TAKE FIVE

Industry insiders share the five hottest wellness trends for expecting mamas and new mums this summer

Ear Seeds

BY ESCAPADA CO-FOUNDER, MAEVE O’SULLIVAN escapadahealth.com

Ear seeds are extremely helpful at supporting postpartum symptoms including anxiety, headaches, fatigue, and insomnia – and as they are 100% natural they are the perfect remedy for new mums. At first glance they look like jewellery, but there’s a lot to them! These little golden ear seeds are already a real trend in the capitals of the world, and also here at Escapada. At our TCM practices, we firmly believe that we can activate our body and mind to find inner balance and feel good. Ear Acupuncture and Ear Seeds o er the perfect solution for gentle, natural support on-the-go. The Ear Seed method is based on the teachings of acupressure, which is part of Chinese medicine. Small gold-plated beads are placed on specific acupuncture points in the ear using a transparent patch and remain there until they fall out. It is based on the assumption that our life energy Qi can be brought back into flow by applying pressure to specific points with the aim of releasing energetic blockages in the body and achieving inner balance. My only advice? Ask your acupuncturist to put the ear seeds in to ensure that they are on the correct acupoints – for mothers ear seeds are 100% safe, but if you are pregnant there are certain points that can bring on early labour so must be avoided.

Palo Santo

BY RAHUA CO-FOUNDER, ANNA AYERS rahua.uk

There’s been a huge increase in sales already for Palo Santo and I definitely think this will follow through as one of the biggest wellness trends of 2023, which is why our Palo Santo Oil Perfume from Rahua is going to be a hero product for all mums! It’s an amazing therapeutic perfume with so many aromatherapy properties. Helping elevate the mood of the user, Palo Santo contains terpenes which are the biosynthesis messengers of the medicinal plants and oils we used when creating this fantastic perfume. The combination of plant based ingredients gives the user an instantaneous mood lift, like many other perfumes do, but in this case Rahua Palo Santo Perfume is completely made without the usage of synthetic chemicals that may become a health hazard in the long run, and want to be avoided when you are a new mum! Indigenous women in the Americas have been using Palo Santo during pregnancy for centuries in a very successful way. They’ve been using it as a tea, for anti-anxiety, in a therapeutic way, amongst other ways. However, due to the essential oil content some people may be allergic to it. So it is best to test before use and use precautions when pregnant. Personally, I’m pregnant now and I have used it throughout my pregnancy and it brings uplifting moments and it’s great for centering and meditation.

Postpartum Care Golden Month Acupuncture

BY ESCAPADA CO-FOUNDER, MAEVE O’SULLIVAN escapadahealth.com

Postpartum care is often a neglected area of care during pregnancy, but here at Escapada we believe it’s the most important. ‘Golden Month’ is the Chinese name for these special weeks following childbirth, because it’s believed that many chronic diseases can be cured if the mother is looked after properly in her Golden Month. At Escapada we o er acupuncture, herbal tonics, and health plans that will support mothers before, during and most crucially after childbirth. As the western world starts to shift focus on how important postpartum care is, we think there’s going to be an increase in natural, safe and alternative medicine solutions available to mums.

• Mother Warming: Mother Warming is a gorgeous ritual performed by a trained acupuncturist ideally 10 days after labour. It can help the new mother have more energy and feel rejuvenated and is a great way to gently aid recovery from childbirth and restore energy. It involves gently warming the acupuncture meridians that run through the lower back and abdomen to gently warm the uterus after opening, nourish blood, and move energy. It utilises a Moxa stick to warm acupuncture points for 5–10 minutes until they feel pleasantly warm. It is deeply nourishing to the area.

• Acupuncture: Postpartum acupuncture is a wonderful way to gently treat a woman’s body back into balance. An acupuncturist will focus on hormonal rebalancing techniques and any other symptoms that have come up like anxiety, digestive complaints, skin issues etc.

Herbal Medicine & Tonics

BY ESCAPADA CO-FOUNDER, MAEVE O’SULLIVAN escapadahealth.com

There was a huge rise in supplements in 2022 and we foresee herbal medicine and tonics becoming a big wellness trend over this year too. Individualised TCM herbal tonics are an amazing supplement for mothers to take and nourish them back to full health, rebalancing blood and Qi. Herbal medicine is a wonderful way to support your body as your herbalist can combine herbs to make formulas and tonics specific to your individual needs. For example, formulas can be created to nourish your blood in combination with herbs to improve circulation, which is vital for hormonal and sexual health. For women, herbs that help to regulate the menstrual cycle and support healthy female reproductive function include White Peony Root and Dong Quai. Tao Hong Si Wu Tang is a popular blood nourishing formula and great for postpartum mums. They are often taken with female reproductive tonics traditionally used to tone and preserve the Yin (such as Rehmannia, Chinese Licorice and Ginger) and promote the flow of Qi (energy) and blood to the ovaries, uterus and pelvis (such as Tangkuei and Chinese

Angelica Root). Further more, Chinese medicine has a long tradition of using safe, gentle aphrodisiacs and may be all you need to naturally get your sex life back on track (if you are ready for that and need a little helping hand), postpartum when you are healed.

Sleep Dohars

(for expecting mums, new mums and babies)

BY SOCL FOUNDER, ANGEL SKILLMAN shadesofcoollondon.com

Sleep was one of the biggest wellness trends of 2022, and it’s going to be even bigger in 2023 as we start focusing on self care and wellness. One struggle of being pregnant, and even postpartum is lack of sleep, which is why I know the Sleep Dohar is going to be a huge trend this year (and is already on the rise) – especially as your travel essential! Comparable to a top sheet, and virtually unknown in Europe, Dohars are temperature controlling ‘supercharged’ blankets that were originally used by the Maharajahs during the monsoon season and hottest nights of the year to keep them cool. The Dohar design comprises three layers of superior quality, super soft, finely woven ‘Mul Mul’ cotton that are not only breathable, but regulate your body temperature as the layers of voile cotton trap cool air, acting as a lightweight coverlet which are still weighty enough to keep you cosy and comfy that can be layered throughout winter and spring. They are perfect when you are pregnant and struggle to get comfortable with a weighty duvet, and even better postpartum when you have those mid-morning naps with your sleeping baby, and especially when travelling! We also o er beautiful baby Dohars that can be used whilst travelling, for swaddling and in the pram – all temperature controlling and lightweight!