Over the past 10 years, Amy Weaver has focused on natural ways of improving her health. She cleansed her diet of gluten, sugar, and processed foods, and she even changed careers when she realized her job as an attorney was negatively impacting her well-being.
"I realized that stress was wreaking havoc on my body. I didn't have time to take care of myself, because I was taking care of all of my clients," says Amy, who lives outside of Seattle, Washington, with her husband, Shawn, and their two dogs and two cats. "Now I work at a plant nursery part time and just take care of myself and my animals, and life is good."
Despite all the strides she had made, Amy still struggled with a major health issue: bleeding.
"I've had really heavy bleeds for the past two and a half years," Amy says. "Over that time I probably bled about 90% of my days."
Amy searched for someone to help her figure out what was going on and how to address the problem. She went from doctor to doctor, getting test after test – including blood work and ultrasounds — but made little progress.
"They all just seemed dumbfounded," Amy says. "I felt like a science experiment."
The bleeding started taking a toll on Amy, both physically and emotionally. With her iron levels depleted, she felt constantly exhausted. Even getting up to walk the dogs felt like a huge endeavor.
"It's a struggle to even take a shower and get dressed when you're that tired," Amy explains. "And it's also mentally draining, knowing that you might start bleeding again any minute. It makes it hard to maintain relationships, because you're just trying to get your basic needs met. It really affected every aspect of my life."
Equally frustrating, the issue kept Amy and her husband from one of their biggest goals as a couple: having a baby.
"We've been trying to conceive, but obviously we can't when I'm bleeding every day and my hormones are so out of balance," Amy says. "It was devastating."
Turning a Corner
In addition to Western medicine, Amy had also tried acupuncture in the past.
"It helped for a little while, but then my bleeds would get heavy again," she says.
Then, last spring, Amy found a new acupuncturist and shared her health history with her. The two worked together for nearly a year to try and get Amy's bleeding under control.
"We tried everything we could think of, from diet changes to Chinese herbs," Amy says. "Then one day Amy's acupuncturist said, ‘Oh my gosh, I can't believe I've never thought of this!' and suggested Wombstringe."
Amy's acupuncturist, Jasmine Bay, a former midwife, explained that she usually recommends WishGarden Herbs' Flow Stopper Lingering Cycle (formerly named Wombstringe) to her postpartum clients, but that she thought it could help with Amy's bleeding as well. Wombstringe is formulated with astringent herbs — including Shepherd's Purse aerials, Bayberry rootbark, Witch Hazel bark, and Cinnamon bark — and is designed to promote healthy bleeding and promote the body's natural ability to keep excess bleeding and spotting in check.
"So, I ordered a bottle," Amy says. "And literally within two days, my bleeding stopped. Before that I had been bleeding from October until February, and then — it stopped."
Amy says at first she took a dropper full every few hours. Then, as her bleeding got lighter and finally tapered off, she was able to reduce her intake to one dropper full a day.
"I had my first regular cycle for years in March where I bled, and then it stopped," Amy says. "I'm hoping that it's going to stay that way."
New Hope
With her bleeding under control, Amy says she feels optimistic and happier, more in tune with her body, and is even starting to regain some of her energy.
"Wombstringe helped me turn a corner," Amy says. "After I started taking it, I was able to start living my life again. It's the only thing that's helped me, and it was almost instant."
The change has also allowed Amy and Shawn to shift their focus from addressing her immediate health issue to planning for the future.
"We're trying to conceive again, so I'm getting my body balanced and ready for that," Amy says. "There's new hope that hasn't been there in a while."
Valerie Gleaton is a professional writer and editor. She has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she also earned a certificate in science and environmental reporting.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.
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