Well I can answer by what we all like to use almost everyday. It's not exclusively herbals though.... I firmly believe that if the alimentary canal is cared for the outside will take care of itself in most cases... We use slippery elm as a base for my capsules that hold 160,000 HU of cayenne, and clay. I usually add a fourth component but vary this with each batch we make up. Once I added barley green but this time I'm going to add some powdered prairie mimosa we wildharvested last year. It's plenty green with cholophyl. We often use tea tree oil and a product from Rawlieghs called Antiseptic Salve. The company stopped producing here in the states in the early ninties because the FDA or one of those agencies banned the use of many of it's ingredients. You still have to buy it through a dealer but it's made in Autralia or somewhere like that now. But I had a stubborn boil that just wouldn't completely go away, I used this stuff and it went away. I was amazed. It's phenol and terpentine in a petrolatum base, like vasoline. Great stuff. It rids the skin of rashes like nobodies business. And I would not be without my homemade aspercream using willow bark. Rub that on aches and pains and you feel better. I wouldn't be without my cayenne tincture either. It's the best stomach remedy that ever was. No more ulcers. I haven't had ulcers in years since I learned about cayenne powder and tinctures. And B3/ Niacin... It gives you a flush like no bodies business. It helps to oxygenate the tiniest capilaries in the body. I can't leave off mentioning the use of fresh lemon juice with some of the raw honey from my beehives. It cuts a sore throat in minutes and eliminates colds and flus practically over night if combined with a good homemade flu remedy that has golden seal mixed in a steamy cup of herbal tea. And sunshine. LOL

I meant to mention, great handle - I'm watching a bunch of taped episodes and it comes up. You can use whatever, a garden knife, a machete, a katana, a scimitar or some secateurs, just make sure they're clean.The cuts, when made, should be on a downward bias and left to dry No, I would wait until spring to make the cut to make a new plant (it's best to do so when times of growth are optimum), but absolutely, you can do that at whatever point on the plant, just make sure you try to make the cut at a segment's joint. Yes, it's worth it, as almost any piece of living tissue, nurtured correctly, will grow a plant, you just want to do so at the best time. You may be also interested to know that this cactus's extract was one of more than a few used delivered suppository-like by Incan shamans to have their visions.

I'm so sorry. Give that baby all the love & warmth in your heart. I sort of know what you mean about grieving for him even as you look at his little face; when my Aunt Lillie was in the hospital at the end of her life, I knew she was gone from me, even though she was still "there". It must be much more intense when it's a little baby. You might post on the Caregivers Forum; it's for people who are caring for chronically or terminally ill or disabled loved ones, & there are a lot of warm, caring people over there who can help you with your day-to-day life as well as the "big picture" issues. sending you & the baby thoughts for strength, love, protection, & peace.

For others reading this board/faced with Vaginal Atrophy: At least for me, nothing moves quickly, in regard to healing Vaginal Atrophy. I most likely would be able to engage in intimacy, if the opportunity struck. However since trying a dilator (which confirmed narrowing and dryness), I am now aware of this sneaky little challenge of VA. I am using a vaginal moisturizer, which (like many) has claims to reverse VA. If that, the dilator (and to be added in a couple of weeks bio-identical progesterone) fall through, then I shall test for my estrogen levels. According to Dr. Lee, Atrophy is a sign of estrogen deficiency (By the way estrogen of any type, should never be taken without progesterone), and I may indeed have to do a minimal dose 2x week of estriol, once those tests come back. While I am not eager to go on any estrogen, not even this safer, weaker estriol, I am not going to be in pain due to irritation that dryness was presenting. I've also heard of the Vulva shrinking over time due to VA. There is a point where a fraction of the estriol, may at least maintain what I have, while being comfortable and infection free down there. I have not had the pleasure of an infection yet, but the dryness had been presenting irritation, the type of itch and pain that you feel before a Vaginal Bacterial infection. Is that how I want to live my years? I should think not! So I have reordered a book I believed I didn't need anymore... Dr. John Lee's. For the next few weeks, I will use the special Vaginal inserts which are by NeuEve, and they are indeed having a moisturizing effect which lasts for a good 4 days. Let's see what happens. I already shared that information on the NeuEve with a friend, and she and her hubby had painless intimacy... Lucky she has a husband who is interested! For all you VERY lucky ladies that have an interested partner, that may be something to try. Here's my thinking. I want to maintain my health. I may indeed find intimacy again, and in the meantime I deserve to be pain free and comfortable. The above is just my way of sharing, and not just taking from this message board, for we are truly all in this (life) together and should share.