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Herbs and pregnancy.

Let's just say this is a topic with all kinds of perspectives depending on who you talk to. Or what link you click after your google search.

So, how do you know what's safe, what's not, and who to trust when it comes to herbs, like for instance red raspberry leaf, in pregnancy?

Well, it's a multi-layered response really, which is why I recorded an entire episode on it.

But the short answer is: there's evidence in the literature saying that red raspberry leaf has potential to stimulate contractions of the uterus, but there's also evidence showing that it supports uterine relaxation too. (mostly in rats, btw)

That said, Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus ideaus) tea has been used traditionally in pregnancy for at least hundreds of years as an herbal ally to nourish and support the womb in pregnancy and labor, and is probably one of the most common herbs taken in pregnancy.

And there's published surveys showing that those who used red raspberry leaf in pregnancy had slightly shorter active labors with less augmentation (meaning less inductions and other interventions).

So... what's the deal? How do you decide what's right for you?

I go into some of the nuances that I think are most important to consider, plus offer some ideas around herbs you might blend red raspberry leaf with to make a really nourishing pregnancy tea blend, in this week's episode.

Listen to learn:

• why people work with red raspberry leaf in pregnancy
• a nuanced perspective on using herbs in first trimester
• the best way to take red raspberry leaf in pregnancy and beyond
• a glimpse into some of the published research on RRL and pregnancy
• how to use red raspberry leaf tea during labor
• why it's essential to listen to your own body

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Go check out the research studies on RRL + pregnancy
• Episode 11: Dandelion herbal spotlight
• Episode 22: Nettles herbal spotlight
• Episode 85: Acupressure for pregnancy, birth + pp w Sarah Tewhey

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What does it mean to hold trauma in the wombspace? And what are some signs that indicate that womb trauma may be present?

The topic of "womb healing" is a bit of a buzz these days and sometimes I wonder what people mean by that. I see social media profiles of "womb healing practitioners" and "womb healing" programs and honestly it's a vague concept.

It could be everything from someone who has absolutely no training in any therapeutic modalities but likes to position themselves as a self-proclaimed expert on instagram to someone like today's guest, Dr Sarah Wylie, who is a Naturopathic doctor who's trained extensively with Rosita Arvigo and other practitioners to cultivate her multiple decades of clinical practice working with abdominal, pelvic and womb care.

The truth is, when we hold story, energy, trauma, information in our wombspace, there are many paths to healing that exist.

And it's really about exploring what works for you -- especially because so much of what's stored there is not just physical, but also emotional and even ancestral lineage stuff.

So a combination of modalities is often helpful.

But what I love about the way Dr Sarah Wylie uniquely approaches this work is that she weaves together her naturopathic clinical training, lab work as needed, bodywork, and visualization techniques to both assess and support the release and tending of information held in the wombspace.

She speaks in detail about simple signs to tell if you might be holding something there (yep, pain is a big one, but also bleeding patterns, cycle irregularities, etc) and then she shares a lot about her personal bodywork practice.

It's a beautiful collaborative approach to womb tending, release, and care and I'm excited for you to hear about it.

Listen to learn:

• how a cervical dysplasia diagnoses changed Dr Sarah Wylie's life
• why it's important to look beyond just physical trauma in relation to pelvic care
• signs of womb trauma or imbalances in the wombspace
• a glimpse at her bodywork practice and how collaborative the work can be
• a guided visualization to help you sense a personal womb story or wisdom
• some inspiring thoughts on the womb through perimenopause

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to Sarah's womb care courses + offerings
• Episode 10: Traditional womb healing practices w Sondra Hamilton
• Episode 34: What if your womb was an altar?
• Episode 61: Pelvic wisdom with Dr Emily Wilson
• Free guided visualization: Womb embodiment and clearing practice

Support Herbal Womb Wisdom!!
I have a new link where you can donate to support the show. Please consider offering something if you've enjoyed or benefitted from the years of weekly episodes. It's currently a labor of love, and I welcome donations to help sustain my efforts of creating this kickass resource :) Donate to support the show here




If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing

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Click here to send me your Q’s, comments, lovenotes, or a quick message here :)

Follicular, Ovulatory, Luteal, Menstrual.

Inner spring, Inner summer, Inner Autumn, Inner Winter.

Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon, New Moon.

The cycles of nature are tangible in ourselves, and especially for those of us with wombs while we're in our cycling years, we have the option to align ourselves with the phase of our cycle we'e in at any given moment.

For instance, I'm currently in early Autumn. I just ovulated a few days ago, my temperature rose, my cervical mucus changed, and I can feel a subtle difference in my energy levels, and honestly I also feel a little warmer (well maybe that's bc I'm wearing too many layers, lol, but basal body temp DOES rise post-ovulation).

What phase of your cycle are you in right now??

Whatever phase you're in has certain qualities and characteristics, and it's important to learn your own rather than just rely on books or social media, because sometimes we don't fit the prescribed mold.

However, there are general qualities that hold true for most folks... so it's helpful to learn those and then reflect on your own.

Today's podcast guest, longtime yoga teacher and cyclical living mentor Rebecca Rankin, shares all about not only her life-changing experience with cyclical living but also how we can bring yoga postures and breathwork into the fold.

She shares a couple poses and breathwork options that suit each phase. I especially love how she includes a rolled towel to encourage ovarian circulation in the follicular phase in one pose and then that same rolled towel in a different location to encourage uterine circulation in the late luteal phase.

It's really neat to consider the ways we can more intentionally bring our cycle into our yoga and vice versa.

If this intrigues you, I think you'll dig today's episode.

Listen to learn:

• how becoming a mother catalyzed Rebecca's cyclical living journey
• what cyclical living is and a couple ways it's changed her business + life
• ways that natural cycles mirror and inform embodied cyclical living
• how even when you're no longer cycling, you can still attune to cycles
• some yoga postures + breathwork for each phase of the menstrual cycle
• a guided "Apana" breathwork practice helpful in menstrual phase + whenever you need some extra tethering to the earth

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get Rebecca's links to her journal, website, social media
• Start tracking your cycle with Fertility Awareness Method (free guide)
• Episode 42: Reclaim your menstruation
• Episode 69: Cyclical archetypes w Em Dewey
• Episode 73: Cyclical movement w Tara Lynn Steele
• Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, ther

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