Herbal Medicine

Confession: I’ve always dried my clothes in a dryer. Even as a child, my family had a well-utilized laundry room with no outdoor clothesline in sight. There really was no excuse for this as we lived in a very temperate area of Northern California, where the summers are typically sunny and warm and the winters are quite mild. I think it really all boils down to laziness and lack of knowledge.

Recently I was faced with a serious laundry dillemma… our dryer ran out of gas and my two children and husband were simply running out of clean underwear and socks. While I waited on my husband to have the gas tank filled, I was pondering what to do about this situation when my lightbulb went on.

We are having an unseasonably warm and dry winter in Northern California and, although if we don’t see some rain soon, we will surely be facing drought conditions in the summer, I decided to use this Spring-like weather to our advantage and created a makeshift drying line that would hence dry our clothes.

For an entire week my children and I were forced to hang dry our clothing, which is precisely how long it took my husband to get the gas tank filled. But we enjoyed the experience so much that eventhough I now have my dryer back, I haven’t even been using it.

What did I learn in this eye-opening experience? Yes, it is more time and consuming. But it is really quite simple and there are so many positive reasons for drying your clothes outdoors on a line rather than in a dryer. I’ve done a bit of research and here is what I’ve discovered.

The average household will spend approximately $100 - $200 dollars per year on drying clothes in a dryer. Thus, using a clothesline saves money. It also saves a significant amount of energy and reduces pollution. Your clothesline-fresh wardrobe will smell better, feel more natural,  be wrinkle-free (no matter how long they hang out) and will actually last longer as well, since they are no longer being subjected to a harsh, hot and tumbling dryer.

Hanging your clothing outside also gives you a great opportunity to expend some your own energy, ie. get some exercise, and enjoy being outside soaking up some sun at the same time. In addition, it is an activity that you can enjoy with your  kids. I know my 4 and 7 year-olds had a great time helping me to hang our clothes out, then collecting them at the end of the day. We felt like a family in Little House on the Prairie! It has been a nice learning experience for the whole family and truly is worth the extra time and effort. So, unplug that dryer and Hang “Em Dry!

Clothesline Your Laundry, Dry Clothes for Free, Family, Home, Natural Health

Do you suffer from bladder problems? We recently received this question from a reader and our expert author Susun S. Weed has been kind to offer her natural health advice.

Question:

Dear Susun,

I have had a chronic situation involving the bladder (interstitial cystitis and urinary hesitancy) following a hysterectomy 4 1/2 years ago. I have also been diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease and suffer with depression. I feel that traditional treatments (antibiotics) which I have been given are not the best answer. Can you help me?
Thank you,

Sylvia

Answer:

Dear Sylvia,

Please allow me to offer you some ways to deal with your interstitial cystitis. I agree that antibiotics are not the best choice. Women with cystitis have bacteria in their urine; antibacterial drugs or herbs (such as uva ursi, yarrow, cranberry, or echinacea) usually restore health quickly. Women with IC, however, have no bacteia in their urine, so antibacterial agents fail to relieve the distress. These remedies are condensed from my book, New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way. Please consult it for more specifics. Green blessings, Susun S Weed Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the space between lining of the urinary bladder and its muscle. Soothing herbs such as slippery elm and marshmallow root, taken as teas, not tinctures, not capsules, can help relieve pain and strengthen the bladder. I find comfrey leaf infusion (made by brewing one ounce of dried comfrey leaf in a quart of boiling water for 4 hours) an incredible ally in easing burning sensations in the bladder and vagina. You can drink it and/or use it as a sitz bath.

These powerful anti-inflammatory herbs, used as tinctures only, can make all the difference. Choose only one and work with it for at least a month.

- Osha root (Ligusticum porterii) tincture, 3-5 drops at a time, repeated up to four times a day, stops swelling in mucus tissues; try it if your belly feels heavy and full.

- Poke root (Phytolacca americana) tincture, 1-2 drops at a time and only once a day, has a special affinity for women and the pelvis; try it if your pain is cyclical.

- Black cohosh root (Cimicifuga racemosa) tincture, 10-15 drops, up to three times a day, is a menopause herb that is also an antispasmodic; try it if your pain that is sharp and stabbing.

- St. Joan’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), 20-30 drops, as many as six times a day, relieves nerve pain; try it if your pain is electrical.

Regular Kegel exercises (at least 100 per day)strengthen the muscles surrounding the bladder and, by increasing circulation of lymph and blood, tonify the bladder wall, reducing symptoms.

Relaxation techniques are quite helpful in relieving both chronic and acute pain from IC.

Most women with IC find some corrleation between their symptoms and certain foods. This is highly individual, but the most problematic foods seem to be: avocados, bananas, cranberries, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, tofu, fava beans, lima beans, nuts, vinegar, yogurt, sharp cheeses, some herbal teas, white flour products, and brewer’s yeast. Stimulants such as coffee, black tea, green tea, alcohol, tobacco,chocolate, and sex (even with oneself) may exacerbate symptoms, alas. Dyes and binders in most supplements aggravate symptoms, as do food preservatives, food dyes, carbonated sodas and waters, aspartame, and saccharine, too.

Acupuncture treatments may relieve IC. Many practitioners insist that you come regularly for many months before expecting improvement. This is not true for those dealing with interstitial cystitis. According to one expert, Dr. Matthew Lee, half of those who will experience relief will do so in three sessions, and 95 percent of those who will benefit will do so in six sessions.

Vaginal estrogen creams can reduce symptoms for some menopausal women according to MD Elizabeth Lee Vliet. She cautions that progesterone tends to inhibit formation of the protective lining of the bladder and is therefore contraindicated for women with IC.

Drugs such as Iboprofen and prescription antidepressants such as elavil, taken in small doses (10- 40 mg a day at bedtime) can block pain, calm spasms, and decrease inflammation.

Avoid aspirin; it is associated with bleeding of the mucosal membranes, a potentially dangerous side effect for those with IC. Over-the-counter cold medicines, cough syrups, diet pills, or anything else containing drugs which increase the production of norepinephrine make IC worse.

Avoid treatments that deliver steroids, anti-inflammatory agents, or anti-clotting drugs by catheter directly into the bladder. Only half of the women treated will experience any lessening of pain, and only after 6 months to a year. Avoid urethral dilations which generally do more harm than good.

Women who have their bladder removed in hopes of removing the source of their pain frequently suffer from “phantom bladder” pain.

Women who have undergone hysterectomy find it aggravates the symptoms of IC. Nearly half (44%) of women with IC have had their uterus removed.

References and Resources

Canadian Interstitial Cystitis Society , POBox 28625, Burnaby, BC (V5C 6J4) Canada

The IC Network, 4773 Sonoma Hwy, #125, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 Interstitial Cystitis Association of America, Inc, 51 Monroe St, Suite 1402, Rockville, MD 20850

Vliet, Elizabeth Lee MD. Screaming to be Heard, Hormonal Connections Women Suspect and Doctors Ignore. M. Evans & Co. 1995

Chalker, Rebecca and Whitmore, Kristene. Overcoming Bladder Disorders: Compassionate, Authoritative Medical and Self-Help Solutiond for Incontinence, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Prostate Problems, Bladder Cancer. HarperCollins, 1991.

DeMarco, Carolyn MD. Take Charge of Your Body. Well Woman Press, 1994.

Ford, Anne Tochon. “Living with Interstitial Cystitis.” A Friend Indeed, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1999.

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Do you have a question you would like to ask our expert panel? Visit our Experts Page or Email Your Question!

—- Read Susun S. Weed’s article: Bladder Infections

Expert Q & A, Natural Health

Hot stones have been used in the ancient art of healing for centuries. Many Native American cultures used hot stones as a massage treatment during sweat lodge ceremonies. This ancient ritual of hot stone therapy has now evolved and is all the rage in modern day therapeutic and massage spas across the globe. And now it is finally my turn to experience the bliss.

For Christmas, my wonderful mother-in-law gave me a gift certificate for a Steamy Stone Massage at a local spa. I’ve had a standard massage before, but never a hot stone massage. I look forward to making my appointment and indulging in the experience, but I also want to know in advance what I am getting myself into. So, for myself, as well as any of you that are thinking about this treatment or considering giving it as a gift for a special someone… Valentine’s Day is on the way, you know! I have done some research on the topic and would love to share what I have uncovered about this unique healing treatment.

Our ancestors used stones in their healing techniques for several reasons, the primary being the sense of harmony and wellness the stones evoke when placed on the body. The stones utilized by therapists are usually basalt: a smooth, black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. They vary in both shape and size but are all mineral rich.

A typical hot stone massage starts with the therapist sanitizing and heating the stones in water. The therapist will then begin the massage while holding the heated stones. As the stones cool, they are replaced with newly heated stones. A therapist will often leave heated stones along points of your spine, which creates a calming, sedative effect on the body and helps tight muscles to relax. Some therapists will have you hold the stones in your hands or place them between your toes to promote the flow of energy through the body. In a case of muscle injury, therapists will often use cold stones to reduce inflammation and increase general metabolism.

Not all massage therapists are experienced with hot stone therapy, therefore it is important to find out if your therapist is a certified massage therapist, where they studied the art of stone therapy, and how long they have been practicing this technique. It is also important to communicate with your therapist if you feel the stones are too hot or the pressure is too intense. Some less experienced therapists may use too much pressure during treatment. Therapists also encourage clients to consume adequate amounts of pure water, both before and after treatment.

Overall, the experience is said to produce a profound feeling of harmony and well being for both the body and soul. Hot Stone Therapy is intended to be a deeply soothing and relaxing form of massage.

Stay tuned to the Modern Sage Blog to read my personal review of my own Hot Stone Therapy Treatment…. Coming Soon!

Interested in trying it out yourself, or giving someone special a treat for Valentine’s Day?

Buy SpaWish Gift Certificates and Products. Save $5 today. Click For Details.

Learn more about Hot Stone Therapy on Modern Sage… read Rejuvenate with Stone Therapy.

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