Herbs for Childbearing
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9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Herbs for Childbearing Beautiful Upstate New York my Roots 1 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 The goal for today is to present helpful information about herbs in pregnancy, birth, & postpartum so that you may better serve women who come for midwifery care. By the end of this discussion you will be able to: • List three herbs that ease discomforts common in pregnancy • Describe two benefits of herbal preparations • Explain what the difference is between at least two herbal preparations. Honoring Our Ancestors As Wise Women 2 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 In ancient times Midwifery & Herbalism were woven together being grounded & rooted in the earth with intuition, intelligence, & faith. Midwifery & Herbalism Both were part of being a wise women. In fact the word ‘mid-wife’ derives from the Anglo-Saxon ‘med-wyf’ meaning wise woman. 3 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Healing , restorative , & nutritious benefits of herbs have been documented within the historical literature from every culture around the world. Wise Women have gathered herbs for thousands of years by the waning & waxing of the moon to prepare for birth, nourishment, & create medicine. 4 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Wise women understood the rhythms of their bodies & the relationship to the magical gift of herbs. With this understanding their knowledge grew as remedies were tried, proven, & passed on. In spite of recurrent waves of repression & witch hunts for centuries, wise women have continued their traditions & legacy throughout time. Women of today desire to reclaim this wisdom as evidenced by the increase in the use of “natural remedies” especially in pregnancy. 5 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Most medical professionals do not recommend herbal remedies for pregnant women, due to the lack of FDA evaluation, & lack of knowledge. FDA urges pregnant women not to take herbal products without talking to their health care provider or to a professional who is experienced & trained to work with herbs. The World Health Organization In 2010 WHO recognizes & affirms that herbal medicines & traditions worldwide have value in their perspectives & approaches to enhance health care for all. 6 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Science has discovered much about individual plant constituents. It has established many excellent reasons for using herbs for healing. But, like all medications, some herbs can be harmful if they are misused or taken carelessly. Excerpt: Grow It Heal It, 2013, Christopher Hobbs Ph.D/Leslie Gardner MH Herbs Compared to Pharmaceutical Drugs HERB DRUGS ACTIONS Often multiple Usually one using a single receptor site Often enhances body’s No drug does this! own healing ability Addresses causal factors Treats symptoms of an illness ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS Many synergistic Usually one SIDE EFFECTSMild & Few Many & can be severe ONSET OF ACTION May be slow based on Usually faster nutritional levels COST Variable Variable (you can make your own) Excerpt from James Green’s book THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKER’S HANDBOOK 7 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 The safety of herbs in pregnancy are based primarily on empirical evidence from traditional time-tested use. Source of information: review of the literature, surveys, studies, clinical observations, & empirical data. There are very few actual studies & or clinical trials in pregnancy. 8 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Considerations * * Know herb efficacy, safety, & contraindications Documentation & History is very important. Caution in the first trimester due to fetal development. Appropriate use of preparations because crossing the placenta is likely. As a midwife/herbalist/MD Aviva Romm has been safely using herbs in her practice with pregnant women for over 25 years. 9 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Herbs are the midwife’s natural helper to promote health & wellbeing in pregnancy Nature provides an abundance of soothing, toning, & strengthening herbs for childbearing remedies prepared for either internal or external use. 10 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Forms of Internal Herbal Medicines Water extracts (infusions & decoctions) Alcohol extracts Percolations (water or alcohol) Fluid extracts Syrups/oxymels/electuaries Glycerites Fermentations Vinegars Fresh juice, Food Powders (plain or encapsulation) Suppositories/boluses Douches/Enemas Essential oils/Hydrosols Steams, Smokes Forms of External Herbal Medicines Oil infusions Salves/Balms Evaporative concentrates Washes/Baths/Sitz Liniments Lotions Compresses/poultices Essential oils/Hydrosols Smudges 11 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Extractions are chemical constituents of the herb that have been pulled into a liquid solvent called a menstruum. A menstruum soaks/macerates a 28 day moon cycle influencing the liquid. During maceration the herb breaks down at a cellular level & leaches into the menstruum & is held in suspension. 40 Herbal Actions To Know Listed on pages 27-29 in THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKER’S HANDOOK by James Green 12 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Active Ingredients in Herbs • Herbs have many constituents including vitamins, minerals, proteins, & active components such as: volatile oils, tannins, mucilage, alkaloids, bitters & flavonoids. Five Classifications of Herbs Aromatic: a volatile oil, divided into 2 categories, the stimulant & the nervine herbs. Identified by crushing the herb. Examples peppermint, lavender, rosemary, garlic & ginger. Astringent: tannins that constrict, tighten, or tones tissue & reduces fluid discharge. Some examples comfrey, peppermint, golden seal, red raspberry, slippery elm, & crampbark. Bitter: phenolic derivatives (laxative & diuretic) alkaloids & saponins with a bitter taste such as golden seal. Mucilaginous: polysaccharides that are slippery & swells in water. Nutritive: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals 13 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Herbal Contraindications in Pregnancy *See full list of herbs in Bib. • TRUE Emmenagogues: pennyroyal, tansy, wormwood, angelica, & cotton root bark • Anti-histamine/CNS stimulants: ephedra (ma huang), guarana, kola nut, & osha • Alkaloids: barberry, golden seal, mandrake, blood root, broom, comfrey root, coltsfoot, & gravelroot. • Volatile oils: juniper berry, buchu, thuja, *kitchen spices • Laxative herbs due to anthroquinines: aloe*, cascara, castor, senna pods, & buckthorn • Bitters with stimulation metabolically with strong bitters: southernwood, wormwood, mugwort, barberry, celandine, *golden seal, rue, feverfew, & tansy • *aloe juice * small amounts cooking & in tea infusions * salve Herbs to Support a Healthy Pregnancy 14 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Common Name: Alfalfa Botanical Name: Medicago Sativa Part Used: Whole herb Properties: Bitter, tonic, alterative, antipyretic, mild diuretic, proteins, vitamins A, D, E, B6, & K, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, trace minerals, chlorophyll, carotenes, & digestive enzymes. Uses: An excellent tonic tea throughout pregnancy because it is highly nutritive. Helps with digestion, prevent anemia, & hemorrhage. Moderate use has not produced side effects. 1 tablespoon/cup infuse 10min to >4 hours 3x daily Common Name: Black Haw Botanical Name: Viburnum prunifolium Part Used: Bark, root bark Decoction 2 tsp/1c 3x daily, Tincture 5- 10ml TID, 3 to 5 days Properties: Astringent, antispasmodic, nervine, tannins, salicin, mineral rich with vitamins. Uses: In combination with Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) for miscarriage prevention as it relaxes & tones musculature. For postpartum bleeding & afterbirth pain. Can be a hypotensive, decrease fluid retention, treat diarrhea, spasms, & asthma. Short term use & not recommended throughout pregnancy. Avoid if allergic to ASA 15 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Burdock root (Arctium lapp) Part used: Root & leaves Properties: Alterative, diuretic, mucilaginous, urinary tonic, demulcent, astringent,vit/min, bacteriostatic, fungistatic Uses: High concentration of vitamins & minerals, good taste & strengthens the uterus to prepare for childbirth. Balances blood sugar, & stimulates digestion. Great for the skin & itching. A wonderful addition to tonic teas 1 tablespoon/cup decoction, tinctures ½ tsp * variable to meet needs, salves, herbal baths. Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita) Parts used: The dried flower heads Properties: Aromatic, carminative, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, Use: To encourage digestion,nervine, boost & the anti-inflammatory. immune system, & calming. As a tea or tincture, & as a topical in salves & compresses. Tea 1 tablespoon/cup steep 15 minutes 3 cups per day. Tincture: Take ½ teaspoon, three times per day. High dosages contra-indicated during pregnancy and lactation. It should not to be used when using anti-coagulant drugs. Allergic reactions have been reported in people who are also allergic to ragweed or any plants in the daisy family. 16 9th Annual AABC Birth Institute 10/2/2015 Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Parts Used: Roots & Leaves Properties: Bitter, hepatonic diuretic, stomachic, astringent, mucilaginous, cholagogue, galactogogue, vitamins, & minerals Uses: digestive, glandular, circulatory, liver tonic, heartburn, rheumatism, gout, eczema, nutritive due to high mineral & vitamin content. It helps with nausea & relieves a sour stomach, relieves itching skin, helps prevent gallstones, indigestion, fatigue, & toxemia. Best in pregnancy as an