Uterus, Weak/Prolapsed

Best Single Herb: Motherwort

Best Combinations: Motherwort; red raspberry

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: Constipation; prolapsed transverse colon

Complementary Help: Slant board exercises; bowel cleansing; bayberry or witch hazel tea or decoction used as douche

Uterus Support During Childbirth

Best Single Herb: Squawvine

Best Combinations: Squawvine; black cohosh, squawvine, dong quai, butcher’s broom, red raspberry (five weeks or less before scheduled child delivery only)

Other Helpful Supplements: Magnesium

Possible Causes: Not applicable

Complementary Help: Tangerine oil to relax during delivery

When there’s a problem with the uterus, it may be due to a weakness or a prolapsus. A prolapsed uterus is a uterus that has either tipped backward because of other sagging organs putting pressure directly on it, because of a lack of tissue integrity of the uterus, causing it to sag.

To help a tipped uterus, consider the colon. If the lower bowel is heavy with waste materials due to constipation, the bowel can sag under this weight and can drop down on top of the uterus, causing discomfort, problems conceiving, or painful periods.

Try cleansing the bowel if you have trouble with your uterus. Any organ that is lying underneath a constipated, toxic-laden, heavy colon can only create an unhealthy environment for that organ. The position can cause constricted blood flow and may encourage adhesions or other growths to occur. Read for more on cleansing with herbs.

Other things that can help a prolapsed transverse colon or a prolapsed uterus are slant board exercises. All you need for a slant board exercise is an exercise incline bench or some other type of board that you can raise one end of and lie on safely with your feet higher than your head. These exercises are designed to bring back tone to a prolapsed colon, but the uterus will be affected also.

1. Lie on your back with your head at the low end of the board.
2. Gently and rapidly tap the area below your belly button with your cupped hand for a few minutes.
3. You can also find a tennis ball or similar ball and roll it around the same area.

Gravitational force will help pull the bowel and uterus back into place, and the tapping and rolling motions will bring blood supply to the area and may help give tone back to the muscles. This exercise is also helpful if you experience tiredness, a groggy head, or forgetfulness.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Be careful getting up from this position! If you are not used to it, you can become dizzy because of the extra blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

Motherwort for the Weak Uterus

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is an herb used for its antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, and nervine properties. This herb is considered a tonic made for female problems because it has been used to ease the pain associated with menstruation, to relieve pain during childbirth, and to ease frigidity. Motherwort has some laxative effects as well. The Japanese celebrate motherwort at a festival called Kikousouki, where they add the flowers of the plant to their food and eat them.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Because of its laxative effects, motherwort should not be used during pregnancy, but to may be used to help ease pain during childbirth.

Although this herb can be used to ease pain during labor, it should not be taken during pregnancy.

Red raspberry is an herb that can help support the uterus during pregnancy. A tea containing red raspberry, witch hazel, and motherwort or bayberry can be made into a douche and used to help contract and tone the uterus.

Squawvine Support

Squawvine (Mitchella repens) is used to help support the tone of the uterus while pregnant, as well as during and after childbirth. Native American women have taken squawvine as a tea during pregnancy to aid delivery and to help nourish breast milk.

Unlike motherwort, which should be used only during labor, squawvine is a uterine tonic that is safe to use during pregnancy. This herb can be combined with black cohosh, dong quai, butcher’s broom, and red raspberry and taken five weeks before your scheduled delivery date to help make labor easier. My clients who have used this combination have always had great testimonials about the effects of this combination, even when giving birth to a first child (which can be a more difficult delivery, for some).

Squawvine also has been used as a diuretic and has been helpful in eliminating stones from the kidneys and the bladder. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can make the nipples sore, and a squawvine fomentation has helped ease this tenderness for many women.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Magnesium acts as a muscle-relaxant and can help in labor pain. Aroma-therapists also have diffused tangerine into the birthing room to calm and relax nerves and to soothe the soul.

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