Natural Fertility and Wellness
Get pregnant naturally and balance your hormones. Natural fertility tips, recipes for fertility, and natural living information to help you be the healthiest you can be.
Welcome to the Natural Fertility and Wellness Fertility Challenge where we tackle multiple aspects of wellness that can help us better our overall health and increase fertility/balance hormones.
This challenge is currently undergoing an overhaul and we’ll be going through another challenge in June 2018! Jot down your name and email below and I’ll send you an email as soon as we launch another session. đ
There are only three ingredients that you need to make a simple homemade sugar scrub â a sugar or salt exfoliant, a carrier oil, and an essential oil.
There are many definitions of self-care. Here is a basic definition:
Self-care refers to actions and attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of well-being and personal health and promote human development. Or, the little things that we do for ourselves or tell ourselves to feel emotionally and physically healthy.
When I think back to my fertility journey and self-care, I remember focusing the majority of my attention on my inner health. Nutrition, supplements, herbs, and exercise were my priorities. And, yes, those were all very worthwhile ways to practice self-care. But I largely ignored my external body, other than regular castor oil packs for my PCOS.
Now that I spend time helping others with their fertility, I have discovered the positive power of self-care with essential oils. One of my favorite ways to enjoy these naturally scented oils, particularly in the winter when my skin is extremely dry, is to create homemade body scrubs. I feel so relaxed and my skin feels amazing when I treat myself to a self-care spa treatment!
If you have sensitive skin, I suggest using a sugar scrub as salt may be too harsh for your skin. I prefer brown sugar (turbinado raw cane sugar) because it smells decadent. But you can also use white cane sugar. If you want to try salt, consider using a fine grain sea salt. Coarse salt may be too harsh on delicate skin.
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Carrier oils bind the scrub and help to soften the skin. They also help to dilute the essential oils, which are very potent. For scrubs, I prefer safflower, grapeseed or almond oils because they have very little scent. Olive oil and coconut oil can also be used, but they each have a distinctive scent. If you have very dry skin, macadamia nut oil is a thick and nourishing choice that will leave winter-damaged skin soft.
When it comes to essential oils, there are several that are known for their hormone balancing properties, including geranium, clary sage, sandalwood, and frankincense. Peppermint, ylang-ylang, and ginger are excellent libido boosters. Essential oil companies also sell blends for particular purposes â such as Stress Relief, Calming, or Balancing. You may find a particular aroma to be pleasing. So use what makes you feel good. Experiment. Get creative. Just be sure to read the bottle for warnings. Some oils, such as clary sage, should not be used after ovulation or during pregnancy.
My favorite essential oils for simple scrubs are peppermint and lavender. Peppermint is very energizing and great to use in my morning shower. Lavender is calming and is the perfect oil for an evening bath.
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Here is my go-to recipe for a Homemade Sugar Scrub:
âSelf-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, then we can give from our surplus, our abundance.â ~ Jennifer Louden
Changing our health isn’t easy.
There is no quick fix, or an easy pill to take once a day that will help our bodies heal so that we can thrive.
It takes hard work, determination, and lots of help and support from others.
My story is like many of yours I’m sure… ate the Standard American Diet or followed the Food Pyramid growing up, found out it was super hard to get pregnant when I didn’t ovulate (who’d a thunk?!), and decided to do anything I could to change the way my body functioned.
I wasn’t sure it would work at first.
Six months later, when my cycle was normal for the first time ever, I considered my changes a success! In fact, my story is the reason I started this site seven years ago and I’ve been given a first row seat in seeing hundreds, if not thousands, of women change their health for the better in that time.
I know what itâs like to feel that healthy living is difficult, and it costs so much! I mean, donât you ever wish someone would just tell you exactly what you need to know and how to make these changes for less?
When you have the right info and tools at your fingertips, it all comes together so much more easily. You know what to cook for your family. Youâre more confident in choosing natural alternatives. You can easily replace store-bought products with DIY options that really work. You feel better (and even look better, too). Healthy living becomes less stressful and more enjoyable.
Thatâs why Stephanie and her team have put together the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle for the fourth year in a row. Each year, theyâre amazed at how many families are saying âyes!â to their health and taking them up on this super short opportunity to get a complete collection of natural-living resources for a crazy low price.
(this bundle is no longer available – sign up at the Ultimate Bundle
You sort of need to see it to believe it, but the package includes over 90 digital products on topics like natural remedies (three books written specifically about fertility), essential oils, real food recipes, paleo & allergy-friendly eating, fitness & weight loss and much more. All together, itâs worth over $1900 if you were to buy all of these books separately!
Plus, it comes with $225 worth of bonus products including:
AND… I’m going to throw in an extra bonus for the first five people who order their bundle through my link! Once you order your bundle after clicking this link (https://us154.isrefer.com/go/bundle/a50/), simply email me your transaction number along with your address and I’ll mail you a paperback copy of my book Naturally Knocked Up. (already reached)
And since I normally have a lot more than five of my readers that order the bundle (this is my fourth year promoting and my second year as a contributing author – thousands of people order this every fall!) I’ll make sure anyone else that orders through my link gets a $10 coupon code to my brand new Herbal Products line over at ApothecaryKids.com.
(Don’t forget to click this link first https://us154.isrefer.com/go/bundle/a50/ , then go purchase your bundle and email me your transaction number!)
The most important detail, though, is that this bundle is available for just 6 days! After Monday night, September 14th, the sale ends and youâd have to buy all of these products individually. Extended to 3PM EST on Tuesday the 15th due to server failure last night!
Iâd hate for you to miss out, so click HEREÂ to learn more or buy the bundle.
Itâs even backed by a full 30-day guarantee, so you can know for sure that itâs right for you.
If you’re ready to make that next step in getting healthier, and want to purchase the Healthy Living Bundle, I thought I’d help give you the extra push to actually USE the information (because I know I’ve purchased some things and never used them….) So after going through the entire bundle package of ebooks, ecourses, and bonus offers, here are some of my recommendations on where to start based on what your issue/goal is. (Each section may have some overlap.)
Start with the ebook Debunking PCOS by Nat Kringoudis and get the information you need to get your hormones back on track to tame those wild ovaries of yours and overcome PCOS and endometriosis.
Putting together meals can also be made easier with the Once a Month Meals membership. They have all sorts of plans from their traditional meals, to gluten-free, to paleo, to whole foods. I’m using my plan this week to help me prepare for this next month and our busy business season!
And of course you’ll want to check out the fitness category as movement is so important for metabolism and hormonal health! If you’re like I am right now and haven’t been exercising regularly, start with the Fit2Be Foundations 5 routines.
One of the other bonus offers is a $15 credit to TriLight Health’s six best sellers – one of which is LivCare – Liver and Skin Cleansing Support (Liver, gallbladder, juandice, skin, and dermatitis support. Cleanses and rejuvenates the liver.) This would be a great pick as the liver is so important in breaking down hormones and eliminating them from the body.
Speaking of liver support, you can grab Perfect Supplements Perfect Desiccated Liver capsules for only $4.95 after using the $15 credit you get with the bundle purchase.
Since endo has such a strong gut/inflammation connection, start by reading these ebooks:
And of course you’ll want to check out the fitness category as movement is so important for metabolism and hormonal health! If you’re like I am right now and haven’t been exercising regularly, start with the Fit2Be Foundations 5 routines. It’s low impact so you won’t put yourself in more pain by working out!
One of the other bonus offers is a $15 credit to TriLight Health’s six best sellers – one of which is LivCare – Liver and Skin Cleansing Support (Liver, gallbladder, juandice, skin, and dermatitis support. Cleanses and rejuvenates the liver.) This would be a great pick as the liver is so important in breaking down hormones and eliminating them from the body.
Speaking of liver support, you can grab Perfect Supplements Perfect Desiccated Liver capsules for only $4.95 after using the $15 credit you get with the bundle purchase.
We were all there once! And it’s something I’m continually learning about and making changes in my diet and lifestyle.
Start first with Love Your Body by Elizabeth Walling to help set you up on a healthy course of action.
For diet, first read Real Food for Rookies by Kelly the Kitchen Kop(Improve your diet and health with this simple, easy-to-follow guide to real food) and then move on to Your Grace-Filled Journey to Real Food by Diana Bauman (Increase your understanding of the industrial food system so that you can begin to make simple changes for the health of your family) and Real Food Basics: Second Edition by Kate Tietje (Learn the basics of cooking real, recognizable foods in your own kitchen).
Take a look through the cookbooks and find a few new recipes to try! There are like 36 ecookbooks, so you’re sure to find a few new meals you’ll love.
The next step is planning out a menu, but if you’d like some help as you begin, it can be made easier with the Once a Month Meals membership credit that comes free with the bundle. They have all sorts of plans from their traditional meals, to gluten-free, to paleo, to whole foods.
The next step would be to replace some of your beauty and cleaning products, so read Detox Your Home Handbook by Katie @ Wellness Mama (Discover natural alternatives to everyday household products as you walk step-by-step through the process of switching them out the easy way), DIY Personal Care Products by Nina Nelson(Start making your own personal care products with these step-by-step recipes and tips), and DIY Natural Household Cleaners by Matt & Betsy Jabs(Make all your own homemade cleaning products using simple, natural ingredients with 60+ money saving recipes for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, wood, windows, walls, air, and more.)
Fitness is also an important aspect of keeping out bodies strong and healthy. It’s always best to start with the basics, and that would be the Foundational Five Plus ecourse from Fit2B. Then move onto the Healthy Moving Core by Jennifer Hoffman. The other courses have more advanced motions which – after laying a solid foundation – you would be MORE than ready to tackle!
First things first, grab the Printable Essential Oil Reference Guide by Mandi Ehman and use these handy printables to quickly reference safety information and usage tips for the essential oils in your collection.
Then read The Truth About Essential Oil Safety by Lea Harris to help you sort through the fact and fiction of using essential oils safely and effectively with this guide from certified aromatherapist Lea Harris.
Sign up for the Essential Oils for Families course by Jessie Hawkins and learn to use essential oils for your whole family in a manner that is both safe, effective and based on sound science as well as How To Protect Your Family from Colds and Flu Using Essential Oils by Andrea Butje to learn which essential oils can help you prevent or recover from respiratory infections, why the oils work, and how to use them in this comprehensive, three-hour study.
And definitely sign up for The Herbarium by Marlene Adelmann (a membership site)Â where you’ll have access to complete and constantly updated herbal monographs, photographs and thoughtful articles as well as educational podcasts, videos, tutorials, and teaching charts.
You can also use your $15 Bloom credit, and $16 ePantry credit to grab natural items you need for your little one!
Itâs Summertime! Do you know what are you putting on your pits?! Do you know how to choose a healthy deodorant?
This is the time of year where things can get a little stinkier. And commercial antiperspirants and deodorant works so well! But is it safe to use? Weâll explore that questions as well as your options in this article.
âAluminum competes with calcium for absorption, making it hard for our bodies to absorb a much-needed nutrient…â  {Source:  Donielle Baker, Naturally Knocked Up}  “Aluminum acts as a neurotoxin and has been implicated in a number of health issues. Ingredients such as propylene glycol and disodium EDTA help other ingredients travel deeper into the skin, making the antiperspirants more effective. While penetration enhancers tend not to be toxic, they increase your exposure to the other chemicals in the product.”  {Source}
Parabens are used as a preservative in many products, are xenoestrogenic (synthetic estrogen-like compound) and can upset your hormone balance and put unnecessary stress on your liver. They have also been found in breast tumor tissue.{Source} Their presence in tumors doesn’t confirm they help cause tumors, but frankly, I don’t want any foreign substances collecting in my body, thank you very much.
Phthalates are ingredients that make a product flexible. They are again xenoestrogenic. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” in the Twelfth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program.
Current levels of seven phthalates studied by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences posed “minimal” concern for causing reproductive effects. However, the National Toxicology Program concluded that high levels of one phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, may adversely affect human reproduction or development.
High levels of exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate through the use of medical tubing and other plastic devices for feeding, medicating, and assisting the breathing of newborn infants may affect the development of the male reproductive system, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.â {Source}
Sweating may not be your favorite pastime, but it is good for you! Itâs best not to block it. Here are some of the benefits of sweating:
Ok so now you know why you should avoid commercial antiperspirants and deodorants with these ingredients. But how do you manage the stink naturally? Most of us have some sort of scent and would rather not head off to work and social functions without some assurance that we won’t scare off others.
You actually have two kinds of sweat glands:Â one is more about temperature control, and it happens through the eccrine glands.
Apocrine glands, on the other hand, secrete a fatty sweat directly into the tubule of the gland. When you’re under emotional stress, the wall of the tubule contracts and the sweat is pushed to the surface of your skin where bacteria begin breaking it down. Most often, it’s the bacterial breakdown of apocrine sweat that causes an odor. {Source}
Here are couple ways to help the liver:
A. Â Chlorophyl in tablets, tinctures or green drinks can help support your detox
B.  Phosphatidylserine can lower your cortisol levels. When I was taking this regularly I was ânervous sweatingâ less. (Ask me your practitioner for this one!)
Many womenâs fashions are all up in your armpit!  If you are going to a big meeting (nervous) or a picnic in July (hot) this may not be a good choice. Let your pits breathe and choose shirts or dresses that aren’t too tight around your arms and chest.
Choosing the right fabric is also helpful! Lighter kinds of cotton tend to breathe better than thick synthetics.
Iâve been testing out natural deodorants for quite a while now, and luckily I found a winner just before writing this article!
Itâs Schmidtâs natural deodorant (available on Amazon), made right here in Portland! Schmidtâs spreads on well for longer-lasting coverage. (I am using the lavender and sage variety.)
There are many other natural options out there as well! Some are made with only natural oils, others contain ingredients that, while not considered natural, are safer than others. Take a look at the Skin Deep Database to see how your favorite deodorant scores and use the one that works best for you that has the lowest score.
Take caution with crystal deodorant, as it contains potassium alum (short for aluminum.) {Source}
Another option is to make your own deodorant so that you can make changes as necessary.
One bit of advice – sometimes it can take a few weeks for your body odor to reduce as you switch to more natural deodorants! And if you begin to deal with skin irritation, check to see if the option you chose contains baking soda as some people cannot tolerate the daily use of it on their skin.
Enjoy your summer and enjoy a naturally lovely smell!
