Q&A with me!
Hormonally active herbs through cycle phases, herb-drug interactions, sleep support & more

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This is a first my friends. 

I can't always answer Q's, especially in my DM's and emails, from listeners so I thought this would be a great way to share my answers (which always tend to be more nuanced than a quick response, let's be honest).

If someone is asking these questions, my guess is that many more of you are too. 

So I hope you enjoy this grab bag of Q+A this week.

First I share my thoughts on whether or not it's appropriate to work with "hormonally active" herbs at different phases in the menstrual cycle.

Then I share some basics on how I navigate working with herbs when someone is on meds -- what the most important things are to consider, and how to think through this.

After that, I share some quick thoughts on what to do if you have quirky sleep and still want to get an accurate read for your basal body temperature when cycle tracking. 

And finally I share a few simple tips to encourage an easier sleep onset for those who tend to get that "second wind" at night rather than actually get tired.

I hope this is an enjoyable tour through these various topics.

All the answers were totally off the cuff for me, so you'll hear my in-the-moment reflections. 

As I'm writing this, I'm feeling the vulnerability of trying something entirely new, *and* I'm also embracing the energy of playfulness today. 

So here it is, my first ever (public) Q+A. :)



Listen to learn:

• are hormonally active herbs appropriate in different cycle phases (including menstruation)
• why it's important to take herbs regularly for hormonal health conditions (we're talking months at a time, not weeks)
• when I might make an exception and choose to work with herbs in specific phases
• some basics on herb-drug interactions and what to look out for
• why consistency is more important than timing with your basal body temperature charting
• several simple ideas you can easily incorporate into your daily routine to encourage sleepiness and reduce the chances of staying up til 2am (again!)

Resources:

• Episode 17: How stress messes with your hormones
• Episode 54: The many faces of chaste tree for "hormonal balance"
• Episode 86: Herbal spotlight on ashwagandha
• Free guide: Start tracking your cycle with Fertility Awareness 

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Trusted sources for bulk herbs:

LARGE COMPANIES 

• Mountain Rose Herbs (affiliate link - same price as anywhere, I just receive a tiny kickback) 
  
• Mountain Rose Herbs (not an affiliate link, Mountain Rose gets all your $)
• Pacific Botanicals - California-grown and globally sourced herbs
• Banyan Botanicals - Ayurvedic herbs

REGIONAL, FARM-BASED COMPANIES

• Zack Woods Herb Farm (VT)
• Healing Spirits (NY)
• Sawmill Herb Farm (MA)
• Oshala Farm (OR)
• Meetinghouse Farm (ME)
• Sonoma County Herb Exchange (CA)

Learn to track your cycle and listen to your own body wisdom - Track Your Cycle Simply in 3 Easy Steps Guide (click here)  

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