Childbearing Year

Red Rasberry Leaf for Uterine Health

Hi,

I had Persistant Uterine Atony (weak muscles of uterus) after the birth of my 4th child. I believe that my Uterus needs healing and it seems like Red Raspberry is the herb to help!  I have a pound of Red Raspberry to begin drinking Nourishing Herbal Infusions.  I am hoping to do the Red Raspberry infusions for 2 years or less and then get pregnant God Willing, and use the Infusions throughout pregnancy. 

Does Red Raspberry help strengthen weak Uterine Muscles for women who have had several children, have you ever heard of this before? I want more children!  Thanks so much for help ing me with this!

Hello,

Yes, I would definitely ally myself with red raspberry infusions. From Susun:

RED RASPBERRY LEAVES (Rubus spp.)

Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself.

Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy are traced to the nourishing source of vitamins and minerals found in this plant and to the strengthening power of fragrine - an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.

The benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy include:

~ Increasing fertility in both men and women. Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when combined with Red Clover.

~ Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.

This article goes into deeper detail on many of the herbs that help before, during and after pregnancy. You can read it here.

So I would certainly be drinking red raspberry infusions and you can do so throughout your pregnancy if you feel moved to do so.

Nettles infusions as well are considered an uterine tonic and overall nourisher, so another nice one to add to your diet. If you do not already have it, you may want to check out Susun's book The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year - lots of information to support one from before conception to postpartum. You can read some excerpts here: http://childbearing-year.com/

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 Infusions for a Healthy Pregnancy

Hi Susun,

I'm planning to take some herbal infusions during pregnancy. Hilary Jacobsen gave me a pregnancy protocol that you told her about and it says to drink infusions once a week of nettle, comfrey, oat straw, red clover, and red raspberry. I also ran across an article by you where you mentioned drinking nettle and red raspberry infusions at least 5 days a week during pregnancy. I had very low milk supply with my first child and am trying to do everything I can to change that next time.

Before I learned about infusions I was going to drink a tea of red clover, red raspberry, and alfalfa everyday to try to build more mammary tissue. Now I want to drink an infusion of the red clover and the red raspberry at least once a week as you mentioned, but I would like to do more than that to get the most benefit that I can. I was thinking of doing two infusions per week and then tea maybe three days a week, or one infusion per week and tea at least 4 times per week. Or more infusions if that would be beneficial. What are your thoughts on this?

Also I'm finding conflicting information about whether or not mullein leaf is safe during pregnancy. I have asthma and had a bad asthma attack during pregnancy last time and had to take prednisone because my rescue inhaler wasn't helping me. I would love to try the mullein leaf to see if it can help my lungs, but of course want to make sure it's safe.

Hello,

In terms of general health and well-being, we feel that herbal infusions are superior to teas. Along with the healing properties that you are receiving from the herbs, the large quantity of plant material and lengthy steeping time extracts the levels of vitamins and minerals our bodies need, especially during pregnancy. http://medherb.com/Materia_Medica/The_Mineral_Content_of_Herbal_Decoctions_.htm

During my pregnancy, I rotated herbs from day to day, usually 2 days of nettles, 2 days of red raspberry, 1 day of comfrey leaf and 1 day of red clover and 1 day of oatstraw - you can really divide it out however you feel drawn intuitively to do. And I drank usually 2 cups to 1 quart each day. Remember that the infusions are drank one at a time, not mixed together like you find in tea blends. This seems the best way to see how your body reacts to the herb instead of confusing the issue with too many signals.

The teas you are talking about are wonderful for milk production, if it were me, I would be drinking the infusions in a higher quantity than the tea to also be getting the minerals and vitamins. And there is also a lot you can do with the foods you eat to help with milk production during and after pregnancy. Here is an excerpt from Susun's book The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. You will find a lot of information to help as well. http://childbearing-year.com/articles-breast-feeding1.php

I am not aware of any problems with mullein during pregnancy. All I can tell you is that I would have no issue with taking it, but you will have to decide how you feel about it. Nearly any herb has conflicting information, especially when it comes to use during pregnancy - often simply because no one has bothered to do much testing with them. I have always found mullein safe and gentle to use.

Congratulations and a happy pregnancy to you.

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.

 

 

Healing Lyme Disease While Pregnant

Dear Susun

I have had your books for years and thought of you now as I am really needing immediate and wise advice. I am 7mo pregnant with a little girl and have celiac disease (found out just as became pregnant) Now at 7mo I found out i have lyme disease with a cd 57 count (the immune cells affected by lyme) of 28 which is very low.
I have joint pain, inflammation, fatique...but am also really well on many levels and surprised how low my numbers are(tests have been done a couple of times for accuracy)I was also muscle tested by wonderful ak person..and told certain antibiotics and herbs will help.

Lyme passes thru placenta and worse during breastfeeding. I work with women and children and am heartbroken to think of taking antibiotics or having to not breastfeed. I will test baby as soon as she comes out thru umbilicus.

Antibiotics are recommended full on daily now. I want to see if i can rotate them with herbs...no one I know can tell me which herbs are safe...and doses...if you can MUCH GRATITUDE. It is an immediate issue...decision needs to be made asap.

Herbs I know work and I test well for anti lyme are:

cats claw i test for 13 drops/day
resveratral (japanese knotweed) i test for 2/day olive leaf i test for 1
cap /day red root usnia

colloidal silver -
reishi turkey tail mushroom tea with dandelion 1 tsp per day

If ok, how high in dosage can I go? if you have any lyme knowlege around this pls feel free to share

THANK you...

Hello,

I am a lyme survivor and Susun's daughter. I would take antibiotics immediately, while pregnant....the baby will get her immunity from you, and you need to get rid of the lyme disease right away. As for herbs to take along with the antibiotics the following in any reasonable dose safe: reishi, dandelion, red root, Japanese knotweed.

Skip the rest, not safe for use. I had lyme for two years undiagnosed, and used a combination of Reiki, homeopathy, and teasel root tincture to cure myself, took three years for recovery from the damage. Use the antibiotics and support and nourish yourself through the process. And, let me tell you I
was raised in a very holistic manner, with no doctor visits, no immunizations, and no antibiotics. My mom and I both strongly advise antibiotics as soon after contracting lyme as possible, if you want even a few more months the antibiotics will not longer be an option, once the lyme morphs from bacteria to virus, the antibiotics no longer an effective remedy and damage really begins to occur.

Sending you and baby love.

Love,
Justine

 

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.