Childbearing Year

Fertility After Forty

Hi Susun, 

I'm a true fan and have your books which are so informative!

My question is I've had vaginal itching/burning for 2 years and I'm now 40.  My husband and I are trying for another child.  Can this affect conception?  

No Dr. could find a definite reason or a cure.  I thought it's peri-menopausal symptoms.  Can I use the plantain oil you mentioned in your menopausal book?  

Also is Raspberry Leaf safe throughout pregnancy?  

Thank you so much...

Greetings,

We are happy to hear that you have been able to find useful information from the books and websites. Afraid that I cannot say for sure if the vaginal itching/burning could affect conception, unless it makes it too hard for having sex!  No problems with yeast infections?

Have you been able to try any of the things recommended? Regular use of vitex (chasteberry) tincture helps to restore thickness and moisture to vaginal walls. And since it is a great ally for fertility in women over 40, I would certainly try it, if you are not already. Take a dropperful 2-3 times a day. I do not know of any problems with using plantain ointment - should be fine to continue its use.

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

We love raspberry leaf during pregnancy. It helps in easing morning sickness and tones the uterus. It is especially useful for promoting fertility if combined with red clover. 1/2 oz of each to a quart of water for daily infusions.

Currently Susun is devoting her time to her forthcoming book, “Down There, reproductive health for women and men” due out soon. You can speak with Susun during her Free hotline Tuesday evenings between 7:30-9:30 pm eastern time or by appointment for a moderate fee (15min/$30 or 30min/$50). For a free consultation, call 845-246-8081 on Tuesday evenings May through October, 7:30-9:30pm EST. For a private phone consultation, go to: www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store.

Just let us know if you need any further assistance and always remember to keep the SUN in SuSUN... :)

Blessings,
Kim
Wise Woman Team
www.wisewomanweb.com
www.wisewomanbookshop.com
www.wisewomanuniversity.org

Hi Kim,

I've started using vitex for 1wk now, my cycle went from it's usual 27 days to 28, that may have been a coincidence in such a short time and I flooded day 2.  I've never flooded before.  I do have endometriosis and 3 small fibroids.

Is that a bad sign, or does vitex need a bit of patience?

Hi,

Vitex needs a lot of patience - definitely a slow-acting herb. I've known of many women who have had fantastic results with its use, but it is one to engage with on a long-term basis. Susun recommends it use for help with menstrual cramps, endometriosis and fibroids as it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect on the endometrium. It helps to regulate cycles, along with issues such as flooding and irregular spotting. You could be looking at a couple of years for everything to balance out, especially in its ability to help with endometriosis and fibroids.

I would definitely not take this as a bad sign but as your body slowly beginning the process of readjusting itself. Let us know if you continue to have more flooding or other issues, but I would continue with the vitex.

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 Completion of Miscarriage

Hi,

My sister just told me about your books and website, and I just spent a few minutes browsing. I was wondering if you could help me out.

I had a miscarriage about 3 weeks ago, but haven't passed any tissue yet, and am getting a bit anxious. My medical doctor wants me to get a D&C within the week, if nothing happens, ....I would prefer not to have the procedure done if possible.

Someone told me that there are natural methods that can help me, but my medical doctor is nervous about the risk of hemorrhage, so has advised me against it. If I would know that there are herbs that are safe for me to use, I might choose to take them. Can you advise me about that? I really want all this to be over already.

Awaiting your response,

Hello,

The completion of a miscarriage usually resolves on its own and the timeframe that you have so far experienced is not excessive. As long as you are not running a fever, or showing signs of an infection, it is so much healthier if your body can handle this process on its own. Herbs such as black and blue cohosh are used traditionally to complete miscarriages but it is still very important to have an experienced herbalist with you and also either shepherd's purse or witch hazel tincture to control bleeding. Any herb that is strong enough to do this type of work is very powerful and needs to be respected. You can find a great deal of information here as well: http://www.sisterzeus.com/

And, of course, whether you end up with a naturally completed miscarriage or opt for herbs or a D&C, taking care of yourself after the fact is so important. If you are not, drink plenty of infusions, especially nettles and red raspberry leaf. Eat foods such as dandelion greens and/or take yellow dock root tincture to help with iron levels. As you know, a miscarriage is physically, emotionally and mentally stressful. Do what you can to nurture and take care of yourself. Please let us know how you are doing and if you need any further assistance.

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com

www.wisewomanbookshop.com

www.wisewomanuniversity.org

 

Good Morning Kim,

...I miscarried about a week ago, Thank God, and am still feeling a bit weak, but getting better every day. I'm still drinking the raspberry tea, and will try to get to the health food store today or tommorrow. Do you have any suggestions for anything that may help me deal with mood swings? I've been feeling very moody over the last several days and am guessing its because of the change in hormone levels.

Thanks and have a great day,

Hello,

...So glad to hear that everything ended as it needed to without medical intervention. First off, after any kind of miscarriage, you do need to give special attention to yourself. Keep up with the raspberry leaf infusions and make sure that you add oatstraw infusions, if not already. Oatstraw provides a mineral rich brew to help level things out for your body and also to soothe your nerves. Since what we eat can acerbate our situation, I would make sure to avoid too much sugar, completely avoiding white sugar and reducing any use of honey and maple syrup, just for the time being. Concentrate on high protein snacks instead.

Probably my first choice to deal directly with mood swings would be motherwort tincture. If you start to feel your mood begin to shift, take 5-10 drops in a small cup of water, and use as needed - even up to 3-4 times an hour, until you feel emotionally balanced again.

From Susun: "Allow fifteen minutes for the full effect to come on; repeat if necessary, as frequently as every two hours during times of particular upset. Motherwort tincture works best when combined with a short break from the day's routine to stretch, breathe, relax, and return to center. CAUTION: Limit use of Motherwort if you begin to feel that you can't get through the day without it, as this calming herb may be psychologically habit forming."

I would also incorporate nettle infusions, not only are they very mineral rich to help with overall health, they support the adrenals. This will help not only with your energy levels but also with the moods as overstressed adrenals help give rise to depression and mood swings.

Burdock, Blessed Thistle, and Sarsaparilla are bitter tonics. Occasional use helps keep your emotions on an even keel and makes a nice change from your daily Nettle or Raspberry leaf brew.

If you are feeling tired and/or weak, you may be dealing with reduced iron levels right now as well. Tincture of Yellow Dock is wonderful for building iron back up as does dandelion. You can eat the greens or use dandelion root tincture.

One of the best hormonal balancers for women is vitex. Here is an article that goes more in depth: http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Vitex_RedMoonHerbs.htm

As women, we usually spend most of our days running around and taking care of everyone else first. This is a time where you really have to stop and honor what your body has had to deal with - whether through rituals, meditations, etc. and hopefully having a good support system in place. Just let us know if you need anything else.

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 PCOS

Hello,

I'm writing on behalf of my sister who approx 2yrs ago was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. For the past 2 years she has had her normal cycle and there were no problems and now all of the sudden her cycle has just stopped. She has gone 3 months now without a period, been to her doctors and specialists and they cannot see why its just paused again. Is there anything Natural she can be taking to help balance her out and boost her cycle? She was on dosages of Progesterone but as she said she is not thinking this was ever her real diagnosis...

She doesnt have any symptoms of this syndrome except an abnormal mentrual cycle so we're basically looking for something that can keep her cycles regular. She is 27 and would like to start a family but with her body so out of whack she really needs some help here! She has not been on the pill for over 3 years hoping that would help since no birth control seemed to.

Thank you for your help.

Greetings,

One of the first things I would do is have your sister start with herbal infusions if she is not already doing so. http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

Make sure to include nettles, red clover, oatstraw and comfrey leaf. Another thing that works well in balancing women's cycles and our bodies in general is seaweed. This is something that is rarely included in our diet but would be very helpful for your sister to incorporate.

Slow acting Chasteberry (vitex) is highly recommended for regulating cycles. Use a dropperful in a glass of water, 3-4 times a day, and you will usually find that it brings results in a couple of months, but if you need to go beyond that it would be fine as long term is safe. Essential Fatty Acids are essential. Eat fatty fish, full-fat organic dairy, or cod liver oil. Acupuncture has proven very effective for menstrual issues and another tincture I like is blessed thistle.

You can also speak with Susun during her Free hotline Tuesday evenings between 7:30-9:30 pm eastern time or by appointment for a moderate fee (15min/$30 or 30min/$50). For a free consultation, call 845-246-8081 on Tuesday evenings May through October, 7:30-9:30pm EST. For a private phone consultation, go to: www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/ You might also go to the Wise Woman Forum to ask your question in case a member can offer you help: www.susunweed.com/wisewomanforum.htm. Hopefully these can give your sister some starting points and just let us know if you need any further assistance.

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.

 

 

Interstitial Cystitis and Fertility

Dear Justine / Susun

What's the best herb to take for pain for interstitial cystitis whilst attempting 2nd pregnancy please at nearly 42?  Taking rasperry leaf, stinging nettle, marshmallow root, comfrey leaf, red clover, peppermint and camomile all as teas at the moment - although not all at same time! 
I need something for the pain when it flares up.  Yoga / acupuncture helping but not completely resolving and still having to take conventional pain relief from general practitioner.  Attacks are less prolonged now.  What would you suggest in a herbal form please for flare ups of pain that is fertility, potentially baby freindly?

Hello,

Glad to hear that you are seeing some relief of your symptoms. Marsh Mallow is very helpful. Have you tried using an infusion as opposed to the tea? With many herbs, you will get more benefit from the long steeping that creates an infusion. For Mallows, soak a small handful of the fresh root or 2 tablespoons/12 grams of the dried root in 8 ounces of water overnight, then strain and drink the next morning.

Regular use of Kegel exercises (at least 100 a day) to help strengthen the muscles, increase circulation and tonify the bladder wall.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises/WO00119

Barley broth can bring fast relief as well. Cook one cup of barley in 8 cups of water till soft. Drink 1 cup of the broth at least every other day for a month or more.

Along with acupuncture, some other healing methods that may help would be Cranial-sacral adjustments and EFT. http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/March09/empower.htm

Another herb that often is beneficial would be chickweed. Again I would make the infusion and also eat fresh when available. I would also start drinking infusions of the stinging nettle and red clover. http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

Sitz baths of oatstraw infusions can help ease bladder spasms and pain - Add 2 quarts of reheated strained oatstraw infusion to a tub of hot water and soak... Hopefully some of these steps can bring you more relief.

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.

Wild Yam: Prevents or Enhances Conception?

Hi there,

I hope you can clear up some confusion i'm having about taking wild yam. I am 39 and trying to conceive for the first time. 

This is what Susun had said about the Wild Yam on the Healing Wise site:

Wild yam can help you ovulate when taken daily for the first two weeks of your
cycle. It can help you hold a conception when taken for the last two weeks of the
cycle. It can prevent conception if taken daily.

Take wild yam to increase fertility from the first day of your period until ovulation.
When taken every day it is considered a contraceptive.

This made perfect sense until I found the opposite info in the New Menopausal Years by Susun. On page 174 under Wild Yam it says: "Wild Yam can be used to prevent pregnancy (3 cups tea daily) or to increase fertility (dropperful of tincture 1-3 times a day), for the last two weeks of menstrual cycle.

So which is it? Do I take wild yam for the first two weeks or the last two weeks to increase fertility? I'm confused. Not to mention numerous other sources said to take it AFTER ovulation (the last two weeks), that if taken before ovulation it can actually prevent ovulation!

My issue is that i'm not ovulating, but still have a menstrual cycle. And when I do ovulate it's all over the place, right after my period, in the middle of the cycle. It has a mind of its own, so I have no idea when to take the wild yam, and even if did know, with the seemingly contradiction in advice, I still wouldn't be sure when to take it.

I've always trusted Susun's advice. I have all her books and she is the first herbal mind I go to when i need great info on herbs, but seeing opposite advice has left me confused. I'm sure, I'm just not understanding it correctly, so please help to clear up.

Thanks! Hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

Hi,

It can be confusing! Wild Yam is one of those herbs that has a wide range of effects, depending on when you take it and the form it is taken in. Hence the reason it can be used both as a contraceptive and yet at the same time promote fertility. Also, it seems that the substances within wild yam needs to go through the digestive process to cause change, one reason why topical use is showing to be of no use.

It can cause different results in hormones to different people due to your own gut flora (I would make sure to incorporate organic full-fat yogurt in diet if not doing so) ...SO... after all is said and done, to increase fertility in normal situations, consensus is to take small doses (a cup of tea or 10-20 drops of tincture) daily during the first half of the cycle from onset of menses until mid-period. Only use either tea or tincture.

 

FROM SUSUN: "In either case, the effect seems to be triggered by the large amount of hormone-like substances found in this root. When taken daily, these substances may be converted into progesterone, thus decreasing the possibility of conception. When taken for the two weeks preceding ovulation, these substances may be converted into LH and FSH, hormones which are needed to make the egg ready to be fertilized."

 

If you haven't already, I would investigate some other ways of increasing your fertility as well. Number one for Susun is to be drinking red clover blossom infusions. Only use infusions as the teas and capsules have been ineffective for this use.

Instructions for making red clover infusion.

You will need a quart canning jar, an ounce of herb by weight, and a kettle big enough to boil at least a quart of water. Put the dried herb into the jar. It will fill it about 1/3 full. Pour the boiling water over the dried herb, filling the jar. Cover tightly and steep four hours or overnight. Strain out the herbal material. Drink the remaining liquid at room temperature, over ice, or heated up. Be sure to use dried clover blossoms; fresh ones don't infuse well. The usual dose is one to four cups of infusion daily for 12-18 months.

Another wonderful ally for fertility issues is vitex (chasteberry). This herb is slow-acting but powerful and long-term use is not a problem. http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Vitex_RedMoonHerbs.htm

 You can also speak with Susun during her Free hotline Tuesday evenings between 7:30-9:30 pm eastern time or by appointment for a moderate fee (15min/$30 or 30min/$50).  For a free consultation, call 845-246-8081 on Tuesday evenings May through October, 7:30-9:30pm EST. For a private phone consultation, go to: www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/

Just let us know if you need any 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.