Herbs & Pregnancy: Infusions/Teas

During pregnancy, the safest approach to using herbs is to hold off during the first trimester and begin incorporating herbs as needed during the second and third trimesters. There are herbs that are considered safe during pregnancy and others that you should definitely avoid, so make sure that you are using herbs safely and getting your information from credible sources.

For a more thorough discussion on herbal safety during pregnancy, check out this great article from Aviva Romm. The herbs used in the following recipe are all considered safe during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This particular infusion can be used daily as a gentle and nutritive tonic.

Infusions:

Infusions are herbal teas that are made from the more delicate parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, aromatic parts). These fragile parts impart their medicinal properties more easily than the roots and barks of the plant and need only to be steeped, rather than simmered. Infusions are an easy and gentle way to to use herbs. For the following infusion, I chose to use red raspberry leaf, nettle, spearmint, lemon balm, and rose hips. Before we get to the recipe, let's take a closer look at these amazing herbs...

• Red raspberry leaf: Rich source of niacin, as well as one of the richest sources of iron and manganese. Helps to tone the uterus during pregnancy and has been shown to promote a shorter labor and prevent excessive bleeding after birth.

• Nettles: Rich in iron, calcium, chlorophyll, vitamin C, potassium, silicon, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and chromium, as well as a host of other vitamins and minerals. Provides significant anti-inflammatory activity.

• Spearmint: Refreshing and uplifting. Primarily used in this infusion for added flavor.

• Lemon Balm: Alleviates stress and anxiety, as well as promotes sleep.

• Rose Hips: One of the best sources of vitamin C, containing many times the amount found in citrus fruit and more than almost any other herb.

*I recommend purchasing your dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, which are organically grown and carefully cultivated.

Nurturing Childbirth Infusion

6 parts red raspberry leaf

2 parts nettle

2 parts spearmint

1 part lemon balm

1 part rose hips

Recipe:

I like to mix the herbs beforehand and store in bulk so that making the tea is fast and easy. Here's what you do...

1) Combine all of the dried herbs in a medium sized bowl and store this herbal blend in an airtight container.

2) Bring water to a boil.

3) While the water is heating, put your desired amount of the herbal blend into a glass jar (1 tablespoon herbs per 1 cup water). I like to make a quart of the infusion each time, which provides 4 cups of tea. To make a quart, use 4 tablespoons of the herbs and 4 cups water.

4) Pour the hot water over the herbs, stirring to keep the herbs submerged in the water.

5) Cover the jar tightly (these lids come in handy when using canning jars) and allow to steep for 30-60 minutes. *Steeping time varies depending on the type of herbs being infused. Aromatic plants/plant parts should steep for 10-15 minutes, non-aromatic leaves and flowers for 30-60 minutes, and woody plant parts and soft roots for 1-4 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the brew.

6) Strain the tea using a fine mesh strainer. To maximize the herbal goodness, use the back of a wooden spoon to press on the herbs against the strainer.

7) Discard the herbs and pour the tea back into the jar, adding additional filtered water if needed to fill the jar. Enjoy iced, cool, or heated back up depending on your taste. The tea can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Drink 1-2 cups daily

Another fabulous resource for preparing natural remedies for your whole family, Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health can be found here, as well as Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Women which can be found here.

#herbal #pregnancy #tea