Page 48 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby

If she learns The good news is that there are alternatives. If you suffer from menstrual cramps, mild

Fertility My first recommendation is to learn how the body depression or acne, or are wanting to get preg-
works. If she learns Fertility Awareness and daily nant, consider Weed’s six steps as an alternative
Awareness charts her waking temperature and cervical fluid to taking the pill. Here they are applied in the
and daily changes, a woman of childbearing age can know context of menstrual cramps:
charts her whether she’s ovulating and whether she is prone Step 0: Do nothing. Weed describes this as
to miscarriage, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, “a vital, invisible step.” She explains, “You must
waking low thyroid function and other problems. actively do no-thing.” Essentially, step 0 is about
temperature If you identify a problem or a trend toward taking time for yourself. Unplugging your phone
and cervical a problem, you may wonder what you can do and your TV, meditating and resting are included
to strengthen your health. Diet can be a great in step 0.
fluid changes‚ place to start. I know many young women who, Step 1: Collect information. Talk with friends
a woman of in addition to discontinuing hormonal drugs, and health care providers, read, search the inter-
childbearing charted their fertility signals, identified problems net. Learn Fertility Awareness and chart your
fertility signals—your waking temperature and
with their cycles, gradually switched to a nutri-
age can know ent-dense diet, and found their health steadily cervical fluid. Keep a record of your questions
when she’s improving. Indeed, in many of the groups he and observations (e.g., Does eating less sugar

ovulating and studied, Weston Price found that “girls were not affect my menstrual cramps?).
allowed to be married until after they had had a
Step 2: Engage the energy. Notice what
whether she period of special feeding. In some tribes, a six- emotions come up around menstruation. Attend
is prone to month period of special nutrition was required” to your dreams. Write out a conversation between
miscarriage‚ to ensure the health of a couple’s offspring. your period and you. Find out what it wants; find

out what you want from your period and see
Night-lighting techniques, herbs, homeopa-
poly-cystic thy or acupuncture can also strengthen reproduc- whether there’s a happy medium. Take a bath or
ovarian tive health. So can meditation and yoga. try a homeopathic remedy. Give thanks for your
Regardless of the options you’re considering interest in your own wellness. Pick one remedy
syndrome‚ (for a health problem, to prevent pregnancy or from step 2, and set a time limit for working with
low thyroid to get pregnant), research the risks and benefits it. Weed says it’s vital to set time limits for every
function and involved. Keep researching until you find some- step. If your problem worsens, try another Step
other thing that works for you. 2 remedy, or go on to step 3.
Step 3: Nourish and tonify. Feed yourself

problems. THE SIX STEPS OF HEALING well. Replace processed, sugary fast foods and
In the 1970s, after studying scientific med- drinks with freshly made, nutrient-rich meals.
icine, herbalism, various diets, homeopathy and Prepare herbal infusions (which you can learn
other alternative healing methods, herbalist and about from books or an herbalist). Keep your
author Susun Weed became increasingly con- body and mind toned with regular physical
fused—in regard to healing—about what to do activity. Take a yoga class. Grow some of your
first. Once she phrased her question, she realized own food. Take a daily walk. If your problem
the reply: First, do no harm. worsens or is not relieved within your time limit,
Weed began to group healing techniques and add another step 3 or go on to step 4.
remedies based on the likelihood of a technique Step 4: Sedate and stimulate. Acupuncture,
or remedy harming or even killing her. In her chiropractic, Swedish massage, and most herbal
books, including Wise Woman Herbal for the tinctures fall into this category. Susun Weed
Childbearing Year and The New Menopausal cautions, “There is always risk of developing
Years the Wise Woman Way, she describes the dependence on step 4 remedies. Be aware of the
Six Steps of Healing, which outline a way to frequency, dosage and duration of your treat-
increase health and decrease harm. The Six Steps ments—and your time limits.”
encourage us to connect with our body’s wisdom Step 5-A: Use supplements. In this step,
and healing mechanisms and to address problems Weed includes all concentrated, extracted, and
at their root. synthesized substances—including vitamin and

46 Wise Traditions