Herbal Pregnancy Blend

      So what can you do to help your every growing uterus and baby do their best during pregnancy? Well, you can start by drinking the following herbal infusion. This infusion is borrowed from my dear friend and midwife Carol Gautschi. Aside from being extremely savvy when it comes to herbs and tinctures, she’s in my humble opinion the best midwife I know (the link to her website is available under the Midwives and Doulas tab). I take this herbal tea blend the entire time I’m pregnant, and breastfeeding, and truly believe in it’s beneficial nature.

1. 1 part Nettle leaf cut
2. 1/2 part Alfalfa leaf cut
3. 1 part Red Raspberry leaf cut
4. 1/2 part Oatstraw cut

To prepare infusion:

1. Warm a quart glass jar under hot tap water.
2. Put one large handful of herbal mixture in empty, warm jar.
3. Pour boiling water into jar, making sure to stir down herbs.
4. Cover jar and leave overnight to extract nutrients.
5. In the morning, pour contents through a fine mess strainer (the metal screened type with a handle works best.) Rinse jar out and pour your infusion back into the jar. Discard or compost herbal material.
6. Drink entire quart over the day. You may dilute the infusion with water or herbal tea if you wish, be sure to work at drinking the entire quart.

     If you have never been a tea or coffee drinker, this infusion may seem strange to your taste buds. The flavor can be improved upon by adding one or two herbal tea bags. Flavors from Celestial Seasoning such as “Magic Mint”, “Grandma’s Tummy Mint”, “Mandarin Orange” or “Lemon Zinger” as favorites for some women. Diluting the liquid with more water or natural unsweetened fruit juice is an option that some women prefer.

(Remember to refrigerate herbal infusions after straining. Herbal infusions are food, and will begin to ferment after several hours in summer heat.)

     I usually buy my herbs in bulk from MountainRoseHerbs.com. They are a wonderful resource for bulk organic herbs and you can get the herbs for much cheaper than you would purchasing them locally (unless you happen to live in Eugene, Oregon where he company is located). you should order the following quantities; 2 pounds Nettle leaf cut,1 pound Alfalfa leaf cut, 2 pounds Red Raspberry,1 pound Oat straw cut.This will produce 6 pounds, leaving you with plenty of herbs for your breastfeeding year

Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)

One of the richest mineral foods in the world, alfalfa’s roots grow as deep as 130 ft. into the ground, allowing it to reach minerals not available at higher levels. The name “alfalfa” is Arabic and means “Father of All Foods” (Al-Fal-Fa)

Contains: Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, chlorophyll, biotin, choline, inositol, iron, PABA, sodium, sulfur, tryptophan, Vitamins A, B complex, C, E, G, K, P and U.

Alfalfa is a restorative tonic, which promotes pituitary gland function. It contains eight enzymes known to promote a chemical reaction that enables food to be assimilated properly, helping to normalize weight, reduce incidence of ulcers, diabetes and other digestive orders. It alkalinizes the body, reducing arthritis symptoms, neutralizing uric acid, improving kidney function and reducing edema. A toning agent to the intestines, it improves peristaltic action of the bowels, improving colon disorders and normalizing bowel movements. It contains anti-fungal properties. Alfalfa’s tryptophan levels help improve sleep patterns. In tablet form, alfalfa has been used successfully to reduce heart disease, and improve arrhythmias. Alfalfa has been shown, in laboratory trials, to reduce cholesterol levels by reducing plaque.

Nettle (Urtica Dioica)

For those of you who have wandered into woodlands near water, stinging nettle will be a familiar memory. Nettle is a popular table green still today, eaten much the same way as cooked kale or spinach. Rich in chlorophyll, nettle is a world favorite for all urinary tract problems.

Contains: Chlorine, chlorophyll, formic acid, iodine, magnesium, potassium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, tannin, Vitamins A and C, facilitates absorption of Vitamin D form the sun, proteins, iron, copper, histamine, glucoquinine.

Nettle is a gentle yet powerful tonic to the adrenals, and is know to rebuild the adrenal cortex, thus improving energy levels. It has been used with great success in the treatment of adrenal exhaustion, one of the primary underlying causes of Chronic Fatigue and a host of other autoimmune disorders. As the adrenals are the fundamental glands of the immune health, Nettle is used to improve general immune function, thus increasing resistance to illnesses caused by viruses or bacteria’s. With its strong affinity to the adrenals, Nettle is used extensively to eliminate allergy and hay fever symptoms.

It has been used throughout time to restore kidney function, eliminating edema, cystitis, incontinence and urinary tract infections. Improving liver function, nettle reduces jaundice. The high vitamin C levels in Nettle ensure that dietary iron is absorbed properly, thus reducing anemia. Its unique blend of nutrients stabilizes blood sugar, strengthening the nervous system and reducing headaches. By improving nerve signal to the muscle, Nettle helps increase muscle response time, thus reducing incidences of post-partum hemorrhage. By improving elasticity of the skin, Nettle helps prevent tearing of vaginal tissue. Combined with Burdock Root, Nettle is extremely helpful in the treatment of eczema. Nettle is an excellent promoter of abundant breast milk.

Oat straw (Avena Sativa)

Oatstraw, as any livestock breeder will confirm, builds the strongest possible body, with the greatest resiliency. Used extensively in European cultures throughout time for health and beauty, our country has let this valuable herb slide into disuse.

Contains: Starch, silicic acid, calcium, high in Vitamins A, C, B complex, LE, G, phosphorus, potassium, mucin, and proteins.

Oatstraw contains Avenin, an amorphous alkaloid which is highly nutritive to cells, improving normal cellular reproduction. Its calcium form is so easily absorbed that Oatstraw is considered the premier herb/food for the nervous system. Working directly on the brain and endocrine system, Oatstraw reduces nervous disability, anxiety and epilepsy. Due to its ease of absorption, Oatstraw has been used with great success in addiction recovery. As calcium is responsible for the enzymatic process by which nutrients are laid down in the muscle, Oatstraw improves muscle tone throughout the body, reducing leg cramps and heart palpitations, improving digestion and elimination. Improving muscle tone allows the cardiovascular system to function more vigorously, thus improving circulation to the uterus and placenta, and therefore, to the preborn infant. Its high levels of minerals make Oatstraw invaluable in building excellent bone density and enamel on teeth. Oatmeal’s high levels of silicic acid are responsible for its international fame, in skin disorders such as acne and relief from topical inflammations such as chicken pox and poison ivy. Oatstraw, in cases of allergic reactions, seems not to affect the individual to the same degree as the oat grain itself and is often used, without aggravation by those who cannot eat oats.

Cleavers (cut and sifted) is an excellent substitute in this formula if you are allergic to oats.

Red Raspberry (Rubus strigosus or idaeus)

Likely the most well-known pregnancy herb, red raspberry has been used throughout Europe and the Americas for centuries as the premier childbearing years herb. Growing easily in almost every environmental condition, even the youngest country child can identify the wild, briary canes as they overtake everything in their path.

Contains: Fruit sugar, pectin, citric acid, malic acid, silicon, Vitamins C, B2, niacin, carotene, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, improves Vitamin D absorption.

Red Raspberry is a specific muscle toner, working on the smooth muscles of the body, including the uterus. As it soothes spastic muscle behavior, it improves contractibility of the uterus during labor. The particular properties of the herb tone and nourish the ovaries, and by relationship to the pituitary, reduces nausea, morning sickness and intestinal spasm caused by excessive progesterone. This same relationship has made Red Raspberry a popular herb for menstrual cramps and hot flashes. Due to its astringent qualities, it is used for mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids and cold sores. The unique mineral blend in Red Raspberry promotes healthy nails, bones, teeth and skin.