Flower Essences for the Fertility Journey

Flower essences are herbal infusions or decoctions, made from the flowering part of the plant, which uniquely address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. The first 38 flower remedies were formulated by a British physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930's, although new remedies from other plant species are now available.

How do flower essences work?

To understand how flower essences work requires a recognition that the human being is more than a physical body, but also incorporates a "body" of life energy, a "body" of sensitivity and feelings, and a spiritual essence or Self. Flower essences are energetic imprints of the life force of plants which interact with these subtle bodies of the human being, and evoke specific qualities within us. We can say that they work in a similar way to inspirational music or art, which carry meaning through the vehicle of sound or light, while the flower essences work through the medium of water.

Modern physics has known for nearly a century that matter and consciousness are intertwined. However, medical science still generally works with a nineteenth century model of the human being as a mechanism in a world of machines. We expect that in the coming century medical science will develop ways of studying the impact of consciousness on health, and we will learn more about the ways in which flower essences work. However, empirical research, which consists of the collection of case studies and practitioner reports, will remain the primary source of knowledge about how flower essences work.

How are flower essences used?

Flower essences can be used in a number of ways. The most common way is to take them orally, four drops, four times a day. Our experience shows that it is not necessary to take them internally. They can also be used by adding five to seven drops in a plant sprayer bottle and misting a room or our bodies. You can also add a few drops to the bath, spray clothes before ironing them, or spray your pillow before sleeping. What is important to remember is that they are a vibrational essence, and surrounding yourself with them, inside or outside, is the best way to experience their effects.

The following are some of the categories of emotions that tend to arise when travelling down the Fertility Journey path. Look through the categories and read about the essences that are in each category to find the one's that best fit you are your particular situation.

(from the Flower Essence Society)

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From the Alaskan Essence Society:

Align­ment

• between phys­ical, emo­tional, mental, and spir­i­tual levels—Alpine Arnica, Mala­chite
• between the male and female ener­gies in our body—Blue Poppy
• deep realign­ment with one's highest pur­pose in life—Ladies' Tresses
• restores align­ment between the spir­i­tual and phys­ical bodies—Alpine Arnica
• strengthens cen­tral ver­tical align­ment—Rutile
• with the power of one's per­sonal truth—Cat­tail Pollen
• with Uni­versal sources of energy and infor­ma­tion—Ruti­lated Quartz, Silver, Topaz

Ances­tral Healing

• clearing ances­tral pat­terns—Cinnabar, Cotton Grass, Fire­weed, Liard Hot Springs, Nootka Lupine, Northern Lights, Purifi­ca­tion
• for estab­lishing and strength­ening bound­aries—Hematite, Pyrite
• for healing ances­tral pat­terns that are blocking our ability to receive—Go-Create
• for non-judgement and accep­tance of what we inher­ited—Pearl, Rein­deer Moss, Sphagnum Moss
• for pro­cessing inher­ited anger—Blue Elf Viola
• for under­standing the ori­gins of our family pat­terns—Black Spruce, Nootka Lupine, Sitka Burnet, White Lupine
• opening to the pos­i­tive sup­port of our ances­tors—Golden Cory­dalis, Yellow Dryas

Anger

• helps one calm down after being angry—Valerian
• main­taining a strong sense of self when dealing with anger—Tiger's Eye
• resolving old anger—Moun­tain Worm­wood
• under­standing and releasing anger through the heart—Blue Elf Viola

Anx­iety

• calms mental anx­iety—Aqua­ma­rine, Blue Topaz, Goats­beard, Valerian
• from being over­whelmed—Paper Birch, Purple Poppy, Red Elder, Stinging Nettle
• soothes anx­iety as we con­front change—Redoubt Vol­cano

Attach­ment

• for attach­ment to dis­trac­tion—Bunch­berry
• let­ting go of attach­ment to old wounds and griev­ances—Cotton Grass, White Lupine
• let­ting go of attach­ment to the form of what has been—Bog Blue­berry, Glacier River, Green­land Icecap
• let­ting go of inap­pro­priate emo­tional attach­ment to others—Moun­tain Worm­wood
• releasing attach­ment to old emo­tions—River Beauty
• releasing attach­ment to pain—Cotton Grass
• releasing attach­ment to the form our sup­port must take before we are willing to accept it—Spi­raea
• releasing inap­pro­priate attach­ment to the ego—Round-Leaved Sundew

Aware­ness

• clearing and focusing aware­ness to deepen our con­nec­tion with nature—Comandra, Green Bog Orchid, Northern Tway­blade
• of emo­tional ten­sion held in the muscle tis­sues of the body—Dan­de­lion
• of how our energy affects others—One-Sided Win­ter­green, Red Quartz
• of one's Divine iden­tity—Monks­hood, Scepter Amethyst, Sug­alite
• of one's life pur­pose—Ladies' Tresses, Paper Birch
• of one's true self—Tama­rack, Topaz
• of our highest spir­i­tual poten­tial—Scepter Amethyst
• of subtle energy flows in and around the body—Lady's Slipper
• of sup­port and guid­ance from higher realms—Chalice Well, Hairy But­ter­wort, Kun­zite
• of the omnipres­ence of light—Single Delight
• of the source of one's vitality—Choco­late Lily, Fire Opal
• of the sup­port and nur­turing that is avail­able from nature—Emerald, Grove Sand­wort, Pineapple Weed, Rock Spring, Spi­raea
• of what is in the present moment—Star Ruby

Change

• for main­taining one's family iden­tity through pro­found cycles of change—Yellow Dryas
• for under­standing the deeper meaning of earth changes—Augus­tine Vol­cano
• helps us let go of our resis­tance to change—Glacier River, Redoubt Vol­cano, Round-Leaved Sundew
• impa­tient with the pace of change—Polar Ice
• strengthens and sta­bi­lizes the body so it is better able to cope with change—Cow Parsnip, Fire­weed Combo
• sup­port for deep inner change—Green­land Icecap, Spi­raea, Tidal Forces
• sup­port for moving through change without cre­ating crisis—Hairy But­ter­wort

Clarity

• brings clarity to an over­ac­tive mental body—Aqua­ma­rine, Cit­rine
• emo­tional clarity in com­mu­ni­ca­tion—Azu­rite, Beyond Words, Sweet­gale
• hearing and speaking from a place of inner clarity—Twin­flower
• increases clarity and alert­ness by dis­si­pating con­fu­sion—Easy Learning
• mental clarity, espe­cially during demanding sit­u­a­tions—Blue Topaz, Bunch­berry
• of dreams—Herkimer Dia­mond
• of pur­pose—Dia­mond
• of vision—Rainbow Hematite
• trans­lating clarity of per­cep­tion into appro­priate action—Alder

Cleansing

• chaotic and con­fused energy from the heart—Emerald, Fox­glove, Mon­tana Rhodochrosite, Rhodochrosite, Rose/Smoky Quartz
• core cleansing and repat­terning of the heart—Northern Lights
• emo­tional energy stuck in the lower chakras—Ama­zonite, Blood­stone, Cinnabar, Ruby, Sweet­gale
• old energy pat­terns from the body—Fire­weed, Green­land Icecap, Purifi­ca­tion
• the body's elec­trical system—Stinging Nettle
• the channel of com­mu­ni­ca­tion between the heart and the mind—Wild Rhubarb
• the etheric body—Car­nelian, Flu­o­rite, Flu­o­rite Combo, Purifi­ca­tion, Sweet­grass
• toxic energy from the mind, emo­tions, and phys­ical body—Black Tour­ma­line, Green­land Icecap, Northern Coral Root, Portage Glacier, Purifi­ca­tion, Smoky Quartz, Tour­malated Quartz 

Clutter Clearing

• for estab­lishing new bound­aries with our belong­ings so we don't attract more clutter in the future—One-Sided Win­ter­green
• for extreme clutter that has taken over the house—Devil's Club
• for holding onto stuff because of a fear of not having enough—Blue­berry Pollen, Bog Blue­berry
• helps us let go of what is inessen­tial—Typhoon, Winter In August
• helps us release mental and emo­tional energy attached to our clutter—Northern Coral Root, Purifi­ca­tion
• seals the energy space after the Clutter Clearing process is com­plete—Guardian

Depres­sion

• for those feeling sep­a­rate and alone in times of dark­ness—Lighten Up, Single Delight
• for those who feel lost or out of touch with their own inner dynamics—Chiming Bells
• from lack of light—Orange Cal­cite, Sol­stice Sun

Father

• for­give­ness around father issues—Moun­tain Worm­wood
• strength­ening the father prin­ciple, in men and women—Cit­rine, Fairy Slipper, Sitka Spruce Pollen, Sol­stice Sun, Sun­flower

Fem­i­nine

• bal­ancing mas­cu­line and fem­i­nine ener­gies in the heart—Green Fairy Orchid, Water­melon Tour­ma­line
• blending the power of the mas­cu­line and fem­i­nine—Blue Poppy, Fairy Slipper, Sitka Spruce Pollen, Solar Eclipse
• helps one embody fem­i­nine qual­i­ties of spir­i­tu­ality—Sug­alite
• opening to the nur­turing ener­gies of the Divine Mother—Emerald, Ladies' Mantle, Larimar
• opening up to a greater aware­ness of the fem­i­nine in nature—Ama­zonite, Northern Lady's Slipper, Paper Birch
• recon­necting to the wild fem­i­nine—Green Jasper

For­give­ness

• of old wounds in rela­tion­ships—Alpine Arnica, Bleeding Heart, Moun­tain Worm­wood
• through a clean and appro­priate expres­sion of anger—Blue Elf Viola
• through accep­tance of self—Alpine Azalea

Grief

• helps one con­tact, open to and release grief car­ried in the phys­ical body—Chryso­colla, Cotton Grass, Diop­side, Ladies' Mantle,Rein­deer Moss
• sup­ports, bal­ances, and nur­tures the emo­tional process during the grieving process—River Beauty, Tidal Forces, White Fire­weed

Hon­esty

• helps one make deci­sions based on an honest regard for one's highest good—Beyond Words, Paper Birch, Pyrite, Topaz
• will­ing­ness to see the truth of a sit­u­a­tion—Alder, Blad­der­wort, Cat­tail Pollen

Hope/Hopelessness

• helps us replace hope­less­ness with open­ness, courage, and a renewed interest in life—Prickly Wild Rose, Tundra Rose
• reminds us that we are loved and sup­ported by the angels and the entire web of life on this planet—Calling All Angels, Chalice Well
• restores a belief in mir­a­cles—Augus­tine Vol­cano, Rock Spring

Inti­macy

• helps one create appro­priate bound­aries for—Cov­el­lite, Pasque Flower
• helps one open again to inti­macy after a painful or trau­matic expe­ri­ence—Chryso­colla, Mon­tana Rhodochrosite, Rhodochrosite,White Fire­weed
• strengthens the heart so one is able to main­tain inti­macy—Mangano Cal­cite, Rose Quartz

Loss

• becoming empow­ered by con­sciously let­ting go—Fire­weed, Tidal Forces
• coping with recent emo­tional loss—Bleeding Heart, River Beauty
• of place, home, or habitat—Rein­deer Moss
• pro­cessing ancient feel­ings of loss—Cinnabar, Ladies' Mantle

Man­i­festing

• abun­dance on all levels—Blue­berry Pollen, Bog Blue­berry, Go-Create, Rock Spring
• pos­i­tive reality from the quality of one's thoughts—Goats­beard, Willow
• through a strong con­nec­tion with one's cre­ative power—Bog, Club Moss, Gold, Wild Iris

Mas­cu­line

• bal­ancing mas­cu­line and fem­i­nine ener­gies in the heart—Green Fairy Orchid, Water­melon Tour­ma­line
• bal­ancing power and gen­tle­ness in men and women—Blue Poppy, Sitka Spruce Pollen
• helps men reclaim their spir­i­tual self-image—Brazilian Amethyst, Star Gen­tian
• strength­ening the flow of mas­cu­line energy in men and women—Fairy Slipper, Solar Eclipse, Sol­stice Sun, Sun­flower

Mother

• helps the single mother find bal­ance between moth­ering and fathering—Solar Eclipse
• opening the heart to the Divine Mother—Chiming Bells, Emerald
• strength­ening the mother prin­ciple—Bog, Grove Sand­wort, Pineapple Weed
• sup­port for becoming a mother—Preg­nancy Sup­port

Nur­turing

• helps the inner child receive nur­turing from the Divine Mother and from the Earth—Emerald, Northern Lady's Slipper, Rose Quartz
• helps us learn how to receive nur­turing without struggle—Larimar
• learning to nur­ture and be nur­tured uncon­di­tion­ally—Spi­raea
• sup­ports the prac­tice of nur­turing between mother and child—Grove Sand­wort, Preg­nancy Sup­port

Recep­tivity

• cre­ating func­tional energy bound­aries to sup­port one's recep­tivity—Cov­el­lite, Stone Circle, White Violet
• ded­i­cating one's mental capac­i­ties to receiving the cre­ative impulses of the soul—Jacob's Ladder
• devel­oping emo­tional recep­tivity—Sweet­gale
• helps one move from over sen­si­tivity to cen­tered recep­tivity—Moon­stone
• increasing mental recep­tivity by opening the channel between the heart and mind—Wild Rhubarb
• to one's spir­i­tual power—Brazilian Amethyst, Ice­landic Poppy, Scepter Amethyst
• to the angelic kingdom—Angelica, Chiming Bells, Kun­zite

Rela­tion­ships

• bal­ancing com­mu­ni­ca­tions in rela­tion­ships—Twin­flower
• bal­ancing one's rela­tion­ship to the Earth—Turquoise
• encour­ages mutual aware­ness and healing of rela­tion­ships—Full Moon Reflec­tion
• opening emo­tional inter­ac­tions in—Sweet­gale
• release of unfor­given areas in—Moun­tain Worm­wood
• seeing rela­tion­ships from a spir­i­tual per­spec­tive—Pale Cory­dalis

Release

• of a neg­a­tive or false self-image—Columbine, False Helle­bore, Lace Flower
• of emo­tional and mental ten­sion held in muscle tissue—Dan­de­lion, Valerian
• of emo­tional ten­sion in male/female rela­tion­ships—Sweet­gale
• of energy con­nec­tions with others that are no longer useful—Arag­o­nite
• of energy pat­terns that no longer serve us—Cinnabar, Fire­weed, Green Tourmaline/Smoky Quartz, Northern Lights, Purifi­ca­tion
• of pain held in the body—Cotton Grass, Potato
• of self-doubt—Tama­rack
• of sexual ten­sion stem­ming from expe­ri­ences of abuse—Balsam Poplar
• of the fear of one's own power—Soap­berry

Releasing

• attach­ment to dis­trac­tion—Bunch­berry
• con­stric­tions held deep in the heart—Green Bog Orchid, Green Fairy Orchid, Pink Quartz
• deep pat­terns of lim­i­ta­tion held in the mind—Blue­berry Pollen
• deeply held trauma—Ladies' Tresses, Soul Sup­port, White Fire­weed
• emo­tional shock—White Fire­weed
• emo­tional ten­sion cen­tered around the heart—Fox­glove, Soap­berry
• familial and tribal karmic pat­terns—White Lupine
• inner poten­tial—Sticky Gera­nium
• judg­ment from the heart—Sphagnum Moss
• mental resis­tance to change—Glacier River, Green­land Icecap, Jacob's Ladder, Willow
• old habits that are no longer useful—Portage Glacier
• pain held deep in the sub­con­scious—Forget-Me-Not
• resent­ment towards one­self or another—Moun­tain Worm­wood
• self-destructive pro­gram­ming—Bog Candle, Diop­side
• the energy sur­rounding unre­solved con­flicts—Blue Elf Viola
• the need to men­tally con­trol the events of our lives—Jacob's Ladder
• through self-acceptance—Rose/Smoky Quartz
• toxic pat­terns in an envi­ron­ment where there has been addic­tion, depres­sion or abuse—Purifi­ca­tion
• unex­pressed emo­tions in a pos­i­tive way—Augus­tine Vol­cano

Sad­ness

• brings peace and joy to those who are lost in sad­ness—Chiming Bells, Orange Cal­cite, Pink Quartz, River Beauty
• helps us release deep sad­ness from the body—Cinnabar, Ladies' Mantle, Tidal Forces, Tundra Tway­blade

Self-Appreciation

• of one's beauty, regard­less of how it dif­fers from others—Columbine
• of one's unique con­tri­bu­tion to the evo­lu­tion of humanity—Lace Flower
• of our cre­ative abil­i­ties—Wild Iris

Sensuality/Sexuality

• clearing neg­a­tive pro­gram­ming around sex­u­ality—White Fire­weed
• for over sen­si­tivity to phys­ical touch—Pasque Flower
• helps one express one's pas­sion in ser­vice to Spirit—Blue Poppy
• restores earthly sen­su­ality and healthy sex­u­ality—Green Jasper, Ladies' Mantle
• syn­chro­nizing sexual energy with plan­e­tary cycles and rhythms—Balsam Poplar

Spir­i­tual

• brings a depth and phys­ical rich­ness to one's spir­i­tual life—Sug­alite
• helps one bal­ance the flow of spir­i­tual ener­gies in the body—Lilac, Red-Purple Poppy
• pro­motes a recog­ni­tion of the spir­i­tual realm—Brazilian Amethyst, Forget-Me-Not, Scepter Amethyst
• seeing rela­tion­ships as cat­a­lysts for spir­i­tual growth—Pale Cory­dalis
• sup­ports spir­i­tual recep­tivity and radi­ance—Ice­landic Poppy

Stress

• let­ting go of emo­tional stress stored in the muscle tissue—Dan­de­lion
• relieving stress from the expe­ri­ence of extremes—Labrador Tea, Soul Sup­port
• stress from a pre­oc­cu­pa­tion with mental activ­i­ties—Aqua­ma­rine, Blue Topaz, Jacob's Ladder, Wild Rhubarb

Postpartum Relationship Tips

Written by Dr. Alyssa Berlin, perinatal psychologist, certified gottman educator

Everyone wants the best for their baby. We want our little one to be happy and healthy and we want to be good parents. It may be surprising to you that one secret to being a good parent is to have a happy relationship with your partner.

However, after we welcome our new addition, there tends to be such a strong focus on the baby that it’s easy to forget about the couple’s relationship. Yes, we want to be good parents but not at the expense of being great partners.

Improving relationship satisfaction between partners is crucial throughout the transition to parenthood. Little else poses the same threat to a relationship more than having a baby. We will discuss the main ways that becoming parents changes the partner relationship and how to strengthen and enhance your bond with one another.



There is no getting around it; your relationship with your partner will change when you have a baby.

1. The primary change that happens surrounds the new roles that you each have now that you are officially parents. As new parents, there is a tendency for roles within your new family to become more traditional; one person often assumes the hunter/gatherer role while the other person focuses on nurturing and care giving.

2. A number of physical and emotional changes occur as well. I am sure you have heard the rumors regarding the scarcity of sleep when your new bundle arrives. With the loss of sleep that commonly occurs comes a cessation in many important relationship sustaining behaviors, such as a reduction in sex, spontaneous conversation, date night and self-care activities. Bottom line, any activity that has to compete with sleep in those early months will lose.

**Unfortunately when we stop nurturing ourselves and our relationship, it is common for partners to withdraw from one another. This often leads to feelings of distance and isolation and marks the beginning of the downward cascade in relationship satisfaction.

3. After a baby is born it is common for dad or the non-birthing partner to inadvertently become marginalized. Commonly, mom is enveloped in a circle of love and support by female onlookers, all with the best intentions of helping mom acclimate to her new role. However, it may leave little room for the nonbirthing partner to join the party. As such, the non-birthing partner will likely retreat and focus his or her efforts on the newly assigned role of hunter/gatherer and financially providing for the family. The non-birthing partner’s immediate withdrawal from the family leaves mom feeling abandoned and alone and will be another precipitating factor in their relationship discord.

4. Many couples struggle with the perceived “loss of freedom” that is born with the new addition to the family. Specifically, couples will struggle with the inability to maintain their former social life prior to baby. This will be compounded if there is a discrepancy between partners as to how much of their former night life should or should not be traded for diaper duty.


There are numerous ways that you can strengthen your relationship with your partner, even before the baby’s arrival.

1. Take a deep breath, let yourself off the hook, and recognize that what you are feeling is NORMAL. This is a crucial component, because with the realization of normalcy comes a lot of internal calm and peace of mind. Recognize that birth and parenthood are powerful, life changing moments and there will be a NORMAL period of adjustment that accompanies these milestones.

2. We want to keep partners involved from the beginning. Prior to the baby’s arrival, sit down with your partner and discuss specific jobs and/or bonding moments that will be designated for your partner, and only for your partner, irrespective of the well meaning (pushy?) family and friends that just want to “help out,” i.e. bath, massage, story time, play.

**It is interesting to note that Mother Nature clearly defines mom’s role: she will carry the baby for 9+ months, give birth to the little bundle and if inclined, she will breastfeed the baby. However, the non-birthing partner’s role is more ambiguous and up to each individual family to define. As such, when you discuss with your partner what role he/she wants to play, you help to clarify his/her role and anchor them to the family. This can minimize feelings of confusion, loneliness and isolation and enhance the bonding process between partners and baby.

3. It is really important to restore emotional intimacy to the relationship ASAP. This alone is the key to relationship satisfaction after baby. You can accomplish this in three pivotal ways: date night, sex and talking.

**People are confused about date night. The assumption is that it has to take place out of the home and must occur at night. Wrong. The purpose of date night is to rekindle the spark between two people. This can happen at any time and any place. Right after your baby is born it may feel daunting to go out for the typical “dinner and a movie” date that your remember from your pre-baby days. Simplify. Stay home as long as you are accomplishing the goal of enhancing the closeness between the two of you – it counts as a date. Remember, anything that has to compete with sleep will lose. So let’s save date night by having a date in the morning or afternoon or any other time of day that is feasible for you.

**Sex adds a different level of electricity to a relationship and is a big proponent of a couple’s emotional connection with each other. Therefore, I encourage you to resume physical intimacy when it is feasible and mutually desired by both parties. In the interim, “nonthreatening massage,” cuddling and touch are invaluable ways to stay connected and minimize feelings of isolation and loneliness.

**Talking is a great way to stay in sync with your partner. It’s the day to day interactions, the small things that really lay the foundation of love, romance and happiness in the relationship as a whole.

**Set aside a specific time (not at night) each day to talk to each other.



I suggest connecting with your partner on 3 levels:
**Emotionally: how is your partner feeling?
**Cognitively: what is your partner thinking?
**Physically: How is your partner healing?

Take turns listening and supporting each other in a nonjudgmental way. With all of these in place, the postpartum relationship can start its journey with more ease and with conscious awareness.

New couples should spend time EVERYDAY lying NAKED with each other, if even for 10 minutes...This does not have to lead to sex but can provide intimate physical connection while a woman's body is healing. This is a good life practice to maintain the heat connected between two lovers.

*Institute Naked Time into your daily routine with your partners. 10 minutes a day for at least a week, and journal on how it impacts your relationship.



Here is a COMPASSION 'Go-To' LIST from Sacred Relationships created by Tim & Anni Daulter

When we get into entanglements with our beloved, SOMETIMES we don't respond from our highest selves...This is a good PRACTICE to kick start the conversation from RIGHT MIND! I hope it helps!



Please share and print out if you think this could help you get started from RIGHT MIND when having hard talks with your beloved

My Hands

This poem/prayer/blessing came from a meditation I did as a part of the Mother Roaster Training on my hands and the work they do in this world.

Part of the inspiration came from a blessing from one of my favorite books on spirituality that kept coming to mind when I was doing the meditation, but this is the final piece that ended up flowing and being created.

The original poem came from the book Be A Goddess by Francesca De Grandis who is one of the most amazing and inspired spiritual teaches I've had the pleasure to read.

If you feel called to, please use this as a self-love mediation, a prayer, or a blessing on yourself and others.

It's meant to remind you that you are sacred and holy because you are a part of this sacred universe in which we live.

The 'you' I refer to can be any form of spirit that you feel most akin to, adapt it to suit your beliefs.

A special thanks to Essential Rose for allowing me to use her beautiful photograph as the background image.

Many blessings,
Sarah

Herbal Sitz Baths

Herbal sitz baths are a wonderful way to heal and soothe the vaginal area after birth. The herbs themselves help the tissues recover faster allowing mom to be back to normal more quickly.

For those with C-Section births, the sitz bath herbs can be used as an herbal wash or compress on the incision site after 4-6 weeks have passed.

A scar oil can also be applied to the area at this time to help soften the tissues and minimize scarring.

How To:

When you are ready for your sitz bath:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil
• Pour 1 pint sized jar of blended herbs into a ½ gallon mason jar
• Cover the herbs w/ boiling water
• Cover your jar and allow to infuse for 1 hour. 
• Strain the infusion and compost the plant material. 
• If needed, gently rewarm the infusion 
• Pour into a stiz-bath or add to several inches of water in a traditional tub 
• Soak the perineum for 15-20 minutes, 2-4 times a day

Compresses & Sitz Pads Compress: 

The sitz infusion may be warmed and added to a clean cotton cloth and used as a compress on the perineum. 

This promotes good circulation, oxygenation and enhances healing. 

Sitz Pads: 

• Prepare the sitz infusion by combining ½ a jar of sitz bath blend with one quart of boiling water. 
• Cover and allow it to infuse for 1-2 hours
• Strain and add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to the strained infusion.
• Lay out a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and 6-12 disposable postpartum pads
• Pour infusion over pads slowly, allowing the, to soak up as much infusion as possible. 
• Freeze them. Because of the sea salt they will only freeze to a semi-solid state 
• Use postpartum for swelling and any perineal tears. 
• Mothers can also add the infusion to their peri-bottles

Sacred Milk

Written by the ladies of the Sacred Milk program Sara Goff (IBCLC) and Austin Rees (IBCL)

Sacred Milk is based on holistic practices and keeping Milk simple.

The use of lactogenic foods and herbs has been a part of the holistic care of mothers during postpartum, and throughout their Milk journey, in all cultures for millennia.

We embrace and encourage utilizing the bounty of what mother earth provides to nourish our bodies and our babies.

Milk Mamas must also be aware that some foods and herbs may impact milk. Most of the herbs listed below do not have substantial research on their impact on milk supply, however, many mamas have seen various degrees of effect on their individual babe and supplies.

One mother may happily eat peppermints daily without a noticeable decrease in supply while another may notice a dip in supply with only occasional ingestion.

Each woman is an individual and her body unique.

Herbs used in culinary amounts in food can normally be enjoyed without seeing an effect on milk supply.

We encourage tapping into your intuitive wisdom and awareness of your body and your baby when consuming new herbs.

This list below is simply to inform you of potential effects, not to encourage their use or avoidance. BEFORE consuming herbs as tinctures or frequently consumed as tea, be aware of their potential effect on milk, your baby and any contraindications to medications or health conditions you have.
Seek the expertise of an herbalist and holistic IBCLC for specific guidance.

Galactagogues & Lactogenic foods are substances known to help a mom make milk more quickly or milk flow faster, they encourage and support lactation.

It is IMPORTANT to note that herbal and nutritional remedies don’t get to the root challenges of low milk supply. Often they will not work unless the underlying issues are addressed. In some cases taking MORE will cause a decrease in milk supply.

Once mom and baby are on the right track, herbs, cookies, tinctures and teas are fabulous ways to turn the situation around quickly! Know the root of the problem THEN use the appropriate galactogogue for supply concerns.

Potential Facilitators (Galactogogues) 

*fenugreek : alfalfa : oats : barley water : dandelion : *hops : *blessed thistle : goats rue : milk thistle : *alfalfa : millet : stinging nettle : seaweed : shavatari : *anise : red raspberry : *basil : chickweed

Potential Decreasers (Anti-Galactogogues) 

*peppermint : *parsley : *sage : thyme : yarrow : rosemary : holy *basil : jasmine : mugwort : alcoholic beverages (usually frequent drinking only) : most widely and effectively utilized herbs for decreasing milk supply : sage : tribulus

Galactogogue’s noted with an * may not be appropriate for self-use. Seek safety and dosage recommendation; possible allergenic

Fenugreek : is a widely popular galactogogue and culinary spice in East India and Asia. It has a beautiful sweet aroma and long history as a safe holistic herbal remedy. Before consuming fenugreek frequently or in medicinal doses (tinctures/teas/capsules) it is important to be aware that it may not be suitable for every mama or baby.

Note: DO NOT use fenugreek if your are PREGNANT or pregnancy is possible as it increases estrogen and may influence your pregnancy

Note on Allergies : Fenugreek is part of the legume family. If you are severely allergic to peanuts do not consume fenugreek.

Hypoglycemia: If you are diabetic, hypoglycemic, insulin resistant, have PCOS speak to your healthcare provider and herbalist before use. Caution: If you are hypothyroid or take medications for blood pressure caution use and seek the advice of your healthcare provider or herbalist.

Overall, keep things simple, eat enough food, drink enough fluids, and if needed try a nursing tea. For more serious issues get in touch with a lactation consultant and have your baby checked for a tongue tie.

Sarah Josey, Clinical Herbalist & Nutritionist - Services

Postpartum / Mother Roaster Packages

Mother Healing $400

This package is designed to help soothe and heal mom right after birth, typically when she is still feeling raw and exposed in her new form.
If mom has had a c-section then it is best to wait 4-6 weeks postpartum to begin these practices in order to allow the body time to heal from the surgery.

• Herbal Sitz Bath
• Bottom Spray
• Nipple Rescue
• Abdominal hot stone application
• Belly Firming Paste & Application
• Belly Binding (includes belly bind fabric)
• Yoni Steam 

Mother Sealing $400

This is a half-day ritualized event that is a wonderful way to honor mom's transition from maiden to mother. It can be done for mom's at any point in time after birth, anywhere from one day to forty years.
It makes for an especially beautiful rite to have close friends and family present for the Sealing Ceremony and Salt Bowl Ritual.

• Birth Story Witnessing & Tea Ritual 
• Fear Releasing
• A Mother's Journal
• Ceremonial Bath 
• Body Oil Rub Down 
• Sealing Ceremony
• Intention Setting Salt Bowl

Mother Nourishing $150

During birth mom gives a significant amount of her stored nutrients over to baby. Add on top of that the long process of labor itself and then baby's need for nourishment through milk, and mother's are often left feeling depleted.

This package is a bundle of nourishment delivered to your door to help restore mom's vitality post-birth. All food is made fresh to order so please let us know when mom is getting close to her time so we can get prepared ahead of time.

*If you have any food sensitivities or things you do NOT like to eat, please be sure to let us know when ordering this package*

• Slaking Hunger
• Carrot Bliss Soup
• Red & Roasted Soup
• First Day Porridge
• Kitchari
• Seeded Granola
• Slaking Thirst
• PostPartum Bliss Tea
• Nursing Tea
• Blissful Almond Milk 

Mother Embracing $150

Emotions can run rampant post-birth, and often unexpected thoughts and feelings arise. Having someone to talk to who can offer guidance and support can be crucial to help with mom's recovery and healing.

This is a consultation service with a clinical herbalist who will offer support through discussion with mom about her current postpartum state, and then create customized herbal and essence blend to help support her specific needs.

• 1.5 hour consultation
• Customized herbal formula
• Customized flower/gem essence formula

A-La-Carte

If you don't want a full package of services you can choose to do only those that call to you. The rate is $75/ hour plus the cost of herbs and other items used.

Have us come back for additional healing sessions post birth. Ideally every other day at least two additional times after the initial session.

• Abdominal hot stone application - great to do before belly binding
• Belly Binding - best to start around day 5 and to continue to wear for 40 days if possible, usually takes three demonstration session by the practitioner to get the hang of it
• Ceremonial Bath & Body oil application - best done on day 40
• Moxibustion Sessions - excellent to do starting around day 14 and once a week for several weeks
• Placenta Blessings - done at any point postpartum as long as you still have a small amount of the placenta
• Sealing Ceremony - best done on day 40 or any time after
• Sitz Baths - done as often as needed post birth to heal the tissues
• Yoni Steam - best if done three times after birth beginning on day 9 postpartum 

Purchase Products

Bath Oil
Belly Bind
Belly Firming Paste
Blissful Almond Milk
Bottom Spray
Carrot Bliss Soup
First Day Porridge
Heart of the Mother Tea
Kitchari
Mother's Journal
Nipple Rescue
Nursing Tea
PostPartum Bliss Tea
Red & Roasted Soup
Seeded Granola
Self-Love Body Oil
Sitz Bath Herbs
Yoni Steam Box
Yoni Steam Herbs
Warming Packs

Ceremonial Bathing

Written by Master Mother Roaster Sara Harkness

A mother roaster cleanses postpartum women.

After a woman births, she is open and raw and in need of a cleanse and ways to mark her transition from maiden to mother. In different parts of the world women are cleansed and bathed after major rites of passage including getting married and having a child.

Many cultures will wait to do this ceremony until day 30-44 after the birth, once mamma has had some time to heal from birth and bond with her baby. This is a part of our Mother Sealing package.

We come and prepare the space for you, drawing you a bath using our signature bath oil blend, light the room with candles, and allow to you spend some time in the tub with yourself, cleansing away all that has happened so you can move forward into the next phase of your life with a clean slate.

During this time we will watch over your little one, giving you some much needed alone time to truly be with yourself.

Afterwards you are given a cup of Bliss Giving Almond milk, and the rest of the ceremony continues.

The child bearing cycle begins with fertility, then blossoms into pregnancy, climaxes with birth and
culminates with recovery. In cultures that view pregnancy ending with birth leaves a woman’s experience of pregnancy “open ended” as there is no mental, emotional or spiritual closure of her experience.

Many cultures around the world do have sacred traditions and ceremonies surrounding the postpartum period. Women are honored in ways that recognize their rite of passage into motherhood, whether it is for the first time or for successive children. In cultures that have designated recovery periods a special ceremony marks the end of her recovery and her re-entrance back into society.

The most common closing ritual is a ceremonial bath, which both honors and recognizes a mama’s
strength and selfless sacrifice she went through to birth her child into the world. In Malaysia, there is an ancient ceremonial practice to end the postpartum recovery period on the 44th day after delivery.

The mother is given a floral bath with seven varieties of scented flowers, seven citrus limes, and rose water. The fragrant flowers symbolically wash away the scent of the blood, or lochia, which has been dispelled from the mama’s body for the past weeks, restoring her feminine aroma. Citrus limes are traditionally used for cleansing the body and spirit.

The rose water is added as the rose is attributed to femininity; and is a symbol of achievement, completion and perfection.



Each mama is considered “perfect” just as she is, even after birth when women do not feel particularly beautiful.

This special mixture is kept overnight and added together in a floral bath. The mama is bestowed with prayers for her health and strength. A traditional Malay closing bath starts with pouring water upon the feet and moves up slowly to the knees, thighs, abdomen, chest and lastly the head. After the bath, the mother will be given an exotic sweet scented floral herbal drink.

This final treatment is to welcome the mother to a new healthy harmonious life. Birth is a celebration and the primary person involved in the process, the mama, is honored for her achievement

Flowers hold life and possess positive energy that can refresh the mind and soul.
~Valerie Lynn

Another culture that waits for a bath is China. In China mothers do not bath for the first month of a new baby. This is to ensure that the body is kept warm and does not get chilled. The bath that a Chinese mother takes after a month of no bathing with a new baby marks the end of her time of seclusion and healing. 

It marks her entrance from the space of birth into the space of being balanced and ready to go out into the world as a new mother with her baby. The bath not only symbolizes a lot but also feels SO good after weeks of sponge baths!

If this is something that you feel you could benefit from, then please visit our Services page to find out more.