From Herpes to Hormones to Blood-Building

Dear Land Loved,

Normally, submissions are written and sent through the submissions page here. But this month’s submission arrived a little differently - as a thoughtful, layered voice message. She was asking about four things, which I’ll summarize here:

• Herbs to prevent and treat herpes

• Herbs to support hormones, menstruation, and overall women’s health

• My process with clients (and whether I use blood tests)

• Herbs for blood-building

Let’s dive in.

Part 1: Herbs to Prevent and Treat Herpes

The word herpes comes from the Ancient Greek herpein, “to creep or crawl,” which captures the way the virus moves through the body and expresses itself on the skin.

There are two main types of herpes simplex virus:

• HSV-1: most often oral herpes (cold sores), but can infect the genitals.

• HSV-2: the most common cause of genital herpes.

  
  

Both types can spread through oral, vaginal, or anal sex - even when there are no visible sores, and even with barrier protection. Over 500 million people worldwide live with genital herpes. So you are absolutely not alone. It’s common, easy to contract, currently impossible to cure - and not simply a matter of “weak immunity.” A strong immune system does help reduce outbreaks. Outbreaks can be managed and drastically reduced with herbal and lifestyle support.

As Susun S. Weed writes in Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way:

“Genital herpes hides in your nerves ‘down there.’ Any major change, desired or not - such as fatigue, trauma, hormonal changes, excessive exposure to sunlight, new job, new home, new sexual relationship, travel, illness, surgery, sexual guilt, tight clothes - can trigger HSV to become active and create lesions.”

What to Avoid

• Nuts during outbreaks (hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, walnuts, almonds). These are high in arginine, an amino acid that may aggravate outbreaks.

  
  

What to Include

• Nourishing Herbal Infusions daily: Red Clover Blossom, Nettle Leaf, Oatstraw, Comfrey Leaf, Linden Flower. Add tonics like Burdock root and Astragalus root infusion. I suggest drinking 1–2 cups of Burdock infusion daily in addition to your usual rotation. (Get my free infusion guide here)

• Mushrooms, kelp, and well-cooked vegetables to strengthen immunity.

• Black currants (may prevent viral attachment to cell membranes).

• Schisandra berries and cooked dandelion greens for further support.

  
  

Herbs & Remedies

St. John’s Wort (St. Joan’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum)

• Best when tinctured from fresh flowering tops (dried plant is ineffective).

• Take by the dropperful, 2x daily, to help suppress and prevent the virus. Increase dose to several dropperfuls daily if outbreak is imminent or active.

• Bonus: uplifts mood, prevents colds and flu.

• St. John’s Wort oil is also excellent for preventing and soothing outbreaks. Here’s my video on making tincture and oil.

• Avoid essential oils like lavender or tea tree - these can irritate delicate skin.

  
  

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• A gentle but powerful antiviral. Eases anxiety.

• I like to make a triple tincture: infuse, strain, then re-infuse twice more with fresh lemon balm for potency.

  
  

Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris)

• Rich in antioxidants; studies suggest its polysaccharides may inhibit HSV.

• I add a few flowers to every infusion I make. Tincture can also be helpful.

• Self-heal grows abundantly on forest paths - make friends with her. Here’s my video about Self-Heal.

  
  

Lysine-rich foods

• Prioritize protein: meat, fish, dairy, eggs, lentils, quinoa.

• While supplements exist, I prefer to get lysine through food.

• I do not recommend strict vegetarian/vegan diets for those seeking a healthy immune system.

Part 2: Herbs to Support Hormones, Menstruation, and Overall Women’s Health

This is a big question! First, I’ll say that I don’t believe in the idea of “hormonal balance.” Hormones are designed to fluctuate - it’s their natural rhythm. The key is nourishment: when well-nourished, the body regulates itself beautifully.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

• I hear you fear Red Clover as a “fertility herb,” but drinking it won’t make you pregnant if you’re practicing safe sex.

• I’ve enjoyed a quart weekly for over a decade, alongside herbal birth control, with no unwanted surprises.

• Red Clover is also a potent cancer preventative and deeply nourishing for women.

  
  

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

• One of my absolute favorites for women.

• Fresh flowering tops tinctured in 100-proof vodka work best. Here's my video about Motherwort.

• For cramps: 5–10 drops at first sign, repeat every 10–15 minutes as needed.

• For chronic painful menses relief: a dropperful 2x daily for six-eight months may eliminate cramps entirely.

• Eases anxiety, soothes intense premenstrual emotions, and shines for menopausal support.

Part 3: My Process with Clients (and whether I use blood tests)

I don’t use blood tests in my practice. They can be useful, but they don’t always tell the whole story - things like stress levels, life context, emotional landscape, and your body’s own wisdom.

In the Wise Woman Tradition, I take into account the full, complex, and beautiful picture of a person’s life, with numbers on a page understood as just one part of the larger whole.

For example, a blood test won’t reveal that a client is:

• working full time while raising two kids,

• in a patriarchal marriage,

• caring for an aging parent,

• starting menopause,

• eating poorly,

• and living with constant anxiety - all while believing they should have boundless energy.

  
  

Working with me is a process that begins with an in-depth intake and unfolds into exploring your story, your goals, and your body’s wisdom - where herbs, shamanic counselling, and self-care practices serve as allies in strengthening your intuition and restoring trust in your body.

Listening to the body - and respecting its requests for nourishment, rest, and compassion - is the foundation of my work. That’s where transformation happens. Learn more here.

Part 4: Blood-Building Herbs

Top allies for blood and iron:

• Nettle infusion: Drink 4 quarts per week for high iron and mineral content.

• Yellow Dock root (Rumex crispus): A gentle, fully absorbable, non-constipating source of iron.

• Yellow Dock Seeds: Here's my video about Yellow Dock Seed Vinegar.

  
  

Yellow Dock Dosage:

• Prevention: 25-40 drops tincture daily, or 1 Tbsp syrup/decoction daily.

• If anemia is present: Same dose, three times daily (use fresh roots if making tincture).

  
  

Yellow Dock Iron Tonic

• 2 oz dried Yellow Dock roots

• 4 Tbsp honey

• 2 Tbsp brandy or vodka (optional, for preservation)

  
  

Instructions:

1. Place roots in a quart jar, cover with boiling water, and steep overnight.

2. Strain and compost the herbs.

3. Reduce liquid gently to 1 cup (don’t boil or simmer hard).

4. Stir in honey (and alcohol if using).

5. Bottle and refrigerate. Keeps 4–6 months.

   
   

Dose: 1–2 Tbsp daily. Some women report their hematocrit rising by up to a point per week when using this tonic.

In Closing

These were such thoughtful, important questions. The short answer? Nourish deeply, listen to your body, and let herbs become steady allies. Healing isn’t about a single cure or quick fix - it’s about relationship, nourishment, and patience.

With love,

Vanessa 🖤