Pregnancy Tea
Equal parts of
Meadowsweet (which is often referred to as 'nature's tums' and is Nature's gift to the pregnant woman)
Chamomile (which has been shown to have a soothing and healing effect and tastes wonderful)
Raspberry Leaf (this is truly the woman's herb, used all over the world by
pregnant women, prepares the womb for birth by relaxing and strengthening
the uterus, smoothes menstrual cycle, helps nausea, other GI upsets)
Plus a bit of
Hops (calming, also articularly good for insomnia, tension)
Marshmallow root (a great demulcent, coats gastro-intestinal tract)
Nettle (strengthens and nourishes, iron, vitamin C, also helps increase milk
production in nursing mothers)
Lemon Balm (great for flavor, combines well
with nettle and raspberry leaf in women's formulas)
Peppermmint/Spearmint
(wonderful for upset stomach of any kind, stimulates release of stomach
acids, use large amounts for fevers and flus, generally soothing).
Not all of these must be used for the tea to be productive. However,
the Chamomlie, Raspberry Leaf, and Meadowsweet are the most important
and I must strongly encourage the use of a mint. It is a nice idea to buy a bit
of each herb (find a store that sells bulk by weight- it's not as expensive
as you'd think) and to combine them and store them in a sealable jar. It is
much more convenient than mixing it each time. But it is nice to experiment
in the beginning and invent a tea to best suit your individual needs and
tastes. This is only what worked the best for me.
Herbs to avoid during pregnancy: Goldenseal, Mandrake, Mugwort, Tansy,
Rue, Wormwood, Barberry, Horsetail, Cohosh, Ginger (except in small doses)*,
Hyssop, Motherwort, Myrrh, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Sage, Shepard's Purse,
Licorice, Dong Quai, Ginseng, Sarsaparilla.
*Ginger may be used in small amounts during pregnancy in recipes or to help
relieve heartburn symptoms. Just be sure to follow directions carefully and not to overdo it!
I hope this is useful, it has been a lifesaver for me! You can drink
two or three cups per day with no troubles (you don't have to). Tell a
friend. It's good for everyone. Enjoy!
