Aloha Friday, beautiful souls!

Even though when this is posted on my site, it will likely say it’s Saturday. It’s been an adjustment getting used to the fact that most of my friends and family have already experienced the majority of their day when I barely get to half of mine. It has made it much more realistic that I live on an island in the middle of the ocean.

Anyway, some of the main reasons I wanted to start this blog:

• Document our family’s experience living somewhere very different from what we are used to and share some of our favorite places to explore if you ever find yourself in Hawai’i. Our culture has surrounded us for most of our lives in the southwest part of the country. I love that my littles get to experience other cultures that they may not have been able to otherwise. 
• I need to practice putting myself out there because I spent almost a decade off social media platforms. Apparently, I can’t meet new people or get new opportunities if I stay hiding under my very comfortable rock.
• Evolve in my writing. Hopefully, I will develop my writer’s voice (whatever that means 😣). Until last year, I have spent the last decade writing professionally and have been ignoring my creativity. When we ignore any creative expression, it’s harder to access higher vibrational frequencies. We need creative expression to heal and thrive.
• And finally, the most important reason. This blog is my offering to whoever is called to it. I have acquired knowledge from many different places and people through my healing journey. I started with seeking higher education, and then ultimately, it led me back to my cultural, traditional, and spiritual knowledge. From professors to elders to naturopaths to light workers to birth workers to peers. I needed a space to pour it all out and hopefully, help a few folks.

 

Now, to the point of this blog post 😅 – a gentle tea recipe for womb support (at some point). People with wombs store a lot of emotions in that area. It is our center. Sometimes, we inherit emotions from our maternal lineages that aren’t even ours. Often, our traumas are stored there—sexual, birth, emotional, and physical traumas. Anytime there has been a situation that has caused you to disconnect from your body. Birth control, the food we consume, and our environments can also impact our connection with our wombs and the natural cycles.

This was my experience. I know I inherited a lot of maternal generational trauma, and I experienced two near-misses, which is the term we use when a birthing person has experienced near-death situations when delivering their baby earth side. I became dissociated and disconnected from my body for many years. 

Through the work with the non-profit, I was blessed enough to help evolve in the earlier stages, The Cihuapactli Collective; we noticed that birth workers and activists had reproductive hurdles such as PCOS, Fibroids, heavy and painful moon cycles (periods), cysts, etc. One of our main intentions early on was to support birth workers of color so they could continue to do the beautiful, meaningful, but hard work of catching our community’s babies. 

Utilizing traditional knowledge, food as medicine, gentle movement, our breath, and our plant relatives, we can connect with our womb space and help heal our bodies so we don’t have to carry this the rest of our lives and pass it on to the next generation. 

Starting simple is always best. I began with tracking my cycle and knowing when I was going through the different phases: menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal. I use the app Stardust, and I love it! First off, they are founded by women and run by women and don’t sell users information, which is so vital since our reproductive systems are under threat and dangerous due to the absurd laws different states have passed. Second of all, it is astrologically witchy 😍.

I listen to my body during these different phases and plan my most social and active outings during my follicular and ovulation phases. During my luteal phase, I ease up on my social activities and do not push my body during workouts. I start to prepare my home for my mini cuarentena. I avoid alcohol and try my best to avoid processed foods. Usually, my cycle syncs with the New Moon or Full Moon, and around that time, I will do a yoni steam that I learned from different traditional full-spectrum birth doulas in San Diego and Phoenix.

For the first two days, my family knows that I will be in my room, in bed with my rice heat bag, reading or watching Netflix resting as much as possible. I try to go inward and disconnect. However, I allow myself to indulge in a little dairy-free ice cream, so I will venture outside my cave for that🥰. 

Society has pushed the idea to keep moving through life as usual and be productive when we are menstruating, going against our natural internal season. I found that when I go against my body’s need to rest and slow down, my PMS symptoms are more substantial, and I am resentful towards my family for not being able to rest. I let go of my own expectations to have a clean home and healthy home-cooked meals. I give myself compassion for everything my body is doing. The laundry can wait, and it’s okay if the kids have chicken nuggets and peanut butter jellies for a few days. A rested mom is better than a snappy one.

Just like the moon goes through her phases, those of us with a womb do, too. There have been ceremonies in different cultures for as long as we have been able to identify that honor the full moons. We, too, must honor our internal ceremonies. 

I have tried to change the narrative around my cycle for my daughter. She is looking forward to starting her cycle so she can “eat ice cream and watch TV in bed.” My five-year-old son brought me a snack plate yesterday and told me to “stay in bed and rest, Mommy.” It reminded me that change starts in the home.

I want to share a tea recipe that is gentle enough during your menstruation phase and postpartum. I use many different herb concoctions depending on what herbs are calling me. However, these three are my go-to’s. Stinging Nettles, Red Raspberry Leaf, and Lavender.

Stinging Nettles has many different nutrients like pigments, polyphenols, ALL the essential amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals. I want to focus on the vitamins and minerals because they are essential when you are healing. This is exactly what happens when you are menstruating – a layer of the uterine wall regenerates every month; essentially, think of it as a scab wound. During postpartum, the womb heals from birth and the detachment of the placenta. Stinging nettles have vitamins A, C, and K and several B vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. There are many different health benefits to consuming stinging nettles. Regarding womb health, it can reduce bleeding, heal wounds, and balance inflammation in the body, which can increase during menstruation due to hormonal dips.

Red Raspberry Leaf, a herb with a rich historical use in supporting women’s womb health, has been trusted by midwives and birth workers for thousands of years. It is safe to use during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, aids in strengthening and toning the uterus, and can increase milk supply while breastfeeding. Consumed during the luteal and menstruation phase, it can help relieve symptoms. This herb is a good source of magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants.

Lavender needs no formal introduction. I love just about anything with lavender. It is excellent for sleep and relaxation and incredibly soothing for the nervous system. When we are healing from any trauma, even if it is a good trauma like the birth of a child, it is important to focus on regulating and soothing the nervous system to allow the body to return to homeostasis – its natural balance. Many of us, unfortunately, may not know what that is or what that feels like. Our fast-paced daily lives don’t allow us to slow down enough to feel in order to heal. That’s when we can call upon our plant relatives like lavender to hold our hand for a little while. I love the gentleness of this plant. It always feels like a hug in a cup!

During our last trip to the North Shore, I picked up this Turmeric & Ginger Organic Honey Blend from Island Vintage Coffee. I was impressed that this blend included black pepper to aid the absorption of turmeric by the body. Turmeric and ginger are also anti-inflammatory, strengthens the immune system- just to name a few of the very long list of benefits. Turmeric can also help with pain and anything I can add to my teas to help with cramping- I will. Highly recommend picking up a jar during a visit!

Cheers to good health!

 

 

*A cuarentena is a Mexican traditional and cultural postpartum practice where the birthing person rests and is mothered by their community for 40 days. Their only job is to sleep, eat nourishing meals, nurse, and bond with their new baby—friends and family help by providing meals, cleaning the home, and caring for older children. Many cultures worldwide have their postpartum practices similar to this one. I was fortunate enough to have been able to observe this after the birth of my second child, and I wholeheartedly believe it is the reason I healed mentally, spiritually, and physically much faster when compared to the birth of my first.

*The information and other content provided in this blog, website, or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.