Here we are in December, the darkest, most Yin time of year.   Nature is asking us to slow down and reflect on the past so we can move gracefully into the future.  Preparing myself for the Solstice and the New Year, I felt compelled to share with you how I process this pivotal and transformative time of the year. 

Let's clear space, remember our ancestors, celebrate our victories, release our painful lessons, and step more fully into who we are becoming.

I'm not one to advocate a large stash of gadgets and products for babies. Instead, keep a few multi-purpose must-have items on hand. That way, you are not overly cluttered with duplicate items in your house. 

Having said that, these are the four herbal products for babies that I consider necessary items.

Hello Beautiful! Have you experienced a yoni steam?

On today’s episode of Apothecary Wisdom, we’ll explore the restorative practice of yoni steams. There is a lot you need to know about them. Yoni steams offer us the to restore the disconnect from our female body, yoni/uterus, whether that be from birth, unsatisfying intimate experiences, trauma, abuse, surgeries, or just cultural disconnect.

I combined calendula with other herbs in our postpartum herb bath to help aid in rapid perineal recovery and soothe hemorrhoids after giving birth. Calendula is also in our Nipple Salve, Diaper Salve and Healing Salve because it helps repair sore nipples, inflamed skin caused by diaper rash and it works as first aid skin care.  Calendula is why our Wound Recovery Spray cools a burn and Cesarean Recovery Spray leaves your incision feeling fresh and clean as your body heals.

Let me tell you a little more about this delightful plant and why you might want to grow some yourself...

Thyme for their lungs, thyme for their sore throats, thyme for their colds.

I find myself incorporating lots of thyme–and time–into my herbal practice. After working with my own family and midwifery families, I began to realize the remarkable benefits thyme has to offer to our children.

After you watch this 6 part video series about fevers you will be equipped with the facts and practical knowledge about fevers. You can watch Video 1 is the primary video that covers causes, symptoms, types, and treatments of fevers. Or you can watch the other shorter videos that cover the portion you are the most interested in.

Video 2 What is a fever? What are high and low-grade fevers in children and adults? Video 3 covers the causes of fevers. Video 4 teaches how to take care of a fever with herbs. Video 5 demonstrates how to manage a fever with hydrotherapy. Video 6 covers when to seek medical attention for a fever.

Pregnancy is a time of great miracle and great strain. Our muscles are pulling in new ways to support new weight, joints become strained, circulation changes, and it all adds up to a bundle of pregnancy discomforts. Staying active and taking care of your growing body will help to keep some of it at bay. The real key is to understand what’s at the heart of your pregnancy discomfort so that you can best address both the cause and the symptoms. Your body will still tell you what it needs -- you just need to listen a bit closer than before.

Miscarriage is intense for your body and can leave you feeling fragile physically and emotionally. Taking care of your body, or knowing how to help someone who is trying to heal after a miscarriage, can ease some of the physical symptoms.

There are several types of miscarriage – threatened, inevitable, complete, incomplete, or missed. Knowing how to take care of yourself, physically, and emotionally are essential for recovery.  Read on to know when to seek medical care and how to heal completely as you navigate the grief process of early pregnancy loss.