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ginsengtee sweet wood tea is especially careful , if this herbs sunk excessive volumes are . THE BOTTOM cable on herbs , while something can increase herbs milk care through a pharmacological action, we believe that for many women galactogogues have mainly a placebo effect. Any substance that a mother believes will increase her milk supply probably will. Also, consider the ritual effect. The mother takes time to prepare the tea just for herself, takes time to drink it, and therefore takes time to relax. Under these circumstances, she probably and/or worry less about her milk supply. However, the most reliable method of

good messages for pizza, teigwaren loving herbs in the oreganofamilie had the highest antioxidant activity. In general, oregano had three to 20 times more than the other one herbs studied . Gram for gram, oregano and other new herbs even, which was more highly level, than fruits and vegetables that are known to be high in antioxidants. And oregano ranks supreme: it has 42 more times antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, and 12 times more than oranges. "People should use can go to more herbs for peppering in place of of the salt and artificial chemicals," said Wang. Adding a moderate amount the new herbs long method toward boosting the health value of a meal, the researchers said. And even if oregano is not a a favourite, other one herbs has also antioxydanteffekte . Among the more familiar, in order, are dill, garden thyme, rosemary and peppermint. dried herbs don t cut general mustard In , new herbs and spices are healthier and contain a higher level of antioxidant activity than dried or processed counterparts. Garlic is a good example fresh garlic is one and a half times more powerful than dry garlic powder. Wang and colleagues looked with herbs 39, that in the same general installation position , under the same conditions. The study included 27 culinary (used in cooking) and 12 medical herbs . In , culinary herbs were grown, oxidation braking effect than the medical herbs , as feverfew . The most active ingredient into herbs with the highest oxidation braking effect was rosmarinic acid, a strong antioxidant, said the researchers. And when Wang compared the antioxidant activity of herbs to that spices, inclusive paprika, came out garlic had , curry, chili, and black pepper, which peppers herbs on the top, it said. Fruits and vegetables as a rich source of antioxidants. While consumers have been urged for years to eat more fruits and vegetables, progress is slow, said the researchers. Westerners still favor diets high in fats and carbohydrates. Researchers have recently begun formal study of the health profit of herbs and . The difference between herbs and spices it is, where they come from. herbs from the plant blades are normally main, , and spices are usually made from the bark, stem, and seeds. now, which can emerge herbs as quick and easy way to get a concentrated source of antioxidants, without all the calories of whole foods, Wang said. , but herbs no back-up for balanced diet. Just as consuming too much of any food product can carry health risks, herbs should be applied in the moderation is .

by researcher in Antarctica to help them bare the extremely cold temperatures. The Cayenne powder is sprinkled into the boots before putting them on. As the powder slowly comes in contact with the skin through the socks, it will draw blood to the feet, thus bringing much needed warms to the extremities. The one draw back is the red powder stains light colored socks. From our readings, it seems the stained socks were a small price to pay for the great benefit of being able to feel your toes after a little while out in the blistering cold. After trying this on a number of occasions during the winter near lake Superior, I m also convinced the stained socks are worth it. Shopping Cart Resources for you one applied, which is new to herbs ? Need a Remedy? Preparing Remedies Sharing Remedies , which boils with herbs from our mailbox

herb information package series on herbs , specific states of health and in connection which are topics. Each of these compilations contains carefully selected articles, studies, and/or discussions by experts. Now available for immediate delivery by email. What sets HRF's work apart is our vast storehouse of information resources, including a specialty research library containing more than 300,000 scientific articles on thousands herbs . We also have extensive field experience in sustainable development of botanical resources. Founded in 1983 with a mission of herb research and public education, HRF remains committed to supporting the public's right to truthful information about the health profit herbs . Through our media outreach and education programs , HRF reaches millions of people each month with accurate information on the safe and appropriate use of herbs . Other services include botanical literature research , herb safety summaries and

herb search engine - say this will search a number of herbal reference sites A meta-site of herbal search engines! Ask the Herbalist - Pregnancy, Fertility Nursing from HerbNet Blue Cohosh Survey by Aviva Romm and Tieraona Low Dog - We hope you will take approximately 15 minutes to complete this survey, which is part of a preliminary data collection process we are undertaking to evaluate the safety of blue cohosh use in pregnancy. Blue Cohosh and Birth Defects - This article points out that the alleged association between blue cohosh and birth defects comes from a single case in which the mom didn't even take any blue cohosh until the last month of pregnancy, which is past the point of causing birth defects. Blue Cohosh Controversy Wishgarden Herbal Labor Formulas Explained by Tara M. Bloom - a brief but very helpful discussion of the uses of their B B Labor Formula, Labor Enhancer Formula, Smooth Transitions Labor Aid Formula, Centered Mama Nervine Formula The Reproductive System - this article has links to others about the female reproductive system, including Uterine Tonics Herbal Medicines Study - valerian is especially found to be helpful for reducing stress and improving sleep. Susun Weed seems to be the premiere herbalist when it comes to women's health issues, and she is the author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year . Herbal Allies For Pregnancy Problems by Susun Weed - a nice article. This is a fabulous article from Mothering Magazine : Herbal Allies for Pregnancy By herbs the special interest to mrs. from Medscape (registration is free) Association of Perinatal Naturopathic Doctors (APND) CLINICAL HERB MANUALS by MICHAEL MOORE - All things herbal - a great resource! One Contributor's Herbal Archives - Some Redundancy General Herbal Information Prenatal Herbal/Homeopathic Preparation "We in the profession cannot that herbs and plants are not good. All we can tell our patients is there's never been any financial incentive to study these things, and therefore we cannot advise them one way or the other," says Caddick, a co-author of Healthy Beginnings: Guidelines for Care During Pregnancy and Childbirth, a document put out by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada in 1998." from Sexual Hormones and Reproductive Imbalances - Materia Medica by Christopher Hobbs L.Ac., A.H.G. King's American Dispensatory Advising Patients About Herbal Therapies (JAMA Letters - November 11, 1998 ) useful herbs in the pregnancy, useful to linda woolven herbs with the maintenance, and useful herbs for stepping from the snowbound herbals NEW BEGINNINGS - THE CHIDBEARING YEAR CATALOG The January, 1998, issue of Mothering magazine (No 86) has a good article "Wise to use of herbs and by the vitamins during pregnancy . Linda White (author) treated herbs : Red Raspberry, Nettles, Alfalfa and Dandelion. She also mentions a wide selection 4 different herbs , which are broken in categories: herbs , which energize uterine contractions, in etc. . Medicinal Herb Garden - great collection of images the medical herbs . Herbal research compiled by the students at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy (Beard Hall) Search MEDLINE for Michael Moore's web site on Herbals Cherokee Messenger - Native American Herbal Remedies Traditional Herbal Plant Knowledge, Identifications Henriette's Herbal Homepage - One of the oldest and largest herbal information sites on the net, and they have a great Henriette's Medicinal herbFAQ Fuchs Botanical - 1545 - The digital version of Fuch's Botany of 1545. herbal health products available today." I found this site to be informative. They also offer a Free MedLine search page. Put in some latin names for herbs above, that, you (cabbage is Brassica ) and see what research has been done by the medical community. Available by ftp: sunsite.unc.edu or sunsite.sut.ac.jp /pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-medicine/faqs/ birth in connection standing herbs herb hormones research, i to something interesting information in this page about transgenders - Feminization through Herbal processing pregnancy herbs found - red raspberry, false einhorn Root, Helonias Phytoestrogens in foods and herbs herb medicine, mostly * Michael Moore's homepage (with lots of goodies): http: * Howie Brounstein's homepage (still more goodies): http: * Michael Tierra's site (yet more goodies): http: * Jonathan Treasure's Herbal Bookworm site: http: - good in-depth reviews of recent books on herbal medicine, a list of good books, a list of stinkers; as a whole it's a nice setup, with Reality Check and all * Herbal Hall, the one and only: lots of goodies: http: * Paul Bergner's Medical Herbalism (see medicinal herbfaq part 7): http: * Robyn Klein (Robyn's Recommended Reading) has her own website now, at http: it out, it's good stuff * Check out Nigel Wynn's Mediterranean Medicinal Plants -site, it's good stuff: http: address 02Sep98 * Try Susan Kramer's site: http: * You could also go see what the American Herbalists Guild is doing, at http: * Or check what's on this month at the Herb Society (U.K.) (Good Stuff): http: * The Healthy.net site is good, too, with its nifty search engine yielding articles by David Hoffmann and Christopher Hobbs, among others: http: , or try their Herbal Information Center page: http: * Try the Terra di Toscana herb pages: http: * Go for the AANP site, with their extensive library of articles: http: * Check the herbal files at Delicious! online: http: * Try the new website for the Herb Research Foundation: http: * Check the Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute -pages (focused on chinese herbs ): http: * This site: http: has lots of alternative healthcare resource links * Frontier Herb has Good Stuff on herbal medicine, like the Herbfest 96 notes: http: , or their plea for goldenseal: http: * The Herbnet, a nice setup: http: * Nutrition Science News is online - and searchable (try 'herb'): http: * See what this site has to offer: http: * The MediHerb homepage: http: MediHerb is -the- quality text provider in Australia (see medicinal herbfaq part 7), and, I hear, also -the- quality herb provider in Australia - but only to practitioners.) * Then there's the Culpeper page, for the historically inclined: http: * The Acupuncture homepage - Good Stuff: http: also featuring a Real Gem: http: - go have a look * The Merck Manual, 16th edition, is online at: http: An interesting list of proherbal and anti-herbal web sites I really like trilight herbs , because they are in a glycerin base, which is much more palatable than alcohol. They offer a free informational CD-ROM with order. NEW Pregnancy Formulas by Shonda Parker - "The herbal combinations that Ive formulated for use during pregnancy are based on those herbs , the not contraindicated for pregnancy by herbal authorities around the world." These are also great for alcoholics in recovery, who would prefer to avoid alcohol-based tinctures. Shonda Parker's Guide to Using the Tri-Light Mom and Baby Safe Formulas Phone: 530-292-1236 [NOTE - If the glycerin seems too sickly sweet, you can use as this herbs as substance in the tea or lemon water or anything, really. It won't affect the potency of the herbal remedy, but it may slow absorption. This is fine for the tonische herbs like and Labor Prep. If you need a faster response, as during labor, it's more effective to take them under your tongue.] Pam Caldwell, Pam offers phone consultations , and her herbal products are made from the highest quality herbal sources and available section covers Pre-Conception, Pregnancy Birth blade of the red raspberry, postpartum laktierung, herbs are valid, while the pregnancy to avoid and Lactation, Newborns, Babies Children, Women's Health, Digestive System, Pain Relief, Flower Essences mountain meadow herbs - family a formed herb company committed to bringing you the finest , most significant herbs and herb preparations become . Only organically grown or wild in manual work made herbs in our statements and formulas, with the rare exception of a particular herb being unavailable as such. They have a very nice selection of herbal formulas for pregnancy and birth . Texas Medicinals is an earth-centered herbal products manufacturing business, founded by herbalist Ginger Webb as a natural outgrowth of her herbal consultation practice. A traditional herbalist, Ginger knows intimately the wild plants growing around us, and gathers them to make medicine for her clients and for our Texas Medicinals product line. All the herbals and tinctures at are either Wildcrafted or Organically grown. Birth With Sol has a great selection applied of herbs for pregnancy . MoonLily: herbs for pregnancy, birth, stillenund Infant Care granny janny herbs creative of birthing arts old Ways has an extensive catalog of available in the store - 4075 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California 94609, 510-653-3244 One of my clients raves about sunrider.com . Their web pages describe a very high quality product. She was especially enthusiastic about their Evergreen chlorophyll . I really like this new source of of organic pregnancy herbs , inclusive aggregations herb preparations for Women and FORMULAS FOR PREGNANT AND BIRTHING WOMEN, MIDWIVES, BIRTH COACHES, AND PRACTITIONERS Gan-Ya Botanicals , a small family run herbal research center in the mountains of Southern Oregon. "We offer a variety of botanical services . . ., as well as a complete line of Handmade kosher herbal tinctures, Biblical flower essences, Color chakra essences, salves, teas, and oils primarily , that of herbs cultivated we were formed and prepared iron on our organic farm in the Judean Hills." Most midwives recommend floradix herbs , or that yeast-free version . They are easily tolerated by the sensitive pregnant digestive system and don't seem to cause constipation. blessed herbs 109 barre ebenenrd oakham ,Massachusetts 01068 1-800-489-HERB (4372) These guys are cool- I've been using them for nearly a decade now with no complaints- high quality stuff , reasonable prices, great service. You can also get a wonderful pregnancy tonic and a morning sickness blend (I buy these in BULK!) as a matter of fact their whole mother/baby section is really nice. Another company that I like is gaia herbs -1-800831-7780-they use to give one professional discount and they do custom formulations. Herbalism Schools Tieraona Low Dog, MD, AHG has an incredible correspondence course in phytomedicine with high scientific standards It takes a year to complete and is very thorough. She was a midwife for many years. She, along with Amanda McQuade Crawford, did the ACNM day-long CEU to thing on herbs for acnm . I recommend anyone serious over the use of herbs over it to investigate . The phone # is 800-553-4165 and the course is Foundations in Herbal Medicine. I just started the course and am delighted with the quality of the information and the presentation. inside of herbs offers long-distance tutorial . a philosophy of herbs , which i applied herbs for 21 years and studied extensively about them and continue to do so. I have a friend (actually more than one) who is a master herbalist and prescribes and uses them also. They have always been my first choice and IF they don't work then I will go with allopathic treatment. I don't have to rely on allopathic very often. I respect it and know when to use it. I haven't been to a doc for 15 years and neither have any of my children. The clients that come to me mostly are looking for a natural way of healing and living. I offer them that way and I don't feel like I am presumptuous enough to think that I know it all. When there is a question I would be the first to admit I don't know. I have midwife friends that to have herbs for years also applied and it taught me in the beginning of my career in midwifery 21 years ago. I am very aware of natural vs. synthetic and I have very strong opinions for natural. There is research involving the natural vs. synthetic progesterone cream (wild yam). There are many books and the one I will refer to at this time is, "Hormone Replacement Therapy, Yes or NO?" You might like to read this. This one doesn't necessarily reply to the miscarriage problem but I have other articles that do. For many thousands of years midwives of old and chinese herbalists to have herbs with very good results applied . Most of our allopathic medicines have of herbs to come and then chemicalized to line the drug companies pockets. When this started many years ago they had to get the control because how could you control some person going out into the woods and picking a plant for illness. There was no money in this and "they" didn't have the control either. You can't patent a plant or herb. when this tide began to turn then the people stopped relying on their instincts and had to go somewhere else to get well. Not me no thank you. Prescribe- that word needs a definition. It comes from the allopathic mind set and based on that I don't prescribe either. I do recommend only things that I know are safe for my clients and my family in amounts and at times that don't harm. I do not have any faith in the FDA to say what is safe and what is not. I have faith in my own intuition and knowledge and feelings. These may not be what any one can base a study on but I believe that we need to rely on ourselves more and on "them" less when it comes to our own health and trusting the birth process is part of this. It is obvious that you disagree with am i over herbs , progesteronsachen and ok because I disagree with you but out of respect for what you do and your right to disagree with me I think we can agree to disagree and remain friends in midwifery. I willingly give you the space for your beliefs. , herbs a bit can seem magic at times and they are hard to understand if we try to look at them in strictly allopathic terms. Unlike most meds, let can herbs a weighing effect on the body. Take Hawthorn Berry as an example. This wonderful herb can be used for both high blood pressure and low blood pressure. It is a heart tonic and has a normalizing effect on the circulation. Cayenne also has a broad range of what it's effects on the body can be. On the one hand, it is a hemostatic and can stop bleeding. On the other hand, it is a stimulant and can increase circulation in people whose circulation is poor. Like Hawthorn Berry, it has a normalizing effect on the circulation. I suspect that this is how it helps with migraines. I don't find that it acts specifically on the uterus like the cohoshes do. But, as a stimulant, it would increase the energy of a tired, laboring woman. By bringing her into balance and stimulating energy in her body, I think it could help the whole woman, not just her uterus. My kids stand next to me each time I each possible herbs take or supplements . They make me go through each one, almost in a ritualistic way, saying, "This is nettle; it keeps my blood strong. This is hawthorn; it keeps my heart strong. This is acidophilus; it keeps my intestines healthy..." This is a great idea for any kind of supplement or supportive act . . . remembering why you're doing it, and focusing your intention that way. A lot of people scoff at placebos, but placebos work, too, so placebo effect to anything real that might be happening? One of my labor coach clients wrote this in her feedback form: „, which takes herbs , let me believe, like i was proactively participating in getting my body ready for the birth, but I didn't have a sense of exactly how much they did for me physically. Psychologically, they were very helpful." Is it midwifery model of care? I use Susun Weeds six steps of healing for making decisions in birth - that is to me the HALLMARK of midwifery care- using the lowest tech choice available that still works. So , using herbs birth help type is to me if used wisely according to the six steps. If it will get her a homebirth and the risks do not outweigh the benefits, perhaps there is a place for blue cohosh. The question at hand is it is wise to use this at all if it's indefensible? And, we will never get research that will really tell safe, since it's a pregnancy thing, so do we want to just forget about? And if so many feel like it's ineffective anyway, then not using it is no loss to many here. In Susan weeds six steps, herbs like blue cohosh case into step 4, stimulate and sedate, and there are always distinct risks that must be weighed against the benefits. Here are the six steps in case anyone doesn't know them. Six Steps of Healing - By Susun Weed Examples are in parenthesis: (with a few of the modalities available at each step) Step 0: Do Nothing (sleep, meditate, unplug the clock or the telephone) Step 1: Collect Information (low-tech diagnosis, books, support groups, divination) Step 2: Engage the Energy (prayer, homeopathy, ceremony, affirmations, laughter) Step 3: Nourish and Tonify (herbal infusions and vinegars, hugs, exercise, food choices, gentle massage, yoga stretches) Note: Healing with Steps 4, 5, and 6 always causes some harm. Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate (hot or cold water, many herbal tinctures, acupuncture) For every stimulation/sedation, there is an opposite sedation/stimulation, sooner or later. Addiction is possible if this step is overused. Step 5a: Use Supplements (synthesized or concentrated vitamins, minerals, and food substances such as nutritional yeast, blue-green algae, bran) These substances may do as much harm as good. Step 5b: Use Drugs (chemotherapy, tamoxifen, hormones, high dilution homeopathics, and poisonous herbs ) Step 6: Break and Enter (threatening language, surgery, colonics, radiation therapies, psychoactive drugs, invasive diagnostic tests such as mammograms and C-T scans) Side effects, including death, are inevitable. Experienced Mom Comments on efficiency of herbs possibly started i (at 38 weeks) to use some the recommended herbs -- particularly night candle does not find . I delivered a beautiful baby boy on Sunday -- 1 day before my due date. It was my easiest delivery and my fastest recovery. No IV's were needed. No pain medications of any kind. This was my sixth delivery! And I have had all kinds. So I know what I am talking about. I used (5W) for the first two and decided not to bother with my third but ended up wishing I had!!! Herbal Tinctures and Alcoholics In Recovery It is becoming easier and easier to alcoholic herbs to avoid the i .e. herbs , which is conserved in the glycerin in place of of alcohol. There's a very nice selection, including alcohol-free red raspberry leaf , in pregnancy information herbs .com . Alcoholics in recovery may feel that it is unwise to take absolutely anything containing alcohol, including herbal tinctures and even homeopathics (because the sugar pills are impregnated with alcohol, although it's so dilute it's hard to imagine this would be a serious problem). Some are able to use tinctures made with grain alcohol (Everclear) without problems but will crave alcohol if they use tinctures with a vodka base. Some cannot tolerate any alcohol at all, period. herbs at the trilight - Many or on presentmoment herbs , which is following contained is specified, here because they cause uterine contractions, which is not desirable during most of pregnancy. However, some from these herbs recommended specifically or contained in herbal preparations recommended around your due date. If your due date is more than three weeks away, and anything you're taking seems to be causing uterine contractions, you may want to stop taking it until you've talked with your care provider. herbs , during the pregnancy of babycentre.co.uk Herb Safety Cautions from the trilight herbs . herbs and the pregnancy, from the birth substances ! birth help, inclusively and favourable herbs safety of herbs to avoid during the pregnacy laktierung of the harsh truck herbs method of . Please note that this web page doesn't distinguish between the higher medicinal dosages and some of the lower culinary dosages, which might not be problematic. Angelica in Floradix? One of my clients pointed out that contains angelica. This would seem like a dangerous herb to use in pregnancy because of angelica's reputation for encouraging separation of the placenta. Does it really do anything more than cause uterine contractions? Michael Tierra, "The to avoid herbs , “tables angelika as emmenagogue, but not a dosage that would cause ab. Could be that the dosage is very small in the Floradix as I have heard of and known of many women taking it during preg without ab. Possibly not recomm. for someone with hx of miscarriage or threatened ab. I have floravital by the makers of floradix which is used for the same purpose and there is no mention of angelica. It needs to be taken in larger quantities than I can imagine is in Floradix if it is contained at all. Angelica is usually tinctured (and used with blue cohosh) for helping the placenta separate postpartum, and floradix uses it in aquaeous solution. I know the seeds can be used as well as the root, perhaps the seeds are used in floradix. There was an inquiry a while back about Angelica in Floridix. I found the web address of the company and asked them about it. Their botanist was away for awhile but they have now sent me a response: In conversation with Suzanne Diamond, she told me that the amount of this herb in the Floradix formula was so minimal that there was no real concern. I do not have an exact figure for the content, however. According to Suzanne, [many midwives] recommend it to their clients. Suzanne said that the misunderstanding about Angelica stems from people not comprehending the activities of the phyto-estrogens, and their benefits to the human body. However!! (Isn't there always one of these?) since some women can be very , which is sensitive for herbs , proposes we that employs of the Floradix, they take the FloraVit, which has no angelica in it. - Leda H Fair, Spokesperson for Flor*Essence This topic was discussed on another list and is available if you search through this page from the archive . There are some common food substances that are NOT SAFE in early pregnancy IN LARGE QUANTITIES. Ginger and basil are two of them. Basil promotes miscarriage, so does ginger. The respected and experienced herbalists I have studied with recommend sparing use of both and avoidance of concentrated food stuffs. i.e.no pesto sauce in first trimester, can't have sushi anyways because of toxo. Don't forget it is possible to kill yourself (very slowly) with carrots from Vitamin A poisoning, so just because it's in a naturally occurring substance doesn't mean it's safe. On the other hand, Susan Weed says you can take up to 25 capsules per day of ginger root (a very concentrated form) to combat "morning sickness" and makes no mention of dangers. So, I'm a little confused. any body got a definitive answer? , which should not the following herbs and be avoided during pregnancy: aloe vera, angelica, barberry, buchu, buckthorn, cascara sagrada, coffee, comfrey, ephedra, goldenseal, horseradish, juniper, lovage, male fern, mistletoe, mugwort and wormwood, pennyroyal, rhubarb root, rue, shepherds purse, tansy, yarrow, senna, mandrake, wild ginger. Ma Huang Not Recommended During Pregnancy The two Ephedras are actually different in some ways- Mormon tea- (Ephedra nevadensis ) is rich in Calcium (58,100ppm) and does not contain the Ellagic-acid that Ma Huang- ( Ephedra Sincia) has. This particular constituent is an abortifacient. Ephedrine itself is somewhat oxytocic as well as being a uterine vasoconstrictor. It is considered an overt drug plant and should be off limits IMO. I personally had a client that was doing well in her first trimester when she took Ma Huang for sinus congestion without consulting me and then miscarried a week later at 12weeks. I hate the stuff - makes me feel like I'm PMS-ing! I have always told clients not to use Ma Huang in pregnancy. It isn't good for the adrenals. A widely reported study that concluded that echinacea, St. John's wort, ginkgo and saw palmetto could inhibit conception has been called into question. The research, conducted at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, exposed hamster eggs (in test tubes) to high doses of each herb, then inseminated them. After incubation, various negative effects were found. In real life, however, the active components of herbs is, into which bloodstream, and it is unlikely they would reach concentrations equal to the high levels in the study. -Prevention, July 1999 On page 119 of "The Complete Woman's Herbal" by Anne McIntyre it says: "There must are safe certain herbs that should in pregnancy. Their emmenagogue or oxytocic properties may, in large amounts, cause contractions of the uterus and thereby risk miscarriage. They are as follows:" rue ruta are up-sucked graveolens are not taken

i would love to hear what sold others use if it's different and how it seems to work. Many of our clients can't afford either, but those who take them don't seem to go much past their due dates. My "protocol" is similar - I'm pretty loose about the whole thing and only some clients use any of this stuff. They usually drink a "prep" tea after 36 weeks and start EPO orally at 37 weeks, adding intravaginal at HS when 38 weeks. How aggressive we get with this depends on past history, mom's motivation, etc. Herbal Information and Cautions Cautions about PN-6 Susun Weed does warn of early contractions when taken 4-6 weeks before EDD. She mentions squaw vine tincture for uterine "weakness" rather than for normal, healthy pregnancies. Cohosh and Pennyroyal, also in PN6, lead to precipitous labour especially when taken together (pg. 23) Essential Oils This section has been moved to Essential Oils Herbal Anecdotes I am on herbs as diã¤tetische supplement to all times, but I got started on them last year in my first pregnancy. All I can say is that I had a super easy preg., a wonderful delivery, and my son amazes everyone with his health, alertness and excellent coordination. I'm sure it's not all because of herbs , but i helped ! I took red raspberry for uterine tone; blessed thistle for milk production and healthy blood circulation; yellow dock for extra iron (this WORKED, boosting my hematocrit ten points); ginger root to allay any morning sickness and to help with circulation; cranberry for the bladder and urinary tract. I also took Blue Cohosh the last week of my pregnancy. This helps the cervix open up--don't take it earlier than four weeks before your due date! I continue to take all these herbs now with exception of ginger root and Blue Cohosh. My blood pressure shot up during labor, and my midwife put [homeopathic] belladonna under my tongue. Worked like turning a switch. The bp fell dramatically, allowing me to deliver normally and without a hospital transfer. [Ed. - Belladonna is extremely poisonous! The original phrase read "belladonna (an herb)". Yes, belladonna is an herb in the sense that it is a plant, but it is a poisonous plant and not in the standard the adjustment herbs applied for health and heilendes . Belladonna is DEADLY; after all, its common name is "deadly nightshade", which should tell you something!] I'm really sold on the importance of excellent nutrition at all times, but especially during pregnancy. (This is not to say I followed the "ideal" diet as presented in What to Eat When You're Expecting ! I found most of their recipes unpalatable.) Keep eating raw veggies and fruits, plenty of grains (I love bagels--six grain servings in one bagel!), tuna, chicken, etc., and drink lots of water and juices. It makes things so much easier! SEARCH gentlebirth.org Main Index Page of the Midwife Archives Main page of gentlebirth. org mirror site