| Here is a real life story share from one of our former herbal medicine students, ( certification program) with my commentary added: ". . . My pregnancy has been going pretty well for the most part. I had nausea for the first 3 months, then felt great for several months. Right around 61/2 - 7 months I started having symptoms of low iron. I had it checked and it was definitely low. It was leaving me feeling so tired, lightheaded and spaced out. My OB put me on an iron supplement which doesn't really get absorbed in the body all that well," (This is notably true about absorption, and the propensity of such chemical preparations to cause constipation. My underlining/ ML) ". . . After not feeling good for awhile and trying those slow/ineffective supplements I was like "oh...I should make myself something" and I did (I blame it on the lack of Oxygen to my brain from the low iron that it took me so long to realize I probably could aid my own problem). I made (and keep making) a great strong Nettles & Yellow Dock tea which I steep for 4-6 hours. Its Awesome!!! Its really strong and really gives me a great boost. And because of the silly supplements I was taking I began having bad constipation so I made myself a great syrup which works like a charm everytime I take it. Dandelion & Yellow Dock. Its really great. I keep telling my husband how much I love my poop syrup. Its pretty funny. So I am finally feeling more balanced but if I don't stay up on the Nettles I slide down real quick. I can tell by the color in my skin and the spaciness in my brain! So besides the iron I feel great and keep up on light exercise & light weightlifting. I think about you often as I am playing with my herb books. I have started my own LLC called Blissful Brews. I am making herbal products and supplementing herbs into my friends & family's lifestyle as we all continue to try to get healthier. I've basically started with just friends & family that are really willing and able and so far have had great feedback. I have made capsules, tea's, healing bath teas, tinctures, salves, baby oil & baby powder and am soon going to work on the cosmetic products. It seems to just be happening. People just come to me for assistance/guidance and next thing I know I am making products (of course trying to offer a full range of health choices besides just herbs as well). I am expecting my second check in the mail any day now!!! I have given away a lot of samples and am finally at the point now where I am starting to charge and get some $ back. So that is very exciting. " And..... " . . . I have been using a book that Randi had recommended to me called "The Natural Pregnancy Book" by Aviva Jill Romm, MD as a reference along with Rosemary Gladstar's "Family Herbal". (Both books are by authors with similar backgrounds and philosophies to my own as a practicing herbalist and educator, so we draw from the same pool) I really enjoy the pregnancy book, it has lots of great information and she guides you as to which herbs to stay away from and why during pregnancy (of course along with which ones to use, why & how). Which is very unlike the common lists provided by doctors which is to avoid all herbal supplements. My OB rolls her eyes at me when I tell her I have treated myself for a particular ailment and from the get go has advised me against using any herbal treatments during pregnancy because there is no clinical studies or data to support that it does not cause harm to the baby. (And there never will be clinical studies of the thousands of herbs in the natural world- can you imagine grant money going to that when Big Pharma is in control ) I've told her I trust myself and have more confidence in the herbal medicine than I do the Western Medicine with all its side effects & unknowns. We never really agreed on anything so now she just rolls her eyes at me when she asks, otherwise I don't bring it up. (So much for "integrative" health care...) I'm a little disappointed because I was really hoping to have a much more open OB but at the same time I did want a modern professional to guide me because this is the first time I will be delivering a baby. Not a perfect match but at least I can help myself and the reference books help give me that guidance along with the base knowledge of the class I took from you to really know how/when to use herbs. One more thing about the anemia....I was so spaced out in my brain that I was having difficulty making sentences and speaking. (The anemia she cured herself with two herbs made into a tea! Herbs are food. Herbs are not drugs.) I couldn't decide on a word to use and then really couldn't comprehend what someone was speaking to me about enough to respond. It had gotten very bad (according to me) and my husband & I actually had to call the nurse hotline one night because we didn't know if should go to the hospital or not. The spaciness feeling in my brain was the worst part of the anemia. I literally felt like my brain had shrunk and it felt like I could feel the two distinct hemispheres -- that it was split down the middle!!! It was scary, and then combine that with the lightheaded feeling I got everytime I stood up was very dangerous. When they finally ran the blood work they said oh yes, its low. And then gave me the supplements and said that it would take a couple of weeks to balance out. And that I would need to take an over the counter constipation aid immediately because of the iron supplements. So...my point being...once the little bell chimmed in my head that I could help myself - I have been doing significantly better. I have confidence in the herbs and they have nourished & supported my body during pregnancy, and there is nothing to be scared about. Its a bit scarier to stop taking herbs during pregnacy because then you loose so many valuable nutrients & body tonics. So thats all I will say about that, thanks for listening to my story." |
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