Childbearing Year

Fertility Herbs - Red Clover, False Unicorn, Vitex...

I found your site and I had some questions about herbs that I was wondering if you had the answer to.  I have been trying to conceive for 11 years.  I am now 37 years old.  I've tried the medical treatments and they didn't work for me, so now I'm trying the natural route.  I have unexplained infertility though my doctor found very mild endometriosis, some fibroids and I had a burst ovarian cyst over 12 years ago, which might or might not have to do with my trouble conceiving.  I am doing research and I see some many herbs that can help, vitex, maca, red clover, false unicorn root and many more.  For unexplained infertility, which are the best herbs to try?  How many can I take at once?  Are there any that will interact with each other?   Thank you Simple is better.  This is the opinion of some, myself included.  The top herb I know for unexplained lack of conception is Red Clover blossoms prepared as an infusion.  Susun Weed writes in this article on herbs for fertility:

"One of the most cherished of the fertility-increasing plants is red clover (Trifolium pratense). Common in fields and along roadsides, it has bright pink (not really red) blossoms from mid-summer into the chilly days of fall. A favorite flower of the honeybees, the tops (blossoms and appending leaves) are harvested on bright sunny days and eaten as is, or dried for medicinal use. The raw blossoms are delicious in salads and nutritious when cooked with grains such as rice or millet.

"To make a fertility-enhancing infusion, I take one ounce by weight of the dried blossoms (fresh won't work for this application) and put them in a quart size canning jar. I fill the jar with boiling water, screw on a tight lid, and let it steep at room temperature overnight (or for at least four hours). Dozens of women have told me that they had successful pregnancies after drinking a cup or more (up to four cups) a day of red clover infusion.

"It is especially helpful if there is scaring of the fallopian tubes, irregular menses, abnormal cells in the reproductive tract, or "unexplained" infertility. It may take several months for the full effect of this herb to come on and pregnancy may not occurs until you have used it for a year or two. You can improve the taste by including some dried peppermint (a spoonful or two) along with the dried clover blossoms when making your infusion. Treat the father of the child-to-be to some red clover infusion, too!"

False Unicorn root might be helpful, and I don't know of contraindications with the Red Clover.  I consider it more of an herb to take as needed, whereas the Red Clover I see as a long term food-like herb.   Vitex berry tincture I think can be wonderful when unopposed excess estrogen increases ovarian cysts and fibroids and endometriosis.  Also, when conception happens or appears to happen but is lost as early as the first few weeks because progesterone levels do not stay high enough.  Again no contraindications that I know of with the above two herbs. Maca I consider an exotic plant that was food to a people and is now being marketed by drying a tiny piece of the root and stuffing into a capsule.  I would favor rich root foods that are grown close to home, even if Maca :), so long as it is prepared in your kitchen.  I do not recommend capsules of anything. You can read Susun Weed's thoughts on the importance of Simples. Let me know if I can help with anything further! Blessings, Karen Joy wisewoman@herbshealing.com www.wisewomanweb.com

Baby with Ear Infection

Hi, I am a new mom and my baby has had an "ear infection" for nearly six weeks and today the DR gave us the 3 rd round of medicine and she said if this doesn't work, next comes shot, then if that fails, comes the ENT. I was wondering about the echcinea root tincture (sorry about the spelling) and if that may help her! And can I give it to her with the antibiotics?? I'm so desperate! My baby seems to be in no pain and I am terrified that this may lead to her getting tubes in her ears!!! Please help! Thanks so much.

Yes you can use Echinacea root tincture while taking antibiotics.  To do so, use one drop of the tincture for every two pounds of her body weight - that is if she is 20 pounds, give her 10 drops in water or other liquid.  Do this every hour diligently for at least 20 hours.  In your case 48 hours may be best.  Then go to every 2 hours for the next 48 hours, then every 3, etc.  Keep it going for 10 days at least.  This means at night as well.  I know this is tough on you, but well worth it.  Sleep is essential when battling so if you can't get it to her thinking she is nursing, if she still nurses, then do it as soon as she wakes after an hour is passed.  The regularity of it is really important so set a timer if that helps during the day.  I have seen this work wonders where antibiotics struggle or fail.  I understand the fear.

I tend to be leery of oil in the ear, moreso with such a young one and ongoing infection.  However if you have herbal oils of most sorts, warming it with a candle under a spoon to comfortable warm, massage all around the outside of her ears.  If no herbal oil, use plain olive oil.  The massage and warmth of the oil help at least bring a little relief.  If you have herbal oils some of my favorite for this are Yarrow, Meadowsweet, and Monarda.

If you are feeding foods please do let her get bits of live culture yogurt to help replenish her good bacteria after all the antibiotics.  She can even suck it off your fingers.  This will help strengthen her as well as she battles infection.

Write any time.  I am happy to help however I can.  Let me know if I can help more.

Blessings,

Karen Joy

http://www.wisewomanweb.com

wisewoman@herbshealing.com

Safety of Herbs While Trying to Conceive

Q: Greetings, Susun!  My partner has been a great enthusiast of yours for quite some time now.  i am quite new to alternative medicines, but after just a year, she has convinced me as well!

We are working with an herbalist as we attempt to conceive our first child this year.  My partner is 36, and it will be her first try to become pregnant.  Needless to say, we are quite excited, yet we have some lingering questions that the herbalist hasn’t really answered well for us. i’m hoping you could help a little bit.   

My partner is currently taking 2 herbal teas and 1 capsule (2x/day).  The tea and capsules from the herbalist contain the following: Ginger, squawvine, false unicorn root, sassafras, dandelion. The other tea we are using is red clover tops and red raspberry leaves.  Is it fine to be taking both teas daily? 

We also have read your book, and have a couple of questions about when to stop taking herbs, in other words before pregnancy to promote fertility vs during pregnancy:  lemon balm, ginger, lavender, rose, slippery elm, oat straw, and mint.

We are trying the “not-so-old-fashioned way” of conception:  home insemination with a known donor.  So, in the couple of weeks every month where we don’t know whether or not conception has occurred, should we assume yes or no for purposes of herbs?

I know these are a lot of questions, and anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.  Likewise, any thing we can do to show our gratitude, please let us know!

Thanks

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  I understand your questions.  I am a student of Susun's and help with her correspondence.  If you or your partner wish to talk with Susun you may call her during her free Tuesday night phone consultations which run this year from March 30 to the end of October.  During that time you can reach her by calling 845-246-8081, Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm Eastern time.  In lieu of, or in addition to, the phone consultation, Susun Weed's Wise Woman Forum is a wonderful resource, with the experience and wisdom of many people from around the world to draw from -

From my years of study with Susun, I have come to feel most drawn to simplicity with herbs.  This means to me choosing only a few herbs to work with at a time, sometimes only one. 

As well, I have come to prefer infusion as a way to get what I usually want from nourishing herbs, over teas.  Teas I save for essential oil rich herbs.  The difference between the two is that while a tea is a pinch of fresh or dried herb steeped in water for a short time, an infusion is more herb, always, dried, steeped for a longer time.  I use one ounce of herb in a quart jar, boiling water poured over, the jar capped, and the whole thing allowed to sit for at least 4 hours, sometimes overnight.  Of the herbs you mentioned, I do this with Oat straw, Red Clover blossoms, and Red Raspberry leaves.  I know the first to be an overall wonderful nourishing food/herb, the second primarily to nourish our fertility, and the third to nourish our reproductive organs, especially uterus. 

I hear your concern about what should be taken before and what during pregnancy.  Of the three I just mentioned I see no harm in crossover.  I would focus more on the Red Clover blossom now, then shift over to more focus on Red Raspberry leaf when you are sure of conception.  Of the other herbs you mention - lavender, mint, lemon balm, and ginger - I would save them for the occasional tea, and again use them as simples, one at a time.  This is just my preference.  Slippery elm inner bark is a wonderful healing herb that I save for very occasional use, only as needed to soothe stomachs or throats, mainly because of the tree endangered status, and some of the poor harvesting that has contributed to this.  Dandelion is an incredible nourishing herb and food that I consume and recommend in various forms - greens as food, root and leaves in vinegar or tincture, blossoms as homemade wine.  I would probably never take dried though, since it is so abundant and what is lost may be too much in the drying process (whereas with some herbs the drying enhances our ability to reach nutrients, in others exactly what we are wanting is lost in the drying).

I think what often happens in this international culture is that one looks for all the herbs reputed to enhance fertility for example, all around the world.  Then those herbs are put together - sometimes disregarding the part traditionally used, or how it is traditionally prepared - usually in a tea bag or capsule.  I prefer simples partly because we can take the time to know a plant, and befriend it as we ask it to help us.

Well, maybe a long answer to a short question :)  If I can halp in any other way, please do let me know.  And please, either of you, do call Susun one Tuesday night if you want.  We all wish you the both the best!

Blessings,
Karen Joy

Q: Dear Karen,

Blessings and thank you for writing!

We will definitely try to call Susun!  Unfortunately, this Tuesday, we will be out of state!

Yes, we are going to focus on the red clover flower and raspberry leaf infusion for fertility. With the last insemination, I worry that I had all the wrong things just after!

I bought Susun’s book Childbearing Year and I’d been having some of the things listed as emmenagogues, like ginger (I love crystallized ginger, ginger tea and Jamaican ginger beer and the stronger, the better) and vitamin C (I love to eat lemons and limes and limeade and such.  I can eat several lemons in a row!)

Then on the before and during “don’t” list:  I like chocolate every now and then (dark) and we love to cook with basil, rosemary, pardley, sage, thyme.  In fact, I used to eat basil in my eggs :every: morning.

Do you think it’s possible that I caused myself to not get pregnant or to miscarry very early in eating these things?

We’ve been trying to be so careful, but it seems that :something: in nearly every meal is on a don’t eat” list somewhere!

The herbalist we consulted with made a tea and pills of ginger, swawvine, false unicorn root, sassafras and dandelion.  The book says to avoid False unicorn root as well as ginger so TWO ingredients I’ve been downing in large quantities are on Susun’s NO lists...

I’m just a bit freaked right now because I’d felt the first insemination worked and yet got back a negative pregnancy test then got my period early and heavy...  Being 36 and really wanting a baby :now: has me overly attached to the process and last month brought such sadness.  If I know what :I’m: doing is ok, I think I will feel better about early auto-abortion since that just means the fetus isn’t strong enough to make it to term anyway.

I’m thinking that we’ll do the tea/capsules up until insemination and then stop, but continue all month except menstruation days with the clover/raspberry.  Does this sound “safer” to you?  BTW, do you agree with one day off all herbal/vitamin supplements per week and not taking any during menstruation?

Any thoughts appreciated.  Blessed be.

A: Hello, I hear your strong desire to have a child, and to be sure you are treating yourself optimally to help this happen. 

You ask my opinion of your choice of herbs and when.  I trust your wisdom; I trust your desire to have a healthy child will lead you to what is most deeply nourishing for you and your child.  Each herbalist is different and I imagine you feel good with the herbalist who mixes the herbs and makes them into teas and capsules.  How you feel with this person I believe is as important as how you feel with her/his suggestions.

Personally I like having a personal relationship with the plants I ingest and share with others.  Part of how I do this is by ingesting usually one at a time, so we can experience the plant simply and know better how it affects us, and if the effect is something we want.

I DO understand your concern about the herbs on "the lists" since I read them fretting that even a little pesto on toast could cause me to lose my child!  Now that I have seen the other side - those who read the same lists and try the herbs to bring on a seemingly delayed bleeding or even try to end a pregnancy - I can relax and understand it so much better.  As these women make their attempts, they must ingest huge doses of the herbs mentioned, and since in the case of abortion, they are ending life beginning, they walk the line of doing harm to themselves (beyond the one desired).  If sucking a few lemons a day could end a healthy pregnancy there would be many happy women who would have an easy failsafe in case.  I have seen so many of these women try much harsher herbs, make themselves horribly sick, and still not be able to abort or complete a miscarriage.  So I can completely relate to your concern, and now I have heard enough to believe that as long as you are simply eating some herbs to flavor food and such, and are in tune with your body to know if something is causing harm, I believe you will be alright.  These lists are to help you be aware, and to help those wanting to bring on thier bleeding, but not to scare you from ordinary cuisine. 

When I was pregnant I started having cramping that would keep me up at night.   Before I knew I was pregnant, I had a horrible flu (perhaps just hormones :)) and dosed myself with powdered vitamin C (was just starting my herbal studies then) and got Susun's Herbal.  I read about the vitamin C and interpreted it as in this form, but wasn't concerned about citrus.  Anyway I was able to know something was wrong and i believe the vitamin c crystals may have played a role, but I knew to pay attention and took it easy, and soon after continued my healthy pregnancy and birth!

I like to start simple, with things without risk of harm, like encouraging nourishing foods, people, activities, movement, words (I read Conscious Conception by Jeannine Parvati Baker).  With these, there is little question or controversy (though always some of the latter!).  I then like to add nourishing herbs, those without question from the various sources you have researched.  Then if I feel drawn to add more stimulating, sedating or just tonifying herbs, or any with conflicting opinion, I would add one at a time, in a form I can relate to, and see how I react to it.

Have you read these two articles by Susun Weed?:

Fertility After Forty (still applicable to you)

Herbs for Fertility 

Oh and you asked about my thoughts on skipping herbs one day a week or during bleeding.  Of the nourishing or tonifying herbs I have enjoyed, I have not felt need for either of these.  I do change my diet usually during bleeding as feels natural, but have not felt drawn yet to do this with herbs, though if I did feel like I wanted to I would :)

Blessings,
Karen Joy

Essiac While Breastfeeding

Q: Hello,
I can't get a straight answer from anyone on whether it is safe to take

turkey rhubarb
burdock
slippery elm
sheep sorrel

aka "Essiac tea"  while breastfeeding. I am currently undergoing all kinds of tests to see if I have ovarian cancer, or a benign growth, and would like to begin these herbs. Any advice or insights here would be so mostly appreciated!

Thank you, and be well!

A: I deeply apologize for such a late reply.  I have a handful of emails in my inbox I have been wanting to get to since injuring my hand and taking a typing break.  I am back now and look forward to speaking with you more as you wish.

Unfortunately I can not answer the question for you.   It is harmful as many things that combat cancer can be.  I imagine any who are nursing and dealing with cancer, or any strong health challenge, have a tough decision to make.  Besides, from my learning of herbs with Susun, I personally do not even recommend Essiac.  I instead favor her version, Wessiac, which may have been the original formula.  I highly value Burdock root and consider it nourishing for both mother and child.  I think slippery elm is great too, though imagine it was added to counter the effects of the turkey rhubarb.  I like to eat sheep sorrel, though do not know its use in this way.

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
http://www.wisewomanweb.com

Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, and Contraceptives

Q: could you tell me if dandelion root will cause me to have breakthrough bleeding on pill. i have been taking contraceptive pill constantly without 7 day break for 6 months.  (had to on drs advice as suffer from very heavyperiods) Been having breakthrough bleeding for last 3 weeks.     want to know if dandelion root would cause bleeding as know that it is good to take if on pill. Only thing is just read on net that it can cause period to start.  taking milk thistle as well for the last 4 months.

      

could you tell me what I should take so that i don;t have any bleeding would it be best to leave dandelion root alone.

      

what do you suggest. ( dont want to start dandelion root if going to make me bleed) whole point they put me on pill.

      

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  I know dandelion root to be very supportive of our overall health.  And believe the pill, especially used with no break, to be quite harmful.  So if the dandelion is causing bleeding to happen I consider this health.  Though I do not know if this is the culprit.  It is natural for us women to bleed in cycles between menarche and menopause, when not pregnant or heavily breastfeeding.

Perhaps there are other options you would like to explore.  If this is what you choose I support you.  I do hear you write you "had to" - I invite you to know you do not have to, though of course are welcome to choose to.

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

      

      

Q: Hi Karen

Thanks ever so much getting back to me.

I think i didnt put my question clearly enough as you know been on pill 6 months without break but for last 3 weeks had breakthrough bleeding (quite bad yesterday) .

have also been on Milk thistle for 4 months. I havent tried dandelion root yet

1) Can dandelion root when taken on pill cause breakthrough bleeding

2) Can Milk thisle cause breakthrough bleeding  IS THIS SAFE TO TAKE WITH CONTRACEPTIVE PILL can this cause the bleeding. (v important question) helps my emotions

please get back to me

      

 

      

A: Hello,

I do not know if Dandelion root when taken on the pill can cause breakthrough bleeding.

I do not know if Milk Thistle when taken while taking the pill can cause break through bleeding.  I do not know any contraindications for the common form of this herb, milk thistle seed extract, with the pill.

Please do write any time.  I believe I did understand your original question, yet did not reply clearly.  And I added further thoughts you did not ask for.  I hope this response is clearer.  I am happy to help any way I am able, and am sorry I do not have a more definitive answer for you.

Blessings,
Karen Joy

Herbs For the Last Trimester

Q: Hello Susun,

I am 39 years old and having my 3^rd and final child in March.  I won’t go in to major details of my past pregnancies but in short, they were all “medically” textbook. There were 2.  One at 19 and one at 35. I am lucky enough to have one more and very happy that I am able to do this. Since my 1^st child, 20 years ago, I have had nothing but trouble getting pregnant and horrible menstrual cycles.  The more I read from you the more I wished I knew of your info years ago. I have always believed in holistic medicine so this is right up my alley.

Okay, on to my current pregnancy.  I struggle with lactation, and always have.  So I have begun to drink a raspberry, alfalfa and nettle tea I found at a coop.  Within a few days I began to leak.  Great, I hope it lasts and baby will benefit from this. I also have read that these 3 herbs are great for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, so I will continue. What I want to do is buy some in bulk and infuse them.  I know you recommend doing it in singles, however, I am looking at the time I have left, 62 days, and the fact that you can buy these as a combo, are they needing to be combined for optimal results, or should I alternate days, OR make all three at once and alternate teas during the day? 

I have also heard a lot about the cohoshes and I am not skeptical of their results, I am worried that I could miscarry or have a stillbirth.  Is this possible or just it just induce labor? I realize that starting the blue is good the last few weeks, when could I do the black?

I will be delivering in a hospital with access to an epidural!  I am not good with pain and as much as I love the idea of water birth, my husband protests delivery outside of a hospital because of precautionary reasons.  I also feel we have waited too long to decide this and being there is only 9 weeks left, it’d be tough to learn something new, on top of finding a midwife for delivery.

Thank you for your time Susun,

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

A: Thank you for writing.  I know you ask of Susun.  She does not have internet to be able to correspond through email.  I believe some herbalists or herbal companies combine herbs because they appear to work synergistically.  Moreso, I think they do it because if x, y, and z are all indicated for a situation, some feel the more the better, then do them all, rather than trusting that just x will be enough, for example.   I feel, as I have learned from Susun, that simple is better, one at a time.  Yes, please prepare them as separate infusions.  And alternate days or alternate through the day, whichever you prefer.  As separate infusions you get to know each more intimately, and know better how you respond to each.

Regarding the cohoshes, I am unsure of your question.  It sounds you have a doctor but no midwife, is this true?  It sounds you are not working in person with someone with experience with these herbs, is this true?  Are you anticipating some trouble in your birth?

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

 

Q: Thank you so much for getting back to me.  I will definitely search the forum.  I do not have a midwife; I am seeing an OB/GYN.  Since I am 39, I believe I am considered “high risk” however my other pregnancies were so normal, my Dr. said he is not concerned with my current pregnancy.  However, like I said, my husband is quite skeptical about delivering unconventionally and I do prefer being near the epidural in case I cannot handle the pain.

As far as the blue and black cohosh, sorry I made a typo. I have gotten some information an herbalist and she had mentioned using the blue the last several weeks and then the black during labor.  She also said the cohosh’s worked great for making her own pregnancy and labor smooth and less painful. 

My biggest concern is bleeding or miscarrying from these.  Although I have not heard of this, it’s my own concern.  I hear that many midwives use and recommend the blue and black cohosh. Any ideas?

A: For the cohoshes I would think it best you work with a midwife herbalist.  I would not want to steer you wrong and have little more than book knowledge on the use of them in a situation that was not acute.  Susun has a past apprentice who is now a midwife, perhaps you would wish to consult with her for some fee.  I do believe it may be worth it :)   

The term "high risk" is so generic, based on numbers and not on you.  There may be 20 year olds considered low risk because of their age who would have a more difficult time than you will! It is wonderful you know what is comfortable for you in your birth and are setting that up.

I would love to hear from you any time, with any questions or just to hear how you are doing!

Karen Joy

Safe Allergy Relief During Pregnancy

Q:  Dear Susun,

I am reading your "Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year" and have been taking the Red Clover and Red Raspberry infusions in preparation of conceiving, hopefully some time soon. I suffer from allergies (hay fever, dust mites, cockroaches) and am trying to ween myself off my current antihistamines (Zyrtec D). I've looked through your book and online and it looks like I could use Nettle safely before and throughout pregnancy, but I was unsure if this was the root or the leaf? Also, if you had any other suggestions for safe allergy relief (mainly to relieve sinus pressure and sneezing) during pregnancy, I would really appreciate it. I am having trouble finding information on this subject and most of the websites I've found suggest antihistamines, something you've mentioned as dangerous.

Thank you for all of your help.



A:  Yes you are right, Nettle leaf infusions are superb for this. Plus in your case they have added benefits of excellent mineral nutrition and vitamin K which is essential for the birth. It is the dried leaves we use, prepared as in the book you have.

Blessings,

Karen Joy

wisewoman@herbshealing.com

www.wisewomanweb.com

Cervical Polyps

Q: Hi Susan,
I have heard of you for a long time, respect you, and have found looking at your books helpful.

I called you earlier tonight asking you about my partner having cervical polyps. I wanted to know if you could give me any recommendations for herbs and dietary stuff. I have made a list of herbal, dietary, and lifestyle things that I compiled for various sources and wondered if you had any suggestions - or would put more importance or less importance on any of it. (Attached and below).

If you want to help and we do a consultation, let me know your what you would like to be compensated for it.

Also in any of your books, do you address cervical polyps specifically? I have not found that much herbal information that specifically addresses them.

Thank you,


HERBS

**Red raspberry tea – get loose herbs and make tea all the time. (polyps, membranes)

**Dandelion root – tincture (immune, liver)

**Burdock root – tincture (blood, iron, kidneys

**Yellow Dock root – tincture (blood, iron, energy)

**Red Clover tea (polyps, life enhancing)

**Plaintain (soothing, kidney, bladder)

*Ginger tea – fresh (heat & energy into pelvic floor)


Herbs to balance hormones:
*Vitex (Chaste Berry) Tincture

Dong Quai 

Wild Yam

Licorice (raise progesterone)

Black Cohosh 

Kava Kava
Valerian (sedative)



Homeopathic:
Take Calcarea, 6c, before and after surgery to remove cervical polyps. Take four times daily for up to fourteen days.




DIET


STOP Eating: 
Coffee, alcohol, black tea, chocolate, dairy, SUGAR, hormone fed meat, non organic food, white (processed) grains, nuts, fried foods. Reduce or stop organic meat.


DO Eat:
Lots of vegetables (esp. dandelion leaves) & fruit (except citrus)
Alfalfa Sprouts, Apricots, Broccoli, Brown Rice, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, Oatmeal, pumpkins, sweet potato, yams 



SUPPLEMENTS:
**Flax seed, primrose oil (balance hormones)

**Vit C 5000-10000 mg daily (divided up in day)

**Beta Carotine 15,000 IU daily

**Calcium 1000-1500 mg daily (dark green vegetable

**Vit A 25000 IU daily

**Bioflavonoids (helps absorption of Vit C)

*Vit E 400-800 IU daily

Coenzyme Q10

Digestive enzymes



Aerobic exercise to increase blood flow


Bath Self-care
Bath Salts in bath
Hot & cold showers


Cosmetic Products:
Stop using products with these ingredients:
methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben. Parabens (preservative) used in most non-natural lotions




 

A: Hello, thank you for your kind words. I will be sure to pass them on to Susun. I see you wrote that you phoned Susun last Sunday. Perhaps you have received a reply? Please know that she does open her home up graciously for phone calls with health or herbal inquiries, for free. These are on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm Eastern time - mid April to late October only. There is no where in her books so far published where this is addressed in length. One upcoming, in the next few years perhaps, plans to address the many issues of "down there".

It is great you care for your girlfriend so to do all this research. Of course of importance is what she feels is going on and what she wishes to do about it. First is she positive it is cervical polyps? While they are benign, very ocasionally something of more concern can be misdiagnosed as polyps.

The possible causes I have heard for cervical polyps are high levels of estrogen and/or an odd reaction to its presence, chronic inflammation, or clogged cervical blood vessels. Unless your partner already takes a lot of what you have suggested it may be a bit much to start. I generally like to incorporate 1-3 nourishing habits at a time, and perhaps only one or two tonifying herbs to work with. Your list shows your dedication and research and is a wonderful list to choose from.

Essentially I agree with what it looks like you are thinking, overall nourish the hormonal and reproductive system. For further focus I would look at the possible causes suggested above and would work with an herb the specifically nourishes the hormonal system, so that there is a flow of different hormones produced through the cycle. For me this is Vitex tincture as you mention above, a dropperful 2-4 times a day. If research is wanted I favor the Fertility Awareness Method which can give indication of whether there is much progesterone production. Red Clover and Red Raspberry leaf prepared as infusions, not teas, are nourishing support for this area.

For chronic inflammation as a possible cause there are so many approaches. The ones I favor at the time is looking at any lingering small infection anywhere, one's attitude if defensive or resistant to life, quality oils (such as extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, whole milk, pasture raised well cared for meats, soaked and dried nuts and seeds, whole grains and beans), and overall boosting of immune health.

For clogged cervical vessels, if there is nothing indicating this is a system wide problem I agree with movement to help. Aerobic exercise is wonderful, as is Luna Yoga, targetted specifically for this area, or any yoga, and massage, specifically of the pelvic area, perhaps even abdomonal massage. Again looking at the mental/emotional I would question if there is tension in this area for any reason.

Liver support is wonderful, however may not be as necessary as the others above, and therefore add to the complication of too many things.

I do not know much about homeopathics, so can not comment, but am curious why you chose this one.

I do not favor or advocate supplements, and instead prefer to get what I need in foods and nourishing herbal infusions.

I do not know if any of the above will remove the polyps, simply keep more from forming. If surgery is planned to remove the polyps I hear infection often can occur, so think immune health is vitally important. Antibiotics are often prescribed and if this is taken steps must be taken to counter their damage and repopulate the body with healthy bacteria. You both may wish to read this article from Susun on immune health.

Please let me know if you wish to discuss this further. I like your approach and your thoroughness :)

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

Mixing Fertility Tinctures

Q: Hi Susun & Karen Joy,

Thank you for a wonderful website!

I've suffered 2 miscarriages in the past year, and my fertility specialist is pretty positive this is due to my endometriosis which is causing me to produce unhealthy eggs. I've begun a vegeterian diet in the past 3 weeks. I am going by Fern Reiss's "The Infertility Diet: Get Pregnant & Prevent Miscarriage", as I don't seem to be conceiving as quickly as I was before the last miscarriage, 6 mos. ago.

I've just ordered tinctures of the following herbs: nettle, rasberry leaf, false unicorn root, wild yam root, & burdock. I currently drink nettle tea every other day. I think if I can detox my liver, heal,subdue, or prevent further endometriosis, and get my total body into better health, I will successfully conceive and carry a pregnancy. I'm not sure what the dosage amounts of each tincture should be, if they should be taken together or if there are contraindications, and what other details I should know about taking these tincures. I chose these herbs because they're traditional medicine to my family's southeastern native tribes. Unfortunately, no one left in my family has much natural medicine advice.

My husband suggested these are likely to agree with my body based on genetic memory.

I welcome any advice you can give on how I should administer, and what more I can do to learn about herbalogy.

Thanks!!

 

A: Hello, so wonderful you care so deeply for your health, and being proactive about what you can do. I love your idea of finding the plants that might be more familiar to your family history, and those you mention are wonderful women's herbs. I can speak best about the herbs I am most familiar with, as well as the approach to health I most prefer - the Wise Woman Tradition.

I hear your concern, and hear you have endometriosis. My approach then at this point would be to support your health, nourish it so it works most optimally. Like you then I would look toward overall reproductive health and your liver health. And like you I love both Burdock, as well as Dandelion for liver health, though would not see it as detox, or see your liver as toxic, but moreso needing some care so it does its job wonderfully. For this I love tincture of the dandelion root, 15-25 drops in water 3 times a day, usually with meals. It does not need to be with food; I do it this way because it has the added benefit of helping with digestion. You can do the same with Burdock root tincture :)

You mention Nettle and Red Raspberry leaf. I do not use these as tinctures. I feel the value is best found in them prepared as infusions. This is a strong tea - I know you mention drinking Nettle tea so I do not know which you are preparing. I prepare infusions by putting an ounce of the dried leaves in a quart jar, filling with boiling water, capping and letting sit 4-8 hours before straining and drinking. While pregnant I love alternating these each day. Prior to pregnancy I favor more Red Clover blossom infusions.

I have heard wonderful things about False Unicorn root and Wild Yam. In Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, she recommends False Unicorn root be taken as a tincture, 5-15 drops per day, prior to pregnancy. Or the infusion can be taken in sips, up to a half a cup per day. To improve fertility, Susun recommends:
"If wild yam is taken in small doses (a cup of tea or 10-20 drops of the tincture daily from onset of menses until mid-period) it increases fertility!"

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Dear Karen Joy,

Hoping you can help me ascertain what's going on with my body since taking the tinctures & teas. Can you let me know what you think about this result? Thanks!

I've been on a vegeterian diet for over a month, off of meat & dairy products for 3 weeks, and I took wild yam root, false unicorn, & raspberry leaf tinctures & nettle tea for 2 weeks this month before & during my period. My period was abnormally long (10 days) and since it's stopped I'm still having an unusual discharge, not blood, but not normal cervical mucus. I'm very concerned to know if this could be resulting from a detox or from something else. I need to know what's causing this discoloration (and it appears to be very small amount of clotting) a week after my period has finished. Since I observe religious laws that prohibit me from having marital relations until my period is a completely over, I am wondering if this is still part of a period or if it's something else. Do you have any idea?

Thank you so much for your wise counsel.
Blessings

 

A: I see you wrote this 5 days ago. How are you today? Is there still discharge that you are concerned about? I can not answer for sure what it is, though know myself that dramatic changes in diet can affect us. I do not consider this a detox however.

love and blessings,
Karen Joy

 

Q: Hi Karen Joy,

Somehow I missed this email from you; I'm so sorry I didnt see it and reply sooner! I did take your advice about limiting the number of herbs I take on at once. Since last cycle I just stuck with the false unicorn root tincture, since all the literature I read says that is a sure-fire way to help endo. I also started adding some Vitex tincture, according to a 'Tayler Tonic' recipe I found online. So this month my usual 27 day period switched to 31 days. But today is my 9th day of menstruation and its just as heavy as ever! I'm concerned. I just don't know what this means. I've rarely had a period longer than 7 days, esp. this heavy. Any idea what may be happening? I'm trying to continue my basically vegeterian and lactose-free diet as well. I read that a whole foods diet (and avoiding fat, fried food, caffeine & alcohol) will help ease the stress I put on my liver and the liver can help eliminate some of the endo! I don't know if that's true but it sounds good.

Would love to know what you think about if these extra long periods are health or not.

Thanks so very much,

 

A: It is great to hear from you. It is hard to know what is causing the change in what is familiar in your cycles. You have made lots of changes - the ones I know about being the use of Vitex tincture, False Unicorn root tincture, no more dairy, no more meat. Last cycle too you were working with some herbs that were new to you. Your last cycle lasted 10 days, so perhaps this did as well? So this change could be related to one or several of the above changes, other changes we are less aware of at the moment, or something else entirely, just coincidental. I can not answer this. The bleeding itself likely will not harm you, it is the cause we need to know to know of risk. When we do bleed excessively we can lose more iron, and the resulting anemia can itself allow us to bleed more. Your amount of bleeding I doubt will have yet affected this, but to be sure I would myself increase iron rich foods in your diet. You have eliminated a great source of this - red meat.

It seems originally your concern was that you had not conceived in a few months so you made changes to your diet and herbs and now are having abnormal cycles where they were once fine. Is this true? It takes time after a miscarriage for us to adjust. This may have been the only hindrance and no change was needed.

Also, lots of people have their own ideas about what is healthy for a person or not -lifestyle, foods, herbs. I can offer mine but some would contradict what you read elsewhere. It is you who have to find this out for yourself, what is best for you. One person's ideas (even my own :)) can not be right for everyone.

My feeling about endo and liver and immune health, is that the more vibrant a body is, more vital, more resilient, the better it is able to process what is normal and natural in life. Stressed livers and immune systems have a harder time and may leave one more prone to endo. However, and this is important, this does not mean that one with endo has a weaker immune system or liver health than one without!! There are many other unseen factors I am sure, due to our genes and environments we lived in. I just mean the stronger our immunity and the stronger our liver and the more vital our hormone health the better we are.

That said then I would want to nourish our liver and our immune system. If one were weak we want to encourage the person to get stronger by working and by feeding her foods that she can build with. If our liver, whose job it is to process out what is not needed in our body, is stressed, I would favor feeding the liver rather than trying to keep it from working. I do this with liver nourishing foods and herbs. To keep your herb protocol simple still I would then focus on bitter foods - greens that are bitter, dandelion is a wonderful one! Same with our immune system, I would focus on nourishing it with good foods. For healthy hormone function I am of the strong belief we most need healthy fats - to me this comes from uncooked extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, raw but soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds, and organic free ranging meats and dairy products.

I know, just another set of ideas for you to choose from. I trust in time you finding what is best for you. It would be my guess the changing cycles are more likely to be a result of your changing diet and herbs. I had distressing changes when I went vegan. However, there are some things that can cause changes in our cycle that can be harmful if they continue - fibroids or endo in some places, uterine polyp, uterine cancer. I would not guess these for you, but must acknowledge I can not know with out tests that only a doctor can do. It is up to you if you feel those tests are necessary right now. Any moment in life we may be walking with a life threatening condition. We must choose when and how often we wish to rule those possibilities out, to the best of our ability.

Please continue to write as you wish. I do have many opinions, but most wish to support you to find what you feel is best for you. I will be curious to hear how you are doing. I will wonder, and would love to hear back.

love and blessings,
Karen Joy

Nourishing and Letting Go

Q: Hello angel Karen Joy,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me.

Also I have gone ahead and ordered Susun's Books - Menopausal, HealingWise, Childbearing Year; and Natural
Children and I am really excited to get reading.

I also have joined the wonderful forum.

Since you have asked me to go ahead and ask questions, I am going to. It seems that I need
to be told a few times before I get it, but here goes.

This is my plan for a successful pregnancy, Please advise okay.

(1) Drink my nourishing herbs. Red Raspberry Leaf, and Nettle.

(2) Drink Red Clover also as from my deduction it is a good fertility enhancer and a good
hormone balancer.

I honestly think I am not able to keep the baby because of my hormones level.

So my question to you is Red Clover the way to go until I want to conceive for balancing
both the estrogen and progesterone? Or do you think something else.

I don't want to have to beg to my doctor for a cortisone shot. He'll probably just
say no, and my time is ticking. I have read the Wild Yam, but wouldn't Red Clover
be enough.

Also hear goes, I am still lactating and I read in one of the postings that it affects
hormones and words on that.

Thanks Karen Joy.

Love and Light

PS (I had to laugh at the name GreenTit, my gosh so many like minded people out there,
I must be living under a rock)

 

A: Yes, I saw your book order, wonderful!! So glad to have you at the forum.

Based on what I have learned up to this point, I would strongly encourage you to nourish yourself in all ways that you know, including food, rest, time, friends, solitude, etc., as well as explore any (if any) emotional resistance to becoming pregnant.

From what I have learned I encourage you to nourish yourself with infusions just as you mention below. Absolutely to Nettles and Red Raspberry, regardless of what you choose with the doctor. My personal vote is to try this way for some time that you feel comfortable before considering more invasive options. I must stress from what I know at this point, since I am not thoroughly versed in possible biological more serious concerns in this situation.

I am gathering from our brief interaction, that these nourishing infusions, plus the Vitex perhaps may go far to help you. I also think Red Clover blossom infusions may be wonderful for you. I nurse and have not come to believe over the years that this has been in any way a problem for me. I do not drink this every day, though, just about once a week. on average.

Does this answer all? I suppose basically in the end it is up to you what you choose; not being you I can only make suggestions. I hear your passion and determination.

Hormone levels that can be quantified are not the end all. Your passion and focus go far. Inviting nourishing ways into your life goes far too. And maybe at some point we can research and decide and take action and want and desire, but in the end I wonder if we are best to let go, while continuing our ways, but ultimately allow what is to happen simply happen. I want for you all that you desire!!! And yes, still you may ask all that you want to!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Dearest Dear Karen Joy,

You are so wise. And you have a wonderful way of speaking or writing to people. So very gentle and elequont.

Thank you for all your words Karen Joy. I will let go and let God. I have a personality of taking the bull by its horns and I sometimes get in my own way but I know my pregnacies weren't meant to be at this point in my life.

I just want to make sure that my body is functioning better then my previous tries. I never
once considered inviting herbs into my regime though...and have to say I feel so blessed to have been
led this way.

I once again have to say "Sister Nettle" makes me feel so wonderful, and same with Red Rasberry. I am
alternating them though. And as far as Red Clover thank you for some ideas. Do you mean you
limit Red Clover once a week or all infusions? I'm addicted to my infusions now Karen Joy
because they make me feel good.

Once again God Bless you.

 

A: I am so glad you have enjoyed our interaction; I have too. Yes, it does sound like Nettle and Red Raspberry are wonderful herbs for you. And I agree to take the approach of nourishng our selves so we are "functioning better" THEN allowing what is to happen to do so. I don't limit any of my infusions, I simply don't seem to crave the Red Clover as often. Please do let us know how things go!

Blessings,
Karen Joy