Herbal Allies for a Changing World

Peak oil. Wars, revolutions, and uprisings. Economic crisis. Earthquakes, storms, and floods. Nuclear disaster.

We are living in a world undergoing tremendous change -- a world giving birth to itself. And all of that is mirrored in our individual lives as well. The old structures are breaking open. The new ones have not yet emerged.

Now is the time when the world most needs us to bring our gifts forward. What can help us step up and accept the challenge?

Plants and fungi are our biological ancestors. They have lived on the Earth far longer than we have, and they can teach us how to let go of our grief, fear, and shame and remember how to stand in the fullness of our beauty and our power. And connecting with them connects us with the wisdom of the living Earth.

Sean Donahue is an herbalist, poet, activist, and witch who believes that personal, community, and planetary healing are deeply intertwined. In a six week series of teleseminars he will share his perspective on how we can work with plants and fungi to prepare ourselves for the roles we have to play in healing our communities and our planet -- the work we were born to do.

People are invited to take part in all six calls or just one. There is no charge for the teleseminars (except from your phone company for a long distance call) but donations are welcomed. Each call will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT and run between 90 minutes and two hours with time for questions and comments. Calls will be recorded.

April 21 -- Grounding and protection
April 28 -- Working with grief
May 5 -- Cooling the head -- fear, anxiety, and anger
May 12 -- She changes everything She touches -- opening to change
May 19 -- Dreaming and visioning
May 26- Stepping into action

The call in number is (605) 475-4000 and the Participant Access Code is 355068#

Because questions may come up after the call is done, I have also set up a discussion group on Google. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/herbal-allies-for-a-changing-world to subscribe.

These calls are free of charge. The only expectation is that you will use this knowledge to better do your own valuable work in the world.

However, the work of preparing and delivering this information does take a lot of time and energy. If you can afford to, and are so moved, I would greatly appreciate a donation. Be it $5 or $500, every gift sincerely offered is an important contribution to moving this work forward. Donations may be sent by Paypal to seandonahepoet@gmail.com or via the link below.

For those seeking personal guidance I am available for private consultations either by phone or in person in Portland, Turner, or Hallowell, Maine. E-mail seandonahuepoet@gmail.com

To listen to a recording of the first call go to:

http://www.seandonahue.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/groundingandprotection.mp3

To donate click here

Its International Hemophilia Day! Let’s talk Sexuality and Hemophilia

At CSHC, we recognize that sexuality is integral to human development across the lifespan.  Daily, we work towards our vision:  “A society where sexuality, in all its dimensions, is considered a normal and healthy expression of life and everyone has the right and the ability to make informed choices to achieve sexual well-being.”

This includes people with chronic illness – such as hemophilia. 

According to an article by K. L. Parish of the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California, “As an integral part of the ‘whole person’ with hemophilia, sexuality needs to be considered and understood by those providing the healthcare, in order for them to be available, effective, and comprehensive in bringing about meaningful positive outcomes.”

She points to the biopsychosocial model of medical care for chronic illnesses and the comprehensive care model for hemophilia that consider the interdependence of all aspects of a person:  physical, social and psychological. For example: 

• pain can interfere with desire and ability to engage in sex, but sexual behavior may help reduce pain
• frequent hospital visits can cause separations from partner
• medications can cause fatigue or body changes
• poor judgment can contribute to poor decision-making under pressure (and failure to use a condom)

These examples demonstrate how sexuality cannot be separated from the experience of hemophilia, its symptoms, complications and treatments. 

Despite its importance, there is a lack of literature concerning sexuality and chronic illness - which begs some important questions:  Are these connections not being made with people with hemophilia?  How do we begin to have these important conversations?  Who needs to be involved?  How do we get over the barriers that exist?

Just beginning the conversation lets the person know that sexuality can be talked about and that you as a service provider or parent can be trusted. 

As Parish proclaims, “Sexuality has a valid place in comprehensive care for hemophilia.  Discussions with health care providers about sexuality offer people with hemophilia an opportunity to be understood and supported in their quest for resolutions and fulfillment.”

How volunteers help 20,000 more Calgarians make healthy choices

By Talia Kaufman, CSHC Volunteer Coordinator

Being a very small non-profit with a broad long term vision, we benefit from volunteers in a big way. Having a fleet of sexual health experts to deploy anywhere from the Taboo Sex Show to the Seniors Living Fair has let us reach out to literally thousands more Calgarians than we ever have before.

Two years ago the CSHC created a volunteer program to support the agency with its community outreach activities. Since then the agency has benefitted from the energy and support of many amazing people who are dedicated to our cause. These individuals bring with them diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and knowledge, all of which are huge assets to our work. 

Volunteers have strengthened this agency in many ways since its beginnings in the early 70s, and they continue to do so. Currently our volunteer army is comprised of several “battalions” – the Board of Directors, the older adults who are the stars of the Seniors a Go-Go theatre project and the digital story series, and those who support our community outreach work directly in the office and at public events.

Our volunteers bring their sexual health expertise with them wherever they go. Among their friends, within their families, and in their work they are safe people to ask about sexual health. We are grateful to have them as our full time advocates and allies.

Today's blog celebrates our volunteers in honour of National Volunteer Week (NVW).  Each year, NVW pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who graciously donate their time and energy. This year’s 68th annual NVW takes place the week of April 10 to 16. It is Canada’s largest celebration of volunteers, volunteerism, and civic participation.

Volunteers: Passion. Action. Impact. is the theme of this year’s campaign. It is based on the individual volunteer super-heroes across Canada who dedicate themselves to making their communities better – and Canada a great place to live.

Having a Sex Life while Living with Cancer

Today’s blog is in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month which takes place annually each April.

Sex is a way to affirm the love of life. It is an expression of satisfaction gained from being in the present. It expresses the closeness of our deepest relationships and is an important measure of quality of life. 

Sexuality, however, is connected to our overall feelings and well-being.  It can be hard to feel sexy if you’re not feeling well, or if you’re feeling unsure about yourself as a result of cancer. 

But cancer doesn’t mean your sex life has to stop. 

Some people don’t experience any change in their sexual feelings while going through cancer treatment.  And some people find that their sex lives change in some way. The physical and emotional stresses of cancer and treatment might cause you to feel less confident or interested in sex.

Being open and honest with your partner about what feels comfortable for both of you is important – just as it is in any relationship. 

If you find it difficult to talk about cancer and your sexuality, your healthcare team or a counsellor may be able to help.  Our cousellors are available to help with a simple call to 403-283-5580 or email at info@calgarysexualhealth.ca.

Lots of great information and resources are also available online at www.cancer.ca.

The "First Time"

Our latest episode of the “How To Be A Sexpert” podcast talks about “First Times”.

When it comes to sex, the pressure of the first time can cause all kinds of anxiety.   To reduce the stress, it is really important that you feel ready for the experience.  So, before you get into the

heat of the moment, decide if you are ready to become sexually active. 

You might ask yourself, how do I know when I am ready for sex? How do I know what sexual activities I am comfortable with? How will I know what my boundaries are?

The answer to these questions is different for every person.

There is no magical age when a person is ready to have sex and it is a question that may come up repeatedly over the course of someone’s lifetime. Deciding what you feel comfortable doing or “how far” you want to go is a personal choice that you have to make each and every time you become physically or emotionally involved with another person. Having a physical desire to enjoy sexual pleasure is not the same thing as being emotionally prepared for sex with another person.

There is also no rule about how long people should date before getting sexually involved.  As a rule, if you are having doubts, then you are probably not ready for sex with another person at that time.   Only you can decide when you feel ready for sex and what you are comfortable doing. You might be comfortable with certain sexual practices and activities and not with others.

Determine your sexual boundaries before you get involved with a partner and you will be more prepared to have this discussion when you need to. Things may change as your relationship progresses, but thinking about your limits will help to make sure that you don’t give in to peer pressure and end up doing things outside of your comfort zone.

Sex will not always be that “wow” we have always dreamed of, but if you know you are ready to take that step, you feel connected to your partner, and your body is ready, it is much more likely you will have a great experience.

A great resource is a book by Kim Martyn, All the Way: Sex for the First Time.  You can find this, and lots of other great resources at:

http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/PrintablePDFfiles/Sexual_Health_Resource_Centre_Catalogue_Feb_2011.pdf

Stay tuned … more about the First Time in the next episode of our podcast!

Sexuality and Seniors

Seniors A GOGO:  providing insight into sexuality for older adults

As we get older, the question of sexuality becomes more complex.  As a result of natural physical, emotional and psychological changes, and with a lack of information on the topic, older adults often have trouble finding answers to questions regarding their changing sexuality.  While there is little information on the subject, research shows that the majority of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 are still enthusiastic about sex and intimacy.

A key component of sexuality for older adults is adapting sexual activity to reflect current life circumstances and forgetting sexual expectations from youth. It can be a time to be playful, honest, communicative, and to find the form of sexual expression which suits you best.

We have a dedicated group of seniors – our Seniors A GOGO group - who have been working to provide insight into sexuality in the later years.  This committed and tenacious group has been meeting, laughing and sharing their experiences with love, loss and sexuality to create a series of stage readings, monologues and digital stories.

You can view some of their digital stories at:

·         Our website: http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/aging_intro.html

·         Our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calgary-Sexual-Health-Centre/182324198460359

Seniors A GOGO is a partnership between the Seniors Action Group, the Foundation Lab and the Calgary Sexual Health Centre.   

Our Training Centre:  development for service providers who work with older adults

The Training Centre at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre provides a number of professional development opportunities for service providers who work with older adults. Our training ensures that professionals have the skills and knowledge to integrate sexual health into their everyday work with clients.

To book a workshop for your group, or learn more about our workshops, please contact Valerie  Barr, Training Centre Manager at vbarr@calgarysexualhealth.ca.  Or visit our website at: http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/training.html

Here are some additional websites that address older adults and sexuality issues:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/seniors-aines-eng.php

http://www.sexualityandu.com/en/sexual-health/sex-over-fifty

Updated Thoughts on Radiation Exposure

I've been watching the news of the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant with grief and horror.

What will happen next remains unclear. In the best case scenario, every reactor will be successfully cooled, and Japan will be left with a disaster area to contain and manage and try to heal while also recovering from the devastation of the earthquake and the tsunami and with a small to moderate population of people dealing with the after effects of radiation exposure.

My thoughts are first and foremost with the people of Japan, and with the plants and animals and land and water and sky. I have been offering prayers all day to the Great Mother in her manifestation as Quan Yin, Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion.

But I have also been thinking a lot about friends on the Pacific Coast of North America. If a meltdown occurs and the wind patterns are right , radioactive material could potentially reach the west coast of this country.

Whether or not that happens, my focus has been drawn to herbal protocols to minimize the damage from radiation exposure. This is not an area where I have any clinical experience, but here are the suggestions I am sharing with my family and friends:

PROTECTING THE THYROID

Radioactive Iodine 131 is a byproduct of nuclear fission and is be released in the event of a meltdown or possibly in the event that the fuel rods have degraded and fission products are carried with the steam vented from one of the reactors. Iodine 131 has been detected in the area around the Fukushima plant.

Fortunately for those of us in North America, the half-life of Iodine 131 is 8 days, and radioactive material will likely take a week to be reach our west coast if indeed it is carried that far. But there is still some threat of radioactive Iodine exposure for west coasters and certainly a more substantial threat for those in and closer to Japan.

Because the thyroid takes up Iodine, and Iodine 131 is highly unstable, there is a large risk of thyroid cancer from exposure to Iodine 131. The best way to minimize the Iodine 131 uptake is to provide the thyroid with large amounts of Iodine 127. Standard procedure in the event of a nuclear disaster is to distribute Potassium Iodide to people in affected areas. And Potassium Iodide will certainly do the job. (But be careful to make sure you aren't overdoing it!)

Personally, though, I prefer food based sources of Iodine that are gentler on the body.

Seaweeds are the best natural source of Iodine. Larch Hanson says that Laminaria digitata, a Kelp species, has the highest Iodine content, but other brown Kelps are excellent sources as well. Any seaweed will give you some decent amount of Iodine.

Shellfish, ocean fish, and red meat also contain Iodine in lower but appreciable levels. (Make sure your sources are ethically and environmentally clean!)

(One caution: people with hyperthyroid conditions such as Grave's Disease and people taking medications for hypothyroid conditions should not increase their Iodine levels without consulting an experienced practitioner.)

Because radioactive isotopes of other minerals may be released as well its advisable to eat bone broth and/or drink mineral rich herbal infusions (Nettles, Oatstraw, etc.)

Robin Rose Bennet, who has dealt with chronic radiation exposure herself, notes that "Russian scientists have found that sunflower seed pectin offers a great protection against deposition of strontium 90 in the bones. "


MISO

There is evidence that a diet including large amounts of Miso may have reduced rates of cancer and radiation sickness in some Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors. There are a couple of possibilities here: One is that this was simply a factor of increased Iodine intake since Miso was traditionally served with fish and sea vegetables. But it is also possible that the beneficial bacteria in Miso may have played a protective role.

Because Soy is detrimental to thyroid health I would suggest Miso made from other legumes (South River Adzuki Bean Miso is my favorite!) For those who can tolerate gluten, Robin Rose Bennett reports good results with Barley miso.

IMMUNE MODULATING MUSHROOMS

One thing stands out to me in the photos I see of the forests around Chernobyl: the abundance of Chaga. I am struck by the abundance of Chaga in the forests of southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire as well, downriver and downwind from the troubled Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Its presence in both places certainly long predated the nukes but it got me thinking.

Beta Glucans in a number of mushrooms including Chaga, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Matiake, Mesima,Birch Polypore, Lion's Mane, and Maitake help to modulate immune activity, and have been used with great success by a number of clinical herbalists working with cancer patients. Reishi and Mesima mushrooms have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis (See George Vaughan's great chapter on "Mushrooms in Cancer Therapy" in Margi Flint's The Practicing Herbalist.)

These qualities put medicinal mushrooms on my short list of medicines to look to in cases of radiation exposure.

I personally like Mushroom Harvest's 14 Mushroom Powder which Darcey and I regularly use in our soups, sauces, and gravies. (Thanks to Margi Flint for that tip!)

Other immune modulating adaptogens such as Eleuthero and Ashwagandha may be of benefit as well. I have seen Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) suggested elsewhere but I am wary of it because it is highly stimulating and heating and traditionally indicated only for the weak and infirm. American Ginseng is far less stimulating and would be appropriate here, but remember that it is highly endangered and only buy from cultivated sources.

LYMPH MOVERS AND BLOOD MOVERS

Gentle lymph moving herbs like Red Clover and Calendula are worth using, especially to keep the lymph moving around the head and neck. I might consider a gentle alterative like Burdock as well to support the body's natural detoxification systems as they move any radioactive materials out of the body.

Robin Rose Bennett also suggests salt water and baking soda baths -- which I agree are excellent for aiding in the body's natural detoxification process. Adding herbs to the bath can be nice as well. Calendula is a wonderful bath herb. I like Chapparal baths for releasing both physical and emotional toxicity.

Contrary to popular belief, Cilantro will not chelate heavy metals. Ground Ivy does appear to help the body flush lead, however, and MAY be applicable in the clearance of other heavy metals as well.