02 Oct Homemade Pregnancy Herbal Tea
This is a recipe for homemade pregnancy herbal tea that we particularly love because of the yummy flavors that the orange and lemon peel give it. Bulk herbs are really easy to find at the Co-ops or at Present Moment, an herb store in Minneapolis. They are relatively cheap and you can make your own combinations of herbs that you like the most. Buying 1 oz of each of the herbs below will give you a good supply of pregnancy tea once they are all mixed together. Just make sure they are stored out of direct sunlight and in an airtight container.
To make the tea:
Fill a quart jar ¼ full with the dried herb mixture, cover with boiling water, cap and let sit 2-4 hours (to extract nutrients). Strain the drink using a coffee filter to catch all the small pieces and discard or compost the herbal material.
Drink at least 2 cups daily. This tea can be consumed as traditional hot tea or more like an ice tea. Some people like the taste better with a little honey for sweetness also.
- Red Raspberry leaf
- Nettles
- Oatstraw
- Alfalfa
- Red Clover
- Rosehips
- Lemon and Orange Peel
If you are wanting to play around with other various combinations, you could also try using herbs such as:
- Mints, Lemonbalm, Lavender, or Chamomile; All of these are calming and helpful for digestion.
- You can also try dandelion leaf/root. The leaf is tastier than the root. This is good for digestion, blood sugar regulation, and a gentle liver tonic. Dandelion is rich in nutrients as well.
Comment below with your reviews of this tea, or any other favorite combinations you like!
Mary Ann
Posted at 14:41h, 03 OctoberI am ordering these tea products from an herb store online. There is a warning that red clover should not be taken internally during pregnancy. Any idea why this might be?
Twin Cities Midwifery
Posted at 11:07h, 04 OctoberSusun Weed, an herbal pregnancy expert, does not mention that Red Clover is unsafe for pregnancy in her book and we found this article that actually recommends continuing Red Clover through pregnancy. http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/pregnancy/herbalallies.htm
She says, “The infusion prevents and eases the constipation so common during pregnancy. It also strengthens the liver and improves appetite, especially when morning sickness is a problem. And it relieves anxiety.”
The warning may be theoretical, as it’s a hormonal balancing herb and it hasn’t been studied very well.
Always listen to your intuition and only use herbs that you feel comfortable with. If you feel this one is unsuitable for you, then you can still have a really wonderful and nourishing pregnancy tea without it! Enjoy!
Mary Ann
Posted at 05:02h, 05 OctoberThanks for clarifying. That is an interesting article- I bookmarked it for later use. =)