5 Simple & Safe Ways to Use Herbs in Pregnancy - A Chat with a Dr of Ayurveda, Pilar Chandler
I’ll be honest, I’ve always wanted to learn more about herbs and how they can help the body. I truthfully know more about essential oils but am always so intreguide by stories and testimonies I hear from many when they’ve used herbs to help support their bodies.
Which is why I spoke with Pilar Chandler, who is a Doctor of Ayurveda. We talked about herbalism and dispelling some misconception about using herbs. She also told me how she has helped women in the perinatal period of life as well as with challenging periods, fertility, breast care, menopause, metabolic disorders and digestive health.
So whether you’re a newbie or you’re a bit of an herbal pro – I know you’re going to learn something here today!
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HERBALISM IS AND HOW IT CAN BE BENEFICIAL DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM?
Herbalism is humanity's first medicine. It's about a relationship with the earth, the seasons, the plants and the environment around you. Not too far back there would have been an herbalist in every family or household, it's how we've survived as a species this long. Herbs are used everyday to improve our lives, they are so ubiquitous, you may not even know that you're interacting with them. The roses you see around the neighborhood can bring you joy, or how the smell of the eucalyptus trees after a rain makes you take a deeper breath. You cook and eat with herbs everyday; oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, apple, shiitake, spinach, beet, berries and citrus are just a handful of the daily healing and medicinal foods and herbs you likely know and use.
Herbalism is the people's medicine, it should be easy, accessible and effective. There are MANY ways to take herbs. You can eat them, cook with them, drink them in a tea or infusion. There are stronger extracts made with vinegar, alcohol or glycerine (tincture). They can be processed and pressed into tablets or capsules. They can be infused into honey or made into syrups to go down easier. There are herbal lozenges for the throat, suppositories, steams, oils and salves for the skin. Herbs have been and continue to be used to support and promote health (including pregnancy, postpartum and pediatrics) for every ailment since the dawn of humanity.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN HERBALISM AND WHAT MADE YOU FOCUS ON THE PERINATAL STAGE?
Herbalism was my first love in my exploration of earth based spirituality, my indigenous heritage and non-mainstream ways of living when I was young, right out of high school. I took a couple classes at the Rocky Mountain School of Botanical Studies in 1995 while spending the summer with my mom in Colorado and I was fascinated! During that summer I would hike throughout the local mountains practicing my plant identification skills, while also building a huge garden in my mothers yard. That was my first time growing medicinal herbs too!
As far as the timeline of my interests went, I was next introduced to homebirth midwifery care throughout my own pregnancy and fell in love. I was incredibly fortunate to have partnered with the son of a midwife, so my care choices we never questioned. When we moved to Southern Oregon we lived in my partner's family home, so I got an informal midwifery apprenticeship while I was going through my pregnancy. I read every book she had! I was really interested in becoming a midwife, but as life does, it turned me in another direction. However, that little seed continued to germinate.
In my clinical practice I have always loved supporting birth and pregnancy care, however as a single mom it wasn't in the cards for me to be a full-time birthworker or midwife. Although I do help a lot of perinatal clients, as a Holistic Women's Health Specialist and Doctor of Ayurveda I help women of all ages and stages in their reproductive life. Challenging periods, fertility, breast care and menopause are just some of the stages I support. I also work with metabolic disorders and digestive health.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT A VISIT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR AN EXPECTING OR POSTPARTUM MAMA WHEN SHE COMES TO YOU FOR HERBAL SUPPORT AND REMEDIES?
All new clients with me start with an initial appointment. This is a 2.5 hr visit that begins with a thorough health history evaluation. This evaluation goes through your family health history, your personal health history, digestive health, emotional health, reproductive / sexual health and lifestyle patterns.
The next 45-60min we move over to the bodywork table. I've been a massage and touch therapist for close to 30 years, so there's a lot of information I get from touching someone that doesn't come up with our health history conversation. I am able to feel how your nervous system responds, how your lymphatic system and blood circulation. I am also looking at tension patterns, scars, fascia and connective tissue health. This is a really important piece to understanding what is causing an imbalance and how best to support you. And because I've been a bodyworker for so long, this is relaxing and restorative.
Once we're complete with both the health history and body mapping we have an opportunity to come together and discuss any recommendations I may have for you. These can be herbal protocols, dietary, lifestyle habits (sleeping, eating, exercising etc.), bodywork or massage recommendations or other professional referrals. We really like to emphasize empowerment, putting the power back in your hands with directives to support your health goals. Helping you to understand the nature of what's become imbalanced and how to best support yourself moving forward.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES OR MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNERS MIGHT HAVE ABOUT USING HERBS DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM?
It's always best to start small and simple if you are new to herbal medicine.
One herb at a time as a tea is a great example of that. Learn the taste, the aroma. Learn about the plant, what are all the names it's known by? What does it look like growing? Where does it like to grow? Are there any folk stories or magical uses to this plant? (likely YES!) Plants and herbs are our friends, they are reaching for us to support us all the time, everywhere, once you start to attune to them. So how would you get to know someone? This herb may become one of your best allies in life. For example, American Red Raspberry leaves have been supporting women on this North American continent for THOUSANDS of years. What kind of wisdom might an elder like that have for you in your pregnancy?
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT USING HERBS DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM?
The most common mistakes are that you either can't take ANYTHING or that you can take EVERYTHING. There are certain herbs that support the different stages and needs of gestation. For example, some herbs are uterine tonics and support the growth and healthy blood supply to the womb and some herbs are uterine stimulants and help with bringing on a late menses, moving a miscarriage, abortion or a stalled labor. Some herbs are too harsh on the organs, too detoxifying. There are plenty of herbs that are wonderful general supports and are incredibly beneficial. I use herbs in pregnancy as a bioavailable source of vitamins and minerals, to support nausea, sleep, digestion and immunity, healthy blood sugar and blood pressure. Stress and anxiety are helped with herbs as well. There's always an herbs for everything!
This is such great info Pilar!
HOW CAN MAMAS FIND YOU?
You can find me at Pilar's Wellness Collective! I am the founder and lead practitioner at our center here in Costa Mesa. We are proud to be Orange County's only organic herbal apothecary housed within our wellness center of skilled massage therapists, acupuncture and herbalists. We have a line of organic herbal teas, elixirs and body-care products in our shop and online! We host regular classes in herbalism, medicine making and local plant walks. I lead classes and trainings in Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula Care, Pelvic Steam Practitioner certifications and group Infant Massage classes.
In person at:
Pilar's Wellness Collective
1001 W. 17th st, unit R
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Online at:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18
