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The Pregnancy Blog Review March 18-23

A variety of topics related to pregnancy and having a healthy baby have been covered in the pregnancy blog this week. If you haven’t been able to read, the review is the best way to see the week’s articles all in one place. Click the links to read the blogs that interest you. Concern about cleaning products is common among pregnant women. The products used for cleaning in the average home contain many chemicals, some known to be toxic. Research suggests there may be a link to certain cleaning products and asthma in children. Read more in Cleaning Precautions During … Continue reading →

Are Herbal Teas Safe?

Herbal teas offer many nutritional and medicinal benefits. Some herbal tea has become so popular that you may not think twice about pouring a cup. But are they safe during pregnancy? This depends on the type of tea you are drinking. There are a few reasons to question the safety of herbal teas. One factor is the medicinal properties in some tea preparations. Herbal medicine is helpful for many ailments, but not all are safe for use in pregnancy. An herbal tea that has health benefits may have negative side effects for the baby. Another factor to consider is how … Continue reading →

Making Your Herbal Remedies

There are different ways to use your dried or fresh herbs in healing. Tea is the most common way of turning herbs into medicine. Medicinal teas taste much stronger than normal herbal teas — commercial herbal teas contain about a seventh of the amount of herbs in a medicinal tea. Steep one ounce of dried leaves, flowers, and/or stems in one pint of boiling water. If you’ll be using fresh herbs to make tea, use twice as much — two ounces of fresh herbs in one pint of boiling water. Always use pure water in your tea! An infusion is … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Safe Herb Usage in Pregnancy

Many women use herbs during pregnancy in a supplemental way, as well as to prevent mild complications such as edema (swelling due to fluid retention). It is important to understand that the quality of your herbs depends on two things: Freshness and Source. The source of your herbs should be reliable, which involves doing research not only on the herb itself, but the manufacturer as well. Freshness is obvious: the fresher the herb, the better the quality. Which is why growing your own herbs is always the freshest option (and then you will also know the source). Here I would … Continue reading →

Herbal Sleep Aids: Valerian

Valeriana officinalis (more commonly known as valerian) has been long used as a tranquilizer. The plant is native to Europe, North America, and parts of northern Asia. It was popularly used in ancient Greece and Rome to treat heart conditions, and was hailed as a cure-all during the Middle Ages. Valerian is mainly used in treating the nervous system and calming the whole body. It can be used as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, digestive toner, and sedative. If you have heard of or used valerian, it was probably in relation to sleep. Valerian can help you fall asleep more easily … Continue reading →

Glucosamine For Older Dogs

My dog Barnaby is an old yellow lab that I love dearly. He’s getting up there in age and I know that within the next few years he’ll probably be leaving us. I don’t want to think about that right now though. While he is with us, I want to be sure his life is as stress free and healthy as possible. Looking at him you’d know he was older, but he acts much younger. Aside from adding a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar to his water dish each day, I feel I owe it all to the natural … Continue reading →

New Advice Regarding Fish Consumption

Like so many nutritional recommendations, there is new advice regarding fish consumption during pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration is now encouraging pregnant women to consume more fish. Specifically, the FDA is recommending twelve ounces of fish per week. This is a big change from the organization’s previous recommendations. In the past, the FDA recommended women limit their intake of fish and to completely avoid fish known to contain mercury. Even tuna fish was to be limited to three ounces per week. The reason for the change is the omega 3 fatty acids in fish. These fatty acids are very … Continue reading →

Natural Methods to Enhance Fertility

After a lifetime of hearing warnings about safe sex and avoiding unintended pregnancy, women are often surprised if they don’t conceive as soon as they start trying. There are some things you can do to naturally enhance your fertility, before you head off to the nearest fertility clinic for a consultation. Many of these techniques will benefit your health and your baby, when you do conceive. A healthy diet can increase your chances of conception. Foods believed to improve fertility include fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, including carrots, red peppers, mangos, figs and blueberries. There is some evidence that … Continue reading →

Thyme

Thyme is another herb that may be most popular in the kitchen… but is useful elsewhere. The little flowers on the plant attract bees and make thyme popular in garden borders. Thyme grows well in windowsill and container gardens, and has a long history in both cooking and medicine. Ancient writings refer to both common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and wild mountain thyme (Thymus praecox articus). The name may come from a Greek word for courage… or a similar word meaning “to fumigate”. Both meanings are applicable to the plant — thyme can be invigorating but it was also burned to … Continue reading →

What is Listeria?

When women become pregnant, the foods we eat suddenly become more important and we worry about eating the right foods. Food borne illness is never fun, but can be very dangerous during pregnancy. One is a bacterium known as listeria. Listeria can be found in many foods, including lunch meats, soft cheeses, pre cooked meat products, and prepackaged salads and cole slaw. It is most often found in processed foods. In adults, listeria is generally not dangerous and many adults come in contact with the bacterium and never know it. The person may have flu like symptoms for a few … Continue reading →