Childbearing Year

Fatigue and Mood Changes

Fatigue and Mood Changes

excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Hormonal changes, emotional changes, physical changes, and all the attendant stresses of pregnancy may cause extreme fatigue and emotional swings, especially during the last trimester. One midwife advises: "This is the perfect opportunity to touch your own deep emotional truths . . . to acknowledge and resolve your inner disharmonies, and to recreate your life as you create another life. The emotional changes experienced during pregnancy are not to be avoided, but valued; they are cathartic and valid." Use exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet, and herbs to improve your energy and moods, but don't neglect emotional and spiritual work.

Feeling Energetic and Peaceful
° Regular moderate exercise combined with affirmations and creative visualizations tones the body and the mind. Ten minutes of exercise done regularly does more to prevent fatigue and depression than an occasional arduous workout.

° Deep relaxation is a powerful tool for easing emotional and physical stress. It can be done as a break in the day's demands, just before sleep, or just after waking. See page 62 for a complete relaxation to read or tape.

° Meditation refreshes and centers the mind.

° Affirmations, visualizations, and forms of active or guided meditation, are important emotional and psychic tools, and are easy to use. Check the resource listing at the end of this chapter for self-help guides to learning and using these skills.

° Indulgence (of yourself, not your obsessions) helps prevent fatigue and depression. Give yourself time to read and relax and create and be easy. Take a stern stand with your guilt about keeping the house clean, or making breakfast for everyone, or excelling at your work, or whatever you ride yourself about. There will be plenty to do when the baby is born; don't exhaust yourself now.
 
Diet and Herbs for Even Emotions
° Your body's need for minerals and proteins soars during pregnancy. Lack of either registers as a craving for sweets.
Eating sugar may case blood sugar swings, fatigue, and depression. Eliminate white sugar, and restrict honey, fructose, maple syrup, etc. Focus on high protein snacks, such as nuts, yogurt, popcorn with nutritional yeast, sardines, and cheese.

° Raspberry leaf infusion calms; adds up to half as much Peppermint or Spearmint for a lift of spirits and a renewed sense of energy.

° 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.

° Motherwort tincture calms without causing drowsiness, making it ideal as an ally at work and at home, whenever pressure and stress threaten to overwhelm you. Try five drops in a small glass of water to restore emotional balance. 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.

° Skullcap tincture provides deep, refreshing sleep. Take up to thirty drops of commercial tincture (from dried plants) or 5-15 drops of fresh plant tincture half an hour before you go to bed. An infusion of the dried plant nourishes and strengthens the nerves. Drink two cups daily for several months if your nerves feel frayed and you are easily upset.

excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Walking Barefoot

Walking Barefoot
c. 2011, Susun Weed

With the weather so warm and mild, we are still going barefoot, though we are well into the middle of November!

I love to let my bare feet inform me. What do they tell me?

First, they let me know how my health is. Reflexologists say that there is a reflex point on the bottom of the foot that relates to each organ and system of the body.

One of my first teacher (Margo Geiger) was a reflexologist.
She would go into a room, choose the least healthy looking person there, drop down on the floor next to them, take a foot in her hands, remove the shoe and sock and elicit a scream, all within less than a minute.

So, when I walk around barefoot, I notice where there is any pain in my feet. Reflexology charts are easy to find. Just connect the pain and the part of the body represented and take a giant step forward into health.

Second, my bare feet bring me the energy of the earth. When we wear shoes, which have rubber or other insulating materials as the sole, Earth Energy is blocked off. My bare feet connect me to the endless flow of loving, healing energy that emanates from the earth. I can feel it tingling up my legs and building my personal power, helping my body stay in rhythm, and putting a spring in my step.

You can experience this merely by taking off your shoes and placing your bare feet on the ground. No need to walk around if that is a challenge to you. Even five minutes a day of bare feet on the earth can have amazing repercussions on your health.

Third, my bare feet cause me to slow down and to pay attention to my surroundings. Consciousness and presence are natural outcomes of going barefoot. A greater connection to nature is another.

Fourth, my bare feet remind me that every step is a blessing. I am blessed to be alive in these amazing times. Every step is a blessing. I am blessing each thing my feet touch. Every step is a blessings. I am filled with gratitude to have a body. Every step is a blessing. Barefoot is a meditation. Each step is a blessing.

 

---

Easy Online Courses!
Join Susun Weed with her new easy video based courses.
Learn how to be happy, healthy, and empowered.
No testing, no effort, just watch, listen and learn.

Click for more information.

St. Joans wort during pregnancy

Hello!
I hope everything is going wonderfully at the Wise Woman Center!!
I'm 4 months pregnant, and have a few questions that I was hoping Susun might choose to address on Blogtalk Radio. I have read and relied upon her fantastic book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years, but I'm seeking further clarification on a few specifics!
Is it safe to use St. Joan's wort tincture for depression during pregnancy? If so, what dose is appropriate? I want to uplift my spirits! (It is very rainy where I live!)
Is it really safe to use the tincture of Motherwort for anxiety during pregnancy? When I am not pregnant, Motherwort provides me relief from acute anxiety. My midwives and the internet insist that Motherwort is an unsafe herb during pregnancy. I'm not sure they are aware of differences between preparations of Motherwort (tincture vs. infusion and so forth) but I didn't want to risk it without consulting an experienced herbalist.

Another question! Surprisingly, (to me) marijuana seems to be considered a safer remedy for anxiety during pregnancy than does motherwort tincture. Any illumination on this that you can offer would be appreciated! Perhaps it is misinformation? I always thought that marijuana during pregnancy could impact fetal development, but it is legal in my state and the belief that it is perfectly safe for use by pregnant women is widespread.
And finally, can one drink lemon balm infusion safely during pregnancy?

Thank you so very much!!
All the best,
Lily

Hello Lily,

I believe St.Joan's wort to be very safe. I used it throughout three pregnancies and also have given to my young children. In fact when I was in labor I slatthered hypericum oil on my belly several times to help with the pain from contractions. I consider this herb very safe as long as it is used only in the from of infused oil topically and the tincture used internally made from the fresh flowering herb. If you do not make your own a good place to purchase from is http://www.catskillmountainherbals.com/

Drinking Nourishing herbal infusions will help to stabilize your moods and increase your energy as well. If you are not making these on a regular basis, here are some youtubes to check out on how to make them. They are all safe nourishing herbs considered to be foods. 

More on Infusions here:

https://youtu.be/2QRyWYuGQ98

https://youtu.be/zsJRfm70dRs

https://youtu.be/uPMLRZCGPjU

https://youtu.be/M-UtZlBf0jU

https://youtu.be/3ouRjEs_TyQ

Motherwort is one of my most trusted allies. She is in the mint family, if you feel safe drinking mint tea then you can feel safe taking motherwort tincture while pregnant. Motherwort actually strengthens the capillaries in uterus and the heart. Best if taken in tincture form made from the fresh flowering plant in small frequent doses.

Best if you ask Susun directly about marijuana consumption during pregnancy. My personal thought is whatever works best for you. I do not think it is unsafe unless it is being habitually used/abused, but using it medicinally, no problem.

Please do not make any infusions from aromatic herbs for internal consumption. I'm not sure what you are wanting to use lemon balm for, anxiety? I personally do not like the way lemon balm makes me feel when I drink tea from it or tincture of it. But it is a very useful herb and some people that need it tolerate it just fine. 

If you have the opportunity to call tomorrow evening or any Tuesday evening please do so. Susun answers 90 minutes of health questions from 7:30-9:00 pm EST. Call 1-646-929-2463

Thank you for writing in and please let me know if you have anymore questions for me.

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 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

Depression

Depression

Winter time is depression time for many women. Perhaps it is harder to look at the bright side when days are short, perhaps the holidays and family demands take their toll on us. Of course, depression can also be triggered by lack of thyroid hormone and by use of steroids, high blood pressure drugs, and ERT/HRT.
....
* Welcome the dark. Cherish the deepness. Give yourself over to a day or two of doing nothing. Then, get up, no matter how bad you feel. Set a goal for the day and meet it. Smile -- it releases brain chemicals that make you feel good. Smile no matter what. Do it as an exercise. Hate it while you do it. But SMILE!

* Homeopathic remedies include Arum metallicum, for women with frequent thoughts of suicide who feel cut off from love and joy; and Sepia, for women who are disinterested in everything, angry at family and friends, and just want to be left alone.

* It's more than idle chatter that depression comes with grey skies and happiness with sunny ones. For emotional health (and strong bones) get 15 minutes of sunlight on your uncovered eyelids (outside, no glasses, no contacts) daily. If you can't get out (or if the sun doesn't cooperate), wake up 1-2 hours earlier than usual. (You can stay in bed, but keep those eyes open.)

* Sing the blues; dance 'em too. Women have depended on songs and dances to carry them out of depression for centuries. Dance therapy is more effective than talk therapy for reaching and healing traumatic experiences. Even a single session may have a dramatic effect.

* Find your rage and write it down. Get a massage and let the anger move out of the muscles. Volunteer to help change something you are upset about, even a small thing.

* St. Joan's/John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) lives in very sunny locations and blooms at summer solstice. I call it bottled sunshine. A dropperful of the bright red tincture taken 1-3 times daily has helped many women relieve SAD (seasonal affective disorder), move through grief, ease the physical pain of depression, and walk on the sunny side! Caution: Hypericum in capsules is not as effective and can cause unwanted side effects.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Depression-Weed.htm

Oatstraw infusion

Oatstraw infusion builds deep energy for the next day, especially when you have been riding an emotional roller coaster.

Oatstraw nourishes the nerves, easing anxiety and improving our ability to live with uncertainty. Make it like the nettle infusion, using a full ounce of oatstraw to a quart of boiling water. Ok to drink it hot or cold, with honey or miso, or any other addition (juice, coffee, whiskey) you desire. Remember to refrigerate the infusion after it has brewed 4-8 hours, even if you don't get a chance to strain the plant material out.

 

---

Easy Online Courses!
Join Susun Weed with her new easy video based courses.
Learn how to be happy, healthy, and empowered.
No testing, no effort, just watch, listen and learn.

Click for more information.

Fresh Cleavers tincture

Fresh Cleavers tincture

Dropperful doses of this tincture relieve PMS, ease tender breasts, and encourage the lymphatic system to work harder, thus relieving edema. Its antispasmodic actions are concentrated in the mucus surfaces of the urinary and digestive systems, make it an ideal ally for those dealing with IC and IBS.

Have a jar, some sharp plant scissors, and 100 proof vodka at hand before you harvest your cleavers.

Cut the stalks into 1-2 inch pieces and fill a jar totally full with these cut pieces of leaf, flower, stalk, and even seeds.

Fill jar with vodka. Lid and label.

For the first two weeks, I leave my tincture on a table where I can watch it and add more vodka if necessary. Then I put it away.

Like most tinctures made from fresh plant material, this one will be ready to use in six weeks.

St. Johns wort while nursing

Hi -
I’m nursing a 5 month old and taking St. John’s Wort. I’ve recently experienced a dip in supply, and was wondering if SJW interacts with fenugreek, fennel or blessed thistle.

Thank you for your time and help,
Katie

 

Hello Katie,

I have not heard of any correlation between the two -- nor have I heard Susun mention to avoid in general during breast-feeding. Are you taking the tincture? This is the only form that Susun recommends for St. Johns wort. You can call into Susun's free health hotline as well and talk with her directly:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed; (646) 929-2463 .. you might also want to check at Susun's online forum, there is a room there dedicated to the childbearing year:  http://healingwiseforum.com/viewforum.php?f=10

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

Fatigue and Mood Changes

Fatigue and Mood Changes

 

excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Hormonal changes, emotional changes, physical changes, and all the attendant stresses of pregnancy may cause extreme fatigue and emotional swings, especially during the last trimester. One midwife advises: "This is the perfect opportunity to touch your own deep emotional truths . . . to acknowledge and resolve your inner disharmonies, and to recreate your life as you create another life. The emotional changes experienced during pregnancy are not to be avoided, but valued; they are cathartic and valid." Use exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet, and herbs to improve your energy and moods, but don't neglect emotional and spiritual work.

Feeling Energetic and Peaceful
° Regular moderate exercise combined with affirmations and creative visualizations tones the body and the mind. Ten minutes of exercise done regularly does more to prevent fatigue and depression than an occasional arduous workout.

° Deep relaxation is a powerful tool for easing emotional and physical stress. It can be done as a break in the day's demands, just before sleep, or just after waking. See page 62 for a complete relaxation to read or tape.

° Meditation refreshes and centers the mind.

° Affirmations, visualizations, and forms of active or guided meditation, are important emotional and psychic tools, and are easy to use. Check the resource listing at the end of this chapter for self-help guides to learning and using these skills.

° Indulgence (of yourself, not your obsessions) helps prevent fatigue and depression. Give yourself time to read and relax and create and be easy. Take a stern stand with your guilt about keeping the house clean, or making breakfast for everyone, or excelling at your work, or whatever you ride yourself about. There will be plenty to do when the baby is born; don't exhaust yourself now.
 
Diet and Herbs for Even Emotions
° Your body's need for minerals and proteins soars during pregnancy. Lack of either registers as a craving for sweets.
Eating sugar may case blood sugar swings, fatigue, and depression. Eliminate white sugar, and restrict honey, fructose, maple syrup, etc. Focus on high protein snacks, such as nuts, yogurt, popcorn with nutritional yeast, sardines, and cheese.

° Raspberry leaf infusion calms; adds up to half as much Peppermint or Spearmint for a lift of spirits and a renewed sense of energy.

° 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.

° Motherwort tincture calms without causing drowsiness, making it ideal as an ally at work and at home, whenever pressure and stress threaten to overwhelm you. Try five drops in a small glass of water to restore emotional balance. 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.

° Skullcap tincture provides deep, refreshing sleep. Take up to thirty drops of commercial tincture (from dried plants) or 5-15 drops of fresh plant tincture half an hour before you go to bed. An infusion of the dried plant nourishes and strengthens the nerves. Drink two cups daily for several months if your nerves feel frayed and you are easily upset.

excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Fatigue and Mood Changes

Fatigue and Mood Changes
excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Hormonal changes, emotional changes, physical changes, and all the attendant stresses of pregnancy may cause extreme fatigue and emotional swings, especially during the last trimester. One midwife advises: "This is the perfect opportunity to touch your own deep emotional truths . . . to acknowledge and resolve your inner disharmonies, and to recreate your life as you create another life. The emotional changes experienced during pregnancy are not to be avoided, but valued; they are cathartic and valid." Use exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet, and herbs to improve your energy and moods, but don't neglect emotional and spiritual work.

Feeling Energetic and Peaceful
° Regular moderate exercise combined with affirmations and creative visualizations tones the body and the mind. Ten minutes of exercise done regularly does more to prevent fatigue and depression than an occasional arduous workout.

° Deep relaxation is a powerful tool for easing emotional and physical stress. It can be done as a break in the day's demands, just before sleep, or just after waking. See page 62 for a complete relaxation to read or tape.

° Meditation refreshes and centers the mind.

° Affirmations, visualizations, and forms of active or guided meditation, are important emotional and psychic tools, and are easy to use. Check the resource listing at the end of this chapter for self-help guides to learning and using these skills.

° Indulgence (of yourself, not your obsessions) helps prevent fatigue and depression. Give yourself time to read and relax and create and be easy. Take a stern stand with your guilt about keeping the house clean, or making breakfast for everyone, or excelling at your work, or whatever you ride yourself about. There will be plenty to do when the baby is born; don't exhaust yourself now.

Diet and Herbs for Even Emotions
° Your body's need for minerals and proteins soars during pregnancy. Lack of either registers as a craving for sweets.
Eating sugar may case blood sugar swings, fatigue, and depression. Eliminate white sugar, and restrict honey, fructose, maple syrup, etc. Focus on high protein snacks, such as nuts, yogurt, popcorn with nutritional yeast, sardines, and cheese.

° Raspberry leaf infusion calms; adds up to half as much Peppermint or Spearmint for a lift of spirits and a renewed sense of energy.

° 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.

° Motherwort tincture calms without causing drowsiness, making it ideal as an ally at work and at home, whenever pressure and stress threaten to overwhelm you. Try five drops in a small glass of water to restore emotional balance. 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.

° Skullcap tincture provides deep, refreshing sleep. Take up to thirty drops of commercial tincture (from dried plants) or 5-15 drops of fresh plant tincture half an hour before you go to bed. An infusion of the dried plant nourishes and strengthens the nerves. Drink two cups daily for several months if your nerves feel frayed and you are easily upset.

excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

St. Johns wort while pregnant

Hello!
I hope everything is going wonderfully at the Wise Woman Center!!
I'm 4 months pregnant, and have a few questions that I was hoping Susun might choose to address on Blogtalk Radio. I have read and relied upon her fantastic book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years, but I'm seeking further clarification on a few specifics!
Is it safe to use St. Joan's wort tincture for depression during pregnancy? If so, what dose is appropriate? I want to uplift my spirits! (It is very rainy where I live!)
Is it really safe to use the tincture of Motherwort for anxiety during pregnancy? When I am not pregnant, Motherwort provides me relief from acute anxiety. My midwives and the internet insist that Motherwort is an unsafe herb during pregnancy. I'm not sure they are aware of differences between preparations of Motherwort (tincture vs. infusion and so forth) but I didn't want to risk it without consulting an experienced herbalist.

Another question! Surprisingly, (to me) marijuana seems to be considered a safer remedy for anxiety during pregnancy than does motherwort tincture. Any illumination on this that you can offer would be appreciated! Perhaps it is misinformation? I always thought that marijuana during pregnancy could impact fetal development, but it is legal in my state and the belief that it is perfectly safe for use by pregnant women is widespread.
And finally, can one drink lemon balm infusion safely during pregnancy?

Thank you so very much!!
All the best,
Lily

Hello Lily,

I believe St.Joan's wort to be very safe. I used it throughout three pregnancies and also have given to my young children. In fact when I was in labor I slatthered hypericum oil on my belly several times to help with the pain from contractions. I consider this herb very safe as long as it is used only in the from of infused oil topically and the tincture used internally made from the fresh flowering herb. If you do not make your own a good place to purchase from is http://www.catskillmountainherbals.com/

Drinking Nourishing herbal infusions will help to stabilize your moods and increase your energy as well. If you are not making these on a regular basis, here are some youtubes to check out on how to make them. They are all safe nourishing herbs considered to be foods. 

More on Infusions here:

https://youtu.be/2QRyWYuGQ98

https://youtu.be/zsJRfm70dRs

https://youtu.be/uPMLRZCGPjU

https://youtu.be/M-UtZlBf0jU

https://youtu.be/3ouRjEs_TyQ

Motherwort is one of my most trusted allies. She is in the mint family, if you feel safe drinking mint tea then you can feel safe taking motherwort tincture while pregnant. Motherwort actually strengthens the capillaries in uterus and the heart. Best if taken in tincture form made from the fresh flowering plant in small frequent doses.

Best if you ask Susun directly about marijuana consumption during pregnancy. My personal thought is whatever works best for you. I do not think it is unsafe unless it is being habitually used/abused, but using it medicinally, no problem.

Please do not make any infusions from aromatic herbs for internal consumption. I'm not sure what you are wanting to use lemon balm for, anxiety? I personally do not like the way lemon balm makes me feel when I drink tea from it or tincture of it. But it is a very useful herb and some people that need it tolerate it just fine. 

If you have the opportunity to call tomorrow evening or any Tuesday evening please do so. Susun answers 90 minutes of health questions from 7:30-9:00 pm EST. Call 1-646-929-2463

Thank you for writing in and please let me know if you have anymore questions for me.

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 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