The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
|
Support the inclusion of Certified Professional Midwives in Medicaid and health care reform. Where's the Birth Plan? by Jennifer Block - Midwifery-style care saves money and provides excellence for the new family--a great two for one proposal! She clearly points out how the more humane style of care provided by midwives not only saves money, but also saves lives. A new economic analysis forecasts savings of $9.1 billion per year if 10 percent of women planned to deliver out of hospital with midwives. The
Debate on Healthcare Policy Reform by Faith Gibson, a healthcare historian
and policy theoretician
|
Three-Minute Activism to
Protect Your Right to Access Nutritional Supplements
Sign
the Citizens Petition to Maintain Your Health Freedom.
Watch the video
about the Codex Alimentarium restrictions.
Her Articles
section covers Pre-Conception, Pregnancy & Birth, Postpartum &
Lactation, Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy and Lactation, Newborns, Babies
& Children, Women's Health, Digestive System, Pain Relief, Flower Essences
Her Articles section covers Pre-Conception, Pregnancy & Birth, Postpartum & Lactation, Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy and Lactation, Newborns, Babies & Children, Women's Health, Digestive System, Pain Relief, Flower Essences
Herbs
for the Cold & Flu Season - Ear Infections, Fevers, Coughs, Colds and
even Yeast Infections! By Pam Caldwell, Herbalist
You can do a PubMed
search about herbs and pregnancy
The best information I've found about appropriate herbs for pregnancy
and childbirth comes from Shonda
Parker's Guide to Using the Tri-Light Mom and Baby Safe Formulas.
HealthWorld Online has
a number of articles by © David L. Hoffmann B.Sc. (Hons), M.N.I.M.H.
They also host his Herbal
Materia Medica.
The American Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading independent, nonprofit, international member-based organization providing education using science-based and traditional information to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine.
On-line plant databases from National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Herbage Fourth Edition CD-ROM - this seems like a great tool for the serious herbalist.
Herbal search engine - 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.
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.
Herbal
Allies for Pregnancy by Linda Woolven - a fabulous article from Mothering
Magazine
Herbs
of Special Interest to Women 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
Prenatal Herbal/Homeopathic Preparation
"We in the profession cannot say that herbs and plants are not any 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.
Advising
Patients About Herbal Therapies (JAMA Letters - November 11, 1998 )
Useful Herbs
in Pregnancy, Useful
Herbs When Nursing, and Useful
Herbs for Weaning from Snowbound
Herbals
NEW BEGINNINGS
- THE CHIDBEARING YEAR CATALOG
The January, 1998, issue of Mothering magazine (No 86) has a good article
"Wise Use of Herbs and Vitamins During Pregnancy. Linda White (author)
discusses 4 herbs: Red Raspberry, Nettles, Alfalfa and Dandelion.
She also mentions a wide selection of other herbs that are broken up into
categories: Herbs that stimulate uterine contractions, etc.
Medicinal
Herb Garden - great collection of images of medicinal 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
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.
"
Free MedLine search page.
Put in some latin names for the herbs you're researching (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
I found some interesting information in this page about transgenders
- Feminization through
Herbal Treatment
Pregnancy Herbs - Red Raspberry, False Unicorn
Root, Helonias
Phytoestrogens in Foods and Herbs
Herbal medicine, mostly
An interesting
list of proherbal and anti-herbal web sites
I really like TriLight Herbs
because they're in a glycerin base, which is much more palatable than alcohol.
They offer a free informational CD-ROM with order.
Pregnancy
Formulas by Shonda Parker - "The herbal combinations that I’ve formulated
for use during pregnancy are based on those herbs that are not considered
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. Phone: 530-292-1236 [NOTE - If the
glycerin seems too sickly sweet, you can use these herbs as a sweetener
in 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 tonic herbs such as red raspberry leaf and Labor Prep. If you
need a faster response, as during labor, it's more effective to take them
under your tongue.] I really like Shonda Parker's Respiratory
Symptoms Flow Chart for Tri-Light Products
Pam Caldwell, HerbLore, 877-808-5815.
Pam offers phone
consultations, and her herbal products are made from the highest quality
herbal sources and available online.
Her Articles
section covers Pre-Conception, Pregnancy & Birth, Postpartum &
Lactation, Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy and Lactation, Newborns, Babies
& Children, Women's Health, Digestive System, Pain Relief, Flower Essences
Pediatric Formulas - Gentle
Warriors are produced with children in mind. With lower alcohol and
the addition of glycerin, these formulas, because they taste good, are
easy to administer.
Mountain Meadow Herbs
- a family-based herb company committed to bringing you the finest,
highest quality herbs and herbal preparations. Only organically grown or
wild crafted herbs are used in our extracts 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 GentleMoon
are either Wildcrafted or Organically grown.
Birth With Sol
has a great selection of herbs
for pregnancy.
MoonLily: Herbs for
Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Infant Care
Granny Janny
Herbs from Creative Birthing Arts
Ancient Ways has an extensive catalog of herbs
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 organic pregnancy herbs, including
collections of HERBAL
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 made from herbs we cultivated
and processed on our organic farm in the Judean Hills."
Most midwives recommend Floradix
Iron & Herbs or the yeast-free
version. They are easily tolerated by the sensitive pregnant
digestive system and don't seem to cause constipation.
Blessed Herbs
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 a professional discount and they do custom formulations.
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 thing on herbs for ACNM.
I recommend anyone serious about using herbs to investigate it. 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.
Heart of Herbs offers a long-distance
learning program.
I have used 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
have used herbs for years also and they 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 have
used herbs with very good results. Most of our allopathic medicines have
come from herbs and then been 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 me about herbs, progesterone things
and that is 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.
Yes, herbs can seem a bit magical at times and they are hard to understand
if we try to look at them in strictly allopathic terms. Unlike most meds,
herbs can have a balancing 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 take any herbs 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 why not
add the placebo effect to anything real that might be happening?
One of my labor coach clients wrote this in her feedback form: "Taking
the herbs made me feel 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 yes,
using herbs is midwifery model 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 us if it is 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 fall in 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
Step 1: Collect Information
Step 2: Engage the Energy
Step 3: Nourish and Tonify
Note: Healing with Steps 4, 5, and 6 always causes some harm.
Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate
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
These substances may do as much harm as good.
Step 5b: Use Drugs
Step 6: Break and Enter
Side effects, including death, are inevitable.
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!!!
It is becoming easier and easier to find non-alcoholic herbs, i.e. herbs
preserved in glycerine instead of alcohol. There's a very nice selection,
including alcohol-free red raspberry leaf, at TriLight
Herbs or presentmoment.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.
NOTE - Many of the herbs listed below are included here
because they cause uterine contractions, which is not desirable during
most of pregnancy. However, some of these herbs are specifically
recommended or included 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 to avoid
during pregnancy from babycentre.co.uk
Herbs to Avoid
During Pregnancy by © David L. Hoffmann B.Sc. (Hons), M.N.I.M.H.
Herb Safety
Cautions from Trilight Herbs.
Herbs and Pregnancy,
from Birth Matters! Midwifery, including herbs to avoid and beneficial
herbs
Safety of Herbs
During Pregnacy & Lactation from HerbLore.
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.
Does it really do anything more than cause uterine contractions?
Michael Tierra, "The Way of Herbs" lists Angelica as an 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:
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?
The following herbs are not safe and should 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.
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 constituents of herbs must
be absorbed into the 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 are certain herbs that should not be taken 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 graveolens
Red raspberry and nettle throughout pregnancy. Chlorophyll for low blood
pressure. I-X for anemia, a combination from Nature Sunshine. And 5W for
the last 5 weeks. Evening primrose for the last 2 weeks. And Black and
Blue cohosh and B&B tincture if they go overdue.
This is from the book Home Herbal, by Penelope Ody, a chemist and member
of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the UK.
For morning sickness - tinctures of ginger, chamomile, peppermint or
fennel seed, among others (The book gives instructions for making tinctures.
They are not the same as teas.)
For fluid retention: Rest; eating grapes, asparagus and apples; limiting
salt intake; drinking cornsilk and dandelion tea (Again, the book gives
directions for making the tea.)
Preparing for childbirth: Raspberry LEAF tea (not raspberry!) up until
labor begins; once labor begins, drink wood betony and rose petal tea.
The book also includes tips for increasing milk flow, sore nipples,
engorgement and mastitis using herbs.
Herbs to avoid during pregnancy: arbor vitae, barberry, basil OIL (not
leaf), black cohosh, blue cohosh, chamomile OIL (not tea), feverfew, goldenseal,
juniper, mistletoe, motherwort, mugwort, myrrh, pennyroyal, rue, shepherd's
purse, southernweed, tansy and wormwood.
In addition, do not take LARGE or THERAPEUTIC doses of: angelica, bitter
orange, cayenne, celery seed, cinnamon, cowslip, elder bar, fennel, fenugreek,
ginseng, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, parsley, rhubarb root, senna, sage,
thyme, vervain, wild yam, wood betony and yarrow.
And - as with anything else - if you have questions or concerns, talk
to your doctor or midwife.
According to Jim Duke's "Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS
[Generally Recognized as Safe] Herbs and Other Economic Plants":
Nettles:
_Urtica dioica_ L.-Calcium 5,940-33,000 ppm [=.594-3.3 mg/100g] LF [leaf]
AAS [Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Suppl.22:89-113, 1980.]
Red Raspberry:
_Rubus idaeus_ L.-Calcium 12,100 ppm [=1.2 mg/100g] LF [leaf] PED [Pedersen,
M., Nutritional Herbology. Pedersen Publishing, Bountiful, Utah, 1987,
377 pp. some quantitative data, e.g., selenium, seems inaccurate)].
I don't use Witch Hazel during labor. I only use it if I see a hemorrhage
starting. They get a couple of droppers full. I feel like the bleeding
doesn't go on as long as in years past. I also use Witch Hazel in pregnancy
for varicose veins no matter the site and for hemorrhoids. The longest
I have had anyone tell me that it took to work was a week and a half for
hemorrhoids. It works on the vascular. This is tinctured witch hazel not
the kind you can use for your face or on Tucks.
What's In the Bottle? Herbal Labor Formulas Explained by Tara M. Bloom
For thousands of years, midwives have counted on herbs to help with
labor and birth. Whether you want to calm an anxious mama, give her a boost
of energy, or provide a helping hand when she’s overwhelmed, Cascade HealthCare
Products has a natural, herbal aid to assist you. I talked with Catherine
Hunziker, owner of Wishgarden
Herbs, to clarify the difference between several Wishgarden labor tinctures
that Cascade carries. The following information should help you choose
these products with confidence.
B&B Labor Formula contains oxytocic emmenagogues (see DEFINITIONS,
below) Blue and Black Cohosh and strong nervines Lobelia, Scullcap and
Blue Vervain. Wishgarden dubs this formula the “traditional midwives assistant
for reluctant contractions.” It’s an ideal choice when mothers are not
going into labor or not progressing because they too anxious. B&B Labor
Formula is contraindicated for transition and second stage as well as when
there are indications that that baby has a depressed heart rate. Most useful
around 3-4 cm dilation.
Labor Enhancer Formula is designed for the woman who is not progressing
or not going into labor because she lacks sufficient energy. Where the
cervix has been slow to dilate and efface as a result of lethargy or fatigue,
this tincture can be an effective aid. Contains a stimulating blend of
oxytocic emmenagogues Bethroot, Blue Cohosh, and Ginger to bring on contractions
and boost energy. Labor Enhancer Formula also contains Gelsemium, a sphincter
relaxant, to encourage cervical effacement and dilation. Because of Gelsemium’s
potential toxicity, this blend must be used with caution, and is recommended
for practitioners only. As with the B&B formula, it should not be used
in transition or for second stage labor, and is most effective around 3-4
cm dilation.
Smooth Transitions Labor Aid Formula contains gentle, effective
nervines that are designed to help mothers get through the overwhelming
intensity of transition. The Oatseed, Scullcap, and Motherwort triad helps
people come into their center, particularly when under extreme duress (so
it’s a great stress reliever outside of labor, too). Smooth Transitions
is a non-toxic, non-sedating blend that can be used at any point during
labor and delivery.
Centered Mama Nervine Formula combines strong sedating herbs
Lobelia, Wild Lettuce, and Valerian to help mothers relax and concentrate
on their birthing visualizations. It is most useful when a mother is stuck
between early labor and hard labor (about 3-4 cm). Because of the sedating
effect, it is not to be used during transition or second stage.
As with all herbs, follow the recommended dosage instructions printed
on the bottles. If you are unsure of the herbs' applications or contraindications,
consult an experienced herbalist or naturopath for advice.
DEFINITIONS:
Oxytocic emmenagogues are substances that enhance a mother’s natural
oxytocin responses and stimulate the uterus to contract and expel. Common
oxytocic emmenagogues are Blue and Black Cohosh. Because these substances
enhance a natural response, oxytocin must already be present in the mother’s
body in order for these formulas to be effective.
Nervines are relaxing substances that feed the nerves and support the
central nervous system. They raise natural endorphin levels to ease sensations
of pain and often have a sedating effect. Commonly used nerviness are Lobelia,
Blue Vervain and Scullcap.
Question. Is there a safe amount of Goldenseal a pregnant woman can
take whilst in the second a third trimesters? I understand it should be
avoided in the first trimester. I have a combination of herbs and vitamins
which I feel might be helpful for my antibody M and recurrent cystitis,
plus the cold and flu season (I work part-time in a health food store).
Anne Frye suggest in her book, "Understanding Diagnostic Test in the Childbearing
Year", pg.95 C complex (1000mg daily) and elderflower infusion. Here's
the ingredients to the combo.....
/pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-medicine/faqs/
* 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:
Herb Vendors
109 Barre Plains Rd
Oakham,Massachusetts 01068
1-800-489-HERB (4372)
Herbalism Schools
Philosophy of Herbs
(sleep, meditate, unplug the clock or the telephone)
(low-tech diagnosis, books, support groups, divination)
(prayer, homeopathy, ceremony, affirmations, laughter)
(herbal infusions and vinegars, hugs, exercise, food choices, gentle
massage, yoga stretches)
(hot or cold water, many herbal tinctures, acupuncture)
(synthesized or concentrated vitamins, minerals, and food substances
such as nutritional yeast, blue-green algae, bran)
(chemotherapy, tamoxifen, hormones, high dilution homeopathics, and
potentially toxic herbs)
(threatening language, surgery, colonics, radiation therapies, psychoactive
drugs, invasive diagnostic tests such as mammograms and C-T scans)
Experienced Mom Comments on Efficacy of Herbs
I started (at 38 weeks) to use some of the herbs recommended -- especially
evening primrose. 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.
Herbal Tinctures and Alcoholics In Recovery
Herbs to Avoid in Pregnancy
Angelica in Floradix?
One of my clients pointed out that Floradix
contains angelica. This would seem like a dangerous herb to use in pregnancy
because of angelica's reputation for encouraging separation of the placenta.
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 sensitive to herbs, we suggest that instead of the Floradix,
they take the FloraVit, which has no angelica in it.
- Leda H Fair, Spokesperson for Flor*Essence
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!
golden seal
Hydrastis canadensis
juniper Juniperus communis
autumn crocus Colchicum autumnale
mistletoe
Viscum album
bearberry
Berberis vulgaris
pennyroyal
Mentha pulegium
poke root
Phytolacca decandra
sothernwood Artemisia abrotanum
wormwood
Artemis absinthium
mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
nutmeg Myristica
fragrans
cotton root
Gossypium herbaccum
male fern
Dryopteris felix-mas
thuja
Thuja occidentalis
calendula
Calendula officinalis
beth root
Trillium erectum
feverfew
Chrysanthemum parthenium
sage
Salvia officinalis
General Herbal Information
From Daphne Singingtree's Midwifery Workbook
To Prepare for a Healthy Birthing - Herbs which are helpful and safe in
pregnancy are: strawberry leaves, borage, watercress, spearmint, peppermint,
hibiscus, lemon grass, peach leaves, ginger root, red clover, rosehips,
yerba buena, and slippery elm (slippery elm is listed in some herbals to
avoid because years ago it was used to induce abortions by inserting it
into the cervix; drinking the tea is considered safe).
| Vit. C | 600mg |
| Propolis2x | 450mg |
| equivalent to: | (900mg) |
| Goldenseal | 300mg |
| Echinacea Angustifolia | 300mg |
| Echinacea Purpurea | 300mg |
| odor controlled garlic | 300mg |
| alicin yield | (3000mcg) |
| elderberry | 60mg |
| ginger root | 30mg |
| peppermint leaves | 30mg |
| cayenne | 30mg |
I take the rainbow light prenatals, extra acidophilus, and herb teas
(red raspberry, nettles, occasionally uva ursi). I Drink Knudsen Just Cranberry
juice with water-2canning quart jars a day. Since I'm 23 weeks and not
thrilled about antibiotics (I never grow anything for a UTI-but the doc
will prescribe it anyhow) and have 4 more months to go. I would really
like to keep the cystitis curbed or under control and feel the goldenseal
may knock out whatever is irritating my bladder and protect the baby as
best as possible with the antibody M. Yes I'm Rh-, by the way the doc wants
me to have the RhoGAM shot at 28 weeks because I'm sensitized(?)
There are two basic stances on the subject, but everyone pretty much agrees that in the 3rd tri frequent (2- 3 cups per day of tea or 1 - 2 cups per day of infusion) is beneficial to the uterine and pelvic muscles. Red Raspberry Leaf contains many minerals and vitamins, including vitamin C and calcium. It also contains an alkaloid called fragrine, which lends tone to the uterus.
The more radical stance (that my midwife espouses) is that drinking one cup of tea per day in the 1st tri and 2 in the 2nd and switching to the infusion in the 3rd tri ensures a strong uterus, is good for you nutritionally and prevents miscarriage. She is supported in this view by Susun S. Weed, author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year and many local experienced herbalists (in the U.S., especially Illinois).
The more conservative stance is that red raspberry leaf can cause minor spotting in the beginning of a pregnancy, and some U.K. midwives claim an increase in miscarriage rates. I believe that some spotting is confused with increased miscarriage. Or the spotting took on a life of its own and mushroomed into a vague warning after several years of not being in use. I say this because red raspberry leaf is not an emmenagogue or contraction promoter. It does not make your uterus contract, but it does make it stronger, so if a woman were going to miscarry, I suppose red raspberry leaf could make it easier to expel a blighted ovum (which is what most miscarriages are anyway - nonviable)
So if you're thinking about using it to be safe just wait until you're
36 weeks along.
Red Raspberry leaf does not in any way, shape or form start labor or promote contractions (unless there is a drastically different type over in Europe compared with what we have here in N. America). It is NOT an emmenagogue or oxytocic herb. What RRL does is help strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles so that once labor does start the muscles will be more efficient. It also contains tons of absorbable calcium and other minerals that help nourish the pregnant mom.
I know that in the U.K and Ireland midwives often suggest not doing RRL until the last few weeks or not until labor starts, but here in the U.S. we do it from the beginning of pregnancy on. Since this very discussion has come up numerous times on misc.kids.pregnancy about a year ago I looked in about several good herbals, talked with four professional herbalists in my area and several DEM's who work with herbs. Not one source listed RRL as a labor promoter, but instead suggested it to prevent miscarriages early on. And it is usually recommend either from the very beginning for from the second tri. on.
Also, the effects of the active alkaloid (fragrine) which does it's
number on the muscles is cumulative. So drinking a cup a day for 3 or 4
or 6 or 8 months is much more effective than trying to drink even a really
strong infusion for a couple days. (Actually fragrine relaxes the opposing
muscles that you need relaxed, so that the working muscles can more efficiently
do their job in order to ensure an effective labor.)
The following herbs are beneficial safe, and recommended for all women before, during, and after pregnancy:
Pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons of herb and steep for ten minutes. Strain. During the first two trimesters, drink 1 cup per day. During tile final trimester, drink 2-3 cups per day.
Pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons herb and steep or fifteen
minutes. Strain. Drink 1 cup three times per day. Some pregnant women alternate
weeks of Nettles and Raspberry brews. Others drink Raspberry until the
last month and then switch to Nettles to insure large quantities of vitamin
K in the blood for the birth.
So I would think that Motherwort is not to be used unless you are trying
to go into labor and that's why it was saying 'avoid during pregnancy'
Susun Weed actually recommends it during pregnancy for stress, during
early labor for pain, and after labor for afterpain relief.
I've known a few women who's midwives have recommended it as an alternative
to anxiety drugs they were on before pregnancy.
One caution though. Susun Weed does say that one should be careful with it. If one finds oneself taking it regularly and for several weeks one might find that one can't get along without it.
Let me tell you though, it's heavenly!
You're right. It is amazing. Yesterday I went and bought
all the herbs I thought I might possibly need during and after labor and
broke out the Motherwort as soon as I got home. 5 drops of the stuff
in a small amount of water changed me from the irritable, no-fun kind of
Mommy I've been for the last couple of weeks into a calm, go-ahead-dear-make-a-mess
kind of Mommy. I love it!
I find motherwort very helpful for generalized anxiety as well
as attacks, in addition to afterpains.
I have made tinctures many ways and definitely think that everclear(190 proof) is the way to go with cotton root bark it needs a heavy solvent it is sturdy stuff, also there just isn't the abundance of materials around to be putting it up every 2 weeks and adding more, I find that if I let mine sit for the whole 6 weeks it does the trick. Sometimes I just let it sit and don't strain it out for a very long time. Although using everclear was how I was taught and how I make it I just checked Michael Moore and he recommends a 1:5 fresh root bark tincture with 50 % alcohol (100 proof) I will try 1 batch this winter made this way as well as making it the old way. Now for other tinctures especially something that seems to be soluble in water as well as alcohol then I prefer to use rum. When in doubt I hit the books or the web to see.
Ladies Mantel (alchemilla vulgaris) I would use as a tea and although it can be used to in cases of heavy menses it is mild enough to be used prenatally as a toner if a woman was inclined and if was fitting to her disposition.
A stronger astringent that isn't so safe prenatally but can help arrest
bleeding is Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium) and yarrow is fine as
a rum tincture, I have also use a glycerin of it, but I think that a glycerin
just doesn't keep as long .
I'm trying to get a better sense of the reliability of information about using herbs that is common in the midwifery community. Most people I know rely on Susun Weed's Herbal for the Childbearing Year.
Has anyone ever asked a knowledgeable herbalist to review this information
for them?
These are good questions...I know I have used Susun's book as an authority,
and with some success, but we do need to question. I did an herbal workshop
many years ago, and he said it is very difficult to combine more than two
herbs and get a successful tincture, because there are three kinds of herbs,
and they don't always combine. I know she has tincture recipes in the back
with five or more herbs, I have never tried them, has anyone? I pretty
much use one herb at a time, that has worked over the years, or one homeopathic
remedy at a time.
I have used Susan Weeds book and many others that say similar things
and have had good luck in using the recommended treatments with herbs.
I have never found it a problem. You will have to just find your own way.
To self help yourself is an adventure and nothing in that book would hurt
you used as written.
I for one have not been able to successfully get a mom with a missed
abortion to do much of anything following the herbal regime outlined in
this book. I like the book's simplicity, however I have consulted with
an herbalist who said she had never heard of a woman successfully inducing
abortion with these herbs when she's over the age of 25. Similar to Weed's
information is found in many herbals so she's not the only one saying these
certain herbs will cause abortion/miscarriage.
Who would qualify as a "knowledgeable herbalist" if not Susun Weed herself?
I don't exactly understand who you would ask to corroborate her work. If
you don't trust her work as definitive, then whose do you trust? Isn't
it all relative and a matter of experience?
Perhaps I should have said "another knowledgeable herbalist".
I have never done any independent study of herbs, in terms of growing or harvesting them and making the preparations myself. Pretty much everything I know about herbs comes from Susun Weed, and I suspect most of the other information I read about herbs in the midwifery community is derived from her work.
I personally feel comfortable basing self-treatment on her work, because I have a sense that it is trustworthy.
I have used her information as the basis for providing information to clients as well, but I would like to get some corroboration so that I can be "more certain" I'm not causing them any harm, and that the herbs might actually do some good.
I don't know if there are any RCT's about most of the herbs, but I would at least like to hear that another knowledgeable herbalist has reviewed her work and agrees with her teaching.
Or, in the absence of a positive confirmation, I wanted to ask if anyone
had any negative experiences with her book. So far, nobody has spoken up
about it. This adds a measure of confidence, but by default.
As a nurse-midwife and nurse practitioner, I am frequently asked questions about herbal remedies by my patients and by my CNM and MD colleagues. There are no standardized dosages and this makes prescribing herbals tricky so I usually advise the patient to start with the lowest recommended dosage and then slowly increase to achieve the desired effect . Herbals are not for everyone but many of our patients use them so I believe as practitioners, we need to have some working knowledge of them if the patient wants to "give herbs a try". St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum )is noted to have a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system as well as a mild vasodilatory and diuretic action. I was unable to locate a single source which advises against use in pregnancy and at least one that recommends it. This herb does however cause sensitivity to sunlight so users should be cautioned to wear sun protection.
Resources:
Passionflower
in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized
controlled trial with oxazepam.
Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani
M.
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001 Oct;26(5):363-7.
Passionflower is considered safe during pregnancy.
Passionflower:
An Herbal Alternative For Anxiety?
October 18, 2001
(Integrative Medicine) - Although medications are commonly used to treat
people with anxiety, a new study has found that passionflower (Passiflora
incarnata) may calm the nerves as effectively as some drugs. Roughly 4
million Americans currently have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), an
illness characterized by 6 months or more of chronic, exaggerated worry
and tension. In the current study, researchers randomly assigned 32 people
with GAD to receive either passionflower or oxazepam (an anti-anxiety drug)
for 4 weeks. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in anxiety
symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment and those who took the herbal remedy
had less impairment on job performance. "The results suggest that [passionflower]
is an effective drug for the management of generalized anxiety disorder,"
the researchers conclude.
St. John's Wort, I believe is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation,
and acts as a MAO inhibitor. It can also cause hypertension, and certain
common foods and beverages can interact with negative effects. I know it
is an excellent anti-depressant, but not for the childbearing cycle.
I have seen St. John's Wort used quite a bit in pregnancy, especially
for false labor.... never have seen any problems and my last grand multip
thought it was fabulous for after birth pains. Of course, I believe the
dosage to deal with these issues is considerably lower than what I have
heard is an appropriate dosage for depression.
St. John's Wort is an MAO inhibitor.
My pharmacist who attempts to keep up with herbal medicine for us, confirmed
this and said St. John's Wort can be very dangerous. It is also part of
what they call herbal Phen/Fen. It is far more dangerous than real Phen/Fen;
which IMHO isn't dangerous at all. It is also a SSRI (selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor) and thus elevates circulating serotonin levels. I wonder
if it causes plaques on mitral valve surfaces.??
Information
from the Materia Medica at Medherb.com
I just recently tried vitex with a woman with suspected low progesterone levels. She was bleeding in early pregnancy (7 weeks) and was suffering migraine headaches. I did some lab work to determine if her progesterone levels were in fact low, and they were quite low. She took the vitex for a couple of weeks, along with wild yam and 2% cream, and the headaches and bleeding stopped within a day. We just got heart tones last week, at 9 weeks.
A local herbalist explained it as a pituitary stimulant.
I recommended Vitex to a client who had a 9-week SA, and was doing some
bleeding which was not only heavy but lasted for way longer than we were
happy with. It did wonders for the bleeding, but she said the infusion
tasted like dirt.
Vitex also works well for women with luteal phase defects and infertility.
Milewisz A., Et al Vitex Agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia. Results of a
double-blind study. Arzneimittelforschung, 43(7):752-6 1993 JulClinical study of 52 women with luteal phase defects due to latent prolactinemia. Statistically significant changes were seen in the group taking the vitex extract. The prolactin release was reduced after 3 months, shortened luteal phases were normalized and deficits in the luteal progesterone synthesis were eliminated. There were also 3 pregnancys.
Vitex extract also comes in tablet or capsule form. That takes care
of the dirt taste.
From: C-upi@clari.net (UPI) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 1:00:38 PDTThe Science of Garlic: Scientists are beginning to understand what vampires have been fussing about for years -- that garlic fights off evil invaders. A biotechnology process can now produce large quantities of garlic's main active component, a substance called allicin. The abundant supplies are letting researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, figure out how allicin works. In a study in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, David Mirelman and colleagues show that allicin shuts down the microbes that cause dysentery because garlic stops two major groups of their enzymes. These enzymes -- the cysteine proteinases and the alcohol dehydrogenases -- play key roles in other infectious organisms, from bacteria to viruses. Mirelman says, "It has long been argued that garlic can fight a wide range of infections, and now we have provided biochemical evidence for this claim."
Echinacea Use in Early Pregnancy Appears Safe [Medscape registration is free.]
Study Shows Echinacea Safe During Pregnancy [November 29, 2000]
Pregnancy
outcome following gestational exposure to echinacea: a prospective controlled
study.
Gallo M, Sarkar M, Au W, Pietrzak K, Comas B, Smith M, Jaeger TV, Einarson
A, Koren G.
Arch Intern Med. 2000 Nov 13;160(20):3141-3.
CONCLUSIONS: This first prospective study suggests that gestational
use of echinacea during organogenesis is not associated with an increased
risk for major malformations.
I also use and recommend herbs first and highly regard them as the effective medicinals of choice.
I use equal parts lobelia and false unicorn for threatened miscarriage.
Works great! Also, Wish Garden Herbs sells some really fresh tinctures.
I use Smooth Transitions for moms who get "up tight". It calms without
that "druggy" feeling. After ease has been a God send for mom suffering
from afterbirth pains and, later, menstrual cramps.
Me too. and I'll try herbs and home treatment before I go to a doc, unless it's is clearly a medical situation. For example: I'll try tinctures for my sons asthma and sometimes can see results, but if he doesn't start breathing easy really quick he is going to use Preventil! I do what works...
Most of the usual run of the mill sore throats, colds, fevers, sprained ankles etc. or childhood are easily treated with common sense, herbs, home remedies, and time.
I would like to see the research about wild yam. Most of the books on herbs I have seen fall under the definition of testimonials and cookbooks. For instance, Susan Weeds books are quite fun; make many statements about effectiveness of herbs and dosages to use; but give no solid information about effectiveness! It is not research. Informative, and interesting, yes. Full of research? No.
I'm looking for an herb book with facts, not just opinions. Opinions may be absolutely correct, but I need some sort of proof before I feel I can tell someone that a particular herb should be used as medicine.
Until I see any data, I feel I can only "pass on the information" about herbs as folk lore, and as folk medicine etc.
I would never "prescribe" or "recommend" either herbs, vitamins or medicine
-- but I do pass on to my clients the information available to me. We discuss
good diets and whether they might consider supplementing with vitamins
or herbs... I remind them there is little research ever done on herbs,
but that many people use them and seem to feel that they help.
Michael Murray's books and Donald Brown's book are full of research
references. Good books, though heavy on standardized dosages.
I apologize if this is redundant but I must mention Smooth Transitions and Afterease tinctures, both from Wish Garden Herbs in Bolder, Colorado. I give Smooth Transitions for moms who are "up tight" or transitiony. They respond immediately and calm right down. Afterease is phenomenal in reducing the pain associated with afterbirth pains.
Smooth Transitions can also be used for children who are a bit "wired", like after a birthday party where a lot of sugar has been consumed.
Afterease is especially good to take for menstrual cramps. I have also
taken it and had incredible benefits with allergies, i.e., sneezing/running
nose/watery eyes.
Re herb syllabus from ACNM--anybody can order it. The address for the
ACNM Publications is:
ACNM Publications
818 Connecticut Ave, NW
Suite 900
Washington DC 20006
I have mixed feelings about routine prenatal herbal and homeopathic recommendation, but most women I know approach birth with such fear that they can use all the help they can get, both physically and psychologically.
It's probably better not to recommend these if you believe it would
weaken the woman's trust in her own body. (It seems that using these usually
helps women to feel better that they're "doing the right things", which
tend to strengthen her trust that everything will go all right, but use
your better judgment.)
It truly amazes me that anyone wanting a natural, informed pregnancy
and birth, that wants to keep some control over their body and trusts in
the process, would put faith into a company that sells secret "formulas"
to pregnant women. What is the difference between that and trusting
a doctor to give you secret medicine in an IV in the hospital?
I guess it depends whether it really does weaken the trust? Maybe for some people but for me it gave me more confidence knowing that I had myself fully prepared and had tried everything I could and was doing the right things.
I guess my question is - if we are going to expect women to totally trust in their bodies does that mean we tell them to stop ante-natal exercises & stretches (trust your body to be ready) or forget the birth pool (trust your body to handle the pain) ??
I agree its totally a YMMV issue - but while I don't think women should
be convinced they MUST take these things neither do I think they should
be discouraged if they feel maybe it might help them.
It's laughable that a midwife should think all her clients need this
stuff...it's absolutely no different than doctors thinking all healthy
women need ultrasounds, inductions and fetal monitoring "just in case."
My midwife, who is very hands off and *very* non-interventionist and has an excellent reputation as a homebirthing direct entry midwife is recommending I take these herbs and do the oil capsule during the last 5 weeks of pregnancy. She does not expect these things to 'make' me go into labor or as a natural way of induction (I am adamantly opposed to any method of induction as long as my baby and I are fine, not even castor oil); rather as a supplement to assist my body in its natural preparation for birth. In many cultures women follow a special diet in the time during pregnancy and approaching birth. I suppose that the prenatal vitamins and herbal supplements could be viewed that way in our culture. I personally don't see how taking an herbal supplement (specifically designed to supporting a healthy pregnancy, like prenatal vitamins) can be compared to routine ultrasound and chemical inductions.
Raspberry
leaf and its effect on labour: safety and efficacy.
Parsons M, Simpson M, Ponton T.
Aust Coll Midwives Inc J. 1999 Sep;12(3):20-5.
The findings suggest that the raspberry leaf herb can be consumed by women during their pregnancy for the purpose for which it is taken, that is, to shorten labour with no identified side effects for the women or their babies. The findings also suggest ingestion of the drug might decrease the likelihood of pre and post-term gestation. An unexpected finding in this study seems to indicate that women who ingest raspberry leaf might be less likely to receive an artificial rupture of their membranes, or require a caesarean section, forceps or vacuum birth than the women in the control group.
Oral
evening primrose oil: its effect on length of pregnancy and selected intrapartum
outcomes in low-risk nulliparous women.
Dove D, Johnson P.
J Nurse Midwifery. 1999 May-Jun;44(3):320-4.
Findings suggest that the oral administration of evening primrose oil
from the 37th gestational week until birth does not shorten gestation or
decrease the overall length of labor. Further, the use of orally administered
evening primrose oil may be associated with an increase in the incidence
of prolonged rupture of membranes, oxytocin augmentation, arrest of descent,
and vacuum extraction.
Midwife's Study to Examine the Effectiveness
of 'Folk' Labor Induction Remedy
Do you use EPO internally or do you use it topically or both?
Do you recommend a complete type EFA pill or do you use just EPO?
I read an article in CAM (ca assn of midwives) news a buncha years ago.
The action of EFAs is from PO (eating it). The action of using it
on the cervix is fine, but cervical massage is VERY effective without EFAs.
I prefer flax seed and borage capsules- they are mixed and come in one
capsule, usually in the refrigerator section at health food stores.
EPO is a fine second choice. if you recommend it, 1 po 3 times a
day starting in some cases at 32 wks, like that gal with the extremely
closed ischial spines. Then, for anyone, 2 po 3 times a day starting
at 36 wks. Remember, only use if there is an indication for it, not
for everyone...if it ain't broke don't fix it. I almost always check a
woman at 36 wks. .I check her cervix for ripeness, effacement, dilation,
station; baby's presenting part, make sure it's a head, head position,
sutures, fit etc. Then I figure if EFAs should be a part of the picture
at this point.
No scientific evidence re EFAs- Some years ago, Michel Odent was talking
in Reno, and he was talking about the need for EFAs in women's diets in
pg to help with brain development in the baby and for building blocks for
making hormones. Also, about 10 years ago (I'm not good with time)
a gal wrote an article in the CAM (Ca assn of midwives) journal about EFAs
and their role in hormone production. There is scientific evidence,
although I haven't seen any relating directly to birth. I just apply
what I learn to birth. The evidence is there in anecdote and experience.
But again, I don't think it needs to be or should be applied to every woman...only
if circumstances dictate, which is pretty seldom. Again, a vag exam
at 36 weeks will tell you.
I am looking for guidance in use of evening primrose oil. My friend
is 39 wks with hx of large babies- (one at 42 wks was 10#8oz not GDM) She
is planning a RHB (repeat home birth) and would like to avoid such a big
baby again. EFW now is >9#. Any suggestions for use of EPO or other ideas
would be appreciated.
Tell your friend I wish her good luck. I always have big, past EDD babies,
and with the last 2 I tried the EPO, orally and vaginally. Didn't help
a bit, sorry to say. In fact I did everything mentioned in any book. The
only thing that did work was acupuncture, and that labor was just like
an induced labor, hard and fast right away. Spent 1 hour in the dr.'s office
but the contractions started almost immediately after the needles were
in.
EPO is great to soften a cervix either applied locally to the cervix
and/or taken orally - about 500 to 1500 mg per day. Get her walking!
The local prevailing dosage here is 500 mg orally three times daily
and 500-1000 mg vaginally at night from 36wks on.
I have my first and second time moms start taking EPO 6wks before their
due date. 500mg three times a day orally. Then 10 days before their due
date I have them insert 3-4 caps into the vagina at night. The caps melt
and the EPO gets to the cervix and gets it nice and ripe. The cervix melts
over the baby's head.
How many of your moms go past their due dates? Some, most, all? I've
not been impressed with evening primrose, but maybe I'm expecting too much
of it. I got the impression that women would never go much past their due
dates if they used the stuff; I still see a LOT of EPO users get to 41
weeks and more.
We have an extremely low postdates numbers. Most of our women deliver
within five days of their due date. Once in awhile someone goes 41.5 weeks,
but rarely. I must say the ones that do are the ones who don't use the
EPO.
This sounds pretty good! What sort of number is "extremely low"? got a rough guess-percentage?
Do you do anything else as they near and pass their due date? (strip
membranes, massage cervix, use herbs etc.?
We did 74 births last year. 35 were first time moms. 20 delivered more than five but less than 10 days late. All of the them used EPO.I read this as Twenty out of thirty-five first time moms delivered near or past 41 weeks -- between 5 days and 10 days "late"... (it would be nice to know how many were under and how many were over 41 weeks. It's almost crucial to break it down further by weeks to get any sense of these numbers. Is it possible to go back and do them by weeks instead of half weeks? "between 5 days and 10 days" is very broad and difficult to work with).
I'll do my best with what's here though.
20 out of 35 means that 4/7 or 57% of your first time moms went over 40 weeks -- though we don't know how many of these went beyond 41 weeks (just that they were "between 40.5 and 41.3). But this sounds about average to me for women who do NOT use evening primrose oil.
Question:
1. Does this mean that of your initial 35 NO moms went beyond 41.3
weeks (10 days over)?
2. Were any moms induced for any reason?
20 were second time moms. 2 delivered 10 days late They had cooked their first babies 11 & 13 days. 17 used EPO.2 out of 20 second time moms delivered at 41.3.. This is 10%. Again, it sounds about average for moms who do NOT use evening primrose oil.
Question: I can't tell if your two who went 41.3 were among the ones who used EPO or not?)
Our 19 remaining moms were third or more time moms. No one delivered late and no one took EPO either.By "late", do you mean after the 40 week due date or do you mean after 41.3 (ten days over), or do you mean after 42 weeks?
If no one delivered after the due date I would consider this highly unusual and would wonder what you are doing? It sounds wonderful! I can't imagine 19 multips all delivering by their due dates! If this IS indeed what you mean then you are onto something, I think. None of these moms used EPO but did use herbal teas, you say?
But I'm not clear that we are using the same terms here about "late". Can you clarify?
So those are the numbers. I'm not good at stats or figuring out percentages, so maybe you can help me??Stats sound much more scary than they really are [GRIN]! The hardest part is figuring out which information to use.
In this case, I would suggest breaking the numbers down this way.
Total number of births.
Total number of spontaneous labors (important to correct for inductions
etc.
Take any of these out of the pool of numbers).
total number of primips who used EPO
Number delivering before 37 weeks.
Number delivering by 40 weeks.
Number delivering by 41 weeks.
Number delivering by 42 weeks.
Number delivering beyond 42 weeks.
Number of primips who did not use EPO.
(gather the same stats for any of these).
Repeat the list for para twos, and for para threes...
Most of our moms drink pregnancy tea prepared for them by a local herbalogist.
They also get a visit from our massage therapist who spends a great length
of time massaging their feet starting with day 3 past dates. It just seems
to work.
Foot massage sounds like fun!
But the use of herbs and massage does complicate the issue of whether or not EPO works to avoid post 42 week babies. Maybe the "tea" or the massage are responsible, "IF" there is an effect different from the expected rate of postdates. From the numbers you sent, I don't see anything leaping out here which is glaringly different from the expected rate.
Is it possible to look over the charts and send the information by weeks (as proposed)? 35 primips is not a large number, but it's a good start.
And if you really mean that ALL of your parathrees delivered by their due dates ("none of them went late" ), then this could be significant!
Remember that we don't think someone is going postdates until day 14. Figuring it that way we have a low post dates issue.I don't consider under day 14 to be "too" much of an issue either. Of course, if it isn't too much of an issue then do we really need to do anything about it? [GRIN]
I read somewhere once that prenatal EPO would make a woman's tissues
(did it say her perineum?) much more likely to tear? You find that this
is not so? Do you see a difference in the tear rate with these women?
When I have moms that need to be delivered and their cervix is unripe, I have them take evening primrose oil three times a day. Now these are woman who are either late, or at term so eventually their cervix would have ripened anyway, but it does seem to move things along.
I just finished a workshop with Susun Weed. Her feeling is that any oil based herb begins to decompose as soon as it is exposed to air, becomes rancid and should not be used internally. She also felt that the tablet form of evening primrose did not contain active ingredients and only provided the placebo effect.
Does anyone have an alternative view on using evening primrose oil to
ripen the cervix? What has your experiences been with using this method?
I think I owe Evening Primrose Oil as well as other essential fatty
acids to the fact I was able to get pregnant. My midwife is also a clinical
nutritionist and put me on these to regulate my hormones (I think). I don't
have much info to pass along about what, why. But I do know she told me
to keep them in the refrigerator after opening the bottle, as all oils
should be stored.
The pharmacological effects of EPO (and some other substances like BlackCurrant oil) are probably due to the essential fatty acids Gamma linolenic and Gamma linoleic acid. These EFAs are just a short step from the chemical structure of prostaglandins. Providing the EFAs should help the body to manufacture the substances as needed.
Most birth workers know that prostaglandins play an important role in ripening of the cervix at term, and also in controlling bleeding after the placenta is born.
What many do not realize is that prostaglandins are part of the inflammatory
response of the human body, and that the prime way many painkillers work
is by combatting the secretion of prostaglandin. For example, Aspirin and
other salicylates, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Naprosyn (Aleve), ketoprofen
(Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin) are all potent anti-prostaglandins. Some
have even been used to stop labor through their antiprostaglandin action,
and the "one baby aspirin a day" therapy for some pregnancy complications
fits right in with this theoretical basis.
Evening primrose does not contain salicylates. Its active ingredient
is gammalinoleic acid (GLA) which is a powerful anti-blood clotter.
[from ob-gyn-l]
I'm sure you knew that Borage seed oil was an excellent source of the essential fatty acid...Gamma linoleic acid? You know... the Omega-6 fatty acid that is a precursor to prostaglandin. And I'll bet your gonna try and pull my leg and make me think that you didn't know anything about the fact that a lot of women are taking this instead of evening primrose oil because it's twice as high in GLA.
Well it's supposed to be a balancing act between Omega-3 and Omega-6
and usually we get plenty of omega-6, but some people feel that it's really
helping them with PMS and premenopausal symptoms and really just a lot
of other stuff...women's stuff. Oh. and arthritis...Men know about that
but anyway Borage is good because its a vegetable oil, unsaturated, and
rich in GLA. Comes cold pressed in capsules you know. No aftertaste...
Progesterone shots are given during pregnancy to women at risk for preterm
labor because progesterone makes the uterus less sensitive to oxytocin.
From Endocrinology
of Parturition by Gerson Weiss
The "final common pathway" to delivery is likely to be multiple, parallel,
interactive paths that tip the balance in favor of coordinated uterine
contractility and cervical dilation. These mechanisms involve a shift from
progesterone to estrogen dominance, increased sensitivity to oxytocin,
gap junction formation, and increased prostaglandin activity. Decreased
nitric oxide (NO) activity and increased influx of calcium into myocytes
are both required for uterine contractibility (2, 3). Complementary changes
in the cervix involving a decrease in progesterone dominance and the actions
of prostaglandins and relaxin, via connective tissue alterations, collagenolysis,
and a decrease in collagen stabilization through metalloproteinase inhibitors,
leading to cervical softening and dilation (4).
Progesterone down-regulates prostaglandin production, as well as the
development of calcium channels and oxytocin receptors both involved in
myometrial contraction (2).
For women who've received progesterone shots during pregnancy, I encourage
them to start taking a lot of cottonroot bark at 36 weeks; I suggest a
dropperful of the cottonroot bark up to 6 times/day if they can take the
taste! (It can be taken in water or juice or tea if needed to mask
the taste.)
Texas
Medicinals carries cottonroot bark tincture.
Since using cottonroot bark prenatally, my transport rate is close to
zero. It really helps those first babies to come before the head
hardens and before meconium becomes a problem! Here's what I tell
my clients:
Cottonroot bark tincture is the best nutritional supplement for toning
the uterus in late pregnancy. Starting at 37 weeks - 3 weeks before
your due date - add cottonroot tincture to your daily routine. For
a first baby, take 1 dropperful cottonroot tincture twice daily, at least
several hours apart. If this is not your first baby, take a half
dropperful twice daily. (A dropperful is the amount that comes into
the glass dropper with a single squeeze of the rubber top. A half
dropperful is half that amount.) After your due date, increase cottonroot
tincture to 1 dropperful every 20minutes for 2 hours in the morning and
1 dropperful every 20 minutes for two hours in the evening.
Here are some references for cotton root:
http:
http:
For information about cottonroot bark tincture made from plants that
haven't been chemically treated, contact karen.
The best time to order is in mid-January, when they're freshly prepared
for the season.
Instead, we now see lots of women with long prodromal or early labors,
which tell us that the uterus and cervix weren't ready to go into labor
when baby was ready to come. Women can help prepare the uterus to
be in synch with baby's timing either by doing lots and lots of walking
(several hours per day would be optimal), or by taking herbs which also
cause toning contractions.
The herbs in these prenatal formulations are tonic herbs, meaning they
are mild, and you need to take them over an extended period of time in
order for the benefits to accumulate. The capsule formulations are
not a concentrated tincture or extract; they simply take the plants, chopped
and dried, and put them into gelatin capsules. This is why you end
up having to take so many capsules around your due date; they're not concentrated
the way herbal tinctures are. You could view it as a way of getting
more greens every day.
I don't have any direct or indirect experience with the Polly-Jean
Formula, but it looks good!
As of some time in 2001, Nature's Way discontinued the production of
Pregnancy 6; however, the same formula is purported to be available as
Dr.
Christopher's Prenatal Tea Formula, available at http:
Ingredients in Dr. Christopher's Pre-Natal Tea
(formerly PN-6 Ingredients)
I found it (April, 2006) at Southern
Herb - sold as item
no. 802 - Pre-Natal Formula for $20.49
You
can purchase it in wholesale bulk from Marshall Distributing Co. of Utah.
- (801) 973-8855
I
found it for $12.99/bottle at http:
I really like LaborPrep
from Tri-Light Herbs. It's a tincture in glycerin, so it's non-alcoholic
and tastes fairly palatable. Ingredients
in LaborPrep.
In our practice, we ask that our ladies use either PN-6 or 5W. I'm on
my last week of the 5W and I can tell you personally that it's doing its
job...I'm living in contraction city! My sr. midwife says that she sees
lots fewer women going post-dates and considerably less PPH since she started
asking that they do the PN-6 routine.
week 1 = 1 cap (with breakfast)
I know some people don't like the PN-6; they say the pennyroyal makes
you cramp. Nature's Sunshine has 5W which is the same thing without
the pennyroyal; you can only get it through a distributor.
A friend took 5W and had a 45-minute labor compared with a 14-hour labor
for her first.
I use a similar combo and what it does for me is "regulate" the braxton
hicks contractions I have. Whereas without the herbs, I get random
contractions of various intensity. Once I begin them, they seem to
come together in waves of consistency. Who knows... could be a bottle
of sugar and voo-doo ;) However, they feel productive to me and after
using them with two of three babies, I am happy with the results (which
have been shorter labors and faster uterus involution postpartum).
I don't use PN-6 or 5W. I use a herbal tincture called PREPCOM. It is
made by a company called Energique Herbal.
It contains: false unicorn, wild yam, bayberry, motherwort, wild ginger,
lobelia, blessed thistle, squawvine, blue cohosh and red raspberry. My
ladies take 10 drops in juice or water three times a day starting at 37
weeks.
I don't get contractions from it as much as a mellow mom who can sleep
at night and a nice ripe cervix before 40 weeks. Once in a while I add
black cohosh tincture one dropperful 4 times a day between 40 and 41 weeks
if they go that long. I really like it and I don't seem to get so many
freaked out moms in false labor.
BTW, when I use this for my multips, I am having fast labors........about
5 hours from first ctx to birth. Quite a few go from 5cm to complete in
30 min to 1 hour.
You have to order this stuff from Energique if you want it.......they
have a whole list of herbs and homeopathics, some specifically for pregnant
women. Their phone number is 1-800-869-8078.
What's your protocol for the PN6 or EPO? PN6 is available at the
local healthfood store. Start at 36 weeks, take 1 cap per day 1st wk, 2
per day 2nd wk, up to 6 per day in last week. I have them start EPO
at 38 weeks. 2 caps QID orally, 2 caps vaginally, as high as you can get
it, hs. This is what I recommend, and I've had few women go post
dates and have prolonged labors since I started this protocol, 8 years
ago.
For PN6 we use 1/day for week 34, bid for week 35, tid for week 36,
etc till she's taking 6/day at term (usually three doses of 2 capsules).
For EPO, we usually don't start until after 37 weeks at the earliest (usually
later) and use tid of the 500 mg capsules (or 1/day of the 1300's).
May also throw a couple in the vagina at night for good measure <VBG>
if the cervix doesn't seem to be ripening. I'd love to hear what
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
Many of us have seen women who seem to be fighting their labors - either
before it starts, when we see the long prodromal labors or during active
labor, when we may see them stalling out around 6 cm when there's so much
increased pelvic pressure. I started noticing that the Wishgarden
Herbs "Centered Mama" tincture helped a lot to shift prelabor/early labor
into active labor. I investigated each of the ingredients and was
impressed with the properties ascribed to lobelia. In researching
lobelia, I also came across references to gelsemium for similar purposes
- lobelia is more appropriate when the the cervix is thick and gelsemium
more appropriate when the cervix is thin and sharp like a knife edge.
[Centered Mama ingredients are wild
lettuce, lobelia,
and valerian]
From King's
American Dispensatory:
Unfortunately, they don't cite their references. However, a search
of Medscape turns up an
article about the toxicity of Lobelia berlandieri, which is a different
plant from lobelia inflata, which is used medicinally. Perhaps this
was the source of the confusion?
I also really like motherwort
to
help a mom relax and let the cervix open.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for prodromal labor is to get things
moving forward! I like Trilight's
Startup Formula. [Ingredients
in Startup]
Regarding the use of Cohosh, does anyone else use the homeopathic remedy
named caulophyllum?
Anyway, back to the subject, with any cohosh the side effect can be
an increase in B/P, so I check this frequently (even when we are out on
our walk). I have had only one client whose B/P went up, and it was only
10 systolic with no other s/sx.
So, to repeat my original question, does anyone else use caulophyllum?
And to add to my original question, if so, what do you think of it, and
what dosage, time frame do you use?
I wrote a little about this in an earlier post about the cohoshes. I
mentioned that I use the homeopathic forms of the cohoshes. I use them
in labor situations in a 200c potency. I use 200c or 1M potencies in labor
because that is what it usually takes in a labor. I use 30cs in pregnancy.
(except for Pulsatilla to turn breeches) There is a new book out for midwives
about homeopathy - it is written by the homeopath I have been studying
under for the last 6 years. The book is called "Homeopathy for the Modern
Pregnant Woman and Her Infant" - A Therapeutic Practice Guidebook for Midwives,
Physicians and Practitioners. If you are interested in the book, you can
e-mail me privately and I'll give you more details, but I don't want to
"advertise" on the list. (although I have no connection with the book other
than I reviewed her working copy)
Also, as someone reported from several sources - Blue Cohosh is known
to actually lower B/P and raise FHTs (at least in my experience). I have
even used it to help control a labor B/P that was getting up there. I know
people who are not pregnant (even men) who use Blue Cohosh to control high
B/P.
I have all of my clients use PN-6 (Rasp combo, mother's cordial, any
of the like) and EPO from 34 weeks. There is also something called Matrim
that is the homeopathic version of PN-6. This seems to really help ripen
the cervix. I've felt primip cervices feel like that of a multip after
taking this. We actually looked back at the stats when we first started
using it when I was an apprentice and the women that had taken it had faster
labors and less incidence of going past 41 weeks.
I have recently started having them take alfalfa or chlorophyll from
34 weeks to boost the Vit. K level for the baby and to the mom for less
bleeding.
I use caulophyllum (blue), or cimicifuga (black) 200c to kick start
a pokey labor. Not usually to start labor. Another homeopathic I use is
Pulsatilla to turn a breech or a lesser strength for a malpositioned head.
I do almost the exact same thing - I encourage 5-W (Nature Sunshine
product for last 5 weeks) which in my experience helps prevent women from
going too far overdue and helps shorten labors - (this statement always
gets me compliance!) I encourage the use of Alfalfa (about 35 grains/day)
for the final 6 weeks (unless bad varicose veins). I use the homeopathics
as stated above. I feel prevention is the key in my practice.
5W (5 herbs for women for the last five weeks of pregnancy) is made
by a US company called Natures Sunshine and it is a combination mix of
Prenatal Herbs for Women. It is very popular here in NZ with many
midwives and many supply it to their patrients having seen the benefits.
They describe it as a "uterine toner" You should be able to buy at it Health
Stores but I see it is also available online at several places. Here's
the blurb from one of them ... 5-W (5 herbs for women) System: Glandular/Female
5-W supplies nutrients supportive to the female glandular and reproductive
systems. The formula contains iron for the blood and for vitality, manganese
to support body tissues, and selenium to assist in healthy tissue growth.
This combination includes: Black cohosh root, Squaw vine herb, Dong quai
root, Butcher's broom root, Red raspberry leaves. During the last
five weeks of pregnancy, take two capsules three times daily. For me it
was the easy way to get the Red Raspberry leaf without having to drink
the tea plus get all those other useful herbs!! The only situation
where its use is not recommended is if you have high blood pressure or
a history of pre-term labour.
As of some time in 2001, Nature's Way discontinued the production of
Pregnancy 6; however, the same formula is purported to be available as
Dr.
Christopher's Prenatal Tea Formula, available at http:
You can purchase it in wholesale bulk from Marshall Distributing Co.
of Utah.
I found it for $9.72/bottle at http:
Ingredients in Dr. Christopher's Pre-Natal Tea
(formerly PN-6 Ingredients)
This is a Nature's Sunshine Product, and you can order it online from
onedietstore.com
In our practice, we ask that our ladies use either PN-6 or 5W. I'm on
my last week of the 5W and I can tell you personally that it's doing its
job...I'm living in contraction city! My sr. midwife says that she sees
lots fewer women going post-dates and considerably less PPH since she started
asking that they do the PN-6 routine.
week 1 = 1 cap (with breakfast)
I know some people don't like the PN-6; they say the pennyroyal makes
you cramp. Nature's Sunshine has 5W which is the same thing without
the pennyroyal; you can only get it through a distributor.
A friend took 5W and had a 45-minute labor compared with a 14-hour labor
for her first.
I use a similar combo and what it does for me is "regulate" the braxton
hicks contractions I have. Whereas without the herbs, I get random
contractions of various intensity. Once I begin them, they seem to
come together in waves of consistency. Who knows... could be a bottle
of sugar and voo-doo ;) However, they feel productive to me and after
using them with two of three babies, I am happy with the results (which
have been shorter labors and faster uterus involution postpartum).
I don't use PN-6 or 5W. I use a herbal tincture called PREPCOM. It is
made by a company called Energique Herbal.
It contains: false unicorn, wild yam, bayberry, motherwort, wild ginger,
lobelia, blessed thistle, squawvine, blue cohosh and red raspberry. My
ladies take 10 drops in juice or water three times a day starting at 37
weeks.
I don't get contractions from it as much as a mellow mom who can sleep
at night and a nice ripe cervix before 40 weeks. Once in a while I add
black cohosh tincture one dropperful 4 times a day between 40 and 41 weeks
if they go that long. I really like it and I don't seem to get so many
freaked out moms in false labor.
BTW, when I use this for my multips, I am having fast labors........about
5 hours from first ctx to birth. Quite a few go from 5cm to complete in
30 min to 1 hour.
You have to order this stuff from Energique if you want it.......they
have a whole list of herbs and homeopathics, some specifically for pregnant
women. Their phone number is 1-800-869-8078.
What's your protocol for the PN6 or EPO? PN6 is available at the
local healthfood store. Start at 36 weeks, take 1 cap per day 1st wk, 2
per day 2nd wk, up to 6 per day in last week. I have them start EPO
at 38 weeks. 2 caps QID orally, 2 caps vaginally, as high as you can get
it, hs. This is what I recommend, and I've had few women go post
dates and have prolonged labors since I started this protocol, 8 years
ago.
For PN6 we use 1/day for week 34, bid for week 35, tid for week 36,
etc till she's taking 6/day at term (usually three doses of 2 capsules).
For EPO, we usually don't start until after 37 weeks at the earliest (usually
later) and use tid of the 500 mg capsules (or 1/day of the 1300's).
May also throw a couple in the vagina at night for good measure <VBG>
if the cervix doesn't seem to be ripening. I'd love to hear what
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
This section has been moved to Essential
Oils
I am sold on herbs as a dietary supplement at 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
due to herbs, but I know they must have 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 the 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 set
of herbs used for health and healing. 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!
Need for Herbal Support after Progesterone Shots
Cottonroot Bark
Prenatal Herbal Supplements - Dr.
Christopher's Prenatal Tea Formula (was Pregnancy 6 or PN-6), Labor Prep,
and 5-W
Rationale for Prenatal Herbal Tonics
Prenatal herbal formulations are designed to help ripen the cervix and
tone the uterine muscle. Typically, they do this by causing an increase
in toning contractions in late pregnancy. If humans lived now as
we evolved, even very pregnant women would still be doing a lot of walking
around, foraging for food or moving about by foot instead of by car. Those
normal levels of adrenaline from daily activity caused toning contractions
(archaically called Braxton-Hicks contractions), which helped move the
baby into the optimal position for birth and toned the uterus for an easier
labor and birth. Moving the baby's head down onto the cervix helped
ripen the cervix so it would open more easily when the contractions of
labor started. Having a ripened cervix helped the baby to come in
a timely fashion, preparing the uterus to be ready to go into labor as
soon as baby threw the switch. This meant that baby was more likely
to have a nice, flexible head for easier molding and less likely to release
meconium before birth.
week 2 = 2 caps (with breakfast and lunch)
week 3 = 3 caps (breakfast, lunch and 4:30...taken any later, and the
lady
might be up all night with ctx)
week 4 (2 w/ breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 4:30)
Week 5 (2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 1 4:30)
Week 6 (2,2,2...and voila! BABY!!)
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)
Herbs for Prodromal Labor, False Labor or Stalled
Labor
Lobelia
Important Note - Lobelia is a powerful herb which should be used very
carefully. If you're using a commercial tincture, start with just
a drop or two and work your way up slowly; in large amounts, it is a powerful
emetic, meaning it causes vomiting.
"The powerfully relaxant properties of lobelia render it a
very efficient agent in several conditions, whose chief feature is the
spasmodic element. . . . Lobelia is of value in obstetrical practice.
It powerfully subdues muscular rigidity. It is the remedy to overcome a
rigid os uteri during parturition, and at the same time it relaxes the
perineal tissues. This it does when there is fullness of tissue—a thick,
doughy, yet unyielding, os uteri; when, however, the edge of the os is
thin and closely drawn, sharp like a knife edge, full doses of gelsemium
are indicated. . . . Lobelia is a stimulant to the sympathetic system.
It improves the innervation of the parts supplied by both the pneumogastric
and sympathetic nerves."
From Cook's
The Physiomedical Dispensatory:
Upon the muscular and fibrous tissues it expends its influence
with a very direct and peculiar force. The nausea induced by it at the
stomach, is the first manifestation of this, and the enlarging caliber
of the pulse is from a similar influence upon the fibers of the blood-vessels.
It is by this combined action upon both the nerves and muscles of the stomach,
that small doses of weak lobelia infusion allay irritation of the stomach,
and arrest spasmodic and even sympathetic vomiting; and so long as these
doses can be regulated so as to make a nearly continuous impression, without
any distinct intermission in which a contracting oscillation may occur,
all efforts at emesis will prove ineffectual. (§210, 212.) By a persistent
repetition of moderate quantities till the contractile efforts of the stomach
are allayed, and then by the use of larger quantities either by drink or
as injection, or both, (or more considerable quantities may be used at
the outset, if the stomach is not peculiarly susceptible,) there is probably
no fibrous structure of the frame but may be reached by this agent. . .
. In rigidity of the os tincae during labor, small doses at short intervals
will secure the relaxation of those ibers in the most prompt and thorough
manner; and this peculiar action of the agent, under the directing influence
of the vital force, (§138, 139,) enables it to overcome a grave obstruction
which has always caused the profession much anxiety, and makes this remedy
one of rare value, even if it did not possess another useful property.
The same remarks will apply to hour-glass contractions of the uterus; and
to those ineffectual forms of labor in which a portion of the uterine fibers
are rigid; under all which circumstances small portions of lobelia infusion,
at intervals of ten or fifteen minutes, will presently relax the rigid
fibers without at all interfering with the action of those which are contracting
properly–results which the accoucheur many times desires with the greatest
anxiety, and for the lack of which he too often resorts to his destructive
instruments, but which are effected by lobelia in the most complete manner.
At the same time it secures a free lubrication of the passages, and a more
equable action of the nervous system. Yet lobelia is not a distinct parturient;
and though its efficacy in expediting labor under the above peculiar circumstances
is unsurpassed, it at no time gives vigor to uterine contractions, nor
improves the force of weak and ineffectual pains. On the contrary, its
persistent use will gradually relax the entire uterus, and finally all
contractile efforts will cease till the action of the lobelia has passed
by; and this may readily ensue in cases where the uterine and vaginal structures
are already flaccid, or may be effected where the parts are somewhat unyielding
and the pains so active as to be exhaustive."
This study gives some hints as to how it helps with labor - it may actually
block the production of adrenaline, which is generally known to be an impediment
to the smooth progress of labor.
Gelsemium
From King's
American Dispensatory:
"Severe dysmenorrhoea with colicky pains, and uterine colic
are promptly relieved by large doses of it. Rigid os uteri, with thin,
unyielding edges, and a dryness of the parts, is relaxed by gelsemium.
In fact, it relaxes all sphincters. By rectifying such complications it
facilitates labor. Free doses should be administered. Gelsemium, alone
or combined with pulsatilla, is invaluable to overcome the marked restlessness
evinced by some parturients, and gelsemium will often retard a labor that
has begun before the parts are ready for the ordeal, particularly when
the woman is excessively excitable and nervous, and the pains are spurious,
or at least jerky and ineffectual. The nervous tension following accouchement
is quickly relieved by this drug. After-pains are controlled by it, and
it is serviceable in some forms of leucorrhoea."
Herbs for Third and Fourth Stage
Prenatal Herbal Supplements - Dr. Christopher's Prenatal
Tea Formula (was Pregnancy 6 or PN-6) and 5-W
week 2 = 2 caps (with breakfast and lunch)
week 3 = 3 caps (breakfast, lunch and 4:30...taken any later, and the
lady
might be up all night with ctx)
week 4 (2 w/ breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 4:30)
Week 5 (2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 1 4:30)
Week 6 (2,2,2...and voila! BABY!!)
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
Herbal Anecdotes
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