Childbearing Year

Fatigue and Mood Changes

Fatigue and Mood Changes

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:
http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000019

 

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Herbs for Labor Introduction

Herbs for Labor Introduction

In this series called "Herbs for Labor" (originally written for Birth Institute), Susun  will introduce and give detailed explanations of individual herbs used in birth, each with its own unique uses. Using herbs to support laboring women is as old as birth itself.

I was once taken to a sacred place in Northern Ontario. It was general knowledge that Native America women had once used this place and held it sacred, but no one knew what they used it for or why it was a sacred place.

After a fair walk, in a clearing in the woods, we came to a large circle guarded by poison ivy vines intertwined with raspberry brambles. There did not seem to be a way to enter the large circle within. Finally, I got down on my hands and knees and searched. There was a tunnel. We crawled through and emerged into a completely cleared area with four large trees marking the four directions. One had been hit by lightening and was dead. The others were green and thriving.

Near the center of the circle was an area that commanded our attention. After brushing away decades of leaf litter, we found the remnants of a fires and three holes: one shallow and large (big enough to sit it) and, on either side of it, two small deep ones (about the size of my wrist). It was easy to see (in my mind’s eye) what had gone on there.

Exploring further, I encountered three-part trillium leaves, heart-shaped wild ginger leaves, the compound leaves of blue cohosh and black cohosh, and many other woodland plants valued by midwives.

The use and meaning of the sacred place was as obvious as could be. It was a “birthing center." Laboring women were protected and safe here. The plants growing there, while wild and local, were, I suspect, brought there and tended so they would be at hand if needed during and after the birth.

Sturdy forked sticks had been place in the small holes. And there would have been a strong stout branch joining them, placed at just the right height for a squatting woman to grab it with her arms fully extended so she can pull down to ease labor pain. The shallow hole, no doubt lined with spaghnum moss from the nearby wetland, provided a warm welcome to the newborn babe.

I later learned more about such birthing circles. “When the baby emerged and was gentled into the birthing hole, we told it, ‘You are born from a human mother. She will do all she can for you, but she is a woman and has her own needs. We place you on the earth to remind you that the Earth is also your mother. She will always be there for you. She will always love you, support you, feed you, warm you, and heal you.’”

Are you interested in using herbs? Nourishing herbal infusions* drunk regularly is one of the best ways to start getting the benefits of herbs, both for the mom and the midwife. Nourishing herbal infusions create healthy women and babies, and less-stressed, more energized midwives who are less likely to have problems during labor and delivery.

Nonetheless, it is wise to have a working knowledge of those herbs that can be used to encourage and support normal labor, to help women whose labor stalls, to aid the opening of the os, to help a laboring woman who is exhausted, to ease pain during labor, to keep blood pressure in a safe range during labor, and to counter postpartum hemorrhage.

Some of the most important herbs used during labor by Western herbalists are angelica (Angelica archangelica), birth root (Trillium alba), black cohosh root (Cimicifuga racemosa), blue cohosh root (Caulophylum thalictroides), catnip (Nepeta cataria), cotton root (Gossypium), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), ginseng (Panax quinqefolium), hops (Humulus lupulus), life root (Senecio aureus), lobelia (lobelia inflata), marijuana (Cannabis), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), nettle (Urtica dioica), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), raspberry (Rubus), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and wild ginger (Asarum canadense).

No midwife would use all of these herbs at any one labor. And not all midwives use all of these herbs. And not all herbs used in all countries for labor are listed here, only those used in North America, Europe, and Russia, that is, the temperate regions of the world. If you become intimate with even three herbs from this list – one to moderate pain, one to strengthen contractions, and one to lend support to the woman during her labor – you will find a new confidence in your ability to naturally assist women who are in labor.

Green blessings abound!

* Such as raspberry leaf, nettle leaf, oatstraw, red clover, linden flowers, hawthorn leaves and flowers, and chickweed. An infusion is not a tea. A tea is a small amount of fresh or dried herbs brewed for a short time. An infusion is one full ounce/30 grams of dried herb, placed in a quart jar, the jar filled to the brim with boiling water, tightly lidded, and left to steep for 4-10 hours.

Read the rest of this series as a member of Susuns Personal Mentorship website.

www.wisewomanmentor.com

 

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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

Severe pregnancy nausea

Severe pregnancy nausea

An email question is read from a woman who is nauseous and unable to keep food down. She asks Susuns advice.
Susun suggests nourishing herbal infusions as well as other suggestions.

 

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call or Skype in: 1-646-929-2463, with your questions or email ahead of time to wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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

 

Vitex during pregnancy

I have read some very positive entries on your site and now find myself needing advice...I am just into the second trimester and I am still taking vitex. I am too afraid to come off it but also afraid of any potential damage I might have done. My impulse is to halve the dose and continue it to the third trimester...

I guess after taking it for 6 months I am unsure how my body will react to it's absense. Could you give me any advice? Thanks!

Hello,

So glad that you found us. :)

From Susun: "Most importantly, chaste tree is a strengthening tonic for the pituitary gland, the master control gland for the endocrine system. Daily use of the tincture of the berries (1 dropperful/1 ml 2-3 times daily) had been shown to increase progesterone--the hormone of pregnancy--and luteinizing hormone--which promotes conception. Because it can lower prolactin levels, chaste tree is best discontinues during the last trimester of pregnancy."

A good article to read over:   http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Pregnancy_Problems.htm

Continue throughout pregnancy to support your body with herbal infusions - Susun's book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years has more information on preventing miscarriage such as using Black Haw root bark - this you can drink throughout pregnancy if you wish, 1-2 cups of tea or 1/2 cup of the infusion. You may also want to check out our forum at www.healingwiseforum.com - we have a room dedicated to the childbearing year here:http://healingwiseforum.com/viewforum.php?f=3

Do let us know if you need any further assistance.

 

blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team

www.wisewomanweb.com

www.wisewomanbookshop.com

www.wisewomanuniversity.org

 

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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 wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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

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

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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 wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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

Russian Sage

Russian Sage

Susun shows us Russian Sage, which is in the mint family. Calming and good for tummy issues.

Raspberry Leaf - Uterine Tonic

Raspberry Leaf - Uterine Tonic

Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry leaf is the best known and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs.

Infant with eczema

Infant with eczema

A caller on blogtalk radio says her breastfed 3 month old developed eczema. She has been making changes to her diet and wants to know what herbs might help.
Susun agrees with the caller about increasing intestinal flora. She talks about yogurt and nourishing herbal infusions.

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call or Skype in: 1-646-929-2463, with your questions or email ahead of time to wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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

Cough during pregnancy

hi susun!

i absolutely love your book wise woman herbal for the childbearing year. i'm in my first trimester - only 5 weeks. i wanted to ask you what you suggested for a cough in the chest. i've been drinking nettles. also, is it okay to have red raspberry leaves in the first trimester?

let me know what suggestions you might have - appreciate it so much.
lauren

 

Hi Lauren,

Red raspberry leaves aren't on Susun's list of plants to avoid during pregnancy. You can read up on Susun's article below. In Susun's book, she does have a recipe for some herbal cough syrups - page 132. You will find a list of possible herbs such as wild cherry.

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

Some other possibly suggestions: http://www.healing-wise.com/Remedies-Lung-Issues.htm

Also, drinking mullein milk which will support lung health. Here is a great recipe of Susun's for Mullein Chai, but you can do without the spices and just have the mullein infusions with the milk...
http://yourhealthyheart.weebly.com/mullein-chai.html

You are also welcome to call into Susun's free health hotline and speak with her directly. These are held each Tuesday from 7:30pm – 9pm Eastern; call in # (646) 929-2463. Once connected, press #1 to be placed in the que. You may also want to search at the site
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

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 wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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 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

Acne

Hi Susun,

I am writing for help with my hormonal acne. I get very painful spots and cysts only on my chin for the last three years, and it worsens just before ovulation and menstruation. The spots alternate sides of my chin every week or so. I've had my hormones tested at day 22 of my cycle, and know that I am what's called "estrogen dominant" with very low progesterone, low estrogen, and a high ratio of estrogen to progesterone. I take vitex tincture during the second half of my cycle, and peony tincture daily (thanks to herbalist Matthew Wood). I take burdock tincture 3x/day. I drink nourishing herbal infusions, mostly red clover 1 quart/day. I eat tons of yogurt and do eat animal fat. I feel like I have tried every skincare treatment, topical or internal, and every elimination diet in the book, but nothing has made the chin spots disappear. I am 25 and have dealt with this for three and a half years; it began directly after a deeply traumatic event when I was 21. Help!

What would you recommending doing, not doing, or adding to my life to nourish my skin and NOT balance but support my hormones, if indeed they are the cause of the spots? Should I drink burdock nourishing herbal infusions as well as taking burdock tincture - and what dose of tincture?

Thank you
Heather

 

Hello,
Susun addressed your question during her recent radio show - link included below:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed/2013/10/29/ask-susun-weed--herbalist-and-health-expert

And in case you miss it, as it was brought up towards the end, Susun says, please do not drink so much red clover, it is a blood thinner and if you are drinking a quart a week, that is too much .... one quart a week is fine - best to concentrate on other herbs such as nettles, oatstraw...

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 wisewoman@herbshealing.com. 

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