Herbal Friends

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Yep, the same alfalfa we grow for livestock and to replenish the soil. That one. We use the aerial parts in tea. What’s an aerial? Good question. Anything above ground is considered aerial; so leaves, stems, seeds and/or flowers. This herb tones and helps digestion. It increases appetite and is nutrient-dense. It can help with iron-deficiency anemia and as a general blood building tonic as it’s high in chlorophyll. Later on, it can help establish your milk supply when you’re breastfeeding too. Folx with Lupus should steer clear.

Catnip / Catmint

Nepeta cataria

Again, just leaves and flowers for the tea. Catnip is a mild sedative and nervine that helps alleviate anxiety and insomnia. It’s been said it helps with afterbirth pains and can be used for mild stomach upset as well. There are no known contraindications*, so if you’re having a tough time sleeping, try this herb in your tea an hour before bed. 

*A condition or factor to withhold certain medical treatment due to the harm it may cause the patient.

Chamomile

Maricaria recutita

If allergic to ragweed, avoid Chamomile. But if not, this herb is exceptional at treating anxiety, restlessness, inflammation of joints, and insomnia. It aids digestion and tummy troubles too. For generations, it’s been given as a weak tea to newborns to help with colic and indigestion—just a teaspoon or so in 8-10 ounces of boiling water is plenty.

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Both the root and the leaf are used in this herb. Generally, the leaf is more often found in tea blends. It’s a powerhouse! If you come across fresh leaves, they can be cooked like spinach. The root is especially good for supporting the liver, so if you’re prone to PUPPPs or at risk for preeclampsia, talk to your care provider about adding in dandelion root tea. Both the leaf and root can be used to treat nausea and vomiting, breast pain, and constipation. Dandelion has also been used to ensure a plentiful supply of milk when breastfeeding. This herb contains Vitamins A, B, C, and D as well as iron, potassium, zinc and choline. The inulin and bioflavonoids in dandelion encourage a healthy gut microbiome and support the vascular system. Please avoid dandelion if you have any gallbladder or liver issues.  

Elder Flower

Sambucus nigra

Facing cold or flu symptoms? Elderberries are your friend. The flowers of the elder bush are delicious in tea and help to boost your immunity and general wellness.  

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Ginger does it all from treating nausea and vomiting to soothing tummy troubles of all sorts. It also aids digestion and treats gas and bloating. Use fresh root for teas—1 tablespoon grated in 8-10 ounces of water. If you’re experiencing severe nausea, consider sipping a spoonful at a time. Ginger can have a hypoglycemic effect, so be mindful of lightheadedness.

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm is a wonderful soothing herb for pregnancy and beyond. Use the leaf. It’s great to help settle nerves,  anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. It helps improve sleep and even mild depression. This herb contains flavonoids and Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Lemon Balm is contraindicated* if you have hypothyroidism.

*A condition or factor to withhold certain medical treatment due to the harm it may cause the patient.

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citriodora

Use the leaf on this one. High in Vitamin C and thiamin, Lemon Verbena helps ease the mind and settle the nerves. 

Linden

Tilia spp

Linden flowers are a pleasant tasting herb useful in cases of insomnia, mild depression, and anxiety. A gentle sedative, it’s a helpful remedy for sleeplessness. It can also have a diuretic effect, so avoid use in medicinal amounts*. 

*Medicinal amounts are relatively LARGE amounts — think grams. Food amounts are very small — think tablespoon, milligram, etc.

Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

Pregnancy can be hard on the internal organs—there’s natural stress in growing another human. The seeds of the milk thistle plant are liver protective, so they can be helpful for PUPPPs [Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy in the United States, also known as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP) in the United Kingdom)] and to avoid preeclampsia. It can cause hypoglycemia, so use with caution. And it should be avoided in mamas with allergies to ragweed.

Milky Oats

Avena sativa

The entire oat plant is amazing for the pregnant body. A steaming bowl of oats with nuts, seeds, and berries is a great way to start your day. Milky oats are the hulls (seeds) of oats that are harvested early. They’re high in Vitamins B and E, calcium, and magnesium. A nutritious herb used as a mild sedative and to soothe the nerves, Milky Oats serve as a great digestive aid.

Nettle Leaf

Urtica dioica

Nettles are considered a foundational herb for all tea blends in pregnancy. A powerhouse of nutrition, it contains Vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, as well as folate. Nettles are slightly diuretic and have a stabilizing effect on blood glucose. They’ve long been used as a gentle tonic to treat iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, and varicosities.

Oatstraw

Avenia sativa

Oatstraw is the stem of the oat plant. Just like alfalfa, it’s used for livestock because it’s extremely nutritious. Offering relief for anxiety and depression, Oatstraw promotes general wellness. It also helps to regulate the endocrine system, and has been used in women’s formulas for generations. Please avoid if you have celiac disease.

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

An herbal ally known for treating nervous tension, stress, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety—Passionflower is one powerful plant. Passionflower is such a wonderful plant, from passion fruits for eating to aerials (stems, leaves and flowers) for tea infusions.

Peppermint

Mentha x peperita

A smart addition to most tea blends for taste as well as therapeutic properties, the Peppermint leaf treats nausea and vomiting. A reliable digestion aide, Peppermint contains Vitamins A and C as well as calcium, potassium, and folate. 

Peppermint tea may boost energy, may relieve nausea and constipation, is beneficial if you’re a mama with gestational diabetes. Avoid peppermint tea if experiencing heartburn.

Red Raspberry Leaf

Rubus idaeus

A quintessential herb for pregnancy health and chock full of nutrients, it’s often used as a foundational herb for tea blends. This leaf is rich in calcium, iron, and magnesium, along with Vitamins A and E. Be aware, in rare cases it can cause nausea or overstimulation of the uterus.

Red raspberry leaf tea may relieve nausea and constipation, is beneficial if you’re a mama with gestational hypertension, and is anecdotally believed to be lactogenic. Red raspberry leaf tea may shorten the average length of labor—but not necessarily shorten the duration of pregnancy. 

Rose

Rosa spp.

High in Vitamin C and antioxidants, Rosehips (the seeds of the rose plant) and rose petals are often used as flavorings for tea blends.