Herbs and herbal medicine

Our natural cycles influence us physically and emotionally as we move through each phase of life. Holly Davis looks at how herbs can help us manage each stage.

A healthy reproductive system is of key importance to us as it dominates our lives and influences our relationships. However, as we journey from daughter to young woman to lover to wife to matriarch, the great Goddess of the moon also directs and influences our physiological growth and our appreciation of life.

Science would have us think otherwise, referring to these events in our lives as mere physiological programming, but there is another awareness of what drives us. On quiet nights when children are sleeping, when partners are gone from us, when houses are still and there is only the sound of our own hearts beating, then we might hear our intuition speak to us of deeper ways of knowing. These whispers tell us of an understanding that lies beyond technological efficiency and domestic practicalities. It is an understanding that lets us know when to be concerned and when to trust, when to act and when to wait.

This kind of intuitive knowledge is accessed more easily when we are in good health, as it is then that the channels feel clear. But a woman’s health is so easily and often challenged, and before we even take into account the speed of modern-day living and the high expectations we have of ourselves, we often find we’re also at the mercy of our hormones, which can change the way we think, feel and respond to the world in which we live.

How herbs can help

Herbal medicine has a very long and important history in helping people deal with and manage illness. In times long past, women were the custodians of herbal lore. They grew and dried the herbs, concocted teas and tinctures, and combined them to create healing prescriptions. The reputation of these healers grew so much that there was a time when they were seen as dangerous to the status quo. Named as witches, many thousands even lost their lives in the purges that followed to rid society of their ‘evil’ ways. Thankfully, much of their knowledge survived and has been passed on to the men and women who practise herbal medicine today.

Herbs have a plethora of applications and may be used to prevent and treat any manner of ailments – from simple treatments such as chamomile tea to soothe, or lemongrass
and peppermint tea to uplift; to more complex concerns such as the healing of a wound with calendula and goldenseal tinctures, or easing a troubled mind with St. John’s wort.
When it comes to the cycles of a woman’s health there are many effective remedies, some of which are mentioned here.

Beginning menstruation

The first challenge a young woman faces is menarche (the onset of menstruation), an event that precipitates her into a different role within the natural world. The moon rules the cycle of ovulation and at this time a girl enters into a relationship with this basic earthly cycle. Now she is deeply connected with the cyclical nature of life. As a young woman becomes fertile, she experiences the beginnings of herself as a sexual creature and her body grows and changes. There are many things that can help to mark and manage these changes. A mother-daughter outing, a special gift, sensitive conduct and wise use of herbal and kitchen-cupboard medicine can all assist her on the path to womanhood.

In the beginning, the cycle may be erratic, and can bring with it moodiness, pain, cramps and headaches. The hot water bottle is a fine example of a simple tool that helps ease period pain – I have often wondered how any woman could have lived without one. Acupuncture, massage and reflexology can also ease this common discomfort.

Nature has also provided a few age-old remedies. Chaste tree is a herb that featured in the Iliad, an ancient epic poem written by Homer, as a symbol of chastity and for its efficacy
in warding off evil. This use, perhaps, isn’t relevant in modern times; however, the herb is a good aid for managing premenstrual syndrome. It is thought that chaste tree does this by reducing levels of the hormone prolactin, believed to be a cause of premenstrual syndrome. It helps to regulate female hormones, reduce breast tenderness and minimise period pain and menstrual irregularity. When taken consistently, it really helps moderate discomfort and the mood swings that many women find can put a strain on relationships. So effective is this herb that it could be referred to as the ‘marriage saver’.

Dong quai is another herb with a reputation for being a good friend to the female reproductive system. This herb helps regulate abnormal menstruation (whether too heavy or too light) and relieves period pain and cramps. Dong quai is also used during menopause and for other reproductive-system issues. Described as the ‘queen of the female tonics’ it is ideal for those who are anaemic.

The child-bearing years

These exciting years bring many challenges into a woman’s life and the transitions and realignments – both physical and mental – can be exhausting and confusing. Once again, there are herbal remedies that can help during this time, whether it's with conception, labour, healing after the birth, breastfeeding, tiredness, increasing emotional stamina and so forth. A useful resource is www.naturalparenting.com.au, which provides friendly, positive advice for new parents.If conception is an issue, there are herbalists who specialise in helping women conceive or boost their fertility. These practitioners tailor programs to incorporate nutritional, herbal and lifestyle advice that will help a woman manage and cope with this most important phase of life. One of the most commonly used herbs during pregnancy is raspberry leaf. Taken from the second trimester onwards, and often recommended in tea form, it provides a gentle uterine toning action and much-needed iron, both of which are required for a healthy pregnancy and a straightforward delivery.

When the baby arrives, there are a number of herbs that can be used to promote breast-milk production, many of which are good, old-fashioned tonics that are rich in minerals and provide valuable sustenance for mother and baby. Nettle leaf, oatstraw, dandelion root and alfalfa are all used for this purpose, as are withania and licorice. However, before taking any herbal treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding, it’s vital you speak to a professional herbalist or naturopath, and also discuss any herbal treatment you are undergoing with your GP. In a typical consultation, the herbalist or naturopath will take a case history and discuss your health needs and goals before determining a course of action, giving you lifestyle advice and then prescribing a herbal remedy specifically designed for your individual needs. The session can take up to an hour, depending on the practitioner, and the cost may be covered by your private health fund.

Perimenopause and menopause

This significant time in a woman’s life ironically often coincides with other emotional demands, such as managing teenagers and looking after ageing parents. At a time when a steady hand is needed, women may find themselves questioning their sanity as their mind and body change gear and prepare for a new phase of life.

During this period, a woman travels out of the child-bearing and child-rearing years into a new relationship with herself and, as the menstrual cycle ceases, the support of herbal medicine may be of particular interest. Menopause usually occurs from the late 40s to the mid-50s, and the time it takes to happen, along with the symptoms, can vary. Women may experience hot flushes, mood swings, insomnia, heavy and erratic bleeding, vaginal dryness, skin changes, weight gain and loss of libido.

As a result of these less-than-attractive-sounding symptoms, menopause is generally not welcomed and may even be feared. But it is a normal event in a woman’s life and many symptoms can be eliminated or greatly reduced with help from the herbal kingdom. It’s also worth considering your attitude to menopause and what this new stage means for you.

Renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead described menopause as a time of great positivity for a woman, when she can be liberated from the responsibilities of the mother role and reshape her life. She even referred to the time following this as one of ‘postmenopausal zeal’. It’s true there are many benefits that come with ‘the change’ – for a start, it is common to experience a growth in wisdom, self-knowledge and acceptance. Contraception worries are also gone. In fact, menopause is surely better regarded as a time of gain rather than one of loss, as we are now free to think about ourselves in a way that is quite new. Things that may have been out of reach before could now come into view – we can consider doing things such as buying a motorbike or doing a solo trek in Nepal without all the family in tow.

This is also a time when our hard-won wisdom can help us see all that we have achieved and what is really valuable. More often than not, choices at this time are about love, relationships, freedom and independence. It can be quite an exhilarating stage of life as the duties and obligations of keeping house, raising a family, and ensuring children are safe, happy and well-fed all change, and you have more time to focus on you.

There is an array of herbs that can help with the physiological changes that occur at this time. The ones that usually feature in menopausal tonics include: chaste tree berry, yarrow, sage, hops, wild yam, dandelion, dong quai and black. British nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville recommends women combine the use of herbs with a healthy diet to effectively manage what is a normal life passage. She stresses that menopause is not an illness and that this time is all about choice. Her book, The New Natural Alternatives to HRT (Kyle Cathie, 2003), outlines plenty of options for women who want to take their health in hand at this challenging stage.

Menopause is a time, she suggests, when women can think about regaining their power after years of putting others first. One of the first things to do is choose how to manage our health in the way we want. Another contributor to the discussion on menopausal treatments is American doctor Christiane Northrup, author of The Wisdom of Menopause (Judy Piatkus Publishers, 2001). Her book also puts forward a variety of different choices to women, as well as offering inspiration and real-life stories.

Finding the right herbalist

Finding a practitioner with whom you feel comfortable is the first step you will need to take. It is not uncommon for herbalists or naturopaths to be located in a multi-disciplinary practice working alongside a doctor, osteopath, counsellor and so forth. The herbalist may use Western, Chinese or Ayurvedic (Indian) herbs, or a combination, depending on their training. Undertaking herbal therapy can be very empowering – this is a style of medicine that involves you as an active participant in the management of your health, rather than simply taking pills or, worse still, bravely soldiering on.

The popularity of complementary or holistic treatments such as herbal therapy isn’t surprising, and can be attributed in part to the amount of time given to the individual patient. The high-tech methods of modern medicine have left many who have sought treatment feeling undervalued and dehumanised. This modern medical system has, in becoming super-efficient and focused on economics, eroded the human-contact aspect with the healer that many patients find so beneficial. Herbal medicine offers a pathway back to the tradition we used to know as bedside medicine, whereby the practitioner takes time with each patient – and listening is a significant part of the consultation.

Taking care

Herbal medicine is a powerful tool that can be very effective, but just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe. Some herbs are contraindicated in certain circumstances − for example, St. John’s wort may change the efficacy of the contraceptive pill, pennyroyal is not advised during pregnancy, and too much peppermint tea while breastfeeding can dry up the milk supply.

A consultation with an accredited herbalist or naturopath is essential as he or she is trained to design a program specific to you. If you are taking pharmaceutical drugs, tell your practitioner – he or she will need to know this when prescribing any remedies for you. To locate a professional herbalist or naturopath near you, contact the National Herbalists Association of Australia at www.nhaa.org.au or the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society at www.atms.com.au.

Herbs for menopause

Chaste tree, which acts as a hormone balancer, is an effective remedy for the perimenopausal phase (the time leading up to menopause) when periods may be erratic and premenstrual syndrome can build up. Black cohosh is commonly used for treating hot flushes. It also combines well with sage tea, which has long been used to stabilise night sweats. St. John’s wort is used as a mild to moderate antidepressant and nerve tonic. It is also combined with black cohosh to treat menopause when mood change is one of the most troubling symptoms. Valerian is widely used to help with sleeplessness, while Siberian ginseng, which improves mental performance and alertness, and has compounds similar to estrogen, is used to combat tiredness, treat irregular periods and relieve hot flushes.

 

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Hair & make-up: Tira Jaye.