Benefits of Herbs During the Childbearing Years
by Catherine Willows, RN
Reprinted from BirthLink Community News, vol. 2, March 2000

....Herbs are plants. They are not drugs. In appropriate dosages, they can have medicinal effects. Drugs are chemical compounds produced in concentrated forms. Although pharmaceutical drugs can be warranted in many situations, there are much gentler means of bringing our bodies back to a healthy balanced state without the harsh side effects that many drugs produce. Herbs are whole plant substances. The federal government classifies herbs as nutritional supplements. Herbs do play a role in enhancing our nutritional status.

....Prior to the past century, our ancestors used plants as the primary means to maintain health. During the 1900's, the pharmaceutical industry boomed into multi-billion dollar companies. They brought forth an entirely new level of technology with regard to medicine. Now we are coming full circle and beginning to see the benefits of both worlds.

....Women need to be very cautious about the substances they take into their bodies during pregnancy and with good reason. Herbs can be very useful in supporting women through the childbearing process. They can address a number of issues that women might normally think they have to suffer through. Herbs can add to the overall health and nutritional status of the woman and her fetus, laying the foundation for the development of a healthy baby and successful delivery. It is important to make educated and appropriate choices in selecting herbs as some are contraindicated during pregnancy. Consulting a knowledgeable herbalist can be very valuable in the application of safe remedies.

....The same is true with flower essences. These remedies are growing in popularity around the world. Because of their vibratory quality, they are very safe for pregnancy, children, plants and pets. Flower essences have an affinity for our mental and emotional states. The can help us with the stresses in our daily lives. They can be subtle or very apparent in their effects. They can be especially useful to new parents as they adapt to the challenges of caring for an infant or dealing with the demands of parenthood.

Catherine Willows, RN has a background in maternal-child and psychiatric nursing, and an extensive background in alternative healing methodologies including herbalism, energy work, counseling and flower essences. She teaches at the Chicago Center for Psychophysical Healing.