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About ten years ago, I studied a herbal medicine course. I’m not a qualified herbalist, by any stretch, but it paved the way for me to become a fully fledged natural health fanatic.
Holistic health is a passion of mine – I love it sooooo much.
Perhaps because of the stark contrast, herbal medicine is to the protocol-driven healthcare I worked in for 15 years before becoming a mummy.
You see, I avoided anything made in a lab throughout my pregnancies and the postpartum period on both occasions.
I didn’t even pop one paracetamol (seriously)!
Best herbs for post partum
I had a wonderful midwife-led experience with my babies and relied on breathwork, affirmations, water, essential oils, and herbal teas in pregnancy and labor.
And coconut oil massaged onto my bump every morning (needless to say, I have zero stretchmarks).
I was determined to have a home birth second time round after my first baby was born in the local midwife unit, which was also a dream come true.
“You won’t get a doctor touching me!” I fondly remember saying to my husband, who raised an eyebrow but agreed with my wishes.
And so it was.
Both pregnancies and labors were natural, with no doctor in sight.
I swore by ginger tea to help my nausea and stocked up on herbal tea bags for steaming hot sitz baths post-birth.
So, I thought I’d share a rundown of the best herbs I used for postpartum (based on my personal opinion only).
Note that these herbs are also helpful for women’s health in general but may not be suitable for pregnancy.
Always check with a recognized herbalist beforehand, and run anything you’re unsure of past your doctor.
Lavender Essential Oil
Simply for its scientifically proven relaxation properties, lavender is incredible.
It calms the nervous system and can be used in so many different ways. I love to add a few drops to a natural carrier oil, such as almond oil or jojoba oil, and rub it on my temples, wrists, and behind my knees (I get wafts of it as I walk that way).
I also used it on my pillow at night to promote a sleepy state when I was on high alert listening out for my newborn’s breathing – this is one of my favourite lavender pillow sprays.
Another fab way to use lavender oil for new moms (and seasoned moms) is in a diffuser.
Mix water with a few drops of lavender oil (I recommend 10-15 drops as I like a strong scent) and let the aroma steam its way into your living space.
Red Raspberry Leaf
This herb is traditionally known as a uterine tonic, helping to encourage swift, easy labour, strengthening and toning the uterine muscles, and facilitating efficient contractions.
I swear by the stuff in late pregnancy and drank two to three cups of red raspberry leaf tea a day from 34 weeks onwards.
I went full term in both cases and had good labor both times.
(Disclaimer-I had low-risk pregnancies.)
Postpartum, red raspberry leaf tea is fantastic to help the uterus contract back to its pre-birth condition. It’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins, which help fight free radicals.
It can also help with upset stomachs and diarrhea and is an astringent as an external remedy—useful for cleaning wounds and mouth ulcers, among other things.
Nettle leaf
This is one of the very popular herbs for herbal tea. The nettle leaf is delicious and very healthy, full of vitamins.
It’s great for digestion and promoting efficient food transit through your system. If you find yourself constipated or bloated a lot after giving birth (it happens, sorry), then nettle tea is your answer.
Nettle is a cleansing herb, meaning it’s great as a detoxifier, helping eliminate waste products from the body. It’s also an astringent, and in traditional medicine, it was believed to help with postpartum recovery.
Personally, I enjoy a cup of nettle tea most days. It has a soothing effect on me, but on others, it can energize and uplift me.
It’s a great herb. If you pick the nettle leaves young enough (wear gloves!), you can cook them and make nettle soup with them! I haven’t personally tried this, but when I do, I’ll update this post with my thoughts on it 🙂
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a small tree growing up to 5 meters in height.
You can easily buy distilled witch hazel online. It’s fantastic to dab onto hemorrhoids (sorry if TMI, but they do happen let’s be honest).
It’s also great to have in your medicine cupboard for skin conditions, as it has astringent properties, meaning it contracts the skin cells.
This helps reduce bleeding and minimize infection risk.
Lemon Balm
Some studies show a promising link between lemon balm intake and a reduction in postpartum depression, as well as reducing anxiety and insomnia due to its sedative and relaxation properties.
Lemon balm tea is easily found in the shops. It has a delicate flavour similar to nettle tea. I recommend always buying organic herbs, regardless of what you do with them.
The reason is that many forced (sprayed) herbs do not have the same healing qualities within. So go organic – it’s worth the extra investment.
Herbs for breastfeeding moms
Fennel
Nothing beats fennel tea to help increase milk supply in breastfeeding mothers.
Researchers have found that fennel seeds contain galactagogue, which helps promote milk production. However, there are still limited human studies on this.
I can only speak from personal experience here, but I drank at least two cups of fennel tea every day in the postpartum period, and my milk supply was oversupplied if anything.
I could feel my boobs refilling after a cup!
Fennel tea is also helpful as an aid for colic in babies.
I gave a teaspoon size amount to both my boys when they had tummy pains as babies. Within half an hour, a smelly fart would pop out, and comfort would resume.
I still give it to them now over anything chemical-laden if bad tummies arise.
Here is an example of fennel tea for babies, but I personally used the usual fennel seeds added to hot water (you can get them in the supermarket) and gave a watered-down, cooled version on a teaspoon, which worked well.
Herbs for postpartum anxiety
Chamomile
Chamomile is fantastic for aiding sleep and relaxation. It can be used as an herbal tea or in a diffuser with essential oil.
It helps calm the nervous system, which is triggered when anxiety strikes.
I like adding a teaspoon of natural honey to my chamomile tea to sweeten it.
You can also use chamomile flowers (they are pretty, white petals with a yellow center like a daisy) in your bath to give yourself some relaxation time.
Holy Basil
Holy basil is another wonderful herb for combating stress and anxiety. It helps lift a low mood and promote a calm outlook.
I had terrible baby blues for 2 weeks after the birth of my first child, and a cup of holy basil helped me feel comforted and grounded during the ‘mama head’ tear-strewn phase.
Herbs for wound healing
My best advice is to take herbal sitz baths (a posh name for a herbal bath in my opinion) to help speed up any wounds or tears after the birth.
You can make your own herbal concoction using the recipe I made up below.
Or you can purchase ready-made postpartum bath soak here.
A recipe for an herbal sitz bath
Throw in your bath while it’s filling:
- 1/4 cup (a handful) of Epsom Salts (you can buy them cheaply in the supermarket) or sea salt
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
- A few drops of witch hazel
- (Optional) rose petals
- Sink in and relax. Light some candles if you’re fancy, and read a nice book while baby sleeps.
Good news
There is an herbal remedy for many ailments, but the postpartum period is particularly sensitive for the new mother and baby.
Herbs are generally safe, but some are not recommended for use in the postpartum period. If you’re ever unsure, do your own research on each herb beforehand.
I used all of the herbs described in this post during my postpartum time with my babies, which is why I’m keen to share them.
In my opinion, natural herbal remedies work just as well, if not better, than standard pharmaceuticals, which we rely too much on.
Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions in the comments section of this post. I hope you enjoyed this read.
Love Sophie x
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