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The Complete Home Guide ltiofeHesrtbasg, eNsatural Healing, and Nutrition
149
healthy womb, along with bladder and rectal control. You can do them
while sitting, standing, or lying down— my midwife said, “Do them while
you’re washing up!” Squeeze your “hammock” muscles as if you were
trying to stop urination. Squeeze even harder, count to twelve slowly, then
slowly relax again. Breathe evenly and naturally. Repeat the whole process
ten times.
A lot of women rush around too soon after birth. This makes it very
difficult for the uterus to return to its right size and correct position, and
may also lay the foundations for prolapse later in life. It is important to
rest for at least ten days in order to allow the repair process to take place.
During this time, pelvic floor exercises are best done lying down. After six
weeks, get the position of your uterus checked. If it is not in its correct
position, a professional should be able to realign it.
postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a sad fact of life, especially in the West, but
herbs can really help those women affected by it. Attention to the nervous
system and adrenal glands is vital. However, all women need some kind of
hormonal and nutritional rebalancing after birth. The squaw vine tuber
and some or all of the milk-producing herbs will generally be sufficient
for most mothers, and you could even add some chaste tree berry. An
additional formula for postpartum depression is made up of equal parts of
damiana leaf and St. John’s wort flower (the latter must be used only at
the directive of a professional). Under the influence of this illness, some
women lose respect for their bodies by becoming violent or uncaring and
can become a danger to themselves. Alternatively, they may become
depressed and uninterested in their new baby. With the right herbs, this
condition can be quickly rectified. There must be an extra intake of
calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins (refer to chapter 4 for suggestions).
Menopause
This is the third cycle for women, after puberty and the time of
childbearing. Its name means “moon pause”— the final long pause in the
monthly moon cycles.
How graceful menopause is depends partly on how much we can
express our pain and our physical changes, and partly on how we can view
our
new position in life emotionally. In my experience with women, the ones
who suffer most are those with stress in their lives. A disturbing marriage,
sick or elderly parents, and rowdy young adults still at home provide
three of the most common stress patterns that can triple the incidence of
hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. The role of the caregiver
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