(Before I begin this story, I am going to add a little disclaimer and let y’all know that I’m not a doctor and the following anecdote should not replace medical advice.)

On the “crunchy” scale I sit comfortably at about a 7.2.

I like organic food, but I also like bright pink cotton candy ice cream. I hang my laundry to dry, but I’ll also drive my kids to the park half a kilometer away.

You get the drift.

When it comes to natural medicine I always try a natural treatment before using conventional medicine, but I’m not opposed to using some good ol’ Tylenol when necessary, or when I’ve had too much wine the night before.

Now, the majority of us lovely ladies have had some experience with a yeast infection. If you haven’t, you’re the luckiest human on the planet and I hate you a little bit.

When I felt some telltale itching one day I decided to pull out the ol’ Book of Natural Medicine. It advised to create a “garlic tampon”.

Well, now that sounded intriguing.

I consulted with Dr. Google and confirmed that this was an appropriate thing to do.

It was on the internet so I knew it must be okay!

I made myself a lovely garlic tampon and carefully inserted it into my unsuspecting vagina. There didn’t seem to be any immediate reaction.

5 minutes later, however, I could TASTE garlic. I consulted Dr. Google once more (and then deleted my search history) and discovered that this was, indeed, a common side effect of having garlic in your vagina.

This got me thinking: If I could taste the garlic in my vagina…why doesn’t my mouth always tastes like my vagina? Or maybe it does taste like my vagina but I always just thought that’s how my mouth tasted? Does my vagina taste like garlic when I put garlic in my mouth? So many questions…

I pondered this for quite some time. I snapped out of it when my toddler brought me a handful of her own feces.

In the end, the garlicy insert was successful. I believe I just insulted my vagina enough for her to make some changes in her PH, but nonetheless, it worked.

With some individual research and a trip to a non-Google doctor I would recommend any woman that experiences yeast gives this a try. Actually, I would recommend that any woman that doesn’t experience yeast gives this a try, too.

This won’t work for you if you’re uncomfortable with putting food items into your vagina, or you’re having sex with a vampire.

Otherwise, go ahead and try out nature’s yeast cure. Make yourself some organic pasta (go big or go home, friend), and enjoy some subtle hints of garlic without having to add any to the sauce.

This article was originally shared on
https://www.sammichespsychmeds.com/

Allow me to begin by saying: there’s nothing unnatural about your period!

There are, however, more natural ways around going about having your period.

This post isn’t about why we have our periods. I go into that in further detail in this post. 

This post is about how AWESOME our periods really, actually are and the fun you can have with them!

If you’re keeling over in pain from your cramps right now you may not necessarily agree with this, but having your period is a pretty darn amazing thing. It’s a part of the wonder that is the way the female body works. It’s indicative of our entry into womanhood. It’s also a sure-fire sign that you’re not pregnant this month!!

Women have become very creative in the ways that they have their periods nowadays. The products available are endless and they’re suitable for all needs and lifestyles!

Here’s how to have your period naturally!

There are affiliate links in this post. That means, that you can enjoy some retail therapy while you deal with your monthly blessing, and at no cost to you, I’ll enjoy compensation from the mentioned retailers. 

Menstrual Cramps

First things first, for those poor ladies I mentioned earlier with the painful cramps, let’s chat about those.

The “Modern Day” in me says take that Tylenol, especially when you don’t have any other choice but to carry on with your day as efficiently as possible. However, the “Hippie Mama” in me says there’s a few other things you can try:

-Heat. Use a heating pad or a hot water bottle.

-Drink some ginger or chamomile tea. Both will help reduce the pain and inflammation.

-Keep your body hydrated and nourished. You don’t want to deal with the effects of not giving your body enough. Try and limit the wine and chocolate that you’re craving SO badly right now.

–Have an orgasm! There have been studies to show that having an orgasm will double your tolerance for pain temporarily. It’s worth a try, anyway!

-If you experience painful cramps on a monthly basis give acupuncture a shot. Also, make an appointment with your naturopath who can point you in the right direction for some herbs that will work for your body.

Cloth pads

Do you know what’s in the pads you buy from the drugstore? The heavily scented ones that feel like plastic?

There are LOADS of retailers that sell magnificent cloth pads. You can order them online at Etsy!

The “ick” factor with wearing a cloth pad is minimal. You can easily designate a plastic container to store them in until laundry day, or you can just toss them right in with your regular laundry!

P.S. A post-partum cloth pad makes a great gift for a new Mom! She can plop that baby in with her mesh undies and enjoy comfort (?)!

Menstrual Cups

These gems are seriously awesome. You know how when your little one finds your box of tampons and proceeds to scatter them all over the floor? I do. For some reason, the massive amount of toys they have never seems to suffice and they must play with whatever they’re not supposed to get into.

Instead of having a whole bunch of tampons that you use every month you can trade them all in for one nifty little menstrual cup. I personally have used the DivaCup and love it! It’s made of silicone, can last for 12 hours, is entirely reusable, and has two sizes; one for women who haven’t had kids and one for women who have had kids! It takes a little getting used to and maneuvering to find exactly how to make it fit well for you. I’d do a tutorial on my YouTube channel, but they don’t really condone that kinda thing.

If you’re like me and your insides have been destroyed by having children (thanks for the prolapsed bladder, kiddos!) you may find it more comfortable to actually turn the DivaCup inside out so that it doesn’t fit quite so low.

Organic tampons and pads

Okay, so maybe the reusable thing isn’t your jam. That’s totally cool. However, even if you aren’t a hippie you can probably appreciate that natural, organic menstrual products are safer and gentler on your body. Your vagina has done some amazing things and she deserves to have a little love shown her way. You can find different types of organic pads and tampons here.

Organic does cost a bit more, of course. However, consider how often you’re actually buying these things! Do a few things to save yourself some money to put into more natural products! Plus, you’re dealing with everything that comes with having your period-you deserve a little luxury during that time!

Bonus tip: How to have your period HAPPILY!

First of all, let me say that having your period can be a massive pain in the vagina. (I would say “pain in the butt”, but I’ve written an entirely different post about that already!)

Give yourself a break, lady! Obviously, now that you have kiddos your days of laying on the couch and drowning your sorrows in a massive tub of chocolate ice cream while watching corny romance movies is over. That said, you need to allow yourself a bit of time to rest. Fill your kids in on what a period is, or simply tell them you’re not feeling well. Watch a movie with them on the couch. Sneak extra chocolate in the laundry room. Do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel a little better.

At our house, I have a “Period Dinner” once a month. Thanks to my prolapse issues the first day of my period is ridiculously uncomfortable. Years ago, the first day of my period was dubbed “period dinner day” and since then that’s exactly what we’ve done. We order take out and I get a stress free day. You could always opt to stock up on freezer meals for the occasion, as well, but sometimes take out is just what the doctor orders!

Wall hanging: Pretty

Coffee maker: Purposeful (and so freakin’ necessary)

Trinket on the mantle: Pretty

Washing machine: Purposeful

Mala necklace: Pretty and purposeful

What is a Mala necklace?

Prayer/meditation beads.

A majority of the world’s population uses prayer beads in their spiritual practice in some form.

Mala necklaces stem from Buddhism and Hinduism, and are known as “Japa Malas”. They are used as means of meditation to help guide you as a spiritual person. They have a guru bead in the middle and then 108 beads that are either knotted in between or spaced with a smaller bead. The beads can be made of any material or size as long as there are 54 on either side of the guru bead.

Why 108 beads?

In the parenting world, “3” seems to be the magic number (although, can someone please explain to me what I’m supposed to do once I get to 3??) .

However, in the physical and spiritual world, 108 is the magic number. Here’s why:

-There are 108 sacred sites on our bodies.

-There are 108 lines of energy connected to our hearts.

-The sun’s diameter is 108 times that of the earth

-It is said there are 108 human feelings

-There are 108 stages in the journey of the soul

These are just a few of the beliefs of cultures and religions around the world.

What do I do with a Mala necklace?

You can choose an intention to go with your mala necklace. An intention is a statement of a positive goal you want to experience, and the benefits are huge! Read about that here.

For example, some intentions could be:

-I intend to love myself

-I intend to be calm

-I intend to smile more

-I intend to allow myself to pursue my dreams

Your Mala necklace can serve you as a reminder of your intention. You can wear it or simply hang it somewhere you will see it often. Each time you look at it or feel it, it will take you back to the intention you set for it.

You can also use it during meditation to keep track of how many times you recite your intention. As you sit to meditate, touch each bead as a guide to how many times you’ve said aloud or thought of your intention. Yes, 108 times may seem like a lot of times, but it’s entirely worth it. How many times did you have to tell your children to clean their room before they did it? How many times do you have to tell yourself to love you before you’ll do it? Reciting the same thing repeatedly is going to result in you understanding the importance of the intention you set.

Why do I need a Mala necklace?

Here’s the thing: you spend so much energy giving your family what they want and need. You give from your cup and have a hard time finding the time to fill ‘er back up. Having a Mala necklace as a physical reminder of the self-growth that you want to participate in will remind you that YOU ARE WORTHY of taking that time for yourself. You still have hopes, dreams, and desires, Mama.  Putting some of that positive energy into setting an intention into a tangible item will remind you of that.

A Mala necklace is fully customizable. You can have them handmade to your preferences or you can choose from a pre-made one that speaks to you. You can choose from ones that have set intentions or you can give it your own. It’s entirely up to you how you go about choosing and using your Mala necklace. It immediately gives you power and control over your own destiny.

Plus, they’re so darn pretty!

Where do I get a Mala necklace?

There are affiliate links in here. That means I’ll receive a commission on your purchase at no extra cost to you. 

Finding a Mala necklace is easy. Finding a Mala necklace that you know for a fact has been made with love and care, however, is a little more tricky.

HelloDaffodil and I Am Blessed are examples of Mala necklace makers who put loving energy into your piece. Each Mala necklace is handmade and designed by these amazing women who  are skilled and knowledgeable in making your Mala necklace to suit you best.

What do you think? Do you have a Mala necklace? Has it changed your life?

When you think of a hippie mom what do you see?

Hemp clothing? Birkenstocks? Tie-dye?

That’s certainly a stereotypical idea of what a hippie mom looks like. However, allow me to give you insight into what a modern-day hippie mom looks like:

Yep-that’s me.

I’m a self-proclaimed modern day hippie mom. That means I drive a gas guzzling van, buy wine from Chile, head to the drive-thru when necessary, and use the earth’s precious resources to entertain my children via Netflix while I sneak Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream in the laundry room. While I do enjoy many of modern life luxuries I also maintain a pretty decently hippie-dippy lifestyle by incorporating a few key crunchy things into our lives.

Small ways to be a hippie mom

There’s are some affiliate links in here, lovely. That means that I get a commission of whatever you may purchase through this link at no extra cost to you. I’m running low on Patchouli oil, so that commission will help me build my essential oil collection. Namaste. 

Teach your children to be kind to the earth

We talk about environmental issues with our kids. We share with them that we need to take care of our planet because it truly is the only one we have. We discuss waste, reduction, recycling, consumption, and alternatives to things that are harmful to the earth. They will make their own decisions when they insist that they want to buy that must-have toy with their birthday money, but at some point, your lessons may resonate with them.

Buy local

How local? As local as you can, as often as you can. If you have a farmer’s market in your community hit it up. Not only is it a great place for your kids to spend time with other folks in their community, it’s great for them to meet the farmers that have grown the food they’re (maybe) going to eat! If your children have a more personal interaction with their fruits and veggies they may be inspired to eat it. If you don’t have access to a farmer’s market and do your shopping at the supermarket take care of where the produce is coming from. If you have an option to buy apples from the country you live in vs another country, take the choice that’s more local to you!

Use reusable bags

Many places are starting to charge for plastic bags, which is a great reminder not to leave your fabric ones at home! So much of what we buy is already coated in plastic and packaging. Let’s try and reduce the amount of plastic we bring home with us! If Mom brain has struck again and you forgot the bags in the van take your plastic bags to a thrift store. They can often reuse them there. Also, check into some of your local grocery stores and see if they have a plastic bag recycling program.

Turn off the lights

Be mindful of the resources you’re burning through. My kids are absolutely notorious for leaving every single light in the house on. We’ve started charging them $.05 for every light we have to turn off. Also, unplug anything you’re not using. Your coffee machine will not be offended if it’s unplugged until you use it again for the fifth time that day-no judgment! If protecting the environment’s resources doesn’t motivate you consider the amount of money you’ll save on your utility bills if you are conscious of your consumption!!

Use a DivaCup

Remember how we talk about reducing? It may take a bit of getting used to but a DivaCup is a reusable menstrual cup that takes place of tampons. They’re super effective, easy to use, eliminate the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, and are reasonably priced. Also, there are reusable menstrual pads that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns. Both of these things take some getting used to, but you’ll be reducing the amount of waste to the environment, as well as reducing the chemicals you’re putting on and in your body.

Get some reusable sandwich bags

Seriously, there are some CUTE baggies out there. Your kiddos will be thrilled to pull out their fishy crackers in one of these rad bags. Just remind them that they’re not disposable-so they most definitely should not throw these bags out!

Purchase used goods

I find everything at the thrift store. There are a few items I choose to buy new (like undies) but for the most part, everything is purchased second hand. My kids and my clothes are bought at thrift, consignment, and vintage stores. Our dishes and furniture is all pre-loved. Buying second hand negates the need for production of new goods. Less demand=less things created. Plus, you can find unique, quality items for a fraction of the cost of what it was to buy new. If you are going to buy new try and purchase good quality items that will last for a long time.

Use cloth

Cloth diapers is a commitment. I’m not here to try and convince you to do it because it’s a very personal opinion and entirely situationally dependent. However, there are a few things you can convert to cloth that won’t cause nearly the same level of work that cloth diapers will. Use cloth wipes to clean noses. Use cloth wipes for diapers. Use cloth paper towels instead of paper ones. If you’re feeling really brave, try your hand at cloth toilet paper (just for pee). Let me know how that goes. We tried it once-didn’t last long…

Get a tumbler

Coffee on the go is a very real idea for Moms. However, instead of blazing through Starbucks for your third cup o’ Jo in a paper cup, opt for a reusable tumbler. Many coffee shops will even give you a discount for using one!

Walk when you can

It’s not always possible. However, when you can walk to do your errands you should! Not only will this decrease your gas consumption, it will also decrease your children’s energy levels. It’s a win-win for you, Mom!

Are you a self-proclaimed “hippie mom”? What little things do you do that make you a hippie mom??