Mothers Need Love Too

Being a mom can be challenging, leaving us frazzled and disconnected.  In our busy lives we often forget to take time for ourselves to make sure our bodies and spirits are nourished. For many months, I have struggled through my days and neglecting myself, leading into a downward spiral. I decided to reclaim my sense of self and really start to take care of myself so I can better take care of others. One simple way I like to do this is to enjoy my daily cup of tea.

To help harness the power of herbs and be intentional about what I drink I stopped into Rhizome Apothecary in Denver, CO and spoke with my friend Ash who is a certified herbalist. Ash worked with me to come up with a good tea blend to help postpartum moms like myself. Below you will see a rundown of the herbs she recommend and  a list of herbs that are safe to drink while breastfeeding.

Postpartum Herb Blend

Check out this informative video below to hear Ash’s advice. Below is additional guidance on these postpartum depression herbs and more.

This blend is intended to support nutrition for busy and frantic mothers. These herbs are generally safe for almost anyone but you should always consult with your primary caregiver if you have concerns using herbs.

If you are breastfeeding, you need to be more cautious as many herbs should be avoided. This is less about interactions for you but more about what can get to passed to your child. The primary caution for this is because there is not a lot of research on the impact of herbs on young children.

Herbal Blend For Postpartum Depression

• Oat Straw is a good stabilizing herb and very nutritive. It makes a good base for a tea as it is very mellow and earthy. It has nutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc, chromium, potassium and magnesium.
• Motherwort is known as the number one postpartum depression herb. This one does not taste the best but helps to calm the nervous system and endocrine system. If you are breastfeeding you should proceed with caution and talk to your doctor first as there has not been much research done on it’s effects on children.
• Lemon Balm is a heart centered and nurturing herb. It is a sweeter version of Motherwort. This is safer than motherwort if breastfeeding. You won’t necessarily get the same nervous system benefits motherwort will give you but it will help to center you. It is a very gentle plant. Another good way to use lemon balm is if your child is teething. You can make a decoction and drop the teething cloth or toy in there in the end. It can help lower inflammation of the gums.
• Nettle is another highly nutritive herb that is good for rebuilding, especially post birth. If you can in your third trimester, drinking this will help to nurture the mother in the last few months. Nettle is also known to be good with boundaries which as a mother, we know how important that can be for our own sanity. The plant itself is even covered in a prickly skin keeping predators at bay.

Herbs for Flavor

• Licorice Root is really good for the endocrine system. Surprisingly, licorice root has a much different taste than the tradition licorice candies or flavorings that we are familiar with. It is a good sweetener for your tea. An additional sweetener is stevia which is also known to regulate blood sugar.
• Spearmint is more calming of the mints.
• Peppermint can give you a little pick me up.

Herbs Safe For Breastfeeding

• Raspberry Leaf
• Lemon Balm
• Nettle
• Roses
• Rose Hips
• Oat Straw

It is recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. This information is not intended to treat or cure any particular issue.