can access more info and archived shows here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

Phone number for calling in: (646) 929-2463

And yes, extract and tincture are usually the same thing ... alcohol or glycerine used as a menstruum for extracting medicinal properties from plant material... almost always fresh rather than dried herb ...

blessings,
Kim
Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com
www.wisewomanbookshop.com
www.wisewomanuniversity.org
www.wisewomanmentor.com

---

Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call in with your questions or email ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Visit the link for more info:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

 

---

If you're ready to go deeper with your herbal studies, join Susun on her new Mentorship website. Get new content weekly such as the expanded herbal ezine, replays of teleseminars, videos, audio of Susuns past lectures, many articles by Susun, and even personal one on one mentorship from Susun.
www.wisewomanmentor.com

Making a Syrup

Making a Syrup

Add sugar or honey to any type of decoction, and you have a syrup. The extra sweetness makes some herbs more palatable, soothes the throat, and can improve keeping qualities.
How much sugar or honey should you add? The exact amount is determined by weight. A standard for syrups is an equal amount, by weight, of sugar and decoction.
One cup (8 fluid ounces) of water or decoction, weighs half a pound (8 ounces). So one cup of decoction requires half a pound of sugar.
Honey is about twice as sweet as sugar. Use a quarter of a pound (4 ounces) of honey to every cup of decoction. One level tablespoon of honey weighs about one ounce.

* Add the sweetener to the hot liquid
* Increase the fire until the brew just comes to a boil.
* Pour the boiling hot syrup into a bottle and cap it. Sterilized bottles reduce the risk of producing unexpected herbal fermentations, but the boiling liquid kills many yeasts in the bottle.

Optional: Add one tablespoon of brandy, vodka, etc. to further stabilize the syrup.

Store the syrup in the refrigerator once it cools. Syrups keep for 3-6 months.
Depending on the herbs in your original infusion, you can make a cough syrup (Comfrey root and Wild Cherry bark), an iron tonic (Yellow Dock and Dandelion roots), a soothing syrup (Valerian root), or any other medicinal syrup.
Dosage: Generally, one teaspoon of syrup is a dose for a 125-150 pound person. The dose is repeated as needed, up to 8 times daily. Use a half teaspoonful for 60-75 pound children and a quarter teaspoonful for 30 pounds or smaller.

excerpt from:
Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

 

Nourishing herbal infusions

My favorite herbs for making nourishing infusions are:

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) for lots of energy.
Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense) to forstall cancer.
Oatstraw (Avena sativa) to be very, very sexy.
Comfrey leaves (Smyphytum uplandica x) to help the memory.
Linden blossoms (Tillia species) to counter inflammation.
Chickweed (Stellaria media) to lose weight.
Hawthorn blossoms (Crataegus oxycantha) for older hearts.
Raspberry leaves (Rubus species) for uterine health.

To brew a nourishing herbal infusion
Place one ounce (30 grams) of dried herb by weight in a quart (liter) jar.
Fill jar to the top with boiling water.
Cap tightly and steep for at least four hours; overnight is fine.
After brewing, strain the liquid from the herbs.
Squeeze the herbs to get all the goodness out.
Refrigerate the liquid, which needs to be consumed with a day or two.
Drink your nourishing herbal infusion over ice or heated up, with honey or not.
I drink 2-4 cups of infusion a day.

You can mix nourishing herbal infusions with fruit juice or soda water; you can add whiskey or miso, honey or ginger to them, or flavor them in any way that appeals to you.

More info:
http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/