- l ler b l l l l { r f td i t !

*+,ii

:::.:,

ttndet is nor intended to provideIt is an informational gujde

dastand your body and yourr_-!

$.ntan1s a.e noi a.gi. ,r"ailf qy prqru. ana tr,cir.f.."""r,r ffi

EI6 c.nr,ined itr rhis booklel are baro 01 Ueqsr:eac€s of.tbe aut}ors, ho, eve.r. tb;;hc-Hd rcspotrsible for an) uAu.rs. .ti*.i.trom tbe use oftiese rream,ents.lr; aouUr,

hEitare to consutr a berbuf pru.,;rio*r.

HOlt ' P ANTTZ

This editjon of Hol Psrfz printed by codhaven Ink.

For more copies, contact:

Godhaven InkRooted M6dia145-149 Cardigan RoadLeeosLS6 1UEngland

wwwgodhaven.org. uk

Also available from Godhaven lnk:

Herbal Abortion: A Woinan'a DIY Guido

physicjal o. gynaeoologist_

S sf:'*$';I*:'rt$"*,"*,

'€&

atriarchy sucl6. It's robbed us ofourautonomy and much ofour history. \7ebelieve ir's integral for women to be awareand in control ofour own bodies. Therecipes we present here have been known andpractised for centuri€s, passed down frommodrer to daughter, and have survived the.cnrorsh.p ofrhe wirch hunrs. Our inrenr rsimple and practical: ro help break away fromrhe medical establnhmenL s LenucuJar gr ipon our bodies and our approaches to healthand healing.

From anatomy to self-healing using herbs andmassage, it is filled with easy recipes andremedies to conqrer yeast infections, sexuallytransmined diseases (STDs). hormonalimbalances, late periods... a whole array ofmedicin: i plmr. rnd nurrnional in lor mrr i"nto arm us againsr abusivc and negligentmedical practices. A section on rphrodisiacplants has been added for your hncy.

Because the world ofwomen's health is vast ardmulti-faceted, we had to prioritize the

ff , select ion ot mare r iJ. Ve de. ided rr tbcus on

{ serual)y trrn.mitrcd di .c^cs. Hw/\TD5.unwmted pregnancies, and more specific

rynecological problems as rhere is a la& ofalrernative literaturc on rhesc subjects. Otherapccrs of women's hezih (menopause,ferrilit,v, pregnancy, psychological aspects,etc...), while *tremely imporrmt, de tooexhaustive for us to cover here.

Bear in mind that staying healthy depends on goodnutririon and lifestyle, even in matters suchas STDs. Povoty, abuse and living in acrzed soceiry rnake us easy targets for allkinds ofunwanted invadcrs induding themedical establishment.

Hor lanrzis rhe trgl',h "dacration ot C'e't roujou^

chad d"n' b' ,"/ott"' d"' flbs (secondedition). This booklet is arr introduction tobxic herbal therapy; it's a matter ofgettingto know dif f . renr medicrnat plann rnJ rhc'rpropenie. , rd f igur ing our q hr.h onc. *orkbest for each of us.

Many ofthe treatments outlined in this booklet willnor be enorrgh to eliininate certain chroniccondir ion<. l fyou f ind yourscl f in rhi 'situation, you may want to opt for moreadvanced herbal approachcs. Co"sult bools

written by other witches aod heal€rs whoescaped rhe stake. Or perhaps take a doserlook at homeopatl'y, acupuncture, etc., all of

' ,h ich are v: lu,ble meuhod, ofhe: l ing.\X,6ile these treatmenrs are speciffcaliy recommended

for women, many of them carr also beapplied to mcn.

The last scccions "How to Prepare arrd Use Herbs"rnd "Herbal Propenie' ,nd Dovter,c,nr; i r *plaaLions. mechods of prepamr;on(infusions, decoctions, tincrures...) and aboveall, the characteristics and ways ofusing theherbs mentioned in this booldet. ile itmay be tempting ro sLip ahead to thetreatments suggesred, it is EXTREMELYIMfORTANT rhat you read drese recLjon..Herbs are very powerful md it's imporrmtthat you understaad how they work, how toprepare them, and when to avoid usingcertaia plarrts.

Finally ro end on a beau-tea-ful note, there's a list ofuseful addresses c well a.l ref€rence books onthe subjecr.

Ve hope rhis booklet will inspire you co seek outmore Jrernarive inform,r ion and ei .- l^."

/our oPtions.

Td fi {, d (,tYe wtrBody Mapping ( in br ie0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

About Menstmation . . . . - . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . - . . . . . . . . . . 6

A Good rdea for Repiacing Tampons.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6l remcnsrrual Syndrome.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amenorrhea or Absence of Menses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Menorrhagia or Excessive Flow.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . y

Dysmenorhea or Paintul Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Love in *re Age ofAids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . 1 I

35 Years of Fert i l i ty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

After a tusly Saual Encounrer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . 16A Simple Vay ofBringing on Your l,crn:d .......-. l7How to Bring on a Period Using Emmenagogues i7

STDs nd Orhcr A1icns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 l

Crabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Scabies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Genital Varrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Herpes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Bladder & Urinary Infect ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Chlamydia.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Vaginids & VuIvi t is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Yeast Infect ions & Candida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Trichomonas . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . .28

Gardnarei la. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . 28

Bacter ial Infecdons & Gonorrhea.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

The Ovaries arrd the Uterus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Ovarian Pain.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Ovarian Cvsts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Fibroids in the Uterus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 iVaricose Veins on the C€rvix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Hormonal Imbalarrce.. . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Cleansing Your Genita1s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Aphrodisiacs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

How to Prepae mC Use Hdbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

n,.k inoYo,,r owr Hnar . . . . . . . . . . . , t

Herbal Propert ies arrd Dosages.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Interest ing Rcading.. . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Uscft l Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

L

Teo good reasorlsto keep this booklet

on hand and to share i t

ifyou'd like to know as much about your cunt asyour doctor docs

ifyou breal our into a cold sweat every dmeyour period s latc

ifthe pill is giving you the blucs

ifyour friend's got cramps

if Se condom busts

ifyou carch rhe clap

if antibiotics give you a yeast infection

ifyour ycasty itch males you wanr to grab the

ifyou bleed buckets

if STDs are squatting your crotch

...and for many other reasons...

B

MrJv ,PXdlftn9labia majora (outer lips) cover the other para oftherulva. They become thinner at their base, where theyfuse wi*r the perineum, the muscle bemeen the anus.urd rhe vagina. Inside the labia majora are the labiaminom. They are joined at the t"p t" for- aprotective sheath over the clitoris. Thq' elso p.orecrthe opening to the urethra.

The area beween the labia rninora is largelyoccupied bya space called the vestibule. At birth thisspace is almost completely covered by the l,y.*.,which varies in size, shape, and rigidity. The hymencar be torn during sporting activities, by thern'enion of , rmpon. or Jurng ma<rutbar ion orvaginalpenerration. Some women have pieces ofsi<in around rhe ves buie-these are the remnarts of

The Cl i tor is & Genital GlandsThe clitoris is an organ designed essentially for sexualsrimulation and pleasurc. The .litoris and labiacontain erectable rissue which swell up during sexual

Two pans ofglands re anached to the vulva: *reSLene's glands liejust under the clitoris, arrd secretem alkaline liquid which reduces rhe vagina s naturalacidity. The second and larger set ofglands, theBanholin's glands, are locared at the opening ofrhcvesdbule, and secrete fluid during stimulation. Theyare normally about the size ofa small pea and are notvery prominenl Their swelling can be caused bywhar is called a Bartholin's abscess or cyst.

The VaginaThe vasi,ra is $e channel which connects the rdvamd rh. inrcnrJ urg.ns. I r i r seven ro rwelvecentimenes long. During a vroman's lertile time, hervaginai secretions are acidic, but before puberty andafrer nenopause the vagina is modcrarely alkaline.Vaginal secretions come Fom rhc Banholin glardsand from the cervicai canal (which is also rhe sourceor . ervi . r . l "rucu'r . I \ " i r n.rmal dl ,"hrrgc isodorlcss and warery or slighdywhite. They clearsethe vaginal canal, in addition to coating thc ntelorof rhe vagina.

lfhe UterusThe uterus is abour the sizc and shape ofa pear ardis made up ofrwo main parts: rhe body and thecervix. From puberty to menopause, theendometrium (or the urerine lining) forms every

-onrh, ro provide.'uitive support for a fertilized

egg. I f rhe egg i . rot ieni l ized. rhe endomeLrium isexpelled-this is kaown as mensrruarion.

4

The cervix is shaped like a cylinder; it isapproximately two and a halfcentimeres long, witha fine canal running through it, opening into theuterus up top, and co the vagina at the borton.

A11 chmges in the functions of the uterus(menstruation, pregn:lrcy, menopause) are regularedby hormones controlled by the hypothalamus, thepituitary glaod, the o""ries, and by other substances.uch as pro t"gl$dirs.e. ercd by rhc ur.rrne r i . .ue.The uterus is connecred to the ft1lopian tubes, whichharbor rhe ovum (or egg) released every month bvone ofthe rwo ovaries.

The OvariesThe ovaries are located in the pelvis md rest oneither sidc ofthe uerus. Each ovary is hcid in placeby strong elastic ligaments. The serrated oriftce ofrhe fallopian tube is locared jusr above cach ovary,with the tube leading to the utenx. Even rhoughrhey are very close to each other, the ovaries and rheopening ofthe fallopian rube are not in directconscr. Tbe ovaries develop and release the ovLrrn:rnd play an essential rolc in our hormonal system.They ue pinkish'grey, alnond shaped and are ebourthree centimerres long. A layer of cells c,lled rheoogenic epirhel ium cover. rhe ovrr ie : rr i< i romthese cells thar the egg is lormed. Thousands ofimmature ova (eggs) gather in chese pouches on thesurf:ce ofthe ovaries. In addition to rheir role ofdeveloping the ova, the ovaries produce rhehormones estrogen and progesrerone.

For more informarion on anatomy, r'omen's gcnicalorgans and their functions, and on the rolc andLbr i . r r ion ̂ r hormonc.. .on.ul ' rhe fo l lor ing

Nat ldl R.ddikg in Gtntubg, br Riha Nn5im, 1984, 6d(ionDisPensaire des iimm.s.

Hamons: The \Yon.n\ AnJa,/ -8,,*, by Los Jovanovic M Dand GenellJ. Subak-Sl,arpe M.S., 1987, I\a Book. Publishcd

Ndtulal Hornon. H.abh: Dtug Frc. \Ytt' to Bdld,r. yorr Lif.,by tuabelle Melville, llarper Collins ?ubhl!e6.

The N.u a* Bodic', Oun.t e' (U?ddkd ad Lr?and.,r t, th.9rt br ihe Bosron \vomcn! He.lth Book Collective, 1992,Simon mdSchus*. (Espe&ily good for info on an{omy)

, t'l t,lrier

FEt\iAt,E PELVTC ORC^NS l5idc \i$l

, \ ' I *1futuaw"t A*, ^ t . +-. l4t t ts. t r f "adl tonQI, i" *rp;"r"g to *rli* ,. *h"..r,.".

-." "i alr individual thing-every womrn menstrlrat€s, yetcolor, odor, remperature, needs, desires and pain canvary tremendously frorn woman ro woman. It is alsoamazing to note that women who live together orwho are very close often menstrrnte at the same

ln many societia menstruation was rraditionally(and in some case sdll is) viewed as a very powerfintime-a time for women to purify themselves and torelax. This is a far cry from how most ofuscxperience bleeding. \Ve're usually taughr to hideany evidence ofblood, pads or plugs (hencc theridiculous individually wrapped poika-dottedpackaging), to be "discreer' (like, don't talk about itat all) or don! whine ("you're such a bitch whenyouie on the rag). \Ve encourage bitching, talking

I'.;":ffi ::makes v'u iec be'l r7g"

forReplacinC - lw)\-f arnpons & Pads v"-Using brand-name tampons and pads can beharmful to you. Plus they cost a 6rcune, being"luury" nems and atl. V&enever possible, avoidscented products as rhese release a whole slew ofchemicals inro you girl parts (a.d smell gross).Tampons are bleach.d using dangerous chemicalswhich can be absorbed into the body through thevaginal walls and Toxic Shock Syndrome has beendirccdyJinked ro tampon use. Plasdc tamponapplicarors are non-biodegradable and dog rewagesystems, often washing up on bays and beaches. Youcan avoid some ofthese problems by using non'bleached tmpons, arailable at some health foodsrores. You can also buy 100% conon pads (or evenbeter-make your own!) they are washable and re-usable, thus avoiding unnecessary waite.

Insrcad oframpons you can use natural sea sponges.Simply dampen rhe sponge, inserc it inro rhc vaginawnh your fingers, md remove it oncc it's saturated.Doni worry about pushing it up too far-eventhough it doesni have a cord there's no risk losing it"up rhere." Sponges can be left insidc the vasina forsever:1 hours, depcnding on your flow arld the size ofthe sponge. Once the sponge is saturated, rinse tt rnwarm or cold running watet, squeeze out the exc€sswater, and reinserr it.

This is a cheaper, cco-friendly alternative toramporx. Avoid synthetic sponges. Natural spongesare often soid as make-up removal pads, and caa be

6

found in the cosmetics section ofthe pharmacy or arhealth food stores. Ofcourse they aren't advertisedas menstrLral sponges cause that would rhrcaten the"sanitary hygiene" indusrry. A sponge can last up tosix months ifyou rake good c.are ofit. Discard thesponge once it begins to {lll apart.

Soak your sponge overnight in a cup ofwater wirhone teaspoon ofwhne vinegar before ard/or aftereach period. This kills the bacteria dut can causeyeast and other vaginiris. ifyou have a bad vaghalinfection dtring menstmation, it s best not to reuerhat sponge again. Store your sponge in a cloth orbox between periods.

Also, aword about the Keeper, a litde 100o/o rubbercap that you place on your cervix to collect them.n., ,ur lbtood. Empry, w,.h,nd repla.e i r ev.r l2- i hours. The keepe- i ! Lnown ," bc reJl tcomfombJc, safc, easy ro use and w;ll be yours forn'any years. No necd for tanpax or pads, you're free!Best pricc in Canada: $37.t9 (tx ind.) avalaible xtFrigo wcn (2130 McKay, Montreal, H3G 2Jr; 514848'7586), or call Eco Logique at 1-800'680-9739,or email <keeper@magi.com> for mail order. Thissolution costs a bit ofmoney, but lasts almost

'Pr"-u.rt"...'.t /B

Svndrorne (PMS) \' L,9

These are varied; mood changes, irritabiliry, crmps,painfin or sollen breasts, headachcs, zirs, waterretention, bloating, lack ofenergy, herpes ourbreaks,

9s ard other digestive m:ltunctions, flulikesymptoms, back pains... combine these symptomswiLh m irreg" l r r or pr inn, l . " le sd l - r 'vr gor rhegeneric profile ofa woman who's ready to kill. Mostlikely she,ll be prercribcd the Pill to 'solve" all herproblems. Medical genius at it's finestl Methods ofcoPnS:

Diet0 Lower your inrake ofsalt.

0 Eat loods rich in porassium: bananas, potatoes,cabbage, pears and almonds.

0 Ear a lot of seaweed: kelp (fresh or in tabler form),hijiki, dulse...

0 Make foods high in vitamin 86 a regular parr ofyour diet: green vegetables, so/ producrs, andnutritional yeast (you can also tale brewer's yeastcapsuies) ; note that wornen who re prone to yeasrinfections .hould avoid yeast at all times.

0 Take a lot of vitmin A, especially if you havepaintul breasts and suffer from cramping. Carrots,onions. gar l ic. Lurnipr. .pjna.h. lent iJs, apr icor. .lemon<. ard raw . eger.rble oi l , r re :J l r ich in

0 Drink lots of watcr.

I{erbal treatrnents0 Follow the treatments for hormonal imbrlances

(p 3l) .

Menorrhagiaor Excessive FlowRed raspbery leaves (p.45) are besr c they dnor .rop .ou from bleeding. bur h-p regul: '

lour f low. Sr.rr r ' ing thcm one -cel ,

b. fo,eperiod is due and conrinue throughoutrnenstruation. Repeat if nccessary.

The rollowins all hetp reduce excessive mensrrualflow:

0 Vitamin C.

0 Vitamin T (sesame seeds, sesame burer).

0 Bioflavonoids (buckwhcat, dre skin ofcnrus fruits,

0 Alfalh (2 handfLrls offresh sprouts or 3 rablets ptrday rhroushour your cvcle) 1l lessen your

Dysrnenorrheaor Painf:ul PeriodsMost ofus experience sensationsranging from mild discomlort toexcruciating paj!r during menstruarion.Ve get cramps before, during, andafter our periods. Medical scGnce rellsus that suffcring is part ofbeing awomm. But wc know they're liars.

Sexuaily transmitred diseases (STD$are sometimes rcspolsible for pain bur mosr ofrherimc cramps are caused by inflammation, swellilgmd tension in the cei.r'ix md urcrus.

0 Awoid sa1t, sugar and procexed foods (inci,rdingwhire sugar, whne flour and whne bread).

0 Eat foods high in porassiurn every day: bananas,dry fmits, melons, oranges, carrors, 1ea6. grcenvegetables ancl potatoes.

0 Eat dark green vegerablcs and orang$ for vlramrnA (n reduces tension).

0 Eat oatmeal, broccoli, p,Jdey (which cu b. mkenas an intusio!), Brazil nuts, almonds, and seawccdfor rherr h igh cahium conren, rwhich eLminJ," \cranrpt. Smwrcd (kelp in particular) can be tatcnin tablet form.

0 Hot barhs, a hor warer bonle placed on the lowerabdomen, smoking a joint, vigorous or lightexercise, md orgasnx aLl help relieve tensior,

II: t. , , iM,L

i j+-"Jer" : , ' i : : , - ,P,-6, , . , !* vv r A. t rnt .r tP.4z) ro ret ieve rfns'on lnd crrmp<.

Sone book provide a dctailed account of rne roteplayed by hormones in causing PMS-why weproduce too much ofcertain hormones, arrd notenough ofothers. PMS is often caused by hormonalirreqularnies, and so it is helpful to read uo on this

Arnenorrheaor At)sence of MensesThis may be due to several factors. Normal absenceofmenstruation (missing a period, or sever,l) ;caused by pregnalcy, lactarion, and menopause.

Amenonhca.an "Lo b, causcd by vervpoor dicr.ex.essive exercising, losing )arge amounts ofweighr,fatigue, stress, hormonai imbalancc, going off thepill, or by meubolic problems: diabetes, liver disease,inconsistcncies in thyroid levels.

Trytoeatwel l . n

To bring on rnenstruation ?0 A .pr ig ot prr \ le) inrrr .d * tur as pos<ible inro (

the vagina can bring on mensuuarion by causing \u,"- : , ,e con,racr;on(. ln.en i r before go;ng ro deep.ud remore ir rhe loJlowing morning. Do rhis lor Jto 4 days. Accompany rhis with parsley inixions(p.44).

0 Tale sage in infusion or tincture (p.45).

0 Drink nothelworr infusions (p.44) for 4 to 5 days.Do nor cxcccd 6 days; yo.i shoulil get youi periodin the follcwing days.

0 Masage the rellex zones for rhe urerus and ovaries2 to 3 rimes a day (p.10).

0 Tosy in infusion or rincture (p.46) can hdpregulate amoorrhea. Note thar ransy can causeheavy bleeding in women who normalty havc ahea'7 flow.

0 Ifyou suffer regularly from amenorrhea or lateperiods, ir would be berter for you to think rnterms ofa more holistic treatment instead of simplyrrying to bring on your period. Consult anherbalist, or try homeopathic remedies or otheralternative medicines. Drinking sage and redraspberry leaf teas on a regular basis can helpimprove rhis condition, as they help tone the uterus

--+,--...jJ- r

\ . : . t ) ) t . Ii-/ 5 5 t'O

4

cramping and pain.

0 Yarow (p.47) tahen in capsule lorm, tinctures orintusions provides very good results. Begin 1 weelb. f"rc your pr iod and .onr inue r l -roughouL ir .

0 Ginger (p.42) infusions rapidly relie.recramps. You car also chew the fresh root.Tale as needed to relieve pain.

0 Red raspbury leaf rea (p.,15) -o.LsweLl to alleviate cramps but must be

rakcn regululy (over a period ofmonrh$.It is mild alld call be used for long-term

foot mrssage ro al leviate crarnpsMassage the uterine and ovarian reflex areas (located'oehind the ankles, just above rhe heel). Press narowhere it hurts. This area is generally very sensrrtve atrhc onset ofmenstruation. Use your thumb to purfirm prcssure on dre area, for five minutes on eachsi.1c. Alternate massaging each foot, as needed. Thnmassage yields xtonishing results, especially ifit'sdone by someone else.

AIDS is now a fact oflifc and oflove. More and rnorepeopte we love (friends, 6mity, co-workers) are hinswith HIV. Prevention is about loving yourselfenoughto understand the risks alrd to make decbions foryourselfand those you care about. You set the rules.

The rvay it rvasFor rhe first eight years ofthe pandemic, mostresearchers a.nd health care profesionals ignored theimpacr ofAIDS on women. lnnial definitions ofAIDS didn! include gynecological symproms mdwomen who were nrfecred lud a nuch shoner lileexpecrancl simply bccause they were only diagnosedoncc rh.1'rvere alrcaJr rery i l l .

l { 'hen rho'e ,n . h,rge drd Jccide ro pur *omen \ IundeIhc m;,ro. ,op. . rheir ,otc.on.ern wd how,,women might spread the syndrome into rhc "general^^^, , t . , i^-" / ,1- i .

- - - - ,^

- - - ,^ ,1 t - ,4;- . , -

/ i , . , , " ' , . , , t , , r ,dt ,c / . i -or

Iexrs, the only studies involving lfestern womenr-rgered,er workcr.rnd tpnrcnr: : l r mo,hf l .Rescarch focuscd on rhcir capaciry ro transmir HIV,not cheir health or response ro medicarions. It wasniundl 1990 thar a sreater risk for cervical cancd warlisred amongAIDS symptoms and ir was only in1997 that premature menopausc was also linked roHIV infection in women.

The rway it isMostAIDS education is presenred as lcngdry liss of'safe'and'unsafi'activities. This makes it a rx cas,crto read rhrough rhe liss, declde rhat mostinformation doe*it apply bccause'I don\ do rhar or'I'm nor like that' and then smugly return to p)easureas usuaI. Understanding how HIV is transmitted isc,,y: undcr: ,"ndirg h"* Lo "pplv rh.rr ," you, l ; r . I 'in; :"e, hone.,y r ; re.os.;) ;"s

' " , , . ; l i , * . )

Very <imply HIV i presenr in vJ- iou . , , , . r . , . r ionin the bodily fluids ofpeople already cxposed to thevirus. These fluids arc harmles unless rhey come rnrocontacr wirh your bloodsrream. Healihy, unbrokenskin (no curs, rashcs or irrnations) is your firor line of

Going with the flowA briefnote about bodily fluids. Blood canics rhehighe.r .oncenrrr t ion of H lV. \p.rm

- l o con' , in.transmissible quanrities of HlV. Vaginal sccretronsare considerably lorver down on rhe list, althoughlevels of HIV arc incrcascd if dre secrerions comefrom someone with a yeasr infection or other localinfection (white blood cells concentrare where rheinfection is, and those cells carry rhe virus). This n'why it is much easier for a woman to becom. infccredby a man than the reverse during boy-girl contacr.Sal;va, rears, swear, feces and trine carry minimrlamounts of HIV:rnd there have been no reportedcases ofinfecion wnh any ofthese fluids.

t l

kf; u.i"lhei ls

FOOT MASSAGECHART

f . r more inform.rr ion abour the dmger< of u ' ingbleached tampons ar'd pads (as well as excellentrefcrences for alternativ es) , cons';,lt \Yhitew*h by LizArmstrong ard Adrienne Scott, 1992, HarperCollins.

The Doctor\ Ca.se Against the Pill, by BarbaraScarna-n, 1980, Doubleday.

INSIDE OF

OUTSIDEOF FOOT

BloodBecause blood is extremely infectious, needles areoften ref.rred ro a.s the 'most efficient' means ofrrarsmitting HI\r. A needle with microscoprc rracesofblood in .r .an del iver rh"r blood direcr ly inro yo.r-blood,Lrerm "hen you u.e i r . 'h. l r ing needles i 'Russian Rouletre. Ifyou don't have new needles,dean used needles (alld worlcs) rhoroughly, severaltimes with diluted bleach and water; These rules oapply to body piercing and tanooing.

^ \ )Sperrn I '\s ror .c:ru: lconr,cr. ,nwhrng rhrr in"ol"e..perm Jinvolvts morc corrsideration than annhing that /doe.n r rh ink of i r a lm, l l dor ot le,bin.ur iv i lcecJ. F-clune cJn crerre fr i . t ion that lead' toi ' i " ' , i . . , " in

" , ! in" l L. :uc rrhe r i rk i . morc l ikely

wirh aral tissue, which is more fragile). Sperm canenter the bloodstream through those tears. lfyouhave another infecdon that involves sores or lesionson your gmirals (for insrance, herpes) these en :lsoact as a oooNay ror rne vrrus to entel yo'lfbloodsrieain. The reverse is true if1'our partner hassores, and you are HIV+, especially ifyouiemenscruating. Remember, blood caries a muchnrghcr conccnrrrr ion ofrhe vir us rh,n 'aginJ

Oral sex can carry a rbk if you havc cuts in yourmouth or along your digestive tracr (cold sores,blecding gums, recenr dental work, etc.) Thais whysome sources counsel thc use ofmouthwash instead ofa toothbrush ifyou want to be minry clean before sex.

CondornsYour best de€ense in these situations is a iatexcondom. HIV can'r pass through latex. Using themproperly mears always pinching the tip when it's puron to ensure rhat no air is in it-rhais the leadingcause ofbreakage. Lots ofwater-based lube also helpskeep the condom incact and diminish fricrion tiratcould Lead to openings in vaginal or anal walls. Oil-bued lubes ;an eat through condoms, making them

Ifyou're allergic ro latex, animal condoms are stillarorrnd. Double wrap the penis in question with ananimal condom on the side thar will come in conracrwirh alergic skin (on the outside ifyou have theaj1erg1,, on the inside ifyour partner risks irritadon).l l ,c I " rcx c"ndon wi l l 'L i l l . rop HIV Lrrnrmision

. , , i ,1- -^ -

T I - . -

i - . - - - r :^ ^.

Sperrni-de-cideA small warning about Nonoxynol-9. This spernicideis ofren promoted as effecdve in killing HIV, as wellas sperm. The problem is, that it's a litde too srrong. Ionce watched an Ausualian sex worker use a singlecondom lubricated with Nonorynol-! to remove nailpolish offborh her hands. It may kill the virus, but itmay ear through your skin as well, leaving you moreat risk for infection. Detergena, bubble baths andother producrs may also irritate delicate rissues, so be

t2

caurious. The manufacturers ofthese items donialnays think abour where and how they'll be uscd, soyot have to. | : \vasinar fluids \ J\ LInformarion is not too clear on whethervaginal lluids(without the presence ofblood or other infections)carry enough virus for tnnsmission. Repons areinfiequent and usually they involve the presence ofother risk facrors (like sharing needles). It\ up ro youwhether you want to be cautious. Ifyou areconconed, a condom, with the tip cut offand slit upone sid. . . rn :cr "" a barr ier ber*een mourh rrc . Jnr.Non-microwavable plastilvrap can also do rn apinch. Ifyou have cuts on i.our hands you can gctlarex gloves from your friendly neighbourhood doaoror dentist. Try not to share sex toys (like dilooqwithout rinsing rhem in warer and diluted bleach orcovering them with a new condorn for each us€.

PregnancyTransmission is also possible from infected women tothen children through ptegnancy. This risk hasgrcady dininished (it\ less than 25% in NorrhAmerica). h does not appear that pregnancy itselfconsriNtcs risk, but infection can occur duringdeliverywnhout precautions. Breast feeding may alsoinvolve risk because ofthe possibiliry ofpresence ofthe virus in breast-milk (since babics also ingest smallamorrnts ofblood from chapped nipples, it's difficultto determine how infecdous breut'milk n alone).Trearments are available that greatly redrce the risk ofinfection to unborn children of HIV+ pregnantwomen, though the long rerm effects on mother and.hi ld ,re .r i l l nor under*ood. Krowrng early in apregnancy whcther or not you are HIV+ and properfol low-up c:n al to rcdrr,e rhe ' i .1. oi , -nrmi. : i . : .Knowing before your pregnancy will ensure rhatneirher ofyou become HIV+ rying to have rhe baby.

This informadon is presented sinply in terms ofhoweasily ccrtain fluids can enter your bloodstreamduing different activities. \7c haven'r n::de anydistincrions about whether you are sleeping wnh menand./or women, considcring prcgnancy or nor. HIV

lon:ei ,hd &-{nd rernernber WDespite what you'd like to believe, HIV does notbecome less tmsmnsible ifyou really love eacrr otner,i f you ve bourr e, .h orher : long r ime. i f you 'edecided to live together or ifyou're sure you'll neversleep with anyone elsc, evtr. And jusr how sur€ areyou, an''way?

ReferencesVamp:, Virgin: and V;aims: Hoa can aonenfght,41D5?, by Robin Gorna, Cassell, London, 1996.

lYonen and HIV/AIDS an international rc:osce boob,by Margc Berer u i rh sun:nda Ray. tandora. H-rpercollins, 1993.

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fr'ir{+?[f ,\(e ortlate every 28 days. Thars 15 to 20 dmes peryear and at leasr 300 mensrrua.l cycl.s in a lif.time...For thosc ofus who deep wirh feilas, rharsthoLcands ofopponuniries lor gerdng pregnant. Ir'snormal ro .h*ge your partners, mind and methods.It's nonnal to abort. It's normal ro frcak out!

" l

1'hese rhings makc it even hard.r "n

*' t l"

0 Men's indifference, and their ignorance about theirc,wn fcrtiliry; men are fertile all the time, and x,e're, .1r n , ' l ) .hc on.. "ho h*e ro de. l * i t l r i r . I

0 The added rcsponsibility ofcontraception od Ie',"'i 'i"]"ys',11;1 l"llu l:lJ':'! )rD' *.

0 l'he stress which results from having to constantlyeducare mcn about taking responsibilities lor theirbodies.. . and ours.

It can seem bleak ar timcs... but heep in mind-loverscome and go. \bur body is yours lor the long haul.Bc sood r .1our Jf"bo'e J l . ,nd i f 'om.one, ' , . ,

'opersuade you odrerwise, ask yourselfwhose rnrerestsrhey've got in mind. Our attitudes towards sex havecharged. They've had to n s a marter ofsurvival.Don'r rhink that women don't 'gef' AIDS: we do,

' n:rnbe . in, re- ing J l rh. r .me. sJe <ex i< \

essential md condoms offer the advantage of i]protecting against both HIV md unwan;ed Apregnucies (see safe sex, p.l1). Mmy ofus havefound "enfocins" safe sex with our lovers hard. lt's adrag lntcning to"guys whinc about condoms beinguncomfonabie or unrxy. ft's even more ofa dragbcing in conflic*virh the person you want to fuck,. .p . ' l r , " ' .cn ,o- J l r \ r b. tu. [ng rhr.arguLng.

l re l f iu l \ nr in.r 'eyou don r f " l lou rhi , l in. :

0 Never think you'rc inlertile bccausc you've nevergonen pregnanr when you have hardly used,,n ra. .p i .e. . cven over. long pcr iod of r ime.

0 Avoid thc Pill; try to opt for alternadve methods ofconnaccprion: condoms, cenical cap, diaphragm.\0lile they may seem redious to use, these merhodsol fer r l 'e ,d ' 'n

rg '" fn", d <ru b:rgrou' body'natural cycle. l akc timc to gcr to know your fcnilepcriods by observing your cervical mucus arld othersigns ofovularion.

0 l ' . imponant Lo f igure ouL " hcrh.r y orr . y. lc i .regular or not, and ro understand how it wo.ks.I-ror ' rworry i f r rale.you ; rvhi le ro f igure i rour.Your mcnstrual cycle is like a good friend-you getto know ir betrer over time. This i a stcp towardreproductive lreedom and the reappropriation of

14

control ovcr our bodies. You may also lind it usetulto chart 1'our periods on a nenstruzi calendar. ltmay be necessalv to get vour ov:rries (etc.) rn oetrershape; see "Hormonal Imbal:rrce" (p.31) or,- le"n. i r g YoLrr t 'en . .1. p \) . Rcd

'apberryleaf (p.45) is excellenr for toning the utcnrs ,",i

Your raginal rnucus (or dischargc) changes duringrhe monrhly cycle, and during ovulation it tales onr'ery specific characreristics *'hich allow a womm roknow ifshe is ovLrlating or not. A sort of'mucusmicroscope' is available, to check ifyour cerielmucus is leniie or not. The microscope makes ircasier to idcnri! the various properties ofyourrnucus. Ifyou have a microscope, practising this iseasy. Sorne hellrh food srorcs scll rhis gadgct;problem is, n costs about $50. Onc solution is forwomen who Jive together to share it. Clonsult rhereferenccs listed bclow to find out more abouridcntifiing thc characteristlcs ofi'our mucus. YoLrcar also exmire it wirhout a microscope.

Make surc to rcad up on this subject md get roknow your cycle while usins a reliable method ofbinh control, to make sure you can tell ifyourmucus is fertile or nor.

Check your mucus

For rnore inforrnat ionThe New Ou Bodie:, Ourseha (Updated andExpanded jir the 90), by the lloston \(omcn'sHealth Book Collective: drn is a good rcsource onwomen's health issues in general; this most rcccltedir ion L, . becn etp;ndcd ro in. lud. ; r , I rn " ion orthe mucus ncrhod and other alternadves to chemical-^^, . - - -^, i . , - . - - l - - l - i , . - .'Ihe Ndacal Birth Contal,Baal, bv Art Rosenotoom.Availablc from thc Aquarian Research Foundation,5620 Morton Street, Philadclphia PA, 19144 USA;tel,: (2r5) 849-3237.Naaral Bith Contal, by Katia & Jonathan Drale:explains the temptrature metlrod.

Selj: i1el7,, Fertilit1 and B ;/th Contol: A fmlnt'taplloacL to det.fnin;flg ourktion. Avzilzble for$1.50 US from The Emma Coldman Clinic forVomen, 715 N. Dodgc, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240,USA.

15

For info on lenility a*'areness and natual brrttrB,rbara Feldman. j4) E. tJk s. .

5, ,ee, =D. New vork. Ny. t000J. u)A. t

Check our the research and rechniques ofAvrvaSrciner and Reuma Cohen, two women who havedcveloped a method based on using 1'oga aldexercise to inhibir the implantation ofthc egg in rheLrrcrus, alrd thcrefore bring on menstruation. Thiscan help too for nenopause ard menstrualprcblems. For more inlormation on the subject, call\'1ona Hebert, a homeopath who gives womcn'sherlth worLshops based on thos{: exercices. Tel:(.5r4) 521 0745.

A Sirnple 'W-ayof Bringingon Your Per iod(If you suspect alr Lrnwanted pregnarcy)

This recipe should not be Lrsed on a regularnor as a method ofcontraception. lr is easyprepare, cosrs almost norhing, ard it is norhavc side eflecrs.

adviscd for womcn widr

l t -

fhe be.r r ime to begir rhe rrerrmer:r .< "n

rhe,1-yrhrr you u.rc uppo cd robeg'n men.r ,u"( in8 o,rhe next day).

L lnsert a sprig offresh parsley m lar as possible intothe vrgina. Change rhe parsley even l2 hours.Vhen soft, it may be difficult ro remov€, bur ihis is

2. At rhe same time, drink p{sley infusions Gee

3. Drrring thcsc 3 days, take hieh doses of Vitmin Corally. The idet dosase is 500 milligrams ."..yhour (6000 mg per day) for up ro 6 days. VitaminC can bring on nrensrruatjon even three weels aftcra "latc" period. You can bcgin taking Vitamin Corally immediately after urui! rx.

Ifsuccessful, you should stan to bleed wirhrn two ordrrce davs. You should know rhat:

0 You nay havc cramps whcn you firsr srart to bleed;rake gingc infsions (p.1r2) m nmded.

0 Thar chmces ofthis nethod wori<ing are lower for.rornen rvho reg-larly take high doses of Vii;minC.

0 That this rreatment is nott - iJ-- . ^-^LL-_"

I{ o'rv to

SexualEncounter(Thesc are nor methods ofbirth conrrol and shouldnor be used on a regular basis).

t . , ,^ , . ; . h" , . , , " . ,^ - , - , r - - , , : . , ' - - . ^n, lcnbreaks, the following merhods can hdp prevent anunwanred prcgnmcy.

0 ln rhe llrst momcn* following risky s* (or ifacondom breaks), insen one non-chewable VitaminC tablct (idolly a 500 milligram tablet) into thevagina. Thc acidiry rvill chmge the pH-balance indrc vagina and prevent sperm from staying alive.l )^.Js.: I ro 2 ubler, in 'erred inro rhe vaginr every12 hours, for 3 days. This may burn or causevaginel irrirarion; in rhis case, follow the yogurtrcame,n (see "Yect Infections", p.26). Take highdosages of Viamin C orally Gee "A Simple \?:y ofBringing on YoLrr Period' , p. t7). fhis isagoocimedrod to Lrse when you'rc travelling, or as memergcncy method.

0 \(Jld carrot seed (p.47) can be used ro ryoidunwanted prcgnocies by preventing the fertilizedegg frorn artaching nselfto che utcrine wall.I ro-ge: I rca'poon of 'eed' cvcry d,1. . r , , r ing a'rhe rimc ofovulation or immedhtely after unsafesex during the ferdle period. Some women take thee.d. for ore w*| . orh.r . unrr l b leeding Lcgin ' .

You can chew on thc seeds, mke rhem in a glax ofrvater or juice, or swallow them in gelatin capsules.Male sure that the seeds you buy have not beenchemically *eated, as this destroys theirelfectiveness.

After a Risky

16

Bring on aPeriod f lsingErnrnenagogues([.nmenagogues are herbs which encouragemenstmal flow by promoting uterine contracuonsl.

Th*. me,hod. r f t no' r^ hc ' r 'cd : ' corraceprive..

The recipes here usc more conccntratcdcombinations ofherbs and arc designcd to induce amiscarriage. These plan* can be uscd ifyou wish toabort natumlly, but must be used in the manner.ndiuted hcre. We pror idc rhe.c recip* bowinsthat only a few women will be able to use themundcr their optimal condidons.

It's important to know thar thc carlier you use theseherbs, the more effective they'li bc, but one

I

condnion is absoiurcly nec€ssary: tou have to be arthe end ofyour rycle. This means tiat they will nor*ork rieht after ovul.tion, as it is not possible ro.lirninaie the lerdlized egg before it has adhered torhe uterine rv:ll. Some herbs such

": wild carrot seed

car be used to prevent the fertilized egg fromarraching itselfto the uterine wall G€e p.47).

You $ou1d begin drinking rhe teas the night beforemensrruation is to begin; on that day, or up to 6ttays aftcmards-but noc larcrlYou may want to havea pregnanry test to verify whe*rer you are rea1lypregnant or not. Thes€ Plarrts are not toxic, but keepIn m nd , \ | i f rhp/ .ar . r r . c a m'"rrr i ,gc. \cv , recertainly able tc, damage an cmbryo. Ifyou are sureyoLr arc pregnanr, rnake an appohtment for an

. \ . . . . . : , : . ,L- , - - - a- . lu-ceeC_

Ifyou knorv you rre pregnanr and arc sure rhar you

" ,n lo rermrn re rhc pr.bamry. a. , r qui . lJy , 'posible. \flomen who are aware oftheir cycles havegreatest chances ofsuccess. These recipes are notmiraculous, btr ifvou do them earlr/ enough,chanccs of succeeding:re fairly good.

Use only one of tne hllowing 2 recipes.

Emmenagogue recipe #1lngredients

Mo*rerworr, mugi,'crr" goldenseal roor,blue cohosh root, frcsh ginger root.

Pennyroyal can be substituted formugworr, bowevcr, it is hard ro find innany prns ofCanada (especiaLly inQLrtLec).

I lnfuse: 1/2 ounce (14 grams.) ofmothcrworr (amedium*ized handful) md t/2 ounce (14 gr.) ofmug*on .r mcdiunr rzed h,ndful \ rn 2 or { .urboiling water; steep covered on low heat lor 20mlnures aod stf n.

2. Mal<e a decocion of I ounce (28 sr.) ofbluecohosh root ir 2 cups ofcold water. Simmer on lowhcat for 20 ninutes (covered) and strain.

' . Vr. rh. rntr . ion / i ro n rcpl l rnd'hcdeco,r ion(trom srcp 2) togedrer.

DosageDrink hor, 1/4 cup, 4 to 5 times per day, or drink arotrl of t arrd 1/2 cups pcr day, taking a smallemount every hour.

In addit ionTake 2 goldenscal root capsuLes 3 cimes a day; chewon fresh ginger rnd/or drink as many gingerinfLxions (p.42) as possible.

t8

I{eep in

1p.42) or ear fresh t inger roor wf i le using

rnind0 The inlusion tasres rather awful: add

0 Srop taking rhe mixture as soon as yousrarr blccding, or after taking ir for fiveda1's *'ith no results.

0 Mosc women should begin menstruaring within 48hours or so after beginning the rrearr;rcnt.

0 You should Lnorv drat rhesc herbs cm causccontractions .nd/or dizz-iness; lots ofrest is advised.Thcl m-y.11." i r rdu,cn.u.c lnd/or .um;r i , ,F: F ' Ilightly.

0 Do rhese rreatments wirh a ftiend. They crn check

1,our progress, give support, masage, keep y".

C Pracricc has shown that the more advanccd th.pregnmcy, the more severe rhc sidc cffects. \restress once again that this trcatment should not bedone more then 6 days after a mixed prriod.

0 See note important' following rccipe #2.

Emrnenagogue recipe #2Ingrcdicnts0 2 tablespoons dried blue cohosh root.

0 3 tablcspoons dricd pennyroyal leaves.

0 2 tablespoons dried tansy leaves andflowcs (or lcrcs from rhe plmt in flowo).

Put the bluc cohosh root into 6 cups ofwatcr andbring n ro a boil. As soon as n boils, rdcl theremaining herbs, cover and remove from hear. Let irsreep for at least 30 minutes. Srrain out rhc herbsJrd , .h. . , , d. I t -^ i t \ \ - r . , - . : " , 'o Jt- I , : : .as hot as possible, cvery 3 to 4 hours for no morc*rm 5 da1s. Drinking thn recipe while sirtrng m rhor bath ircreases irs cffccrivcncss.

Side effecrs: same as for ernrnenagoguc recipe #1 (sec

IMPORTAN'I': Even though conplications arevery, very rare, ifyou experience any ofd,e follo*ingsymptoms after usirg one ofrhese recipes, go to ahospital immediarely: extremely severe nausea, veryl i igh, . ,v. , 1r0 . r0 l dcgr"er F ' , lemorrh,gi , ,g(oaking through more thm 2 pads m hour for over4 hou,,r . rn ,h. , , . " r , ,

:n.^npl , - rn, . . , " r i rsr(indicared by passing large blood clors androrhemorrhage), a tl & C (dilation and curcnage orscraping ofrhc utcrinc wall) may be nccessary.

Emmenagogue recipes rumbers I md 2 should notbe ured rogeLler. Y"e . n ra-ke s:rrg- infu. ior.

t )

!rr. eqnq.S ".+.'U\ri Y,/

emmenagogue recipe #2.

Other ernrnenagoguesTarsy leaves and flowers (p.46) carr be taken inrnfu. ion or r ncrure ro br ing on r mrscarr iagc. Thi,plarit helps stimriate menstrual flow' Dosage: I cup. l infu. i .ne"ery 2 hour. or 10 lsdropsofr incturein warm *arer every 2 hours.

fennyroyal (p.44) can bring on a miscarriage bycausing Lrtcrinc contractions. ?repare an intusion ofpennyroyal icaves ard drink it rs hot as possible your dr rnk i r whi lc . i r r ing in r hor barh. Ma'r imum

dosage: 4 cups per day for no rnore than 5 days. Ateespoon ofbrewer's yeast in each cup hclps rncreas€the effecriveness ofthis plant. Never ingestpennyroyal oil; it is highly toxic and can causedeath (no jokel).

Note: Unfornrnately pennyroyal is hard to find inmany parm of Canada, so grow your ownl

:chinesy.- dSshould Know €;t

Make sure you choose good-qualiry dried herbs.

V."ul izar ion md medir" ion help "hcn u. insenrrncn,gogr.s, imagine rfe egg bcing drdodged6om the rrerrrs and then expelled. Having someonemassage or press down on your lowa abdomen canhclp sdmulate urerine contractions arrd induce

Alcohol, sugar, nicotine and caffeine all interferewith the body's abiliry to absorb herbs. Try tominimize your intale ofthese substances during thecourse of these treatmenrs.

Dr i r k, , ' of *r ter *helr , ing oy of rhe recipe.and herbs listed abovc.

Do not, under any circumstances, exceed drerecommended dosages. Once again, even thoughcomplications are very, very rm, ifyou do, <p,: icn. c ,ny or rhe tol iowiaB $ mprom( . t f 'eru. ing r l r .e rc. ipc ' . go ro " ho.pir :J immcdiarc y:extremely severe nausea, very high fcvu (103-104dcgree 0. hcmorrh.rging ("ak;ng rhroush more. l ' "n p,a m horrr for ovtr 4 hou'J. In rhe .sc ol 'an incomplete miscarriage (indicated by passing largeblood dom ard/or hemorrhage), a D & C (diladonand curettage or scraping ofthe uterine wzll) may be

The wne Vonan Ilobalfo the ChiAbeanry Ytar Ey SusunS. Veed, Ash Trec Publi'hing, woodstock Nw YorkVhilc desiered for rvomen wlo want b have a bxby, theLr co c J " i rh\"rr : n,r \od lor .vo:dngro

' . I n:nJ,:ng .- unw"nrcd D1"gr r-cy. Ard .hould v"u srr

-n nee rour mind rcd dec;dc "ou $ou J ik" ro.on(erverhr biook is a very helpful guide to a hcalthy pregnang' adchildbnrh.

I ate Btk Yatr t tfe: A wnqn Guidt o Ahon " '

Hcahh Care, by Nicia nor' Grata, Profane LxistenceCollecdve, P.O. 8722, Minneapol;s, MIN 55408, USA(Send $2 Us).

20

sfd'&l t et '

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f

#*ffiffi?wr"ffi

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,t I' er,

h s a good idea to go lor regular gynecological checkups; ifa problem is diagnoscd, you can then decidenot ro tre.rt it with chemical piils or creems. Ycusho d Jso have Pap tests done on a regular ba-sis(once a year, in most cces).

Chemical anribiotics are nor advised (especially iFyou vc already raken them a nLrmber of times)bccause they tend to weaken the immune system aswell m yoLrr defenses against other ill,csscs.

Though you rnay wmt to avoid medical treaoncnr,clinics offcr tests for the problems md STDsmcnrioned in rhis section. Some oftheir sympromsarc very similar, and n's best to determine whichSTD you have before treating yoorseffwnh herbalremedies. Certain STDs such as gonorrbea can resukin pelvic inflamrnatory dnease (PID), inlenility andother complications if lefr unrreated. lf theserreatmenrs do nor work for you, be surc to re agood gynecologtr for mcdical trearment.

The treatments suggesred on the fo owing pages areplancbased: sonc ofthern are natural antibrotrcsthat strcngthcn the immune systen to combatdisease or infection. Thn explains ivhy therrerrmenr, , . rn l r . r r " rgr in, lhe' f f - , .n- , . .however, is high as thcse plants clcanse rhe bodywhiJe diminishnrg rhe chances ol:rcinfccrion. Even ifyou're pretty sure yourve gotten rid ofdreinfection, get a test alier complcting m herbaltreatment just in cese you stitl have un<ictected

Get a hold ofa speculum. Ask your gynecoJogist; ifshe's c"ol, sh"'ll gi". you one. Examine yoursclfl\'irha mnror md a flshlight. ft's always rvorth ir to vrsrta new prt ofyour bodyl Smell, tmte, touch. You'llquickly be al'le to tell rvhrt s nor quire righr. Mostinfectiors can be detected before symptoms such asvaginal discharge and itching appear. Once youbecome farniliar wirh the normrl, healthy starc oFyour vagina, a vaginal cxam using a specuium allowsyou to detect the first signs ofarr infecrion. You'1l bcable to spor parts ofthc vagina or cervix that areredder rhar usual, or notice small red marks on drccewix. You can also get togelher with lrieDds andcheck each otbcr ouc. This is a good way to comparcarrd ercharge experiencc. The references provided atthe end ofthis chapter provide sources ofinlormation on sellexaminations.

Ifyou decide to taLe chemical antibiotics, you'rebomd to get a yeast infection. Eat lots ofplainnatural yogurt (the kind with active bacteria) torestore the vagina s natural pH balance. Avoid acidicfruits ad sugr. Vaginal yogun tablets oracidophilus tablets can also pr€vent y€asr inGctions.Or with the help of a specuium you can insenyogurr into the v€ina using a small spoon or a large"baby syringe" (one which doesn't have a needl.p.37). Red raspbeny leaftea (p.45) or yatrow (p.47)can be used to resrore equilibrium to the genitalsafter taking antibiodcs. Take these lor a month or

\flhen consulting a physician or gynecologisc, it's nota bad idea to iind out ifit's absolutcly necessary rorrear your condition ivith chemical medicine(rnforrunarely, sometimes it is). Ask aboutalternarives-sympathetic doctors will understmd

Most doctors push artibiotics on us for even then"^, minor 1v.Ll . ,n<.vrdpharmaceur.cal compui:rmake a huge profit from this. 1We don't have tosupport th€m. Herbal medicine has proved itselfforcenturies... md the choice is yours.

lfyou have an infectior or STD, it's importaat thatboth you arrd your sexual panne(s) follow *rese$earmcnts ar STDS are easity pa,ssed back and fonhthis will help you avoid reinfection after completinga rreatment. Men can heal themselves with theserreatmen$ by tahing tie herbs in infusion ortincture form (refer to speciflc notes in tex$.

Keep in mind that practising safe sex carr preventrhe trusmission ofmost STDS, and reduc€s th€risk of reinfection after a trearment.

CrabsEveryone, even small children caa get crabs. Theyr.e r iny in.c, r l ikc crearurcr rh,r Ia1 r-heir rgs< indorha, sofas, bedding and carpets. Crabs cannotsr-rrvive for more than 24 to 48 hours without a hostro feed offol lt's very important to destroy 6eireggs as well.

SyrnptornsThey itchl 'Ihe itchiness is concentrated in thegenirJ region rd ot-her hr iry.uea. ofrhe bodyreven the eyebrow<). They :re small. and rheir eggs)ook lile tiny brown dots at the base ofthe hair.

\71'at to do0 Clorhes, towels, and bed linen should be wxhed in

hor *,ra:nd machine dr ied on.r high setr ing.Rugs and ..rpets should bc "quaantined" lxeprout ofcontact) for 10 to 15 days, depending on theseveriry of the invasion.

0 Thyme. red rhyme (more porenr) or hvendares'enri : l o i . ls di lured ;n ol ive oi l i2 ro J rexpoon. ofessential oil for cvery 5 ounces or 142 ml. ofolive

12

oil) ca" be rubbed onto the infeaed areas (skin andhair) and left on all night. \Cash offwith ,""p.Repeat as nceded. Ifit's especially bad, apply 3dmes a day or more. Drink thyme inlirsions (p.46).

S cabiesScabies are tiny parasites that live ard leed tnder tleour€rmost layer ofour skin, diggiry long furrowswhere the female lays her eggs.

SyrnptornsA-frcr m inc rbarion period ofse"eral week, , , uLe

\\ . i rchy spo,< " i l l

appe;r dur ing rhe nighr.

t\* \ l*, , l ' : .e:t.n'u*es and^'p'eads 'he

rcd\ \Y l In.s. nmd\. berwe.n th€ trnger(. wa,rs,I i dbo*.. armpn', Lhe eenirJ nea and ankles

are wnere scaDrcs tcncr to h3!g our.

V/hat to do0 Same rreatment as for crabs, rub affected area.

\rl(;enrtal \i/ arts '2flK*Vhile they are often called venereal warrs, you don rnccc*ar i ly gcr Ihem Grough sexuJ ronr: , rV4rether it's on the cervix or on your finger, a wartis a wart. \7ans calr disappear without rreatmenr butit's best ro take action early. Their presence is said toreflect some sort ofdeficiency (vnamin, nutritional,etc.). \?arts will often appear during pregr,..y orwith vaginJ infecr ionr and rend ro disrpperraf icrrruds. Cenitalwans ofren rc.cmblc ordinaqwarts and somerimes appcar to be shaped like arooster's crown with white dps. They cm growinternally and exrernally, in the anat arrd genital

'u?l at to doDoctors treat warts with a toxic oeam, Podophyllin,or by hrr,hcr mcrhods: c[ .rrolysi<. l iquid nirrogen.Iaser rherrpy or \u '8ery. Ask lbr docrrmenrrr ion.

Ahome remedy you can use before seeking medical

0 Treat your immune sysrem: three wc€l$ ofechinacca root (p.41) followed by one week ofgoldenseai root (p.43). Also douche with arrinfusion ofgoldenseal root once or twice a weekirhis is effective against itchiness. Do rhe treatmentfor four weels; repeat if necessary after a three weekbreak. You can take tinctr:res instead ofinfusions,ar they are much more convenient for long,term

0 You can also rub a clove ofgarlic, cur in ha1f,

l l

Herpes

0 Fresh chickweed (p.40) is very effective indissolving warts over an ertended period of sweralmonths. Eat the fresh pla.rr or make an in6rsion(p.34). The only way to get fresh cirickveed is top;ck i r youself- i r g 'o-s aJJ oucr the. ig ,"d in rhe.oLrnrry ' ide {p.38t. l fyou car ' t f ind the fresh plantyou carr take chicl:weed in tincture form

Take note: Valts calr be easily spread through hand-to-genital ard genital-to-genital contact Some

t to warts man omerFyou.houJd rale pre.audons, ,se

" condom or den,, l

dr- rr you .r your p*n ner r< infected: rry ro wzshyour hmds before sexuJ conracr. or (a.nd this r< Irough one) reduce hand-to-geniral conract.

\7omen who have had warts should ha"c "

Pap test

Diet0 Crapes are rdr i<ed lor r ie ir .vrr i - , i r :1 proper r ;c. .

concentrated in their skins.

0 Bre"ers ye^r (rn rablcr ' ) . Reminder: this is notadv;ed ro' "omcn "ho re prone Lo yeaslinfecdons.

0 Vitamin C, vitamin A" vitamin E.

0 Tal<e 800 ro I 000 mil l igram. of l rs inedai ly lorone to nvo weeks-not longer. You car repear thistreatment after two week's break.

0 Try to undersmnd what dggers an attack stress,depression. *hich ioods. clor hes. mensrruarron.etc... and try to avoid what you can.

0 Avoid cotree, chocolate, nuts, sugar arrd alcohol.

0 Take los ofgarlic (fresh and in tablers or

For more information about herpes, consult ZeNew Our Bodiet Ozralzas, by the Boston l(romen's

Bladder & {JrinaryInfections

SymptornsHaving to pee all the time, pressure in the bladtlcr,feeling the urge to pec but nothir'g comes (or maybejust rwo to three drops), blood in the urine, darkurine wir-h a vrong odor. Be c.rreful . rhe<e sisnr raybe indicative ofa rnore serious infection such asPelvic In0ammatory Disease (PID). Check wnh adoctor ifyou'rc not sure.

CausesImbalance in the intestinal bactcria,wiping ftom back to front, nylonunderwear, chemical foms, suess,cold, anal penctration fbllowed byvaginal penetration withour clemirerhe fingcrs, pcnis or sex toy in between.'N7hat to do0 For those who consisrendy suffer from this rype of

infection, drinking cranberryjuice daily is a musr.DrinI a sirccn oun. e glas' hourly ar rhe f i rsr . :gn'ofan infection. This wiil usually stop it in a coupleof hous. Cont inue dr inking 16 oun.cs o{.ranberry juicc ar lcxr rwice a day for prevenrion.Ifnothing but water is available drink a sixtecnounce glass ho"rly, ald make sure you are Crinkingar leasr 6ight glasses a day after that.

0 Bearbery (also called Uvrusi, p.39) in intusionor tincure is very good. You'll probably feel likeyour bladder is going to burst but it's sure to get ridofthe infection.

0 Take yarrow (p.47) in inlirsion or tincture. g*1

x'))7t

)FIerpe. Simplex I I is very <imi lar ro SimPld- l kold..re. on rhe mouLh and l ip<1. l r i . said ro affe.r only,1,. b. .r iLai rcg;on. bur i r c: l Ce"relop on an; pa;r cfrhe bodv. Tbe mov (ommon m€ans ol (ransmrs<roni. g"nirJ-ro-genitai , onracr. rhough he.pes c:r l alsobe p,scd from one person to ano$er duting moutho' iand-to genital contact. Lesiorls will app€arbeveen two to 10 days after exposure, or more,accompanied by a fever and flu'likc symptomsS"me wome' *ill exoerience an ourbreak instead ofthe flu, before or aftJ. mensrruatins, and whenunder stress. Herpes is a virus, whi& means that itlives in your system and can reappear. \Zomen whohave herpes mey want to avoid chocolate, nuts,caffeine, sugar and alcohol in order to preventoutbrealc Gee below).

rWhat to doInfrequent recurence (once or twice a year)T.Le eold..*J roor caosuJ.s (p.+J) at rhe onscr ofrhe orirb*,k and for r*o wtks rfterwards Reperr ifthe outbreak .eocctrrs.

Very frequent recurrenceTh. : . , ' ,n; ." .ysr.- musr be treaLed for: long t ime(up ro I year). 'fake echinacea root (p.41) Lrncil theoroblem is eone. Use a tincture to facilitateab.oror ion.-A.orher eood rcmedv for herpes isg,r l ic i rale ' i " crp"r, ics o' r ,bler i . Ti Ie;h;rh dor(rz capsulesl

"r rlie onset ofm outbreak

(charaiterized by a tingling sensation), and thenthree capsules evcry 4 hours for 3 days. It isrecommnded tLar vou maintain a dosaee of4 to 6.ro"o1."

" d"v fo.

"p to a vear after the i-nitial

*i"t-e"t. Kyoli. g".li. tabl.ts "re

suggested as theyare easily digested and have no odor'

During the outbreakTa-ke baths, walk around naked (fresh air dries out.ore9. Apply whire Jay aad ler it dry sever:J rime' ad,yr chy liea-ls and hclps relieve pain Resr' Rela-x

24

\wI

0 Trv a more alLaline dier comprised offruits,almonds, leeks, rurnips and bidey. Avoid cotree,rea. merr. u hi te l lour. sug:r ald acid generar ingfoods.

0 In addition, take goldenseal capsules (p.43) for two

0 In case ofpain, eke ralerian (p.46) capsuJes or

.:;i;;;.". ffiffn^ehbmydia ofren occur. wiuhout l mprom, in manywomen. Its presence is indicated by an infectedcervix widr a yellowish color (checL with aspeculum), a burning sensation when urinaring artdheary vaginal discharge. Chlamydia can also beasympromatic... You can also contact chlamydia inyour rhroat during oral sex. Ifyou suspect thar youmay have conrracted chlamydia, or ifyoule noc sureofyour symproms, have a tesr done. Ifgoneuntreated over a long pciod of tine, dJamydia culead to long-term complications lil-e PID =:ra

during sexr.ral intercourse. Ifyou have a yeasrinfection, penetration ofary sort (penis, sex coys,fingers) is not recommended (even with a conoo'n,since it can aggravare the iritation.

Vash your hards ald genitals alier ary sexualcontact with arr inlicted partner as it is very .ay robecome reinfected through intercourse or hand to-

CausesNeruomness, fatigue, pregnancy, heaq a suddenchange in your life, a new sexual panncr, stress,vitamin B deficiencv, e.:rins roo much supr

. , : ' . . . . -_b-

werrrng t ighr - l r l t rng or s] ,nrherrc lmdrruel ] - . . .Antibiotics will often bring on a yeasrinfection rs they wipe out many of rhevagina s natural bacteria, allowing candidato reproduce in high nmbers. @

sterility. No joke!

V/hat ro doTake echinacea (p.41) twice a week for 3 weeks.Takc echinacea in tincture to facilirate absorption.Douche wnh a decoction ofechinacea, rwice a weekfor 3 weeks. In addition, eat raw garlic or take garliccapsules cvery day. Duration ofthe treatmenr I to 2monrhs, depending on the severity ofthe infection.After the treatment has ended have another resdone to rnake sure the infection is really gone. Incase ofsevere infecdon treat with goldcnseal (p.43).

Waginitis & V';lwitisThis is a carch'all term for s*eral disorders: ycastinfections (candida), trichomonas and gardnarella.These condirions are inflammation ofthe vagina arrdofthe vulvi; they depend upon many factors and arenor caused exclusively by sexual intercouseSpermicide, andbiorics, latex and perfurned soapscar induce vaginitis or vLrlviris in cerrain women.Sensitivity to these and orher irritants varies withcach and every woman. Specific causes :nd their

Yeast Infect ions r& Candida +This infection is caused by a yeastJike fungus (calledcandidr) normal ly found in rhe vrgina. - l he vrginrusually proteca against infection through ctreproduction ofbacteria which maintain its naturalacidity. en this acidig' is altered, it allowsb,crer:a surh as cmdidr ro muJriply in l rrgenumbers, causing the i"fecdon.

SyrnptornsThick, white discharge wich a sweetish odor.Itchiness of the v';I...a cr in rhc vagina followeo ovirr i rar ion ard ,we|Jing ofrhe labir . I r ses *orse i f

0 Plain natural yogtrn is very effective. Insert it witha teapoon (using a specuJum i fnecesaryt. V*r aprd ;s rhe yoguri will flow out. Mal<e <ure ro useunp, lui , rd yogourr conraining I ivc lactob;" i l l i .I ou c:n so use vatLnar ),ogourt capsures.Acidophillus capsules work wcn better; but as theyare small, you shoutd insen sweral capsules (2 or 3)into the vagina. They can be taken orally at thesame cime. Durarion ofrhe trearment 5 to l0 dar-s,- . - r - -LI . . . . - ;^L.

T- - -

. : " i . . i . , , -

. i ̂ - , , ̂ -, , , - . , . . , " , , . . , - . ,_, . - r yogurt J

to 4 timcs a day. "Baby syringes" will work wel toinserr yogun rnd are avaj lable in drug'rores. Yogurcu also be apptied u<ing Lho,e sadsers u<ed forinsening rpcrmicide wnh .r dirphragm rhel, cmsometimes be bought separately.

0 Follow the garlic trearments indicated fortrichomonas below

Yeast infections are often asymptomaric in men.Men ca;r gct rid ofyeast by rtbbing yogourt anoiorgarlic on the penis every night for 7 to 10 days.

To treating itching0useonerer\poonofb, t .g."a, i ""n. \ \ r

cup ofwarer. Appry ro rhe vurq a ntrd.d. | \* . \Douchc wirh gr l ic /p.{2. $n mJy burn i f \ Yirr i tar ion ic <. 'e,e) o ' goldcn'el tp.zJ1. Trv\ I /not to scratch. Acidic vagin3i douches sirh Ivinegar or lernon are also effective. Use 2 teaspoonsin two cups ofwater. Douche twice a day for 2days, then rxe the yogoun treatmeDt (abovc) For afew days to rebalance the vaginal flora.

NB: Pregnant wooen should avoid douching.

27

Yeast infections are nor considered a sexuallytransmitred disease but they can be transmitted

26

Diet0 Avoid acid-gencraring foods (citris fruit, romatoes,

erc.), sugar, white flour. Iat foods rich in vitmin B(drk leafi vcgetables). Eat large quantities ofyogourt and raw gnlic daily.

lf richornonasThis is a one-cell parasitic orgnism, olientransmitted during s*ua1 contact or by humid'-ndi , ;^ , F, .qJ.n. r . r . - re ' rce. t rer rer Ln,ar 'on.

Abundant yellowish discharge,

""pleas,r"t "i"hy" smell, itching; sm:ll

..d dots on rhe "agi.,1w"1ls -d

on thecenix (viible with the speculum);rhreadlike secretions, some mes foamy;irritation around the vulva and theopening of rhc vagina.

rX4rat to do0 Garlic cloves can be inserrcd in thc vagina, uy ror

' . ni .k the. lo 'c wl,cn pcel i rrg i r . \ r( ' r :p i t up in acheeseclorh or gaure (you car leave a "mil,' whichcan rhen be ued for e.sy removal, rnuch like arampon), alrd dip n in olive oil or almond oil toavoid irritating the mucous membrane. Change theclove 2 to 3 times a day fbr the frrst two days mdrhen once h rhe morning md once at night for 5ro 6 days. Men can drink garlic infusions or takeg:rlic rablcrs.

0 l-ake goldenseal capsules (p.13) orally. Do disrreatment lor two wcckr. Accompmy rhisrrcarment with vaginal douches ofthe infusron,oncc a day (p.37)-this gets rid ofthe itching.Rcducc the lrequency ofdouching for the second

V4rat to do0 Echinacea decoction or rincture (p.41) for 2 to :t

months, accompinied by a vaginal douche ofrhedecoction I to 3 times a rveek until the vaginaidischarge and irching have disappeared. Do notdouche too ofte". Take valerian (p.46) to relicvediscomfort ifnced be.

0 Echinacea (p.41) fof 3 weeks foltowed bygolderxeal (p.43) for I week. It is recommendeilthat you take these herbs in tincture form tofacilirate their absorption. Tal<e a one-week ureatrand repeat the sarne 'patrern" 2 more times. Dorhis with your parrner.

di Dou(he wi,h sojdensear a needed ir Lhere,4' f - i ' a lo( ofdis.hargc and ir .hine*. \ 'a lcr ian

.hS tp.tr( , ) rel inr. di \omfon a. needcd.' i , .

0 Douche wirh waccr and clay: put 6ablespoons ofwhite clay ilto a pint oflulewarmwater. lrt the day setde at the boftom ofcontaher-Do not stir. Use enough watcr to dou;he- ith, dothis once a day or as needed for 5 days. Avoid metalutensils when using clay.

Douching with clay water has proved to bein healing most types ofraginids.

0 In case ofgonorhea or syphillis you'dbe well advised to consult anaturopath, herbalist or homeopath,md ifnecessary, a gynccologist.

Remember, though you may want to avoid medicaltreatment, many clinics offer tests for the problemsand STDs mentioned in this secrion. Some oftheir

' i - . ' " u, l i , . h". ' '^ de:erai lewhich STD you have before treating yourselfwithherbal remedjes. Cerlain STDs such as gonorrheacan result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),iniertiiny and other compiications ifieh untreareci.Ifthese trearments do not woi< for 1'ou, be srrre tosee a good gynecologist for medical reatmenr.

fohpe, i tc synptom. :nd diagno. j , . in l 'ormarion onusing a speculum, consuft Thc New Our Bodies,ourselrs (Updzted and Expanded for the 90t) by tneBoston Vomen's Health BooL Collecrive.

Tabe Bach Your L{e: A \u;nnen': Guide toAbematiue Heabh Care, by Alicia non Grara.Published by Prcfane Existence (address in"Interesting Reading" section on p.{8).

effective

#Gardnarella

srrong smcJl.

S)'*Pto'.'"Greyish vaginal dncharge with a

'What to doSame rrcatncnt as lor trichomoms.

Bacter ial Infect ions& GonorrLeaThese problems indicatc that thc immun€ system hasr" be.. r io.r . lyrrc lcd rnd bui lL up. Bcpar ient thcrr..tments can bc long. These problems can recurirequ-rr ly afrelhe f i r ' r arra"kr . r ' . bcrrcr ro gcr r idof them for good.

SyrnptornsVcry l ighr grryish .ecrer ion.. r . rr ib le .mcl l . i r i r , r jonor itchiness ofthe vulva. Often occurs withour

28f

2'

Tfl*TA

iet

El"wcOwarian PainThis Lrsually comes between the tOrh and l5th dayofthe cycle, counting from the onsct ofmenstruation. A sharp pain on either or both sides ofrhe lower abdomer mcrn. rh,r rhe egg i . beingrelea ed ".rh d. l f iculry. Thi. c, r also . :u.e

'pott ing.ile there may be internal inilammation, rr rs

usually tension that causes pain.

0 K.ep . hot wate' bottle on thc lower abdomen

0'iake an infusion ofginger (p.42) or red raspberryleaves (p.45) or cdery sced (p.40) or valerian (p 46)for pain ifneed be.

0lmproveormodifr lourdtct (ee 'ugg. t rons in

tlie seciio.,s "Piamenstrual Syncirome , p 7 and"Dysmennorhea or Paintul Periods", p.9).

Owarian CystsMedical science tends to over-dramatize andtoo ofrcn treats cysts with surgery. Cysts arequite comrnon and in some women theyappear regularly drroughout the course of

rheir mensrru:l rydes. Tiny at first, they becomehrger during *re cycle and then d<rese in size.Themosr conmon sgns ar€ scvere paln, urme retenuon,discomforr around the anus when drirting ard

Ntl: Cysts thar do not go away na7- require long-r..- reatment, and.'.n medical aacnrion, as theycm become malignant; thn is especially true of

V/hat to do0 A diet based on raw vegetables cornbined with

daily excrcise encourages c1'srs to dissolve.

0 Red raspberryleaftea (p.45) raken fo.3 to 6monrhr impr.vc' rhe overal l s ate of thc o"ar ie 'nd reorrce' in l lnm,r ion o' .ys's rhecau'e rheytste good, rxpberry leaves arc easily taken for longperiods of rime).

0 Ifthe cysts are really botheringyou, take 3 capsulesof cayenne pepper (p.40) ev..y d"y, as weli asintusions ofyarrow (p.47) for 6 weeks,acconpanied bv intusions or tinctures ofredraspb.iry leavei. Do this treatment as nc.d.d.

0 Chickweed (p.40) in rincture fonn is very effectivefor dissolving cysts, espccially ova-riarr cysts, whenraken over long periods of time.

0 Check rhe quJ ry ol your dge.r ion: in c.r i raloroblcm' r 'uch a. ear

-d consripat ionl re ofren

coniusecl wirh pdn rrom cysts.

30

0 For pain: r.aierian (p.46) in tincrure as needed.0 lFp.r in per. i*< see r h"meop,r\ or a rarurop

' rF.

Fibroidsin the (JterusMost ofthe dme rhese are benign, but thi:y do havea rendency to grow larger during the cycle. Afrermenopause the tumors usually diminish alrddisappear. Twenty to rhirty per cent ofwomen ovcrthe age of30 have flbroid tumors. Somerimes avigorous exercising program will gct rid ofthern. Ifthe fibroids grow fasr, arc large and painful

", p.cson the bladder and rhe colon rhey must be surgicallyremoved. Aside from exceptional cases, this docs notmean that a hlsterectomy is needed but rather amyecromy-rhar i ' . rhe f ibroid rumor Jon. i ,

V4rat to do0 Try cleansing your geniul organs (p.32).

0 Stimuiate blooci circularion by taking cayenoepepper capsules (p.40) and rry rhis dnsdc nrerhod:sit in a nb ofcold water cvery morning for 2 to 5minutes (or even longer ifpossible).

0 A dier rncorporar ing lor. ofraw vegerrLle, is

0 vslefian (p.46) as needed tor pain.0 Be patientl

Varicose Veinson the CerwixVisible wirh a speculLrm, thev are thin, purpie,spindlyvcins which resemble varicose vejr,s oii thcleg<. Thel rcnd to bc paintul before men rru"r ior'What to do0 Cayennc pepper (p.40) for thc rholc morrh or rhe

few days beicre menstruation.0 Vitamin E (nu$, bran, wheat germ) and vrtamrn

C.

I {orrnonal I rnbalanceYou may expcrience a;r hormonal imbalance due tomenopau.e. raking rhe pi l l . losing large am.o-unrr ofweight and seriou stress.

Hormone imbalances can result inr

0 Mnsed periods.

0 Unusually shon or long periods;unusually light or heary flow.

0 An extremely long or short menstmal cycle (eg.,gening your period every 10 ro 21 days, or evcry 35to 42 dayO.

0 Severe PMS or heary cramping before and at rheonset of menstruation.

3l

#or seek medic:l amention.

CIv 4t"dnd- r

p rr l

rr)t

rr-B: Some or all of these slmptoms may be presentin women *'ho go offthe Pill-sometimes for up ro 6

V4rat to doUse a combination oflicorice root, red raspberryleaves and rose hips:

I. lr{ake a regular decoction (p.35) using 1/2 ouncelicorice (14 sr.) and 1/2 ounce rose hips, in 4 cups

2. Make a regular intusion (p.34) usins 1 ounce (28gr.) ofred raspberry leaves in 2 or 3 cups ofboihrg

:1. Srrain aj1d mix the nvo preparations.

Dosage: t/4 cup 3 times a day. Do this treatment for6 weeks; stop for 3 weeks and smrt again as needed.,Alr easier way is to use all these planm in tinctures,available in health food stores. Tale 5 to 10 drops ofeach herb tincture 2 to 3 times a day.Other, more elaborate treatmenrs are available butare roo long to list here.

DietLat seaweed regulaly or take in kelp capsul* c"-yd"v.

Cleansing YourGenitalsThe follownrg herbs cleanse our genitalsrvhcre cysts, adhesions, fibroids, etc. take retuge...'fhn combination ofherbs w;ll help in cases ofpainful, irregular, overly heary or absent periods andsometimes, infertility.

rWhat to doPrepare an iniusion with yarrow, red raspberryleavcs, and fresh gingo root (grate m inch or nvo of

sinsef). Use 1 ounce (28 gr.) ofred raspberry leaves,.J1. ^ 'nr f . f . . , . , - . , "17))n, l " inpe, in6ro8cups of*n... Dosage: 1/2 cup 3 times a day. Alsorake 1 capsule oicayennc pcppcr (p.40) 3 rimes ad.vFollow rhis treatment for 6 weeks. Considering thefacr rhat clrosing is a slow process (it rakes ar ieastas much time co clemse ourselves as it took for thesystem to clog

"p), stop the ueatment for 3 weela

and srarr again lor a 6 week period as needed.

llcre again we can make n easier on ourselves bytaking rhe herbs in tincrure lorm (5 to l0 drops ofeach plant, 2 ro 3 rimes a dal; cornbine this withiniisions ofginger (p.42) or eat thc fresh grated

0 Drink lots ofwater with all ofthese treatn'..u.

Again, other, more elaboratc treatmmx are availablebut are too long to list here.

For further reading\Yxc Vonan Hobaffor thc Chidbearihg Y.dr, by SBM\Xtee,l

32

t8 l l l

lAfkrodis laryf f i@FNJare spices. Theywork on the erogenous cennes by.: '1 rns ,n rnren.e f lo r or blood ro rhe per.ph. ' . lorsar. . *h ch in,u,n lcrd. ro 'cxur l , , imulr .o ' .Bc,u.cof Lhr i r . r rong-rom, :ndrhe in.r . rc i 'cnergr pro' ided. 'p i .e< exci te ,ensorJ per ' cpr ior, .Dc0nitely worth rryingl

Cinnarnon (st ick or powder forh)sork 20 gr. otcinnanon in onc l iLre ofq eer q i r ,for 10 days arrd drink two small glasses every day.

Simmer 20 gr. of cinnmon with a few cloves for 15-20 minutes in one litre ofgood red wine; sweetenwnh honey and drink I cup as desired.

GingerGrate a good quanriry ofthe ftesh roor, add to waterand simmer covaed for menty minutes. Drink a.nr, l l , :p r i " r mcJ' . lhr< aJ, . rmpr" ' - d;g- ' rorr .

ClowesMix halfa rerpoon of powdered cloves wirh honey.Use it like jan.

Infuse 2 or 3 cloves in one cup ofboiling water.Steep wenty minutes. Drink 1 to 2 cups per day.

Steep 2 to 3 doves in one cup ofgood hot red u.inefor a few minutes; add some lemon rind, cinnamonand a pincb ofnutmeg.

RosernarySreep one hardful in boiling water. Drink 2 to 3cups every day.

trfuse 50 gr.ms of ieaves mri brmchcs in I iitre oidry white wine for 10 days. Drink 2-3 small glasses

San'orylnfuse one handful in boiling water; drink 3 cups perd"v.

For very efftcient results, poLrr 4 to 5 drops ofsavoryessential oil on a piece ofsugar. Take every day or as

Chinese herbsGinseng and royrl jelly are also aphrodisiacs ard

'onic, . Avai l"bl . i rnd lc* expenrrve in t hine.eherbal stores, ginseng is used in Chinese medicine tostrengthen the elderly and is always used carefull)'.Seek advice lrom the salesperson.

NB: Ginseng is commonly uscd for men, royal jelly

JJ

Hvw To DTPpA.l*1| t- : I l ] 'n &u[tf rhd use'het.$s ry

P*p*el*l"r*,r*;;"+*-.-..r"3,F. r rc, , prepar i rg herbal i r ' iu- ion'md d.corr ion.for rnedicinal purposes. Avoid using pots, pans orutensils made ofaluminum. Go lor enamelrco,sninless stcl or glass pots with wood utensils. Use

' i l rered onpr.ng w;ter ior more porenr pot ions.Note rhar rhere are several different ways to prepareinfusions, decoctions, tinctures, etc. Opinions onllhar constirutes an infusion or decoction carr raryfrom one herbal thenpisr or pracritioner ro another.\ , ' t , r ue h.rve choren to do is to providc rhc err iesrmcthods ofpreparation, while ensuring potent alrdeffecrive rreatmenrs. These are good for &ied herbs,use slighdy more wlen they ue fi*h.

Ifyou do want to turther exp)ore the subject ofplantpreparation, consult the "Herbal Pharmacy" sectionofeirher ofSusun S. weed's two t'ooks Gee'lnteresting Reading" p.48). They are excellent.

Regr.rlar infrrsionlor most flowers, leaves and stemsA very basic method2 cups ofboiiing water per 1 ounce (large haldfrn)ofhsbs, leaves or flowers. This is good for &iedhcbs, use slightly more when they ae fresh.Add plant material to boiling water; remove fromheat md cover. Infuse (sreep) for at least 20 mrnutes

NB: This method is more effective as it extr:crsmore ofthe plant s medicinal propcrties.Use 2 ounces (2 large handfuls) ofthe plaot pans fore"ery 4-5 cups ofwatcr used (or I ouncc ofplant per2-3 cups water).Ilring the water ro a boil. Put the plant material in an*on (pickling) jar. Pour the boiling water into thejar over rhe plant material; try to leave as litde air asposible. Screw rhe lid on tighdy. Let it steep at.oon remPerarure:

0 for flowers: 2 hours0 for leaves: 4 to 6 hotrs0 for llower and leaves: 4 hours0 for seeds and beries: 30 minutes0 for roots and barL: 8 hours or overnight

Srrain the infusionwhen it is rcady.(NB: roots, bark, berries arrd seeds can also beprepared as decoctions; see below).Nevcr boil infusions, even when reheating them.Boiling destroys the potency ofthe plants.

Intusions call be preserved in the liidge for 2-3 days,in tightly capped jars. This way you can preparethem in advance, and reheat them as needed.

34

Decoct ion for roots & barksI ounce (nedium handful) ofdried root or uart

lai'. .<,1

Cove! and simme. Glowly) for 20 minutes. Do notboil. Strain. Can be kept in fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Roots arrd bark c:n be soai<ed in the same amounr orwater overnight, before simmering; this incrcases

Decoct ion for berr ies & seedsGrind lighdy

:t fES

Use 3 teaspoons for eve.y : ."p' of-"t.. ffiCover and simmer 20 minutes. Do not boil. Srrainand drink 3 cups per day.

Norrnal dosage (adults)for infusiom md decocdons

For intusions: 1/4 to I cup, 3 to 4 times a day(unless specified othevis.); dosages for e.chindividual plart are speciied in the chaprer "HerbrlP.^-"* i" . , . , . t f )^. . ." .

l -or decoct ion' : . r ounce. / l /4 .upr J Lo ' r ime< "day (unless specified o*rerwise); dosases lor eachindividual plaat are specified in rhe chaprer "Herbal

It is recommended to take the herbs 6 days a week,for a paiod of 6 weeks. This process cm be repeatedsevcral dmes (unles specifled othemise). Vc have tokeep in mind that everyone's body reacts differenriyto herbs (according to weight, agc, erc...) To adaptto our needs, we can slightly decrest or increase rhequmtities arrd duration ofthe rreatments. Use your

Tinctrrresf inctures contain rhe alkJoid prrr ' of 'he plan,.

crrra, rcd rd prcserucd ;q alcohoi, aoorc r ic i"". l - u 'n.e", o, er;c. , i , . . A. u ' . (v rr" . . ; ; ""- .d

I herbal extracts, they remarn porenr tor a iongltime, can be carried and ingested easily, are easy- ro p'eprr artd r .r qur, ldy. I hey are ,old in

herb stores and health food stores. V/trile tinctuesmay seem expensive to buy (their prices rarge from$9 to $14 per dropper botde), drcy lasr a very longtime; consider the fact that antibiotics can costanyr-r'here from $20 to $60 a bottle, for a 7 day dosel

Tinctures re used diluted in warm water {abour 15drop. in r l i r r le bir ofr :rcr. J r ime' : dayr.

To rnake your own tincturesTinctures are surprisingly easy to make.

0 Always use lresh plant material: flowers, srems,

0 Dried roots can be tsed but are not as potent asfresh ones.

l i

I . . - . le:n.

dru n^on lp.c lJ ing' i r r u i r \ " r ig l - r -firring Jid-it's not a bad idea ro boil ir first, ro makesurc iis serile (1cr it dry out completely before

". i g.o rr r : rc u.c Donorrv-hor in.eoLlmareriai. Fresh roots can be scrubbed or pec{cd.e , . . -y. l - p 'hc DJ r ' o '11, . p l , , r r vo. l x" u<ing(xnh rhe exception of small O"*er"). Fill ch. ja'righr up ro the top. For dried rooa: use 2 ounccs (56gr.) in a 500 ml (halflitre) jar. Fill rhe jar wirh grainil..h.l ("hi.h c"n be hard to find) or use 45 %vodka or alcohol. Voclla dnctures taste betie! but.rlcool is rnuch ch*p* (v"u call share the costs as*cll as thc finished tincturc mong friends).

Use a krife to dnlodge any air bubbles. Makc sure rofill rhe jrr to rhe top; rry not to leave lrry air (this can.po; l L l errn.rure)bLrrdonrw.rq i t 'her ' , rn 'bir ofair left.

r 'a( rr . hr,r , . r . r ighr ly,rr po.. ib ic. t rbcl rhe i"r

d" i ,h rhe n. ,me ol rhe pLrr urd,nd rhe drre.

I VJe one r inc 'u -c ior cr ' h plm: y"r r e u. ing.I r"cq re*d 1. ; rver,crhe j , r r i ru r ime.. : rore

*,$r) rrom d,rect (unrtnt.

e/ I Fe r rr ,cr ur. wi l l Le re .dy i r ' 6 wce\, . \ t rhe,r iL .ready, srrain, squeeze and discard rhe plant parts.Store your tinctures in sterilized brown glass bonles,away frorn lighr and in a cool place.

Brown glass botdes with droppers ca be bought insome health food stores; these are Lrsed to measurerh- do.agc U e onl l gL* dropper. . r . pla.r ic one'can bc casily contaminated.Uscful rinctures ro keep on hand are: valcrian,cchlnacea, licorice, yarrow...

aLapsules \ ), i l : . u\c s:Ju:J -, pJwdered \!rb. /c,., , . i .nn. p"pp.,. q.ng., l v., ."r l ,y.-y, iy , fg. l . r .n . ,p 'u l r . L iz< r l0 Lo be prcj 'e) , r herrh )r"od or I crh . ,^r , . , , d nl l rh.m up y"ur.el f , I,hn Ls chcrpcr thu buying the rerdy'made ones.

Essent ia l o i ls.a, F. cnr i rJ or lsor ; rom:, ic, . .en.crarc sub rarrc '

49 ^, ' ,c,.d from cer rain plant by di 'r i l lar i"r .r

qB'" . ' . i . ' . rhe esen.e' . l re di*" lvrd in oi l . Th.yrr

"rc ,old in healh f"oJ,nd herL,,rores.

Poult i ceA poultice is essenrially cmshcdrltice is essenrially cmshcd plant material,

applied externally to rhc infected area (eg.sores, cuts, burns...). For fresh plants, chop or

grarc rhe pl"nt mar€rial ajld apply it direcdyto the :rffecred ar.a. Dried plants: pourboiiingwater ovcr the plant, cover and

sork for hal fan hoLrr to 4 hours Geeinfusiond. Stranr, then sque€ze the water out arrd.pply them to the aFccted areas. You can also wrappo"ltices in a thin layer ofgauze before applyingThe liquid can be tsed as arr infusion or a soak Gcebclo*l.

36

'S7-ash (also called a soak)L, . , . . r i r i . i r . : : r r r ' ' .F. \ ls

:":;t:1. 1",i.'."J.i. i f..'l;'t j ; j " .'%''direcdy ln the wash, or dip a clea,r cloth into drewash md apply n wherever necded.

PasteA paste is made by miing the powdered hcrb (eg,goldenseal roo$ with a small anlounr ofivarff. lh€paste is then applied externallv to the affected arca.

Vaginal douches & "s i tz" baths#'\ 38,rrl dor. h. Li,. r. ,old in Jr .g, - .

u{f l Dou.hc qr r o inru r"n "r "ons

o. ,o 1,on' ' l$rabour I .up ' a body 'emperlre. Do r^-"'over-use vaginal douch* as rhn cm disturb rhe

I h,- , . - i . t - -" . , . , " .^ _. hould

not Lrsc douches. fhe douches we mention h rllisbookler ue medicinal douches; avo;d scenreddouchs sold in pharmacies fthe kind d,at male yor'smdl bener ') as they bave bcen l inked to Pel ' iclnfhmmatog' Discasc (PID).

IMfOR-|ANT: Always douche gendy; douchlnglorcetully can worsen alr infection bv forcrng n upinco your uterus, which carr then cause PID.

For malc genitals, soak the infected area.

"Baby syr inges "These are reladvely large syringes (abour an inch indiameter) with an opcning at thc rip thcy do norh.vcancedc. l l -1. , r rb.u ' -d lo, i , , " , ; . " )oF,, 'into thc vagnra or lor douching. Thev cur be foundin manypharmacies.

i.iotesCenain infusions and dccoctions do not raste v€rygood, add h^n-v . r l " rnon. Vo r prep,r"r "n.should be ral<en wrm unles speclfied oth:o"se Forlong'tom umrments, remember rhat tincture: are

Most ofthe plarrrs mentioned in rhis booklet gro*in Nonh America and are therefore available botli inthe city and in the country, as well as in rnany herb/healrh food stores. Keep in mind drat herbs are notdrugs bur foods. They provicie nourishment for rhebody to heal nse[. Although some herbs are not tobe taLen during pregnancy, there re genoaiiy noside effects. h is a normal reaction, however, to havcless ofu appetite and/or lighr diarrhea dunng atreatment. You may have to urinare often. Alrvaysdrink lots ofwater during a trcatm.nt.

You should J'o nor Lh"r fre.h herb, -nd Linc r--are more potent than drGd herbs, even well'

Don t hesitate to seek help from expcns in your areaand remember cenain chronic prol:lens or acurecondnions wili need more elaborate trcat"-'..

wT,4 rwh .>

easily lound growing in the countryside; many ofrhem are also commonly found in gardens :rrdcrpry loLs in r \e ciry. Chmomile. chiclveed. red.xpberry le."es, tansy, wiid carrot seed arrd yarrow

"'. amo"g rhe most

"bundant arrd easiest to spot.

Picking your own herbs gives you the advantage ofgening the freshest herbs possible, :rllowing you toprepare your own tinctures arrd dried herbs, a-nd itcm also save you money.

However, if1-ou do mnt to pick youi own herbs,rhere are a f.w thi"gs you shorid know:

0 Some plants are poisonous and even deadly ifingested (for example, wild carrot seed is easilyconfused with poison hcmlock which can be f.tal).You sirould be i00o/o sure thar rtrc pianc you areplcLing is rhe one you really wartl Unless you'vedone rhis bciore. i r . besr ro goon, ' f ie ld rr ip"with someone who knows their stuff, in addidon to. on. r l r i rg a f ieJd guidc bool ,o hclp you re. ognireend idenriff plants. Get to know some ofthedifferent plants well; take note ofhow they lookand smcll before you embark on picking anlthing.Ifyou're ever unsure, even slightly, don't ta-kechmces. Always take a field-guidc book with you.

0 Be respecful. Never pick more than l/3 oftheplanrs arailab1e... this ensures that thcy'll comeback the folJowing year.

0 lt's 1ir better to pick plants in rhe courtry rarherrhan the city. Ifyou must pick'em in the city, getrhem from parks or empry lots locat€d far from, . rd.

"J.rn ' l *y"" 'nry b, *" . r ing;-- r ime-plants located near roadways are high in lead andorher contamnunts.

0 Rcad up on the subject. Know when to pick thcplan* and plant parts you need. For example, rootsare best hanested in the fall, flowers right after thcy

For further readingThe lVne Wonen Hzrbal: Healing Wie,by Susun S. \feed.

Peterson Field Guilet to Met;cinal PkntslHor-rghron M;i f l in Company) a'e *ceJJenrfor identifying plar.rts. The one we use here

in Ontario and Qudbec rs t\e Eastcrn/&ntral

3zl1z. Other guides to Nor*r Arnerica andeven Centrai and South Amedca are also

available.

A Citl Herbal, hy Maida Sil.rcrman, 1977. Knopf.Lxcellent for ciry herb pickingl

38

'l^bl#'tt':!WThe English md French common names (eg,bearbery in Erglish: busserole in French) oftheplants are provided, as are their Latin names (eg,A'trostaphvlos tva u,l. \e'hen bLrying h.rbs. al$ay.ral<e nore ofthe Larin name ofrhe plmr you needrrhis will cnsure that you get exacdy what you'relooking ior. l r

' a l ,o hclpfr l for buying her hs in non.Engl ish or Frcnch ,peal ing region, or counrr in.

You should know that consuming caffeine, mcoune,alcohol alld sugar interferes with the absorption ofplmr m:rer i . l1. rrramins and mineral . . maI;ng rhetreatments less effecrive. Try to limit your intake ofrhe.e .ubsLrn.cl qhcn u' ing hcrbal remedie..

Ifyou buy herbs, mal<e sure you buy good qualiry,wel l p 'esewrd d,;ed he!b\. D-i .d hcrbs remainpotent for abour 12 months. Store them ir brov.'npaper bags or dass j*s, in a cool, dark placeCommcrcially sold herbs should be colorful ardaromatic. Buy herbs that have not been sprayed withpesticides or other chemicals. Consult the resourcessecrion for a list ofreliable herb stora and mail-order disuibutors.

NB: \Vhen we talk about using the whole plant, wemean the stems, leavcs and flowers; this does not

Bearberry (uva-uisi)ArtostaVhyks uu-ursi 0 t>rss*ole

Bearberry acts specifi cally on the genital-uinarysystem. lle use it to treat the prosrate, cystiris, thckidneys, bladdcr inflmmation, uterine and laginal

Infrrsion: Make a regular infusion (p.34); take 1/2cup, 3 ro 4 rimes dailnDouche: Use an intusion at body tempcrarure, once

" d"y.

Blue Cohosh RootCattkphlllun thalntroidts 0 actie bleue

Blue cohosh is used to treat amcnorrhea,dysmenorrhea, mginal inflmmadon, slow or haftedcontractions (during childbirth), nervousness,exhaustion ard spsmodic cough (asthma,bronchitis, whooping cough). Do not use during

PregnaJlcy.Make a regular decoction (p.35). Take 1 tealoor !oI rablespoon, 3 rc 4 times a day.For amenorrhea and dysmoothea: 1 /4 cup of thehot decoction, 3 times a day.Spasms: Takc stronger doses or ingest more often-

J'

i (uy

k"n oqlrr[

ffin'4W--r

Cayenne PepperCapncun futescen: A poivre de cayenne

pan used: ftuitCayenne pepper (also known as cayenne powder, asir most oiien comes in powdercd form) is asdmulanc, a tonic, an asringent, a blood-cleanserard an anriseptic. It induces swearing alld isexcellent for blood circulation, to stimulare theherrr, clean and restore clasticity to the veins arrdarteries, regulate blood pressure dd lelievecongcsdon in the mucus nembrmes. Cay€nnesoorhes md heals sores in *'e stomach and intcsrinalrissues. It stops both internal arrd external bleedingmd accelerares coagulation. Cayenne is effectrve rn. "se.

ofano.er ia and l iver conge.r ion. I r . . r , r hclpy"u . ,y aw-l" l "r long period orr ime.sirgive.encrgy. It:1so strengrhens the immrrne sysrcm and isexccllcnr for colds md mrhma.Male sure to buy medicinal cayenne pepper; thekind that is used for cooking hs been ro.itcd,making it lose irs therapeutic propefties. Consultyour local herb srore.for colds: l / r to t rea.poon in hor w.rrer. J r imc.dai\'(veryhor).Capsules: i/4 to I reaspoon in a capsule tal<en wirha hot beveragc, 3 rimes per day.

Celery SeedAptun grarnhuA grzines de cileri

Celery seed is a diuretic. It will loiver high bloodpressure, rclieve headiches and nervousness.Infrxion: Grind [ghdy and put 3 teaspoons in 3cups ofcold wrter. Cover and simrner for 20 m;n.Srrain. DrinL hor, 3 cups dai)y.

CharnornileMattnarla chanon;lla ot Maticarza rccstu

0 camornille

Chamomile is a ,cdarive for rhe nerves .nd a roni.for the intestincs. lc is used for ear aches, tooth-aches, lor dow or dificult digcstion, insomnia andrhc flu.Inftrsion: l/2 ounce offlowcrs, in 3 cups ofwarer.'I'ake 1/2 to 1 cup, 3 to 4 dmes a day.For colds: I/4 teaspoon ofcayenne powder in I cupofcharnomile intusion; add honey. Drink hot, 4 to 5

ChickvveedStelkria nezlia 0 cera:src vd,gnre

pan used: whole plantChlcLweed is found in abundance all over thecountryside and city. lt is an expector.nt, a laxative,relievcs gas and colic, helps soothe md protectmucuous membrancs, and promotes healing both

externally and internally. F'resh chickweed carJi . .o lve * u r ' ; in r incture Form ir i , ef fer r iv . indissolving rysts, especially ovuiar cysts. The leavescan be made into a pouldce (p.36) or wash (p.37) rotreat external inlections and irritations, includingpinL'eye.rnfusion: Make a regular inausion (p.34). Drink l/2cup,3to4t imesaday.For constipation: Take I cup ofthe intusion every 3

Tincture: 15 to 20 drops in a glass ofwarm *'arer, 2to 3 times a day. (Thh carr be used * a iong-rerfttreatment for cysts.)Fresh plant: The more you eat, the better!

CinnarnonCinnanonun zefuninn 0 carne e

pan used: barkCinnamon is usetul in case ofmuscular pains, flu,and digestive spasms. It is also m aphrodniac.Decoction: Ma.ke a normal dccocrion (p.351; takel/4 cup 3 to 4 rimes daily.

ClowesEugenia caryopb/lzta Q clou de gnofle

part used: dried flowers arrd budsclo! e5 frc i t ; , " , . . i tcul , , ron. r j r bodv Lemperarurc.st inularc od dninlecr rhe sromr.h. sLn. Lidne)s.intestines, lungs ald bronchii. Clove oil is aranalgesic that stops toothaches when applied direcdyto the tooth or cavity.Infirsion: I teaspoon cloves in 2 cups water. Take1/8 ofa cup, 3 times daily.

Echinacea (Purple conenower)Echinacea p p rea t atg6tofol,20 rudbeckie

parr ued: the rooc

A blood purifier, ir stimolates the prcducrion ofwhite blood cells which destroy bacreria or vrruses.Echinacea is arr herbal substitute for mdbioucs c rsrrengrhcns the immune system. It is used for bloodpoisoninB, poi,nnou, (Ling, and Lires. chronrc oracute bacterial infecions, vaginal infectlons andhcmorrhoids. A good prostate tonic, it also faciliratcsthe climination offat. Eclinacea is non-toxrc mocm be taken ovcr long periods oftimc.

Decoction: Make a regular decoction (p.35). Addlicorice root ifthe nste males yor feel nauseous.Take I to 5 tablespoons, 3 to 6 dmes a danTincture: 15 to 30 drops in a litle wam warer everyI to 6 hours, depending on rhe severity oftheinfection.Douche: Use a decoction at room temperature, 2 ro3 times a week for 2 weeks.

4l

Garl icAllirn satiutm 0 ail

part use<l: bulb

G 'n ' - rs a nrrurJ mrnepLi . . l ' medic inal proper i . '

' rc foLrnd rn raw gr, l i . for be.r re.u| . ry o br1

ore i . cal i , r : i r : ' " b lood pur i f ier ; iLreeula ' , '. i ' : .1.

' ; ' . o*,"d . igh blood pre' .u-,- i ' i g.oJ

for veast infecdons, chlanydia, odrer inlecrions mdnervous disorders. Gulic is a diuretic, helps balmceglandular disorders, md strengthens thc immoneiysr.m..Al* good for warts, earaches, arrd corns.

Rrw garl ic: r^hop o, pre* garl ic c lovc. f : - tc"rrh.old w"rer or mir * i rh honey. f ton r walt more rhan5 minutes :fter you cut th. garlic clove to consum.it. Ear one or more cloves offresh garlic 3 to 4 cimes

Douche: Boil water lor I5 minutes. Vhen coorcodown to body temperaturc, add the juice ofone or

Ear'achc (ear infectioa): Peel one gadic clorewnhout breal<ing ir. Vrap ir with cheesecloth orqauc. Dip in ol . ' e oi l a;rd pur in rh. opening of rhrl , r dor ' r 'push ;r roo r* in. b. f"re going ro bcd.and ifpossible during the day, for 4 days or moreAlso cat fresh garlic.!J/arts: llub wnh a garlic clove cut in half, as often s

GingerZingiber fficinah 0 gingembre

pan used: rhizone and root

Ginger is a stimula-.t, an anJgesic and maphrodisiac. lt is used lor boils, bronchitis, colicpain, d;.-hea, flrr, sorc throats, hemorrhage ofthclun3 . prntul nruse;. neurlgir . rdrheumaisrn. Ginger is prticularly effective forabdominal probirms. lt can bc talen in capsoleswith a h"t beverage o. .dd.d to y"L,r bath for f."".an.i skin irritatiors. It carr also help bring on a iatepcriod. It can be used in powder form, but the freshroot is much more porent.

Intusion: Fresh ginger: Grate a good qumtiry oftheroor md infuse in boiled water for 30 to 60 mrnures.Porvdoed ginger: t texpoon per cup ofhot wateruirh honcy ald lemon. Dr ink I cup 3 r ime. a d:1rvith honey. For colds, add 1/4 teaspoon cayennepepper to each cup.

Capsules: Fill the capsules with ginger powder, t:*e3 capsules daily.

Fresh roor Simply chcw a good quandty ofrhe rootseveral times a day with rvater, or grate it and mix

42

Goldenseal RootHldrattn canadensn 0 hydraste carladier

^-- , , . - ,1. -^^. " - , .1 ,L;"^--

Similar to echinacea and mynh, goldenseal root rs apowerful natural antibiotic. lt is used for viral andbacteriai infections. Goldenseal is a remedy lor severeinflammations in the nose, rhroat, stomach, colon,md is also good for hemorhoids. Especially effectivefor Herpes-type vnLrses (cold sores, shinslet, n nalso excellent as a douche lor vaginal infections, as aneyewash for conjunctiviris, anriseptic mouthwash,md for skin probiems and burns.Intusion: 1/4 teaspoon of the powdered root in Icup ofboiling water. Mix well. Tale 2 to 5tablespoons 4 times daily. NB: this mstes very bitter.Capsuls: Measure 1/4 teaspoon ofpowder. Fill 3capsules with this amounr. Take 3 capsules daily.Tincrure: l s drop. in warm warer, 3 t imes a d:y.Paste: Mix a small amount ofporvderwith water tomahe a light paste. Use externally on skin infectionsand cover with a cloth (it stains).Douche: Use a strong infusion drdng a trcarmenr. Itis good ro use goldenseal both intermlly udexternally. VARNING: goldenseal is toxic whenused excessively; do not use for longer rhan twowceks. Do not use during pregnancy.

LawenderLaoendu k ofi ci ul;s Q lav an le

part used: flowersLavender is a sedative arrd arr :,rti-bacterial. Usc theesential oil externally on open sores and to sootheinsect bites. Vash it offafrcr about 15 to 20minutes, as it cm burn. lor a reluing bath, preparear infi*ion oflavender arrd add it to the wa-., o.add a few drops oflavender cssential oil.

LicoriceG\qnhim glabta Q reglisse

part used: rhe root whole, broken up inro pieces or

Licorice is an emollient, an *pecrorant and a gentlelxadvc. It also contains substances similar toesrrogen (as doa sage). In Chinese medicine rtsnickname is "the reconcilor" sinc. in addilion robeing used on its own, it can be combined wirh allthe other herbs. Its presence increases rhen medicinalpropcl ic, whrlc ma.Lng r l re birrer rr . r e ofcer ra;nherbs.Decoction: I ounce or more oflicorice root. Simmcrfor 20 minutes in 2 cups ofwater. Take 1/4 cup 3 to4 times a day. This quantity carr be added to otherdecoctions or infusions.Laxative: 1 teaspoon ofpowder nixed with honey.Chcwing on the dried root (in sdck forn) helpsregulatc digcstive problems.

Motherwortt "ono us.a,lia,a 0 E;Lpaune

A rcally good uterine and hean tonic, mothervort.rlso relieves cramps. k can be used in strong doses,nd I r Iors pe ioJ< of ' ; . . p6n61 u. 'Juing

Prcgnmcy.lntusion: Male a regular infusion (p.34). Dtink 1/1cup3to4r imesaday.

Lare mcnstruation: Drink w,rm. !(len rhe florv isnormal, drink cold as a tonic.

Vaginitis; Douche with the infusion at body..-p..".".., 1 douche per day for a wrek (or les).

MugrvortAtcn ;s ;a w lga* 0 armoise

pan used' whole plantEmmenagogue, anti epilcpcic, anti-spasmodic. Donot rake in case ofutcrinc inllamrnation or during

P.cgnmcy.Make a regular infusion (p.34). Take 1/4 cup 3 to 4times daily.

ParsleyPetoselinum satiuun 0 persil

pan uscd' *hole plantl'arsley is rich ir minerals and contains more ,ronrhr any othcr green vegetable. ft is rich in utamrnsrr rnd B ad has three timcs more vitmin C tharrcirru fruirs. Parsley is *cellent lor kidneys andbladdo srcns, good for the optical and cen-ica1nenes, the suprarcnal glmds md blood vessds. ftpr*er,ts rhcumatistr, ::ril hdps inflan'.ed glards andmensrruai problerns. The roots and seeds arc used indecoctlon. Ifyou have a hard rimc eating enoughfresh parsley, takc it in infuion instead. In case ofkidney infecdon, rake ginger (which k an antt'inflammatory) instead.

Intusion: Make s normal infusion (p.34). Take 2 to6 rablcspooru 4 rimes a day.

PennyroyalMentha Puhg;un 0 poiiot

part uscd, *hole plantItnnyroyal (oftcn refrred to as Americanpcnny.oy"l) is an expeccoranr which facilitatesevrcuation ofbile and is used for bronchni. ,rrdwhooping cough. It zlso induces uterineconLrr ' r ion.. Do no, ure during prrgn.ucyPcnnyrolzr in herb form cm be hard to find inrnany parts of Canada.

Essential oil: Rub die skin, it keeps mosquitoes awayand ca" g.t late mcnst.uation ro staft.1VARNING:lennyroyal cssential oil is toxic {ao cause .learhFOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

11

Red Raspberry LeavesRubus ;daeut 0 ferl|Ies de fiamboisie,

Red raspbefy leaves are used for di,rrhea,hemorrhoids, vaginitis, hormonal probicms andduring rd after pregnancy. Th€y ire by far onc ofthe best uterine tonics. Thcy stimulate menstrualflow by toning the ovaries and the uterus andimproving their functions. Taken duringmenstruation, red rmpbery leaves relicvc crarnpsand regulare the f1ow. They also help wirh digesrion

rnfusion: Make a regular infusion (p.34). Tat<e 1cup, 3 tima daily.Douche: Once a day with a concentrated inftLsion atroom temperature. Do not use for morc than one

Rosehips

A tonic lor fatigue and vitamin deficiencics and adiuretic, rosehips conrain a 1ot ofvirmin C. Theyarc excellenr lor rhe skin, and help balan- hormonalirregularities-good for irregular menstrual cycles andheary white vaginal discharge (lercorrhea).

Make a regL ar intuion (p.34); rake therccommcnded do.age /p Js, l {orchip, rn infu .o, luc excel lenr cold wirh Iemo"

RosernaryRo,nar;nu! ofrcindlii 0 rcnaril

often used for headaches, colic pains, colds,newourne. d.pre,. ion. palpnarrons od urer ire.ongcsrion. A pLrJmon.rn cler.er. i r : r .o hJpfulfor arlhoa whcn the steam is inhaled: add a stronginfusion ro your bath.M.rJre . regrrJar iniusron rp.J. r : dr in . I / r , up. J ,o

Sagesatu;a ofrcinah a suse

Used for sore throats, to bring down high fevers mdro sr inulare circul .rr ion od digest ion. S.rge rmprr.l , . rat ion rdr ies up morher ' ' mi lkr This hob rn.r , r - .estrogen and can help wirh certain menstrualnregularities.Intusion: Make a regular infirsion (p.34). Take 1 ro

To dry up mother's milk 1 cup ofcold infuslon

To gargle with: Make arr infusion using 1/2 cup ofwater and I /2 cup ofapple cider vinegar.

4i

Rosa canina Q iglamier

Tansy {Bit ter Burtons)Tanacenn u"lga,e Q tnaGie vulgaire

pan usedr leaves, flowers and sceds

Tans.r is used for amcnonhea and dysmenorrhea.The seeds c:-r be used ro expel worms. It is anemmenagogue which can be used ro promote regularperiods. \(arning: Tansy can cause hearT bLeeding in*omcn who usually ha"e a heary menstrual l1ow.Do not contuse widr tansy ragwort.

Tahe in small ard repeated doses. Extralarge dosescar cause congestion and result in discomfort to rheabdominal organs.

Infixion: Prepre a regular intusion (p.34) using 1ounc. herb to 1 pint (500 ml) watcr. Take I cup, 3times a day before merls.

Tincture: 10 to 15 drops in rvarm water, 3 to 4

ThyrneThlnu n!sr!: ,r Tbnu: pulzgion!* Q th,y:t

Thvme is used for headaches, fever, colds,bronchiri, cramps, digestive problems, nignrmares,whooping cough, wounds, toothaches, scabies, ulcer,sore rhroats, worms, fneumausm, eo as a oeooofanrand a mouthws:h.

Intusion: 1 reaspoon ofthyme in one cup ofwater.I ahe I cup, 3 to 4 rimes a day.

For coughr Mix with honey; take I to 2 teaspoons as

For fever: Drink a hot infusion. Vrap yourselfinbiankers so as to sweat; then take a shower.

For worms: 1 to 5 drops ofthyme cssential oil withhoney and some olive oil, 3 tima daily.

For skin prohlems, scabies, parasites: Mix 2 ro 3reaspo""' rhyme essential oii in 5 ounccs olivc oil.Apply 3 or moLe times every day to the affectedareas. Also take rhyme infusions 3 times a day.

ValerianValet;ana ofic;naln o vtertne

V-er. , , r i ' u.eJ in crses ofar>. iery. depre*ion.digcstive orcirculation disorders. It is good lorrrcermg problems relf,teo ro worry, sp.rms,rremblrng. .on" 'Lr l , ion.. cpr lep y. neuralgir . I r i< al 'ouscd to facilirate slecping, for headaches ard for painh eeneral. Prepare \alerian x an infusion onlnneie.

's a decoctio' Gee p.34). Do not pre*oak the

roots or steep for longer than 2 hours Because ofitsbitcer taste and foul smell, it is suggestcd to add oneofthe following herbs (vhich also have medicinalpropertiet to valerian intusions: cinnamon (for

convulsions); cayenne (for oamps); anise (fordigestirr disorders); gingu (for menstrualiuegularitied.

In6rsion: I ounce ofroot, 2 cups ofboiling warer.Steep covcred for 45 minutcs. Take 1/4 cup, 3 ro 4

Tincture: 10 to 15 drops in a lltrle water, 3 to 4

rWrild Carrot Seed(Queen Anne's lace)

Daucus carota Q ca:otte sasvageparr used: sceds, rooa

Roor re, i . r d iurcr i , "h ich helpsel iminarc ur inrrystones md worms-

The seeds can be Lued as a "morning after pill, roprc"cr,r 'hc impl;nrat ion ofa leni l ized egg ' eep. t6) .

\fild carrot seed is easily found in the ciry andcountry; the seeds should be picked in rhe nitidle r"end ofseprember (consuft someonc who ha donethn befor€). \|ARNING: be very ereful a'uoutidend$ing this plant. It is easily contused withpoison hemlock, which can cause death (no 1o"e7.

YarrorwAch;tba nitqoti"n c achillie mi1le,fcuille

part used: flowers and leavs

Yarrow is a deallser. rr is urd for cords and flu,hemouhages ofthe lungs md rhe inrcsrines, vaginaland bladder intcctions, menstrual disordcrs,hemorrhoids, facigue, and circulaticr problems.

lnftsion, Make a resular infusion (p.34). Drink 3 ro4 cups daily

Decoctionr Start with a regular infuion rhat s beenprepared md suained. Simmer until the liquio rsrcduced to halfits original volume. Strain. Driokcold halfa cup, 3 times daily.

For flu md coldsi Drink one to rwo cups ofrhe hotinfusion. For colds, wnp yoursefnr blankets aftcrdrinkng in order co sweat, then take a barh.

For rbdominat pain or hcarr bteadine: fakc , hoLinfuion helore mer.rrul l ion o, a, nc;ed 1.,

s.\l-+F'rrr rr_h*\-i'-e, g{.;-, .W

N-47

lnlerpl;ilL*sThe Nea Ou Bod;es, Ourtelues. Updmed andcrpanded for rhe'90s. By Se Boston \(omeni HealrhB,iok ahlecrive. Touchsrone. 1992.

D e' p knte! qti gltiis e,t. By Marie Provosr. Bibliothiquequdbdcoise. 1991.

Natural nelzcinefor chiAr,. ByJulian Scott ph.d.

tnd;an htbohg in North Aneria. By Nma R.Hutchens. Merco, Canada. 1973.

wise Wonan Herbal for the Childbearing yatt. BySusun Veed. Voodstock, 1985.

Thc W;te Voner erbal: Hcaling w;te By Susun S.weed.

Liou Ind;ans ue wild lk* i2'r food, nedzcine anda@. By Frances Densm"r;. tiove.. 1974.

Hlgenia, a wonan habal ByJeanne PmatiGreestone. 1978.

The Inunrbb E4i/cn;r. The story ofwonex andAIDS.By Gena Corea. Harper Perennial 1993.

Susie Sexpetti Lubian Sex Uz,/rl By Susie Brjght.Cleis Pres. 1990.

Tahe Bacl Yoro L;Ji. A Winnin: Guide To AlternatitteIlealth Catr- By Nic\a non Grata. Available atr ProfaleExistence Collecdve, P.O. Box 8722, Mirneapolis,MIN 55408, USA. Senci $2 US.

Maling it vfe. Ry Cildy P*ton.

Fnd onb;ningfor heabh. By Doris Grmt & JeanJoyce. Thorson Publishers inc.

Hetbdl Ilone Hcalth Cal. ByJohn C.ntoPher. Provo.Utal. BixorlC publisher. 1976.

La l-lote Laatntienne. By Frdre Mdie-Victoln.Presses dc l'UdM. Montrdal. 1964.

t'trton lnld Gidet to Med;chal Plznx.ItorghonMifflin Company.

A C;ty Herbal.Ity Ma;da Silverman. Kropf. 1977.

::::roidnr{ierL bott ine aur herbes: :778 A

'ue Sainr D"nis,

Monrr€al, Qc,I{2V 2Mr Caradz: (5\4) 845-1225

Le i,udin de tournesols: Mail order. Good qualiyorganic herbs. 22-A Les platcau, Arse ScJean, Qc,u0\' U0 Canada; (418) 272'3115Blessed Herbs: Mail order. Rt. 5, Box 1042, rva,MO,65608 USAArena Botmicals: Mail order. P.O. Box 365, \x'cstRo&pon, ME, 0'1865 USAH*b Pharrn; Mail order. Box 116, Viltiams, OR,97544U51'

48

-Wornen's organizations/referral/health. eudbecWomen s Cenrer of Vonudal: i585'ues.t in 'Urbain, Monrr,:al, Qc (51.4) 842'4780

women's Healrh Center: 1 I0J boul. Sair t Jo 'cphEst, Montr€a1, Qc, H2J IL3 \514) 270 6\i0

Clinique Actuel: Gynecoloer', ::sts, HIV. Monrrualr

\5r4) 524'100rStella: S*workers r*ource cencer, Monr€al; (514)285-8889

' Atlantic Canada/MaritirnesCmadiaa Coalition of Womeni Groups: Mount St.Vlncent University, 166 Bedford Hwy, Room 9 SctonAnnex, Halifa, NS, B3M 216; (902) 443'4150

Innu Resource Centet: Sheshetshit, Nita:sinan, AOPlM0

Ne*foundlmd and Labrador'Women's Instrtute:P.O. Box 13785, St. John s, Nf ld, A1B 4C3; (709)754,0690Vo,--en's Institute Federatioa ofPlI: P.O. Box1058, Charlonetown, PEI, CIA 7M4: (902) 368'4860

'Ontar ioHsde Free Clinic for'Women: 566 Church Street,Toronto, onr; (416) 922'0566Native Vomo s Resource Center: 345 Gerrard St.East, Toronto, onr, M5A2Gr 1416) 963'9963Voices ofPositive Women: P.O. Box 471 Stn. C,Toronto, Ont, M6J 3P5;1416) 324-8703

' PacificVmcouver Women'r Heaft-h Col lccdve,2l ' r .16 L

Vest 8rh Ave., Varrcouvet, BC,V6J 1v2t (6A4) 7365262 or736-4234.PacificAIDS Resource Certre I107 Seymour Street,Vucouver, BC, V6B 5sa, (604) 893-2210

ira-

This is the engtish tanguage aoaphddn ofC !rr /o4Jrr{(haud dons t?r (uto cs dcrlli, J r.tr.s At$avs Hor inGrls'Pants ). by Tsabelle cauthier

This edirion was collectively wrjtten by Isabelie Gauthierand Lisa Vinebaum HIV/AIDS section by Karen H€rland.

Translduon: R"cher cudy. Manine Baza,. Lisa !inebaun,Pennt Pattison. Tanya Walers. Jennifer perela

l]oofrading: Marianno pedretti, Arllle Hendemon, CarlaNemilo4 Marlinda Zunic, Lisa Vinebaum.

Layout and desigr Mlriam Cliche

{over page: Irdne Mayer

&hvork: Isabelie caurhier

Editionr Hd Panrz

First edition: Montrdal-Toronro-Vancouver-Maison d€sSouris, I 994.Second edilion: Monrr€al, 1995.Third edirion: Montrdat, 1998

Specia] thaN {or inspimrion to Joyce Redik€r, t,a Fee dcsRos€s, Sue Ann Harkey.

Women are encouraged to shrre tbis infomatioq amongsthemselves. Therc is no copyri gbt oa Hot pantz-Howe,ta,we ask $ar you please copy or sharE rhis inforrnadonrcsponsibly, aid give qedir 10 the authors rrheiE

Individual and butk ord ers ol Eot pMtz c nt cobtained by writing to the address belowi DIEsc€ndose $3 (plus $r postrg€) per individtratboot lerDohalions are welcome to subsidize the costs ofdistribution to women who cannot atford to buy trIrlP/nIz. f,or comnents, orde6 lnd inlormationi

ttot pantzCP 871, Succ. C

MontrdalQc 1f2L 4L6

Canrda

For copi€s in rfte UK rnd €urope, see rhe codhavetrIrk details al.he front oflhr palnphtet

L.belle CauLhjer, otd, c degRe in herbdt rneEp\ she srJdredriib loyce Red:keror te urand Monde de, Herbe, in VoDutal

-d is a herbal pracririone. wfth severat yeals of etjve

Vjrebaun j! an aJrisr and activisr She hrs been lsing herbalpy o. herself and other selecred viclims for a nmb€; or