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Big Elephant Herb for Maternal Health…

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This featured herb for maternal care punctures tires, yet makes the urinary channels feel like silk!

Tribulus terrestris is one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. This “noxious weed” in the US is called Goat’s Beard or Puncture Vine.  Ayurveda calls it Gokshura.  It offers the  practitioner many uses in maternal healthcare, and though found all over the southwest US, it is seems little known in western herbalism. Perhaps because this hard, multi-sided sharp thorny seed (actually a fruit) easily punctures shoes and bike tires?gokshura triptik

I was looking through my notes recently for perinatal and infant health content.  So much to digest and use, so many little known abundantly growing herbs!  T. terrestris rightfully makes many south-westerners give up their off-road bicycle habit, but when ground it makes the urinary system – and more – very happy.

For pregnancy and postpartum food and medicines, the gokharu (gokshura fruit) was one of the staple herbs in village use. It can be given within the first 10 days after childbirth with guduchi for abnormal postpartum discharge in addition to its applications with the common issues of swellings, burning urine, and rejuvenation. It is an aphrodisiac (rasayana i.e. rejuvenative tonic), helps in conception, preventing miscarriage, certain vaginal disorders, impotency, and shows some effects similar to ashwagandha with animal research. Many other applications below are noted for your interest.

A favorite support best known for kidney function among Ayurvedic students, as herbalists, we often study its gentle effectiveness.

For just this herb, we received many pages of information. Here’s a few tidbits (OK, more than a few):

  1. Certain types of lactation problems respond very well to a preparation of gokshura with guggulu (gokshuradi guggalu), to remove poor water element management from waste products in the lymph/lactation ducts.
  2. Gokshura was used in a nutritious sweet for both men and women for rejuvenation. (The sweet component is important to it’s effectiveness for rejuvenative purposes).
  3. The saponin fraction from Gokshura was demonstrated to exhibit a hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-diabetic rats, with a commensurate reduction in serum triglycerides and cholesterol, and a rise in serum super oxide dismutase (Li et al 2002). Vitiation in triglicerides = tired pancreas.
  4. The poor people in India used to make a vegetable dish out of Gokshura leaves (though its use is being forgotten).
  5. The powder from its fruits used to be mixed with other flours to make traditional Indian bread – at least one teaspoon and up to 25% in small batch helps to reduce urinary problems in elders maybe 7-10%. I now add the powder into a flat bread/chapatti, after learning this is standard preventive fare among many village elders. I’m 64 – perhaps one of your village elders.
  6. An infusion is used to relieve painful micturation, to increase the flow of urine and as a vehicle for diuretic medicines. Used also in incontinence of urine.
  7. It can reduce allopathic dosages needed in certain cases. You will have to ask those questions of the doctor directly, he gave one example in the lecture and we asked about many other things!
  8. With black sesame seeds, helps reduce bad energies- circle the person with mix in a bowl, and throw into fire. (Or burn leaves of flax, or keep a bowl of the flax seeds nearby the fragile – helpful for babies, new mamas, the hospitalized, and others. Our unit on Flax brought many new applications for that plant also!)
  9. With Aam Vata (reheumatoid arthritis) – a decoction with ginger and gokshura is used.
  10. With ascites and piles.  The association of water element managements in the body is related to the reproductive system and emotions around the 2nd chakra, some lactation issues, pancreatic function and a cascade of concerns.
  11. It may help with cough and asthma, alone or mixed with honey as soothing expectorant.
  12. It has analgesic effect;  may help with pain from neural debility.
  13. In Paralysis, the preparation called gokshuradi guggulu is particularly good.
  14. Helps dissolve urinary stones an cystitis. Fresh leaves dipped in water can be drank for medicine, as it creates slipperiness to help release. This remedy is also being forgotten in Ayurvedic practice.

Properties of Gokshura

  • Guna (qualities): Guru (heavy), Snigdha (slimy)
  • Rasa (taste): Madhur (sweet)
  • Virya (energy): Sheeta (cooling)
  • Vipak (post digestive effect): Madhur (sweet)
  • Very good rasayan

Effects on body channels

  • Dosha: Tridoshshamak (cleanses all 3 doshas)
  • Dhatus (tissues affected): Shukra, Mamsa, Meda, Rakta (reproductive, muscle, fat, and blood)
  • Mala: Mutra (waste system affected: urinary)
  • Organs: Urinary system, Cardiac system, Reproductive system, Nervous System
  • Dosage: Fruit powder – 2.5 to 5 gm, Decoction – 60 to 100 ml
  • Contraindication:  Should not be given if patient is suffering from dehydration.

Topics for each herb in the Nighantu class include – an herb’s names and citations throughout the ancient texts; when it began to be used; traditional village dietary and medicinal recipes; which Ayurvedic text says what about it, pharmacokinetics; all useful parts of the plant; effect on metabolism in Ayurvedic and allopathic terms with therapeutic uses and recipes; chemical constituents, uses for each of the shrotamsi (channels) and body systems; herb drug interactions; research on it; growing conditions; varietals; and any contraindications.

As with all information provided, please understand this is partial information. Proper use of herbals per the individual case and condition as well as proper combining, timing, and delivery media are all part of herbal training, and very important. This is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified physician nor prerequisite studies in Ayurvedic medicine.

Homemade Gripe Water Recipes for Colicky Babies

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8 tips for Baby’s immediate support

Food related colic takes about 2-3 weeks to accumulate.  Let’s first talk about immediate comfort!  When baby is uncomfortable from colic or the beginnings of it, it usually takes several things to keep comfort on the rise.   If the cause is birth trauma or structural, it will show up right away.

Beautiful work is being done for the latter with Dr. Ray Castellino and others.  If you would like to understand preventions for the all too common dietary factors, treating the cause, and why the following works (breast or bottle fed) , check out our core webinars, Ayurvedic Maternal and Newborn Care and Nutrition.

Here are 6 Homemade gripe water recipes

  1. fennel tea – 1 t boil 3-4 min in ¾ cup water
  2. 1 c water, ½ t each coarse ground dill, ajwain, fenugreek, and fennel seeds. Boil 3-4 min. cool, strain, use dropper to relieve gas, help burp, reduce tummy aches
  3. coarse grind 2 tsp ea coriander, cumin, ajwain, anise, dill, vidanga. Add to 250 ml water. Slow boil to 100 ml. Strain and give. (parasites too).
  4. ¼ small onion, boiled 5 min. in 2 oz water. Strain, Add 2 oz cool water, 1 tsp succanat or agave give in bottle. or use 2 cloves garlic, prepare similarly. Allows support to suck, breaks up gas.
  5. tea of organge leaves – wash, boil to sterilize and bring out properties, with a little succanat or agave to taste
  6. last resorts, still gives comfort:. Beer w/o carbonation. or Dissolve peppermint candy in Hot water, give 15-20 ml of either in bottle. support to burp.

8 General support keys for baby include:

  1. Infant massage is well researched for it’s benefit to unhappy tummy times.  Be sure to do the belly massage techniques, including Paddle Wheel, I Love U, and Sun Moon strokes, and use something like a baby hot water bottle – she can lay tummy down, enjoy the water rocking warmth, breath more easily for the lift at the midsection, and be more easily patted to sleep.  (use the linked green text to access our 3 hour distance learner’s recording or webinar option, or 8 hour training to teach Mamas).
  2. Babies go into light sleep first, not deep sleep like adults, so it takes a while when their tummies hurt!  It often may take 10-20 minutes.  Help them stay relaxed, and don’t blame yourself if it takes a while.  That’s your job priority, not cleaning the house.
  3. Take a hot bath together, then sleep (together!).
  4. Use ghee or castor oil for constipation – on nipple, fingertip, or sometimes also to rub the anus when tight.  Or give Baby 1 tsp extra virgin pure olive oil.  See in 10-15 minutes, they are likely to be quiet.  Learn at least 2 reasons why this and other remedies work in our core course, Ayurvedic Maternal and Newborn Care and Nutrition.
  5. Sometimes we may need extra oomph.  Essential oils topically of fennel, ginger, basil, nutmeg, chamomile or stronger used topically, can give quick relief.  Let baby’s nose help you choose, but just waft it for a moment under their nose, don’t hold it there.  Watch their reaction.  Dilute 1:2 with food/massage oil.  How to use safely and which, with opportunity to ask questions, in our Essential Oils, More than Basics.
  6. If nursing or formula feeding, the quality of the milk should be evaluated.  AyuDoulas are trained to help mothers be nourished themselves in a way that best nourishes baby.
  7. This is a big one too – Avoid overfeeding – after 2 weeks with term babies, give 2 hour gap from end to start of next feeding, for digestion (more time with formula). Sweet milk on top of part-digested milk creates ama, wast products which complicate.
  8. Handling yourself and Baby – such a dear and valuable discussion is found in Robin Lim’s classic reference, After the Baby’s Birth (ignore her food chapter, it has tummy and mood issue creating recipes)

So there is immediate things we can do, and if full blown colic has manifested, it will take some time to reverse.  In the meantime, here’s a toolkit for palliative care.  At the same time, it is important to assess and correct maternal diet, emotional climate best you can, and if baby is using formula, choices there.   A newborn human’s digestive system is immature for at least 6 months.  Adding complications to this maturing process sets a long term stage for health issues.

Addressing the root cause takes more time, and is SO worth it.   Quality of digestion and results of the digestive process through all the layers of the GI tract as well as for the 7 layers of tissue nutrition (dhatu prinanam), 3 waste products of the body (malas) and more are specialties of Ayurvedic medicine.  All contribute to short and long term health.

Ysha

Wheat Free & Gluten Free Mama-Baby Cookies

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Did you know that healthy carbs and sweets honestly help counter depression, anxiety, and other mood imbalances?   They are calming, grounding, strengthening, rejuvenating, milk producing, satisfying, sweet tempering, comfort food.  That’s good for baby – and everyone else, of course.  Best leave out a few ingredients, like chocolate, and see below.

So, cookies are not inherently a sinful food, ladies and gentlemen!  Serotonin increasing, there are multiple reasons the nervous system benefits from sufficient good carbs, properly prepared and used.  If you know the metabolic principle “Vata dosha” let’s just say cookies are a vata pacifying food, if you digest them well ;-).

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About 2 weeks after birth or when bowels and digestion are working well, our mamas LOVE our cardamom shortbread cookies so much they keep asking for them again. Free of  leavening, egg, and with lotsa good fats and carbs, they suit our craving for good calories and healthy building foods.  Needs are much higher after birth, right?   Digestive needs are too, hence the leavening and egg free; follow your AyurDoula’s guidance too.

So to adapt the usual recipe, AND make them wheat or gluten free, we take iron rich sugars with organic good cholesterol fats with non-gmo grain/flours, some digestive spice…. It’s not classical Ayurved, but with good digestion and elimination works better than most sweets and they give more lasting fuel.  So satisfying!  The complex carbs, protein and fats give stabilizing blood sugar ie longer burning fuel and nutrition.  Stability is well, very desirable with the post birth fragility, even if we don’t usually think in those terms THERE’S OTHER BENEFITS, NOT JUST THE YUMMINESS OF COMFORT FOOD!

Here’s a variation for WHEAT FREE OR GLUTEN FREE SHORTBREAD. The first grain option has gluten, the second does not.  Many handle the first better than wheat.  Yes, it is more digestible than the gluten free option for most.  See key notes below on the gluten free option.

1.5 cups unbleached spelt flour (or amaranth flour)
1/2 cup barley flour (or sorghum flour)
1 cup butter
1 cup succanat
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/2-1 tsp ginger powder
1/4-1/2 tsp salt option

Option: 1/4-cup or so whey from yoghurt, or coconut water, water (or something similar).

The moisture is definitely not required but helps the food processor capture all sugar and butter into smoothe, and makes them a little lighter.  A standard shortbread recipe has an extra 1/4-1/2 cup flour but I find the spelt and barley or amaranth/sorghum options are drier and need more fat.

Yes, fat to counteract dryness in the body.  Opposite of dry is oily, in Ayurved.   Opposite of dense is liquid, including water, whey, oil et al.

To prepare:

  1. Set butter out to soften, earlier.*
  2. Turn oven on to 300 degrees and get your 9X12 ish brownie pan out. No butter or flouring is needed.
  3. Put butter, sugar, AND spices in the food processor or mixing bowl. Blend well, optionally adding a little liquid.
  4. In separate bowl, add flours and use a whisk to mix and fluff.
  5. Blend in the buttery mixture in the flours. IT works better NOT to put all in the food processor unless you just give a few pulses the gluten will over develop and make cookies tough.**
  6. Press the mix into your baking pan.  Sprinkle nuts on top if you like, or add to batter.
  7. Put in the hot oven (300 not 350) and SET YOUR TIMER for about 25 minutes – check then and optionally add 5-10 minutes – some ovens are cool or baking pans smaller (translate, more per square inch to cook) than others.   They are better a little soft and not burnt on the edges, and they will crisp up when cool.
  8. While still somewhat warm, cut into desired size and shape.  Remove when cool and enjoy!  Store for several days if they last that long in your home, in covered jar or tin.

Optionally

  • Add a few nuts or seeds to add protein staying power, or even chopped candied ginger (ummmm!) or Tbs fresh lemon peel….options are many.

    Cookies and tea
    Our wheat-free Cardamom Ginger Shortbread with “Sweet-water Lactation Tea”
  • Great with a teaspoon of anise seed instead, which is a galactagogue (promotes lactation), by the way. They are not just for taste.
  • We might add chopped dates or fig later, but raisins and other dried fruits have a sour “vipak” (post digestive effect) and add more risk of fermentation in the gut.  So we minimize this combination with other foods of any kind, cereal included.

* *GLUTEN FREE NOTES:  I did put flour in with butter/sugar in food processor, when we made a 3 parts amaranth and 1 part sorghum flour version of this recipe though. Note that the amaranth is higher protein, but a more astringent and heavier food. Better wait another week or 3.   Many gluten free mixes are on the market.  Those with legume flours may be more gas producing for mama-baby.  Which means, risky to comfort and health.  Those with potato or tapioca starch along with grain flours, may be more complex on your digestion too (grain enzymes being different from starch enzymes and sometimes confusing our tummies).  As noted, this one is heavier too, but neither amaranth or sorghum is a grain really.  See what works, experimenting when digestion is stronger.

* Have you ever compared the difference between organic and non-organic butterfat?  Make ghee with them, and taste the stuff at the top and bottom.  You will never go back to non-organic.