Q: Hello my dear Green Witch!
I would like to ask a medicinal question. I give you permission to publish my question and your answer, as long as you don't use my name. I'm sure there are many other women who would like to know. Probably you've answered this question many times.
I am now five years post menopause. My vaginal walls are so thin and dry that they burn all the time, and an exam by a gynocologist is sheer torture (I just had one yesterday). Obviously, sex, at least penetration, is out of the question. This is certainly a loss for me.
I've tried oral Bezwecken Osta B3 for a year, but got no relief. It also made me break out in pimples on my face! So I quit it, and all estrogen-containing herbs for a while (black cohosh, dong quai, licorice) and cut 'way back on soy products, and the zits went away. But, of course, my vaginal atrophy got worse.
Then I tried the Est-ring, supposedly the state of the art according to online articles, but which actually made it worse, since it irritated me and even smelled bad, like a diaphram that had been left in too long. As of last night, I'm using the dreaded Premarin estrogen cream. Right in the wrapper are warnings about its carcinogenic aspects. The nurse-practitioner said it would take over three months before she could determine whether it is working to solve my problem or not. Surely there must be a better way.
The good news is, I've been taking three 400 mg. capsules per day of red marine algae, and herpes simplex type 2 breakouts are history, even when I eat lots of l-argenine rich foods like nuts and seeds.
Also, it has been very helpful to address my skin condition with the Chinese medicine known as Marguerite Acne Pills, which are ground pearl and 11 herbs. It says on the bottle to take eight pills three times per day, but I only take five, three in the morning and two at night. I order them from the Ask Dr. Wang website. So now I can eat soy products and use estrogen products again without my face breaking out.
Blessings and Kudos to you, Susun! I hope our paths cross again soon!
A.
A: Hello A., rest assured if we ever do make public an answer to a question, I shorten all names to one letter (A.) and all personal identifying info is deleted as well.
You are right, there is another way, and many have tried the ideas Susun shares in New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way with great success. I am glad you are searching another option that feels more right for you. You can read this section on Vaginal Dryness from the book. She writes more in a section on Vaginal Atrophy... Here are some excerpts from that section, pages 187-189:
Postmenopausal vaginal or vulval burning and itching is disrespectfully labeled "senile vaginitis," "vulvar dystrophy," or "atrophic vulvitis." (Also leukoplakia, lichen sclerosis, kraurosis, and sclerotic dermatosis.) This painful itching and burning (referred to as "pruritus" in premenopausal women) is caused by irritating alkaline vaginal secretions acting on tender vagnial tissues. It is especially bothersome when the vaginal tissues are thin, dry, and cracked.
The following remedies stop the itching and burning and heal the crone's sensitive vagina/vulva (which may appear white, shiny, and clearly abraded or scratched), restoring pinkness, plumpness, and pliability, so long as there are no yeast overgrowths or bacterial infections to complicate the picture.
* Relax. Lie down.... Visualize yourself breathing cool blue energy in and out.
* homeopathic remedies include: Belladonna: Painful, hot vagina, tender, reddened. Canthatis: vagina burning and raw. Natrum mur.: the entier vagina, inside and out, is intensely painful.
* Motherwort tincture (10-20 drops several times a day) quickly restores thickness and moisture to vaginal walls. So does regular use of vitex.
* I've never met a crone's itch who could hold its own against plantain oil or ointment....
* Applying aloe vera gel or any herbal cream....
* Calendula cream applied morning and night helps strengthen vaginal tissues, heal minor abrasions, relieve pain, and discourage infection." * "...soothe yourself and your vulva with an oat bath...
* ...moisturize and heal your tender vulva... with honey
* ... comfrey root or chamomile blossom compress...
* Massage in small circles around the inner and outer sides of your ankle bone to stimulate the flow of energy to the pelvic organs.
* Cod liver oil (1-2 tablespoons a day) can reverse vaginal thinning and drying, relieve itching and burning, and improve bone health, too.
Please let me know if I can help further. I am happy to explain anything you read here.
Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com
Q: Dear Karen,
Many thanks for your detailed and thoughtful email. Very kind of you to take the time for me!
Does one use all of these at once, or just choose one at a time to try? Or choose a few? I dowse with a pendulum when choosing my remedies from my herbal bag; maybe I can use that in the herb store to see which ones to buy.
I'm wondering about the safety of any fish liver these days, given the chemical pollution in our waters.
Best wishes and huge thanks to you. I will also look for Susun's book!
A.
A: A., you are very welcome. Yes I would suggest you try one at a time - or one internally and one externally. This will help you know your response. There is not danger of mixing, just the loss of the intimacy with the herbs that comes from using them singly. Dowsing sounds wonderful to try. I find each person tends to have their own personal leaning at first, even if they wind up trying a few ideas before settling on one or two to work with.
I am glad you will look for the book, I am sure you will reference it often. Know we carry it too directly at Ash Tree Publishing
I wonder the same as you about fish liver oil, so hesitate myself, favoring more local sources of quality oils.
lots of love!
Karen Joy
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