“You have been wet and fertile at the will and whim of your body
for most of your years, great- granddaughter,” murmurs Grandmother
Growth. “But you have Changed. You grow moist with readiness for
play now only when you truly desire it, not at reproduction's dictates.
Have no fear that your springs have run dry. If you consciously call
up your flood of pleasure, it will answer. This is one of my greatest
gifts to you, young Crone. No longer will you be accessible to those
who do not inspire love and trust in you. The great portals of life,
your womb, your vagina, now serve only you, now open only at your bidding.”
Step 1. Collect information . . .
We are given two contradictory pictures of post-menopausal sex. On one
hand, we're to look forward to freedom from conception worries, resulting
in more spontaneous, relaxed, joyful sex filled with multiple orgasms.
On the other hand, we're to expect dried-up, atrophied vaginas and dyspareunia
(painful intercourse).
Thinning and drying of the vaginal tissues in the post-menopausal
years is often first noticed during sexual activity when the expected
lubrication is slight or absent. Is this normal?
Yes; almost all post-menopausal women will experience
a lessening of sexual lubrication. No, you don't have to give up your
sexual self. Crones know there are many ways to ecstasy besides intercourse,
and many ways to be slippery when we want to be.
(Remedies to ease extreme thinning and drying are on page XXX.)
Step 2. Engage the energy . . .
• Homeopathic remedies include:
+ Bryonia: root chakra overheated and dry, dry vagina, dry
stools/constipation.
+ Lycopodium: lack of root stability, vagina very dry, self-confi-
dence withered, skin dry.
+ Belladonna: vagina painfully dry and too sensitive to tolerate touch.
• This yoga posture sounds simple, but requires concentration.
Squeeze the anal/pelvic floor muscles firmly while inhaling; hold. Breathe
out, holding the root lock and add a chin lock. Hold for two seconds.
Visualize the nectar of the universe flowing down your spine and between
your legs. Relax as you inhale.
~ Slowly, slowly. Give yourself plenty of time to warm up before inserting
anything into your vagina.
Step 3. Nourish and tonify . . .
~Eat more fat, especially foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as sardines, plantain seeds, organic butter, and fresh purslane. Most women notice a difference in a few weeks.
~ Comfrey root sitz bath (two quarts/liters of the infusion) is an old
favorite for keeping vaginal tissues flexible, strong, and soft. Sitz
for 5–10 minutes several times a week.
• Drink more water, not more tea or coffee or juice or soda . .
. water. Or boil a small handful of rice in two cups/500 ml of water
to make a thin broth regarded as an ideal internal moistener for women
with dry vaginal tissues or dry mouths. Drink freely.
~ As part of your love play, chew on a small piece of dong quai root.
• Pause for the soothing cooling touch of chickweed tincture, 25–40
drops in water, several times a day for 2–4 weeks, and see if your
hot, dry vaginal tissues don't smile moistly.
• Increase lubrication and the thickness of your vaginal walls
by starting your day with: 25 drops of motherwort tincture or 1 tablespoon/15
ml freshly ground flax seeds. Look for results within a month.
~ Acidophilus capsules inserted vaginally help prevent yeast infections
and create copious amounts of lubrication. Insert one (or two) about
4–6 hours before lovemaking.
~ Comfrey ointment is the ally of choice when skin needs flexible strength.
Rub in the morning and night and use as a lubricant for love play. The
vulva will be noticeably plumper and moister within three weeks.
• If you have access to slippery elm, try this soothing vaginal
gel. Slowly heat 2 tablespoons/30 ml slippery elm powder in a cup/250
ml of water, stirring until thick. Cool (you can even chill it) before
spreading over and inside the vulva and vagina. This gel lubricates,
heals, and nourishes.
~ Exercise, exercise. Every part of your body will age more gracefully
if you work it out regularly. That goes for your vagina and vulva, too.
Weekly orgasm is the recommended exercise, but daily pelvic floor exercises
tonify the vaginal tissues. See box, page XXX.
Step 4. Stimulate/Sedate . . .
• Avoid the problem! Try sex without intercourse.
~ Plantain ointment helps restore youthful moistness and elasticity to post- menopausal vaginal tissues.
• You are more likely to be troubled by vaginal dryness and the
loss of lubrication if your adrenals have been exhausted by overuse
of coffee, alcohol, and white sugar; severe stress; or steroid/cortisone
drugs.
• Herbalist Rina Nissim suggests applying the essential oil of
Salvia sclarea to vaginal tissues that have lost their elasticity. Dilute
with olive oil; pure essential oils can be fierce on sensitive mucous
surfaces.
Step 5a. Use supplements . . .
• Daily doses of 100–600 IU of vitamin E for 4–6 weeks
can help you increase vaginal lubrication. You may need to continue
with your daily dose for months to maintain your juiciness. Experiment
to find the
lowest effective dose for you. (See cautions, page XX.)
~ Astroglide™ is tfavored by those who like to have slippery fun.
Step 5b. Use drugs . . .
• Polycarbophil, the active ingredient in Replens™ pulls water
into vaginal cells, to restore and maintain healthy lubrication. It
also increases alkalinity in the vagina, reducing vaginal infections.
• Estrogen creams really do revitalize vaginal tissue. But may
increase risk of endometrial cancer more than oral estrogen. Occasional,
rather than regular, use minimizes risk.
top
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