After many years of consulting with women and/or couples regarding pre-conception care, fertility, pregnancy and beyond, I am still amazed and rather puzzled – why is this so often considered a ‘girl thing’?

It is common for me to find with couples that the male partner has not been sufficiently investigated regarding both general health as well as reproductive health.  In fact an inordinate number of people – not just men either – seem to have the opinion that fertility, especially inability to conceive is a matter which entirely involves the female partner.

Hello fella’s – hey aren’t you 50% of the next generation?  Time to extract head from sand.

Women benefit a great deal from learning the signs and symptoms of their fertility whether this is for contraception or conception. I have found over many years that the Natural Fertility Management Kits (NFM) are an invaluable aid.  These are designed for women and couples to work through at home and if there are any concerns they can make an appointment with our office as we run the Remote Natural Fertility Management assistance service.  It is so empowering to know WHEN you are ovulating and what your hormonal indicators are without having to have invasive testing.

NFM kits can be obtained easily through our site http://www.rad-pads.com  (see Natural Fertility category)  For a one off investment you  receive a lifetime of information which you can then pass on to your family when the time is right. 

I have lost count of how many times couples have come to me with only half the challenge covered.  Yes, certainly the woman needs to be well and have good hormonal balance and any health risks assessed  minimised.  But so too do men. In addition it can take over three months to BEGIN to positively affect mens fertility, as this is how long it takes for sperm formation to occur.  

It is so rewarding when I am assisting potential parents to understand that each party can benefit individually and as a couple for taking responsibility for their own areas of health, especially reproductive health. 

In a consultation and often a series of consultations with prospective parents, we often need to consider for all parties such things as:

• Toxic burden – such as toxic metal exposure, chemical exposure other toxin exposure
• Gut,  liver, kidney and pancreas health 
• Hormonal status – not just oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, but adrenal, thyroid, para-thyroid hormones.
• Health history and family health history
• Medications – are these affecting ability to conceive?
• Dietary considerations
• Lifestyle
• Stress levels.
• Infections – especially reproductive.
• Occupation.
• Attitudes and philosophies around reproductive health and life in general.

There are a number of tests which can be performed both with the assistance of your doctor and/or with the guidance of your naturopath/herbalist.  It is important that the practitioner is skilled in interpretion of the appropriate test results.  For example I do alot of testing of Hair Samples (through an excellent laboratory) to help determine both toxic load as well as nutritional status.   It is quite skilled work to interpret and implement a treatment plan based on these and other indicators and not many practitioners I know of have done these additional studies. I have often found that levels of Manganese, Selenium, Zinc and Molybydenum are inappropriate for the individual.  These nutrients among others are very important for reproductive and generall health.

As with any other health and well-ness conditions, pre-conception care as well as treating fertility challenges is a PROCESS, not a quick fix.  Without many exceptions those who pursue this type of guided care report feeling better than in a long time with many health conditions they presented with being under control or eliminated. 

Happy reproducing!!!!           Wendy Dumaresq.

Medical Herbalist, Natural Fertility Management Counsellor

wen...@wendywithlove.com

I love my work! I get to meet so many inspiring people every day.

Last year at an authors event run by Dale Beaumont I met so many great people, one of them being Kristen Morrison who has released her book ‘Naturally Better – dramatically improve your child’s life, naturally’.

When Kristen asked me to be give a health practitioners ‘look over’ to review the book I was thrilled to do so.

There is now a 3 part documentary on www.youtube.com about the book. You would just need to type in the search bar naturally better documentary to see this. I have been interviewed about the book on this as well.

This wonderful book documents the journey which Kristen, her husband Joseph and their families have undergone in seeking to optimise the health of their little boy Gryffin who was born over three years ago with Down Syndrome. The family was not prepared to sit back and accept the rather gloomy prognosis which seemed to be the norm.

Kristen and her family have moved heaven and earth to research and implement strategies in natural health which they thought may be worth trying in order to improve Gryffins health and experience in life. The book also demonstrates in a pictorial essay Gryffins remarkable progress over this time.

You would be amazed if you saw the progression in the photo’s!!!! The story itself is very moving, honest and inspiring for all parents or caregivers of children.

The overriding message is that we can all make a difference in our childrens health and quality of life and that sometimes we need to move ‘outside the square’ and think twice about taking ‘no’, or doom and gloom attitudes as the final solution.

Kristen has now also commenced a not for profit organistion to raise awareness and promote educational experiences called ‘The Grow Foundation – for naturally better kids”.

Have a great day,

Wendy Dumaresq, B.Bus, Dip Med Herb, Ad Cert NFM.
Rad-Pads and Natural Woman Network
Author: “Radiant Women – simple steps to better menstruation an menopause”
www.rad-pads.com , www.naturalwomannetwork.com.au

We are celebrating our new Rad-pads site.  Have a look at  http://www.rad-pads.com  so you know what I am talking about content and excitement wise.

 To kick of celebrations we have decided on a COMPETITION.  Yay, what fun. 

BUT, don’t be tardy, we are only holding the competiton open until the 3rd of June, so don’t miss out.

How would you like to be in the draw to win 2 x  colored cotton Rad-Pads  - the size being your choice?  (Small, medium, large or extra large). All you have to do is reply in a constructive manner to one or more of the questions highlighted below  to be in the draw and we will then get a third party to draw out a ‘name from the hat’ to locate the winner. 

This would make a great gift for someone OR help you to get started.  Also good to top up your own supply if needed.  If you are a bit shy about replying on the blog you can send your reply to i...@rad-pads.com .

We will also need your email address on the blog comment or sent to us at our email above in order that we can contact the winner.  We wouldn’t want you to miss out because we can’t contact you.

What I would LOVE to know is your answer to one or more of the following :

• What motivated you to choose cloth menstrual, incontinence or pants liner sanitary products if you already have?
• What do you feel you need as far as information goes about these natural and healthy menstrual, incontinence and pants liner assistance products?
• What would prevent you from making the change to these products which are non-toxic and can help your women’s health experience?

Appropriate and constructive answers will be shared on the blog at Rad-pads discretion.

It would be great to hear from you so please leave a comment. 

We are having some fantastic feedback about our new website http://www.rad-pads.com  so we wanted to share the joy.  What is really rewarding for us and potentially for you is that we now have an affiliate program on our new site so can systematically reward you for your much appreciated referrals.  For many years our happy customers have referred other now happy customers and it has always bugged me that we did not have a good system for rewards.  NOW we have!  So have a look at it if you will.

We have also found that our current specials are getting a great response especially with women who wish to convert to our low cost, comfy, convenient, woman friendly and environmentally friendly sanitary pads and other natural products.  Have a look at our specials pages now as I don’t know how much longer we can keep these at this price.  

http://www.rad-pads.com/Super_Woman_Special/

All the best to you for the change of seasons and check out our next blog on ‘Fertility – not just a girl thing’.

Wendy, Rad-Pads

+613 3 53 30 30 10

info@rad–pads.com

.

Well, what a lovely autumn (fall to our international readers!).  In fact it has been so inspiring that I have to tell you what a few of us are doing to improve our health, well-being and fitness!.

In the Ballarat area, we are fortunate to have wonderful farmers markets most weekends of the year now and also a few great organic shops.

It is one of  my passions to support local farmers, especially those growing food without chemicals.  Another passion is eating the food and another is riding the bike especially with some good company.

Just to make sure we are multi-tasking with the best of ‘em, a few of us (thanks Sally and Melissa) have started a local ‘bike train’ to the farmers markets each weekend they are on.  Saturday mornings around 8.30 sees me straddling the saddle from my home to the CBD (about 25 minues ride) along the lovely canadian track.  Panniers empty ready to be filled with delicious local fare. We welcome anyone interested to jump aboard!.

Anyone who has spent some time in consultation with me or read the Radiant Women book knows that I am very committed to high quality, nutrient dense foodstuffs.  It is amazing what a diffierence ramping up the fresh foods can do, especially  if they are straight from the paddocks.  Eating locally grown/sourced foods has many advantages:

• fresh as you can get unless you grow your own.
• supporting local business
• reducing carbon miles
• eating in ‘season’
• learning about the wide range of different foods which can be grown in your area.
• Very social – anyone who is anyone is at the market.

At the local farmers markets there is usually at least one organic farmer present with their produce.  The produce looks so fresh and healthy it just about jumps off the tables.  Yum!

Here is what I ate for lunch straight from the farm after my last visit to the markets-

Farmers Market Salad:

A lovely fresh salad in which I with  sliced organic produce including red cabbage, carrots, fennell. I also added some organic cos lettuce, some of my home grown red and yellow striped small heritage tomatoes, basil, rocket, young dandelion leaves, a little bit of chickweed found in the ‘waste’ area near my roses, advocado (not local that one), some sheeps fetta from Meredith and a light dressing of local olive oil, lemon (first one from my tree) and some mustard seeds.

Wow, I was ready to ride another 30 km after that.

What’s happening in your area?  Farmers markets are becoming very popular.  Our markets are:

Saturday mornings:  First saturday of the month at Ballarat Central (Town Hall), second and fourth saturdays at Lakeside (Lake Wendouree), third Saturday at Buningyong. 

See this link for local food in season articles http://www.breaze.org.au/resources/food-in-season

See Melissa’s Ballarat Bike Beat on the BREAZE website http://www.breaze.org.au/news-events/breaze-blogs/bike-blog

There are lots of farmers markets in the region now, another is Woodend, see their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woodend-Community-Farmers-Market/203491646355620?sk=wall#!/pages/Woodend-Community-Farmers-Market/203491646355620?sk=wall

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wendy.

Merry Christmas – naturally and sustainably!

For many around the world thoughts are turning towards this special celebratory time of the year where giving and receiving with love is a feature. This philosophy of giving applies not just for this time of year but to everyone all year round, for whatever occasion is appropriate.

I would like to insert some thoughts and strategies for ‘consciously giving’ with positive health and the future of Mother Earth in mind.

How can we give but not create more ‘junk’ and waste? Here are some ideas and I am sure you will have many other ideas. Please feel free to comment below to share your thoughts on this topic.

• Give to those who need it most – many of the international as well as national aid agencies around the world have giving programs in which you can purchase a ‘gift’ of a sustainable way to help improve the situation of those less fortunate. One I am thinking of arrived in the newspaper last week in particular but if you do a web search on ‘aid agencies’ you will come up with plenty.
• Eco-holiday - a great way to encourage a loved one to get away from the treadmill of life, learn about another culture or environment in need of assistance and give back to the earth. There are many such packages available, for example I saw one a few days ago regarding assisting with the Orangutans in Borneo www.woxaustralia.com.
• Give a vegetable garden plot/container or plant a fruit tree –as well as your time and expertise to assist the recipient set up and plant the plot. What a great way to give a gift which can keep giving for years to come if the plants used are heritage ones and you can save the seeds. This is a great gift if you know someone who loves fresh food and needs some help to get their food garden going or enlarged. Handy to also give a gardening book such as Esther Deans No Dig Gardening so the recipient is prepared to care for the plot.
• Give a pet and the necessary equipment to someone in need of special company. Find a pet which needs a home, such as at the local RSPCA and then you will also be saving the pet. Do make sure that the pet has been de-sexed of course and is healthy and that the recipient is given the knowledge and support to care for the pet. Of course find out if the recipient really WANTS a pet too!
• Gift wrapping – does it have to be paper? What about trying instead to use something as gift wrap which can be used many times over, such as tea towels, pillow cases, hand towels, scarfs, small throws, bandana’s.
• Seek gift vouchers - preferably for products and services which are a positive for health and well-being and don’t clutter the earth with more waste.

We have gift vouchers available at
www.naturalwomannetwork.com.au for all our products and services and at www.radpads.com.au for Rad-pads products. Also Xmas and other specials at the moment.
You can see some of our products on video at the YouTube channel link at the right of this post.

•Kris Kringle gifting has become very popular whereby all those attending Christmas functions names goes into a ‘hat’ and each person draws out the name of one person only to give to.
• Food basket gifts, especially if they are from organic and/or locally grown food. You may even like to extend this to your neighbours or anyone you know in need. More fun if you do it anonymously in the latter scenarios.
• Support local business and charities rather than drive distances to support the local economay and contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
• Give of yourself – give a voucher to loved ones which give a service of product which you are good at, such as a massage, some special time or event spent with a loved one, haircut, cleaning, gardening. This particularly popular with older people who definitely do not want more ‘things’ but would love more contact with their family and friends.
Merry Christmas to you all,

We have vouchers available as well as specials on http://rad-pads.com

Wendy Dumaresq and the team at Rad-Pads and Natural Woman Network.