Calendula flowers — or Marigold — are gentle, healing for skin tissues, antiseptic, and beautiful! Calendula is such a powerful healing agent that the herbal and homeopathic literature contains warnings to not use it on puncture wounds until the deeper tissues have healed. Apparently, it can speed healing of the top tissues too quickly and seal in infection.
Herbal Recipes for the Childbearing Year
Pregnancy Tea
Drinking two or three cups per day of the following herbal mixture can add substantially to the mother’s health throughout pregnancy and lessen pain and bleeding during birth. These herbs are primarily nutritive in nature, providing much-needed vitamins and minerals in a form that the body can easily assimilate (unlike most vitamin pills). The tea can be taken postpartum as well, to help tone the uterus and build a healthy milk supply.
Red Raspberry Leaves
Contain vitamins A, B, and E, as well as calcium, phosphorous, iron, and an acid neutralizer. Helps tone the uterus.
Nettle
Nettle is a blood-cleansing and blood-building herb with a high iron content. It is very nourishing to the kidneys and liver, and will help to relieve (or prevent altogether) vascular problems common during pregnancy. Helps build a good milk supply.
The following herbs may be added to the above mixture for variety:
Alfalfa
High in Vitamin K. Contains vitamins A, B12, D, and E, as well as calcium and phosphorous. Recommended to help build the milk supply.
Red Clover
This blood-purifying herb can be added from time to time. It is especially good during acute illnesses and for high blood pressure.
Rose Hips
Contains the entire vitamin C complex. Good for vascular problems (hemorrhoids, varicose veins) and to boost the immune system. Recommended for Rh- women and for fighting off infections.
Spearmint
Soothing to the stomach, aids in digestion, and lends a pleasant taste to the mixture. A little goes a long way. (If you are taking homeopathic remedies, you should leave the Spearmint out while the remedies are still active in your system, as mint can antidote some remedies. Once a remedy has completed its curative action, you don’t need to worry about antidoting it.)
Directions
Combine one part red raspberry leaves to one part nettles. Add some or all of the optional herbs if desired. Measure approximately two small handfuls of herbs to two quarts of water. Use a glass or other non-metal (aluminum is the worst) container with a lid. A half-gallon mason jar is perfect (locally available at Ace Hardware). Cover the herbs with almost-boiling water and cap tightly. Steep this mixture from four to eight hours. Pour the mixture through a strainer and discard the herbs. The tea will stay fresh for up to four days if kept in the refrigerator. A small amount of fruit juice (try grape, apple, raspberry) can be added as a sweetener, if you like. There is no right or wrong way to make the tea. Play with it a bit, till you find a mixture that suits you.
Postpartum Herbal Bath
The postpartum herbal bath is wonderfully healing for both mom and baby. The recommended herbs have astringent and antiseptic properties which soothe and heal sore bottoms, help dry up the baby’s cord stump, and prevent infections. You and your baby can take a minimum of one bath per day for the first five days postpartum. If you have stitches or any lacerations, you may want to take two baths per day for two to three weeks, or until healing is complete. Hydrotherapy on its own is widely recommended for pain relief; add the herbs and you speed the healing process.
Ingredients
- Calendula flowers (1/4 pound)
- Comfrey leaves (1/4 pound)
- Lavender flowers (1/4 pound)
Directions
Combine the herbs and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard. Boil approximately a gallon of water or just use a large stock pot. Once the water boils, turn off the heat and add a large handful of each herb (children love to help with this part). Cover and let steep for at least one hour (longer is better). When ready, pour the herb water directly into the bath water through a strainer and discard the herbs. Your herb bath can be made in early labor so that it will be nice and strong when you’re ready for it. The mixture can sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours. If not used within 24 hours, strain out the herbs and refrigerator the fluid. It will keep for 2-3 days. You can brew up the next batch just after the current bath. Then, whenever you’re ready for the bath, it’s ready for you!
It’s a good idea to have a helper if you are bringing your baby into the bath. Mom can get in first while the bath is hot and then bring baby in once it cools down a bit. Most newborns love the bath but will startle when first brought in. Have your helper hand the baby to mom and simply support the baby’s head with both hands, allowing the body to immerse and float between your legs. Watch your baby relax and unfold as he/she settles in. Enjoy!
A word about quality of herbs
Herbs should be organic or wild-crafted and fresh (dried is fine, but no more than one year old). Older herbs often have a funky flavor and the tea will appear cloudy. Make sure that your local supplier doesn’t sell herbs that have been sitting on the shelf for a long time. If the packaging doesn’t say “organic” or “wild-crafted,” it isn’t.
If you have these plants growing around you, try harvesting them yourself. Lay them out on a screen or bundle and hang them to dry. Once dried, herbs should be stored in air-tight containers, in a cool, dark place. Exposure to sunlight and temperature extremes (such as above the stove) will age your herbs more quickly.
For more information about the safe use of herbs during pregnancy, see Susun Weed’s book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (available in our Lending Library).