Healing Wise

A City Herbal in Small Town Utah

Q: I was looking at the book review for A City Herbal - Lore, Legend, & Uses of Common Weeds and it said that Maida Silverman was born and has spent her life in New York City. NYC is a big city and I live in Coalville Utah. Coalville is a small town and I was wondering if the book could be useful for me here? It sounds like a very interesting book but I don't know if it would be useful for me to buy it.

A: Hello, yes, this is a wonderful book!  It is just as useful in the city as in the country.  The plants she speaks of are common many places.  Being in Utah though I do not know if you have many of the same plants.  You can see a list of the plants she covers.  If you are familiar with enough of them I say yes, please do get the book and enjoy it! You will learn much more about the plants and even get some tips on how you can use them in your everyday life.

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

Relieving Arthritic Pain

Q: Greetings,

I am dealing with arthritis a medical doctor diagnosed my case as "early" arthritis.  It doesn't feel like early but anyway it's mostly in the knees.  The right one used to be swollen.  To my surprise the swelling does not seem to be  there anymore.  The area seems to be a toughened where it was formerly tender.
I think they called it bursitis at that stage.  I had some heat therapy, and ultra sound.

What remains is this inability to navigate areas that have steps or where the ground is uneven -the knees hurt and I even hear some cracking sounds.  I've taken a pretty full range of herbal remedies including red clover, nettles, burdock root tinctures devils claw. Is there anything else you can recommend.

I've taken glucosamine and msm, flax seed oil, and am now taking fish oil (Carson's)., I stay away from alcoholic beverages, am vegetarian have done juice therapy.  I also take SAM-e.  Anything else you can recommend. It would be most appreciated.

   

 

  

A: I recommend you first read this article on fibromyalgia.   Though I know this is not your label, many of the ideas may help, as well as some of the ideas in this article on bone health. I encourage you to just pick 2-3 or three actions to try and give yourself a time, like 4 months of working with those solidly.

Often we hear a list of "remedies" and throw them at ourselves haphazardly and then write them off as ineffectual.  So even if you feel drawn again toward something you have already tried, you may wish to try again, noting the form of the herb and more specific details about how much how often, etc.  I am unsure how good for us flax oil is, though I have heard wonderful things about the freshly ground seeds baked in products.

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

   

  

Q: Thanks for your kind help.  I will try again

  

 

  

A: Please do write any time if you wish!  Plus we would love to hear how it is working for you...

love and blessings,
Karen Joy

Healing Fibroids and Hyperplasia with Wise Woman Ways

Q: Hello…

While reading Susun’s book New Menopausal Years I saw mentioned the impending release of a book entitled Down There: The Wise Woman Way that is said to deal with the issues of ovarian cysts and hyperplasia. Since I’m currently having issues with both I was wondering if the book is still going to be released. I’m 56 and in menopause. I have incidents of bleeding/spotting and was told my endometrial lining was thick. I had a D&C which showed the tissue to be benign but it has grown back to its original thickness in two-month time and the spotting and bleeding continue. I have a history of fibroids as well and am now told (after a pelvic ultrasound) that there is also a small cyst on my left ovary. Naturally, the doctor wants to do a hysterectomy claiming that is the only way the bleeding will cease and I can eliminate the possibility of any cancer forming. After doing some research, I discovered that the problem may be due to my years on birth control pills (Ortho Novum 777) which cites endometrial hyperplasia as a side effect, nothing I was ever told. I DO NOT want a hysterectomy and am praying and looking into alternative approaches for my problem. Any suggestion, reading materials, physicians who have dealt with this problem, would be so appreciated.

 

A: Hello, thank you for writing. 

Susun is currently working on Down There, simply taking longer than she originally planned - it is coming along wonderfully!!

Here are some of Susun's thoughts on ovarian cysts:

Here is a link to a previous answer Susun gave to another woman with ovarian cyst concern. Her recommendation:

Try chickweed tincture, a dropperful four times a day. Continue for as long as it takes. I have known several women dissolve very large ovarian cysts this way. If you want it to go away faster, you could also use castor oil packs.

And here she writes more about Chickweed...

Chickweed (Stellaria media) has secret dissolving powers. Ovarian cysts, dermoid cysts, lumps in the breast and elsewhere can't hold their own against her slippery ways when a dropperful (1 ml) is taken 4-5 times a day, persistently, for many months. And have you tried chickweed pesto? It vibrates with antioxidant power!

How long has it been since you last bled?  Fibroids can grow through menopause though disappear shortly after.

I suppose cutting out organs can eliminate chance of getting cancer there, but this seems  a drastic way to ensure this to me.  We all have our levels of what is comfortable though.  And I trust a woman to know what is best for her. 

The explanations I have read for hyperplasia seem to think it is possibly from excessive estrogen unchecked by progesterone.  Estrogen levels will decrease, as long as you don't take hrt, as you go through menopause.  As well, Vitex berry tincture, as described in New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, can help one produce more progesterone if needed.

Do let me know if I can help further.

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

Drugs in the Six Steps of Healing

Q: Hello

When I clicked on your 6 steps of healing I think it was No 5 that said use drugs?! Do you mean avoid drugs?

Enjoyed the website.  Thank you

   

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  We are so glad you are enjoying the websites.  In the article mentioned Susun DOES mean "use drugs"  Remember she is referring to all the possible routes to healing, and there is a time and place for using drugs, for example when diabetic or facing a life threatening emergency. 

These are listed in the order they are in to show the importance of starting at the lowest point on the list and only working as high as need be, then being sure to work back down.  Perhaps this article by her on the seven medicines, another way to look at the same concept, will help it all make more sense   :)

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

The Wise Woman's Essiac

Q: I have had no pain, in the bladder, except one day bleeding from the bladder for one week. Now they want to do all the usual cancer treatments. It is the transitional cell type and 60% chance of return in the bladder. I agreed to biopsy but nothing else. I was taking the herbs for Osteoporosis your book suggested.  Now taking the herbs in the Essiac Tea.  Also tincture of Blood Root and Green Tea.  Should I stop all vitamins?   I drink organic cranberry juice very dilute and  also green juices as well as chlorophyll.   I feel overwhelmed with info.

Please set me on the right path.

Many blessings to you

 

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  I can understand why you feel overwhelmed.  There is a lot of information out there!!  If you wish to speak with Susun Weed, you are invited to call her FREE herbal/health hotline at 845-246-8081 on Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:30PM, April 10th through October 23rd of this year.

Here is a bit Susun has written on Essiacfrom page 302 of Breast Cancer? Breast Health! --

Wessiac
The Wise Woman version of Essiac

1 ounce/30 grams dried Arctium lappa (burdock) roots, cut
1/2 ounce/15 grams dried Rumex crispus (yellow dock) roots, cut
1/8 ounce/3.5 grams Ulmus fulva (slippery elm) bark, powdered

Infuse all three herbs in a 1 quart/liter boiling water for 8 hours.
Strain; refrigerate liquid.  Daily dose is 1/2 cup/125 ml, hot or cold.

Easily available, reasonably priced yellow dock replaces her difficult sisters: sheep sorrel and turkey rhubarb.  Using my standard infusion technique to make enough brew to last for a few days eliminates the need to sterilize jars, and allows you to try Wessiac without buying pounds of herbs.  (You will want to buy herbs by the pound if your're going to use Essiac or Wessiac consistently.)  Because it's gentler on the intestines,  Wessiac can be used daily for months.  For this deep down dirty brew I give  thanks to the deep roots.  Dirt is Earth; the Earth is sacred; dirty is sacred, too.

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

Book Translations

Q: are your books available in other languages, Czech in particular??? The book in question is Brest Cancer, Breast Heath

   

 

   

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  Breast Cancer? Breast Health! is available in German as BrustGesundheit from  Orlanda.  There are a few excerpts and related articles from the book that can be translated from English using Babelfish - not into Czech, but perhaps something similar?  If interested I am happy to send links to the articles.  Meanwhile you can start with those found at Breast Health Cancer Prevention.

Please let me know if I can help further.

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

Men Can Be Wise Women Too

Q: Hi, I'd like to be on your e-mail registry and learn about upcoming events, and other positive opportunities, am I allowed due to my gender?

I'd like to visit for I am especially interested in the seva programs i.e. possibly the shamanic apprentice program in the future, but for now an academically challenging summer with the space to process is the goal.

I've set the stage by turning the truck into the taj mahal, (so to be totally self reliant) and now am looking for the right opportunity to learn and study the natural world and heal a distanced relationship with Mother Earth, while not burning a hole in my pocket book so to speak.

Let me know if you have any good ideas and thank you for reading!

Maybe I'll get you meet you, Susun, and the rest of the "wise women"  :)

   

 

   

A: Hello, you have been added to our Weed Wanderings ezine mailing list as you request - enjoy!  You can also see all our past issues archived.

Women and men both are just as openly welcome to our websites, forum, weblogs, email groups, etc.!!  As well, all Susun's one-day classes, correspondence courses and work trade days are open to men and women.  Her intensives, moonlodges, and apprenticeships are for women only.  I know you will find a great deal of information that is offered free on our websites. Please let us know if we can help you find anything in particular. 

Susun's correspondence courses can be paid in monthly installments and allow you the freedom to study while you travel.  Her work trade days are free and you are rewarded with lunch and instruction or credit toward books or tapes.  Her one day classes are discounted the earlier in advance you pay for them. Feel free to write any time!

Blessings,

Karen Joy

wisewoman@herbshealing.com

www.wisewomanweb.com