A Pregnant Pause

When I first became pregnant, I had been having baby dreams for a couple years. Dreams where a small face looked up at me, nestled in my arms among the usual swirl of houses, people and hidden treasures. A feeling of tender calm would accompany these dreams, a knowingness, if that's a word.
   I was 26 when this happened. While I was ready physically, in other ways, less so. I had a lot of fun in the years before, travelling in a van across much of Canada and the United States. Living close to nature with an active lifestyle, eating and growing delicious food. I learned about the medicines that are all around us. I made things by hand, traded and sold them at markets and fairs. What I did not have was a steady income, a house, a supportive family or partner. I was briefly married to the father of my child, and that breakup was a stressfest.
   I seemed to be constantly nauseous during the entire pregnancy. I supplemented with B vitamins and drank ginger tea. I had to avoid all crucifers (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli), my already sensitive digestion was on high alert. Apparently for some people, pregnancy hormones are something their body reacts against like a toxin. I was a slim, small breasted, boyish type physically, but had always eaten whatever I wanted, and had been into health since my teens. I know everyone is different in this aspect and you might not experience pregnancy the same as your mother, sister, etc. I know the stress I was under didn't help. I also experienced an itchy tummy rash that I didn't have with my other two pregnancies.
   Drinking warm goats milk was my favourite way to start the day. I was lucky to have a source for raw organic milk from a friend nearby. I would also drink  it mixed with super nutritious carob powder. I drank carrot juice on a daily basis, and had been for some years before. I mention this as when you are pregnant is not the time to radically change your diet. Any cleansing is best left until after the child is weaned. By all means cut out cigarettes and alcohol, perhaps introduce fresh juice if you wish, but take it slow and even diluted with water can make it more gentle on you at a time when your digestion may not be as strong. One thing worth adding to your diet is flax or hemp oil, it can be substituted for other oils in a salad dressing, added to smoothies, or substituted for butter, etc. on toast, for example. These highly beneficial oils should not be heated. I have used flax oil for over 20 years, hemp oil has become widely available more recently, and has an ideal ratio of omega oils for the human body. I mention these oils because it is to themI attribute my total lack of stretch marks. Of course I  moisturized my belly on the outside as well, but with our brains comprised of sixty percent, it makes sense to provide our bodies with the highest quality oils we can, especially when we are building an entire other body within.
   Going beyond food, other important elements of my pregnancies were of course, regular gentle exercise (I favour long walks, and also yoga) and baths with essential oils (lavendar, chamomile, neroli), avoiding stress, and nesting. Babies grow so rapidly that they don't wear things out, it is possible to get almost everything secondhand, one can save so much money that way. Having as much as possible in order before hand goes a long way towards settling mothers' nerves. I also made a sort of empowerment poster for myself. I collected different images representing god/goddess, community, the earth, I found meditating on, or holding some of these images in my mind, relaxing and strengthening

Chronological Cornucopia - Teen Dramz

   With the teen years comes the double edged sword of freedom and responsibility. You no longer have to watch them every minute, instead you are left to wonder just what it is they are up to. The values you have instilled by your own actions and the way you communicate these are paramount now. One has to be more subtle in the ways we protect them, as they resist our authority in their efforts to be independant.
   The best eaters may become finicky, the sweetest child may become obnoxious in manners or habits. Their desire to conform and fit in at this time of insecurity is part of their finding themselves, possibly trying on a few different styles and attitudes along the way. Teenagers can be obsessed with the superficial. Along with the physical changes that manifest, comes a desire to shape ones appearance into the current accepted notion of attractiveness. This usually encompasses hairstyles and the brands of clothing everyone else at school is wearing. During this time, you, the parent, will not be cool and will know nothing about what is. Your behaviour, appearance, vehicle may be an embarassment.
   A large part of the drama may be due to the hormonal fluctuations of puberty. As was the case with me, puberty for my daughter was a waiting game. All her friends had "it" and were weraring bras before her. Certain foods are known to be estrogenics, such as tofu and other soy products, and yams. These then, would be recommended for girls not boys. Normally a vegetarian, she ate some meat during this time. Also I gave her royal jelly supplements, ( what future queen bees eat ) With all the hormones that are present in meat and dairy products these days usually girls are experiencing menses earlier. For the normal (!) moodiness and discomforts that accompany this time of the month, supplements such as Dong Quai can be invaluable. Dong Quai is known as the female ginseng in the chinese pharmacopeia. I personally use it every month. I have a tincture, but capsules are available at chinese shops or health food stores. I generally use it only when I am experiencing symptoms. Other herbs useful at this time: chamomile, yarrow, feverfew, nettle. Of course with this comes a concern about adequate iron intake. Blackstrap molasses (yumz on porridge), seaweed, beets, and dark greens are iron rich foods for vegetarians. Or take a supplement, liquid is easier to digest than iron tablets.
  These times of hormonal havoc, can be a challenge for the immune system as well. Taking something that strengthens and regulates can be very beneficial for males and females. Maca, known as the Peruvian ginseng, is highly nutritious and can benefit males and females, Also astragalus, know as the young peoples ginseng in China, has both adaptogenic (helps the body deal with stress) and immune boosting properties. Other behavioural issues may not be related directly to the bodys' changes. Our youngest child has always seemed to be more confrontational, and calls from the school are something we have had to deal with somewhat regularly since the primary grades. I have always had very clear boundaries around what is acceptable and what my expectations are at home. I am reasonable yet am very clear on what are rights and what are priveleges. Certain teachers seem better able to handle my darling. I don't wish to label my child and yet I do recognize certain tendencies, and hereditary traits may make his school years more difficult. I have always used flax oil and hemp seed oil, on porridge, toast (just think of it as melted butter) and in smoothies. The omega oils and essential fatty acids present in these oils are benficial in brain health. I also give both boys a 1000mg fish oil gel capsule per day.
    With the independance of adolesence comes eating food at other peoples houses, and from the corner store by their school, etc. They may go off the healthy food we put in their lunches if it is not what "everyone" is eating. Teens can take an adult multivitamin. Protein shakes or powders can be useful suppliers of nutrients. I have started making mine a shake every morning with all sorts of good for you things yummed up with fruit.
   There is light at the end of the tunnel! It is so lovely to hear them saying that they prefer the food we make, or just to see them eat, uncomplaining, even if it is due to the fact that they grew an inch in 2 weeks and their body is willing to accept whatever nutrients they can get their jaws around. It is some consolation to hear them tell you things you have known for years as if telling you something for the first time.At least they are headed in the right direction !

Chronological Cornucopia - Childhood and Hats

Ah childhood, the blessed years between toilet training and teenage trauma. Hopefully, these are the innocent carefree years. The years when imagination dresses up the everyday and one is satisfied with the simple joys of pets, food and home.
   Usually the ills of these years can be addressed simply as well. A child who is healthy in all other aspects will still go through periods of cold, flu and toothache, and it is these minor dramas that I humbly hope to ease.
   In my post about babies, I spoke about some of the benefits of essential oils. Using essential oils at bathtime is a great way to set a bed time mood, with calming lavendar essential oil added, 10 drops per tubful, added after the water has stopped running. If the child has a cough, eucalyptus or tea tree, added while the water is still running, will fill the room with medicated steam that is useful in loosening up a cough. Any room that has a sick or coughing person in it will benefit from having a diffuser. the second hand shops are a good place to find these. there is a base in which to place a tealite candle (beeswax, soywax, or leadfree) and a little dish that sits on top with water in it, this is where the essential oil goes.
    Late night coughing is the worst, one way to avoid the cough syrup after toothbrushing issue is to put a blend of equal parts teatree, lavendar, and eucalyptus oils.  This is a synergystic blend that really does stop night coughs.  I have used different natural cough syrups and the one that works the best for us, especially for loosening up a hard cough, is one I buy in Chinatown called Nin Jiom. It is no longer as dirt cheap as it used to be but still very reasonably priced. I stock up on it every winter.
   Another staple around here in winter are slippery elm tablets. Slippery elm bark is very nutritious and has been used as a nourishing food for invalids. I first became acquainted with them as a flavoured throat lozenge, "recommended for singers". On their own they have a mild vaguely cinnamonish taste. What they do is coat the mucous membranes and prevent irritation. This also makes them helpful in preventing ear infection. I had several painful ear infections as a child,no fun! One thing I did to help prevent these in my brood was to buy exclusively organic dairy products. I know dairy is one of the things that produce mucous in the body, so have used milk alternatives such as almond, rice and soy.  Cheese, however, is one of my favourite things (top 5!).  With all the antibiotics and growth hormones that commercial animals are fed, knowing that toxins tend to be concentrated milk and fats, this was a priority for me, despite the cost. If they do develop a sore ear, chop or crush garlic, place in a tablespoon of olive oil, strain, and let a couple drops fall into the ear. Massage gently around the ear and have them rest on their side for a while. If they are in pain, chamomile and (raw) honey tea can help. there are also homeopathic remedies that are very gentle and effective. I used homeopathic teething tablets for instance. Oh yes, and keep a hat on them. When children are warm, their bodies have more energy for developing and maintaining health. You knew that.
   By the time they are 4 or so, they can take tinctures diluted. If the medicine is strong tasting it can be given with honey, or having a glass of juice at hand to chase it with helps. I never had mine refuse to take anything. Or course that is all they know. I practice prevention. At the first sign of a cough, I give them slippery elm lozenges. Give them a couple thousand mgs of vitamin C. I live in the country and am able to harvest herbs every summer. Red clover grows wild on my lawn, so I regularly pick the flowering tops and toss them in a bamboo basket on top of the fridge to dry. St. Johns wort grows nearby too. This herb is good for so many things, depression, immune boosting, burns ( when left in olive oil for weeks then strained) Feverfew I grow in my herb garden, yarrow grows wild. I have a gallon jar in the cupboard and will pull out a handful, stuff it in a teapot, pour boiling water over it, steep 10 - 15 minutes, add honey. Kind of a cure all.
   There are a couple books I want to mention here. The first is The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. When my children had planters warts, I used the combination recommended here (10 drops lemon oil, 5 drops cypress oil, in 2 teaspoons cider vineagar. I put it in a little bottle and would apply a couple drops to a bandaid that I changed everyday. It worked, so no nasty getting it burned off at the doctor, no scars.
  Another book I have found invaluable is The Complete New Herbal, edited by Richard Mabey.  The colour photographs are so useful for identifying just what that interesting weed is and possibly adding it to your arsenal. When harvesting from the wild, I never take more than 1/3 of  of a patch or a plant, depending, in order to insure a future supply. Thanks for reading, I hope this helps someone in some way. Ps. The little pine tree in the picture has light green tips which are new growth. These can be pinched off and made into a tea which is good for coughs and colds!

Chronological Cornucopia - Oh Baby!

One of the reasons this post has the name it does, besides the fact that it is a tongue twister and satisfies my alliteration fixation, is that I want to talk about how I addressed the nutritional/medicinal needs of my children from infancy onwards, and also how our nutritional needs and health issues vary according to the seasons of the year.
   Making the decision to have my babies in the comfort and privacy of my own home was for me, natural. Since becoming interested in health, as an avid reader since childhood, I have sought knowledge in libraries and secondhand bookstores. A truly revelatory book was Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. This colourful book is filled with pictures, drawings, and birthstories,
featuring all sorts of women giving birth with minimal intervention. Even before I wanted children, reading so many stories convinced me that it could be done. I will not address pregnancy or birth at this time, as I hope to focus on childhood here.
   Once the miracle is accomplished, there are immediate applications for natural medicine. Perhaps not the first day, but after the first bath, lavendar oil can be applied to the belly button. Depending on what sort of bottle your lavendar oil is in, if large, you may choose to decant some into a smaller bottle with a dropper. A drop or two after baths, or a particularly messy diaper change, will keep things healing nicely and cause no discomfort to the babe. Essential oils are one of the most useful natural remedies for babies, who are not eating food yet, and will not swallow on command. If baby develops a cold, boil some water, add a couple drops of lavendar, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil ( or a drop of each, and place in the room baby is in.  Even a newborn will not be harmed by this sort of gentle, noninvasive treatment. Most times I gave them baths I would put in a single drop of lavendar, later on tea tree is one of my favourites for the bath, but at first, lavendar (inexpensive) or chamomile (pricey but heavenly) oilas they are prone to rashes when fresh and this helps with any ear or nose issues as well, and if they swallow some no harm done.
   I also highly recommend herbal teas for the mother when breastfeeding, as the babe will receive benefits. Peppermint tea for feverish or gassy fussers. Chamomile and fennel tea both help with producing milk for mom and soothing immature digestive systems. Mild nutritional or soothing teas such as chickweed, oatstraw, or nettle, will also be mutually beneficial.
   Speaking of immature digestive systems, after reading that babies who nurse for the first six months exclusively have fewer allergies, that is what I did. I realize not everyone can or wants to do this. For me being a stay at home mom was something I had to do, and we have sacrificed the glamorous lifestyle, such as vacations, that my being a working mom would have brought. The first foods I introduced were simple, bananas, avocado, home made applesauce, working our way upwards to oatmeal, brown rice, vegetables. All organic, as much as possible. In general, keeping the environment that babies and toddlers are in everyday as organic and natural as possible provides much less of a barrage of allergens and toxins on tiny immune systems. Everything from laundry soaps, household cleaners to clothing contains chemicals. While "a little bit won't kill you", every piece forms part of the whole picture. I would grind up rice, veggies, etc. in a foodmill with a little water, add a dash of hemp or flax seed oil, a few seaweed flakes, and stir. Babies don't need all the spice and salt we do. There is so much more available these days in organic babyfoods. The health food stores carry a broad range.
   I believe it was just as important what I didn't give them as what I did. Babies taste buds and intestinal flora only know what we give them. Once they have been introduced to the extreme intensity of processed sugar and salty foods, they will not be satisfied with wholesome foods. As well as the fact that these so called foods are a direct assault on  immune systems. Every teaspoon of sugar lowers our immune system for 2 hours, rendering us more vulnerable to illness and disease. Much the worse for the wee ones.
   The first three years of life are widely recognized to be the most important in determining certain factors in a persons' life. Good nutrition during this time is crucial to our later health. Especially when they are growing and developing at such a rapid rate, vigilance in this department has its rewards. Another book that had a great deal of practical information as well as looking beneath the surface of childhood development and needs is You Are Your Childs First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin. It was this book that prompted me to do my best (grandparents never understood!) to ensure the children ate no meat during their first 3 years. She explains why so much better than I could. 
   If children are sick during this time and require antibiotics, there are specific strains of acidophilous for children, to establish healthy intestinal flora, which in turn helps the body extract nutrition from the foods we eat. If there are heavy foods such as meat eaten, or strange combinations, resulting in tummy upset, a drop or 2 of Swedish Bitters, the water extract, doesn't taste good but helps, or an herbal tea such as chamomile. After the age of one year, A sore throat can be soothed with a bit of raw honey, which has antibacterial properties.
   One last quick word about diaper creams. I started out using Penaten diaper cream which comes in a flat blue and gold tin and is found everywhere. It does coat an existing diaper rash nicely. When no diaper rash was present I liked using a locally made salve called Baby Bottom Better. But truly the best diaper cream is made by Weleda and available in most health food stores. When this is used, they don't get a rash, it really is lovely. The Weleda baby products are all wonderful, they have wonderful moisturizer for after bath too. I received a gift, when I had my second baby and I can't say enough about their products, a splurge perhaps, but worth it!
  

Midwinter Must Haves

The thrill of Christmas is gone. We are weeks away from the chocolate induced high of Valentines Day. It is the time of year when we still feel like stuffing ourselves with comfort foods and cozying up in front of the telly/computer with our booze of choice, rationalizing that bathing suit season is still soo far away. At the same time, we, and especially  those of us with children, particularly the wee ones, will at this time of year be bombarded by a plethora of bacteria, viruses, and all manner of bodily fluids .It seems one has hardly gotten over barky coughs and reddened noses, only to be felled by bloaty rumbling tummies and hurried dashes to the toilet!
   What is the alternative? A puritanical pursing of the lips, eyes gazing into the distance, as we abstain from the temptations of the season? Is a heavenly (body) reward sufficient incentive? As if these gloomy days weren't punishment enough . . .
  Having been raised with a fairly conventional North American diet, with it's attendant ear infections, episodes of diarhea, and other ills, I am familiar with the sense of helplessness and mystery that accompanies it. As a teenager I became vegetarian, and began to educate myself about health. Veganism, juicing, and growing my own sprouts became my daily life and for  years, my life revolved around food. An interest in natural medicine accompanied these "back to the land" years for me. I learned to treat minor ailments, from headaches to PMS, with plants growing in my garden, and those formerly regarded as weeds. Both chinese medicine and Indian ayurvedic medicine rely on many so called common plants.Working with a master herbalist, I learned to make tinctures, (herbal extracts in water or alcohol) and salves (external use). Another facet of my embrace of the "natural way" has been exploring essential oils and aromatherapy. Even for scent value alone, the deliciousness of, for instance, lavendar oil, puts commercial perfumes in the shade. More on its many uses later!
As time and material considerations moved my life in a different direction, these natural remedies have stayed with me, comforting, curing. Gradually, with finding a partner, and having my children enter the school system, I arrived at the compromise between mainstream culture and health nut that I am today. My children are all teenagers now, and have never gone to the doctor for anything other than stitches. My next blog will address this revelatory statement in a timely fashion (did I mention a sense of the absurd as tension buster?). See: Chronological Cornucopia