Toxins from childbirth.

To: herb.franklin.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: castor oil
From: Karen S Vaughan <creationsgarden.juno.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 21:21:26 -0500

>I forgot to ask, what exactly do you mean by "toxins?" I not too keen on the viewpoint that normal processes like birth and menstruation result in "toxins." Can you clarify, Paul?

After serious and exhausting physical events like childbirth, large amounts of metabolic waste products are produced. These include hormones, bits of body structure, skin repair chemicals, cells attacked by phagocytes, etc. They need to be excreted which can stress the liver, the lymph and other body systems. Physical resources and strength have been depleted. (Female marathon runners have been quoted as saying that childbirth was harder work than running a marathon, but that they get far less respect for it.) Recovery is a natural part of such events, although in our society we try to pretend that childbirth wasn't "real" work and we don't allow for support. (We also try to pretend that growing a baby is something incidental that can be fit around grueling work schedules too, but that may be another discussion...)

Karen Vaughan
CreationsGarden.juno.com
***************************************
Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment.

From: AWoehlke.aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 22:05:11 EST

Karen;
re: your comment on childbirth - amen! I have sometimes wondered if this is the cause of postpartum depressions.
Diane

From: "Amy Cook" <acook.in4web.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 08:26:11 -0800

Oh, I think it definitely is. I don't remember if I posted this or not, but in many cultures, women stay in the house for at least 40 days postpartum and are pampered by other women in the family. It is unheard of to them to do the things we 'westernized' women do right after birth. I think support is key to preventing postpartum depression and i know studies have shown that.

Amy