Top 6 Ways to Stay Healthy 'Down There'
Thursday, October 27th 2011 @ 12:23 AM 
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By Susun S. Weed
Adapted from "Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health,
The Wise Woman Way"
What can men and women do to maintain good health "down there"? Eating healthfully, exercising, and keeping a positive outlook on life are all basic practices that help to fend off illness. But equally important is taking an active role in your own health -- as opposed to running to the doctor or taking a pill every time you have a symptom.
Here are my top six strategies for maintaining and supporting reproductive health in both women and men.
Do pelvic clenches, or Kegel exercises.
Most people don't know that both men and women benefit from Kegels, which strengthen the pubococcygeus muscles. Exercising these pelvic floor muscles regularly helps with incontinence and sexual difficulties in both genders, pelvic organ prolapses in women, and prostate pain and swelling in men.
Support your reproductive organs with oatstraw.
Among the many herbs that are beneficial for a variety of ailments "down there," oatstraw is a superstar, and it's mild enough to use frequently. Place 1 ounce dried herb in a quart jar, fill with boiling water, and cap tightly. Steep for 4 hours or overnight, then strain and refrigerate the liquid. Oatstraw is helpful for pelvic pain, bladder problems, all the female organs, conditions of the testicles, erectile dysfunction, and boosting testosterone production. It's also a sexual tonic for both genders.
Have frequent orgasms.
Orgasms reduce stress, improve cardiovascular fitness, encourage deep breathing, fight aging, and lighten your mood. But they also help to wake up your libido, in both genders, no matter what stage you are in your reproductive life.
Drink red clover infusion.
Like oatstraw, red clover is an ally for both genders' reproductive health and can be consumed regularly. Make an infusion using the recipe for oatstraw, above. Red clover is beneficial in the treatment of urinary tract conditions, fibroids in women, and erectile dysfunction in men. It supports all the female and male reproductive organs, and is a powerful cancer preventive -- cervical, prostate, and others. Red clover contains phytoestrogens too, so it also helps regulate hormone imbalances in women.
Have some nettles.
Nettle is another herb that, when consumed frequently in an infusion, can help to prevent a variety of cancers and support your reproductive organs. Nettle is particularly useful if you have uterine fibroids, prostate problems, or incontinence. As a bonus, it's very high in calcium, which is great for men and women.
Avoid over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
The Wise Woman Way, which is one of the oldest approaches to healing, recommends that we try safer, gentler, more conservative treatments before we resort to drugs and surgeries. Most people don't know that you can make your own herbal medicines, right at home, that are as effective as the drugs you buy, but have fewer side effects. Easy-to-make herbal formulas include: anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anti-microbials, antibacterials, and anti-itching herbs. Recipes for these and online sources for the ingredients are in Down There and at my website, www.SusunWeed.com.
If you have a specific reproductive health complaint or condition, there are many targeted natural treatment options in my book. But following the above six strategies will go a long way toward helping you prevent the most common problems "down there."
