But first, what does this plant have to do with witches?  It’s likely an etymological mix-up, stemming from the Middle English term “wiche,” which means pliant or bendable and has nothing to do with witches.  Or perhaps the use of the branches of the plant as divining rods is related the name.

Witch hazel is a shrub or small tree growing in the rich soils of the eastern part of the United States.  The star shaped leaves become brilliant colors in the fall while the round fruits, which have projections, shoot their seeds several feet as they ripen.

Witch hazel leaves and bark contain astringent tannins which stop internal and external bleeding. Both the bark and leaves are used to treat hemorrhoids, varicose veins, swelling and bruises, and sore nipples. Internally it stops diarrhea, vaginal discharge and excess menses. Witch hazel is an ingredient found in eye drops and many skin ointments. It was used widely by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.

And of course it’s used widely after childbirth to soothe sore perineal muscles, reduce swelling, slow bleeding, and help ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids.  Used in a bath, as a spray directly on tissues or on a pad, or as a balm on hemorrhoids, it’s an effective herbal remedy recommended by moms and doctors alike.

Witch Hazel is a key ingredient in our Rhoid Balm, Sitz Bath, Sitzbath Spray, and Sitz Bath Concentrate.

Image credit:  Wikimedia Commons

But there are some herbs which are healing when used externally, but are not safe for ingestion.  One such herb is Comfrey.

We often hear from mothers who have questions and concerns about the use of comfrey in breast compresses and nipple creams, so we thought we’d share this information to clear up some of the confusion.

Comfrey is an herb recognized for its value as both a fertilizer and a healing herb.  It’s native to Europe, grows in damp, grassy locations, and has a bell shaped flower often in a blue or purple color.

Comfrey has long been valued for its ability to reduce skin inflammation.  It is also thought to stimulate cell growth and repair.  One of Comfrey’s nicknames is “knitbone” because it was traditionally used to aid the healing of bone fractures.

While healing when used externally, Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause veno-occlusive disease if used internally.

The Botanical Safety Handbook, published by the American Herbal Products Association, classifies Comfrey as Class 2a – for external use only, Class – 2b not to be used [internally] while pregnant and Class 2c not to be used [internally] while nursing (parentheses ours, for clarification).  In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration advised makers of dietary supplements containing Comfrey to remove their products from the market and label products that contain Comfrey ‘for external use only.’

Comfrey has great value as a healing herb, but should not be included in any product that could possibly be ingested by a baby.

Image credit:  Wikimedia Commons

Several herbs used safely used by women for generations are an excellent source for the increased vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy, and to prepare your the uterus for labor.

These herbs can easily be made into teas and incorporated into meals on a regular basis. Every person is different, and your body may react differently now to foods than it did previously, but used wisely and in moderation, these herbs make wonderful teas and foods.

• Raspberry leaf is best known for strengthening the uterine muscles so they work more efficiently during labor. Drink raspberry leaf tea, with its easily assimilated content of calcium and magnesium, to relieve leg cramps. Also high in iron, the leaves and berries help prevent anemia. Raspberry leaf soothes an upset stomach and will help alleviate mild morning sickness. Taken after birth, it slows bleeding, helps the uterus regain tone, and increases breast milk production.

• Nettle leaves are a storehouse of nutrition, with high iron and calcium contents, as well as an excellent source of folic acid, an essential nutrient during pregnancy. Nettle strengthens the kidneys and adrenals, while it relieves fluid retention. Because nettle also supports the vascular system, it can prevent varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Postpartum, it increases breast milk production. Nettle tea has a rich, green taste and can be mixed with other herbs. Cooked nettle is a mineral-rich substitute for spinach and an excellent side dish with a dash of lemon juice and sesame seeds. Try substituting nettle in lasagna. Pick it fresh from spring until mid summer, but be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin. Its nickname is “stinging nettle,” but this sting disappears when cooked. Pick extra to freeze and have on hand for the winter months.

• Oats, another herb high in calcium and magnesium, builds healthy bones and nourishes the nervous system. This is the perfect herb to relieve nervous exhaustion and allow for relaxed rest when sleep is difficult. An easy way to incorporate the healing power of oats, and its high fiber content, is to eat oatmeal cereal in the morning, along with oatmeal bread. Oatstraw tea has a mild flavor that can be used alone or mixed with other herbs. And a warm oatmeal bath is not only relaxing, it softens skin and relieves the itch of a growing belly.

• Dandelion root tea increases digestion and promotes bile to relieve constipation. It is one of the best herbs for cleansing and strengthening the liver, our main detoxifying organ. The liver breaks down hormones no longer needed by the body after birth, and any drugs that may have been given at birth. Containing calcium and iron, roasted dandelion root’s coffee-like flavor, is an excellent morning beverage. Add a handful of the fresh leaves, high in vitamin A, to other greens in salads. Drink dandelion leaf tea if a diuretic is needed to relieve fluid retention. Because of its high potassium content, it does not deplete the body of this important mineral, as other diuretics are known to do.

• Alfalfa, with its deep root system, contains many essential nutrients including trace minerals, chlorophyll and vitamin K, a nutrient necessary for blood clotting. Many midwives advise drinking mild tasting alfalfa tea or taking alfalfa tablets during the last trimester of pregnancy to decrease postpartum bleeding or chance of hemorrhaging. Alfalfa also increases breast milk production – alfalfa hay is fed daily to milking goats and other dairy animals!

These common herbs are available in most natural health food stores and are well-worth using for their nutritionally-packed support during these special months.

This information is provided for educational, and not medical, purposes.  Consult your health care provider for advice tailored to your needs.

But did you know that what you put on your skin holds the same potential?  And when it comes to the delicate skin of your baby, it’s even more important to use only those products that are gentle and nurturing.  Unfortunately, many popular body care products contain chemicals of concern.

We can’t rely on regulation to protect us from potentially dangerous chemicals in our body care products.  The FDA has banned just nine chemicals from cosmetics, while the European Union has banned more than 1,000.

Shopping “natural” or “organic” is no guarantee that your products are free of dangerous chemicals.  A product that is labeled as being “natural” may be mixed up with synthetic dyes or fragrances.  Buying higher cost products is no guarantee either – many are full of the same ingredients and harsh chemicals as the less expensive brands.

So, what can you do to make sure you’re buying products that are safe and pure?  Shop for products that don’t contain the chemicals listed below, in either their ingredients or their packaging.  You’ll find a detailed explanation of the risks they pose on our website.

• Ceteareth-6
• Coal Tar
• Diethanolamine (DEA) or Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea
• Mineral Oil
• Parabens — Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl
• Petrolatum
• Phthalates
• Propylene Glycol
• PVP/VA Copolymer
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Stearalkonium Chloride
• Synthetic colors
• Synthetic fragrances

Want to find products that don’t contain these ingredients?  Use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database to search for safe products.

At Motherlove we’ve been committed to making safe, toxin-free, herbal products made with organic ingredients for mothers and babies for over 20 years.  We were recently named a “Champion” (the highest level of compliance) of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  Our products are all rated a zero (the lowest rating) the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, and we are proud to publish our complete ingredient lists.  Motherlove uses safe, recyclable packaging for our products, and they are free of “shelf life” preservatives and any artificial ingredients.  You expect that from “real food.” You should expect that from your body care, as well.

We’re very happy to share an interview with massage therapist and trainer Lisa Gallauresi, LMT on partner massage for pregnancy and labor.

Lisa is a massage therapist, parent educator and trainer.  She has been an instructor at massage schools, developed curricula for hospitals and training centers, and consulted on prenatal bodywork for large spas including Kripalu Yoga Center.  Her training includes newborn and infant massage, and she is a certified prenatal specialist.  

If after reading Lisa’s answers you’re sold on the benefits of partner massage for pregnancy and labor, check out Motherlove’s Birth and Baby Oil!  It’s gentle enough for both mothers and babies, and has a zero toxin rating.

What are some benefits of having a partner massage a mom during pregnancy and labor?

The benefits of partner massage during pregnancy and labor can be physically and psychologically profound for the mother and her partner.  When I teach a partner massage class I provide general tools for relaxation and bonding.  We address the most common discomforts of pregnancy and create an environment that facilitates spoken and unspoken physical communication.  If a person has specific structural issues or preexisting conditions they need to see a qualified massage therapist or physical therapist.

We know that the positive effects of massage in general are greater if administered by her partner.  This is in part due to the emotional connection and support that is inherent in the massage.  Women experience a decrease in the level of stress hormones, deeper and longer sleep patterns, reduced soreness and pain in muscles and joints, decreased anxiety and less postpartum depression.  Partners feel empowered to provide hands on comfort as well as emotional support.  Familial adjustments are easier and self-confidence in parenting skills are buoyed.  Laboring women feel more  attachment with partners and therefore react with more self-assurance and a heightened belief in their ability to cope.  The perception of labor outcomes are more positive for both parents when massage is administered.

What are typically moms’ favorite areas to be massaged during pregnancy and labor?

During a typical pregnancy, most women enjoy massage to the low back, shoulders and between the shoulder blades, although you can never go wrong with a nice foot massage! During labor, the intention of the massage shifts.  In early labor women may enjoy massage around the jaw and the scalp, lots of kisses and encouraging words.  As she shifts into a deeper labor space to prepare for the second stage, she usually does not like light touch.  Massage includes deep and sustained pressure to the sacrum and low back with limited talking and focused awareness.

Can you describe some easy massage techniques for pregnancy and another one for labor?

Partner massage tools for pregnancy are more about intention than technique.  Loving, focused, hands on time with little or no distraction is a way to connect and be present with each other.  Creating space to mentally and spiritually witness each other as partners in a journey creates a strong family foundation to build upon.  You do not need special tables or tools to do this massage.  Mom can sit on a stool, chair or birth ball that is facing a table, counter or bed at the correct height.  She can lean forward with several pillows in front and lean forward.  She may need a bunch of pillows to get comfortable.  It is best if the table is against a wall so it remains stable.

The partner can take a quarter sized amount of lotion or oil and stand behind her in an open and relaxed stance, feet in a lunge position bending at the knees.  Starting slowly and lightly at the nape of the neck he/she can create a diamond shape with open and relaxed hands by going out along the shoulders and down to the mid back where the bra line would be.  Warming up the tissue and gradually getting deeper they can “pick up” the tissue at the top of the shoulders and knead it until it softens like dough.  Let mom tell you what feels good and follow her directive.  Learning what relaxes her is useful information for labor.

During labor, if mom wants to be touched, deep sustained pressure to the sacrum and top of the buttocks is welcomed.  A tennis ball is a useful massage tool for long hours of labor massage.  Rub the ball along the low back and use it to provide counter pressure in the sacral area.  The hands and feet can be reached easily in most labor situations and it feels nice to have a firm foot or hand massage.

Are there some areas to stay away from during pregnancy and labor?

Every pregnancy is unique, so parents need to talk to their health care provider for any contraindications to massage.  A licensed massage therapist that specializes in prenatal work can offer private tutorials with specific guidelines that consider adaptations for each couple.  In partner massage we do not do leg work because it is specialized.  Women should not lie flat on their backs after 13 weeks and should not receive massage while lying on their stomachs.   The general rule of thumb in a typical pregnancy is that if it feels good, go for it!

Partner massage is a hands on tool that allows couples the opportunity to bond and communicate.  Pregnancy and labor is perceived more positively if mom feels supported and cared for.  Many partners want concrete tools to show support and therefore feel as if they are participating in the process.  Learning to listen and support a new mother is a skill that I hope will translate into the postpartum period and provide a strong family foundation for years to come!

Cold compresses.  Many moms use ice packs to reduce swelling and soothe pain in the early hours after birth.  Be sure to wrap cold packs in a soft cloth or other soft material so that the cold pack doesn’t directly touch your tissues. Some moms wet and freeze their pads to create convenient cold compresses.

Sitz baths.  Warm water, especially when infused with healing herbs, can do wonders for tender tissues.  You can make a sitz bath in a bathtub or with a basin that fits over your toilet seat (in the hospital, ask your nurse for help with this).  Added to your bath, our Sitz Bath and Sitz Bath Concentrate soothe sore perineal muscles, reduce swelling, slow bleeding, and help ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids.  Our Sitz Bath Spray can be sprayed directly on your perineum an offers the same relief.  All of our sitz bath products have a zero rating (zero toxins) on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database and are made with 100% certified organic ingredients.

Witch hazel.  Witch hazel is an herb which is soothing to sore, swollen tissue, and especially helpful with hemorrhoids.  You can buy witch hazel soaked pads.  You’ll also find witch hazel in our organic Rhoid Balm, which relieves swelling and itching during pregnancy and after birth, and in our sitz bath products.

Peri bottle.  Many moms who have had tears, stitches, or episiotomies find it soothing to spray their perineum (front to back) with warm water after or during urination.  Peri bottles make this easy.  It can be especially helpful to use a peri bottle while urinating if you have stinging pain when using the toilet.

Medications.  Your health care providers can discuss over the counter and prescription medication options that are safe for breastfeeding.  If you have additional questions about pain medications and breastfeeding, you can call the Infant Risk Center for free information from a knowledgeable and breastfeeding-friendly pharmacist.

* This post is not intended as medical advice.  For medical advice, seek the recommendations of your health care provider.

That’s why we’re pleased to have recently been named a “Champion” (the highest level of compliance) of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  The Compact is a voluntary pledge to avoid chemicals banned in other countries, avoid harmful ingredients whenever possible, and fully disclose product ingredients.

Out of the more than 1500 companies who signed the Safe Cosmetics Compact, only 321 were fully in compliance with all the goals of the Compact, which earns those companies “Champion” status.

Motherlove products are all rated a zero (the lowest rating) on Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s safe cosmetics database, and we are proud to publish our complete ingredient lists.

Motherlove achieved Champion status by:

• Complying with the European Union’s Cosmetics Directive, widely considered the global gold standard of cosmetics safety regulation
• Disclosing all ingredients, including ingredients in “fragrance” which in the United States can be claimed as “trade secrets,” even when they contain harmful chemicals
• Publishing and regularly updating product information in the Skin Deep cosmetics database
• Complying with any additional ingredient prohibitions and restrictions under the Compact and substitute ingredients of concern with safer alternatives; and
• Participating in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

You can read more about the Compact and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in the new report, Market Shift.

Massaging your baby facilitates bonding, relaxation, and promotes sleep, digestion, and boosts babies’ immune systems.  It can alleviate gas and even help with teething pain.  And it’s been shown to relax parents and stimulate the production of oxytocin – “the love hormone.”

Our Birth and Baby Oil is gentle enough to be used as an infant massage oil (as well as for perineal massage during labor and birth).  An all natural mild scented oil with certified organic lavender and no essential oils, it’s also excellent for dry skin and cradle cap.  Our Birth & Baby Oil has a zero rating (zero toxins) on EWG’s Skin Deep database.

One infant massage DVD we love is Bonding With Your Brilliant and Beautiful Baby Through Infant Massage, from BabyBabyOhBaby.  Watch a preview of this gorgeous and inspirational guide to infant massage.

To get started right away, check out the videos below from Infant Massage USA which introduce some basic strokes.

Getting started with infant massage:

Leg massage:

Tummy massage:

Arm massage:

According to Dr. Sears, a rash which is “red, raised, patchy rash with sharp borders, mostly over the genitalia but with satellite spots sprinkled around the diaper area,” may be a result of an overgrowth of yeast.  Yeast rashes are more common after antibiotic use.  If your baby has a prolonged diaper rash which doesn’t respond to treatment with barrier creams, it may be yeast and require a different approach.

If you suspect a yeast rash, try our Diaper Rash and Thrush salve.  It’s an all-natural herbal solution for persistent, inflamed diaper rash. It can also be used on your nipples if they’re yeast-infected, and does not need to be washed off prior to nursing.  It’s diaper safe and compatible with all diapers including cloth.

Our Diaper Rash and Thrush salve has a zero rating (zero toxins) on EWG’s Skin Deep database and is made with 96% certified organic ingredients.

As you know, along with summer fun can come a whole lot of itching.  Scratches and cuts, bug bites, poison ivy, and rashes may be a summer ritual, but they don’t have to slow you or your kids down.

Our organic, all natural Green Salve is the perfect remedy for the summer itches.  It quickly and effectively takes the itch out of insect bites, bee stings and poison ivy. It soothes and eases the discomforts of rashes, chapped and irritated skin.  We think it’s a must for every home.

Our Green Salve contains extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, plantain herb, comfrey herb, marshmallow root, and calendula flower.  Plantain herb is known as “nature’s band aid” because it is excellent for healing wounds and drawing out toxins or objects embedded in the skin such as splinters or glass.   Comfrey herb is nicknamed “knitbone,” as it quickly heals wounds, keeps them free from infection, and prevents scarring.  Marshmallow root softens skin and soothes skin irritations, boils, stings, and runny sores.  And calendula is an all purpose skin healing herb used to stop bleeding, wash wounds, heal cuts, abscesses, rashes, boils, chapped skin, and eczema.

Motherlove’s Green Salve has a zero rating (zero toxins) on EWG’s skin deep database and is made with 100% certified organic ingredients.

We recommend applying Green Salve to affected area several times daily to help relieve itch, rash, or chapped and irritated skin.

The entire dandelion plant is edible, and it’s higher than most foods in vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin A.  It has a number of medicinal uses, too.

Motherlove founder Kathryn Higgins writes, in her Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, “This recognizable plant is so beneficial that I don’t understand where it got its bad reputation.  Instead of eradicating this useful plant we should all be enjoying its beauty and many uses.”

She recalls:  “I started giving wild edible plant identification classes in 1985 on our land in Rist Canyon.  After class I fed everyone a meal made with the plants that we had previously identified.  The main course was nettle lasagna, along with a wild weed salad of lambsquarter and dandelion leaves.  To this I added sheep sorrel for a lemony taste and bull thistle.  Peeled thistle stalk makes a great substitute for celery. Side dishes were dandelion pickles, the wonderful dandelion muffins, and drinks of cold nettle lemonade and hot roasted dandelion root tea.  The children helped me with the gathering and making dandelion muffins- picking the open flower heads and pulling out the beautiful yellow fluff.”

See below for her recipe for Dandelion Muffins!

Here are some of the many ways you can use the dandelions in your yard:

Edible uses:*

• Before the plant blooms eat the young greens in salad or steamed.
• Pickle or steam the unopened buds.
• Add flower petals to flours and batters, and make them into tea, wine, beer, and syrup.
• Soak small pieces of the flower stalk in equal parts of water and vinegar overnight for pickles.
• Dry the root and roast in a slow oven until brown (about 4 hours), grind, simmer 10 minutes for a drink some liken to coffee with no caffeine.
• Eat the boiled roots as a vegetable.

Medicinal uses:*

• Dandelion leaf tea is a good diuretic for fluid retention and to eliminate toxins and constipation.
• The flower oil is good for a stiff neck, skin sores, and back tension.
• Splash the tea on skin to heal chapped or windburned areas, age spots, large pores, and wrinkles.
• Dandelion root is an excellent liver and stomach herb to treat liver congestion, to increase bile production, and help weak digestion.
• The root tea or tincture is recommended for jaundice, anemia, and skin blemishes.
• Use as a poultice on breast tenderness, cysts, or plugged milk ducts.
• Juice from the stem clears up warts.

Kathryn’s recipe for Dandelion Muffins:

Mix in bowl:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cups clipped dandelion flowers.  Mix the dandelion flowers to into the flour with your hands separating the bigger clumps of petals.

Mix in another bowl:

• 1/4 cups oil
• 4 T honey
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 1/2 cups milk

Combine dry and liquid ingredients.  Stir to moisten- it should be lumpy. Spoon into oiled muffin tins.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

*Of course, be sure that your dandelions haven’t been chemically sprayed!

Our nipple cream can be used for many other purposes.  It’s safe and effective for many uses.  You can use it to:

• Pass on to a pregnant friend (or buy her a new jar!)

• Moisturize lips (all ingredients are safe for ingestion)

• Moisturize dry skin on elbows, knees and heels

• Heal minor cuts, scrapes, and burns

• Soothe insect bites or sunburn

• Soothe inflamed stretch marks (or try our Pregnant Belly Salve or Pregnant Belly Oil)

• Rub into dry cuticles or chapped skin

• Treat eczema (or try our Green Salve)

• Smooth down a bit of unruly hair

• Use on diaper rash (or try our Diaper Rash and Thrush Salve)

• If you use a nipple shield, put a little a little under the outside edges to hold it in place

• Put it on chapped nose and cheeks during the winter time cold season.

• And finally, Silencia at Motherlove says “I also have a lot of friends who use it to help heal tattoos.”

And please remember that our glass jars are fully recyclable and reusable. Use our jars to hold jewelry, a votive candle, or even your own homemade lip balm.

That’s because we observe Earth Day every day of the year.

Motherlove was born from a deep respect for the gifts from the natural world, and we aim every day to create our products in ways that protect and preserve it.  Our products are truly gifts from nature, and we aspire to honor that generosity in every choice we make.

Here are just a few of the ways we maintain our commitment to the environment:

• Our certified organic ingredients reduce the use of pesticides and create a healthier product for you.  All of our products score a “zero” (zero toxins) on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic safety database.

• We manufacture using wind credits, lessening the use of non-renewable energy sources which contribute to global climate change.

• All of our office supplies, packaging, and company literature is made from recycled materials.

• We use glass packaging for our salves - a choice which reduces the use of plastic, permits endless recycling, and allows for safe and creative reuse!

• None of our products are ever tested on animals and all are completely cruelty-free. We are third-party certified by Leaping Bunny, which means that not only our end products, but also the ingredients (where most animal testing occurs) are third-party certified. There are lots of bunny seals, but only Leaping Bunny is a third-party certification and not just a company statement.

• Through our Nurturing Life Foundation we support environmental education for kids at places like The Mountain Park Environmental Center.  Over 10% of all Motherlove Herbal Company’s profits are donated to organizations that help nurture life and give children the opportunity to experience and explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

• Our founder, Kathryn Higgins, teaches on the gifts of the natural world through her lectures and writing on the use of herbs for nutrition, medicine, and body care.  Kathryn’s first book, Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, not only showcases the ingredients found in Motherlove’s products, but focuses on using native plants and sustainable harvesting methods. Kathryn is currently working on her second book, Sowing Seeds: Growing our Future, which focuses on growing herbs with children.

We are constantly striving to make Motherlove as respectful of the planet as we can, and encourage everyone to do what they can to make every day Earth Day!

We don’t just say that, we really mean it. We were making these products long before stores like Whole Foods Market were popular.

And our dedication extends to the packaging of our products.   We take great care to ensure that our products come to you in the safest, most environmentally responsible manner.

We have always packaged our salves (Nipple Cream, Diaper Rash & Thrush, Rhoid Balm, etc.) in glass containers.  As more and more evidence is produced that glass is the safest and most responsible packaging, we feel even more confident that this has been the right choice.

Here are a few of the reasons why:

Glass doesn’t leach chemicals into our products.

Salves are poured warm/hot into the container you buy. They are poured hot as a liquid and then cool into the consistency you use out of the jar. We have always felt that pouring a warm liquid into any plastic was not the safest choice, and while many companies are now using BPA-free plastics, new research evaluating more than 450 plastic products has concluded that “Almost all commercially available plastic products…leached chemicals having reliably-detectable EA [estrogenic activity], including those advertised as BPA-free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than BPA-containing products.”  Now more than ever it’s clear that glass is the safest packaging choice.

Glass is Fully Recyclable

Our containers can be recycled into new glass products, and glass can be endlessly recycled. Current estimates are that only about 10% of plastic is recycled, and the plastic bottles that are recycled can’t be turned into new plastic bottles but have to be “downcycled” into other, lower quality products.  There they often hit a recycling “dead end” – so degraded that they can’t be recycled further – and form  a permanent waste stream.

Glass Reduces Plastic Production

It’s sobering to think that every piece of plastic we’ve ever used and thrown away still exists.  And all that plastic is generally made using petrochemicals – a non-sustainable resource that contributes to global climate change.  Every glass jar we use is one less plastic container created and discarded.

Glass is Reusable

Our blue glass jars are safely reusable, and we encourage you to find new uses for them.  Line up our bottles on your windowsill with little bouquets of spring flowers.  Use our jars to hold jewelry, a votive candle, or even your own homemade lip balm.  We hope you’ll use your imagination!

Finally, we think that our blue glass containers are beautiful.  We hope you do, too!

Kathryn talked with Tanya about several commonly used herbs to increase milk supply, herbs that are particularly helpful for mothers who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or had little breast growth in pregnancy, and herbs that are safe to take while pregnant.  She explained which forms of herbs (liquid extracts, capsules, teas) are most effective, and discussed some common herbs and foods which lower milk supply.  She even shared the Greek myth that gave us the word galaxy and galactagogues (hint: when you look up at the night sky, think milk!).

A nationally recognized herbalist, author, and teacher, with 35 years of personal and professional experience, Kathryn Higgins is the founder and visionary behind Motherlove Herbal Company.   While pregnant with her first child Kathryn began to gather herbs from her home in the Rocky Mountains to make teas, oils, baths and liquid herbal extracts that would support her own child birth experience.  In 1990, while pregnant with her third child, Kathryn founded Motherlove.  She remains a lecturer and teacher on the use of herbs, and is the author of the Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants.

You can listen to the conversation using the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download it for free at Motherlove’s iTunes store

Wildcrafting

It’s common to see “organic” herbal ingredients on everything from teas to shampoos to toothpaste. A category of herb you don’t see nearly as often is “wildcrafted”. What exactly are wildcrafted herbs?

Long before USDA certification was the gold standard in the personal care industry, gathering all natural herbs was called wildcrafting. As a sustainable practice, herbalists gather roots, leaves, and seeds at the correct time of year during their highest potency. Careful to only gather a small percentage of any stand, wildcrafters have been ahead of their time in preserving the earth’s resources. In 1995, leaders in the wildcrafting industry founded United Plant Savers in an attempt to establish the best practices for ethical harvesting.

As the demand for herbal ingredients exploded, herbalists and product manufacturers realized that harvesting from wild stands of herbs was not going to be sustainable for the long term. The demand, especially for roots, was simply too great. At the same time, the process of farming with organic certification grew, as did the demand for certified products. Today,  many herbs are grown on certified organic  farms in an attempt to provide a steady source of raw materials for our industry.

For more information on herbal wildcrafting practices and the herbs that inspired many Motherlove products, consider reading the Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants. Written by Motherlove’s founder, Kathryn Higgins, the book also lists color photos with edible and medicinal uses, gathering information, and further references for identifying, cooking, and healing with wild plants.

I was confident that I could have a successful vaginal birth with my second child, but my husband was not willing to try a home birth again. The local hospital had beautiful birthing rooms where I could bring my ritual objects, and I was encouraged to use my herbal tinctures during labor when I needed them. Soon after the birth of our second daughter, I took a combination tincture of crampbark, motherwort, and raspberry leaf to prevent any afterbirth cramping, give me emotional support, and slow the bleeding. I continued to take this tincture several times a day for three days. Our second daughter’s heart defect was discovered the day after she was born. The sitz bath and homeopathic arnica were invaluable to me, as I walked and sat comfortably through three days of tests and many appointments.

I was two weeks overdue in my third pregnancy. After consulting with my nurse midwife, I took a dose of blue cohosh tincture. Six hours later I went into labor. When we arrived at the hospital, once again I was dilated only three centimeters. But in less than an hour of soaking in a warm tub, with my oldest daughter pushing the pressure points on my lower back, I was ready to push.

The birth of our third daughter went very quickly. I walked and squatted as we waited for the placenta to expel. The placenta, however, had adhered to the uterine wall at my previous cesarean scar, and I was hemorrhaging internally. The warm blood came gushing out as the doctor on call prepared to do an emergency hysterectomy. My husband squeezed a dropperful of fresh shepherds purse tincture into my mouth. Almost instantly the bleeding “miraculously” stopped, and an incredulous doctor removed the placenta with a D&C instead of the planned hysterectomy.

Herbs are a great birthing ally. Used successfully by midwives for years to ease labor pain and reduce the need for drug intervention, herbs can also progress a stalled labor, slow bleeding, calm anxiety, provide focus, and give renewed strength and nourishment.

Tinctures are an easy way to use herbs during labor. In a tincture, active constituents of the herbs are extracted in alcohol and water for a minimum of two weeks. This liquid is then strained and bottled. The herbal drops are taken in a small amount of water to dissipate the alcohol, or used directly from the dropper bottle. I mixed my own tinctures, but they are readily available in natural food stores.

Raspberry leaf, the premier uterine tonic, can be taken throughout pregnancy and labor. Just as a runner prepares leg muscles before a marathon, raspberry leaf strengthens the uterine muscles so that they will work more efficiently during contractions. Raspberry leaf also helps to expel the placenta after birth, slow afterbirth bleeding, and increase breast milk. For convenience, prepare a tea or ice chips ahead of time to sip or suck on during labor. Add chamomile tea for a relaxing effect.

Scullcap, chamomile, and catnip tinctures, and a combination of chamomile and St. Johns wort, work well to relieve tension and ease labor pain. As the name implies, crampbark eases uterine cramping during labor, as well as pains after birth.

When the ups and downs and feelings of anxiety seem overwhelming, motherwort is the herb to use. Or use aromatherapy inhalers that contain specific essential oil combinations for emotional focus, clarity, and rejuvenation. Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower remedy, also helps when under stress. Take several drops when needed during labor. After a difficult birth, put drops on the wrists or forehead of the newborn baby as well.

Many midwives use blue cohosh and shepherds purse. Blue cohosh brings on labor when the baby is overdue and should not be used before the last two weeks of pregnancy. During a long, stalled labor, blue cohosh makes contractions more efficient and revitalizes an irritable mother-to-be. Shepherds purse is the best herb to immediately stop postpartum hemorrhaging. Take one dropperful of the tincture. For greater effectiveness, be sure it is made with fresh, not dried, shepherds purse.

Back labor pain and tension can be relieved by massaging with an oil made with chamomile, rose, calendula, lavender, or St. John’s wort. You can add drops of an essential oil with a comforting scent. Perineal massage is also helpful before labor, and as the baby crowns, to prevent tearing, ease any swelling, and lessen the sensation of burning. An herbal oil of comfrey or St. John’s wort works well; if you do tear or have an episiotomy, it will promote rapid healing.

After the birth, homeopathic arnica pills reduce the swelling of bruised perineal muscles. Arnica should only be taken internally in homeopathic form, not as an herbal tincture, which could prevent clotting. A sitz bath slows bleeding and brings immediate relief to swollen membranes. Use a mixture of herbs such as comfrey, yarrow, uva ursi, witch hazel, goldenseal, or garlic. Pour a gallon of boiling water over an ounce of herbs, then cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain the strong infusion into a shallow tub or a sitz bath pan specifically made to fit on the toilet. Also squirt a strong comfrey tea from a bottle as you urinate. This prevents burning and aids in perineal healing. 

Chances are that you won’t need all of these items at the birth. But after experiencing three very different births, I have learned the importance of being prepared for anything that may happen. So remember to call on herbs to help you, as they did me, minimize the pain, promote rapid healing after the birth, and reduce the need for any unnecessary drug intervention, as you go through this joyous time of transformation.

Kathryn Higgins – Founder of Motherlove Herbal Company

Quality and effectiveness of our products is extremely important at Motherlove.  Before we place an order for an ingredient we receive a certificate of analysis and a sample. The certificate of analysis from the supplier shows test results for coliforms, salmonella, yeast & mold, bacterial plate count, heavy metals and pesticide residue. Herb samples are also evaluated for color, smell and strength before approval. Along with certificates of analysis for each ingredient, we also have the organic, kosher and cruelty free certification documents on file.

Motherlove’s herbal supplements are made in an FDA registered, GMP certified facility and have a certificate of analysis for each finished product.  Before any product is sold it is tested by an independent lab for bacteria, coliforms and heavy metals to ensure quality in every bottle.

We know how important quality, safety and effectiveness are, and we want you to feel confidant when you choose Motherlove.

All Motherlove’s products are made with safe certified organic ingredients and all have a zero rating (the cleanest rating) by EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Saftey Database.

As more and more women choose to breastfeed for the health and environmental benefits, there is also an increase in “natural” breastfeeding products. As an herbalist of 35 years and a manufacturer of herbal products for breastfeeding for 20 years, I am surprised at ingredients that I see on the labels of several of these products for breastfeeding.

Two ingredients that are of concern are comfrey and borage leaf (not to be confused with borage seed oil). I have seen nipple cream products that contain comfrey and claim to be safe for infant ingestion. I also came across a product containing borage leaf that helps to increase breast milk. These herbs contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and should not be consumed internally with any degree of regularity. The Botanical Safety Handbook, published by the American Herbal Products Association, states “all products with botanical ingredients containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids should not be taken while pregnant or nursing, and display the following cautionary statement on the label ‘For external use only. Do not apply to broken skin or abraded skin.”

Please read the labels on the products that you buy and avoid these two herbs in any product meant to be taken internally or in a nipple cream that may be ingested by an infant.

Happy Breastfeeding
Kathryn
Founder of Motherlove

The Environmental Working Group has created a database of cosmetics called Skin Deep to help inform consumers of clean and not so clean cosmetics. Here is their mission statement from the website.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

“It’s our mission at the Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment.

Often, that means building databases. EWG’s data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals.

In 2004 we launched Skin Deep, an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. Our aim was to fill in where companies and the government leave off: companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish, and our government doesn’t require companies to test products for safety before they’re sold. EWG’s scientists built Skin Deep to be a one-of-a-kind resource, integrating our in-house collection of personal care product ingredient listings with more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.

Now in its fourth year and third major update, our Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for nearly a quarter of all products on the market — 61,972 products with 7,628 ingredients. At about one million page views per month, Skin Deep is the world’s largest and most popular product safety guide.”

At Motherlove we are thankful that there are resources out there like Skin Deep to help everyone navigate ingredients on labels. We are also proud to say that our entire line of products have a zero rating, the cleanest rating a product can get. We can all make a conscience effort to learn about our skin care, stop putting toxins on our bodies and stand up to companies that put toxins in our skin care products.

Every day, Americans are bombarded with advertising about environmentally friendly goods and services. But how many really are green, and how many are just pretending? Check out GreenWashing to learn more. Look for the appropriate third party certification on the label. Third party certification boards are unbiased, independent boards that require manufacturers to undergo evaluations to verify that a given set of standards are met. Use this search tool to get expert evaluation of the labels. You can search by product, category, or certifier, and easily compare labels.