⬇️Why you need this herb in your stash⬇️
Peppermint
Mentha x piperita
🪴Peppermint supports digestion, dispels gas and bloating, stimulates liver, is anti-microbial, relieves tension and pain, supports fevers, is anti-spasmodic, reduces mucus, and more!
🪴Delicious herb that almost anyone can enjoy in tea, and can be added to other less delicious herbs to improve the flavor
🪴Easy to find in grocery stores or to grow at home - even in a pot on your window sill!
What’s your favorite way to use peppermint?
🫖Comment “Herbs!!” If you want a link to my free PDF page “6 Herbs to Start your Home Apothecary “
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Tips below!⬇️
Feeling weak postpartum? I can relate. I just had my fifth baby, and I didn’t exercise this pregnancy like I have in the past. Postpartum healing has gone smoothly, yet I feel my lack of muscle tone and stamina! Here’s my plan to slowly and gently get back into shape:
🌿Walk!
Walking is one of the absolute best forms of exercise. Though gentle, it builds strength, lowers inflammation, moves lymph, increases circulation, improves mood, and more! Even starting with ten minutes a day is beneficial, and work up from there. Best of all, grab a baby carrier, or a stroller and bikes for older kids, and the whole family can go along!
🌿Focus on your core and pelvic floor
Our core and pelvic floor do a lot of work during pregnancy and birth, and this is typically an area we feel needs a lot of support postpartum. My favorite thing is to search for postpartum safe core and pelvic floor exercises on YouTube. (Conventionally ab exercises like crunches can actually do more harm than good postpartum) There are plenty that are just 5-10 minutes a day that can make a big difference when done consistently.
🌿Make nutrition a priority
You know what they say - you are what you eat! Conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding take a tremendous amount of resources to maintain. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very common for women in the childbearing years. Being very intentional about consuming adequate amounts of healthy fat, proteins, greens and supplementing as needed will go a long way in helping you feel your best and set you up nutritionally as you build strength.
These are gentle ways to build strength as soon as you feel ready, and you can work up from here!
What are your favorite ways to rebuild strength and stamina postpartum? What are your biggest challenges?
#healthypostpartum #crunchymom #homebirth #midwiferymodelofcare #herbalmedicine #naturalremedies #naturalpostpartumcare
📢 Words are powerful 📢
Whenever we use the word ‘due’ and especially ‘overdue’, what do we think of?
•Our bills?
•A late school assignment?
•Library fines?
Nothing good, that’s for sure.
That’s why I usually just share the month my baby is expected when people ask, rather than hyper focusing on a particular day.
💣When we go past our due date in pregnancy, we may already be feeling pressure from family, friends or medical providers, like somehow something is wrong, we’ve failed to produce a baby in the designated timeline, and there is some impending penalty for our lateness (cough *induction* cough)
In reality, babies grow and develop at their own pace, just like anyone else.
‼️If your baby hasn’t come by 40 weeks, you haven’t failed to turn in your assignment on time or lost a library book! Your baby’s body will release hormones to trigger the onset of the labor process when they are good and ready, not a moment before!‼️
You’re doing a wonderful job caring for and nourishing your baby in these final weeks. Don’t let semantics trip you up or make you feel otherwise!
➡️Have you ever felt stressed or anxious about a due date?
➡️Has a provider ever pressured you to induce because of going ‘late’?
#naturalpregnancy #holisticpregnancy #homebirth #midwiferymodelofcare #crunchymom #doula #midwife #herbalist #christianbirthworkers
⬇️Why you need Yellow Dock in your medicine cabinet
Make sure you have some yellow dock tincture in your home apothecary! This splendid medicinal herb is a great support for women who tend toward anemia, as it helps the body utilize iron more efficiently. Gentle enough for daily use, yellow dock works to improve circulating fluids in the body, blood, liver, gallbladder function and more.
Cooling and astringent, yellow dock can help tone and strengthen a weak or stagnant digestive system.
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🌿Contact me for an herbal medicine consultation!
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How about YOU?
How old were you when your kids were born?
(I’m fairly confident my fifth will come while I’m still 32 seeing as my next birth day is 6 weeks after my due date 😅)
As an herbalist, I offer holistic fertility and support to help you on your childbearing journey, no matter where you are in your childbearing years ❤️
🪴Comment ‘Consult’ to learn about my services,
And follow this page for more holistic women’s health, herbal medicine and natural pregnancy and birth content!
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⬇️FREE resource detailed below!
You can’t always avoid a late period, but you can avoid being confused about it! It helps to understand a few key facts about the menstrual cycle:
🌹Your cycle is made up of distinct phases: menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. The luteal phase (the progesterone-dominated phase after ovulation and before your next period) is generally pretty constant - normal luteal phases range from 12-16 days.
🌹Slight variation in the follicular/pre-ovulatory phase is perfectly normal. Ovulation doesn’t always happen on day 14 (and your cycles don’t have to be exactly 28 days!)
🌹Specific hormonal conditions are required for ovulation to be successful. Certain stressors on the endocrine system (stress, travel, trauma, poor sleep, illness, etc) can disrupt this delicate hormonal process, delaying ovulation.
Delayed ovulation = delayed onset of the luteal phase = late period.
This means that while you’re counting down the days until your period comes, your body might be still working on trying to ovulate!
➡️Here’s what you can do:
•Learn your body’s SIGNS OF FERTILITY and record them on a chart, allowing you to see in real time what phase of your cycle you’re currently in and what to expect in the weeks ahead.
•Practice a cycle-supportive lifestyle with good nutrition, healthy sleep patterns, daily movement and good stress management to encourage healthy and regular ovulation and periods.
•Don’t worry 🙃 A late period (caused by a late ovulation) can happen to anyone from time to time and can be part of your body’s normal responses to the world around you. Chances are next month you’ll be back to normal.
📝 Check out my FREE video course, Cycle Awareness 101, linked in my bio!
📝 Contact me for cycle wellness/preconception consultations to learn how lifestyle changes and plant remedies can improve your menstrual cycles and fertility.
#fertilityawareness #lateperiod #naturalp
For years, pregnant women have been told that Tylenol is THE go-to safe, over the counter painkiller to use during pregnancy. We’ve been encouraged to use it for headaches, back pain and any other pregnancy related ailment.
Unfortunately, Tylenol has turned out to be anything but safe. A study from John Hopkins University has found that that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of ADHD and Autism in children.
Not only that, but Tylenol deletes the body of glutethione, a vital anti-oxidant. This depletion alone can be hugely detrimental to human health.
Needless to say, not only should pregnant women avoid use of Tylenol for the sake of their babies, but Tylenol shouldn’t be used for young children, either.
So what are the alternatives?
Thankfully, natural remedies can provide a safe solution. Depending on the reason for seeking pain relief, there are many options, including:
🌿White Willow (Salix alba) - anti-inflammatory pain-reliever, contains salicin from which aspirin is derived.
🌿Wild Lettuce (Serriola spp.) Pain reliever and mild sedative, especially useful for when pain is preventing sleep.
🌿Tumeric (Curcuma longa) Contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory constituent.
🌿 Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and elderflower (Sambucus nigra) - Among their other medicinal qualities, both of these are herbs - gently opening pores and releasing the heat of a fever (without artificially suppressing beneficial actions of the fever)
🌿Arnica (Arnica montana) Common as both a topical preparation and a homeopathic memory, very helpful for aches, muscle pain and bruises.
🌿 Copaiba essential oil
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, wonderful for topical pain relief
Do you have any natural, pregnancy-safe alternatives for pain relief?
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I love using an ultrasonic diffuser for essential oils, which allow their lovely scents and therapeutic qualities to easily disperse into the room. But if you don’t have a diffuser, or are traveling and don’t have one with you, there are many other ways to work with essential oils.
What are some of your favorites?
#holistichome #crunchymom #homemakingtips #holistichomemaking #herbalremedies
Why is it that when I’m run down, exhausted and discouraged, that I’m the most likely to grab something sugary instead of a nourishing cup of tea?
Or to scroll on my phone instead of reading an edifying book?
To complain to a friend instead of diving into Scripture?
I want to be intentional about shifting my default stress responses to things that will bless, nourish and heal instead of distract, deflect and disconnect.
Can anyone relate?
What helps you choose helpful things in these moments?
#holistichealth #spritualhealth #biblicalwomanhood #SAHM #crunchymom #homemaker #homemakerlife #christianherbalist #herbalists
The menstrual cycle is a complex and intricate that requires a large amount of resources from the body to function properly. Sometimes issues with our periods are caused by something relatively simple such as a nutrient deficiency, exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, or chronic inflammation. Note I said simple, not necessarily easy! Making changes to these areas can be a challenge, but the results will be rewarding to say the least.
Other times, our cycle issues might have more complex causes, such as an underlying condition like PCOS or endometriosis. These can be trickier to address, but you’ll almost certainly see improvements by addressing these foundational areas:
-Nutrition
-Movement
-Stress
-Environment
-Sleep
Once this foundation is solid, we can work with plant remedies and essential oils to help support the body in areas of struggle such as cortisol overload, liver clearance, pelvic congestion and stagnation, and more.
If this all seems a bit overwhelming and you aren’t sure where to start, go to the link in my bio to book a Cycle Wellness Consultation with me and I can guide you through the whole process and recommend remedies tailored to your individual needs!
#rootcausemedicine #holisticwomenshealth #herbalism #westernherbalism #christianherbalist #crunchymom #periodremedies
This earache oil is both effective for easing pain as well as killing bacteria inside the ear that is causing the discomfort. While the oil is infusing, watch for droplets if moisture on the inside of the jar and wipe away as needed - this will prevent mold. 🌿
When finished, store in a cool dry place for up to a year.
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Babywearing my toddler definitely happens less and less often these days, especially since I’m pregnant, but I’m always thrilled when he wants to snuggle in the wrap.❤️
Do you wear your babies/toddlers? What kind of carrier is most comfortable for you?
#babywearing #ringsling #babywearingtoddler #crunchymom #secureattachment
Herbal formulas are most effective when blended with purpose and intention. If you understand the characteristics of the herbs you’re working with, as well as the physical actions you’re trying to achieve in your body, your formulas will be much more effective!
This is a variation of a nourishing tea blend I’ve been drinking most days for pregnancy support:
🌿Dandelion ~ High in vitamins and minerals, supportive of liver and kidneys
🌿Nettle ~ Nutrient rich, kidney support
🌿Black raspberry leaf ~ Toning to the uterine muscle, high in iron and other essential nutrients
🌿Red clover ~ Yet another nourishing herb, supportive to lymphatic movement
🌿Violet ~ Nourishing, lymphatic support, calming to the nervous system. Moistening to balance drying effects of the other herbs
🌿Catnip ~ Nervous system calming, digestive support, cooling
What are your favorite herbs in pregnancy?
#herbalmedicineforwomen #nourishingtea #pregnancysupport #naturalpregnancy #naturalbirth #holisticwomenshealth
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Goldenrod is a warming, drying and tonifying herb, with many wonderful benefits for our health!
🌿Drying and astringent to the mucus membranes, goldenrod is helpful for phlemgy lungs, watery eyes and runny noses. Combined with its anti-inflammatory qualities, this makes goldenrod a wonderful addition to a seasonal allergy or respiratory infection protocol.
🌿Goldenrod’s anti microbial qualities are most strongly released as it exists the urinary tract, making it very helpful in the case of urinary tract issues such as UTIs, kidney stones or prostratitis.
🌿Finally, use as an infused oil or salve as a topical application on bruises and sore muscles.
Do you have goldenrod growing near you?
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