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Dear Susan,
Good day.
I hope all is well with you.
I've been doing research on natural methods of birth control.
A female herbalist at The Herb King, in Santa Monica, CA,
referred me to you. I'm hoping that you can aid me in my search.
I believe in herbs. I believe in the power of the mind. And
I believe that, to use herbs safely, we must respect the herb.
In this politically incorrect area of "natural birth
control," however, I am finding very little, if no answers.
I need direction, and it's been very difficult to find. Everyone
is afraid to give me specifics. I can understand why, and
it's unfortunate that we're all governed by fear, but either
way, I still must find an answer. As far as North American
herbs, I've read the most highly favorable references for
the use of pennyroyal. However, I don't know anything about
dosages, effectiveness. I would love to find someone who has
done research on this, and might possibly have statistics.
Please, Susan, if you know of anyone who has knowledge in
this area, and can help me out, I would be so greatly appreciative.
Thank you so very much for your time.
All Best,
Jotie
Susun's
Response :check out herbal birth control
Dear Jotie,
Guess you don't have my book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing
Year. It contains a section on herbal birth control with specific
dosages.
In general birth control herbs fall into several categories:
Implantation preventers, like wild carrot seed
Abortant agents, which are poisoners, like pennyroyal and
tansy
Abortant agents contain oxytocin like cotton root bark
All are discussed in detail in my book. Check it out at www.wisewomanbookshop.com
Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Cysts
and Fibroids
Dear Susun,
I was recently diagnosed with a cyst on my right ovary and
2 fibroids. I am 44. Do you have any recommendations on herbal
treatment? Or for a book that has the info. I may need?
Thanks,
Silvia
P.S. I attended a workshop at your place in Woodstock some
years ago.
Susun's Response: Cysts and Fibroids
Silvia,
Thanks for writing to us. Susun will reply to you next week
when she returns from Florida.
Read this article from her NEW Menopausal Years book ;
http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-fibroids.htm
Also, a poultice of chickweed and tincture as well. Also burdock
root poultice, oil or leaf poultice too...There are 45 pages
on chickweed and burdock in Susun Weed's Healing Wise.
Love,
Justine (Susun's daughter)
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My
4 year Old Daughter with Precocious Puberty?
Hello.
I am writing to you to request your help for a health condition
that my 4 year old daughter has. I am not sure if this is
something that is even appropriate
for me to ask. I came across your name, from the Red Moon
Herbs website, which I came across from the Earth Haven website.
I read your website over and thought that maybe you would
be someone with experience in this area.
My daughter is 4 years old and has central precocious puberty,
which began when she was about 2 years old. After numerous
tests, including an MRI (showing no tumors present), it was
determined by medical doctors that she has a malfunctioning
pituitary gland that is producing estrogen and putting her
into puberty at this early age.
Naturally, we declined medical treatment that was offered
to us, in the form of potentially harmful drugs. We are still
seeing the endocrinologist, but are not exactly sure why,
because there really is nothing more that seems to be offered
to us there, at least not things that we would consider. We
have changed our lives around very much from the way they
were, although we still have long ways to go…
We are very cautious as to what we eat, and stick to organics,
what we do, what is in our environment (ridding our home of
plastics, petrochemicals...and rebuilding our home to be a
healthier one using inert, and non chemically treated products)
, and the choices we make.
We are not sure why she has this. I can speculate it could
either be the steroid I was treated with during pregnancy
to keep from going into labor, or the non-organic and probably
very dangerous formula and foods she ate during her first
2 years of life......We have since learned of the dangers
of the ignorance we had for life.......
I have been searching for different things that may stop
her pituitary from producing so much estrogen, and perhaps
slow down this growth and puberty process that is occurring.
I have found several herbs and foods to avoid as they have
estrogen enhancing properties, but cannot find anything that
helps. I
have been referred to high soy diets, which, after researching
both soy and it's progesterone effects, feel this to be a
possible dangerous experiment. I practice some aromatherapy
to help with my own health, but have not come across any essential
oils that I have found that might be of help.
I am very worried about the effects that this early exposure
of estrogen could have on her chances for problems in the
future. Naturally, ever medical doctor I have spoken with
has said that they don't know, and every naturopath that I
have talked to is too unfamiliar in detail with women's health
to offer any information or help.
I do not know if this is something that you would normally
do or if I will receive a response to this.
However, if you do have the time, please know that anything
that you can provide me with, would be so very, very much
appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Jen and family
Susun's Response: perhaps Vitex (Chasteberry)
could be an ally
Dear Jen and family
I hear you. What a distressing situation. And, what a good
job you are doing of informing yourself and creating a healthy
environment for your daughter. I agree that it could be laid
to the fault of the steroids you were given while pregnant.
I myself took birth control pills for the first five months
of my pregnancy with my lovely daughter Justine. As you have
found, no one knew what to tell me and that was before ultrasound
so we didn't know until she was born if she had been damaged
by the hormones. No. she is not. And I believe that your daughter
will grow up to be healthy too.
All that you are doing sounds great: no plastic, no chemicals.
I agree that you and your daughter would do well to avoid
soy except for miso and tamari.
There are two things you don't mention that may help. One
is light, or rather its absence. Make sure your daughter sleeps
in a totally dark room, no nightlight, no LEDs. You might
even want to cover the windows and block the crack at the
bottom of the door.
And perhaps Vitex (Chasteberry) could be an ally. It is said
to reset the pituitary and pineal glands and counter too much
estrogen.
Virtually every plant contains some phytoestrogens, I would
not worry about that at all. In fact, the more plants with
phytoestrogens eaten, the less effect the body's own estrogen
has, so you may want to eat more roots, berries, and whole
grains.
Please keep in touch and let us know from time to time how
you and your daughter are. If anything I offer helps please
let me know so I can tell others. And if there is any problem,
or no effect, let me know that too.
Wishing you all lots of Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Post-abortion
herbs to restore physical health?
Hi Susan
I sat at your feet in awe in Akld, New Zealand in 1988 and
spent a wonderful
few days absorbing micro slices of your knowledge. Thank you.
Your advice and my developed love of weeds especially in
association with
childbearing/women's health issues have proved invaluable
over the last 13
years and I have a gorgeous daughter (home birth in 88) and
a handful of
unwanted potential pregnancies which I didn't carry to term
thanks to the
armful of empowering herbs and spiritual guidance I had at
my disposal.
Today I was diagnosed with a "missed abortion"
at 14 weeks pregnancy, and it
appears that the fetus has been dead since 6-7 weeks, whereby
I underwent a
surgical abortion, had my cervix manually dilated and the
unwanted matter
extracted by D&C, etc.
What I'd like to know now is which herbs should I be taking
in a
post-abortive scenario to restore physical health and reduce
shock ASAP? I
assume raspberry leaf and nettle are good and am planning
on boosting my
Iron/calcium levels... any information you can provide is
much appreciated.
Thanks again.
Chanda
Susun's Response: sounds good- maybe some Echinacea also
Dear Chanda,
Nothing special to add. just perhaps some Echinacea to help
prevent infection from the invasive attack on your uterus.
Ps. those dead fetuses are spontaneously aborted without invasion
by women who are willing to wait. I did when my fetus died
and never went near an MD.
Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Dental
X-rays + Novocain
Dear Susun,
I'm so happy to have come across your website. I took a 1-day
workshop with you almost twenty years ago & still refer
to my crumpled-up notes. As of this e-mail, I seem to be pregnant
but am extremely anxious because I had dental work done last
week that included 1 x-ray and Novocain. I've been drinking
miso soup, sprinkling seaweed on food and drinking nettles
tea - any advice?
Many thanks, M
Susun's Response: your baby is fine
Dear M.
Sounds like you are doing the best you can.
I would suppose they put a lead apron over your belly. The
amount of exposure to x-rays at the dentists' office is very
low and unlikely to have damaged your baby in any way. In
the future, eat that miso soup before the x-rays and eat lots
of cooked carrots and sweet potatoes beforehand too. This
prevents damage to cells from the x-rays.
Burdock and seaweed, eaten as vegetables, help remove any
radioactivity from your body. And they are best afterward
the exposure. But sprinkling seaweed on your food is not really
enough. You need to eat it as a vegetable. See my book Healing
Wise for recipes. Also nettle is better as an infusion than
as a tea. Again, any of my books give directions for making
infusions.
I agree with Justine that it is very important to stop worrying
and concentrate on visualizing your healthy baby. Good luck
Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Benign
Tumors
Do you have a sure remedy for benign tumors, like the essaic/wessaic
for cancer?
You can tell me, I am not the general public, you can talk
to me straight. I think my bunny rabbit has a benign tumor
too.
Thank you.
Best Regards, Jan
Susun's Response: Re: sleeping dogs
Jan,
Like what kind of benign tumor? And, if it is benign why
ask it to go away? Maybe it is protecting you from something.
I trust my body to know better than I what it is doing. Are
you drinking your nourishing herbal infusions, exercising
regularly, and eating whole grains and cooked greens? If so,
I am not worried.
Chickweed is considered a dissolving agent, internally as
a tincture, externally as a poultice. Castor oil packs are
also thought to be able to dissolve any growth. But you probably
already know about these as they are in my Breast book.
Hope this helps.
Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Abscesses
in daughters teeth
Dear Susun,
My daughter is 2.5 years old and she has lots of decay in
her
teeth. I nursed her until she was almost 2 and she rarely
eats sugary food.
Her front four top teeth are decayed and the side two are
decayed to the gums
and have abscessed. She has had the abscesses for one or two
months and I'm
treating it with myrhh tincture on it and have been doing
a plantain
poultice mixed with a little honey to hold it together and
encourage her to
do it. I have only been using the plantain for about a week
now and it seemed
to greatly help at first, but now its not doing so much.
I also was using hepar sulph. homeopathic but stopped a
week ago as it wasn't doing much. I also give her a spoonful
of garlic honey a day trying to keep her immune system up.
Yes, its a lot of honey, but I feel the benefits of the
garlic and plantain out weigh the sugar.?
The dentists all say to do general anesthesia and pull all
four teeth but that feels very wrong to me. I am looking for
a dentist who is willing to do local and only pull the two
abscessed teeth. I would really like to avoid that until she
is older.
I was thinking of adding astragulus brews to her daily drink
but
am not sure as I haven't used it before. If you have any suggestions
or ideas
about how I could help her body dance with the infection and
postpone or not
do any pulling of the teeth, I would be most appreciative.
I would also like to know what you feel might be best out
of my options which are: to continue to work with and try
to clear the abscesses, to have the two teeth
pulled with local anesthesia, or to have the teeth pulled
with general anesthesia.
Thank you so much for your time. That you even are available
to answer questions is so relieving to me. To think I may
have another persons input on it and may not be so alone in
my quest for other options.
sincerely Corrie
Susun's
Response: try Echinacea root
Corrie,
You must be very careful with infection in the teeth and
gums as it could spread easily to the head and brain causing
permanent damage.
Echinacea root is the herb you want to use to help with the
infection in your daughter's mouth. Give at least two tablespoons
of the infusion (water base) daily for every ten pounds of
body weight. You can give more if desired, as there seems
to be no reasonable amount that would be an overdose. Limit
the course of Echinacea to two weeks and repeat it if necessary
after a break of two weeks.
Entrenched infections and infections which have been treated
with repeated doses of allopathic antibiotics often require
two or more courses of Echinacea infusions.
Diffuse the infusion in water, milk, or juice to make it more
palatable for your child.
Susun uses Echinacea with confidence in the worst situations.
However, do get a second opinion right away and have those
bad teeth pulled as quickly as possible.
The Echinacea treatment will help your daughter cope with
the stress of the surgery and will speed her healing.
Susun is away, and the information I have written above comes
directly from her book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing
Year.
Love,
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Miscarriage
I am 40 years old and attempting my second pregnancy. The
first attempt, a
couple of months ago, ended in miscarriage at approximately
5 weeks. I
experienced cramps in the lower abdominal throughout the pregnancy.
Note: I
also ran approximately 5 miles a day.
According to a home pregnancy test, I am pregnant again.
I am experiencing cramping again. However, this time I am
drinking about a quart of red raspberry tea, and recently
(today) started drinking "Traditional Medicinals"
pregnancy tea (raspberry leaf, strawberry leaf, spearmint
leaf, nettle leaf, rose hip, sweet fennel seed, alfalfa leaf,
lemon verbena leaf.
I also started taking wild yam in capsule form. Is the capsule
form of wild yam effective? What else would you recommend
to minimize risk of miscarriage? Should I abandon running
and do a milder form of exercise?
I am a vegetarian (vegan), and I juice vegetables twice a
day. I feel my
body is stronger than it was in my twenties. I am trying not
to be
discouraged, but I am concerned about the ability to carry
this pregnancy to
full term. Please help.
Holly
Susun's Response: Please eat better
Dear Holly,
Yes, I would strongly advise you to stop running five miles
a day. But the real problem is the fact that you are starving
yourself and therefore cannot carry a pregnancy because you
don't even have enough to feed yourself let alone create a
whole new human being.
What do I mean starving yourself? There is virtually no nutrition
at all in juiced fruits and vegetables. Please stop doing
this. Eat your fruits and vegetables cooked from now on.
And please, please, please, consider eating a small amount
of meat. You really need it. Herbs are not going to make up
for the lacks you are experiencing.
In my 35 years of teaching and reading I have seen this problems
over and over again with strict vegetarian and vegan women.
There is no way you can be healthy and have a healthy baby
on a vegan diet. Please reconsider for the sake of your dream
of being a mother.
I avoid herbs in capsules. I am not sure this is the best
herb for you considering all the other herbs you are talking.
I am a simpler and usually use only one herb at a time so
I know what is happening.
Are you drinking nourishing herbal infusions or just teas?
Go for infusions.Hope this helps.
Green Blessings, Susun Weed
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Induced
Miscarriage
I've been looking through Ms. Weed's sites and I concluded
that this may be most helpful. I would like to induce a miscarriage
herbally, but I haven't found anything concrete that explains
how.
This was a difficult decision for me to make, but I prefer
to do it naturally and privately. I don't want it to progress
too much further, though. Would you be able
to give me direction on how to do this?? I really could use
guidance before stepping out on my own to do this.
Thanks for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
Samantha
Susun's Response: visit zeus online
Samantha,
Thank you for writing. You can visit sister zeus online she
has all the info you will need. Sending love and blessings,
Justine
http://www.stormpages.com/sisterzeus/
http://www.geocities.com/sister_zeus/index.html
Living with Our Fertility
A Women's Guide to Synergistic Fertility Management
Fertility Awareness, Herbs affecting the Menstrual Cycle,
Herbal Contraception & Herbal Abortion ~ An Alternative
Approach ~
Preventing and Ending Pregnancy
http://www.geocities.com/sister_zeus/intropt.htm
http://www.geocities.com/sister_zeus/List.htm
Miscarriage question again
Thank you for responding so quickly. I've exhausted those
sites trying to find concrete directions on what to mix or
how to prepare a remedy but I haven't seen
anything. I know what to use but don't know how to use it.
I started vitamin c as soon as I found out, but I only spotted
once on one day and then it stopped. Is there any one thing
that I can have prepared by an
Herbalist or by myself that is effective? Tomorrow, I will
be five weeks, and I'm desperately trying not to get past
6. Is there any help??
Susun's Response: 5 weeks is pretty far
along
Samantha, honestly at 5 weeks it's pretty far along. The
two strongest uterine contractors, according to Susun Weed's
Childbearing Year book, are Cotton root bark and Blue Cohosh
root. From page 11:
Cotton root bark is reported to be the safest and most certain
herbal abortifacient. I have tried to obtain some organic
Cotton root bark for six years now, without success. My information
on its effectiveness comes from a study done by a women's
health collective in New Mexico. They used an infusion taken
by sips throughout the day until the abortion was well under
way. This is apparently a traditional method of birth control
among Native Americans who grow cotton. Specific information
on dosage and possible side effects should be available to
women who live in the South and seek out a traditional healer
or curandera.
Blue Cohosh root is usually combined with Pennyroyal when
used as an abortifacent. There are any number of ways to prepare
and ingest this combination. Both Pennyroyal and Blue Cohosh
are toxic in excess and can easily overtax the liver and kidneys.
Headache and extreme nausea have been reported by many women
using these herbs. This is a common remark: "I knew that
if I could just drink one more cup of that infusion, I would
abort, but I threw up every time I tried to!" CAUTION:
Do not use Blue Cohosh if you have low blood pressure.
PP.148-149
Emmenagogue Formulae
The following two formulae are in general use and seem to
be erratically successful. Do not increase the amount of herb
in the formulae; do not exceed the recommended dose; do not
take for longer than five days; do not use both formulae together.
CAUTION: Blue Cohosh may raise the blood pressure.
Emmenagogue Brew
2 T. Blue Cohosh root, dried
2 T. Pennyroyal leaves, dried
2 T. Tansy in flower, dried
Put the Blue Cohosh into a quart of water in a pan and bring
to a boil. Put the other herbs into a quart jar. When the
Blue Cohosh and water boils, pour into the jar with the other
herbs. Put on a tight lid and let steep for at least 30 minutes.
Strain out herbs and reheat before using.
Blue Cohosh can stimulate uterine contractions, but the responsible
principle is not very soluble in water, even when the root
is boiled. Americal Pennyroyal strongly encourages the uterus
to empty out and bleed. Tansy has been used by Wise Woman
in Europe and the Americas for centuries to facilitate menstruation
and induce abortion. Together, these three emmenagogues can
produce a profuse menstrual flow in sensitive women.
The usual dose is a steaming hot cupful every four hours for
up to five days, or until bleeding is well under way. The
effectiveness of this formula is enhanced by the addition
of a tablespoon of brewer's yeast to every cup.
Emmenagogue Combination
20 drops Blue Cohosh tincture
20 drops Black Cohosh tincture
20 drops American Pennyroyal tincture
Measure tinctures into a cup of warm water and drink slowly.
Repeat every four hours for no more than five days. Continue
for one full day after bleeding starts, to insure complete
expulsion of all fetal material.
Blue Cohosh tincture stimulates production of oxytocin, the
hormone responsible for uterine contraction. Black Cohosh
tincture enhances and supplements the action of the Blue Cohosh.
Pennyroyal tincture is an old favorite for "suppressed
menstruation."
Above is excerpt from Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the
Childbearing Year available from http://www.wisewomanbookshop.com
for more excerpts visit http://www.wisewomanbookshop.com
Personally, I have been to planned parenthood several times
to terminate unwanted/unexpected pregnancies. It's not pleasant,
but then again neither is drinking poison....six of one, half
a dozen of the other...You may consider making an appointment,
as it takes a few weeks to get one, and try your infusion.
If it does not work, then you can use the appointment. Fail-safe
plan.
Love,
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Postpartum
Depression
Can you please tell me how to find a specific article, or
a book that can help me with alternatives to drugs for postpartum
depression?
Thank you, Judith
Susun's Response: here is some info for
you
Judith,
Here is the excerpt on depression from Susun Weed's Wise Woman
Herbal for the Childbearing Year, pp. 82-83:
Depression
Postpartum depression is related to the rapid readjustment
of hormones in the mother's body after the birth. Herbs which
aid the body in rebalancing hormones are given here, along
with other remedies.
Figs, sprouts, royal jelly, bee pollen, Ginseng, Hops, and
Sasparilla help the body process and balance hormones.
Breast feeding is probably the best cure for postpartum depression.
The process helps moderate hormonal swings, increase the endorphin
level and allows your body to regain hormonal balance slowly
and evenly.
Lemon Balm leaves - Considered a specific for helping one
cope with life situations that are difficult to accept, such
as the many unexpected changes a new child brings to its parents,
Melissa is an old favorite for depression, melancholy, and
hysteria. One or two cups of the good tasting infusion, mellowed
with milk and honey, every day for a week or two will suffice.
Blessed Thistle leaves - The intensely bitter Milk Thistle
has a wide reputation for alleviating many postpartum problems,
including severe depression. Use a cup or two of infusion
daily or up to 80 drops per day of the equally effective.
but not so bitter, tincture.
Recipe from Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing
Year, p. 156
Postpartum Depression Brew
1/2 oz. dried, shredded Licorice root
1 oz. dried, crumbled Raspberry leaf
1 oz. dried, finely cut Rosemary leaves
1 oz. dried, cut Skullcap
Mix the dried herbs thoroughly together. Use two teaspoons
per cup of boiling water to prepare this strongly scented
and interesting tasting tea.
Licorice favorably affects the hormonal balance and cheers
the spirit. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and ovaries and
increases available calcium, making life seem easier. Rosemary
increases the milk flow, ads calcium, tones the liver, and
is a Wise Woman favorite for depression. Skullcap is also
a source of calcium and is a superb nerve strengthener and
soother; prolonged use establishes emotional calm.
The usual dose is two or more cups daily for several weeks
to two months.
Also here's a Nice Article on Color therapy.. http://www.wellmother.com/articles/mommybluest.htm
Love,
Justine (Susun's daughter)
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Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
by Susun S. Weed
Foreword by Jeannine Parvati Baker.
192 pages, index, lovely illustrations.
Now in its 24th printing. A confirmed favorite with pregnant women, midwives, childbirth educators, and new parents. Packed with clear, comforting, and superbly helpful information.
Retails for $11.95
Read a review
Order WISE WOMAN HERBAL for the CHILDBEARING YEAR in our Bookshop
"Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year is a unique treasure of a book! I used this during my entire "childbearing year" and am so glad that it is still available so I can give it to my best friend's daughter as she prepares for her first child. I still use the Herbal Pharmacy section quite frequently so this book has a permanent place on my bookshelf."
~ Wise Woman
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