Mama's herbal Tea

By Aaryn Leineke

One of the greatest gifts I received in early pregnancy was a big beautiful jar of Mama’s herbal loose tea. It was from my dear friend Grace who I asked to be my doula for the most precious time my husband and I would have together, the birth of our first baby.

This herbal tea is a mixture of amazing and nourishing ingredients that help with nausea. Thus, the reasons it’s one of the essential products on my first trimester survival kit. It provides essential nutrients, while strengthening and toning the womb during and after pregnancy, which helps foster an ideal environment for a growing baby.

Ingredients to the special tea:

• Organic Red Raspberry Leaf: This is the queen of herbs for women’s health. It’s medically proven to help strengthen the womb of a pregnant women and it is also reported to be effective in restoring the womb (uterus) after delivering. Drinking red raspberry tea is also great while menstruating and suffering from menstrual cramps.

• Organic Alfalfa: Is said to ease morning sickness. It contains a wide variety of minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, potassium, silicon, and trace elements. It is also a good source of Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. Many midwives advise drinking mild tasting alfalfa tea or taking alfalfa tablets during the last trimester of pregnancy to decrease postpartum bleeding or chance of hemorrhaging.

• Organic Nettle: A nutrient loaded with magnesium, calcium and iron, which are all excellent and essential minerals to ingest during pregnancy.

• Organic Oatstraw: Rich in both calcium and magnesium, which work together in the body, with calcium stimulating muscles to contract and magnesium relaxing them. The way these elements work in a yin-yang way is why herbalists and midwives believe that oatstraw can be particularly valuable for pregnant women.

• Organic German Chamomile: For centuries chamomile has been used as a mild relaxation remedy.

• Organic Rosehip: Great source of vitamin C for boosting the immune system.

• Organic Peppermint: Great for flavor It also helps with nausea and aids digestion.

Often, I would make my tea when I got home from work, and if I steeped extra I would store it in a jar in the fridge and have it served over ice the next day. Drinking this daily was such a wonderful way to treat myself to something delicious and nutritious. It was especially enjoyed while getting through my first trimester, particularly on rainy days while snuggling with my gorgeous man and sweet pup.

You can make this at home by finding the loose tea ingredients at your local natural grocery or herb store or even find some similar products on Etsy that can be delivered to your door. I would recommend measuring a quarter cup of each ingredient in a mixing bowl, give a light toss to mix together and store in a big glass mason jar that has a screw top to keep it fresh. For taste you can go a little heavier on the peppermint and lighter on the rosehip. Be sure to keep in a cool area away from moisture and direct heat (including sunlight).