[valentinemommy]

Has anyone ever read The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James Duke? I found an old herbal tea that supposedly has been used for centeries to treat threatened m/cs. He lists many herbs, but I thought this one seemed very realistic. It grows everywhere. It's raspberry leaves. Supposedly drinking raspberry tea relaxes the uterus to keep it from cotracting. According to the book, many years ago, it was given to all pregnant women to help them carry to term. I thought it was very interesting and maybe worth a try when we are expecting. If anyone else wants to try it, you just steep 1 teaspoon of the leaves for about 20 min in 1 cup of water. Sweeten with honey. Can also be used for AF cramps.

[greenchild]

hmmm . . . I'm big into natural stuff. I'll have to re-read some stuff, I thought pg women were supposed to avoid rasperry until the last 6 weeks or so, and then it was to help prepare/relax the uterus for an easier dellivery. maybe it was the berries, not the leaves I was thinking???

[valentinemommy]

I am not sure about the berries. Dr. Duke says to use the leaves. It is backed up by several Docter in the book. Maybe you are thinking of Partridge berry. There is a section about using Partridge berry to prepare for childbirth...I looked back in my book...Raspberry can be used along with Partridge berry to help with the pain of delivery...But because it relaxes the uterus instead of bring on contractions, like so many herbs do...it is safe throughout pregnancy.


Herbs to avoid during pregnancy...Barberry root bark, cascar sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort, pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja, and wormwood. These are the main one...there are many others that can bring on miscarriage when used in large amounts.

P.S. It is nice to meet another "greenmommy"

[greenchild]

yes it is! you should see my stack of books! sadly it's been so long since I read them thoroughly . . . now I just tend to look up specific stuff when I need it.


ETA okay, it's been WAY too long since I really read them!!! just brushed up on raspberry, and I know our natural foods store has the dried leaves . . . think I'll be getting some of them!!! I don't know why I thought pg women were supposed to avoid them in the first 2 trimesters . . . all my books say good to go!

[jademyst13]

Hmm I may have to look in to this

Would that help with braxton hicks too? I don't know anything about them I was just curious

[valentinemommy]

I would think it should help with Braxton Hicks. I have not tried it for that though. When I was pg with DS, my mid-wife said the best thing to prevent BH contractions, was H2O. She said if you stay hydrated(8-10 glasses a day), that they should go away. It worked for me. Greenchild, do you go wildcrafting in the warmer months? It's a great way to collect your natural remedies for free. You'd be amazed what you could find. And if you're heading to Natural Foods store, may want to pick up some Black Haw...does same thing as Raspberry tea.

[greenchild]

I would think it should help with Braxton Hicks. I have not tried it for that though. When I was pg with DS, my mid-wife said the best thing to prevent BH contractions, was H2O. She said if you stay hydrated(8-10 glasses a day), that they should go away. It worked for me. Greenchild, do you go wildcrafting in the warmer months? It's a great way to collect your natural remedies for free. You'd be amazed what you could find. And if you're heading to Natural Foods store, may want to pick up some Black Haw...does same thing as Raspberry tea.[/b]

I do when I can, alot of stuff grows in my yard - but mostly I work with essential oils/extracts though. I've even taken my mom with me to go "harvesting", she thinks I'm nuts but we have alot of fun! Last summer we harvested gooseberries (trying not to be obvious about it, it was a public place, not sure if harvesting was really allowed! ), what a hoot that was!
our natural foods store doesn't have black haw, heck I was suprised they had the raspberry! they are a really tiny store. it's too bad more people in our townhave no idea that store even exists.

[Danica]

I am into herbs too I can't wait to see what my herbalist/accupuncturist put together for me this week I talked to him about red rasberry, red clover, nettle leaves, dong quai, false unicorn and he was like, yeah I deal with only chinese hebs and those are more western herbs (besides dong quai) so I have no idea what I'll be getting! A book that I'vs liked is called herbal for the childbearing years by susun weed.

[valentinemommy]

Our Natural foods store is tiny too. I try to share this interest with my mom and friends but none of them believe in it like I do. Danica, I have heard of Susan Weed, Dr. Duke quotes her remedies a lot in the Green Pharmacy. I think I will look for that book. I also try to collect essential oils when I have the extra $$. They are soo expensive. Wish we could harvest those, lol.

[greenchild]

they're not bad for price when you buy in bulk. I get mine at http://www.fragranceandflavors.com/Default.aspx, I got Sweet Orange 32 oz which is a HUGE bottle for $10. It's so huge it's really clumsy to work with! I'd pay about the same at the local store for only 1/3 oz. And if you have an order over $50, shipping is free. So I waited until I needed a whole bunch of stuff and then ordered just at the $50 level. That stuff is going to last a long time. (stored properly of course! ) What I really like about them is that they do not do solvent extraction, just cold expeller pressed.

[valentinemommy]

Wow! That's a steal. I tried to pick up some German Chammomile last time I was the store and it was $30 for 1oz! I will definitely be going shopping on that website! Thanks!

[greenchild]

if you are looking for (not essential) oils, butters, & other herbs, give this website a shot: http://www.texasnaturalsupply.com/ I don't get my essential oils there, I think (not sure though) that they solvent extract, all the essential oils I got from them had them same weird tinge of a smell to them. But I'm very happy with their butters, oils, clays, etc. Also about the only place I can find to get sodium hydroxide anymore (for making soap). They have great prices but their shipping is expensive (well, TX to MN anyway!).

[valentinemommy]

I have always wanted to try to make my own soap. Maybe I will try to devote more time to my hobby. My life has been so hectic lately, seems like the only time I get to work with herbs is if one of us has a cold. lol I learned a way to find out if an essential oil is really pure. You just put a couple drops on a piece of paper. Come back and check it in a couple ours. If it leaves an oily residue, it has been dilluted. If it has pretty much dissappeared, it's the real deal. I found it in a book called Organic Body Care Products....can't remember the author, and don't want to walk back to kitchen, lol.

[greenchild]

oooh that's interesting!!! I didn't know that! but I always wondered why when I spilled some, for an "oil" it didn't have an oily residue!

[valentinemommy]

lol, yep, it's called an oil, but it really isn't. They just have the texture of water really.

[Frangipani]

I keep forgetting about natural herbs and such having a bad influence/good influence on us. I feel like I need to just avoid tea all together!

[valentinemommy]

Herbs and natural remedies are safer than most people think. But it is extremely important to research what you are using, especially during pregnancy, because they can also have unwanted effects. If it's not your thing tough, that's fine. It's not for everyone. Did you have a bad experience that made you feel that was though, or are you just not comfortable using them?