Explore every episode of the podcast Herbal Womb Wisdom
Dive into the complete episode list for Herbal Womb Wisdom. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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The transformational practice of embodying your inner wild woman (wild womb) archetype with Vanessa Wingerath
What does it mean to connect with your inner wild woman (or wild womb)?
And how can you more fully embody this innate creative, sensual, generative, wisdom-keeping part of yourself in ways that feel inspiring and unique to you?
It can be easy to look online at social media accounts painting with menstrual blood or embodying some fierce quality of themselves with animal hides and think... "that's what the wild woman looks like"...
But really, as wild woman photographer Vanessa Wingerath shares, it's not about looking outside of us for what others wild womb expressions are, but tuning into the unique ways YOUR being expresses that archetype that matters.
If you're curious to hear about Vanessa's journey to her "wild woman era" and how you can begin to engage with these parts of yourself too - through photography, circles, retreats etc - as well as HOW transformational this kind of practice can be, this week's episode is perfect for you.
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
The liberating power of perimenopause? A potent time for your business, creative pursuits and inspired life with Olivia Bowen
Navigating the whirls and twirls of perimenopause can feel like a wild ride.
But amidst all of this transitional terrain, what if there was also a potential for immense power?
There is! And this is a lot of what we explore in this week's episode.
Business mentor and life coach Olivia Bowen shares about everything from how her births supported her spiritual growth to how her surprising entry into perimenopause catapulted her into prioritizing what really mattered and letting go of what didn't.
Her perimenopausal clients have affirmed the power inherent in this time too.
She also shares about the map she's created of the chakras of business (which could easily be translated to creative projects of any kind) which reflects a comprehensive view of all the foundational elements of any successful endeavor.
It's such a cool lens to look through, and I hope you enjoy learning about it too.
A beautiful exploration in this time of thin veils.
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
What herbs can help bring your bleed on? This is a question I've been asked in so many ways over the years.
Honestly probably one of the most common. And we ALL deserve access to this information. Especially in these... turbulent times.
I'm not talking abortifacients, I'm talking when you are still in your luteal phase and would be expecting your menstruation in days or weeks.
THIS is the most effective time to be working with herbs. And today's episode is a medley speaking to three key herbs to consider working with for this reason.
While these snippets are not purely focused on contraception, they all speak to how these herbs work on multiple systems and in more than one way.
Herbs are dynamic, and often have a handful or even dozens of relevant actions. Which is why matching plants to people is a practice. It's not just "this herb for that thing" but how and when and why and who.
If you're curious to learn a little more about mugwort, wild carrot or motherwort, this episode is perfect for you.
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.
Human Design + Sexuality? What your chart says about sex, boundaries and relationships with Cara Dempsey
What could a system that reads more like an astrological birth chart mixed with the I Ching and Chakras have to do with our sexuality or relationships?
It's a fair question, and one I had, too.
But today's guest, Cara Dempsey, shares about how learning Human Design (and especially understanding what her "Sacral Inner Authority" meant) completely transformed her relationship with not only her wombspace, but also her menstrual cycle and her libido.
Well, cycle awareness practices had something to do with it, too.
The truth is, she lost most of her sexual desire postpartum, she was living a life oriented to hustle and productivity and her body was feeling the consequences, and she needed help.
Fascinatingly, her deep dive into understanding her energetic patterns through both Human Design and cycle awareness helped her to listen to her body in ways she never had before, and begin to accept parts of herself she previously thought of as weaknesses.
And as it turns out, Human Design really does have a lot to say about how we may relate to our own sexuality, how we cultivate boundaries (sexually, in relationships, etc), and overall how we listen to our own selves.
Whether or not you decide to explore it further, consider this an opportunity to reflect on archetypal energies - the inner authorities and energy centers especially - and how those may inform your growth into more of who you really are - beyond what society tell us we should be.
Listen in to learn:
what Human Design is and where it originated from
how Cara's health transformed through learning Human Design + cycle awareness
what the inner authorities are and the 6 types
how learning your inner authority can support healthy boundaries
a deep dive into the sacral and root energy centers and what it means if they are "defined" or "undefined"
how Human Design can support your relationships and authentic sexual expression
Is it images of a sterile healthcare office where you're getting a pap-smear (and all the complicated emotions that come up around that)? The common concerns around HPV, abnormal paps and even cervical cancer can run rampant in our minds.
So perhaps, thinking about your cervix brings up some fear or discomfort or grief... rightfully so.
Or maybe it's a worry that your cervix may not be ripe when you get to 40+ weeks of pregnancy, because you know it's supposed to be softer and start to thin out and even dilate a bit before labor really gets going?
Hoping and wishing and praying for your cervix to do what it needs to do so you can birth your babe safely and gracefully into the world.
For most of us, THOSE are what we think about when we hear the word cervix.
But the truth is, your cervix is MUCH more than just a place the baby comes out, or a place that can be affected by sexually transmitted infections.
In fact, it's a place you can cultivate a tangible relationship with, learning to understand its signs and symptoms over the course of your menstrual cycles and beyond.
This is not just some woo-woo idea, you can both touch and observe your cervix throughout your cycles to get to know how your unique cervix shifts and changes.
Your cervix is the entryway to your wombspace, the place where your fertile cervical fluid is created, a changing and adapting structure that responds to both hormones and your nervous system AND is a locus of some of the most pleasurable orgasms possible.
It is not just something to feel fear around or indifferent about. It's something to admire and honor and even... love.
Listen to learn:
what and where your cervix is
about the cervical shifts and changes throughout your menstrual cycle
how to find your cervix (with your fingers and visually)
the unique ways your cervix plays a role in fertility
If you're familiar with Ayurveda, you'll know there are three primary "doshas," or collections of elemental characteristics that describe qualities of a person.
But they aren't static. I think sometimes people get stuck in the idea that "doshas" are like a personality test.
And while there are some aspects of that, from an Ayurvedic lens we actually have both our innate constitution AND the current state we're in. Which are usually NOT the same.
We may be born super hot, active, and physically strong, but we may go out of balance by burning ourselves out after pushing way too hard over the years and end up feeling high levels of anxiety or spaciness.
Because that endless excess stimulation we've subjected ourselves to is constantly eating away at our reserves until we no longer have them and we collapse.
It's a common story, really, especially as people reach their late 30's or 40's.
And it's one (of many) example of how the elements inherent in Vata dosha (air and ether) can have an imbalancing effect on someone whose innate nature is not that.
In other words, most of us tend to go out of balance in Vata at some point in our lives, and often we see the results in our nervous systems.
Kristen Timchak, host of the Nourished Nervous System podcast, shares all about how Ayurveda counteracts the qualities of Vata dosha in the mind.
She includes several simple practices you can start incorporating into your life if/when you feel your Vata going out of balance, and she shares about some indispensable herbal allies for this, too.
Listen in to learn:
the basics of Ayurveda from a 5 element perspective
what Vata dosha is and how it relates to our nervous systems
how Vata shows up in the seasons and times of day
what Ojas is and it relates to nervous system health
a few simple, quick practices you can add into your life to balance Vata
the basic recipe for an Ojas-building drink
a couple key Ayurvedic herbs that are essential to restoring your nervous system
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Calming carminatives? Herbs to help ease gas, bloating, spasms when you're stressed, anxious or irritated
I think many of us just accept the discomfort we have in our guts without question.
I was talking to a client recently and I actively had to ask her if she ever notices any symptoms after eating for her to remember that she commonly experiences sharp pain in her belly and doesn't know why.
The fact that it wasn't top of mind for her because she's just accepted that as part of her day-to-day life is indicative of how much we normalize digestive upset.
Some folks have chronic loose stools, endless gas, bloating after almost every meal, alternating constipation and loose stools or even painful, sharp spasms regularly in their bellies... and they don't pay any attention.
I had another client who told me she's had gut symptoms her entire life, and her mom has them too, so it's not something she even thinks of as a "symptom."
I want to call bullshit on this way of thinking.
Our bodies are wisdomkeepers, and your gut is giving you information. Which is not to say that you need to wallow in suffering because of your symptoms, but instead that it's a good idea to start taking note of what they are, and when they show up.
Herbs like relaxing carminatives can be especially helpful at easing some of the gas, bloating and spasms - and when we narrow in on the *relaxing* carminatives they are even more specific for times when you notice stress, anxiety or irritability in relation to your gut symptoms (which is exceedingly common).
The gut-brain connection is real, so when you're having those digestive symptoms, you mood and mind will no doubt be impacted.
Unfortunately relaxing carminatives won't get to the ROOT of the problem, but they can help your belly calm down and soften to ease symptoms along the way.
And they can be worked with intentionally in times of increased stress (like the current global situation), or heightened anxiety (like perhaps holiday gatherings), or cyclic hormonal shifts that mess with your gut (like, say loose stools the first day of your moon).
The better we feel in our bellies, the more steady and strong we can show up in the world.
Listen to learn:
what carminatives are and how to add them into your daily life
when you would want to consider RELAXING carminatives
how muscle tension might increase pain sensations (+ how carminatives can help)
a basic overview of 8 relaxing carminatives (why, when, how you might use them)
how to add some carminatives into your holiday meals (or anytime)
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. P
How to tend "the root of your body" postpartum and beyond with Dr Rebecca Cohen
After birth, our bodies are especially tender and rather "blown open."
Not only has a babe passed through either your perineum or your belly, but your spirit has been expanded tremendously, too.
And unfortunately, most of us have NO IDEA how to effectively tend "to the root of our bodies" as today's guest, MD-turned-holistic-midwife (and mother of 9!) Dr Rebecca Cohen describes it.
We've all but lost the art of deep, replenishing convalescence that's so needed postpartum. Birth is a big experience, and whether it's physically, emotionally or spiritually - there's often a lot to integrate (on top of having a newborn babe)!
So caring for the tender tissues and the tender spirit in this liminal time can be incredibly supportive.
There are many ways to do so, from rest, to easy-to-digest foods, to herbal practices such as vaginal steams, to sitz baths, to teas, to hands-on and hands-in care.
And today's episode goes into all of this and more.
Listen in to learn:
how Rebecca went from conventionally trained MD to herbalist and midwife
what "the root of your body" means (on a couple different levels)
some simple practices to tend that part of your body postpartum
Rebecca's favorite herbs for the postpartum journey - internal + topical
why she considers vaginal steams a core part of holistic postpartum care
how to know when to return to sex after birth
ways to connect with your vulva and wombspace with tender love + care
an invitation to offer yourself hands-in care to support pelvic muscle relaxation
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any&
Tending your physical and emotional heart with herbs and other practices
I'm not sure if you're feeling it, but everywhere I look I'm seeing yet another person share about how they're feeling heartbroken, or how these times are heartbreaking.
The collective field is full of grief, loss, shock, confusion, and meanwhile we're also all living our lives, attempting to go about our days "as usual."
When our hearts are so tender, it's essential to find ways to both feel our feelings AND tend our emotional and physical hearts.
Have you ever heard of "broken heart syndrome"?
It's a (usually temporary) sudden weakening of the heart muscle that is actually a form of cardiomyopathy. While it's common to recover in a few months as long as good care is taken, it's a true clinical condition that results from extreme stress, shock, or grief.
I also remember learning (when I was getting endless cardiac testing years ago) that folks who are depressed are more likely to have heart conditions. And conversely that post-heart attack patients commonly experience cardiac depression - which is literally a melancholy that occurs after a major cardiac event.
I can't even count the number of times doctors and nurses in the ER and at my cardiologist's office asked me about anxiety and stress in my life. With unexplained tachycardia (fast heart rate) and no cardiac risk factors and an extremely health-centered life, they were all SURE my heart rate was psycho-emotional. (it wasn't btw)
In other words, emotions affect our hearts, and our hearts affect our emotions. The physical heart is not separate from the emotional heart.
So it's important, especially in times when we feel our heart is breaking, to pay a little extra attention to our beautiful rhythmic center that keeps our blood oxygenated and flowing around our bodies.
Instead of just thinking of "grief" remedies in general, consider what specific signs and symptoms you're experiencing - whether emotional or physical.
From there, you can choose herbs and practices that address your individual needs.
That's what this week's episode is all about.
Listen in to learn:
how grief relates to both your heart and your wombspace
a little about the womb-heart connection
why healthy estrogen levels in your body are important to heart health
some practices for tending your grief, individually or in community
herbal allies to support your unique expression of grief
remedies for physical heart conditions that may show up with heartbreak
how insomnia and and anxiety may be linked to your heart
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so m
The womb, the mesentery & returning home to your body with Abigail Rose Clarke
What the heck is the mesentery? And why does it matter to you, anyway?
Okay, so I know not all of us are anatomy nerds, and we don't commonly get excited to hear about anatomical structures, but this one... well, it's worth checking out.
Partly because it's deeply intertwined with all of your belly organs, partly because it has an intimate relationship with your wombspace, and part of because it is the embryological origin of the uterus...
...but mostly because it has SO MUCH to teach us.
And today's guest, somatic facilitator and author Abigail Rose Clarke offers an in-depth glimpse at the magic and mystery of this"queer" organ - not from the lens of sexual orientation or gender, but from the lens of hard-to-define as one or the other.
It's an organ that is both soft and strong, both holding all of our belly organs in and also allowing them to have the ease of adapting to shape and size as needed (for instance in pregnancy).
She shares about how to locate this organ inside your body, as well as what it's made of, and why it took until 2016 for people to even realize it even was an organ!
We also talk earth connection, ecology, phases of our lives and how embodiment can support us in navigating what's hard in our lives, including current world events.
In the end, it's all about "returning home to our bodies" which is also the name of her forthcoming book, which is on pre-sale now and comes out in January.
Listen to learn:
what the mesentery is and why it matters to you
how embodiment practices can help you navigate hard things
why the mesentery was overlooked for most of medical history
the embryological origins of our belly organs, including the uterus
how the vagus nerve relates to the mesentery
details on why Abigail considers the mesentery to be queer
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
How to trust your body (+ your cycle) in times of uncertainty
How do you navigate uncertainty - in your body, in your mind, in your life?
I think it's easy to fall into patterns of avoidance or not facing what's hard, especially when that requires us to feel big emotions or actually respond to what we're feeling with some kind of action.
This is just as true with worldly events like we're witnessing now as it is with information our body is telling us about our health.
When it's confusing or intense, we often want to escape in some way, to feel better as quickly as possible so we don't have to actually look at what's underlying.
Or to choose a quick fix rather than something that might take a little more effort.
But the problem with that is if we ignore the smaller signs and symptoms telling us that something is imbalanced for too long, we tend to end up with more significant imbalances that are harder to relieve.
And if you add on to that the shifts and changes we go through hormonally throughout our lives, it can feel like a very dynamic and confusing situation in our bodies.
But when we start to actually listen to (and respond to) to what the body is telling us, everything changes.
When we pay attention, we begin to cultivate a trusting relationship with the ebbs and flows, the cycles and patterns, the rhythms and even the unknown.
And especially when we connect to our wombspace with intention, care and presence, we are able to deepen that trust in a way that also feels held and nurtured by our relationship to the earth and those who came before us.
It's no small thing to form a trusting relationship with your body, including when things feel like they're falling apart.
I talk all about what this can look and feel like, and some practices for you to explore, in this week's episode.
Listen in to learn:
how those of us with wombs are primed for uncertainty and change
what vitalism is, and why the vital force matters for your overall health
why it's essential for you to find ways to feel and release your emotions
practices for emotional and somatic release
ideas to help you cultivate a more trusting relationship with your body
how connecting with your pelvis can help you ground in tumultuous times
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Where menstrual cycle archetypes + nature connection practices overlap with Bri Martinez
We hear a lot about the gifts and benefits of each of our cycle phases, but what we don't commonly explore are the shadow sides of those times.
And whether it's our menstrual cycles or even our womb phases we travel through during our lives, it's helpful to know what to look out for that might be a sign of imbalance.
Not so much physically, but from a psycho-emotional perspective.
Today's guest Bri Martinez shares her view on cyclical archetypes both in relationship with our menstrual cycles and also as guidance for us to consider our habits and behavioral patterns beyond our cycles, too.
There is power in self-awareness, and this episode offers an invitation to explore your own personal version of cyclical archetypes (which may or may not be the same as others) from a reflective and curious lens.
And Bri also offers some nature connection practices you can engage in both to respond to these archetypal qualities as well as deep your relationship with them.
It's a neat blend of cycle awareness meets earth wisdom and I'm excited for you to hear it!
Listen to learn:
what archetypes are in general
how archetypes have been essential to understanding ourselves throughout human history
the gifts and shadows of each of our cyclical archetypes
how to identify the virgin/warrior, mother/creator, wild woman/enchantress, and crone/wise woman in your cycle and yourself
real-life examples of how these archetypes can show up
how nature connection can help us relate to these parts of ourselves
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Non-hormonal birth control? 5 options for you (even if you have irregular cycles, are postpartum or perimenopausal)
Okay, so why does it seem like hormonal birth control has become front and center as "the most effective" contraception?
Somehow it seems like in the last few decades, non-hormonal birth control has fallen out of favor. Maybe because it's too simple? Maybe because there isn't enough money in it?
It can feel scary to transition off of hormonal birth control if you've been on it for a while, but let me tell you that the benefits of cycling naturally are extensive.
Whether it's receiving the gifts of progesterone in your luteal phase or having your natural menstrual cycle as a guide to help you listen more effectively to your body, there are may reasons to choose non-hormonal contraception.
And I don't think we hear enough about all of our options.
So today I dive into some of these, including benefits, risks, side effects and more.
And I also share about my absolute favorite, which I consider to be true natural contraception - fertility awareness + herbs when needed.
This is all really just an overview to give you a sense of what's possible so you can craft a personalized path to effective non-hormonal contraception that works best for you (and your partner/s).
It's pretty information-heavy, but hopefully will be a great resource for you to build your foundation from as you explore your personalized path to empowered birth control.
One informed choice at a time.
Listen in to learn:
some basics on non-hormonal birth control
why most non-hormonal birth control requires commitment (but is worth it)
about a few options of barrier methods (condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge) + how to use them effectively
some basics on copper IUD's (why you might love em or hate em)
how withdrawal is actually a viable option in some cases
an overview of fertility awareness and cycle tracking methods
why fertility awareness is even better when combined with an additional non-hormonal method
some herbal categories that may also be helpful to incorporate to prevent pregnancy
what I consider to be the ultimate "natural contraception"
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Perimenopause the Ayurvedic Way: Cultivating resilience using food, somatic awareness & other practices with Kristen Timchak
How does Ayurveda view the perimenopausal transition?
And what are some of the tools and strategies that might be helpful to incorporate in this time to both reduce and prevent the common symptoms that show up in this time?
According to today's guest, Ayurvedic Health Counselor Kristen Timchak, the perimenopausal transition is often characterized by qualities of Vata dosha.
Irregular cycles, drying skin, tissue fragility, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, are all potentially signs of Vata imbalance.
In this conversation, we explore a variety of approaches to tend our bodies and minds in this time from the lens of Ayurveda and somatic embodiment practices, too!
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.
Return to wholeness with your womb + the plants at the center with Robin Rose Bennett
What does it mean to become fully yourself? And how can the plants and your womb help with that?
These are questions that are not as straightforward as they seem. Really, each of us carries our own unique blueprint and gifts that we can offer to the world.
And beginning to connect with that inner knowing, the place inside you that whispers that you are more than just a cog in the wheel of societal expectations, can take time.
But my guess is that, if you're here and reading this, you've already gotten a glimpse into this reality, and have begun relating with the plants, the earth or your body in a way that helps you feel more whole and connected.
That said, it's a process. And often feels a bit like a spiral, doesn't it?
In this week's episode, writer, herbalist and green witch Robin Rose Bennett brings together 35+ years of herbalism and a deep reverence for the magic of life itself to offer a generous dose of the wisdom she's gathered over time.
She shares about her own spiral of growth and becoming, her personal womb story throughout all of her phases, and what it can mean to be an elder in the world.
And she brings the plants in, too.
Listen in to learn:
how herbalism can be an antidote to loneliness
why Robin Rose Bennett chose to embrace the term "green witch"
what a lifetime of herbal medicine can offer to your sense of belonging
about Robin Rose's new book, and some bibliomancy readings from it
how our relationships to our wombs can change dramatically over time
thoughts on the womb-heart connection
some herbs and recipes including motherwort, rosemary, mugwort + ginger
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
How to Ease into Autumn: Herbs & traditional practices to support this seasonal transition in your body + mind
Have you noticed how many people acknowledge the seasonal transition from summer to autumn? It's one of the most talked about events-of-the-year.
Maybe that's because it's such a dramatic change. The vibrant heat and buoyancy of summer give way to the brilliant display of color and shedding of leaves on trees, and the return to the earth of many annual and perennial plants.
It's a small death, every year. And while we get used to it, and we trust that spring will come again, we also have to reckon with the diminishing light and the oncoming cold.
That said, most of us live in very protected environments shielded from the elements and are not subject to the "danger" of winter that our ancestors used to be.
Still, we feel it, and our bodies feel it too. Seasonal change is inherently destabilizing.
And from an Ayurvedic perspective, when we go from summer to fall, it's actually common to have over-accumulated heat from the summer that peaks in symptoms in early fall.
So instead of diving immediately into the spicy chai (and even pumpkin spice drinks) that are easy to desire as the cool weather sets in, it's actually important to cool and calm the heat, to simplify your diet a bit, and give your body a little support as it adjusts.
I dive into how all of this can look and more in this week's episode.
Listen in to learn:
what NOT to do right after autumn equinox
why you might actually need to focus on cooling rather than warming
how Ayurveda views seasonal transitions
a few signs and symptoms to look out for as the cooler weather sets in
some herbs and foods that can be helpful for the shift from summer to fall
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
From pelvic pain to enhancing sexual pleasure (the essentials of pelvic health) with Laura Rowan
What happens when the goal is not just to reduce pain or remedy a pelvic health "disorder", but actually to prioritize pleasure?
What if it was possible to actually feel safe in your body, to listen to yourself, to gently ease into what authentically feels good for you... one step at a time.
It's tremendously easy to feel shame around any kind of health challenge, but somehow even easier to feel shame around the pain or dysfunction that shows up in our pelvis.
I mean, who wants to talk about not being able to hold their pee in, or how they haven't been able to have sex without pain (or a trauma response) for years - maybe ever.
It's not the kind of stuff we share freely with our friends, and may not even share it with our partners.
Pelvic health OT Laura Rowan helps clients to feel less pain and more pleasure in their pelvis and throughout their lives. It's not just about the pelvic organs, or sex, or pain.
Through manual therapies, vagus nerve stimulation practices, breathwork, vocalization, educating her clients on their own anatomy and more, she integrates a diverse tapestry of modalities to create a truly integrative approach to sexual and pelvic health.
You'll hear all about these and more in today's episode.
Listen to learn:
how occupational therapists approach pelvic "dysfunction" differently
what pelvic health imbalances can feel and look like
why the root cause may have nothing to do with your pelvis
the importance of the nervous system in pelvic health
how breathing & vocalization can pay a role in pelvic healing
why reducing pain should not be the ONLY goal
how to enhance your sexual pleasure (one step at a time)
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
The many gifts of Ashwagandha: An herb to restore, replenish & optimize hormonal health and beyond
Oh, Ashwagandha. An herb that almost every single one of us have heard of - at least by name, if not because we've used it at some point along the way.
A real celebrity of the plant world. And a true favorite among herbalists, too.
Before I share more, just take a moment to think about what you already know about this plant.
My guess is you probably think of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) as an adaptogen, and maybe as an ally for anxiety, or perhaps also to encourage more optimal sleep.
And yes, yes, and yes. These are all lovely uses for this easy-to-grow, rather unassuming plant.
But as you know, plants are complex, and cannot be pigeonholed into just a handful of "uses."
The truth is, ashwagandha has been worked with medicinally for thousands of years - not only in Ayurveda (which is what most of us think of), but also in the Middle East, and Africa too.
And the range of uses embodied in these traditions has included everything from easing back pain to reducing coughs to tending gastric ulcers all the way to promoting longevity and recovering after giving birth.
It's one of the most revered herbs in all of Ayurveda.
It's even a potent (and I might say indispensible) ally for every phase of our hormonal health - from menarche to fertility to postpartum to peri-menopause to post-menopause.
And I go into all of this - and more - in this week's episode.
Listen in to learn:
the basics on Ashwagandha's medicinal actions, energetics + uses
why ashwagandha is so highly respected in Ayurveda
what a rasayana is + when you might consider using one
the best ways to take ashwagandha for sexual + hormonal health
safety considerations around taking ashwagandha
about some clinical studies showing support for hormonal health
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Acupressure for Pregnancy, Birth + Postpartum with Sarah Tewhey
I think most of us know that acupuncture has a lot of potential benefit, and perhaps you've heard of how supportive it is for enhancing fertility and/or as an adjunct to fertility treatments like IVF or IUI.
But something less well known is that acupressure is a modality unto itself, which at times can be as effective if not more effective than acupuncture, and can be an incredible ally during the childbearing years.
And it's something that you can practice yourself or on a loved one, without needles.
That said, there are safety considerations you need to be aware of (especially in pregnancy!), and knowing which points to work with and how to do so effectively is a whole art and practice that can take years to master.
But you can start with one point at a time, and today's guest Sarah Tewhey gives a beautiful introduction to not only a few points that may be helpful in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but also the philosophy behind this healing practice overall.
She's an acupuncturist, herbalist and doula and weaves these together in her clinical practice and as an educator. Really, I might call her one of the foremost experts (in the west) on this topic, and I don't think I'm exaggerating.
So curl up with a cup of tea and listen in to learn the basics on how acupressure can support you in your childbearing journey and beyond.
Listen in to learn:
what acupressure is and how it's different from acupuncture
specific points for common challenges in pregnancy, birth + postpartum
safety considerations and contraindications and why this matters so much
how to choose a great perinatal acupuncturist (hint: they aren't all the same)
ways that acupressure gives you more options, and how empowering that is
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Herbal allies for transitioning off hormonal birth control
Have you ever wondered what herbs may be supportive for the transition from hormonal birth control to natural cycles again?
It's actually not something that's talked about much.
But herbs can be wonderful allies to help cultivate an optimal foundation for our sex hormones to begin circulating naturally again, both for overall system support and symptomatic relief.
And they can also help further along the way if your cycle doesn't return or you notice they're irregular or have other symptoms coming up.
The truth is, up to 80% of people will begin menstruating again with no extra effort within 3 months after coming off birth control.
So really, the point is not "what can you do to bring your cycles back?" but instead it's more " how can you nourish and support your body to adapt and adjust to these changes so it has what it needs to encourage optimal hormonal health?"
That's the first step.
So focusing on optimal nutrition, nourishing herbs, herbs that help when adapting to change, liver support and making sure you're eliminating every day are most helpful.
I share all about what this means and many examples for you to get started with (and so much more - as usual!) in today's episode.
Listen to learn:
why you might choose to go off hormonal birth control
the first steps to take (hint: this involves cycle tracking!)
what nutrition and supplements are essential when coming off hormonal birth control
the four primary categories of herbs to focus on to support the transition
herbs for common symptoms when discontinuing hormonal birth control
how long to wait and what to do when your cycles don't come back or are irregular
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
What is astro-herbalism? (+ how mugwort prevented a hysterectomy) with Andrea Webb
How does herbalism relate to astrology? I mean, what can the stars possibly have to do with the plants? Aren't they totally different disciplines?
These are such good questions. And honestly, I didn't even hear about the ancient practice of astro-herbalism until about ten years ago when I took a course on it.
Turns out western herbalism was actually deeply rooted in astrological practice hundreds of years ago.
Blending the two was a way to differentiate and understand the energetics of the plants. To match them more effectively with the people and the ailments as they were presenting.
It's actually not as esoteric and out there as it sounds at first.
Today's guest Andrea Webb offers a detailed glimpse into how bringing astrology and herbalism together helped her to understand the plants (and the planets) more fully.
She gives a general overview and then dives into a couple specific examples of how adding astrology into the picture can help to provide a more dynamic perception of the herbs she works with in her practice.
And then we go deep into mugwort, one of my dearest plant allies, and Andi shares about how her relationship with that plant completely changed her relationship with her womb.
She went from having a debilitating, sometimes emergency-level menstrual phase (that had her considering the possibility of a hysterectomy) to relatively easeful cycles.
It sounds miraculous, AND it's real. A story worth telling, indeed.
(plus she adds in her astro-herbalism perspectives on mugwort to bring it all together)
Listen to learn:
what astro-herbalism is
how to understand plants in relationships to planets and vice-versa
the way herbal energetics show up in astrology
the life-changing way mugwort showed up for Andi's menstrual health
some of mugwort's medicinal actions
an astroherbal perspective on mugwort
how birth charts can be helpful in choosing herbs for a formula
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Late summer medicine making for hormonal health & beyond: Herbal vinegars, oxymels and shrubs
Late summer has arrived, and with it a sense of fall coming soon. In the earth, in our bodies.
As folks with wombs, we're intimately connected with the seasons outside of us.
And it's in this late summer season we can start to feel an urgency or desire to both relish in the abundance and joy of summer in all its glory, and also store and preserve our foods and medicines for the coming winter.
Herbal vinegars are a form of preservation that brings it all together.
We can make everything from strongly medicinal vinegars we are working with intensively for a clear purpose all the way to fun and lighthearted shrubs or oxymels we can prepare with the intention to uplift and/or enjoy with friends in a social setting.
Herbal vinegars are versatile, accessible, and also - unsurprisingly - a remnant of our ancestral womb lineages. A form of medicine that's been around as long as written records have been, and likely a lot longer than that.
But what are the *actual* benefits of medicinal vinegars?
When would we choose them over other preparations, and why?
What do they extract better than other methods?
I cover all of this (and more, of course), in this week's episode.
Listen to learn:
what herbal vinegars are
a little on the history of herbal vinegars (hint: they're ancient)
different medicinal preparation methods from around the world
some of the modern research on health benefits of vinegar
why we might want to incorporate herbal vinegars for hormonal health
some herbs that may be especially helpful in the form of vinegar
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Deep restorative postpartum care (+ some real deal birth stories) with Rachael Hollinger
So many of us spend days, weeks, months researching and taking classes, preparing ourselves for the event of childbirth.
Because it feels mysterious and miraculous and like something we need to train for.
And that makes sense. It's a huge milestone unlike any other in our lives.
But what about the tremendous transformation that occurs the moment you become a parent (for the first or second or third time)?
How do you prepare for not only the baby arriving, but also the physical, mental and emotional recovery that's often much more intensive than we expect?
Most of us don't. At least not in the US.
Deeply restorative, nourishing postpartum care is all but a thing of the past. But thankfully there is also a resurgence.
More and more birthworkers are looking to various cultural traditions to glean the wisdom of thousands of years of supporting birthing parents after birth.
And postpartum doulas like today's guest Rachael Hollinger are inspiring a whole new generation of postpartum care providers to honor the fourth trimester as a time when not only baby needs attention and care, but also the mother (or birthing parent).
So, what can that look like?
Everything from nourishing food to herbal remedies to steams and baths to rest to warmth and so much more. It's a paradigm shift, not just more "things to do."
You'll hear all about how important all of this is, *especially* when pregnancy or birth is hard, in this week's episode.
Listen to learn:
what nourishing, deeply restorative postpartum care means
how Rachael came to this work from her own childbearing challenges
how Hyperemesis gravidarum can affect pregnancy, birth and postartum
why it's important to tell REAL birth and postpartum stories
5 essential elements of truly restorative postpartum care
a simple recipe that's perfect in the immediate postpartum period
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Cultivating Receptivity: The art & practice of easeful softening for optimal fertility, sensual pleasure & womb health
What is receptivity? And how does it relate to our wombspace?
In the world of gynecologic health, the concept of a receptive womb is all but left to the scientific research articles talking about encouraging an optimal uterine lining so potential implantation can occur.
And while that is absolutely important (of course having a robust and nutrient-rich uterine lining is a sign of not just uterine health but also overall health), there is more to the story than just the physical components.
In my perspective, cultivating the *energy* of receptivity is JUST as important as having the physical building blocks we need for womb health.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that supporting the reproductive and generative organs in our womb with everything from visualizations and loving self-touch all the way to herbs and grief and trauma work can ALL encourage more optimal receptivity.
The truth is, we are not just physical bodies.
We have emotions, we have traumas, we have grief, we have patterns and we need tools and strategies to support us on multiple layers as we work to enhance our receptive energy - whether for fertility, sensuality or hormonal health overall.
Which is exactly what I get into in this week's episode.
Listen to learn:
what receptivity is and how it relates to the wombspace
examples of nature representing the soft and yin qualities
how security, safety, trauma, grief + creativity are all connected to the womb
why it's important to offer yourself loving attention and "no agenda" touch
simple practices and ideas for you to cultivate receptivity in your body
some herbal allies for nourishing your receptive wombspace
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Healing the root of PMDD, embedded trauma + hormonal mood imbalances with Natalie Ryan Hebert
What if it's not your hormones? What if your hormones are actually alerting you to something deeper going on?
Because, they essentially always are.
Today's guest, Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner Natalie Ryan Hebert, speaks to the drop in estrogen in the luteal phase as a time when deeper truths (including core stories, trauma wounds, childhood imprints) may show up more prominently.
Without that soothing watery blanket of estrogen the "rocks" are revealed.
It's in those "rocks" that the potential for deep and lasting healing may be waiting.
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.
"May I admire you?" Simple ways to connect with plants wherever you are with Liz Neves
"Communicating with plants" can feel mysterious, especially if you're new to it.
And really, what does it mean to connect with them? How do you cultivate a relationship beyond knowing their name and potential ways to work with them?
What happens when we start to weave ourselves back into the story of the landscape, and recognize that plants are actually always sensing and communicating with us and the entire ecology around them?
Plants are beings just like humans. They may be more stationary, but they are absolutely sentient and when we learn to tune into their subtle language (whether that's physical, chemical or intuitive), there's so much we can receive.
Like today's guest herbalist and author Liz Neves shares, even just being around plants can offer healing once we expand our perception of what's possible and open up to receiving their wisdom.
She shares stories of developing her own relationships with plants, partly through relationship with place, even though she's primarily lived in the urban world of NYC for the past 20 years.
With tools like meditative states, presence, creative expression and just noticing who shows up, we can begin to make connecting and communicating with plants into a daily practice that helps us experience more meaning and healing throughout.
Listen to learn:
what meeting a plant wherever you are means
how to begin to connect with the plants and landscape around you
simple practices you can start with to cultivate these relationships
stories that give glimpses into what plant connection can look like
ways to connect with plants whether you're in a city or live rurally
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Your Cycle Superpowers: Menstrual, follicular, ovulatory + luteal wisdom phase by phase
Have you ever paid attention to how your energy, desires, symptoms, even feeling of mental capacity or self-confidence changes throughout your menstrual cycle?
Well, this IS a thing and it's not just you.
The hormonal fluctuations throughout the waves of our menstrual cycle have four fairly distinct phases - menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal.
And each of those phases can be characterized as having certain qualities.
It is tremendously empowering for folks to start not only tracking their cycles but also get to know what patterns and strengths or weaknesses they notice in each of them.
To see the strengths, the weaknesses, the tendencies - and start to come to expect them, accept some of the harder parts and really harness the strengths of each phase as superpowers.
This entire way of perceiving our bodies and our cycles has been a trending topic over these past few years, and is commonly known as cycle awareness or cycle synching.
But I wanted to jump in and throw my own version of this beautiful practice into the mix, including probably most importantly not being to strict about it, and above all else, listening to YOUR body to learn what's true and right for YOU.
Not just attach to some idealized version you read about in a book or saw on TikTok.
Listen in to learn:
how to identify each phase of your menstrual cycle
what the gifts of your menstrual phase are
ways to harness the strengths of your follicular phase
why your ovulatory phase in not just ovulation
about the delineation of the luteal phase into two phases, not one
why listening to your unique body is most important
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
How can myofascial release support your breasts, chest or pelvic bowl? An embodied perspective with Lindsay Courcelle
It's become a bit of a trending topic, but in case it's new to you, just know that it's a form of connective tissue that connects everything to everything in your body.
I'm actually not exaggerating. It's basically the matrix that covers every organ, bone, muscle, and tissue and connects them to each other.
And in living bodies, it's actually ever-changing and dynamic, responding to movements, traumas, impact - whether physical or emotional.
It can become tense and tight or fluid and relaxed, according to today's guest - myofascial release therapist Lindsay Courcelle.
And if you've been listening for a while, you'll probably know that our pelvic bowls and our breasts/chest are two places in our bodies that have a tendency to store trauma and emotions more than others.
So much of our sense of safety, sensuality, sexuality, creativity, nourishment and relationship can show up in these power centers of our bodies.
Which is why something as simple as a gentle, slow and deeply listening touch like myofascial release can have profound therapeutic benefit for those who are holding any emotions in our tissues (hint: that includes almost all of us).
Listen in to learn:
what fascia is and why it's dynamic and ever-changing
how your fascia responds to emotions and trauma
why touching your body IS touching the earth + vice versa
what myofascial release (MFR) is and how it's different from other massage + craniosacral work
how the slow, gentle, patient approach of MFR encourages lasting change
ways to support your pelvic bowl + breasts/chest through MFR
a simple guided breast/chest myofascial release practice you can do now
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
What's the deal with phytoestrogens? A current look at the benefits, risks & questions around these plant allies
What are they? How do they work? Are they helpful or harmful?
Honestly, these questions are more complicated to answer than they seem, even though researchers have been diving into this topic for decades.
In the end, the basics are that phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that act similarly to estrogens in our bodies.
But they're milder acting than our natural estrogens so on the one hand they can reduce the effect of estrogen in our bodies when they bind to receptors (so can be helpful in excess estrogen conditions for example) but they can also encourage a mild estrogenic activity when we are in an estrogen deficient state (like say, perimenopause or post-menopause).
That said, not all phytoestrogens are equal, and actually there's even some new research showing that the makeup of our gut microbiome may have some effect on whether or not phytoestrogenic compounds have any benefit in our bodies.
They're even being researched in estrogen-dependent cancer situations to act potentially as SERMs (or selective estrogen receptor modulator) type compounds.
But all the current research aside, what benefits might they have in your body?
And what kinds of plants are even included in this category?
Listen in to learn:
what phytoestrogens are
how phytoestrogens work
what makes these plant compounds a bit complicated
how phytoestrogens help to modulate estrogen levels
how phytoestrogens can reduce menopausal symptoms
the latest on phytoestrogens and cancer
when you might want to avoid taking phytoestrogens
a few phytoestrogenic herbs and simple ways to work with them
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Breathwork, body image + disordered eating: A simple practice to change your self-perception with Liz Harris
How can such a simple, unassuming practice that happens automatically every few seconds be such a powerful ally in changing our body, our mind, our emotions, and more?
I'm sure you've experienced it. You've noticed how your breath quickens and seems to be bursting out of your chest when you're in a panic moment. Or you've noticed that deep belly sigh that can happen when you finally relax after a long, exhausting day.
Indeed, breath is both an indicator of how we are in a moment, and also a tool we can work with to CHANGE how we are in that moment.
When we intentionally, strategically work with deepening and slowing our breathing, or changing the breathing patterns, or breathing through nose or mouth or even quickening our breath for periods of time, we have access to far more than just our lungs.
According to Pause breathwork practitioner Liz Harris, some of these intentional breathing patterns can actually be harnessed to move beyond our conscious mind to access our subconscious in a safely held way, especially when we repeat breathing patterns for more than eight minutes straight.
And for Liz, this intentional breathwork practice has been profoundly supportive in her recovery from disordered eating patterns and restoring a healthier body image.
Which is something probably most of us could use some support with.
Listen in to learn:
how breathwork helped Liz go from disconnected to loving her body
what intentional breathwork practice can look like
ways breathwork can help us release stuck emotions and trauma
why having a facilitator holding space can be a key to pattern change
a couple of very simple breathing practices you can start with now
benefits and contraindications with intense breathwork practice
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
How to cool the summer heat in your body (with herbs, foods and other simple practices)
Summer solstice is upon us and the heat is kicking in. Have you ever noticed how your body responds to the summer heat?
For those of us with more fire physically and mentally, the heat can aggravate some of our symptoms or create new ones altogether. For others, the summer heat can be very balanced and welcome.
But either way, the heat can sometimes be too much.
From exacerbating inflammation, sparking fiery emotions, catalyzing quick digestion or painful spasms, or drying up our tissues and more, heat has an impact on us.
So to stay harmonized with the season, learning to cool the summer heat in our bodies can help us feel better in our menstrual cycles, hormonally, and overall.
In today's episode, you'll learn about 10 herbs as well as some lifestyle and dietary practices you can incorporate into your daily routine to cool and calm your body and mind - in this season and beyond.
Tune in to find out:
how the summer heat messes with your body and mind
the qualities of pitta dosa and how that corresponds with summer
why some of us are more impacted than others by the heat
ten herbs to help calm and cool you this summer
some easy + accessible cooling food and drink options
a quick cooling breath practice and other simple cooling ideas
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal heal
Cyclical movement? How to align your exercise with the phases of your menstrual cycle with Tara Lynn Steele
Have you explored the world of cycle synching at all?
It's a concept that's been developed and popularized really over the past decade or so by some menstrual health influencers, but the truth is they were just tuning in to what our bodies already tell us.
The basics are that each phase of our cycles (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal) are characterized by different hormonal fluctuations and this impacts everything from our energy, to our sleep, to our appetite, to our attention and focus, to our facial features.
In other words, our cyclical hormones have a whole body, whole life impact and this also includes our ability to engage in different kinds of physical activity (yep, exercise).
So many of us try to stick to the same movement routine day after day or week after week, especially when we're actively training or trying hard to reach fitness goals.
But the reality is that if you start to listen more deeply to what you body is telling you in different phases, you'll probably start noticing that some weeks you just have less energy and you may want to be doing more floor-based or slow-but-strong exercises, whereas other weeks you're all in for cardio like running or dancing or a big hike.
While we're all unique (so it's always important to listen to your own body's signals), today's guest Tara Lynn Steele is a functional mobility coach who bridges the worlds of exercise and cyclical living into her practice.
She shares all about what she's learned and uncovered in both her own and her clients' bodies about the most effective ways to "unleash your [cycle] superpowers" by aligning your movement to your cycle.
And since she's a joint mobility expert, she shares some tips on how to work *with* your hormones to enhance your joint stability, too.
Listen to learn:
how to optimize your exercise based on the four phases of your menstrual cycle
why cardio and weight lifting may feel more natural sometimes and restorative yoga might be calling to you other times
when the best time to engage in social dancing, group exercise classes or community hikes is
how your joint stability changes throughout your cycle
when your body is primed to try new things and take risks
some basics on how to stabilize your joints if you're hypermobile
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herb
Weaving the ancestral thread: How to connect with your womb + herbal healing lineages
Have you explored the herbal lineages of your ancestral lines?
Most of us come to plant medicine learning either the plants around us (which is a wonderful way to begin!) or studying a particular tradition (western, Chinese, Ayurveda, or a specific regional medicinal practice).
But at this point in history, most of us have become pretty disconnected from our ancestral homelands, especially if we live in industrialized countries full or immigrants, colonists, or a history of forced migration.
Because of this, many of us have lost our relationship to our personal ancestral plant traditions, and in that process, completely lost connection to the wisdom from our womb lineages as well.
Before the individualized, industrialized, global-centric world we live in today, all of our ancestors had a relationship with plants as both food and medicine.
And especially those in our womb lineage would have carried and passed on much of the home and family herbalist traditions, and midwives would have been carrying the wisdom of cycles and seasons of our lives.
In simpler words, we all have womb lineages. And those lineages were often medicine carriers. Your cells hold this memory, and your wombspace does, too.
Today's episode offers a glimpse into how you can begin to explore reconnecting to these lost parts of yourself, with your womb and the plants at the center.
Listen to learn:
why I think herbal medicine is your birthright
about the co-evolution of plants and people
how your womb lineage may have carried plant wisdom
simple ways to learn more about your personal womb lineage
ideas for connecting with the herbal traditions of your ancestral lands
first steps on forming a plant ally from your womb lineage landscape
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Aromatherapy basics to enhance your libido, sensual + sexual energy with Amy Anthony
Have you ever noticed that you feel turned on by certain scents? Or even just noticed a relaxation response from lavender, or a stimulating energy from rosemary?
Aromatherapy is both a simple practice accessible to all of us and a more advanced therapeutic modality that can take a lifetime to study.
But the basic concept is that the volatile oils of plants (also called essential oils) can be captured through the process of distillation. The production of these oils can take anywhere from hundreds to thousands of pounds of plant material to create one pound of essential oil.
In other words, they are precious, highly concentrated medicinal plant extracts and are best worked with sparingly.
That said, these volatile oils (which you can smell) can be profoundly therapeutic, and can be worked with one drop at a time.
Their scents can transport us. Get us into our bodies. Relax us. Tune us in. Turn us on.
And that's exactly what we explore in today's episode.
Clinical aromatherapist Amy Anthony shares all about how to work with essential oils in a sophisticated and intentional way to enhance libido, sensuality and sexuality from a personalized-to-you lens.
Listen in to learn:
what aromatherapy is from a professional perspective
how essentials oils work in the body
why more is not better when it comes to essential oils
safety concerns and basics on working with essential oils
how plants communicate to us through their scents
how to look for quality essential oil sources
how aromatherapy can enhance your sensuality and sexuality
some "insider" tips on blending essential oils for best effect
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Is it perimenopause or...? Get the basics on this transitional time of your life
Can we just talk about how wholly unprepared most of us are for this massive transitional time in our lives?
It's one of those things we often don't talk about until it starts happening.
And even while it's happening you might feel shame about having symptoms like insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes, changes in libido, skin, metabolism or your cycles.
You're expected to just keep working, tending to your kids and life responsibilities, while also feeling unsure about whether what you're experiencing is normal.
And are these even symptoms of the menopausal transition? What else might be going on in your late 30's, 40's and early 50's that may be at the root of some of your hormonal imbalances?
There's a lot to unpack here. And instead of seeing this time as a complete mystery, I'm here to offer basic information about what perimenopause actually is and how it can be a time of powerful reclamation of yourself rather than a total shitshow.
Listen in to learn:
what the difference between menopause, perimenopause, early menopause, premature menopause and post-menopause are
when your symptoms might NOT be perimenopause
a new paradigm of thought around the perimenopausal time
ways to help prepare for a more easeful transition whether you have symptoms or not (and no matter what age you are)
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
When contraception fails! How it happens and why practicing FAM can help you prevent pregnancy more confidently
I'm sure we've all heard the stories of folks using some form of contraception and still ending up pregnant, or maybe this has been you!
It was a little uncanny to hear that my last two guests on the podcast BOTH had the experience of becoming pregnant while using contraception in their early years of sexual activity.
So I thought it would be a great topic to cover at the foundational level.
What does it mean for contraception methods to fail? How does that happen? And what should you be aware of to enhance your pregnancy prevention practice?
In today's episode, I explore:
the proper use of condoms
how to effectively practice withdrawal
some basics on working with cervical caps, diaphragms, spermicide, Phexxi
how your pelvic floor muscles may play a role here
why PIV sex during menstruation is NOT reliable birth control
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.
Cyclical Archetypes: Embodying the wisdom of your womb through natural cycles & divination with Em Dewey
At this point, the concept of the seasons of our menstrual cycles has become familiar to many of us. In other words, considering our inner winter as menstruation, inner spring as follicular, inner summer as ovulatory, and inner fall as luteal.
And if you haven't yet heard that description, there's a quick introduction to it.
But there's a difference between speaking these words, or seeing them written, and actually embodying them.
There's more to these archetypes than just the seasons themselves.
And as today's guest, herbalist and menstrual health coach Em Dewey shares, learning to familiarize herself with these seasons as they show up uniquely in her own cycle (vs what the picture perfect version looks like) completely changed her relationship with her body.
Her initiation into cyclic living and embracing her own patterns opened up an entirely new world for her. One in which she dove deeply into archetypal energies beyond the seasons, and explored the lunar cycle, animals, plants, the tarot and more as they related to her own cycling body.
She was so taken by this journey that she started an herbal company based on cycle wellness AND co-authored a divinatory oracle deck (Sacred Cycles) that helps you to more deeply understand some of these archetypal energies and your own body rhythms on a deeper level.
Listen in to hear all about:
what an archetype is
how to deepen your cycle awareness with archetypal energies
what we both consider to be missing from the "maiden, mother, crone" trifecta
ways not only the seasons, but lunar rhythms, plants and even tarot can relate to your cycle
a couple simple ways to start cycle tracking for self awareness
how Em's relationship to her body changed through cycle connection
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
How can milky oats replenish + restore your sexual, sensual + hormonal health?
Could it be possible for the humble oat plant to have a transformational impact on your sexual, sensual and hormonal health?
The answer is a resounding YES.
Between the oats you eat for breakfast, the oatstraw you drink in nourishing infusions, and the milky oats extract from the unripe seed heads that contain a luscious nourishing "milky sap" that is a true nervous system tonic, the unassuming oat plant is actually a bit of a wonder.
It's essentially a "food for your nervous system," especially when you're burnt out, frazzled, or just plain depleted. Which is, of course, not uncommon in this world that asks so much of us all the time.
And it's partly because of the deep nervous system restoration that milky oats is perfectly suited to supporting your arousal, your libido, your cycle health and more.
When we think about sex, we're unlikely to think of oatmeal. But let me tell you, there's a reason to, and I share all about it in this week's episode.
Listen to the episode to learn:
the different medicinal actions between the oats you eat, oatstraw and milky oats (hint: they are each completely different)
why I now consider oats to be an ESSENTIAL herb for hormonal health
actions and traditional uses of the oat plant in all its forms
ways to work with oats to nourish your sensual, sexual + hormonal health
some interesting scientific research both validating traditional uses of oats and adding some new insights
how to tell when milky oats are ripe and why I recommend growing them
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
How to prepare for a VBAC using herbs, homeopathy, mindset + more with Jahwei Chen-Graf
Okay, let's be real. 1 out of every 3 births in the United States is a cesarean. So, if you've experienced a C-section birth, you're far from alone.
That said, many people wish to achieve a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and possibly even want to try that at home.
And while there's certainly risk involved, there's also a very high success rate.
So what can you do to prepare yourself for a successful VBAC?
So much! And today's guest, naturopath and clinical herbalist Jahwei Chen-Graf shares all about her personal embodied experience of her home birth-turned-cesarean and her TWO subsequent vaginal births at home.
She reveals all the holistic ways she prepared for her VBAC, including homeopathic remedies, herbs, finding the right care provider, movement, mindset, book recommendations, and more.
And she gives tips gleaned from her clinical practice, too.
Her stories are insightful and inspiring, and the truth is we need to hear more positive birth stories, and especially stories that challenge what we've been told and help us to trust our bodies innate wisdom.
Whether or not you've had a cesarean, if you're preparing for a natural birth, this episode is perfect for you.
Listen to learn:
Jahwei's embodied insights and birth stories (home birth-turned-cesarean followed by two vaginal births at home)
how to prepare your body and mind for a VBAC
specific practices Jahwei found especially helpful
a list of books and resources to help you prepare for natural birth
why it's important to find a birth provider who believes in you
homeopathics and herbs that may be helpful in pregnancy and labor
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
What is your irregular menstrual cycle telling you? (and why it matters)
Irregular cycles. Are they something to just shrug off, or is it important to pay attention to them?
The answer is, it depends. But almost always, they are giving you some kind of information that will be helpful for you to understand not only your hormonal health, but also you whole body health.
After all, your cycle is a vital sign.
So if you're noticing cycles longer than 35 days on a regular basis, or you're missing cycles regularly, or you're noticing shorter then longer cycles, or it seems like they've completely vanished, your body is telling you something.
During our primary cycling years (which include decades of our lives), healthy menstrual cycles between 26 and 34 days are ideal. They tell us we're on the right track, that we're not too stressed or undernourished or that something else is out of whack.
They give us basic reassurance, and when our rhythms get wonky, we can start paying attention to our symptoms to get a picture of what might be going on and how to restore our healthy rhythms.
It's a gift to have these cycles to give us so much information.
Listen to today's episode to learn:
why irregular cycles are something to pay attention to
what your cycle might be telling you
3 common causes of irregular cycles
a few less common causes of irregular cycles
implications of irregular cycles over the long term
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Grief & Pleasure: The healing power of your sensual body in times of change (postpartum & beyond) with Stacey Ramsower
Have you ever noticed yourself becoming more aware of your senses when you're in the depths of grief or loss?
It's an interesting thing that feeling such grief can remind us of what we love, to paraphrase a Martin Prechtel quote that this week's guest Stacey Ramsower shared.
Somehow, dropping into what sometimes feels like emptiness, helplessness, or lostness, can actually help us feel what matters most.
Which seems counter-intuitive but is often true.
Whether it's the often-unspoken grief we experience postpartum when our identities change or grief after another loss or immense life transition, pleasure is commonly part of our healing path.
And we talk all about this, and so much more, in this weeks episode.
Listen to learn:
about the intersection of grief and pleasure
how inner listening may help you connect with your own pleasure
ways that your simple senses might help you remember what you love
why it's important to acknowledge your grief postpartum
pelvic pain and pain with sex postpartum and some tips to navigate it
how any kind of immense loss can lead to grief and how pleasure heals
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
How does the vagus nerve affect your sexual arousal + pelvic organs?
Ahh, the vagus nerve. It's funny how this nerve has basically become its own kind of celebrity.
I mean, who would have ever thought that a nerve could gain such popularity and trending hashtags? But it has, and for good reason.
Not only does the vagus nerve comprise 75% of our parasympathetic nervous systems*, but it's also the longest cranial nerve (meaning the longest nerve that travels from the brain into the body).
And this nerve impacts everything from our breathing to our heart rate to our digestion to our arousal!
But there are also some risks and concerns we should consider before we go all in on vagal toning, some of which may surprise you.
Listen to the episode to learn:
basics on the vagus nerve (anatomy, relationship to organs)
why vagal response is not always a good thing
simple ways to enhance your vagal tone
which pelvic organs the vagus nerve innervates
why heart rate variability is important to track
how the vagus nerve relates to sexual function and arousal
why you want both sympathetic + parasympathetic activity for sex
specific ways to enhance your pleasure using vagal toning
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Hashimoto's? Nutrition + lifestyle wisdom for optimal thyroid health with Kamila Veljkovic
In fact, up to 5% of all people in the US may be faced with this autoimmune disorder, which often shows up between the ages of 30 and 50 and is significantly more common in women and folks with wombs.
But the reality is that Hashimoto's itself doesn't have to mean you end up with hypothyroidism, especially if you catch it earlier and implement a variety of nutritional and lifestyle approaches that can even reverse the condition altogether.
That said, every person is unique, and your tiggers may be completely different from someone else with Hashimoto's.
Understanding your unique triggers can give you incredible power in being able to keep yourself in a state of remission, particularly once you start to experience more noticeable symptoms.
Today's guest, nutritionist Kamila Veljkovic, shares all about different root causes that may be at the core of Hashimoto's, and nutritional or lifestyle suggestions to support you in reducing symptoms and possibly even heading towards remission.
She's got both personal embodied and clinical expertise in this area, and this conversation is full of gems you'll walk away with.
Listen to the episode to learn:
what Hashimoto's is and how it differs from hypothyroidism
the tests that can help you to determine if you have Hashimoto's
a few of the major root causes of Hashimoto's
some of Kamila's favorite supplements for her clients
a holistic lifestyle approach to address Hashimoto's and autoimmunity
how an integrative plan may be exactly what you need
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Embodying Spring: Clear, cleanse & cultivate optimal health with traditional seasonal wisdom
And that means... it's time to clear out the gunk accumulated over the winter (inside and out). Especially if you've been eating lots of rich foods, hibernating indoors, or feeling stagnant and sedentary at all.
The earth is coming alive and inviting us to come alive with it.
So, what are some simple ways you can engage with the spring season to encourage optimal health?
From an Ayurvedic perspective, the spring season is associated with the Kapha dosha, which encompasses the elements of earth and water. In other words, mud.
Which is sometimes what our bodies feel like in springtime, especially if we have a tendency towards congestion or sluggishness.
So working with herbs, foods and lifestyle habits can have a tremendous impact on whether we clear out the heaviness or become burdened by it.
And once we've cleared out the gunk, we can start to focus on cultivating healthy "soil" in our bodies and embodying the real magic of the spring season (eg fertility, sensuality and sexuality).
You'll hear all about all of this and more in this week's episode.
Listen to learn:
how we can sense the season in our bodies
what foods and herbs can be helpful to balance out Kapha dosa
which wild weeds are perfect choices for balancing out Spring
about spring tonics from a western herbal perspective
a few options for gentle spring "cleanses"
what to do after you clear the gunk out (hint: nourish)
why spring is the perfect time to re-engage your sexuality
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Pelvic Wisdom: How to heal trauma with embodied listening & womb tending with Dr Emily Wilson
Who isn't living with some form of trauma in our current world?
It's just part of our lives, and whether you've got something lingering from childhood, a more recent experience, or even chronic underlying patterns that carve out longer term less-overt forms of trauma, we've all got something to heal from.
And as you may already know, trauma commonly settles into the pelvis - whether it's sexual or not.
Today's interview with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr Emily Wilson explores a variety of different practices specifically focused on your pelvis, womb and cervix that may be helpful for you to begin your personal trauma healing journey.
You'll learn about how the position of your womb may carry a certain meaning, why your psoas (a muscle spanning from your mid-back to your groin) may be holding tension, and how your cervix may be trying to tell you something - all through deeply listening to patterns of imbalance in your body.
Emily really bridges her knowledge of physical therapy techniques with more intuitive healing work, which helps make this work accessible for pretty much all of us.
Listen to the episode to learn:
why healing trauma using conventional physical therapy may not be enough
how to begin connecting with your womb wisdom simply and gently
some ideas of what the position of your womb in your pelvis may mean
about the cervix as a guardian
why the psoas is essential to consider when healing trauma
how the "witch wound" may be showing up in your life
about the womb as a powerful seat of embodied wisdom
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
10 key herbs for your hormonal health from menarche through menopause
If you're familiar with my style, you know I'm not a this-for-that kind of herbalist so when I was asked the question a couple weeks ago, "what herbs do you recommend for hormonal health?" My answer was unsurprisingly, "it depends."
But I wanted to create something to answer that question that also incorporates the concept of WHY we would choose each of these herbs.
Not just what the herbs are, not just their actions, but how they support hormonal health from a more wide-lens perspective.
So I referred back to the 5 herbal pillars of hormonal health that I covered last summer, and chose a range of some of my favorite herbs that cover each of those, so you have a few herbs you can begin to explore depending on what symptoms and patterns you see showing up in your body hormonally.
No matter what menstrual challenge or peri-menopausal weirdness you've got going on, it's likely at least one of these herbs may be an ally for you.
In the end, it's less about the exact symptoms and more about what's underlying your imbalances that matters.
And you'll hear all about that and more in this episode.
Listen to learn:
why hormonal health is more complex than just addressing symptoms
review the 5 herbal pillars of hormonal health
10 of my favorite herbs to incorporate into hormonal health formulas
specific indications, energetics and insights on each herb
how tracking your symptom patterns helps you choose herbs
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Enhanced orgasms & the path to lifelong pleasure from fertility years to menopause with Susan Bratton
So many of us are taught to feel shame around our sexuality, orgasms, pleasure.
What happens when we shake a little of that shame and modesty off and start to explore what's really possible?
The truth is, there is SO MUCH MORE than most of us have any idea about.
Today's guest, intimacy expert Susan Bratton, is a 64 year old woman who says she's juicier than she's ever been, and her pleasure potential just continues to expand!
We're taught we're going to dry up, shrivel up and our libido is going to wither away as we get older. As if we've gotta get it all out and live up our 30's and 40's while we can.
But that's not truuuuuue! It's all wrong.
Pleasure is a continuum and getting to know YOUR unique body, your erectile tissue, what YOU like, and how to enhance your full-body, full-being pleasure sensations as you continue to grow and change is a lifelong path.
Susan shares all about her marriage where all she had was dutiful sex (where she had never had an orgasm w intercourse) until she was 42, and her marriage was a mess.
Over the past 20+ years she's devoted her life to to passionate lovemaking for own self, and teaches how you can do that too.
We talk basics on orgasmic meditation, tools, lubes, and even how certain probiotic strains can support your oxytocin levels.
This is a pretty packed interview, a good foundation if you're interested in enhancing pleasure anytime from TTC through menopausal years.
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.
Demystifying Herbal Abortions with Molly Dutton-Kenny, CPM
Let's just be real and acknowledge this is an edgy topic.
It's one of those things we don't talk about and often stays tucked in the dark and under the table, so much so that most clinically trained herbalists (and even midwives) have little to no training on this topic AT ALL.
So most of us just avoid the topic. We assume that herbal abortifacients are unsafe and inappropriate and other abortion techniques (like medication, aspiration or clinical) are a better option.
But is there a place for herbal abortions, and if so what would that look like?
Midwife Molly Dutton-Kenny gives a glimpse into an answer that may surprise you.
As a full spectrum midwife, she's been offering abortion care in various forms for her entire career, and even chose the path of midwifery to become a better abortion provider!
Honestly, I'm not sure there's anyone better suited to speak on this topic than she is.
Plus, she's been part of a collective of folks who've gathered and recorded data on herbal abortion care that has recently been published into an article, which we also cover.
It's a fascinating exploration into what's safe and effective, what's not, and so much more.
Listen to the episode to learn:
the difference between self-managed abortions + at-home abortion care
stories of Molly's first experiences offering herbal abortion care
how she wove together many trainings to become an abortion provider
basics on pregnancy prevention the herbal way
how encouraging menstruation differs from abortion
some examples of herbs that may be incorporated into this care
what's normal and what's not in the abortion experience (+ safety)
details about the published article and their findings on efficacy
why dosing low and slow is better than high and fast
how diverse different practitioners' protocols are
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for a
How does your gut health relate to your hormones? The estrobolome, liver + a healthy microbiome
It’s easy to think that our systems are separate. We don’t typically think - “oh, I have a hormonal imbalance, I wonder if my food sensitivities or bloating are related to that."
But the truth is, your gut is intricately related to your hormonal health in a variety of ways.
And most especially through your miraculous microbiome, including a specialized part called “the estrobolome.”
Whether you have PCOS, endometriosis, estrogen dominance or even if you have perimenopausal or other hormonal imbalance symptoms, the composition of your microbiome is likely a part of the picture.
Our endocrine system is complex. And finding that dynamic dance of optimal hormonal health we’re seeking is often a multi-facted path.
Whether it’s stress, inflammation, detoxification, elimination, microbiome health, or even sleep, every single one of these factors impacts your gut. And also your hormones.
This episode gets nerdy in good ways, especially if you’re curious about how all of this works.
Listen in to learn:
how your hormones affect your gut, and how your gut affects your hormones
what the metabolome and estrobolome are and why they matter
specifics on the microbiome and PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and thyroid imbalance
how oxytocin ("the love hormone") affects your gut
specific ways you can restore a healthy microbiome and gut (herbs, diet, lifestyle, etc)
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
Self-care and healing embodied trauma after cesarean birth with Lilliana Rivera
Cesarean births are on the rise globally. And though the numbers are staying pretty stable in the US, they account for about 1/3 of all births here.
Regardless of where you live, the healing process afterwards is something we absolutely do NOT talk about enough. It's multifaceted and different for everyone.
For some, cesareans are a chosen form of birth. But for many, they're a completely unexpected direction for a birth to go, and they are sometimes very rushed.
While you might have been preparing for the birth process (homebirth or hospital, natural or otherwise), you probably weren't anticipating a cesarean birth, so you probably didn't learn everything you would want to know about them.
And even beyond that, you probably weren't considering the much more intensive postpartum healing journey that takes place after major abdominal surgery.
Needless to say, there's a lot to this. And whether or not the cesarean was desired, there's often some kind of trauma, whether physical or emotional, that comes along with it.
This is what we dive into in today's episode with abdominal massage therapist and holistic womb coach, Lilliana Rivera.
She shares all about her own cesarean births and womb story, and how she healed her chronic pain and numbness in her lower belly, and also worked on integrating her emotional trauma that was held in that place for years after her second cesarean.
It's a beautiful conversation about the depth of healing possible when you offer yourself self-care and therapeutic practices to support your healing process.
Listen to the episode to learn:
different modalities to support your healing after cesarean birth
how abdominal massage therapy can help with scar tissue, pain, numbness
why your womb may be holding emotional trauma (from birth or otherwise)
that healing is possible whether your cesarean was last year or 40 years ago
how cultivating a relationship with your womb is deeply healing in itself
ways to navigate body image issues and self-acceptance post-cesarean
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.