Category Archives: Natural Health

Jun 04
0

Drink Your Vitamins: Herbal Infusions for Mom

By | Breastfeeding, Natural Health | 2 Comments

Whether you’re a nursing mom like me or just a busy woman trying to get your list done for the day, it’s likely you don’t get as much sleep as you’d like and start your days feeling like you need a boost. After all, the nice adrenaline rush we get after one late night starts to fade after weeks of interrupted sleep common to parents. Usually the resulting exhaustion finds us groping for a strong cup o’ joe in the morning…and in the afternoon. Now, I’m not anti-coffee but I want to suggest something that will provide energy without creating adrenal fatigue – nourishing herbal infusions.

Herbal infusions are simply large amounts of herbs steeped a long time to get the most nutrients from them. They supply nutrients that gently strengthen and rejuvenate our bodies.  They are also inherently safe since they utilize the whole herb and not just a focused portion of the plant (like a pharmaceutical).

The ratio for making an infusion is…

1 oz dried herb + 1 quart boiling water

If you don’t have a scale, 1 oz of a leafy herb is about 1 c by volume. Heavier items like rose hips would require less than 1 c. to make 1 oz.

When starting to use herbal infusions, it’s wise to use one herb at a time and rotate them throughout the week. It’s easier to determine how you respond to an individual herb before mixing a bunch together. Great counsel for a new herbal user.

However, for today’s post, I have already used all the herbs in my current nourishing infusion and need something to drink daily that will boost my milk supply and my energy level. Not only do these herbs pack a nutritional punch that energizes me for the day, the nettle, red clover, alfalfa and marshmallow all help nursing mamas to make more milk. Red raspberry may help milk production as well but some research seems to indicate that due to its astringent nature, it can actually decrease milk supplies in some mamas if used long term. So, I included it some days and leave it out at times.

Place in a gallon jar:

1 c nettle

3/4 c. red clover blossoms

1/2 c. red raspberry leaf

1/4 c. alfalfa

1/8 c. marshmallow root (milk production)

1/8 c. rose petals

2 T. dried lavender

2 T. rose hips

1 pinch stevia herb (not the powdered junk)

Pour boiling water over the herbs to the top of the jar and cover with a lid. Steep from 4-10 hours (overnight is perfect).

Strain, refrigerate and drink within 36 hours.

*Some people like to add a pinch of peppermint to their infusions. However, peppermint CAN reduce milk in some nursing mamas so use as needed.

When I need large quantities of dried herbs, I purchase them from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a great reputation for quality and their prices are good, especially in quantity. If you can’t afford all of the herbs, start with one (nettle is a good choice) and build your supply slowly. I would spend my money on herbs over vitamins any day.

Since I’ve started drinking infusions rather than coffee, I actually prefer their refreshing flavor to caffeinated drinks. I drink my infusions iced and unsweetened (stevia is enough!).

Give it a try!

What nourishing foods/drinks do you use to get you through days when you wish you’d had more sleep?

*As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor.  These are common sense remedies I use for my family, especially because they support the immune system rather than simply masking the symptoms of illness. I have taken the time to research any herbal recipes carefully myself and have consulted with my local herbalist and doctor. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal, prescription or off the shelf at a local drugstore.**

 

May 30
3

Mastitis: Natural Remedies for a Quick Recovery

By | Breastfeeding, Natural Health | 9 Comments

This weekend, a nursing mom’s pain sidelined my plans in the form of the dreaded mastitis. While I’ve had plugged ducts a few times in my not-so-stellar nursing career with my other kids (a story for another time), I’ve never felt anything like mastitis in my life! I learned a quick lesson on how to recognize a clogged duct and to deal with mastitis naturally with herbs and rest.

Toward the end of last week, I noticed my right breast felt kind of a numb soreness (numb on the surface and sore beneath), but it felt better when relieved by pumping or nursing. I also felt like I was starting to get a little more done during the day so despite my post on learning to let it go, I burned the candle at both ends several nights in a row. In the meantime, my nursing baby started to sleep a little longer during the night so I went longer periods (maybe 5-6 hours) without nursing or pumping. Here’s what I learned…

 

Exhaustion + extended periods without nursing = clogged ducts

 

Unfortunately, I was too tired to process that information clearly because I was on an adrenaline high during the day. So, I just kept pumping and nursing during the day and burning that midnight oil – literally. Then I learned something else – and this time I had to listen!

Clogged ducts + exhaustion = mastitis

When I woke Sunday, I felt pretty bad but I thought if I got up and got moving I might feel better. WRONG! Within a few hours, I felt light headed and like I might pass out. I was down for the count! Back to bed I went. When I was awake I was miserable and definitely shed some tears over the offending breast. Mastitis is no joke!

Want to know what mastitis feels like? Start by running in front of a MAC truck (for the all-over aches), hopping into a fire pit (fever), jumping into an ice bath (mad chills) and then smashing your breast with a hammer a few times. Does it feel hot and swollen yet? Ok, smash it a few more times. Yep. That’s about right.

I went looking for old wives’ tales online about natural remedies. The thing about old wives’ tales is that there is usually some truth to them. I wanted to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. The mom forums seemed to agree on a protocol.

1. Rest! There it is again. You’d think I’d learn right? Susan Weed, one of my herbalist heroines says that mastitis is almost always the sign of an over-busy nest. I went straight to bed and I did not get up for about 24 hours. This is essential to a quick recovery from mastitis.

2. Nurse or pump every 2 hours just to empty the breast. Massage the breast while nursing or pumping to help break up the clogs and keep the milk flowing. Waiting longer will result in a longer infection. Using a hot compress prior to nursing or pumping is helpful.

3. Echinacea infusions or tinctures. I used a tincture since I always keep it in my house. 2 drops per pound of body weight up to 6x/day while the fever stuck. Now, I’m down to 3x/day for the rest of the week. (The redness and swelling are almost gone). A friend who had mastitis multiple times over the course of a few months used it instead of antibiotics and she finally kicked it!

4. Vitamin C 3-5000 milligrams daily – I drank EmergenC a few times each day.

5. 4-6 fresh garlic cloves a day. No, garlic pills are NOT the same as fresh. Fresh garlic contains powerful medicine to knock out infection. Here’s a tip. Don’t smash or chop the garlic. Slice it. It’s less “bitey” this way. I popped some bread in the broiler, took it out and topped it with butter and 3 cloves of fresh garlic. DEEE-licious!

6. Do a castor oil pack. Some swear by hot compresses. I did those but this was even better. Thanks for the advice, Sarah! The pain decreased right away and it really helped clear the clogged ducts. Pump or nurse first. Then wet a piece of flannel or cotton cloth with warm water, slog some castor oil on it and place on the affected breast. Cover with plastic wrap, a heating pad or hot water bottle and a towel. Lie down and relax for an hour. Afterward, carefully wash the breast with a little baking soda and water or a mild soap to get the castor oil off before baby nurses again. It can cause diarrhea otherwise. This helped so much with the pain.

7. Nurse on the affected side while lying on the opposite breast. Lie on the side that doesn’t hurt and carefully lean over to let your baby nurse on the side that hurts. Gravity helps the milk to flow. Just don’t squish the little guy/gal. Some mamas nurse on all fours but I didn’t find that too comfy and my kid didn’t like it.

8. Frozen Cabbage leaves. USE WITH CAUTION! If mama has supply issues, cabbage leaves are not a good choice. They can dry up a supply. However, mamas with oversupply may benefit from freezing some clean, green cabbage leaves and sliding them into their bra. I’ve heard it feels good and relieves the pain.

9. Grip the Nip. Wise advice from a friend. “Grasp your nipple between your thumb and middle finger. Pull your nipple out and roll it firmly back and forth between your fingers. This helps to break up any curdled milk that may dislodge from a clogged milk duct.” It really worked. Thanks Becca!!

10. Other good advice. Nurse, Hand express or pump in a hot shower. Drink lots of water. And wear looser clothing on your breasts so the milk can FLOW free, just until you’re past the worst of it. Take a look at your clothing and make sure you haven’t been wearing anything too constricting that might be causing those blocked ducts!

As with any natural remedy, the secret to it working is to start using it as soon as you feel bad, not waiting until you’re 3 or 4 days into mastitis. I’m happy to report that using these natural methods, I kicked mastitis within a few days and I didn’t have to knock out my whole immune system with antibiotics.

I’m a big believer in nourishing the body so it can fight its own battles. However, I want to be clear that I would have sought antibiotics if I hadn’t seen an improvement within 24-36 hours. Thankfully, my fever subsided within 24 hours. The red, swollen and sore feeling in my breast is almost gone 3 days later. I usually find that herbal methods work faster and more effectively for these kinds of problems than antibiotics anyway.

The mamas in my circle inform me that it’s really easy to get mastitis again once I’ve had it so I’ll be putting out that candle at night and taking a nap when I need it. I do not want to get this again!

So, I’ve learned to avoid mastitis I need –

Rest + frequent nursing = clear and hopefully mastitis-free milk ducts

Know a friend who can’t seem to kick mastitis? Please share!

 

*As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor.  These are common sense remedies I use for my family, especially because they support the immune system rather than simply masking the symptoms of illness. I have taken the time to research any herbal recipes carefully myself and have consulted with my local herbalist and doctor. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal, prescription or off the shelf at a local drugstore.**

 

 

 

Mar 01
0

Connecting the Circle with your Placenta

By | Birth Choices, Birth Week, Natural Health | 2 Comments

Guest writer and Herb Mother blogger, Latisha, shares some thoughts with us about the incredible placenta that nourishes a baby during 10 months of pregnancy. 

Connecting the Circle with your Placenta

by Latisha Guthrie

Making a baby is an incredible act of nature. When you really stop to think of the miracle of creation, how two tiny cells merge and divide again and again to grow an entire human being, it’s easy to have a deep reverence for life. One of the great miracles of preganancy for me, is the placenta. This powerful organ is created only for this one purpose by you and your baby. It is birthed into the world, just like the baby is. However, as it leaves your body, its contract fulfilled, it is often discarded without much thought. I’d like to challenge you to consider how the placenta plays into the miracle of life by honoring its place in creation.

If you’ve ever had an opportunity to really look at a placenta, you will know the miracle I’m talking about. The shape, size, and color as unique as each child, it contains all of the life force and love that nourished your child these nine months. The thin, yet perfect and strong veil that carefully covered the baby a reminder of how little armor is needed when the right nourishment is provided. The tree of life that is seen in every single pattern of veins, the story of your genetic history spelled out in every branch. For me, it is not simply an easily overlooked organ to be tossed aside.

The placenta is honored in many ways around the world. In many cultures it is revered almost as much as the child. In Nigeria, it is seen as the twin of the child and given full burial services. In other cultures it is buried under a tree and it is believed that the health of the tree is representative of the health of the child. Some bury the placenta with items like books or money to ensure a smart or wealthy child. In other traditions, the placenta is burned to ash and saved by the mother. Whenever she needs to feel close to the child, she will sprinkle some of the ash on her food. In traditional cultures, the placenta was a way to connect. Connect the child with Source, the parent with the child, the parent with Source, the child to the community long after it has moved on. It was seen as a way to complete the circle of Source, community, and child.

Placenta encapsulation is a more recent way to connect with the energy of this amazing organ. Popularized by midwife Raven Lang in the 80s it is now commonly done in natural birth circles throughout the western world. Though there is not much scientific research regarding encapsulation, the anecdotal evidence is promising. Mothers report less post partum depression, speedier recovery time, and increased milk production. I would encourage you to consume your placenta after birth either raw or encapsulated if you are drawn to do so. However, in my work with placenta,  I’ve seen it heal much more than this.

One of the most powerful experiences I had the honor of being a part of came from two best friends, their babies only a few months apart. The first woman had a hospital birth that did not go the way she had intended and she was handling a lot of grief around her experience these many months later. My client, was able to birth in a birth center and decided to encapsulate the placenta. She suggested to her friend that she come and help. As I washed and prepared the placenta, the best friend slowly began to watch with curiosity. I suggested she take over and she began rinsing the placenta in the sink. When she took this gift of life into her hands, I could see her whole body melt. She continued to rinse and massage the placenta, and soon started sobbing. Seeing that she was deeply reconnecting to the birth of her child, my client and I left the room so she could have some time to herself. After a bit, we came back to the kitchen and we both just put our hand on her shoulders and stood together. Sisters. Women. Carriers of life. The gateway to this world. Taking time to share gratitude with this gift of life, created a powerful moment of connection. A knowing that we had the ability to heal each other.

If you are pregnant and wondering about ways of honoring your placenta or have a previously frozen placenta awaiting ceremony of some kind or just wanna chat about it, please feel free to contact me. There are many things you can do with your placenta including encapsulation, making keepsakes with the umbilical cord, or making prints with the placenta and veil. I am a community herbalist and do a fair amount of wildcrafting. As an offering of gratitude, I sprinkle a bit of my child’s dehydrated placenta on the earth before I harvest. This is my way of connecting this gift to the gifts I receive that make my life whole and plenty. I am getting ready to move, so I am not currently offering any services myself, but have a few women I deeply trust I can refer you to or simply give you options to do it yourself or with your loved ones.

Either way, if you are able, I encourage you to consider connecting with the beautiful placenta you and your baby created and perhaps simply offer a bit of gratitude for its part in the amazing miracle of life.

 

Latisha defined: A girl, pacific northwest born, marries her soulmate, moves to the amazing sonoran desert, has two beautiful little girls, falls in love with nature’s medicine, and with her family, plans her move back home. She lives for the savory life, taking pride in her garden and being that good-smelling neighborhood herb lady. The rest is, well a work in progress. Some days she is that crunchy granola mom with a bustling kitchen, open window, potions on the counter, children happily at play outside in the dirt. Others she’s a pizza ordering, netflix watching, lazy gal who might forget she has children sitting next to her until a kissing scene comes on and they start climbing into her lap for a smooch.

She is a: Mama. Lover. Herb enthusiast. Writer. Desert dweller. Seeker. But most of all, a Work in progress.

To read more of her thoughts or to learn about using herbs as part of a healthy life, visit her blog at http://herbmother.com/

Feb 29
0

First Time Moms: Books for Birth and Beyond

By | Birth Week, Book reviews, Natural Health | 2 Comments

Speaking of birth…If you are expecting a sweet bundle of love or already have one, here are a few great books to add to your library.

Preparing for Birth

Birthing from Within by Pam England – Good resource for preparing for the spiritual and physical reality of childbirth without creating anxiety in the reader. It’s one of the only books I read on the subject that explores a woman’s expectations of childbirth and offers a review of options without condemning the reader if she has chosen a hospital birth. If you’re going to buy a book on the topic, skip the “What to expect…” books (they list everything that can possibly go wrong – like your mind doesn’t explore these possibilities already!) and just read this one.

If you’re looking for a month by month or week by week update on what’s going on with your body and your baby, there are some great – FREE – online tools that aren’t so scary!

The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk, Foreward by Martha Sears, RN – I realize this is not technically a birth book but it’s something you should read before having your baby. Breastfeeding may be natural but that doesn’t mean it’s always a walk in the park. Speaking as a mom who wanted desperately to breastfeed but had some major issues both times, I fell in love with this book and only wish I’d had it before my babies arrived. It is the most comprehensive guide to the mechanics of breastfeeding and supplemental options that I’ve ever read (and believe me, I’ve done my homework!!). If you buy one book on breastfeeding, this should be the one.

Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Susan Weed. Great book on healthy herbs for moms before, during and after pregnancy. Susan Weed is definitely a very earthy person but has an encyclopedic level of knowledge about herbs. I refer to this book frequently.

After your baby arrives

The Baby Book – Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears R.N. – I love this book for those middle of the night moments when your baby is crying and you’re trying not to freak out. It is a sort of middle of the road book – empowering parents to understand basic stages of growth and common baby ailments. Dr. Sears does advocate immunization but also gives parents great advice on what to do before heading to the doctor. I’ve saved a lot of money skipping unnecessary doctor visits (you know the, “It’s just a virus” ones?) with this book. Besides running their own successful pediatric practice, this couple has raised eight children of their own! One of their sons is on the show called “The Doctors“.

Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child – Zand, Roundtree and Walton. My sister-in-law bought this book for me. It also lists common childhood ailments and different treatment modalities for each ailment, including Herbal, Nutritional, Homeopathic or Allopathic (what an M.D. would prescribe). Fabulous book!

Herbal Recipes – Rosemary Gladstar. For those of you who would love to venture into using herbs for beauty or basic health, Rosemary Gladstar is a good place to start.

I am passionate about being educated about health. We moms are our families’ best doctors. Our intuition gives us insight into our kids’ health even before we can physically feel that they have a fever. Our love for them gives us the strength to stay up all night when they’re sick. But education give us confidence that we know the best course of action for a sick little person – whether that’s a home remedy and rest or a trip to the doctor. Now that’s a good feeling.

Blessings on you as you “doctor” your family. Hope these books help!