Herbs for pregnancy and after
During your second trimester you can make a vitamin and mineral nutritive tea which will help you and your baby. But you must be careful what you put in this tea. Some ingredients are still not to be used until the last few weeks. Be sure to consult the list below before you use anything.
Your tea should be:
one part red raspberry leaf
two parts nettle leaf
two parts alfalfa grass
four parts of spearmint
two parts of oatstraw
one part horsetail
three parts lemon balm leaf
Pour one cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of this mix, let it sit for 15 minutes and then strain it. You can make up to 8 cups at once and store in a glass bottle in the refrigerator. Drink it hot or iced with honey or plain.
You might to start rubbing your belly with oil in order to prevent stretch marks. Once you have stretch marks, they are almost impossible to get rid of, so prevention is the best policy. To create your anti-mark oil mix:
two tablespoons of almond oil
ten drops of borage seed oil
six drops of lavender essential oil
five drops of tangerine essential oil.
Rub one Tbs. on your belly once a day. Gently.
Third Trimester
Now you can stop your nutritional tea for a while....About six weeks before your due date you should drink three cups of red raspberry tea daily to help tone the uterus and make your labor easier. Many people start drinking red raspberry tea earlier or throughout their entire pregnancy, however, this can reverse the effect of the herb and perhaps increase the pain or length of labor.
The Birth
When the labor starts take:
10 drops of Motherwort tincture every hour for up to four hours.
Plus 10 drops of Black Cohosh every hour for up to four hours.
After the baby is delivered you can take:
Valerian, Catnip and Scullcap tea or tincture. Take only one cup every four hours for up to three cups in one day. That is it. No more. This will lower your blood pressure which is OK for people with normal blood pressure. Don’t let it worry you. It will go back to normal when you stop drinking the tea.
Herbs to avoid and information about some Herbs for you
Avoid these during pregnancy:
Bitters
From the material concerning bitters already covered, it is clear that the general metabolic stimulation and especially that of smooth muscle and the emmenagogue results, are contra-indicated during pregnancy. All strong bitters should be excluded, with especial attention to :
Artemisia abrotanum Southernwood
Artemisia absinthium Wormwood
Artemisia vulgare Mugwort
Berberis vulgaris Barberry
Chelidonium majus Celandine
Hydrastis canadensis Golden SealRuta graveolens Rue
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Alkaloid containing plants
Alkaloids are a diverse group of secondary plant constituents that have a wide range of pharmacological impact upon the body. The stronger representatives are to be avoided, including the caffeine containing social drugs Coffee and Tea. These include :
Berberis vulgaris Barberry
Colchicum autumnale Autumn crocus
Hydrastis canadensis Golden Seal
Podophyllum peltatum Mandrake
Sanguinaria canadensis Blood root
Sarothamnus scoparius Broom
Oil containing plants
Many of the essential oils can have a devastating impact on the placenta and foetus is taken internally during pregnancy. Avoid all Essential oils internally. However, the whole plant that the oil was distilled from will usually be fine if used in moderation. Important exceptions are:
Juniperus communis Juniper
Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal
Myristica officinalis Nutmeg (in large amounts)
Thuja occidentalis Arbor vitae
Anthraquinone Laxatives
The strong herbal laxatives often owe their effects to the presence of anthraquinones that stimulate peristalsis in the bowel. They may have a similar stimulating impact upon the uterus. If a laxative is needed during pregnancy it should be either a bulk or hepatic laxative.
Cassia senna SennaRhamnus catharticus Purging Buckthorn
Rhamnus frangula Alder Buckthorn
Rhamnus purshiana Cascara Sagrada
Others
There are other plants that should be avoided which do not fit into such convenient categories. Some are listed here. Male Fern is an example of an anthelmintic remedy for the treatment of worm infestations.
Cinchona spp. Peruvian Bark
Phytolacca spp. Poke
Dryopteris felix-mas Male Fern
Gossypium herbaceum Cotton-RootViscum album Mistletoe
NEVER TO USE DURING PREGANCY: OTHERS
Toxic herbs like: tansy, rue, spikenard, pennyroyal, cottonroot bark, mistletoe, coltsfoot, comfrey, and goldenseal
Menstruation inducing herbs like: angelica, birthroot, black cohosh, blue cohosh, don quai, motherwort, pennyroyal, parsley and yarrow
Strong herbs for specific illnesses: cayenne. coffee, goldenseal, senna, angelica, buckthorj bark, osha root, ephedra, echinacea, valerian
The following spices (and in their “herbal preparation” form) should also be avoided: Basil, Caraway Seed , Celery Seed ,Ginger ,Fresh Horseradish, Savory, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Parsley, Tarragon, Thyme, flax seed, aloe, licorice
Doesn't make food sound as tasty, but considering the end result well worth exercising a little caution. There is a famous pizza store in Texas where women go in the last weeks of pregnancy. It is said that eating the man’s fresh pizza (he makes it with fresh basil, thyme, and savory and marjoram) causes the woman to go into labor. Many women go there to “plan” their birth-day.
Herbs to use in pregnancy – these are OK
Black Haw - Used as a threatened miscarriage prevention
Blessed Thistle - Reduces risk of hemorrhage during childbirth and increases mother’s milk.
Burdock Root - Nourishing herb for weak uterus, often uses to ease childbirth.
Chamomile Flowers - Used of uplifting the spirits and relaxation
Cramp Bark - Used at the first sign of a miscarriage.
Dandelion - Highest food source of vitamin A, calcium and iron. Nourishes and tones the system and eliminates excess water.
Ginger Root - A morning sickness and stomach remedy. Not all people enjoy or are benefited by this herb, however. Give it a try. Also used for colds, sore throats and flus during pregnancy.
Lady’s Mantle Leaf - European “women’s herb”. Tones the uterus, reduces hemorrhaging during childbirth, helps settle stomach and helps against morning sickness.
Lemon Balm Leaf - Very calming and relaxing herb, also milk anti-depressant. Can reduce effects of allergies and helps the digestion.
Nettle - Rich in calcium, iron and many minerals and vitamins. Good for restoring energy.
Oat Straw - Calms nervous tension and stress. Good remedy for yeast infections dur9ing pregnancy.
Red Raspberry Leaf - Tones and nourishes the uterine muscles. Restores energy after childbirth.
Slippery Elm Bark - Good for mucous membrane complaints during pregnancy, colds, flus and all infections.
Squaw vine - Uterine toner.
USE FOR CHILDBIRTH AND LABOR ONLY
Angelica - indices uterine contractions, helps expel the placenta. Used for a slow birth.
Black Cohosh - A uterine stimulator and relaxant. Often used with blue cohosh in the last weeks of pregnancy to prepare the uterus for childbirth.
Blue Cohosh - Menstruation promoting herb. (see above)
Motherwort - Use to prepare the uterus the last week of childbirth. Uterine stimulant.
Shepherd’s Purse - Curbs excess bleeding during childbirth.
Yarrow - Used with shepherd’s purse as an anti-hemorrhaging herb.
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