POSTPARTUM HERBAL TEA

I don't recall ever not frequently consuming certain types of tea. On chilly winter mornings when I was a child, my grandmother would prepare us steaming cups of black tea with a spoonful of sugar so hot that we couldn't feel our tongues until midday. In the sweltering Oklahoma summers, we would drink gallons of syrupy, sweet sun tea. Suppose you were ill? Whewwww… She made a mean "Hot Toddy" recipe that would make you forget your name, age, AND address for a good long while, so you better keep it from her. These teas were undoubtedly "therapeutic," though I had never thought of them as such.

I was introduced to medicinal herbal teas, green teas, oolong teas, rooibos, CHAI!, and the other many alternatives in the great world of tea as I grew older and traveled more. I discovered that drinking tea has been a tradition for countless eons and that, with patience and commitment, teas may feed and cure you. Now that I am married to an Englishman, tea still plays a big role in my daily routine. I won't even begin to discuss whether to add the milk or tea bag first.

As a Licensed Midwife, I frequently suggest herbs to my clients as a way to enhance their general vigor and health. Sometimes, using herbs for a short time and for very particular purposes might produce the desired benefits. They may be given to a pregnant woman who appears to be in good health as a general tonic or nutrition. NORA Tea is the herbal beverage I most often suggest drinking while pregnant. The lovely herbalist Rosemary Gladstar created it and has since spread the world's recipe for this nourishing concoction.I regularly make large batches of organic NORA Tea and provide eager customers with an 8oz serving. Nettles, oat straw, red raspberry leaf, and alfalfa are the main ingredients in NORA tea. These potent herbs all work together during pregnancy to nourish and enhance general health. The NORA Tea recipe has many iterations, but I personally prefer the original.

Postpartum is a time after the birth of a baby where the mother, or birthing parent, is not only healing from the physical and mental aspect of birth, but is also generally doing so while attempting to keep up with the demands of said baby (and perhaps several other children as well). This can be a glorious and thankful time. A time for reflection on the pregnancy and the magic of bringing a new tiny human into this universe. It can also, for some, be overwhelming both physically and emotionally, causing additional anxiety and stress to a time where many new parents already feel unsure of the process of healing the parent and growing the baby with the least amount of harm possible. While an herbal tea can’t fix all the uncertainties of this time, it can offer a nourishing ritual of support cup by cup.

When recommending herbal postpartum teas, I think nourishing, supportive, redemptive, and loving. The plant allies that I have come to know and love for these traits are many. Cross-referencing them with the individuals health history, birthing history, and desired goals to create a custom blend for their overall needs can be tricky, but 100% worth it. Before I share my recipes with you, please note: DISCLAIMER I am not a Doctor.I am not a Clinical Herbalist. I am not YOUR care provider. As such, I recommend speaking with your PCP about the risks and benefits of these recipes prior to consuming them. These recipes are intended to share knowledge and further my own personal goals of teaching others about the plants that benefit us. They are not intended to heal or cure and illnesses or diseases.

Traditional herbal preparations are often measured in “parts” versus cups, ounces, etc. The following recipe uses “parts” for measurement. If you have a kitchen scale for measuring weights, that is ideal, if not, just get as close as you can. Remember, you can alter this to suit your needs and tastes. The herbs used are generally recognized as safe and should not affect the overall desired effect by changing it a little.

POSTPARTUM HERBAL TEA: RECIPE BY Sarah baxter

When making a batch of tea, I generally like to make a large quantity of it and store it for ease. You can also make this by the cupful or by the pot if that suits your needs better. Good quality herbs should smell bright and not musty. Throw out herbs you are unsure about. Store away from direct sunlight.

1 part Lemon Balm

1 part Red Raspberry Leaf

2 parts Stinging Nettle

1/2 part Ginger Root

1/4 part Crampbark Root

1/2 part Dandelion Root

alt. 1/2 part Echinacea flower

alt. 1 part Chamomile flower

alt. 1/2 part Dried Rose petal

alt. 1/2 part Dried Lavender flowers

Method: Place the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Boil water. Cool 1 minute. Add 1.5 tsp of herbal tea to a cup. Cover with cooled, boiled water. Steep for 7-10 minutes. Add honey or lemon as desired.

Alternative ingredients- you can add any of these options to give the tea a more floral taste versus an herbal taste.

Sun infusions are also a wonderful way to drink nourishing herbal remedies, especially when it is hot outside! In a gallon glass jar, place 1/2 cup of mixed herbal tea and cover with cold water. Sit outside in a sunny space for 6-8 hours, or until you feel called to bring it in. When ready, strain the plant matter off and pour tea into a glass with ice. Add sweetener of choice and enjoy!

Overnight infusions can be done similarly by placing 1/2 cup of mixed herbal tea in a gallon glass jar. Cover with cold water and place either on the counter or in the refrigerator overnight. Strain off the plant matter and pour the tea into a glass with ice. Add sweetener of choice and enjoy!

Note- Crampbark is wonderful for the first 1-2 weeks postpartum, and during the return of your monthly cycle to reduce painful cramps. I don’t recommend taking it for longer than 1-2 weeks. It is easily omitted from the recipe once you don’t need it anymore.

RESOURCES FOR GREAT DRIED HERBS:

I hope you found this blog post to be insightful and useful please leave a comment about the things that helped you the most during your natural home birth.

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A Peachy Birth’s mission is to allow women and their families to have safe home births, natural birth, and water birth the way God designed them. At A Peachy Birth, you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of. Sarahlynn Baxter approaches birth with the philosophy that the woman's body is able to birth naturally and unhindered. Sarahlynn is able to share years of expertise with women so that they can bring the little ones into the world safely and through God’s Protection.