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We hold so much in our wombspace.

Stories, trauma, imprints, births, losses, past sexual experiences, and even more energetic qualities like our creative energy or feelings of safety.

So, even if we aren't experiencing any issues "down there" we could still benefit from some regular caretaking just to tend our tissues.

But if you *are* someone (like many of us) who's got anything from menstrual cramps to fertility challenges to trauma history to endometriosis or PCOS or irregular cycles or bladder pain or even creative blocks...

it's likely that some extra presence and care would be a powerful option for you.

Naturopathic physician, herbalist and bodyworker, Dr Kathryn Kloos has synthesized many years of working hands-on and clinically with thousands of patients and has developed her own practice of supporting multi-layered healing in the wombspace with a variety of techniques, including something she calls "uterine unwinding."

Combining hands-on presence in the pelvic bowl with somatic dialogue, uterine unwinding is a practice that encourages a client to listen deeply to what's present in the pelvic bowl and invites both awareness and possibility to change the imprints or stories that are alive there.

Unwinding and retelling the stories in those tissues.

We talk about all of this and much more, including some actual cases from Kathryn's practice in this week's episode.

Listen to learn:

• why Kathryn finds bodywork to be a key to pelvic care
• how her own personal cancer journey exemplifies her somatic dialogue technique
• what uterine unwinding is and how you might explore some of this practice in your own body either solo or with a practitioner
• some inspiring and hopeful stories of womb, fertility and trauma healing
• about the possibility of generational trauma getting stuck in our tissues
• one simple practice to ground you in your body and pelvis

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to Kathryn's online course, website, more
• Sign up for the Natural Contraception course waitlist (coming soon!)
• Episode 10: Traditional womb healing practices w Sondra Hamilton
• Episode 61: How to heal trauma with embodied listening w Dr Emily Wilson
• Episode 119: Clearing, releasing, tending womb trauma w Dr Sarah Wylie

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

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If you've heard of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), I bet the primary action you've heard about it is that it can enhance dreams.

And mayyyyybe that it has an affinity to bring on menstruation?

But this herb is so much more dynamic than that.

I've often heard of people adding mugwort to sleep blends (with names like "good night's sleep" or "sleep well") and I'm just like, "wait are they talking about the same mugwort as me?"

Because for me, mugwort has been incredibly powerful, and produced such vivid and lucid dreams that I would never ever consider adding it to a calming sleep blend. It's a FAR cry from passionflower, chamomile or California poppy energy!

While yes, it has some relaxing nervine and uplifting actions, it's also a strong dream-inducing plant that has potential to create a wakeful dreaming state that's so active someone might not feel rested when they wake up, even if they slept all night.

For me, I did feel rested, but I started sleeping less and less.

I don't recommend it for that unless you're intentionally wanting to activate your dream life in some way or another.

I mean, mugwort was the plant that initiated me into the path of herbal medicine, but in no way was that a gentle process.

Instead I think of mugwort as an aromatic bitter to support enhancing your digestion, a warming circulatory stimulant to your pelvic region to help move stagnation and bring on bleeding "down there," and an herb that supports gentle relaxation and a brighter, clearer mood and mind.

How do you experience mugwort? Any stories to share?

Listen to learn:

• the basics on mugwort's actions, energetics and uses
• how mugwort was my initiation into the path of plant medicine
• multiple ways of working with mugwort
• why mugwort is an essential herb for your natural contraception apothecary
• cautions around dosing and constituents in mugwort
• some interesting recent research on mugwort's actions

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get the references / research study citations
• Sign up for the Natural Contraception Waitlist here
• Episode 18: Uterine tonics
• Episode 83: How mugwort prevented a hysterectomy w Andrea Webb
• Episode 89: Return to wholeness in your womb w Robin Rose Bennett

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

Support the show

Click here to send me a quick message :)

It's Autumn equinox time! Well, almost. Technically, it's this weekend (Sunday, 8:47 am eastern time).

So, it feels fitting to offer an episode on how to align with the season through foods, herbs and lifestyle practices that can support the transition into Fall.

And from the lens of Ayurveda, this seasonal change is particularly significant on the body, mind and spirit, partly because it's the transition from Pitta season (summer) into Vata season (Fall/early winter).

Vata is the most unstable, light, rough, dry and mobile of the doshas, so it's especially easy to go out of balance as we transition from the vitality and heat of the summer into the chilly, crisp autumn.

Have you ever noticed that your immunity starts getting quirky in this seasonal transition? That you perhaps sleep a little lighter, have some digestive weirdness, maybe even some cycle irregularity, anxiety, or even a tendency towards reflective meditation, inspired creativity or spirituality?

According to Ayurvedic practitioner Molly McConnell, Vata season is a perfect time to first cleanse and then replenish to cultivate resilience and capacity for the months to come.

We talk about all of this, how you can tell if your resilience might be low, and some initial ways you can begin to work on building your resilience in your daily life to help you ease into and through this season.

Listen to learn:

• the basics on how Ayurveda perceives seasons, particularly Autumn
• why you may want to consider cutting down coffee in this season
• how a slow but steady pace is essential for longevity
• some nuances on how your unique body may respond to different seasons
• a few simple ways you can begin to tend to Vata in your daily life this Fall

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to Molly's reset + other offerings
• Sign up for the Natural Contraception course waitlist! (Oct 2024)
• Episode 3: Ayurveda and hormonal health w Kimberly Kubicke
• Episode 49: How to create a sacred window beyond postpartum w Ashlee Sakaishi-Wilkin
• Episode 88: How to ease into Autumn

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

Support the show