Our Boreal Bodies

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Imagine you’ve fallen on hard financial times. You’ve just lost your job. You already have children and don’t wish to have more at the moment. All of these conditions were true for the woman who would come to be known as ‘Jane Roe’ during a class-action lawsuit against the state of Texas on the grounds that their abortion laws were unconstitutional. Without means or access, Jane Roe was not able to legally obtain an abortion. The court proceedings took so long that she did, in fact, give birth. Though she eventually changed her opinion on abortion and became staunchly pro-life, Roe’s case set a precedent for access to abortion services which brought the United States ‘up to speed’ on the idea that reproductive and abortion rights are fundamental, as most first-world countries agree. This fundamental right applies even when the conditions of hardship above are not in place.

On the 50th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which forever changed the course of reproductive rights history, we can reflect on how far this country has come. And as these rights are challenged with restrictive abortion laws in Alabama, Ohio, and other states to this very day, we can acknowledge how far we still have yet to go. While abortion is a small part of the reproductive health services that should be protected for all people, it represents a significant issue. The significance of choice lies in every person’s right to maintain bodily autonomy. The right to conceive or not, safely, should be extended to and protected for every person. For this right, we continue to fight.

Photo Credit and Reference: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-lead-up-to-roe-v-wade-906590

and

https://reproductiverights.org/

Photo credit: https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/

The time is May of 1969. The women’s movement was gaining momentum and a historic meeting of women was about to change the world. Emmanuel College hosted a Women’s Liberation conference and a workshop called “Women and Their Bodies”. Twelve women ranging in age from 23 to 39 shared information and personal stories about their experience in healthcare and discussed their experiences with the medical system. To keep the discussion alive after the workshop, the women formed a group known as the Doctor’s Group to research and discuss what they were learning about themselves, their bodies, and their health. This group of women made a decision to compile their knowledge into a format that would allow women to learn about their bodies, communicate their findings to medical practitioners and to challenge the medical establishment to change and improve the care that women received at the time.

Photo credit: https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/

In 1970, they published a 193-page course booklet on stapled newsprint entitled “Women and Their Bodies.” This booklet was revolutionary in its open discussion of sexuality and abortion, which was then illegal. The cost: 75 cents. This sparked a movement of women learning how to perform a self vaginal exam with a mirror.

Now, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” has been revised every 4-7 years and the most recent edition was released in 2011. “Our bodies Ourselves” has sold millions of copies and received many awards and honors. Some people refer to it as the “Women’s Health Bible”. Our Bodies, Ourselves also inspired the 2014 release of the reference book Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. Other publications from Our Bodies, Ourselves include: Changing Bodies, Changing lives which focuses on puberty, “The New Ourselves, Growing Older” which focused on midlife and older women. “Ourselves and Our Children” is a book about the lives and the needs of parents, among other topics.

Inspired by the early work of the women’s movement, by O’Nell, a Fertility Awareness Educator, postpartum doula, artist, and mother, created The Beautiful Cervix Project. I invite all people with a vagina and cervix to explore the website and consider purchasing a cervical self-exam kit to learn more about your own body. Through this work, the project aims to, “encourage people with cervices to learn cervical self-exam and fertility awareness as a revolutionary path of promoting respect, confidence, and health. We believe that this form of self-empowerment and education will help contradict shame and misinformation around our reproductive health and choices, affecting positive change from the personal to global levels.”

beautifulcervix.com Going into the New Year, 2020, I invite you to take inspiration from these influential women leaders and to explore your own body- regardless of your body parts.

Call it what you want- Defecation, Bowel Movement, Stool, Caca, Poop…

It is one thing that unites us as humans across gender lines. As a Nurse Practitioner working in the field of Gastroenterology and Colorectal Surgery, I speak from experiencing when saying that there is a lot of anxiety and discomfort around talking about poop.

Let’s start with the basics and work through 2 common scenarios that relate to [insert your preferred synonym for bowel movement here] problems.

DEFINITION OF POOP Before getting into some common concerns, it is important to cultivate a self-awareness of your body and your bodily habits. This is no doubt a question that a medical provider has or will ask you some day: “Please describe your bowel movements” Some helpful descriptors to choose from, although it is possible to go into more detail: Hard, Soft, Formed (imagine that if you defecated into a container, would it take the form of the container or would it hold its shape?), Liquidy, Mucusy, Greasy (tends to float at the top of the toilet bowl) “Please describe your pattern of bowel movements” Regular: this tends to refer to having a daily bowel movement or a consistent pattern, ex: “I have regular, daily bowel movements 1-2 times a day with formed stool.

Irregular: this is a large catch phrase for bowel movements that alternate between consistency of stool (ex: one day hard, the next day liquid) and can also relate to the frequency of bowel movements (ex: having a pattern that is not consistent, such as having hard stool on day one, no bowel movements for 2-3 days and then liquid stool on day 4).

For people who prefer a more clinical approach:

Photo Credit: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5626585/poo-colour-health-whats-normal/

*DISCLAIMER: These scenarios are intended to educate and empower the reader to know what is normal, and not normal for your body. This does not replace the recommendation to have an official evaluation with your medical provider of choice.* Scenario 1: RECTAL BLEEDING John is a 23 year old male with no significant known medical history. For the majority of his life, he has had daily bowel movements 1-2 times a day with formed stool. Today, he decides to make an appointment with his medical provider after an episode of painless bright red blood that occurred with his last bowel movement. He denies rectal pain associated with this episode of blood in the stool.

In order to prepare for his visit with a medical provider, he could think through the answers to some of the following questions: When he starting noticing the blood in stool?

“I noticed this starting 1 week ago.”

Has he noticed any change in consistency or regularity of bowel movement pattern?

“I used to have a formed bowel movement 1-2 times daily, however about a week ago my stool changed to a softer and looser consistency” Does John have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer?

“I do not know of anyone in my family that has been diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer”

In cases of a person under the age at 40 with no known family history of colorectal cancer, one of the top causes of painless rectal bleeding is HEMORRHOIDS. What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum. They can cause itching, bleeding, and pain.

Hemorrhoids are very common. In some cases, you can see or feel hemorrhoids around the outside of the rectum. In other cases, you cannot see them because they are hidden inside the rectum.

Before visiting a medical provider, it is helpful to try and take a look yourself with a mirror or is possible, take a picture of your rear end and look at it. This is where knowing what your body looks like on a “normal” day is helpful as a comparison. It is often helpful as well to document what your bowel movements look like with a photo if there is concern.

Back to our scenario: John is able to show a picture of the bowel movement which shows Bright Red Blood in the toilet bowl with a soft, liquidy stool.

John’s medical provider thanks him and requests to do an exam to look for signs of bleeding and can educate John about strategies to manage hemorrhoids.

Before considering surgery for hemorrhoids there are some recommended home care remedies that people can try: 

Diet and lifestyle: increased fiber intake can improve symptoms of hemorrhoid bleeding with recommendation to take in 20 to 30 g of insoluble fiber per day (table 1) and drink plenty of water (1.5 to 2 liters per day). Both are necessary to produce regular, soft stools, which reduce straining at defecation. It could take six weeks to fully realize the beneficial effect of fiber

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Avoid straining or lingering (eg, reading) on the toilet, including the Boreal Zine!

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Regular physical exercise.

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If possible, avoid medications that can cause constipation or diarrhea

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Limit intake of fatty foods and alcohol, which can exacerbate constipation. Although a popular myth, eating spicy food has been studied clinically and showed no effect on hemorrhoid symptoms such as irritation and itching

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Medications over the counter: Topical ointments that that include steroids (ex: hydrocortisone/lidocaine) can relieve pain associated with hemorrhoids. However, these should not be used for longer than one week as they can cause irritation to the skin and increase bleeding

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Sitz baths — Sitz baths (soaking in warm water) help to reduce inflammation and swelling as well as relax the sphincter muscles- which are often tense in people with hemorrhoidal disease. Sitz baths can also help with irritation, itching and spasm of the anal sphincter muscles. This is recommended with warm water soaking 2-3 times a day

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION People with rectal bleeding ≥40 years old: colonoscopy is often recommended to rule out more serious disease (AKA Cancer).

People with rectal bleeding </=40 years old: if there are no risk factors for disease of the colon and no other abnormal findings (confirmed by a medical practitioner), colonoscopy is not likely recommended unless bleeding persists despite treatment with the above.

People who should be referred for colonoscopy regardless of age may have the following risk factors (and others that are not listed here): ●Anemia ●Bleeding that is atypical of hemorrhoids ●A major change in bowel patterns ●A personal history of colorectal polyps ●A family history of inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative Scenario 2: Joan is a 60 year old female who was recently diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Before she was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (a low functioning thyroid gland), her pattern of bowel movements became extremely irregular. She is trying to decide whether to seek medical attention for the fact that she has sharp, shooting pains in the rectal area associated with bowel movements and a small amount of bright red blood with bowel movements. She has also noticed spasms of the rectal muscles that cause pain. Her bowel movements have alternated between hard stool and requires straining (or pushing) with bowel movements and then she will have days where she has normal formed stool and other times when stool is liquidy.

What should Joan do?

Being over the age of 40 and having rectal bleeding, a medical provider will want to know if Joan has had a colonoscopy before and how long it has been since the last colonoscopy. This is to make sure that her symptoms are not a sign of cancer or other medical problems.

Joan decides to make an appointment with a medical provider for further evaluation and also bravely uses a mirror to look at her bottom. (Some people may feel more comfortable taking a picture or having a partner or friend look and describe what they see- although the partner method requires the other person to have some knowledge about what normal anatomy looks like). Joan notices a little flap of skin and a small reddened, linear area on her anal area that appears to be bleeding and is tender to the touch.

ANAL STENOSIS AND ANAL FISSURES An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus, the opening where your bowel movements come out. Anal fissures cause pain, especially during a bowel movements. Many people describe this pain as similar to passing shards of glass, tearing, ripping or burning. There is a muscle that wraps around the anus and holds it shut. It is called the "anal sphincter." The sphincter gets tense when the anus is injured. In people with anal fissures, the sphincter goes into spasms. People with anal fissures often have external skin tags (known medically as a “sentinel pile”) at the end of the fissure.

HOME REMEDIES & MANAGEMENT For a person who is under the age of 40 without additional risk factors mentioned in the previous case, it may be appropriate to try some of these remedies before seeking medical attention or while waiting for an appointment: -Diet and lifestyle: increased fiber intake can improve symptoms of hemorrhoid bleeding with recommendation to take in 20 to 30 g of insoluble fiber per day (table 1) and drink plenty of water (1.5 to 2 liters per day). Both are necessary to produce regular, soft stools, which reduce straining at defecation. It could take six weeks to fully realize the beneficial effect of fiber ● Avoid straining or lingering (eg, reading) on the toilet, including the Boreal Zine! ● Regular physical exercise. ●If possible, avoid medications that can cause constipation or diarrhea ● Limit intake of fatty foods and alcohol, which can exacerbate constipation. Although a popular myth, eating spicy food has been studied clinically and showed no effect on hemorrhoid symptoms such as irritation and itching -Medications over the counter: Topical ointments that that include steroids (ex: hydrocortisone/lidocaine) can relieve pain associated with hemorrhoids. However, these should not be used for longer than one week as they can cause irritation to the skin and increase bleeding -Sitz baths — Sitz baths (soaking in warm water) help to reduce inflammation and swelling as well as relax the sphincter muscles- which are often tense in people with hemorrhoidal disease.

Sitz baths can also help with irritation, itching and spasm of the anal sphincter muscles. This is recommended with warm water soaking 2-3 times a day

Pruritus Ani (proo-ri-tus a-ni) We get a lot of questions in our practice about anal itching, aka pruritus ani.

What are the causes? The main causes can be broken down into the following:     

Excessive moisture in the anal area (from stool, sweat) Itching related to other conditions including hemorrhoids or anal fissures Vigorous cleansing of the anal area Overuse of over the counter “hemorrhoid” creams and ointments Food and beverage triggers:  Coffee and tea  Carbonated beverages  Milk products  Tomatoes and tomato products  Cheese  Chocolate  Nuts

**Cleanliness is almost never a cause of pruritus ani, in fact over washing and vigorous scrubbing of the area with soap can worsen the problem by irritating the skin and washing away her skin is natural protective oils** What to do if you experience pruritus ani?

There is no substitution for a clinical physical exam by a medical practitioner, especially a practitioner who has experience in colorectal care. Some treatments that can be tried at home while waiting to see a medical practitioner include: 1.

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Avoiding moisture in the anal area by using clean gauze or cotton to keep the area dry Avoiding perfumes and deodorant powders in this area Avoiding further trauma to the area Avoid using soap to clean the anal area, especially scented soaps

 Avoid scrubbing the anal area even with toilet paper. Instead, rinsed the area with warm water and pack the area dry or use moistened toilet paper or unscented wet wipes to BLOT the area. Avoid rubbing the area.  Try to avoid scratching the area, which makes itching worse 4. Avoid using medicated creams and ointments, even over the counter products, unless recommended by a medical professional. Many over the counter creams and ointments for treatment of anal issues contain steroids, which can unnecessarily within the skin and cause breakdown and bleeding.

5. Make sure to seek medical attention if the symptoms have not improved within 6 weeks.

Raspberry leaf contains the alkaloid fragrine and a high tannin content, which relaxes and gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region including the uterus. Raspberry leaf infusion can be taken throughout pregnancy and studies have shown that it can facilitate parturition (shorten labor times) and reduce the need for medical intervention. She can help ease morning sickness, prevent miscarriage and help prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Red raspberry leaf is also helpful for general uterine tonification, diarrhea, stomatitis (inflammation of mucous membranes), and tonsillitis.

Classic Infusion: Bring water to a boil on the stovetop. Place one ounce of dried herb into a quart mason jar. Pour the water into the mason jar. Cap and let steep on the counter overnight, or 4-8 hours. In the morning, strain out the herb and compost it. Refrigerate the infusion and drink within 2 days. Enjoy!

Ritual: Connect + Strengthen Try adding a 5-minute ritual to strengthen your bond with your baby and your uterus! As you drink your nourishing red raspberry infusion, take some time to breathe and connect with your uterus and your baby.

Envision a bright red light surrounding your uterus and your baby inside of it.

This light brings strength, love, courage, hope and power into your body. See this red light emanating from your uterus and surrounding Parts Used: Infusion from the leaf your whole body with love and strength. Hold Photo credit: https://www.rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/ this vision for several minutes as your drink raspberry_leaf.html your infusion. Practice this daily for the best Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelresults! phia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Stinging nettle is a highly nutritive food and medicinal herb. She can be found anywhere there is rich and moist soil with shade, like along the edges of rivers, streams, lakes, ditches, fencerows, and on the edges of cultivated farm fields. If you do nothing else, drink Nettle infusion! Stinging nettle is one of the most nutritious plants in the western materia medica. It is extremely rich in iron, protein, chlorophyll, vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, silicic acid (silica), and calcium. Nettle is a nutritive tonic and has an affinity for the kidneys, urinary tract, blood, and muscles, which makes it particularly useful during pregnancy.

Nettle provides essential baseline nutrients to help build strong blood while supporting the liver’s detoxification process. She not only provides deep sustaining nourishment to the mother, but also helps tonify, strengthen, and nourish the uterus to help make the uterine muscles strong for upcoming childbirth. Nettle is also a tonic astringent which makes her beneficial for prevention of post childbirth hemorrhage and bleeding.

Parts Used: Infusion from the leaf Photo Credit: wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/imagelib/imgdetails.php?imgid=13674 Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An EvidenceBased Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Classic Infusion: Bring water to a boil on the stovetop. Place one ounce of dried herb into a quart mason jar. Pour the water into the mason jar. Cap and let steep on the counter overnight, or 4-8 hours. In the morning, strain out the herb and compost it.

Refrigerate the infusion and drink within 2 days. Enjoy!

Recipe: Susun Weed’s Fancy Nettle Soup Nettle soup can be made in the spring with fresh Nettle. It will keep in the fridge for up to one week or you can freeze it to enjoy throughout the year!

Gather 1-2 ounces of fresh nettle tops and leaves per serving of soup.

Drop them into boiling water: 12-16 ounces of water per serving.

Add any one or more of these healing foods to fancy up your nettle soup: • 1 stick of astragalus for each two servings • 1-3 shiitake mushrooms per serving • any amount of seaweed, especially wakame or kombu • ½ potato or sweet potato per serving • ½ of any root per serving: carrot, parsnip, turnip, celeriac, burdock Bring to a rolling boil and adjust heat to a simmer.

Cook, tightly covered, for as long as possible, or up to four hours.

Reheat before serving. Enjoy!

Ritual & Recipe: Womb Warrior Ritual

Vitex/ Chasteberry has shown promise in clinical studies for menstrual cycle irregularities (especially due to excessive prolactin the blood), increasing fertility (especially helpful with complications of conception/ miscarriage due to corpus luteum deficiency), ovarian cysts, PMS, PMDD, Endometriosis, mastalgia (breast pain), menopausal transitions, and increasing libido. *Vitex should not be combined with other hormonal therapies.

Parts Used: Tincture of the fruit Photo Credit: https:// tropicalfloweringzone.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/vitex-agnus-castuschaste-tree/chaste-tree/ Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

“The womb, like the ocean, is a cauldron of all creation.”

To prepare: Create a deeply womb nourishing infusion with equal parts of stinging nettles, red raspberry leaf, and alfalfa. Wear something red.

Light a red candle. Prepare something red to eat (red raspberry, strawberry, beet, tomato, radish, dragon fruit, pomegranate, or another red edible). Gather art supplies (a notebook or paper, red markers, red pens, etc.).

Light the red candle to begin. Ground, center, and meditate on your wombspace for 20 minutes.

Once you feel ready, eat the prepared red foods, drink your womb nourishing infusion (or you can drink red wine if that’s your thing), and take at least 10 minutes to allow your creative juices to flow out onto your paper. Use red markers, red pens, or your blood to capture the essence of your feminine energies. Visualize the power of feminine energy flowing through you as you allow your art to take form. Let this process be intuitive. Let your womb guide you.

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Uva ursi (aka Bearberry) is a urinary antiseptic, astringent, stimulating diuretic, and anti-inflammatory herb. Uva ursi has a longstanding history as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections (UTI) due to the presence of the glycoside arbutin which turns into hydroquinone, which is known to be a broad-spectrum antiseptic. Uva ursi is especially recommended for cases of cystitis where antibiotics are not warranted. Uva ursi was listed in the US National Formulary as a urinary antiseptic from 1820 to 1950 and is still recommended by the German Commission E Monographs for inflammatory conditions of the lower urinary tract. Due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties it can also help with leukorrhea (vaginal discharge) and vaginal ulcerations.

Uva ursi has also been used for uterine prolapse, infection, and postpartum tissue laxity.

Parts Used: Tincture or infusion of the leaf Photo Credit: https://blog.visitcranelake.com/more-berries/ Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Urinary Tract Infection Formula (via Evolutionary Herbalism) Uva-Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 20% Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) 20% Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 15% Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) 15% Cornsilk (Zea mays) 10% Couchgrass (Elymus repens) 10% Nettles (Urtica dioica) 10% “This combines the above triplet and pair, with the addition of a few more remedies, to create a broad spectrum antiseptic formula for the treatment of a urinary tract. 70% of the formula is based on direct antimicrobial actions of Uva-Ursi, Echinacea, Yarrow and Oregon Grape, with the rest of the formula focused on soothing and cooling the mucosal membrane with the demulcent actions of Cornsilk and Couchgrass. Nettles provides an additional diuretic action, some more astringency, as well as added nutrient content.”

-Sajah Popham/ Evolutionary Herbalism

Motherwort is primarily an herb of the heart.

Motherwort relaxes tension throughout the smooth muscles, specifically around the uterus, heart, and digestive system. Motherwort is a gentle nervine and cardiovascular trophorestorative with mildly sedating effects. Motherwort can help decreases muscle spasms, temporarily lowers blood pressure, improves fertility, and reduces anxiety. Motherwort helps bring on a delayed or suppressed menstrual flow and is especially helpful if anxiety or tension are also present. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dong quai and motherwort are often used together as a menstrual regulator. Motherwort is especially useful in easing uterine cramping and PMS symptoms. However, if bleeding is heavy it should not be used to relieve cramps because it strengthens and relaxes the uterine muscles which naturally increases blood flow.

Motherwort is also a powerful emergency tincture for panic, shock, and trauma. Use one dropper full every 15 minutes for up to an hour in an emergency situation.

Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonurus_cardiaca_Sturm41.jpg Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An EvidenceBased Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Acute PMS Triplet Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) 50% Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) 25% Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinale) 25% “This simple triplet provides both antispasmodic and nervine sedative support with Motherwort and Valerian. This is a nice pair because Motherwort is bitter, cooling and draining, and Valerian is warming, aromatic and stimulant, making them balanced. Dandelion leaf is present here both to support the liver through its bitter action (also achieved via Motherwort) as well as lending its diuretic actions, as water retention/bloating can be common for some.” -Sajah Popham/ Evolutionary Herbalism Women’s Hormone Balancer/Menopause Formula* Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) 25% Burdock (Arctium lappa) 25% Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) 15% Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) 15% Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) 10% Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 10% “*This formula comes from Sharol Tilgner. This formula is designed to support menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, emotional disturbances, nervous tension, and heart palpitations. It promotes circulation of the blood, detoxification of the liver, hormonal support, and relaxation of the nervous system.” -Sajah Popham/ Evolutionary Herbalism

Rose has long been revered as the quintessential â&#x20AC;&#x153;heart herb.â&#x20AC;? Studies suggest that rose tones the heart and has antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antianxiety, hypnotic, nerve-calming, mood-boosting effects.** Rose petals are gentle astringents and support the skin with their toning, skin firming effects. Most of roses alluring qualities however are enjoyed through the senses. There is no scientific explanation needed for the sensation one feels from smelling, or laying eyes on Her petals.

Parts used: Honey, alcohol, or water extracts from the petals

*Stansbury, J. 2018. "Herbal Formulas for Health Professionals. Vol 3. **Groves, M. 2016. "Body into Balance."

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ biodivlibrary/15470418823

Rose Elixir Ingredients: rose, infused honey in brandy (options: add cacoa, damiana, or other plants that call to you as heart allies).

Folklore method Fill a canning jar (with nonreactive lid) 3/4 full with rose petals or half full with dried petals. Fill the jar with brandy until all the plant material is covered. Fill the remaining space with honey.

Store in a dark place, shaking as often & using the time to fill your thoughts with rose-filled love.

After about 1 month, strain off all plant material, pressing as best you can with a potato ricer or squeezing with cheese cloth.

Use a funnel to transfer strained liquid to a clean jar or dropper bottle and store for up to 2 years.

Rose Water I do believe that half the medicine is in the gathering. When rose is blooming wherever you live, I encourage you to fill a basket and savor the fresh medicine Her soft petals and fragrance offer.

Place freshly gathered roses in a pot filled with water.

Simmer about 20 minutes, or until petals have lost their color.

Strain off plant material and transfer to a clean jar or misting bottle. Use liberally within a couple weeks. Rose water will last longer if refrigerated or preserved as a tincture with glycerine or high proof alcohol.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ginseng is one of the best known sexual & reproductive herbs, used for centuries as an antiaging and longevity tonic and purport to maintain sexual function into old age.

Animal and clinical investigations suggest regular use to enhance spermatogenesis, support fertility, increase libido, and increase erectile function. The ginsenosides may promote endothelial nitric oxide production and luteinizing hormone release from the pituitary which in turn may boost serum testosterone.â&#x20AC;?* Parts used: Decoction, tincture, or elixir of the root (main and lateral) *Stansbury, J. 2018. "Herbal Formulas for Health Professionals. Vol 3. **Groves, M. 2016. "Body into Balance."

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (2020). Ginseng Varieties and Glossary. Retrieved from https://www.dec.ny.gov/ animals/7474.html Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Photo Credit: http://www.panteek.com/Blackwell2/index.htm

Grow your own: the best heart medicine.

Increasing demand for ginseng has led to problematic overharvesting and poaching in the US. If you're going to buy or use ginseng, it's extremely important to do so from a sustainable source to protect this at-risk medicinal. Alternatively, there's nothing that quite touches the heart like cultivating your very own medicine. So often, the real medicine is in the process. Healing with herbs is a lifestyle that involves being in intimate relationship with the plants and land.

For more info, check out the amazing work & become a member of United Plant Savers!

Info & Stewardship: https://unitedplantsavers.org/americanginseng-panax-quinquefolius/ Intro to growing: https://unitedplantsavers.org/wp-content/ uploads/2012/04/Introduction.pdf Buy seeds & great resources from: https:// strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/ginseng-american-panaxquinquefolius-seeds-intl-no/ Excellent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KKfeblng3Z4&feature=youtu.be

Damiana is a "sexy herb" that is known as an invigorator and an herbal aphrodisiac/ mild hallucinogen that enhances love making. Traditionally, Damiana has been used to alleviate depression, anxiety (especially due to sexual factors), helps with sexual inadequecy including impotence, and helps female sexual dysfunction.

Damiana may also help with nervous dyspepsia (indigestion) and stomach pains due to its antibacterial activity.

Heart Spell Herbal Latte

Parts used: Tea, tincture, dried herb in capsules, or elixir of the leaf

Steep the damiana or herbal mixture in your favorite mug for 3-5 minutes.

*Stansbury, J. 2018. "Herbal Formulas for Health Professionals. Vol 3. **Groves, M. 2016. "Body into Balance."

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Photo Credit: https://i.pinimg.com/ originals/6c/13/44/6c134413f90842c5a2e4bd134d6b3654.jpg

This frothy, feel good is a favorite at our herbal apothecary.

Most people don't have an herb wall at home, so keep it simple and relish in just damiana's spicy & aphrodisiac nature.

Add more herbs if they are calling, or just enjoy the power & beauty of one.

1 oz. damiana leaf OPTIONS: 1/2 oz schisandra berry 1/4 tsp maca powder 1/2 rose

Add 1/2-1 tsp of honey or natural sweetener of choice Add 1/4 cup heated or frothed full fat coconut milk or mylk of choice Dust with cinnamon and/or rose petals *check with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing

Maca is known to promote nitric oxide and other circulatory effects, increasing sperm count and motility* A strong adaptogen of the Andes, maca is known as a libido tonic and for its energy boosting and stamina enhancing qualities.** Parts used: Dried powdered root, tea, or tincture *Stansbury, J. 2018. "Herbal Formulas for Health Professionals. Vol 3. **Groves, M. 2016. "Body into Balance."

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Ulbricht, C. E. (2010). Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/ Mosby.

Photo Credit: http://gideonkendall.com/blog/?cat=40

You can find maca powder easily at your local health food store or online. It has a slightly bitter flavor, but the powder mixes well into smoothies, hot drinks, and baked goods.

MACA LOVE BITES* Ingredients: 1.5 tsp maca powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp raw cacao powder 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or raw cacao nibs 1/2 cup raw almond or nut of choice 1/4 cup dried cranberries or fruit of choice 1 tsp vanilla extract 8-10 pitted dates soaked overnight or in warm water for 30 minutes OPTIONS: 1 tsp ashwaganda, cordyceps, or other powdered herbs that delight you 1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor until crumbly 2. If the texture is lacking moisture, add a very small splash of water (or complementary herbal tea like chaga or dandelion root) and keep adding until it reaches a texture that clumps nicely into balls 3. Roll into 1.5 inch balls 4. OPION: roll in cocoa or hibiscus powder (bitter), or dust with sea salt *recipe adapted from Joyous Health

The Seven Rivers of Healing: Consider All Your Options Every type of medicine has a purpose and a place. Knowing when to use which types of medicine can be challenging to navigate. Susun Weed has outlined steps of increasing risk, coined the “7 Rivers of Healing” that you can use as a tool when managing your health. The first four steps create the firm foundation for general wellness. Rivers 5 through 7 can be built upon each other during times of illness, or they can be used as a stepping stone from one to the next: Serenity Medicine: “the Doing of the nothingness” … meditate, sleep, unplug, and allow yourself to listen to your innate healer within. Ask yourself: what do you need? Are your essential requirements for fresh water, clean air, less stress, and proper rest being met?

1.

Story Medicine: Collect Information. Read books, go to support groups, listen to what others have experienced and see what they did. Journal your dreams or start a health tracker notebook.

2.

Mind Medicine (Energy Medicine): Laughter, prayer, Reiki, Homeopathic medicine, visualization techniques, placebos, rituals, and psychological therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

3.

Lifestyle Medicine (Nourish and Tonify): Use nourishing herbal infusions/ drink teas, eat healthy food, increase exercise/ movement (yoga, tai chi, walking), and use tonic herbs (gentle, safe and nourishing herbs, especially adaptogens).

4.

Alternative Medicine (Stimulate and Sedate): Acupuncture, naturopathy, herbalism (beyond tonic herbs), hydrotherapy, moxibustion, massage therapy, and chiropractic care.

5.

Pharmaceutical Medicine: Any substance that is man-made, concentrated, or potentized is in this category, which includes prescribed drugs, OTC drugs, manufactured supplements, and essential oils (due to the potency).

6.

High Tech Medicine: The last river of healing is the most dangerous, but can also save lives when used at the correct times. When rivers 1-4 are strongly surging for you and alternative and pharmaceutical medicines have not provided relief, it may be time to consider “high tech medicine”. This includes surgery, MRIs, CAT Scans, X-rays, injections, colonics (this category includes Ayurvedic panchakarma), mammograms, psychoactive drugs, and invasive diagnostic tests.

7.

Embracing Cycles by Jennifer Jubin I made a vow to myself to track my periods this year. For the last 16 years of my life, I want to acknowledge that in my quest to be a strong, independent woman, I have neglected myself. I have hid and been ashamed of my period, but I have never honored it for the life and magic that it holds. I have refused to accept that PMS could ever affect my mood. I have blamed myself for every mini panic attack or emotional break down that coincidentally occurs 3-4 days before I bleed. I have only ever pushed harder, to be better, at (apparently) disowning my female body. This year, I will be a stronger woman for flipping the narrative, reclaiming my body, and loving her natural rhythms.

“The cyclical nature of women is a reflection of the universal yin, a feminine cosmic force. In this perspective, the ebbs and flows of a women’s energy, patience, strength, and creativity are not a pathology, but rather the natural and health state of being. During a woman’s monthly cycle, there are cyclical rhythms in her brain wave patterns, blood protein content, heart rate, vitamin C content of blood cells, olfactory acuity, and a myriad of other biochemical patterns. To not experience ebbs and flows during the month I physical symptoms as well as mental-emotional tone is not only difficult to accomplish, but it is also physiologically impossible. But too many aspects of our culture do not honor these cycles as sacred and, in fact, pathologize them. Not all symptoms related to the menstrual cycle are medical problems, but may in fact result form our cultural and societal inability to honor the sacred rhythms with appropriate actions (staying home, having someone else cook and do the chores, spend time on art and dreams instead of work and activities that are challenging to the power of the physiologic state).” -Dr. Jill Stanbury pg 115 Herbal Formularies, Vol 3 Self-care strategies for honoring your cycle: Track your cycles, make yourself a calendar or find an app Be extra kind and nurturing when you or a partner are experiencing cyclical lows Breathe before reacting Cry if you need Don’t binge (on food, phone, alcohol, anything). Choose something that says “I love you.”

Tea to support mood swings during PMS: Chamomile, mild & soothing sedative Lemon Balm, for uplifting mood Skullcap, a mild sedative Milky Oats, a gentle nervine Directions: mix equal parts herbs in a tea strainer (about 1 TBSP), steep 3-5 minutes, add local honey because that says, “I love you.” As the tea cools to a drinkable temperature, think about how truly amazing your body and its cyclical genius is: just like the moon and seasons. There is beauty in the ebb and flow, and to think, the human body makes more life. Taste the earth’s flowers as they enter your mouth. Feel sweet chamomile dance down your throat and calm your belly, while the milk oats sooth and nourish your nerves. How amazing that everything that we need to feel at peace is within and growing all around us…

The Slur of my Identity

by Jesse Patrick I can feel my tooth chip off under the weight of my clenching jaw; My whole life has been a raging silence It burst my eardrums; reaches into my soul Grabs hold of it and beats until my chest broke open.

My passions- all sprawled out on the earth.

I have buried my fists into the face in the mirror The only thing I salivate now is copper The distaste of my own tongue.

I don’t shower anymore because I can’t stand to crawl past the window It looks into the life of my womanhood as if I am not here Maybe when I fix myself I’ll undress again.

Hopefully, then, she won’t stare back at me.

The words brave were sliced into my chest.

I carried the weight in two plastic sacks pinned under my shirt Another secret to keep.

They dripped blood all day long, I kept emptying myself down the dorm drains.

I still see a woman in the window This never leaves my lips.

After my skin yellows from purple and my 40 stitches melt into my chest I am legally considered a man, only with my doctor's permission I still can’t correct you.

I still spit copper in the mornings, I still need fixing.

In the window, I look Please leave; Goodbye woman

Adirondack Gastrointestinal & Colorectal Surgery Group Adirondack Medical Center 2249 State Route 86 #2, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Phone: (518) 354-5353 Fax: (518) 354-8153 www.AdirondackGIsurgery.com info@adirondackGIsurgery.com

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