* Water-based infusions provide optimum benefit and greatest safety
* Capsules are most likely to cause ill-effects and odd reactions
* Avoid poisonous forms of herbs such as essential oils
* Use tinctures diluted to treat acute problems
* Herbs move rapidly into breast milk (10-20 minutes)
Simple Nourishing Herbs for Mother and Child After a Cesarean:
2. Benefits of nourishing herbal infusions after a cesarean:
* Nettle increases breast milk and helps replace blood loss.
* Oatstraw improves sleep and strengthens the nervous system.
* Comfrey leaf helps incisions heal and helps prevent scarring.
* Red clover improves breast milk production and brings hormonal sanity.
* Linden soothes and heals mucus surfaces and incisions; prevents colds.
Tonic Herbs for Mother and Child After a Cesarean:
1. Water bases:
* Raspberry leaf (Rubus ideaus) to tonify uterus.
* Aromatic mints - rosemary, lavender, and lemon balm - for digestion.
* Avoid sage (Salvia officinalis) if breastfeeding.
2. Tincture bases:
* Astragalus (A. membranaceous) strengthens immunity, prevents infection.
* Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) to ease after-birth pain and prevent post-partum depression.
Herbs That Can Counter Infection After a Cesarean:
* Echinacea (Echinacea augustifolia) to increase macrophages; counter bacteria.
* Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) against all gram-positive and -negative bacteria.
* Usnea (U. barbarata) to counter deep infection.
* Poke root (Phytolacca americana) - USE WITH CAUTION.
THE EMPOWERED WOMAN PROMOTES HER OWN HEALTH
Benefits to Being Pro-Active in Healing After a Cesarean:
* Quicker healing for mom.
* Less scarring of the incision site.
* Better bonding between mom and babe.
* Deeper sleep for mom and babe.
* Fewer problems with infection at incision site and fewer infections for baby.
Bringing It Home:
1. Making nourishing infusions:
* One ounce stinging nettle, quart of boiling water; steep 4 hours - for energy.
* One ounce oatstraw, quart of boiling water; steep 4 hours - for patience.
* One ounce comfrey leaf, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain; rebrew with two cups cold water, bring to a boil; steep 4 hours, strain - to improve chances of a VBAC with next child.
* One ounce red clover blossom, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain - to prepare for the next pregnancy.
* One-half ounce linden flowers, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain; rebrew with two cups cold water, bring to a boil; steep 4 hours, strain.
2. Additions to infusions:
* Honey (Note: do not give honey to infants younger than 12 months)
* Milk
* The Israeli Public Health Ministry recommends against soy beverage for children under the age of eighteen (18); it's not good for mom either.
* Ice
* Juice (Note: problems with fructose)
3. Sources for buying herbs and tinctures:
* Listed in my books and website.
For Further Information:
* Visit www.susunweed.com
* Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Ash Tree Publishing, Susun Weed
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Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material in this article is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.
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Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081
Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.
Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Learn more at Susun’s site.
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