Herbal Fertility.

I have seen many new fertility patients lately & I feel like I am steering them in a similar direction, so I thought I'd put it out there for all of you to find out a little bit of information on fertility herbs.

First and foremost, if you are female, and your cycle is irregular for whatever reason, I strongly urge you to take steps to regulate your cycle so it is easy for you to conceive before you decide it is time to have babies.

Regular menstrual cycles gives you the ability to achieve/avoid pregnancy because it makes you and your partner aware of your fertile times. It takes the guess work out of contraception, and it also give you monthly predictors of ovulation, without the use of drugs, or anything really, apart from daily observation of cervical mucous and/or basal body temperature. Simple.

Some herbs to consider for the ladies...

Vitex agnus-castus also known as Chaste tree, is fantastic for regulating the menstrual cycle. This clever little herb assists the ovaries to balance the hormones which stimulate release of the egg from

the ovaries each month (aka Ovulation). It is useful in reducing PMS symptoms (sore breasts, hormonal acne, fluid retention & teariness) and also helps to prevent miscarriage. 

Commonly, but not always, miscarriage has been associated with corpus luteal insufficiency, which unfortunately results in the body having low levels of progesterone.
Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy. After ovulation occurs, the ovaries start to produce progesterone needed by the uterus.
Progesterone causes the uterine lining to thicken, helping to prepare a supportive environment in your uterus for a fertilized egg. 

It is necessary to allow at least three months (or 3 full cycles) of Chaste tree treatment in order to reset your hormones. This also allows you (and your partner) to get used to looking for cervical mucus changes and taking your temperature every morning- knowing when (and when not) to have intercourse on fertile days is the key to baby making! 

Sperm can survive up to 72 hours inside the female reproductive tract. Once the egg is released, it is only viable for about 12-24 hours. This gives you about 3-5 days per month to use the fertile days as much as you can!

A few exceptions to the rule- 
Chaste tree is not the herb of choice for treating Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). The hormones that are commonly imbalanced with PCOS are different to those associated with irregular periods. Speak to your Naturopath if you have PCOS as there are many diet and lifestyle changes that can be made that assist in rebalancing hormones in a holistic way.

Chaste tree can occasionally make menstrual cramps (spasmodic dysmenorrhea) worse for some women. I always warn women who have painful periods about this. Each and every woman is different, so I recommend working with your Naturopath and different herbs if you find Chaste tree is causing your period pain to be worse. 
As a side note- Acupuncture is highly recommended for these cases.



Asparagus racemosus also known as Shatavari is an Ayurvedic herb that gives a woman the 'capacity for a hundred husbands'. Well renowned for it's aphrodisiac qualities, it is a great choice of herb for women who may not be ovulating due to low oestrogen levels. It is also a great herb for women who are breastfeeding, as it is a galactagogue, stimulating breast milk production.

Cimicifuga racemosa or Black cohosh is a commonly prescribed menopausal herb which is equally effective in treating infertility as it is hot flushes. Black cohosh has the affinity for Oestrogen sites in the body, selectively binds receptors, helping to balance low or high Oestrogen levels. This herb is great to use initially to treat ovarian dysfunction, or those women who know they do not ovulate. Since it has such an effect on Oestrogen in the body, it is best to cease use if you fall pregnant, and is not recommended during breastfeeding or if you have any oestrogen dependant tumours (e.g. Breast cancer).

Angelica sinsensis or Dong quai is a general female tonic and assists with all aspects of regulating the menstrual cycle. It is commonly prescribed for women who are considered blood deficient. To clarify, blood deficiency is not always in regards to having low iron status or anaemia. It is to do with the quality of your blood. If your body does not feel you have 'enough' blood, it will very cleverly stop you menstruating or cause you to have 'scanty' blood loss until the blood is back in balance again. Scanty symptoms are commonly: brown discharge, bleeding very lightly for only 2-3 days, feeling tired in the week leading up to your period and feeling cold (generally). Quality, nutritious warming foods are essential. Think slow cooked lamb and roasted veggies. yum! Raw food, although nutrient dense, is a big no-no if your are blood deficient. It takes too much of your body's energy to try and break raw food down to release the energy and use it. Gently steaming and slow cooking are the best ways to increase your ability to build blood. 




These are merely a few commonly prescribed herbs for infertility. There are a whole range of dietary and lifestyle factors that could be standing in between you and your fertile self, so give your Naturopath a call and find out how you can balance your hormones the natural way.

Oil Pulling. Simple, natural detoxification.

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic healing technique that can be practiced everyday as a means of assisting your body in detoxifying efficiently and hopefully in the long-term,  preventing disease. Read below to find out what's involved.

Modern science has found links between mouth health and overall cardiovascular risk. i.e. The worse your teeth and gum health, the higher your risk of heart attack later in life. Interesting huh?

This is the brand of coconut oil I use

Coconut oil expert Dr. Bruce Fife and author of Oil Pulling Therapy says, "Oil pulling is one of the most remarkable methods of detoxification and healing I have ever experienced in my career as a Naturopathic physician". 



When you put it in your mouth and work it around your teeth and gums it “pulls” out bacteria and other debris. Our mouths are the home to billions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites and their toxins. Candida and Streptococcus are common residents in our mouths. It is these types of germs and their toxic waste products that cause gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to many other health problems including arthritis and heart disease. Our immune system is constantly fighting these troublemakers. If our immune system becomes overloaded or burdened by excessive stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and such, these organisms can spread throughout the body causing secondary infections and chronic inflammation, leading to any number of health problems. Dr Fife's book is a great read if you get the chance to have a look.


What I have noticed since beginning oil pulling every morning:

- Thinner white coat on my tongue (especially at the back where it tends to get thicker)
- Fresher breath, since the first morning of treatment
- Smooth teeth, no plaque build up by the end of the day, no matter what I eat or drink
 - Improved appetite - feeling hungry for meals at meal times as opposed to snacking every few hours for energy boosts.
- A slight swelling of lymph glands in my neck and a scratchy throat for a couple of days, which cleared quickly (I put this down to a little detox occurring).

Some people might get headaches, skin break outs and changes in bowel motions during the first few days of treatment. Wade it out as it is your body getting back into a natural balance, and the long term benefits of oil pulling far out weigh the few days of possible minor side effects (in my opinion).

Please also note here, I am still breastfeeding my son. I haven't noticed it affect him negatively in any way. I figure the cleaner and healthier I am, the better milk I will give him, and I plan on teaching him how to oil pull once he's old enough :)


How to Practice Oil Pulling:

Traditionally unrefined sunflower or sesame oil was used for oil pulling, but today many other oils are used as well. I use unrefined Organic Coconut Oil, and I'd also consider using Extra Virgin Olive Oil too.

- Ideally oil pulling should be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
- About one tablespoon of oil should be used, but I recommend to work up to a tablespoon over a few weeks until you are used to the sensation of oil in your mouth. The gagging on oil thing isn't so fun!
- A drop of essential oil or a healing oil like oregano can be added if desired. Oregano is a helpful anti-candida and anti parasitic remedy which is very high in antioxidants.
- Swish the oil slowly and methodically, not vigorously & squirt it in between your teeth and gums.
- Try to make sure the oil reaches every region of your mouth.
- Be careful not to swallow the oil.
- Continue swishing the oil for at least 10 minutes, preferably more like 20 minutes.
- The oil will become very thin and whiter in colour by the end of the treatment.
- Spit the oil out and rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water.
- Brush with a natural toothpaste afterwards. Or test it out- don't brush your teeth that day, and see how fresh your breath is, and how smooth your teeth feel!

I'd love to hear people's oil pulling stories. Feel free to leave a comment!

 

 

To wear your baby

Since becoming a mama, I get a lot of attention when walking around with Max. I know he is cute, but there's more to it. I baby wear. I don't push him around in a pram like everyone else. I do what comes naturally to us. He likes to be carried, and I need two hands to do things during the day, so it's a necessity to have him strapped onto my body.

Because it is an 'unconventional' way of child rearing in the western world, people have said all sorts of comments like: 

Max at 8 months old, breastfeeding at a baby shower in the Manduca

Them: 'You've got your hands full' 

Me: umm actually I need both hands right now, that's why he's in the carrier.

Them:'That looks like good exercise' 

Me:Yes, about as good as exercising when you're full-term pregnant, but you're not :)
 
Them: 'Is he sleeping?'  

Me: Nope he's breastfeeding to sleep. 

This usually has a couple of further responses like: 

Them: 'You can really breastfeed in that thing?' 

Me: Yep, have done since he was a newborn.

Them: And you've lasted so long with the breastfeeding! I just "couldn't" breastfeed.
 
Me: It is so much more practical to have a boob ready than mix formula and sterilise a bottle, and warm it. Actually I might've said that in the wrong order because I've never bottle fed Max, but I'm sure you catch my drift. 

If more women in Australia had the support and encouragement around them to breastfeed for longer than a few days, weeks or months, then they might have succeeded with breastfeeding their children for longer (in my opinion).

  
This is a picture of me with Max when he was about 4 months old. This type of stretchy wrap style baby carrier is called a hug-a-bub. 

Pros: So comfortable! 
          Comes with a DVD to explain how to use
          Keeps baby held snuggly. 
          They usually fall asleep within seconds 
          Adjustable sleeve bits for warmth in winter
          Awesome colours, even your fella can wear as a fashion item!

Cons: I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of fabric you have to deal with, but once I tried it out a couple of times in front of the   mirror, it was easy. 
It's not so practical in rainy weather to just pop on without it getting wet/dirty on the ground if you're trying to maneuver in a car park etc. I got around this by setting myself up in the hug-a-bub before we got into the car. It was another piece of clothing for the day!
                                             
                                             

This is a picture of us at the Gili Islands, Indonesia. Our first family holiday, when Max was 6 & half months old. We wore Max for nearly the whole day, everyday. He slept, boobed and goo gah-ed from the comfort and safety of the Manduca.

Pro's- Clips on, super quick to get baby in or out.
        - Soft, made of organic hemp & cotton
        - Can wear on front or back 
        - Can carry newborn (3.5 kg) through to large toddler/child (20 kg)
                                                 Con's- I'm yet to find any really. :)  
 
 When to start baby wearing?
As soon as they're born, and you are willing & able. I started Max in the Manduca and Hug-a-bub when he was 5 days old, weighing less than 3.5 kg! I still wear him when we go to the shopping centre and he's 11 kg now at 15 months.
 

Max 8 months old with Matt doing stuff around the house.

Where to buy?
I was given the Hug-a-bub, and bought the Manduca from Mother's Direct (ABA store) for less than $145. It has been used nearly every day of Max's life.
If there is one practical item to ask for at your baby shower, it is a Manduca (or Ergobaby which is a very similar design).
I am sure you can even find second-hand ones on eBay or Gumtree.

What about Baby bjorn?
Please don't bother! They are expensive, bad for your back and shoulders, and place enormous amounts of pressure on baby's developing spine.

Put it this way...
Would you prefer to sit in a seat, or hang by your 'bits'? That's the difference between a good baby carrier (Manduca/Ergo) and a baby bjorn.

Some baby wearing facts...
Babies who are carried cry less, settle more quickly, and have less digestive 'colicky' symptoms than those who are not worn/carried.

Babies learn more when they are carried. They spend a longer amount of time in the quiet alert phase (rather than the fussy & crying phase).

Wearing your baby develops the muscles required for sitting, crawling, walking. (FYI Max has been carried a LOT- since he was a newborn. He sat up by himself, completely unassisted on his 4 month birthday, crawled at 6 months, and walked at 11 months).

Offers easy access to breastmilk. Whether the baby wishes to feed for hunger, thirst, comfort, it is there, without them having to ask. Happy days, not just for baby, but also for your milk supply!

Babies who are worn feel secure and safe which helps to foster a solid sense of self. 

This one is probably my favourite point. You can't 'spoil' a baby. Hold them as often as you can, give all you can to them. Let them fall asleep on you, watch their little belly rise and fall with each breath. Be there for them. They are small & totally dependent on you for such a small amount of time, so cherish the moment and just enjoy.