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An Herbal Drink Every Woman in Her Childbearing Years Needs!
When I first discovered I was pregnant with my daughter, my “nesting” research instinct hit IMMEDIATELY. Literally the same night I took the pregnancy test (for my ‘see it to believe it’ husband – even though I was 9 days past my very predictable cycle and already knew I was pregnant), we went to Half Price Books so I could scour the pregnancy/birth section. It was there that I found Aviva Jill Romm’s The Natural Pregnancy Book, from which this Nourishment Tea recipe was adapted.
If you haven’t yet heard of it, NORA stands for Nettles, Oatstraw, Raspberry leaf, Alfalfa – and it’s a classic herbal blend recommended for women during pregnancy and postpartum. Truly, this herbal blend is so nutritive and full of gentle herbs that it could be beneficial to most every person at any stage of life – not just for pregnant and postpartum women!
It can also be super beneficial for women (and men!) who are preparing to conceive to drink this tea in order to boost their nutrient stores, in addition to the fertility-promoting properties of both nettles and raspberry leaf, the two main herbs in this blend.
While it is recommended to avoid consuming this blend during the first trimester of pregnancy, I drank a nettles & peppermint infusion throughout my first trimester for nutrients and to help ease mild nausea. I simply omitted raspberry leaf until the second trimester.
Re-Mineralizing Nourishment Tea:
4 parts Red Raspberry Leaf
4 parts Nettle Leaf
2 parts Alfalfa Leaf
2 parts Oatstraw
1 part Rosehips
1/2 part Peppermint Leaf or Spearmint Leaf
Other optional add-ins for consideration:
1 part Dandelion Leaf, 1 part Hibiscus Leaf, 1 part Rose Petals, 1 part Lemon Balm
PREPARATION:
Using a cup as the “part,” the above recipe is for a bulk batch. Divide accordingly if you’d like to try a smaller batch first. This is a base recipe. Herbs may be added for flavor or removed to tailor to your needs.
Steep heaping 1/4 c in 32 oz (or 1 heaping Tbsp in 8-10 oz) boiled water for minimum of 30 minutes, covered.
I live in a higher elevation where water boils at a lower temperature, so I like to bring just to a boil, then turn off the heat and allow to steep with the lid on for at least 30 minutes or until it cools completely. A quick simmer will help extract more nutrients from the herbs without overcooking them. If you are using whole rosehips (versus the cut and sifted kind, which are preferable in this blend), make sure you use a wooden spoon to smash them once brought to a simmer and before allowing to steep.
Serve hot or chilled. It will keep in your fridge for a few days if you like to make a big batch to store ahead of time. Add a natural liquid sweetener like raw, local honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon/lime to make this infusion more palatable. I don’t usually add any sweetener to this tea, and enjoy it’s mild flavor as is or with a squeeze of citrus (my 2 yr old loves the flavor too) – it makes for a refreshing iced tea!
Enjoy up to a liter of this infusion daily! You may dilute with water if it is too strong for your tastes.
An explanation of “parts” and basic how-to on crafting herbal tea blends
A “part” in an herbal recipe is any measurement you deem it to be. You could make a small test batch where each part is 1 tablespoon, or you could make a bulk batch where each part is a cup. You are the one in control and the choice is yours! This is exactly what makes DIY herbal concoctions so empowering, and why I love being an herbalist.
Regarding the optional add-ins I listed in the recipe above, you can do you own research into the benefits of the herbs and decide if any of them suit your needs or desires. If so, they may make a lovely addition to your next batch of Nourishment Tea! For example, dandelion leaf is great for supporting the liver and the body’s innate detox functions, so if this is a priority of yours in your current stage of life, dandelion leaf (or root) could be an excellent herbal ally for you to begin working with. It is believed that if a woman uses dandelion during pregnancy and early lactation, the baby will also develop a strong liver (Weed, 1986).
A multivitamin and multi-mineral nutritive drink for the whole family
This herbal tea is safe for the whole family to drink (my husband loves it too!) – even the kiddos! My toddler loves drinking this Nourishment Tea whenever I am drinking it.
You can think of this herbal blend as an herbal multivitamin that supplies many necessary vitamins and minerals in a highly absorbable form. The reason the vitamins and minerals are highly absorbable is because this blend of herbs provides necessary co-factors for proper assimilation in the body. For example, iron requires vitamin C in order to be utilized properly by the body. This tea provides iron from the nettles and alfalfa, with the rosehips providing vitamin C.
We prefer to get our nutrients from our diet via food and herbs, and don’t take any “multivitamins” in our family. Even higher quality, food-based supplements have outrageous amounts of vitamins and minerals and taking these regularly can throw off your body’s ideal ratios. This Nourishment Tea is a great way for children to get their daily dose of vitamins and minerals, in a proper dosage and in natural co-factor ratios that are highly beneficial!
Why Nourishment Tea during pregnancy and postpartum?
This herbal blend is a nutritive addition to add to your daily routine throughout your pregnancy and postpartum, full of vitamins and minerals to nourish yourself and your baby – during pregnancy and via your breastmilk during your postpartum. It will help prevent postpartum hemorrhage, assist the body in healing postpartum, improve milk supply, and replenish necessary nutrients.
Herbs are most beneficial when consumed daily, as they build up in your system over time, so it is best to drink this tea daily during critical periods like pregnancy and postpartum.
Nettle provides ample amounts of vitamins A, C, D, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and sulphur (Weed, 1986). Nettles are highly nutritive, as well as they support healthy kidney function, help prevent postpartum hemorrhage, and boost healthy milk production.
Raspberry Leaf provides vitamins A, C, E, and B complex, as well as many minerals including calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. It also tones the uterus due to it’s constituent called fragrine, which can help prevent postpartum hemorrhage and make for a more efficient labor – though mental prep or lack thereof will always take weight! Raspberry leaf also contributes to a plentiful, nutrient-rich milk supply.
Oatstraw is a nervine, which means it can help soothe your nervous system when drank consistently. It is also rich in both calcium and magnesium, making it very nutritive. All parts of the oat plant (oatstraw, milky oats, oat tops, and regular ‘ole oats!) also help boost milk supply in lactating women.
Alfalfa provides protein, vitamins A, D, E, B6, K, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, trace minerals, and digestive enzymes (Romm, 2003). It also provides chlorophyll and beta carotene.
Consuming this herbal blend during pregnancy will help to boost yours and your baby’s vitamin K levels naturally in preparation for birth. No sketchy vitamin K injection necessary! Side note on vitamin K: Nature doesn’t make mistakes – babies’ vitamin K levels are low at birth for a reason. Breastfeeding accounts for all necessary vitamin K production in infants in the appropriate timing. Our bodies are brilliantly designed.
Rosehips provide vitamin C, while peppermint/spearmint supports digestion as well as help deliver nutrients from the other herbs.
How to level up your herbal tea
I like to add 1/4 – 1/2 tsp chlorella powder to a liter of infusion for added nutrition and to help gently detox heavy metals. I love that chlorella has such a mild flavor as compared to it’s relative algae, spirulina – and I feel it is far superior, with it’s ability to chelate heavy metals and remove them from the body. Heavy metals can be passed down in utero to gestating babies, so it is important that pregnant women do not avoid incorporating methods of daily, gentle heavy metal chelation.
To level up even more, add your daily serving of Fulvic Acid Mineral Powder to this tea to supercharge it! Fulvic boosts the absorption of nutrients, so when you take it alongside other superfoods or an herbal infusion such as this Nourishment Tea, you are making the most of the nutrients you are consuming. Fulvic acid also helps detox the body of heavy metals, mold, and other toxins while providing 70+ trace minerals, amino acids, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Learn more about Fulvic Minerals as a detox tool for moms here!
References:
Romm, A. (2003). The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices, NY: Celestial Arts
Weed, S. (1986). Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, NY: Ash Tree Publishing
