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3/22/2020 0 Comments

Plantain - Toothpaste - Herb Local - by Jessica Oren

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8/23/2018 0 Comments

Calcium During Pregnancy

What is the best form?

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Food and herbs are the number one source for calcium and the safest during pregnancy. It's the most available form of calcium and is considered an organic source when coming from food. Inorganic calcium is not as bioavailable and the amounts not absorbed can stay in the body instead of being eliminated. Little ones in the womb are being knit together and take calcium from your body to build what they need, bones and ligaments etc. Many women who aren't absorbing or taking in enough calcium go on to have health issues with their teeth and bones when their bodies weren't supported during this time period. The calcium you take is for YOU!!! It also can reduce some aches and discomfort you might have during pregnancy that is associated with calcium deficiency.
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8/23/2018 0 Comments

Birthing Your Way

The United States has some room for improvement in maternal and infant mortality rates, to say the least. We believe in general, those of us in the doula world, giving families more choices could help to decrease these numbers. Birthing your own way can be relative to your own situation. For one family it might mean being in a hospital without pitocin or epidural. For another, it may mean birthing at home safely with their Certified Nurse Midwife. Again, it might mean choosing to not be induced and instead letting birth come without medical intervention.

While we are on the subject of inductions, although they can at times be medically necessary, did you know that they are associated with higher cesarean section rates?

Here at Your Herbal Doula we support all births, all forms of birthing, and are for empowering families to educate themselves and speak up for themselves. When asked where I support women and what kind of births do I attend? Answer: All births. Although most of my support and births are in hospitals I have attended homebirths, birth center births, surprise births, breech births, VBAC births, transport births, cesarean operating room births and induction births just to name a few.

What can we do as doulas, birth workers or families interested in birth advocacy to make a difference? One, education is key and two, speaking up and not being afraid to advocate for each other. I like to say that I am an advocate and not an activist. I have had my share of activism in making changes but have more success in advocating for, empowering, educating, and supporting women and families in the birthing world. One person, one family, one birth at a time.

There is no perfect box or cookie cutter mold for advocacy and activism because we truly need all forms. We need people voting, we need people educating, we need people lobbying, we need people offering low income friendly services, we need doulas, we need midwives, we need OBGYNS and nurses stepping up, we need hospitals making changes, we need alternatives, and we need empowered families.

I'd love to hear from those in my community what they are doing to make changes and make a positive impact in your area. Please leave a comment below to share you business, your office, your non-profit, your classes and your mission. I'd love to hear from you and spread your work. To me this isn't a competition, but rather a heart mission.

Blessings.

Jessica
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Maternal Mortality Is Rising in the U.S. As It Declines Elsewhere
Deaths per 100,000 live births

PictureMaternal Mortality Is Rising in the U.S. As It Declines Elsewhere  Deaths per 100,000 live births
Notes "Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015," The Lancet. Only data for 1990, 2000 and 2015 was made available in the journal. Source: The Lancet Credit: Rob Weychert/ProPublica
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12/29/2017 1 Comment

Making Your Own Wellness - Elderberry Syrup

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Have you ever considered making your own wellness in the form of an immune friendly elderberry syrup? Guess what I am doing today? I am making my own elderberry syrup. Many of the friends and herbalist buddies swear by this stuff. I have been using this for my family for years and knew I could make it myself. I have made many tinctures and extracts before but wanted this time to use glycerin, a low glycemic, kid friedly more alkaline way to make plant extracts. Glycerin is activated by saliva and is known as a more bio-available option, or so I have read. 

Have you ever wanted to make an herbal extract? Well now is your chance! Here is an easy vegan, alcohol free, family friendly recipe that will be useful all winter and spring long. You can take it all year long as well.

DIRECTIONS:
(OR MAKING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL-FREE HERBAL GLYCERINE EXTRACTS)
  1. Fill a mason jar or any glass jar ½ way with dried herb (elderberries) (2/3 way full with fresh herb). Chop dried herb well before mixing with menstruum.
  2. In a separate jar, mix 3 parts Vegetable Glycerin and 1 part distilled water (dont use any other water). Shake to combine.
  3. Pour liquid mixture over the herb and completely cover to fill the jar.
  4. Label container with date, ratio of glycerine to water, and herbs used.
  5. Agitate daily for 4-6 weeks. Store in a cool, dark place.
  6. Strain with linen or cheesecloth, put in your bottle and label.
  7. Notation: If you used a fine powder you may need to double filter, and even filter through a coffee filter to ensure that no plant material remains in your glycerine.

For double strength, you should let stand for 6 weeks. For adults, 1 Tablespoon a day and 1-3 teaspoons for children depending on age and weight. For those under age 2, consult your physician and 5ML should be good for them. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your health practioner. This is for educational purposes only, please share and enjoy!

Elderberry heath benefits:
 
•             Major Cold and Flu Relief. Elderberries are an excellent general immune system booster. ...
•             Sinus Infection Aid. ...
•             Lower Blood Sugar. ...
•             Natural Diuretic. ...
•             Natural Laxative. ...
•             Encourage Healthy Skin. ...
•             Ease Allergies. ...
•             May Help Prevent Cancer * Vitamin C * Antioxidant *​


Good health to you! Enjoy your elderberry syrup. Cheese to making your own wellness!


Love, Your Herbal Doula, Jessica Oren

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12/10/2017 0 Comments

Almond Butter Protein Balls - A birthing time recipe

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Recently at a birth a client was eating a perfectly balanced protein ball with wonderful ingredients and I thought it was the most perfect food for energy for birthing time.

Here is my protein ball recipe that I use for snack time and it's the one I make for my kids also. You can change the ingredients per your dietary needs. We use almond butter because we have a high peanut allergy in our family. This recipe can also be used for hungry doulas who want or need a snack while serving a client.

Enjoy!

Almond Butter Protein Balls - A birthing time recipe - Bitesize

1 cup nut butter (we use almond butter)
2 Tablespoons Coconut oil or butter
1 cup oats
1/2 cup finely shredded coconut
2 Teaspoons honey or agave or maple syrup
3 Tablespoons Chocolate Nibs or small chocolate chips (optional): may use carob.

Directions for making:
  1. Leave out or melt almond butter and coconut oil to soften.
  2. Mix in oats, coconut, honey, and chocolate chips, if using.
  3. Shape into 1-inch balls (bitesize) and refrigerate in a plastic tub or glassware with a lid.

Let me know how you like your protein balls, a birthing time recipe, and comment below. What did you change about the recipe?


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11/22/2017 0 Comments

Kombucha for days

Adventures in fermented foods.

Tis' the season for unhealthy eating, a great time to make kombucha. Our guts and our immunity will thank us later. You don't have to eat unhealthy this season, but if you over indulge make sure to find a healthy source for beneficial bacteria and get back on a mucousless diet full of fruits and vegetables. I currently have kombucha for days happening in my fridge, the scoby is seriously the size of a dinner plate. It's time, as the jar was getting really low.

This is my second brew so I used a starter "juices" and the same scoby I had in the fridge (the one that was kombucha for days).

Use ingredients in the proportions shown in the link
for making up a quart of kombucha.


INGREDIENTS
Combine hot water and sugar in a glass jar. Stir to dissolve.
Add tea. Steep at least 10 minutes.
Cool to 68°-85°F (I used a  candy thermometer).

Remove tea bags or strain loose tea leaves from liquid (or remove tea bags).

For a quart-size batch, add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and
¼ cup kombucha (from last batch)to the cooled tea.

Take the scoby from the previous batch to the cooled tea.
Dampen a towel, cheesecloth or coffee filter with white vinegar; place on jar and secure with a rubber band. Keep cover damp with vinegar during the culturing period.

Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed at 68°-85°F, out of direct sunlight, for 7-30 days, or to your personal liking.

Full directions here: At the Cultures For Health Website.

Have fun fermenting! ~ Jessica, Your Herbal Doula

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11/21/2017 0 Comments

Fudge can be guilt free (sorta)

Recipe:

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 Fudge Raw Delicious Coconut Oil Fudge (Guilt free - sort of)

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup of coconut oil
  • 1 cup cocoa powder or RAW cocoa
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract or extract of choice (lemon)
  • raw honey (or other natural sweetener like maple syrup)
  • Pinch of sea salt or salty spice
  • Optional: 2-4 Drops lemon or orange essential oil or you can use infused coconut oil (I like orange)
Instructions:
  1. Measure 1 cup of coconut oil and scoop it out into a mixing bowl. Whip the coconut oil with a stand or hand mixer (if you have strong forearms) until it’s light and fluffy. Remember: If your coconut oil is room temperature and already liquid you can skip this step.
  2. Mix the whipped (or melted if you live in warmer climate) coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt together. Mix well and slowly add honey or sweetener of choice. Taste as you go to make sure you don’t over sweeten your fudge. Mix in 2-4 drops of lemon or orange essential oil if using. You can use organic extract instead if you prefer.
  3. Line a 9×5 inch pan (silicone or glass) with parchment paper and pour fudge into it. Spread fudge evenly cover the pan with a lid or plastic wrap or lid.
  4. Refrigerate until fudge is set and hard, about 4 hours or freeze for 30 minutes.
  5. Cut fudge into small squares and enjoy!

Yields 2 cups of coconut oil fudge.

I serve this for birthdays, playdates and special occasions. Fudge can be guilt free right?

I love it and I hope you do too!

You can make it vegan by not using honey.

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    Author

    Jessica Oren, of Your Herbal Doula, is a certified Birth Doula (CBI) and a Family Herbalist ~ graduate of The School of Natural Healing. Founder of DAWN Foundation and North Texas Doulas. You can find her on Google+ The Herbal Doula

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