Follicular, Ovulatory, Luteal, Menstrual. Inner spring, Inner summer, Inner Autumn, Inner Winter. Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon, New Moon. The cycles of nature are tangible in ourselves, and especially for those of us with wombs while we're in our cycling years, we have the option to align ourselves with the phase of our cycle we'e in at any given moment. For instance, I'm currently in early Autumn. I just ovulated a few days ago, my temperature rose, my cervical mucus changed, and I can feel a subtle difference in my energy levels, and honestly I also feel a little warmer (well maybe that's bc I'm wearing too many layers, lol, but basal body temp DOES rise post-ovulation). What phase of your cycle are you in right now?? Whatever phase you're in has certain qualities and characteristics, and it's important to learn your own rather than just rely on books or social media, because sometimes we don't fit the prescribed mold. However, there are general qualities that hold true for most folks... so it's helpful to learn those and then reflect on your own. Today's podcast guest, longtime yoga teacher and cyclical living mentor Rebecca Rankin, shares all about not only her life-changing experience with cyclical living but also how we can bring yoga postures and breathwork into the fold. She shares a couple poses and breathwork options that suit each phase. I especially love how she includes a rolled towel to encourage ovarian circulation in the follicular phase in one pose and then that same rolled towel in a different location to encourage uterine circulation in the late luteal phase. It's really neat to consider the ways we can more intentionally bring our cycle into our yoga and vice versa. If this intrigues you, I think you'll dig today's episode. Listen to learn: how becoming a mother catalyzed Rebecca's cyclical living journey what cyclical living is and a couple ways it's changed her business + life ways that natural cycles mirror and inform embodied cyclical living how even when you're no longer cycling, you can still attune to cycles some yoga postures + breathwork for each phase of the menstrual cycle a guided "Apana" breathwork practice helpful in menstrual phase + whenever you need some extra tethering to the earth Resources: Today's shownotes: Get Rebecca's links to her journal, website, social media Start tracking your cycle with Fertility Awareness Method (free guide) Episode 42: Reclaim your menstruation Episode 69: Cyclical archetypes w Em Dewey Episode 73: Cyclical movement w Tara Lynn Steele Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Well, today I decided to go for it and talk about everyone's favorite topic... poop. 😂 But for real, the quality and regularity of our elimination has a huge impact on our overall health. And unfortunately, we've all but normalized constipation. Most folks go to the doctor and when they're asked, "Do you have regular bowel movements?" They respond, "yes." Because regular just means at regular intervals, right? The answer to that is... NO. Ideally we all poop at least once a day, if not twice. And those eliminations feel complete, relieving, relaxing. If you're pooping every 2-3 days, or even longer intervals (I've known clients and friends to say they have "regular" bowel movements every 10 days), that's constipation. For some people pooping only once a day could be a form of incomplete elimination that may be a slight constipation. What's "normal" or "typical" is not necessarily healthy. And constipation, whether it's chronic or occasional or situational, wreaks havoc on multiple systems of the body - so it's important to eliminate every single day not just for your digestive discomfort but also for your whole health (and yes, your hormones too). I share all about this and a lot more in this week's episode. Listen to learn: what constipation is and how to tell if you have it (it's not always obvious) how to determine your transit time the many forms of constipation and when they might show up how constipation impacts your hormones, cholesterol levels + skin the direct relationship between your gut and your mental health a few ideas about how to encourage more optimal elimination (aka how to help you poop) Resources: Today's shownotes: What's constipation got to do with it? Free guide: Dandelion recipe collection Episode 11: Dandelion herbal spotlight Episode 17: How stress messes w your hormones Episode 58: Gut health + your hormones If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

When you think about the menopausal transition, what comes up? I'm genuinely curious actually... Is it the end of the cycling years, no more bleeding? Or the hot flashes, low libido, dry vaginal tissues, maybe even need to focus more on bone or heart health? Does it feel liberating or like something you're dreading? I know some folks here are already well beyond their menopausal years (and I love that you're here), and others are barely even thinking yet about this transition. And that's the thing, many of us don't begin to even think about this time of our lives until we start to experience the symptoms that make it obvious. Today's guest, herbalist and homeopath Seraphina Capranos speaks about menopause from the lens of the Wise Woman Tradition which approaches this transitional time as something to prepare for by focusing on deep nourishment, nervous system and adrenal health. While of course alleviating symptoms is important, there's also an art to preventing them even occurring in the first place. So many of us run ourselves to the ground, trying hard to keep up with a world that glorifies over-extending and production over rest and replenishment. And let's just say, that go-go-go energy is the opposite of what we need to be doing as we head into our transitional years. Instead, we need to be caretaking ourselves. Seraphina shares about some of her favorite herbs to incorporate into this time of life (and before), and also a whole different perspective on what's possible as we pass through this transition - how instead of an entry into the elder years, it's actually often a time of new beginnings and empowered action. Listen to learn: how Seraphina braids together herbalism, homeopathy and ritual into her work the power of touching your own breasts/chest what the foundations of the Wise Woman Tradition are the Wise Woman approach to health care (and how integrative it is) ways to prepare your body and mind and spirit for menopause a few herbs Seraphina thinks are key for most of us in this time why menopause is not typically the entry to "crone" years in modern times Resources: Todays shownotes: Get links (and discount) to Seraphina's programs + work Free guide: 10 key herbs for hormonal health Episode 37: Easing into menopause w Dana LaVoie Episode 40: Herbal spotlight on schisandra Episode 70: Is it perimenopause? Episode 86: Herbal spotlight on ashwagandha If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Something that always surprises me is how powerful it is to share stories, especially when they relate to "things we don't talk about." It's pretty easy for us to share stories about how our day went awry, or something funny about what our kids did when trying to get them to eat their dinner. But what we don't talk about are often the things we are socialized to keep quiet. Which tends to be, oh just about anything related to our pelvis and wombspace, especially when we're feeling vulnerable or like we're the only ones who must be experiencing this (insert very common reproductive or sexual or hormonal health issue here). The reality is that many of us have been socialized to feel shame around anything we experience related to "down there" and since we only see the happy moments and smiling photos of postpartum parents and families, it's easy to believe no one else is struggling. But let's be real. Especially for first time parents, but also any subsequent birth, there are SO MANY unexpected things that show up. From perineal tears to healing from a cesarean to feeling scared to poop to prolapse to incontinence to massive mood swings to beyond-imaginable-fatigue to being responsible for another human to nipple soreness and figuring our nursing and on and on and on. But who talks about this? So much of the focus tends to be on preparing for birth and often very little if any heads-up about what to genuinely expect in those days and weeks after birth, physically/emotionally/mentally, etc. And this. This is what Zulilah Merry's documentary film, No One Told Me, vividly portrays in observational form. Simple, observational, real-deal postpartum journey. Which is both refreshing and a gift to see. We talk about her film and her journey to making it, as well as way more about what is profoundly missing in our current individualistic, "I can do it myself," society. And how important it is to find ways to connect and build community in this world that is endlessly asking us to stray from it. Listen to learn: the premise of No One Told Me what prompted Zulilah to make this film why the style of observational documentary is powerful in the postpartum context how sharing honest views into this time of life can support others what might be possible if we center connection versus individuation Resources: Today's shownotes: Get links to Zulilah's website and social media Sign up for Tending the Loss of Abortion (starts April 7, 2024) Episode 25: Immediate postpartum care the herbal way Episode 49: Creating a sacred window postpartum and beyond If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

As humans, we love stories. And sometimes physiology can be boring and heady and unpalatable. But what if we tell the story of what's happening instead? What if we see the primordial germ cell that may become an oocyte and may ovulate and then travel from the ovary through the uterine tubes and beyond as an epic tale? Honestly, I've fallen in love with physiology, and the burst of potential life that exists in our oocytes is as fascinating as it is mysterious. And that makes it... magic. In my mind, at least. Some might say we can understand it all scientifically, but can we? In this episode I dive into my own version of what I see happening, from the original primordial germ cells we create when we're inside our mother's (or parent's) womb all the way to ovulation as adults and potential fertilization. I actually think this physiology is a good foundation whether you're trying to conceive or trying to avoid it... it's the 101 (okay, well maybe 202) glimpse into what's actually happening, how it happens, and why it matters. This process is both scientific (and yes, I talk some researched science) and mystical. And I personally think it's best that way. Listen in to learn: the scientific and mystical elements of eggs and their monthly journey how and when your potential eggs start forming (hint: when you're an embryo) the myth around the amount of eggs you have in your lifetime what the process of oocyte development and ovulation looks like what happens once the oocyte has ovulated (how does it get out?) what your cervical fluid does to sperm the myth about the fastest sperm being the one to fertilize the egg what happens after fertilization Resources: Grab the FREE Track Your Cycle Naturally guide here. Today's shownotes: Get links to the references + articles I mentioned today Episode 38: Your menstrual cycle is a vital sign Episode 98: Reclaim your cervix Episode 105: What is your fertile window? If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

It's Equinox time! Finally, spring is showing its face... or is it? Depends where you live, honestly. Regardless, those of us in the northern hemisphere are likely noticing longer days, and with that increased light, we're reminded that spring is either here, or coming soon. Here in the Wabanaki lands of Maine, we're teetering between cold and slightly warmer days, the ground is shifting between thawing and freezing, and we haven't seen much (if any) new green growth yet. But in other places, spring is probably in full swing. Wherever you are, my guess is that you're feeling the stirrings of Spring, and with that some inner and outer changes in your physical and emotional energy. You may even be craving greens, or lighter foods. Maybe you're seeking ways to help your body release some of the heaviness of the wintertime. Simple things like movement, eating more bitter greens, reducing your dense foods, taking some time away from things like dairy, sugar or alcohol are all simple ways you can begin this process. And really, they can be enough. But working with herbs to support all your systems of elimination is a traditional practice that can be easily incorporated into your daily life alongside some of the dietary or lifestyle options. And today's guest, long-time herbalist and Kundalini yoga teacher Kelley Riviere shares all about how this practice looks for her, the herbs she feels are most key in this time, and the primary ways she works with them. She also talks about her relationship with wildcrafting, and how important it is to cultivate deep relationships with the plants that live around you. Listen to the episode to learn: what wildcrafting is and some of the essential principles why Kelley still has herbal mentors and teachers 30 years in the different between intense cleansing and gentle detox the systems of elimination that are most important to focus on in spring what lymph is and why you should care highlights of 5 different plants to work with in springtime an experienced medicine maker's tip on how to make a potent cleavers tincture Resources: Today's shownotes: Get Kelley's spring self-care guide + links Episode 8: Exploring cycles of the earth in our bodies: Spring edition Episode 11: Dandelion herbal spotlight Episode 22: Nettles herbal spotlight Episode 62: Embodying Spring Learn more and sign up for Tending the Loss of an Abortion (April 2024) If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

There are so many reasons to grieve right now, on the planet, in our personal lives. Whether it's part of our womb stories or not. Loss is everywhere. We can't escape it, it's part of being a fully living human. So instead of trying to minimize it or rush through it, as our modern world would love to have us do, what if we learn to tend our grief? What could it look like to have a healthy relationship with grief? How would it feel to a actually give yourself the space you heart needs? What's possible when we call in our relationship to the earth, the herbs and seasonal cycles? Herbalist and birth + loss doula India Elyn shares all about how she's worked with the earth and herbs to deeply tend her own deep grief journeys. It's through this practice of honoring and tending grief that she's found her affinity for tending the thresholds between life and death. And she shares both her personal grief journeys and embodied earth wisdom in this week's episode. The truth is, we aren't taught how to grieve, and most commonly in modern society, grief happens behind closed doors, in private, without witness. We've lost our relationship to how to grieve well, how to allow ourselves to feel and not hold it in, especially in moments when the waters of grief are there because of how fully we've lived or how much we've allowed ourselves to love. This is big work, and it's beautiful work. And I want to invite you to join me and Inda in exploring what can be possible when you weave yourself back into relationship with the earth while feeling and tending your grief. Listen to learn: what brought India to the work of threshold tending how similar the space of birth and death are how to receive the nurturing and strength of the earth when you're feeling fragile 3 ways India loves to bring plant medicine into grief work embodied wisdom around the non-linear path of grief how the seasons and cycles can inform us about death and loss Resources: Learn more about Tending the Loss of an Abortion (April 2024) Today's shownotes: Get links to India's website and book Episode 41: Nature connection and stress resilience w Efan Hsieh Episode 53: Honoring the Loss (last year'sinterview with India) If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

I woke up this morning feeling the spark of spring, and simultaneously felt the excitement of plants popping up. Maybe soon, maybe not. In those moments, I started to reflect on the multitude of ways we can "be an herbalist." And how I'm really a blend of so many, depending on the day, and how my personal herbal journey reflects this. I realized I haven't really ever told my own personal plant path story - not fully at least, and while I couldn't fit it ALL into one episode, I tried to give the highlights to offer some context to how the heck I got where I am, some of the influences along the way, and a few pivotal moments where I realized what I wanted to pursue and why. I hope it's not just a story about me, and instead it's a glimpse into what a diverse, meandering plant path can look like in a way that inspires you to feel into what's true and right for you. Whether that's in your own plant path or in choosing an herbalist or practitioner to work with. The truth is, no two herbalists are the same. And your unique expression of herbal medicine will be your own. Plant medicine is truly people's medicine and I want to encourage you to bring whatever form of herbalism you practice to the world. But also to name it in a way that reflects your path honestly. I offer a few different ideas for you to pick from -- folk herbalism, home/family herbalism, community herbalism, embodied herbalism, clinical herbalism. But maybe there's another one that resonates even more for you. And please, name your teachers too. They deserve our honoring. Listen to learn: where I started (hint: very simply) what a hands-on herbal apprenticeship can look and feel like how long it took me to claim myself as an herbalist why "western herbal medicine" is really not "western" at all ways I began to incorporate herbalism into my professional practice differences between home/family herbalist, community herbalist + clinical herbalist why I chose to become a clinical herbalist and get a masters degree why I don't think most people need to go to graduate school! what I'm inspired to offer now Resouces: Today's shownotes: links to Joe Hollis' work and more Episode 11: Dandelion herbal spotlight Episode 22: Nettle herbal spotlight Episode 108: "What's in your tea today?" Free recipe collection: 6 ways to prepare dandelion! **I mis-spoke a couple times in this episode. I meant "bodywork school" when I said "herb school" where I learned mostly about flower essences and aromatherapy. And I meant to say "Andrew" not "Adam" when I was talking about my teachers at David Winston's school! (I'm not going to edit the recording, but wanted to have this documented somewhere) If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

As humans, we are storytelling creatures... but I think we often overlook how powerful hearing stories of others healing can be. Especially when they include facing profound debilitation and hopelessness. And show us how we are ALL capable of finding our way from the darkness to the light. To vitality, vibrancy -- even pleasure. And that's what I really really love about Julia's story. In her mid-teens she experienced sexual trauma that was tucked away until she was 19 when stabbing, stinging pain started in her vulva and did.not.stop. She lived for 6 whole years with debilitating vulva pain, was given a long list of diagnoses from various specialists, and was given very little hope that she would EVER recover from most specialists that she saw. In fact, she was told "you'll just have to work on your anxiety," "there's nothing we can do," "we don't understand this condition," and "just put lidocaine on it so you can please your partner." And the sad truth is, most medical practitioners really don't have anything to offer to those suffering with conditions like vulvodynia, vaginismus, interstitial cystitis etc. For some reason, it took years for Julia to be referred to a pelvic floor physical therapist, but finally once she went she felt hope again. And along the way, she started studying and practicing yoga, meditation, breathwork, therapy, herbalism, and more. Which all played a huge role in her healing. She shares her whole story in a powerful way on this week's episode. And honestly, I think everyone would benefit from listening. If you've got chronic pelvic pain, this is especially for you. But if you don't, your compassion for those who do will expand exponentially. Share this one far and wide, friends. It's the kind of story that lends hope to all of us. Listen to learn: why Julia sees sexual trauma as the origin of her pelvic pain how chlamydia, a UTI and BV may have played a role what it was like for Julia to experience chronic pelvic pain day in and day out some interventions that are common but were not helpful an intervention that made her pain significantly worse for a year what she felt really worked, and how integrative care was most helpful how her yoga practice supported her healing journey how she got her partner involved in her pelvic floor healing Resources Today's shownotes: Get Julia's links + a link to that Pelvic yoga book Episode 19: The importance of softening w Chaya Leia Aronson Episode 61: Healing embodied womb trauma w Dr Emily Wilson Episode 77: Myofascial release for breasts, chest + pelvic bowl w Lindsay Courcelle Free guide: Gardening for your menstrual health If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Your pleasure is a superpower. Not metaphorically. Actually. And I'm not just talking orgasms and clitoral stimulation, though that's certainly a huge pathway to pleasure. Instead I mean, connecting to what feels good - uniquely, in your body, to you. And that's different for everyone. But in starting to pay attention to anything that feels good, you start inviting the possibility for more pleasure in your life because you can seek more of that. Is it sun on your skin, the feeling of warm water running over your hands, the smell of jasmine, dancing in a certain way, and what about in the bedroom? Before you even attempt sexual arousal, what is sensually pleasing? Are you someone who's always go-go-go or feeling burnt out and barely have a libido? Or are you feeling numb or blocked or like you don't even have an idea of where to start? How do you begin to uncover what unlocks your pleasure if you don't already know? If any of these questions get you curious, this week's episode medley is for you. First, I share a little about arousal, the importance of prioritizing pleasure and why I think the term "aphrodisiac" is close to meaningless. Plus you'll get a quick glimpse into the first category of herbs that may be supportive for enhancing your arousal. Next Usha Rose speaks about the yoni egg practice as a supportive way to deepen connection to your body, enhance orgasmic potential and offer prevention and even treatment for certain pelvic health imbalances (like urinary incontinence, for example). And finally Juliana Rose Goldstone share about how psychedelics can be a tool to help expand your perception of what's possible in your erotic embodiment and "sexual wholeness," and how that works from the lens of neural pathways. I hope this wide range of pathways to pleasure inspires you to connect with your own. *And yes, you guessed it, I'm doing this medley bc I'm sick... but what better topic to talk about than aspiring to feeling good what I'm feeling like crud? Send your prayers for full and easy recovery please, I welcome them wholeheartedly. Resources: Today's shownotes: On enhancing arousal and pleasure Episode 27: Sex + Psychedelics with Juliana Rose Goldstone Episode 39: Yoni eggs and the practice of pleasure with Usha Rose Episode 52: Beyond aphrodisiacs Episode 64: Vagus nerve and arousal Episode 65: Grief & Pleasure w Stacey Ramsower If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Tea is a foundational form of herbal medicine. Partly because it's the epitome of how "plant medicine is people's medicine" because it's so accessible, inexpensive, and familiar. But also because it's a way we can cultivate real, lasting relationship with the plants. Especially when we work with bulk dried herbs, we see them, smell them, taste them, and can feel them. Our senses are engaged. It also requires time and patience. It's a form of slow medicine. It's a ritual and rhythm we can bring into our daily lives, and that's therapeutic unto itself. And it's also something a lot of people ask me about, since I've almost always got an herbal tea in my hand - no matter where I am. It could be a clothing swap, the grocery store or a party. I'll likely have tea. The question "what's in your tea, today?" is common. So I decided to answer that here. I needed something easy today because I'm under the weather, but it also feels at least a little bit fun, which is a nice way to celebrate Herbal Womb Wisdom's birthday! 2 years old this week!! Listen to learn: the basics on making tea why slow medicine matters how to start simply when exploring tea blending why I think tasting herbs is essential before blending teas how tea helps us cultivate relationship to plants more fully what's in my tea today, and why I chose each herb Resources: Today's shownotes: "What's in your tea, today?" Episode 4: Tulsi herbal spotlight Episode 12: The simple and sacred practice of making herbal teas Episode 22: Nettles herbal spotlight If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

I think it's easy to pigeonhole our health - whether that's hormonal, sexual, menstrual or overall health - to being something physical. Like, yes, we need certain foods, lots of fiber, healthy fats, good protein. And yes, we need to be hydrated. And move our bodies. And get outside. And make sure we're pooping. Without those things, we can't actually feel integratively well, for sure. But something that I think is missing from A LOT of holistic health conversations is how systemic, social and cultural wellbeing (or imbalances) impacts our health. Bc let's be honest, MOST of the systemic structures that hold our lives together on a wider scale are a mess. Whether its capitalism, or racism, or classism, or sexism, or oppressive forces using power-over-to-get-what-they-want-through-whatever-means, our bodies and minds and spirits are all affected. So I appreciate how today's guest Sherene Cauley defines wellness from the lens of "love, connection and home." That those three pillars elucidate a well person but can also be expanded out to define a well regional community, or even a well global community. That cultural wellbeing on that level is an *integral* part of individual wellbeing. That we are not separate from our environments, from our neighbors, from each other. Sherene is a health coach, and honestly I think a visionary guide that helps us to reflect thoughtfully on what we're doing and why we're doing it. And part of how she encourages that is to start noticing your daily rituals (or incorporating new ones) and infusing them with multiple layers of meaning. By bringing mindfulness and curiosity into our daily rituals, we can begin to notice what's changing and also any underlying behavior patterns or thoughts. These kinds of daily rituals can bring more connection to our lives, in a myriad of ways. Listen to learn: how Sherene defines wellness from a cultural wellbeing level what led her to uncover some of the systemic imbalances going on how health coaching informs her work towards changing patterns what her definition of a ritual is, and how simple they can be ways to infuse meaning and reflectiveness into your rituals a sneaky way to incorporate a new healthy behavior thoughts on how to cultivate mindfulness on social media some ideas on how to bring ancestral connection into your daily life Resources: Today's shownotes: Get Sherene's links to website and social media Episode: The mesentery with Abigail Rose Clark Episode: Your womb is a portal with Sepideh Hakimzadeh Check out Womb Attune in Northport, ME Feb 18th 2024 w Chaya Leia Aronson If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

I think it's easy to dismiss the importance of core strength as something only for those who are young or oriented to body image. But the truth is, your core is the center of your body. And it's actually a place where a lot of your whole body strength (and overall wellness) radiates from. According to today's guest, Mary Vidal, having a strong core is an essential foundation to both treating and preventing everything from chronic pain, to prolapse, to incontinence, to diastases recti and beyond. It's something to bring our attention to at any phase of life, but especially as we move through childbearing years and navigate postpartum pelvic floor challenges and also navigate the hormonal shifts and changes of perimenopause and post-menopause. She shares about how to assess your core strength in an easy to understand (super simple) way, some ideas about what core exercises are better than others (hint: kegels are often NOT the answer), and even a quick breathwork practice to help you begin to connect to and feel your core. We also talk a little about bone health and why it's especially important not just to address it once you're menopausal, but actually start to intentionally tend to maybe even as early as your 30's. It's an episode packed with practical tips, professional knowledge, and personal story... a perfect one for you in any age and stage in life -- from fertile years all the way to menopause and beyond. Listen to learn: why supporting your core strength goes far beyond a six pack how caretaking your core + pelvic health can prevent future issues why Mary sees core health from a holistic, whole life wellness lens the simple 3 P's for assessing your core how to know if you're not doing core exercises correctly the myth about kegels how postpartum and perimenopause and menopause change our pelvic floor ways to support your body to age well (bone health, muscle strength, etc) Resources: Today's episode: Grab Mary's links to her website, socials, etc Episode 19: The importance of pelvic softening with Chaya Leia Episode 55: How to heal diastases recti with Dr Christine Klein Episode 61: Pelvic wisdom w Dr Emily Wilson Episode 95: How to tend the "root" of your body w Dr Rebecca Cohen If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

6 days. You're fertile for only 6 days of your entire cycle every month. That's it! I imagine you may have heard that before somewhere, especially if you've been on a fertility journey or practiced Fertility Awareness / cycle tracking in any form. It's probably the most important part of the cycle to be aware of... but what IS it exactly? What's happening in the body in that time? And why is it important, even if you're not trying to conceive? The truth is your cycle is a vital sign. And your fertile window is one of the markers that give information about what the heck is going on "down there" and also overall in your menstrual cycle, your hormones, and even your whole body health. The fertile window is often characterized by an abundance of cervical mucus for 5 days leading up to and on the day of ovulation. It's a time that is FULL of sensual energy, because you're likely to experience the natural lubrication of your vaginal tissues, and you're often more oriented towards desire and connection with others. It's also a window into how healthy your estrogen levels are, and how your body is changing over time. And because it has SO MUCH to do with ovulation, it's also impacted by everything from stress to travel to blood sugar dysregulation to prolactin levels to thyroid function. Because it's ALL connected. Even though it's talked about a lot, I still think the interconnection of all our systems (and particularly the interweaving of our hormones) is underrated. Which is why I see the fertile window as a powerful mirror of how it's all going. Is share all about this, and wax poetic about my love of cycle tracking, in this episode. Listen to learn: what the fertile window is (actually) why cervical mucus does NOT equal fertile window how different fertile windows can be person to person why it's important to start tracking your fertile window if you're not already what other body systems / imbalances may impact ovulation why you can't count on apps or charts online to tell you when you're fertile some nerdy studies I found on the topic of the fertile window and cervical mucus Resources: Save your spot on the Natural Contraception course waitlist Today's shownotes: Get the links to those studies I mention here Episode 5: Are you ovulating? How to tell (+ benefits) Episode 38: Your cycle is a vital sign Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

What if your womb was a portal? Well, my beautiful friend... it is. Our wombs (and wombspaces - even if you no longer have a womb) are power centers in our body. In many ways, they are the literal seat of our embodied power. And they are also where we create life, experience the life-death-life cycle repeatedly, connect directly to the earth AND hold embodied connection to our ancestral lineage. Really, when you think about it, the uterus (and the entire wombspace when you include the ovaries, too) is basically magic. Which is probably, let's just be honest, why so many powers-that-be wish to control our relationship to this place! In today's episode, psychotherapist and mystery school guide Sepideh Hakimzadeh shares all about these topics and more. Her work is in the realm of earth, womb and ancestral connection and how those weave together in your unique lineage and story. She tells a little of her story, and really emphasizes the importance of learning your own personal lineage stories and finding ways to work with your personal ancestors so that you can bring your gifts to the world. It's an inspiring and beautiful interview, and we end with a gorgeous guided visualization I highly recommend checking out, too. Listen in to learn: why Sepideh emphasizes the importance of learning your ancestral stories how your womb connects to the earth and vice-versa how Sepideh found her way to running a mystery school what the heck "womb mysteries" are and why it's not as woo-woo as it sounds some reflections on learning to protect yourself and ground before exploring the unseen realms some basics on how to embody these teachings Resources: Today's shownotes page: Get Sepideh's links and womb mysteries program Episode 34: What if your womb was an altar? Episode 72: Weaving the ancestral thread Get on the Natural Contraception course waitlist If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

It's deep winter now. The time of quietude, slow movement, deep nourishment, and dreaming and visioning. And in the case of gardeners, this is often the time of choosing seeds, planning gardens, considering any shifts or changes you might be considering for your landscape, maybe even learning new skills that can serve you next season. So it's the perfect time to bring flower and herb farmer Xenia D'Ambrosi of Sweet Earth Co onto the podcast to share her embodied knowledge around all things ecological gardening. Xenia sees gardening as not just growing medicine or flowers or food. Instead, she considers gardening to be a way we can tend our local landscape to increase biodiversity, encourage pollinator habitat, restore damaged ecosystems, and ALSO provide benefit for us as humans, too. Her story is interesting. She started out in corporate finance, but ended up as a professional gardener after a cancer diagnosis. She credits having her hands in the soil and returning to seasonal gardening as a huge part of her healing process. And since then, she's devoted her life to not only gardening herself, but also designing gardens and teaching how to garden. In our conversation we talk everything from her healing journey and the loss of meadows all the way to how to choose a location for your garden, which plants to start with and how to start hard-to-germinate seeds. She shares about which medicinal herbs she finds indispensable in her garden, and the myriad ways she works with them. It's an information packed, inspiring conversation. Listen in to learn: how Xenia's cancer diagnosis led her to the plants about herbs as her "gateway plant" what ecological gardening is and why thinking beyond typical gardens is important why herbs are indispensable in her gardens, and which ones she loves most how to choose a location for your garden and start planning what she recommends for seed starting (hint: mimic nature) Resources: Today's shownotes: Get all of Xenia's links here. (Use code: HERBALWOMB for 10% off her cutting garden course!) Episode 6: Gardening for your menstrual + hormonal health Episode 20: Earth, Womb & Seed Connection Get on the Natural Contraception course waitlist here (Jan 2024) If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

There's a term - body literacy - that's thrown around a lot in Fertility Awareness circles. And it may seem vague, "like, what part of our body are we talking about?" And it's true, you can become literate in any system of your body, technically. BUT your menstrual cycle is a window into your whole health - and has even been considered a fifth vital sign. However, you can only begin to perceive this embodied wisdom if you are naturally cycling (eg not using hormonal birth control). That said, there are legitimate reasons someone may choose to get on, stay on, or return to hormonal contraception. But if you're one - of many - who are transitioning off birth control and/or you want to understand your body and your options, this episode is a good starting point. This is another compilation episode with snippets from a previous interview and solo shows, as I'm still on content creation break while I get some of my own "wintering" in. First, you'll hear about vaginal fluids - what's normal and what's not - and a sneak peek into the topic of fertile cervical mucus. Next, Gabrielle Jansen shares a little about the politics and history of birth control, the experience of "pill shame" some might have and how to support your body when you ARE on hormonal birth control. Finally, I offer some basics on reasons you may be thinking about ditching your hormonal contraception and some first steps on how to support yourself in that transition. It's really just a glimpse into each of those interviews, but you'll get practical take-aways from each one. To listen to the episodes in full, check out the links below! Resources: ONLINE - Natural Contraception course coming Jan 2024 - get on the waitlist! LOCALS - Winter Embodied Birth Control Series in-person, 3 months, in Hope, ME - taught by myself and Gabrielle Jansen - learn more here Episode 17: How stress messes with your hormones Episode 23: Your body on birth control with Gabrielle Jansen Episode 46: Vaginal fluids - what's normal, what's not? Episode 84: Herbal allies for transitioning off hormonal birth control If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Your womb is a place of power, pleasure and possibility. AND it's also a place where we tend to hold deep seated fears, imbalances and trauma - whether physical or energetic. I've decided to take a couple week break on new content creation for the podcast, and instead of just ghosting you, be more creative and intentional in the break time. In this episode, you'll find embodied wisdom and practical tips from three previous guests. Chaya Leia shares about why you should even care about "down there" and what to look for as signs of imbalances or that you'd benefit from starting to pay attention. Sondra speaks about traditional Central and South American practices of temescal and vaginal steaming as ways to bring the plants into a ritual that is both physically and energetically supportive for your womb healing. Dr Emily Wilson speaks about how the position of your womb and your cervix matters and what those positions may be telling you. It's really just a glimpse into each of those interviews, but you'll get practical take-aways from each snippet. If you want to listen to any of the interviews in full, I've got them for you below. Happy holidays and happy new year, my beautiful friend. I'm grateful for you. Resources: Today's shownotes: Womb tending, clearing + healing Episode 10: Traditional womb healing practices with Sondra Hamilton Episode 19: The importance of pelvic softening with Chaya Leia Aronson Episode 61: Pelvic wisdom + healing womb trauma with Dr Emily Wilson If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Okay, so most of us DO honor pregnancy and birth in a way that could be considered to be a rite of passage. We have blessingways, baby showers, even postpartum care. But what about all the other pivotal moments of our womb story that we pass through? The truth is, honoring these transitional times is part of many ancestral traditions. It’s not some kooky, woo-woo, new age thing. The more we get present with the immense changes… everything from menarche, to fertility/birth, to losses like miscarriage/abortion/infertility, to hysterectomies (yes, that’s a HUGE unspoken right of passage, too), to menopause… the more we’re able to embody our womb stories and really allow our emotions to flow, the traumas held in our wombspaces can soften, and the power inherent in your wombspace can come alive. We can shift our perspective from dread or disdain to celebration and honoring hard (and transformational) times. Today’s episode is an invitation to explore what this can look and feel like with me. I don’t have all the answers, but I hope to offer some inspiration to spark your creativity around what would feel really good *for you* in honoring any of these passages in your body and being. Listen in to learn: Why honoring rites of passage in your life matters How we create culture by normalizing rites of passage About winter solstice as the fertile, generative dark workspace of the year Explorations of each womb story rite of passage (menarche, fertility/pregnancy/postpartum, all kinds of loss, hysterectomies, perimenopause/menopause) How to help me celebrate 100 episodes! :) Resources: Today’s shownotes: Rites of passage in your womb story Episode 45: Embodying winter w Jade Alicandro Episode 48: Simple ways to honor winter solstice Episode 49: Creating a “sacred window” using Ayurvedic wisdom w Ashlee Sakaishi Wilkin Episode 89 : Returning to wholeness with Robin Rose Bennett If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom. And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

I know, I know... Human Design? What could a system that reads more like an astrological birth chart mixed with the I Ching and Chakras have to do with our sexuality or relationships? It's a fair question, and one I had, too. But today's guest, Cara Dempsey, shares about how learning Human Design (and especially understanding what her "Sacral Inner Authority" meant) completely transformed her relationship with not only her wombspace, but also her menstrual cycle and her libido. Well, cycle awareness practices had something to do with it, too. The truth is, she lost most of her sexual desire postpartum, she was living a life oriented to hustle and productivity and her body was feeling the consequences, and she needed help. Fascinatingly, her deep dive into understanding her energetic patterns through both Human Design and cycle awareness helped her to listen to her body in ways she never had before, and begin to accept parts of herself she previously thought of as weaknesses. And as it turns out, Human Design really does have a lot to say about how we may relate to our own sexuality, how we cultivate boundaries (sexually, in relationships, etc), and overall how we listen to our own selves. Whether or not you decide to explore it further, consider this an opportunity to reflect on archetypal energies - the inner authorities and energy centers especially - and how those may inform your growth into more of who you really are - beyond what society tell us we should be. Listen in to learn: what Human Design is and where it originated from how Cara's health transformed through learning Human Design + cycle awareness what the inner authorities are and the 6 types how learning your inner authority can support healthy boundaries a deep dive into the sacral and root energy centers and what it means if they are "defined" or "undefined" how Human Design can support your relationships and authentic sexual expression Resources: Today's shownotes: Get a link to find your Human Design chart + Cara's HD decoder guide Episode 69: Cyclical archetypes w Em Dewey Episode 73: Cyclical movement w Tara Lynn Steele Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers Episode 80: Cultivating receptovity Get on the Natural Contraception course (Jan 2024) waitlist here!