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Susun Weed |
OnlineHost: Susun Weed has entered the room. Dearest: Susun Weed, guest tonight in Power Surge, has written four books, all with the same purpose - a devotion to women. Helping women to understand the natural ways to cope with menopause in her "Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way," Susun shares her wisdom about herbs and health. Along with being an author, Susun has llectured on herbal methods, as well as trained students as apprentices and through correspondence courses. Susun is active in the women's spirituality movement and is also a Wiccan High Priestess :) Susun considers herself a naturalist and a woman "of the earth." Tonight, let's take this opportunity to absorb some of the wonderful knowledge Susun has provided through her writing and work with women and become enlightened about herbs and health - and how to make menopause more manageable in our lives. Welcome to Power Surge, Susun. Pleasure to have you here tonight :) PZukow, go ahead with your question for our guest. PZukow: Susun we were discussing wild yam..etc. can you give a short synopsis on some herbs that are good for treating symptoms? Susun Weed: Not in pill form, but from food. Most menopausal symptoms are healthy; hot flashes build bone strength. I wrote all the specifics in the book; too cumbersome to type it all here. Emy white: Do you have any suggestion for severe eating binges ONLY occurring during the two weeks till I get my period which lasts about 2 hours - I'm 45, no kids. Susun Weed: Minerals are low; also what do you binge on? Emy white: Carbs Susun Weed: Normal diet is? Emy white: No meat, fish, low fat milk products, pasta, whole grains, fruits, veggies. Susun Weed: Many women need to change their diet considerably at menopause; consider eating meat. Also sounds like you've bought the low-fat lie. Emy white: Last point! I still get my period every 28-31 days even though it's short - am I in menopause? Susun Weed: If you think you are. Dearest: Emy, if you're having a monthly period, you're in pre/perimenopause. Once your periods stop for twelve consecutive months, you're considered to be "menopausal." You can read more about menopause all over Power Surge, but I recommend you start with Power Surge's menopause primer. Emy white: Thank you Dearest. Sherbaker: Any suggestions for heart palpitations, fear, anxiety? I try not to give into them. I get so scared I get phobic about exercising, anything that effects my heartbeat. I feel every weird beat. Susun Weed: Learn to breath in a rhythmic way; motherwort tincture, 5-10 drops may be helpful. Postrain: Hot/warm flashes getting me. Afraid of estrogenic herbs (previous spotting.) Take Vitex, Yam. Suggestions? Susun Weed: What aggravates your flashes? For me its heat, alcohol, Citrus. Postrain: Mostly heat, and always when indoors. Susun Weed: Tincture of milk thistle seed, 10 -30 drops as needed helps me LOTS. WLVJean: Susun, can you tell us where your book is being sold? Barnes & Noble? Health food stores? Susun Weed: Yes, those, plus 1-800-356-9315 for credit card orders. LynnCSE: Can you take ginseng if you are on HRT? Susun Weed: Yes, but what reason to take ginseng? LynnCSE: Someone gave me some pure ginseng and I wanted to try it. Susun Weed: Ginseng is great for helping us deal with stress but over the top for every day fun. Dearest: LynnCSE, you can read more about ginseng on Power Surge's Recommendations area. BFahs2: Suggestions for vaginal dryness? Susun Weed: Kegels, motherwort tincture 10 drops twice a day; dong quai tincture, 25 drops a day but don't use dong quai if dealing with fibroids. Suzijkel: Does meno cause short term memory loss and will ginko really help? If so, how much daily? Dearest: Ginkgo is helping me, Suzi. Susun Weed: I haven't noticed memory loss at all; do you get enough alone time? Suzijkel: Plenty. CNA LISA: I just found out that I have breast cancer and I am scared. Dearest: Oh, dear, CNA.. so sorry to hear that :( Those of you in the queue, would you please let CNA step ahead? Serious problem here :( Obsidian93: surely Suzijkel: Sure Emy white: sure Dearest: CNA, we have a wonderful guest here tonight. Perhaps you can ask something that will help put your mind at rest. Dearest: Susun, did you see CNA's statement? CNA LISA: I know I am not going to die. but I am still scared Dearest: Of course, CNA.. of course you're frightened :( Dearest: We'll continue with the queue shortly. Promise. Susun Weed: Yes; I saw her statement; didn't know if I was supposed to respond; protocol? Dearest: Susun, CNA has just found out she has breast cancer.. can you address that? Yes it's okay, Susun. We make exceptions in a crisis. CNA LISA: Has anyone been through this or know anyone? Dearest: Susun, could you give the full name of your book? Susun Weed: Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way Dearest: We're here for you, CNA. You can also get a lot of support in the Cancer Issues forum on Power Surge's message board. Dearest: Sorry for the interruption. Obs, go ahead :) Obsidian93: Susun, how do we get wild yam in food form in how much? Susun Weed: I am frustrated at the number of women who think they need to treat menopause. Yam is no different than hormones if you are attempting to stop your maturation. Emy white: Susan, when I eat meat I seem to crave more sugar. It doesn't help the bingeing at all during ovulation which is the ONLY time all month I do these horrendous episodes. Susun Weed: Too difficult for me to deal with typing. Please call me at 914-246-8081 any Tues. 7-9pm. Postrain: Am interested in your correspondence course. How can I learn more? Call 800 #? Susun Weed: That's my free help line (April 15 through October 31). Info on courses too. Clarify: 914-246-8081 for info; 1-800-356-9315 for ordering books. GRichterme: 3 yrs ago/at 44/stopped mens. Night sweats got me; started ERT; progesterone wreaked havoc with colon. Now I must go thru it again and don't want to use prog. Advice? Susun Weed: Prog is progesterone? go thru what? take time off so you can sleep all day if night is yuk. GRichterme: Can't take just estrogen, so will begin the night sweats again. SMartin992: I'd appreciate suggestions for low sex drive and a general feeling of the blahs most of the time. Susun Weed: Lesbianism Dearest: Hmmm... Susun Weed: Herbalist Susun Weed: No guys here!! A guy is a weird and distorted male - according to the dictionary Dearest: SMartin, let me direct you to some excellent articles, starting with Midlife Sexuality plus you'll find links at the top of the article and numerous other links at the bottom. Liddy, go ahead. Liddy77: Does menopause sometimes cause excessive vaginal discharge/odor? I have no infection. Susun Weed: Liddy: describe odor. Liddy77: Sour Susun Weed: PH changes; do you eat at least a pint of yogurt a week? Liddy77: Yes I do. Susun Weed: Irritating to labia? Liddy77: Yes very. Susun Weed: Good success from vaginal insertion of one acidophilus capsule each night until better. Dearest: How about insertion of vitamin E, Susun? Susun Weed: Don't know. Suzijkel: Are dairy products as bad for one as some people say or is it all a big to do over nothing? Susun Weed: Organic dairy products are a cornerstone of a long healthy life. Suzijkel: Only organic? Susun Weed: Yup Dearest: Susun, what are your feelings about DHEA? Thanks. Susun Weed: My body makes plenty from the food I eat. Emy white: I will definitely call you, guess that was East Coast time. But is there anything re: sugar that helps? Dearest: Can you give us some examples of those foods, Susun? Susun Weed: Yes, 7-9 pm east coast. Craving for sugar usually indicates lack of minerals. Whole grains, cooked greens, olive oil. Liddy77: Like your down to earth no nonsense approach. It's refreshing. Thanks. MsLizzieB: Is it a good idea to take things like bee pollen or Echinacea daily, or better just when ill? Susun Weed: I don't take echi daily; could be dangerous. Bee pollen robs the bees, does little for you. Emy white: When you say "minerals", will a health food bottle give me what I need? Susun Weed: I use herbal vinegars and infusions as well as my organic goat dairy. I generally feel that pills are pills, not health. Dearest: Susun, could you elaborate on some infusions, please? Susun Weed: Yes, I elaborate on them in my books. For instance, I brew a daily infusion of some nourishing herb such as comfrey leaf, nettle leaf, red clover blossoms, oatstraw - using 1 ounce herb to 1 quart boiling water and steeping overnight or for at least four hours. This extracts the minerals which don't come out in a tea. Dearest: Thanks, Susun. Jean, go ahead. WLVJean: I was just wondering if you are feeling the effects of the bee mite epidemic in herbalism this year? Susun Weed: My linden tree was sad; she missed her friends, the bees, otherwise, no change in the herbs; may take years to notice if pollination is affected, but I doubt it is. BFahs2: Why do you say taking Echinacea daily can be dangerous? Susun Weed: Depends on dose; my friend Jock Millenstein, herbalist for years at Findhorn, took echi every day and claims he caused chronic fatigue by never allowing himself time out. No need to take echi daily unless you work in a hospital a day care center or other germy place. RoMaGraves: I use mullein tea for a cold remedy. Is it also good for a general tonic? Susun Weed: General tonics were listed just before: nettle, red clover, violet, oatstraw, comfrey leaf, dandelion. Goats that you are talking about and burdock vinegars are great too to help tonify and ease meno. Emy white: Susan - re the sugar thing again, is it only dairy products from? Susun Weed: No any organic dairy; I keep goats. Dearest: Susun, about magnesium, I take it for palpitations (sometimes especially when hosting). I wondered if you've heard that diarrhea is a common side effect? (500 mg. daily) Susun Weed: Vinegar is an ideal medium for extracting minerals our bodies can use; minerals in pill form often cause side effects. Diarrhea is one, constipation another. Dearest: Any particular type of vinegar you prefer? Susun Weed: Depletion of the pocketbook too. I use apple cider vinegar; recipe for old sour puss minerals in book. Dearest: Thanks, Susun. Batch.. go ahead :) Batchika2: Speaking of chronic fatigue, what do you recommend for CFIDS? Susun Weed: One word? Batchika2: As many as you like. Susun Weed: I don't deal in diseases; I deal in people, so I have no recommendation for CFIDS. Is this you we discuss? Emy white: Sugar, so are you saying that if I eat organic milk products the sugar cravings will cease a bit? Susun Weed: Meat contains lots of easily assimilable minerals. Often long time veges need a heme iron boost and some ruddy B vitamins not the weaker ones found in plants. I prefer infusions and herbal vinegars; but meat could be a faster fix. WLVJean: When I go into the health food store or the drug store there are all these brands of vitamins on the shelves. How do I tell which brand is better than another? Susun Weed: None are any good; go outside and pick dandelions. WLVJean: My yard doesn't have dandelions :) Susun Weed: Plantain, violets, sorrel .... Dearest: In lieu of dandelions, Susun, what would you recommend for those who want to purchase health food products? Susun Weed: Buying vitamins in pills promotes the extinction of the species! In many ways. My apprentices and I have eaten weeds off the streets of every city. In north America and many in Europe; don't tell me there aren't weeds. MMccar8355: Why do you call your mineral mix: Old Sour Puss"? Susun Weed: Old women get to be cranky and kick ass cuz we don't have to keep our knees together anymore. Emy white: Ok, Susau, I will eat meat, but the only thing I like is Hebrew National hot dogs. Any suggestions? A friend of mine ate some weeds and it was hemlock and she is still in a coma for 7 yrs. BFahs2: Suggestions for intestinal distress? Gastritis, food allergies, etc. Susun Weed: Dandelion before meals; slippery elm after. BFahs2: That dandelion again. RoMaGraves: I pick amaranth and dandelions for my iguana. He is always much healthier in the summer. Can I grow them on the window sill in the winter so I can have my share, too? Susun Weed: Read more about dandelion in my book Healing Wise. Emy white: Actually, I was serious about the meat question, Susan. What kind of meat do you suggest? Susun Weed: Dear Emy: organic; chicken soup; a steak; I eat my own. Dearest: Susun, let's take a moment to give the names of your books, please, and where the women can purchase them. Susun Weed: Books: Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years Healing Wise Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way Susun Weed: Order with credit card 1-800-356-9315 By mail from PO Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498 (also for course info) Batchika2: I came in late, what herbs do you recommend for "personal summers"? Susun Weed: I know it seems too simple, but 1-2 cups of nourishing infusion and 1-2 tablespoons of herbal vinegar a day really build bones, keep the heart strong, and turn down the heat. But you have to take care of yourself too. Not try to do what you've always done. THIS IS CHANGE AND CHANGE REQUIRES SOMETHING FROM YOU. MsLizzieB: In lieu of meat, you can get equal nutrients from beans, nuts, seeds, etc. Just as good. Susun Weed: Nutrients not as good, no heme iron. MsLizzieB: But isn't iron from plants more easily absorbed? Susun Weed: No; when heme iron runs out (7-10 years after last meat) iron from plants won't be absorbed. Emy white: Am I the only one out there with such a horrendous sugar bingeing problem at ovulation? So again, would you summarize emergency help for sugar cravings? Susun Weed: Minerals; fast source is chocolate. Dgordon97: Never heard the answer on infusion. What is it? Susun Weed: 1 ounce dried herb brewed overnight in 1 quart boiling water. Emy white: I don't know why you are so sarcastic. I must sound stupid with this problem. Susun Weed: Sarcastic???? Dearest: Emy, no one is being sarcastic. We're just trying to move along :) Susun Weed: Chocolate is an excellent source of minerals; I really recommend it highly. BFahs2: What is "heme" iron? All this talk about meat being good is weird for this old hippie! Susun Weed: Heme iron is the molecular structure of iron as found in our blood (cuz we animals). Plant iron has a different structure. So long as there is heme iron in your blood, plant iron can hitch hike without it, nothing helps. Dearest: Susun, what natural remedies would you recommend to someone with palpitations? Susun Weed: Motherwort tincture, 10 drops as needed. Dearest: Anything else? Susun Weed: Cherry juice Dearest: Any particular kind? Natural? Please elaborate? Susun Weed: Hawthorn extract, garlic, but motherwort is best and works at the time, no waiting. Dearest: Thanks, Susun. BJHiser, go ahead with your question. BJHiser: What help is there for menopausal migraines? I want to get off prescription drugs Susun Weed: Complicated - milk thistle sedd tincture may be helpful. Seed or hypericum perforatum. BJHiser: Am new to feverfew. Think it might be helping. Susun Weed: Feverfew needs to be fresh, dried is worthless according to good double blind studies. But I'm in favor of whatever works for you so long as there's no harm. Emy white: Chocolate is a big problem for me. Guess you think weight gain is important. This is very serious for me and chocolate makes me sick and I just want more. Susun Weed: Thinking how to answer so you can hear. Minerals come from whole grains. White flour products lack them. Minerals allow the hormones - all of them - those that control weight too, to be produced adequately. You can improve mineral balance in many ways. Organic animal products are one of the fastest. I thought you said you binged on carbs (am I confused?), so recommended a little chocolate. Emy white: Carbs (sugar and fat) Susun Weed: Sugar and fat are not carbs. Starches are carbs. Emy white: Well, it's mainly things like sweets. RoMaGraves: You have made some undying friends with your endorsement of chocolate as a mineral source!!! TWAM2: What do you recommend for vaginal dryness due to Menopause? Susun Weed: Covered that 15 minutes ago; acidophilus capsules, Inserted vaginally, kegels, orgasm. Batchika2: Answer if not too personal, how old are you? Susun Weed: 50 haven't bled for 20 months APLPWR: Any remedies for low libido? Susun Weed: Reruns!!! Lesbianism Dearest: Susun, why do you recommend lesbianism for low libido? Just curious. There are heterosexual women asking viable questions about low libido. APLPWR: Not funny, this is a real problem. Susun Weed: Women lubricate more slowly after meno; men rush - women go slow. Dearest: Susan, what would you recommend for *heterosexual* women with lowered sex drives? Susun Weed: Teach your man to make love like a woman. Dearest: Okay, we'll have them dress in drag next time :) Susun Weed: Say no until you find yes. APLPWR: My man is fine, I have the problem! Dearest: Show Me Mom, go ahead :) ShowMeMom: Why is it the older I get the worse my cramping is? Any help besides meds? I am 35. Susun Weed: Children? ShowMeMom: One, 10 years old. Susun Weed: Cramps worse since? ShowMeMom: Just in the last year or two. Susun Weed: Maybe calcium/magnesium balance; eat yogurt? ShowMeMom: Not often, but will try anything, thanks. Susun Weed: Motherwort also excellent to ease cramps - both short term and long term. At the acute instance, 10 drops every 15 minutes. In the long term, usually within three months of acute use, cramps disappear. BFahs2: In what form and how much Feverfew must you take for it to be effective agst. migraines? Susun Weed: Feverfew fresh; two leaves a day. RoMaGraves: Is carob as good a mineral source as chocolate? For those who can't eat the real thing. Susun Weed: Carob as sold is usually loaded with hydrogenated fat; do you eat the pods? RoMaGraves: Sometimes use the powder. Susun Weed: Best mineral sources are herbal vinegars and herbal Infusions. Dearest: Emy, go ahead.. but please let's not prolong the "sweets" questions, thanks :) Emy white: Re carbs, cake and cookies and ice-cream break down into sugar. That's carbs. not just pasta. Dearest: (sigh) Emy white: I will never ever bring it up again! promise. Susun Weed: All food breaks down into sugar. The brain lives on sugar, without sugar we would die. Sugar must be combined with minerals to create health. Refined, it lacks the minerals the brain needs and we ask the same question over and over (sarcastic??!!) Emy white: Don't mind me. Being a lawyer makes one kind of dense, I guess. BJHiser: Two comments: KY jelly good for dry vagina (water soluble). Re cramps: fibroids can cause/see MD. Susun Weed: KY jelly allows penetration. Is that really all you want to do/be? An available hole??!! Dearest: PZ, please go ahead with your question asap! PZukow: Do you believe in correcting ailments by diet rather than in taking herbs in capsule form? Susun Weed: Most herbs in capsule form are worthless. Nourishing herbs are part of my diet. PZukow: Could you elaborate a bit on herbs in capsule? Susun Weed: Ever keep a jar of powdered cinnamon for a year? Worthless. PZukow: What if you take them when fresh? Susun Weed: Manufacturers won't put when they powdered the herb on the jar, so you can't really know if it is fresh. If you need an herb powdered, best to do it yourself. Liver must "taste" food/herbs to digest them. When we throw pills into the stomach they are rarely digested. While infusion pre-digest the minerals and other nourishing aspects of the plants for us. Vinegars, too. Nanshaman: Susan, is your book Luna Yoga good for lesbians? or just for women who want to reproduce? Susun Weed: All of my books are for lesbians as well as for any women. I publish luna yoga, but did not write it. Written by a Swiss woman who used her system to beat her invasive uterine cancer without surgery. Improves fertility, increases vaginal lubrication, improves uterine health - in short, a powerful system of exercises, dances, and herbs for women who want to be all they can. BFahs2: Re migraine: 2 feverfew leaves/day? So small - munch or make tea? Susun Weed: Leaves of feverfew are 5-7 inches in length. Two in the morning fresh is the standard dose - eaten as is. I use dried herbs. Life is not consistent. I am not consistent. Food is not consistent in its nutrients. Why on earth should herbs be consistent? SMartin992: Susun, it sounds like at one time you may have been heterosexual and are now a lesbian by the advice you were giving about men. That definitely is a generality about men and women. Susun Weed: I'm in a monogamous relationship with a man; have been for 11 years. Dearest: We're not here to talk about Susun's sexual proclivities, just natural methods of dealing with our health. Dearest: Have you had enough questions for one night, Susun? Susun Weed: Never!!! Dearest: You want to go on? PZ, go ahead. We'll go on until 11:15. PZukow: Herb capsules versus dried herbs - freshness seems about the same? Susun Weed: Absolutely not. The more broken the herb the less value. Dried herbs retain value for several years, powdered herbs for several months. Dried herbs are brewed into infusions] - powdered ones taken in capsules, preventing digestion. Of course, you can try tasting, eating, brewing the herbs in capsules but then why pay for the capsules. Bulk herbs are far cheaper. It all lies in the problem of the cell wall, which must be broken to allow us to absorb nutrients and medicinal properties. But if broken too much allow value to seep out. Dearest: Thanks, Susun. BJH, go ahead. BJHiser: I don't have time to do much extra, easier to do Health food herb preps. Practical advice? Susun Weed: Last thing at night, I turn on the kettle, boil a quart of water while I'm in the bathroom brushing my teeth and counting my gray hairs. Then I put one ounce of dried herb in a quart jar, pour in the water, screw on the cap and go to bed. Doesn't come much easier than that. The infusion is ready the next morning. I strain it if I have time if not, I take the entire jar with me to work or where ever I need to go - ok over ice or warm with honey or salt. You can buy dried bulk herbs at you health food store. Don't have to grow or collect them. Dearest: Excellent info, Susun. Batch.. go ahead!! Batchika2: Got any anti-viral remedies? I have been very sick. Susun Weed: St. Joan's, also known as St. John's, but I never liked him so I changed the name. Dearest: Tell us more, if you would, about St. John's :) Susun Weed: Botanically hypericum perforatum is a safe anti-viral effective against herpes, shingles, aids, and depression. RoMaGraves: Do dandelions like to be grown indoors? Susun Weed: Too deep rooted, but chickweed loves it indoors - as do some other common weeds like oxalis. RoMaGraves: Chickweed is good mineral source, too? Susun Weed: Yup, and may prevent metas of cancer!!! RoMaGraves: Lamb's quarters? Susun Weed: Lambs quarters, yummy. Dearest: Susun, all the info you've imparted has been marvelous, but I wonder if you had to name the most important vitamins, minerals, herbs we need during menopause, which would you name? Susun Weed: All minerals are important. Vitamins are easy to get, they are present in all animal and vegetable products, but minerals may be lacking in commercially grown foods. So I use herbal infusions such as comfrey leaf, red clover blossoms, nettle leaves, oatstraw, violet leaves, and raspberry leaves as mineral sources every day. Bonepause is part of menopause. Bones don't absorb minerals the same during meno, so it is vital to consume lots. Yogurt is also a critical food at this time helping to keep vaginal tissues moist, free of infection and healthy. Dearest: Yogurt for vaginal dryness. Susun Weed: Also helps prevent incontinence and strengthens the immune system. The longest lived peoples on the planet eat fermented milk every day. Me too. WLVJean: What is a good source of calcium, so I don't have to take those store-bought pills? Susun Weed: Herbal infusions as listed above and herbal vinegars - but those you will have to make, most likely. RoMaGraves: Thank you. Definitely will be in touch to order Reading material. Enjoyed this chat mucho. Dearest: Susun, thanks so much for joining us in Power Surge tonight. It was a pleasure having you here. The answers you provided were exemplary. Again, thanks, and we hope you return to Power Surge very soon! Susun Weed: You are all wonderful but this medium is frustrating. Dearest: First time, Susun. It'll be easier next go round :) WLVJean: Thanks, Susun ... (G) Dearest: You had a LOT of women anxious to ask LOTS of questions :) And, let me say, you're a storage house of information!!!! Susun Weed: Could we post section from my book that lists sources of all vitamins and minerals? Dearest: Yes, of course, Susun. Give me the material and I'll post it :) Susun Weed: Thank you. Do you have book. Dearest: Which book.. the Menopausal? Susun Weed: Yup Dearest: No, I had it out of the library. Why don't I call and get a copy from you? Susun Weed: Great - call 914-246-8081 this Wednesday between 11-4pm EST I'll be there. Dearest: Okay, terrific :) Susun Weed: Til then goodbye. Dearest: Good night, Susun. Thanks for the ... informative chat :) Disclaimer: Every guest in Power Surge is a highly respected professional whose opinions are his/her own. An appearance in Power Surge does not constitute an endorsement of a guest's views. None of these transcripts may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Power Surge™ and the respective guest. Read other transcripts by returning to the Library. Dearest aka Alice Stamm Power Surge Founder, Facilitator, Host Copyright©1994-2009 by Power Surge. All Rights Reserved.