by Paula Youmell, RN
Herbs are amazing, healing tools because herbs are whole foods. Whole foods nourish each and every cell in your body.
Whole food eating means feeding our bodies the way nature intended. This means eating foods in their natural state, as close to the perfectly “whole” state in which nature provides them. This also means following the natural growing seasons and eating more foods that are locally grown and produced, in season. Whole food nutrition is eating in balance, which in turn keeps the body in balance. Foods grown naturally develop with the right proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats intended for that particular food. They contain balanced vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, and enzymes. This natural balance for each food ensures that the body can properly utilize the nutrients.
The effects of moving away from our whole food diet and eating a refined, processed, and convenience food diet are very prevalent in our society. (Ask me for my educational handout titled Whole Food Eating for an easy introduction to healing body cells with whole food nutrition, pyoumell@gmail.com)
One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedents of chemical therapy over nutrition. It is substitution of artificial therapy over natural, of poison over food, in which we are feeding people poisons trying to correct the reactions of starvation. Dr. Royal Lee
As a culture, we have created the same scenario with our healing medicines, including those for healing the female body. We have moved away from whole, natural medicines to the processed, refined, factory made pharmaceuticals that upset balance in the human body. Just as refined, factory made food products upset the body’s natural balance.
Herbs, whether ingested as a medicinal infusion, taken as a tincture or in any other form of herbal medicine, are whole foods. The nutrients in the herbs: vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, and the nutrients yet to be discovered, are utilized by the body cells to cleanse, nourish, and heal each and every body cell. Herbs specific for the female reproductive tract are nourishing to the reproductive organ’s cells.
So often we get the message from main stream media and medicine: Do NOT use herbs as they are potentially dangerous. This is as crazy as saying that eating beets, apples, or any other natural, whole food is potentially dangerous.
When we eat a beet, an apple, some broccoli, or any whole food, our body digests and absorbs the nutrients in the whole food to nourish our cellular health. The same process of digestion and assimilation of nutrients happens with herbs. Herbs are whole food; herbs are healing medicine.
Herbs are plants (leaf, root, stems, bark, berries, seeds), like a beet or an apple, that have nutritional and healing properties with affinities for certain tissues.
Herbs for female health are many and each has its own healing purpose. Used in combination, they create powerful healing energy in the female body.
Some excellent female healing herbs are:
Stinging nettles
Red raspberry leaf
Wild yam
Chaste tree berry
Motherwort
Red clover flower
False unicorn root
Passion flower
Don quai root
Wild carrot
Ginger
Blue and Black cohosh
Squaw vine
Black haw
Yarrow
Pennyroyal
Mugwort
Partridge vine
These herbs balance female hormones, tone and heal the female organs, and add nutrients to every cell in your body.
A simple healing tea I used to make for my roommate, many years ago before I had become a certified herbalist, to ease her menstrual cramps: chamomile tea with 30 drops of black or blue cohosh tincture. When she moved into her own apartment, just up the street, she would call me every month and ask me to bring her a jar of this cramp relief tea.
For specifics on which herbs to use for your personal needs, contact an herbalist in your area. In the Potsdam, NY area? Give me a shout.
Herbs for healing other organs: (Just to remind you how amazing herbs really are!)
Saw palmetto for the prostate
Hawthorne berry for the heart
Rhubarb root for the colon
Milk thistle for the liver
Nettle as a general nutritive herb (Yes, I truly love nettles!)
Dandelion and burdock root for liver cleansing and nourishment
The list of herbs and the cells / organs they nourish goes on and on. These are just a very few example of herbs and the cells / organ they have affinities to nourish and promote healing. This healing action happens because the herb adds whole food nutrition to your body cells. This is the same thing a beet does; feeds your body cells.
Stinging nettles are my favorite herb! Nettles are a power house of nutrition and healing energy for the whole body. I add nettles to every combination herbal formula I create. Use nettles in your female healing remedies!
With that said, I recommend you read up on the herb you want to ingest for its nourishing, medicinal abilities. Learn about the herb and its healing affinities before you make the decision to take it. Contact your local herbalist for help in choosing the right herb or blend of herbs to add to your whole food dietary plan to promote personal health and healing.
Words from a happy client that demonstrates my point about herbs and whole body healing; that body cells are nourished by ingesting herbs:
Thanks Paula! The herbs you recommended for my peri-menopausal symptoms have really helped! No more migraines, moodiness, or horrible night sweats. After years of challenging health symptoms, I am very happy to be healing with whole foods, including female healing herbs. Sherry B.
Herbs are whole foods. Use them wisely for healing your female energy and whole body healing. Blessings of health, Paula
Red clover flower and Red raspberry leave, combined with my favorite herb: Stinging nettles, are the three herbs I recommend for a fertility infusion to drink daily.
Paula Youmell is an RN, author, holistic healer, and blogger who thrives in northern NY State, USA. Learn more about her healing lifestyle at www.HandsOnHealthHH.com, http://www.wholefoodhealer.com, or http://www.wisewomenredtent.com
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