Herbal Womb Wisdom

Okay, so real talk... how much do you know about menopause? If you aren't in the midst of peri-menopause, or already through menopause, my guess is not much.  For some reason, our western culture is fairly obsessed with preparing us for fertility and childbirth, but completely neglects to acknowledge the massive transition that is menopause.  I mean, most of us have heard of hot flashes, and...

Oh, motherwort! Such an indispensable herb for those of us with wombs.  Motherwort. Leonorus cardiaca.   No matter what phase of life you're in, there's likely some way motherwort can support you... and I'm really not exaggerating.  Motherwort is specific for everything from anxiety + stress (which can often be exacerbated by hormonal shifts), to easing menstrual cramps, to supporti...

Vaginal infections. Bacterial vaginosis. Yep, we're going there. Okay, I know vaginal infections are probably not your favorite topic. But let's be real, they're a thing, and most of us deal with them at some point in our lives.  And BV is among the most common.  And is also one of the most likely to be recurrent. So, if you've had BV, and then you've had it again, and the...

Ahh, hormones.   From menarche to menopause (and even sometimes beyond), we live in the cyclic flow of reproductive and generative hormones like estrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, and more. Our ovaries and brains are involved, and not surprisingly, our hormones are impacted by almost everything we do, including our stress, our sleep, our activity levels, our food, and even our exposures t...

What's possible when we take a wider lens view of fertility? Both for those trying to conceive a babe and those who are in the conception process of a project, a creative vision, or just seeking a deeper connection with the potent source of wisdom and power that is your womb. What if cultivating a fertile environment for conception in your body included not only the practical side of nutritio...

Here in the northern hemisphere, it's midsummer.  When the abundant harvests start rolling in; when the heat beckons us to oceansides, rivers and lakes; when traveling and camping and friends and family visiting are upon us; and when everything feels like it's happening all at once.  Plus, we have to keep up with our daily life responsibilities, our chores, our families, and our work.  I...

Pleasure. Sexual wholeness. Relationships. Psychedelics.  Taboo topics? Yes, and... the world is changing. It's an interesting time right now, especially in the US, as psychedelics gain a respect and acceptance in the mainstream that's been long-deserved.  And conversations around pleasure and sexuality are becoming more commonplace, too.  So, what happens when we combine them? Somatic s...

Tender. Painful. Ropy. Lumpy. Achy. Huge. Do any of these words remind you of how your breasts (or chest) feel the days, or weeks, leading up to your period? Probably one of the most common PMS symptoms, fibrocystic breasts or chest conditions can range from mild and barely noticeable all the way to extremely painful making it hard to exercise, be sexual, wear certain clothes, or even feel like mo...

What comes up when you think about the days and weeks after birth?  Probably not a sore pelvic floor, feeling like you just ran a marathon, and engorgement. While those moments and weeks after birth are some of the most tender, sweetest, and magical feeling, they are also often fraught with unexpected challenges and twists and turns both physically and emotionally.  Today's podcast guest, cli...

Oh my friends, these times are very alive with change, aren't they? And somehow, change often brings up divisions and perspectives that feel very rooted in one way or another, as if somehow there are only two paths forward.  But in reality, there are many paths. And ideally, we each have the opportunity to make choices about what feels true and right for us.  What am I talking about? Well, I&...

One of the most empowering things in life is choice.  Choice allows us to tune into our values and decide what's right for us at any given time.  Birth control is one of many areas of our lives that we are fortunate enough to have many options, whether we're talking the pill, shots, IUD's, condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, herbal contraceptive allies, vasectomies, fertility awaren...

Ahhhh, nettles. Urtica dioica. Stinging nettles. Very possibly one of the most beloved medicinal plants in western herbalism.  And for good reason.  As one of the most mineral and nutrient-rich plants in the western herbal materia medica, nettles bring deep nutrition and restoration to the whole body, and have a lovely affinity for the wombspace, too.  Listen to this episode to learn: why nettles...

What do parasites have to do with menstrual cycles and disordered eating? EVERYTHING.  Well, at least that's the reality in this week's podcast with holistic nutritionist, herbalist and health coach, Lisa Masé.  Lisa spent years living with chronic parasites wreaking havoc on her gut, leading her to truly fear food, and ultimately not be getting the nourishment her body deeply needed. In...

In times that feel tumultuous, confusing, and sometimes even hopeless, it can feel challenging to know how to hold it all or how to process the emotions flowing through us.  In this episode, I invite you to explore how your relationship with the earth, the plants and the seeds can inform your relationship with your own womb. And how that might help you to find meaning and connection, even when thi...

Your pelvis is a centerpiece of your body. A place of creation, elimination and pleasure. But in our modern society, almost everything we do has the potential to cause imbalances there. Incontinence. Prolapse. Painful sex.  Inability to orgasm. Chronic pelvic pain.  All the things we don't talk about. Or at least not regularly, and not publicly. In this interview, Chaya Leia Aronson touches o...

Did you know that there are herbs that are generally strengthening, toning, nourishing and supportive for your womb? Like, herbs that might be helpful overall for reproductive or generative health, versus for specific conditions? Well, my friend, uterine tonics are just that. This episode covers what makes these herbs supportive overall for womb health and how they've been used over the cours...

Have you ever wondered how stress impacts your cycle or your hormones? Maybe you've even had an experience of a missed period, increased cramping, worse PMS symptoms, or fertility challenges after traveling to a new place, being sick, or going through some major stress in your life. The truth is that stress has a tremendous impact on your hormones, and this episode goes into all you could pos...

Our wombs are a center of our sense of groundedness and safety in our lives, especially when it comes to our sexuality and relationships. So what happens when we experience destabilization from trauma or relationship abuse?  How does that chronic, gradual wearing down of our sense of self impact us?  And what are effective ways to remove ourselves from those situations and re-establish our safety,...

Have you ever heard of the concept of a plant ally?  If so, you may wondering, 'how the heck do I find one'?  Or if this idea is new to you, you may be sitting there curiously asking what this could even mean. The truth is, people use this term in different ways.  And while you can say something like 'dandelion is a plant ally for the liver, or the urinary track,' that's N...

I can just hear your questions rolling...  "What could you possibly mean by a genderless womb?"  "Aren't wombs inherently located in female bodies?" "Oh, no, are we getting into the topic of gender, now?" "In what universe do men have wombs?" Well, my friends, this podcast episode dives into all of these topics and more.  And it doesn't just cover...

What does hormone balancing even mean? It's a term that's thrown around all over the internet without a whole lot of specifics.  People might be talking about hot flashes or heavy bleeding, PCOS or endometriosis, mood swings or menstrual cramps. Or even thyroid imbalances.  It's pretty much a catch-all phrase that relates to anything that could go wrong with the magical symphony of...

What's more comforting than a cup of tea? The scent, the taste, the warmth in your hands. A simple act of presence as you wait for the herbs to steep. A moment of solace in a mug. We all know what tea is, and many of us drink it in some form daily.  But there's more to tea than just a simple beverage we enjoy for taste or the caffeine boost. And this episode dives into a few different wa...

Isn't it interesting how some plants are just famous?  Like, everyone knows about them for one reason or another... maybe because they grow pretty much everywhere, or maybe because you played with them as a child, or maybe because they're a persistent weed in your yard or garden... Dandelion is one of these extraordinarily famous plants. Basically a celebrity in the plant world. So you p...

Have you ever been curious about how to clear out emotional trauma from your womb? Or wonder about that lingering feeling of connection to past sexual partners, and how that might be impacting your day-to-day life? Today's conversation with mystic herbalist and Ayurvedic health counselor Sondra Hamilton covers a variety of traditional practices that can support you to bring healing into your...

Have you ever been curious about what's going on "down there"?  Or wonder what's even normal? Or how to prevent infections? Or how the heck to deal with recurrent ones? Your vagina ( yep, I'm going there ) is seriously amazing. And cultivating a healthy vaginal microbiome can make a world of difference to the integrity of your vaginal lining, which can reduce transmission...