Pelvic Congestion Pelvic Congestion in Women in Women

Dr Mary Bove NDDr Mary Bove ND

Pelvis congestion - a dysfunctional state of Pelvis congestion - a dysfunctional state of the pelvic circulation and movement which the pelvic circulation and movement which can manifest as many symptoms, can manifest as many symptoms, syndromes and disease states of the syndromes and disease states of the female reproductive system. female reproductive system.

As the term implies the pelvic region of As the term implies the pelvic region of the body becomes congested, engorged, the body becomes congested, engorged, and stagnant be it with lymph fluids, and stagnant be it with lymph fluids, blood, inflammation, emotions, traumas, blood, inflammation, emotions, traumas, and energy. and energy.

The normal movement of the pelvic region The normal movement of the pelvic region becomes compromised and lack of vitality becomes compromised and lack of vitality sets in, leading to dysfunction and diseasesets in, leading to dysfunction and disease

Disease states, Signs Disease states, Signs and Symptoms and Symptoms associated with Pelvic associated with Pelvic CongestionCongestion fibroids, dysmenorrhea, heavy fibroids, dysmenorrhea, heavy

bleeding, endometriosis, PMS, bleeding, endometriosis, PMS, labial varicosities, painful labial varicosities, painful intercourse, vaginal discharge, intercourse, vaginal discharge, abdominal water retention, abdominal water retention, low back pain, infertility, low back pain, infertility, irregular menses, bladder irregular menses, bladder issues, and constipationissues, and constipation

Female Pelvic HealthFemale Pelvic Health

is an integrated balance is an integrated balance between the physiological between the physiological functions of the organs and functions of the organs and tissues of the pelvis, the tissues of the pelvis, the women’s emotional attitudes, women’s emotional attitudes, her self-image, past traumas in her self-image, past traumas in her life, and lifestyle practices her life, and lifestyle practices to support pelvic vitalityto support pelvic vitality

Botanical medicinesBotanical medicines

physiological malfunctions of the organs, physiological malfunctions of the organs, tissues and body systems while offering tissues and body systems while offering

tonic qualities for building and tonic qualities for building and replenishing stressed areas of the pelvis replenishing stressed areas of the pelvis and entire bodyand entire body

reaches into the energetic realm to offer reaches into the energetic realm to offer support in release of emotion, tension, support in release of emotion, tension, memory from the pelvic region memory from the pelvic region

open the channels for better pelvic open the channels for better pelvic movement, circulation of blood and lymph, movement, circulation of blood and lymph, and energetic circulation.and energetic circulation.

Pelvic DecongestantsPelvic Decongestants

This group of plants acts to This group of plants acts to decrease congestion in the pelvic decrease congestion in the pelvic

region, region, increases circulation of fluids to and increases circulation of fluids to and

from pelvic regionfrom pelvic region balancing tissue, muscle, and balancing tissue, muscle, and

vascular tension vascular tension increases vitality of the organs and increases vitality of the organs and

tissues tissues

Pelvic DecongestantsPelvic Decongestants

Used in formula for fibroids, painful Used in formula for fibroids, painful menses, heavy menses, prolapsed menses, heavy menses, prolapsed uterus, prolapsed vaginal walls, uterus, prolapsed vaginal walls, endometriosis, PMS, labial endometriosis, PMS, labial varicosities, painful intercourse, varicosities, painful intercourse, vaginal discharge, abdominal water vaginal discharge, abdominal water retention, low back pain, infertility, retention, low back pain, infertility, irregular menses, bladder issues, and irregular menses, bladder issues, and constipation constipation

Combine withCombine with

circulatory stimulates such circulatory stimulates such as capsicum, as capsicum,

ginger, ginger, cinnamon, cinnamon, xanthoxyllum, xanthoxyllum, rosemary rosemary

Combine withCombine with

Anti-spasmodic and nervine herbs to Anti-spasmodic and nervine herbs to relax the muscular tissues in the pelvis relax the muscular tissues in the pelvis region, but also to relax the whole region, but also to relax the whole body, so as to bring a generalized body, so as to bring a generalized relaxed state to the whole person. relaxed state to the whole person.

Consider aromatic herbs with pleasant Consider aromatic herbs with pleasant flavors such as melissa, rose petals, flavors such as melissa, rose petals, lavender flowers, holy basil, hops, or lavender flowers, holy basil, hops, or linden flowers.linden flowers.

Uterine tonicUterine tonic play a very important role in the treatment of play a very important role in the treatment of

pelvic congestive conditionspelvic congestive conditions tonics feed and support normal function of the tonics feed and support normal function of the

reproductive organs and tissues reproductive organs and tissues act more slowly, given over a period of time to act more slowly, given over a period of time to

bring about a long lasting and regulating effectbring about a long lasting and regulating effect use tonic plants throughout the menstrual use tonic plants throughout the menstrual

cycle for the symptoms of pelvic congestion cycle for the symptoms of pelvic congestion acting to change the tissue state over several acting to change the tissue state over several monthsmonths

many uterine tonic herbs also have many uterine tonic herbs also have decongesting action along with antispasmodic decongesting action along with antispasmodic activityactivity

Botanical Pelvic Botanical Pelvic DecongestantsDecongestants Anemone pulsatilla- Windflower, Anemone pulsatilla- Windflower,

Pasque FlowerPasque Flower Angelica sinensisAngelica sinensis Cimicfuga racemosa-Black CohashCimicfuga racemosa-Black Cohash Viburnum opulus- Cramp Bark, Viburnum opulus- Cramp Bark,

Highbush CranberryHighbush Cranberry Viburnum prunifolium - Black HawViburnum prunifolium - Black Haw Alchemilla vulgaris- Lady’s MantleAlchemilla vulgaris- Lady’s Mantle Leonurus cardiaca - MotherswortLeonurus cardiaca - Motherswort Mitchella repens - Squaw VineMitchella repens - Squaw Vine

Mitchella Mitchella repensrepens

Alchemilla vulgarisAlchemilla vulgaris

Lady’s MantleLady’s Mantle

Leonurus Leonurus cardiacacardiaca

MotherwortMotherwort

Vaginal Steams, Sitz Vaginal Steams, Sitz Baths, and Topical Pelvic Baths, and Topical Pelvic RubsRubs

Do not underestimate the power of Do not underestimate the power of these wonderful herbal preparations these wonderful herbal preparations in the treatment of pelvic congestion in the treatment of pelvic congestion in women. in women.

They offer another avenue to use They offer another avenue to use herbs to access this area for a herbs to access this area for a woman while offering the beneficial woman while offering the beneficial aspects of essential oils, touch, aspects of essential oils, touch, massage, warm steam and water.massage, warm steam and water.

Vaginal SteamVaginal Steam use a cup of mixed herbs in 3 cups of use a cup of mixed herbs in 3 cups of

boiling water. boiling water. Sit over the bowl of steaming infusion Sit over the bowl of steaming infusion

with a blanket wrapped around you and with a blanket wrapped around you and the chair to keep the steam from the chair to keep the steam from escaping. escaping.

Useful herbs to use might include mints, Useful herbs to use might include mints, lemon balm, rose petals, calendula lemon balm, rose petals, calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, lavender flowers, chamomile flowers, lavender flowers, pine needles, eucalyptus leaves, flowers, pine needles, eucalyptus leaves, hyssop, oregano, thyme, holy basil, or hyssop, oregano, thyme, holy basil, or raspberry leaves.raspberry leaves.

Herbal Sitz BathHerbal Sitz Bath

is a bath in which the water covers the is a bath in which the water covers the hips and lower abdomen of the woman hips and lower abdomen of the woman when she sits in the tub. when she sits in the tub.

A strong infusion is made from 3 A strong infusion is made from 3 tablespoons of herbal mix, (see above tablespoons of herbal mix, (see above vaginal steam for a list of herbs) to 3 vaginal steam for a list of herbs) to 3 cups of boiling water steep 10 minutes, cups of boiling water steep 10 minutes, strain out the herb, add to the bath strain out the herb, add to the bath water. water.

Sit in bath 15 to 20 minutes.Sit in bath 15 to 20 minutes.

Topical Pelvic RubsTopical Pelvic Rubs are made from a combination of are made from a combination of

essential oils, castor oil, sesame oil and essential oils, castor oil, sesame oil and a small amount of herbal tincture. a small amount of herbal tincture.

One of my favorite recipes is a mix of 2 One of my favorite recipes is a mix of 2 ounces castor oil, 4 ounces of sesame ounces castor oil, 4 ounces of sesame oil, 1 ounce of lobelia oil, 5 drops of oil, 1 ounce of lobelia oil, 5 drops of nutmeg essential oil, 5 drops nutmeg essential oil, 5 drops peppermint essential oil, 5 drops peppermint essential oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of fir lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of fir oil, 5 mls of capsicum tincture. oil, 5 mls of capsicum tincture.

Shake well before application. Apply Shake well before application. Apply over lower abdomen before bed.over lower abdomen before bed.

Becoming a woman,Becoming a woman,

you feel the moonyou feel the moon

Tug at your blood,Tug at your blood,

And you begin to And you begin to sensesense

The mysteries of The mysteries of the new body.the new body.

John O’donohueJohn O’donohue

““To Bless the Space Between Us”To Bless the Space Between Us”