Pregnancy and herbs - Fertility, Preparation, Support and Enhance, Labour, Breastfeeding, Postpartum

The recommendations regarding Pregnancy tea and diet in this article are entirely suitable for a woman to use themselves during pregnancy. But it may be wise to visit Herbalist if any doubts or question arise.

This article will be general article about using herbs in pregnancy and basis of diet. I will also add long list of herbs categorically contradicted in pregnancy, as well as list herbs that can be used temporarily in different stages of pregnancy, based on conditions risen or time left to labour (those herbs best to be used under supervision of Herbalist or midwife).

My next articles will go deeper at role of herbs in all phases of this very important episode in woman life, starting from:

Fertility and conception

Preparation for pregnancy to avoid miscarriage

Support and Enhance pregnancy herbs

Herbs specific for problems arising during pregnancy which include - Morning sickness, Pain, Constipation, Haemorrhage, Varicose veins, miscarriage and premature delivery, anxiety and worry, stretch marks

Preparation for delivery

Labour and delivery

Breastfeeding

Postpartum (weakness and exhaustion, irritability and hypersensitivity, dehydration, postpartum depression and sitz baths for perineal healing)

 

Tradition of use Herbal medicine in all cultures throughout history it came from one simple reason, herbs help. Certain herbs are renowned at improving the general health of a woman during pregnancy as well as being extremely safe, they share a quality of being exceptionally nourishing.

Pregnancy tea

A combination of herbs in used in this tea can be generally recommended as “Pregnancy tea”, those herbs can do a great deal to support the internal health of both mother and baby in many regards.

Nettle leaf/herb, Alfalfa herb/leaf, Raspberry leaf, and Oat straw and are 4 greatest herbs for blood, skin, bone and tissue nourishing on the planet. Any pregnant woman will benefit greatly from some or all of them. Ginger will help with other herbs digestion and absorption into the body. If woman do not like Ginger, it could be left out or substituted with Peppermint or Chamomile.

 

Assuming the woman enjoyed the benefits of this tea and wanted to keep it going, it would be most beneficial to start adding some Mitchella, as a 'pre-parturient tonic' in the last month, or last two months of the pregnancy.

Pregnancy tea recipe

Raspberry leaf - 30g

Nettle leaf - 20g

Oat straw - 20g

Alfalfa leaf - 20g

Chamomile or Peppermint 20 g (based on individual taste Chamomile or Peppermint can be used alone or both at the time, proportion left to own choice)

Ginger root to taste e.g. 5 g

 

The amounts given above would approximately fill one large jar and this sample of a Pregnancy tea could easily be adapted to individual needs or preferences and if, as often is the case, a woman was very particular about how things tasted in her pregnancy, it might be wise to get the dried herbs separately and then to experiment with using more or less of them until a combination was found that gave the most agreeable flavour.

Some women might want much more or less Ginger, if any at all. Some might like to add some Peppermint or, equally, some Chamomile to adapt the flavour of the tea.

Whatever the blend, steeping about 4 g of these herbs in one large cup of boiled water for 10-12 minutes will extract all their constituents and will make an excellent daily tonic for pregnancy. If tea is enjoyed (usually it is) and woman wanted to make more than one brew during the day, there would be no possible harm but rather every likelihood of further benefit.

 

 

Nutrition and Hydration:

There are two areas of diet that are most important for a healthy pregnancy. The first is to stay well hydrated. The body makes a great deal more blood, and other tissues, during pregnancy. If we do not increase our fluid intake accordingly, we can settle into a chronic state of mild dehydration and just not be aware of it as our system becomes accustomed to running dry.

So how do you know how much water (or cups of tea etc.) you must drink? Listen to your body. If you can go more than 2 hours without needing to have a decent 'pee' you are dehydrated. If you are needing to go more than once an hour, you are overdoing it and unnecessarily stressing your kidneys. A good outflow every 1-2 hours is the sweet spot and to get into that zone you will need to vary your fluid intake according to the weather, the humidity and how active you are.

The second area is to make sure you are getting enough proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are essential for energy (though many people eat more than they need in the form of bread, pasta, rice etc.) but protein and fat are most essential for the growth of your baby and the adaptation of your own body to the growth of the pregnancy.

For a host of reasons, a pregnant woman needs to eat foods that contain plenty of healthy fats and proteins. She should, of course, eat what proteins are best to her preferences, so this includes nuts and seeds, eggs, avocados, dairy products, meat, fish and chicken.

 

Herbs contradicted during pregnancy are medium strength and strong remedies, possessing toxicity that may injury mother and fetus. Examples are neurotoxic Rue, sassafras and Ephedra, teratogenic Hyssop and Golden Seal. Those both types are also contradicted during breastfeeding.

Other herbs also contradicted during pregnancy are Uterine stimulants like Blue Cohosh, Dong quai, Angelica root; those herbs can precipitate miscarriage.   

Note: Those uterine stimulants are contradicted in medicinal doses, however few of them can be still used harmless in culinary doses (Sage, Marjoram and Thyme)

Note: Mild uterine stimulants sometimes can be used as part of herbal formula when complications related to pregnancy occurs and woman has no history of uterine prolapse and past miscarriage (under supervision of herbalist or midwife).

 

Contradicted herbs:

Note: this is not full list of contradicted herbs, but listed below herbs would be commonly used by Herbalist to treat woman ailments.

Niu Xi, Adonis, Akebia, Alder buckthorn, Aloe, American ginseng, Angelica, Angelica sinensis, Arborvitae, Arisaema Tian Nan Xing. Arnica, Asarum, Barberry, Belamcanda, She Gan, Belladonna, Biota, Birth root, Birthwort, Black cohosh, Bloodroot, Blue cohosh, Boldo, Broom, Buckthorn, Caesalpinia, Calamus, Camphor, Campsis, Cascara sagrada, Castor bean, Cayenne, Celandine, Citrus. Coffee, Coix, Coltsfoot, Colocynth, Corydalis, Cotton root bark, Crocus, Croton seed, Culver's root, Cyathula, Chuan Niu Xi, Dianthus, Ephedra, Fennel, Feverfew, Flax seed, Garlic, Ginseng (all types), Goldenseal, Golden groundsel, Hazelwort, Hedge hyssop, Horseradish, Hyssop, Jaborandi, Jamaica dogwood, Jasmine, Lavender, Licorice, Ligusticum, Linseed, Lindera Wu Yao, Madder root, Marjoram, Mayapple, Male fern, Milettia, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mugwort, Nasturtium, Nutmeg, Onion, Opium poppy, Oregon grape, Oshá, Papaver, Pasqueflower, Passionflower, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Peruvian bark, Pleurisy root, Poke root, Pomegranate, Prunus , Rhubarb, Rosa, Rubia, Rue, Rye ergot, Safflower , Sage, Saffron, Salvia, Dan Shen, Sassafras, Saussurea , Senna leaf, Shepherd's purse, Southernwood, Sparganium, Talcum, Tansy, Thuja, Thyme, Trogopterum, Vaccaria, Vesperilius, Vetiver, Virginia snakeroot, Water eryngo, Wild Carrot, Wild cherry, Wild ginger, Wild yam, Winter Savory. Wormseed, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow jessamine.

 

Below list of herbs to be used with caution (under supervision of herbalist or midwife).:

Note: this is not full list of herbs to be used with caution, but listed below herbs would be commonly used by Herbalist to treat woman ailments.

Prepared aconite (all types), Agave, Artemisia, Asafoetida, Basil, Bearberry, Beet, Black pepper, Blue flag, Buchu, Bugleweed, Burdock, Chamomile, Cubeb, Cassia, Catnip, Celery, Chasteberry, Chicory, Cinnamon (all types), Columba, Columbine, Coriander, Cornsilk, Cow parsnip, Cyperus Xiang Fu, Damiana, Dong quai, Dittany, Elecampane, Ephedra, Epimedium, Evodia, Fenugreek, Feverfew, Ginger, Gotu kola, Grapefruit, Ground ivy, Helonias, Hops, Horehound, Ipecac, Juniper, Knotgrass, Lady's mantle, Lemon, Liquorice, Lily of the valley, Lobelia, Lovage, Lycopus, Marigold, Marjoram, Marsh marigold, Mate, Meadowsweet, Melissa, Mercury, Milk thistle, Motherwort, Myrrh, Nettle, Ocotillo, Paeonia Chi Shao Yao, Papaya, Periwinkle, Plantain, Pleurisy root, Plum kernel, Peppermint, Peony, Peach kernel and leaf, Plantain, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Queen's root, Red Clover, Red peony, Roman chamomile, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Scabious, Schizandra, Sea holly, Seneca snakeroot, Silverweed, Skullcap, Squill, Stavesacre, St. John's wort, Thyme, Uva ursi, Vervain, Watercress, White bryony, Wild carrot, Wood betony, Wood sorrel, Yellow dock.

 

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