Chamomile, Matricaria recutita is one of the strongest herbs there is. The thing is, we tend to take it for granted. You can get it at the grocery store, you can order it at pretty near any restaurant – how could something so COMMON have any kind of potency as medicine? But it’s that commonness that clues us into what an important medicine it is! Back in the 1930s, much of the country gave up herbal medicines in favor of chemical medicines, and the only herbs that survived in our modern culture were culinary ones – because those are “just flavors”. Of course, they’re not! They’re important medicines in their own right – so important that we put them in our foods to make sure we got them every day. But Chamomile was one of the very few herbs that is not culinary, but which we held on to as a culture. Why? Because it was too important to put aside.

Dr. Rachel Madera is a physical therapist who specializes in the pelvic floor focusing on pregnancy and postpartum care and our suitemate! She loves helping women in any stage of life be the best version of themselves by addressing any pelvic floor concerns.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is an effective treatment option for many women during pregnancy and after childbirth. 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is one of my very favorite herbs: it supports the adrenals and other endocrine organs, improving the function of those organs and helping the body to better cope with stress. You’ve probably heard about the “HPA axis” – which is the connection recognized between the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands. But I feel that ALL the endocrine glands are one giant axis of interconnected function and when one of them is out of whack, it affects communication and functioning throughout the whole body. And while we’re talking about endocrine glands, they are often referenced when we present with things like tiredness/fatigue or have less energy than we think we should. Most people know there are hormones involved, but the physiology of the endocrine system isn’t intuitive. It’s just a method of communication!

In a world with so much to offer to help you take care of your baby…..we may all be missing the most important item.

A POSTPARTUM DOULA.

Kava

piper methysticum

hot, dry, relaxing

Taste: bitter, pungent, numbing

Family: piperaceae

Medicinal parts: roots

Actions: antispasmodic, carminative, muscle relaxant, sedative, anodyne, anesthetic, euphoric, urinary disinfectant

Affinities: musculoskeletal, nervous and urinary systems

Notable constituents: kavalactones (kavain, methysticin, yangonin), flavokavains, phytosterols

Angelica LOVES Iceland, and it grows as tall as me – or taller from what I hear. It’s got a strong, tall stalk and huge flower head, with leafy arms that reach for the sky and the sun that never sets. Iceland is a place of extremes: it’s all day or all night. At any moment, a volcano could engulf the entire island, and everyone is very aware of that. The people are all work or all play – and I think the extremes of the climate and land encourage that.

The gentle Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil combined with the Packs/compresses help support:

• Better sleep

• More regular bowel movements

• Youthful-looking skin

• Less bloating

• Less stress

Pregnancy is an extraordinary, beautiful, and exciting time in a woman’s life, and a maternity photo shoot is the perfect way to capture the beauty of the pregnant body and create memories for a lifetime. As pregnancy progresses though, many changes that the body goes through can lead to discomfort, pain, and reduced mobility. Chiropractic care can help alleviate some of these pains, maintain spinal health, and prepare the body for a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Sarsaparilla

Smilax spp.

warm, moist, tonifying

Taste:pungent, sweet, slightly salty

Family:Liliaceae

Medicinal parts:roots

Actions:hepatic, digestive, nutritive, alterative, adrenal tonic, immune modulator, diuretic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, emollient, anti-rheumatic

Affinities: liver

Notable constituents:glycyphyllin, parillin, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, smilostanols, sarsaponin, smilasaponin, sarsaparilloside

Dandelion

Root (Liver stimulant):

Let’s start with the root. Dandelion root is a safe and effective liver stimulant. It increases bile flow and hepatocyte activity. This helps you “detox”, but we’re not talking about a “cleanse” here. Dandelion works steadily and gently, not in a forceful, overriding way – it keeps the waste drainage running smoothly, so you clear out what needs to be disposed of. Improving liver function has effects that show up all throughout the body – it can reduce rashes, improve skin presentation, and reduce constipation. It also helps with hormonal balance, because some of the “waste” the liver has to process is in fact excess hormones which need to be eliminated, so dandelion can even help with PCOS and PMS.

Stinging Nettle Leaf

This amazing plant is mostly known for its high mineral content including: iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, boron and strontium. It is also high in vitamins A, C, K and B’s. It contains phytonutrients like: chlorophyll, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, quercetin and rutin.

Are you ready to start your baby on solid foods? Are you overwhelmed by all the contradicting information that’s out there? Yeah, I don’t blame you, its confusing. With most things in parenting, I try to encourage you to make choices that feel right, authentic, and natural. I also try to recommend something easy because many things that are easy are also pretty natural and holistic. I found Baby-Led Weaning after attending a local workshop on the topic and I’m so glad I did. I am looking forward to using it in the future.

I love books! Even more if they are about birth, parenting, natural health, breastfeeding, communication and personal growth. So as a book junkie Here are some of my top favorites and links to each!

A detox bath is a great way to help your child relax and boost their immune system. This is a great routine if your child is exposed to potential illnesses, harsh chemicals, and environmental or medical toxins. Of course, chiropractic is a great thing to pair with this bath protocol to ensure proper brain and nervous system function.

There are many things you can start implementing today even before diving into mineral balancing that will help set your body on a healthier path. Today we are going to discuss some of those strategies! Some may seem common sense, but think about which of these you could do better with.

Today, I wanted to take some time to discuss ways that we encounter heavy metals. When we know how this can happen we have more power to decrease or eliminate our exposure! Some very common heavy metals that I have experienced most of my patients struggle with are: Mercury, Aluminum and Arsenic.

This blog post is referenced from The Root Cause Protocol’s website and is going to be a spotlight on the “anemia of pregnancy,” which is a condition thatI have recently learned about, and is “myth-treated” in the world of conventional obstetrics and midwifery. They sadly don’t seem to be aware of the natural concept of “hemodilution” that occurs during the course of pregnancy and I am going to shed some light on what I have learned to help save you and your baby some stress.

Lately, I have been learning so much from the Root Cause Protocol as I have gotten into HTMA. I have not dove in completely yet, but I probably will be soon, since there is so much biochemical logic (brings me back to undergrad and chiropractic school) in Dr. Morley’s work!

Here’s a must read by Kate Clancy who de-bunks the popular myth that women engaged in menstruation will develop iron-deficiency anemia.

I am excited to announce a new service that I am adding to the practice!

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis!

Some of you know that I have been taking a mineral analysis course, so what is it you ask?!

A recent research article discussed the history of the decline in sperm counts of more the 50% since the 1970’s! At the same time mens problems with conceiving are going up, erectile disfunction is increasing, testosterone levels are declining by 1% per year.