HERBS FOR PREGNANCY
There are many herbs that are high in nutrition and are specifically useful during pregnancy. Four herbs are
particularly recommended by experienced herbalists and have been used safely by pregnant women for centuries.
Rich in vitamins and minerals, red raspberry leaf, nettles, alfalfa and dandelion act as system supporting tonics for
overall health of the expectant mother. Pregnancy herbs can be eaten as a vegetable or taken as a tea, tincture or
capsule.
Red raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) is known as the best all round herb for a healthy pregnancy. Rich in calcium,
magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and vitamins A, B, C, D and E, raspberry also contains alkaloids, the
constituent that contributes to the plant’s potency as a pregnancy tonic. Red raspberry strengthens and tones the
uterus, cleanses mucus membranes, helps with constipation, eases morning sickness and assists in plentiful milk
production.
Alfalfa is known as the “Father of all Foods” to the Arabs. Alfalfa is rich in organic salt, is an important source of
vitamin K, is high in iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and E. It is a mild blood cleanser and
is recommended in late pregnancy because it promotes proper blood clotting, thereby reducing the risk of
postpartum hemorrhage. You may take it as a tea (maybe combined with the red raspberry leaf tea) several times a
day throughout pregnancy. We recommend taking it in capsule form, 6-10 daily, in the last 8 weeks of pregnancy.
(You’d have to eat almost a gallon of sprouts a day to get what you’d get from several glasses of tea or from 6-10
capsules!)
Nettles are rich in bio-chelated iron, calcium, protein and other nutrients. Drinking a daily nettle infusion before
and throughout pregnancy nourishes and strengthens the kidneys, nourishes the mother and fetus (by virtue of its
high calcium content), diminishes leg cramps and childbirth pain, prevents hemorrhage after birth, reduces
hemorrhoids, and increases the amount of mother’s milk.
Dandelion is a tonic herb commonly used by pregnant women. Both the leaf and root provide many essential
nutrients: vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium and numerous trace elements. The root helps boost liver
function, allowing that organ to detoxify the blood. The leaf is a mild diuretic much loved for its help in alleviating
water retention during pregnancy. Mix 1 tsp up to 2 TBS of the dried leaf with some alfalfa and/or red raspberry if
you want to take a tea. You may also take capsules or a tincture. ( dandelion is bitter, start with a small amount)
IRON
Yellow Dock is very high in iron (almost 50%) and an excellent tonic for anemia. It helps to free up iron stored in the
liver, thus making it more available to the rest of the body. Take in a tincture form by itself or add the root to the
iron recipe below. You may also take capsules, 2-4 a day.
Floradix liquid iron plus herbs is an excellent source of iron for women with anemia, but it is expensive. Other liquid
iron formulas can also be used. Or you can make your own, recipe follows.
Iron Plus recipe
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3 parts nettle
3 parts dandelion leaf
3 parts raspberry leaf
2 parts alfalfa leaf
1 part hawthorn berries
1 part yellow dock root
1 part dulse
Add 2 oz. of the herbal mixture to a quart of water. Over low
heat, simmer down to one pint. Strain the herbs and pour the
liquid back into the pot. Add one cup of honey (or maple syrup)
and warm the combination just to get it mixed. After removing
from heat, stir in 2 tsp. of Spirulina powder and 2 tsp. of
nutritional yeast for each cup of syrup. Add ¼ cup fruit
concentrate and (optional) ¼ of brandy. Take 4-6 tbsp. each day.
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1/2 part horsetail
HEARTBURN
Early pregnancy heartburn usually occurs because of hormonal changes that relax the sphincter muscle at the base
of the esophagus, allowing digestive juices to slosh back into the esophagus. You can try these remedies: chew or
make a tea of seeds of herbs such as fennel, anise or dill. You may also try ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper in water as
needed. Take papaya enzyme tablets as needed after meals. Nature’s Way Digestion facilitates digestion reducing
the production of stomach acid. Take one ounce of apple cider vinegar as needed. Slippery elm is a soothing,
nutritive herb which is of benefit for symptoms of morning sickness, heartburn and indigestion. Try taking a few
capsules before meals. Increase B vitamins. Slowly chew almonds. Coffee, citrus foods, fatty foods, fried foods,
alcoholic beverages (!!), chocolate, and pepper are some foods you might want to stay away from while
experiencing heartburn. Don’t drink with your meals, eat slowly chewing food well. Sleep sitting up a little with
some pillows.
INSOMNIA
Sleeplessness is common in the first weeks of pregnancy when so many physical, emotional and life changes are
taking place. It can also effect the third trimester when a belly full of revolving elbows and knees interferes with
getting comfortable. Herbs high in calcium soothe the nerves, promote restful sleep and ease muscle cramps. Try
skullcap, chamomile, valerian or oats (Oatmeal, oatstraw, or oatseed). Tinctures get into the bloodstream faster.
Some women take a calcium supplement before bed. Put a few drops of essential oils on your pillow, try lavender,
neroli, ylang ylang, rose, jasmine or mix them. This is especially effective after a hot bath- add the oils to your
bathwater also. Natural Calm work well.
HEMORRHOIDS
Hemorrhoids (enlarged and painful blood vessels) are caused by excess pressure on the vessels around the rectum,
and are more common in pregnancy. The first thing is to promote regular, soft bowel movements, see
CONSTIPATION if you don’t. Keep witch hazel soaked cotton balls in a Tupperware in the freezer. Use them as is or
add geranium and cypress essential oils (3to1) about 20 drops per 3 tablespoons of witch hazel. You can also add
these oils, 20 drops per 2 TBS, to arnica oil (arnica reduces swelling). Put your feet up on a footstool when having a
bowel movement to assist your body. Push the hemorrhoids back up into the rectum with a clean finger.
CONSTIPATION
Ideally you should have several bowel movements a day. It’s important to have at least one. Drink ½ your body
weight in oz. of water daily. Eat high fiber foods EVERY DAY. Go for walks. Natural Calm, Vitamin C, flax seed oil,
dandelion leaf, and alfalfa are supplements that help. Don’t try them all at once! If you are taking a lot of extra
calcium without balancing it with magnesium, that could be the cause. Don’t take ferrus sulfate as an iron
supplement as it is constipating.
COLDS AND VIRUSES
When you feel yourself beginning to get a cold or other virus, that is the time to begin treatment. Herbal remedies
work best when begun early and continued for one week past the time of symptoms. For any virus take 2-4 tablets
of L-lysine, an amino acid as it interferes with the reproduction of viruses. You will also want to take something to
prevent a bacterial infection. Echinacea, garlic –raw or tablets, zinc and vit C. Slippery Elm is great for intestinal
disorders, sore throats and coughs. Take lots of it, 10 or so a day. A great cough or sore throat syrup is to boil two
chopped large onions in water until soupy, cool. Put through a sieve to remove any chunks, add one cup of raw
honey. Keep refrigerated and take tablespoons full as needed. Vit C can be used to kill viruses or bacteria in large
doses. You can take large amounts, as much as you can hold without having loose bowels, until the illness passes. I
have done this for years, including with my children and have never needed an antibiotic. An Ester C is more
absorbable and easier on the stomach. To be safe, don’t take more than 5000 mg a day in the first trimester. To use
Grapefruit Seed Extract take 10 - 15 drops, at the first signs of a cold or flu. As an alternative, mix fifty drops into a
quart of fruit or vegetable juice and sip throughout the day.
VAGINAL YEAST
Start with some diet changes. Eliminate refined foods and sweets. Wear cotton panties or go without when you
are home. Take a balanced probiotic. Insert lacto bacillus capsules in the vagina. Eating unsweetened plain yogurt
with live cultures is another way to get pro-biotics. Have yogurt sex to get the probiotics well applied deep in your
vagina, and to treat your man for yeast as well. Try a garlic suppository. Peel a clove of garlic, pierce with a fork and
then place into the vagina overnight. Remove in the morning. Instead of garlic you can try using an essential oil
treated tampon every night for 7 days. Mix 5 drops of lavender essential oil, 2 drops of tea tree oil and two
tablespoons of carrier oil (I like coconut or almond oil) and soak a tampon with it. If you do not experience any
burning the first night, double the amount of essential oils. If you still have yeast after a week or two of treatment
go ahead and get some Monistat 7day.
AFTERPAINS
It is common to have strong contractions after the birth, especially after your second or more baby. The uterus is
more lax with subsequent pregnancies and works harder to shrink back to normal size. The cramping is worse while
nursing since breastfeeding stimulates oxytocin production which causes contractions. Keep your baby close and
encourage frequent feedings so there will be less of a rush of the hormone. The pain can be helped with pressure,
so wear your belly binder or put something warm and heavy on your uterus while nursing. A heating pad or hot
rice sock is helpful. Keep your bladder empty. Try a glass of red wine, a prepared herbal tincture for afterpains
such as Crampease. valerian tincture, sip cinnamon tea throughout the day (from simmered cinnamon sticks) or a
calcium supplement. Try a combination if you like.
HERBS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY
Experts agree pregnant women shouldn’t take herbs with strong medicinal or potentially toxic effects. Some herbs
listed below can treat complications of pregnancy. For instance, cohosh (contraindicated in pregnancy) may be
recommended during the last weeks of pregnancy to stimulate contractions. Please consult with your midwife
before taking any herbs.
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Herbs that stimulate uterine contractions: Birthwort, blue cohosh, cinchona, ergot, goldenseal and gotu
kola.
Herbs that stimulate menstrual flow: agave, angelica, black cohosh, chicory, feverfew, hyssop, horehound,
lovage, milk thistle, mistletoe, motherwort, mugwort, osha, pennyroyal, poke root, pulsatilla, rue, sumac,
tansy, thuja, watercress, wormwood and yarrow.
Herbs high in volatile oils: osha, eucalyptus, nutmeg, yerba mansa, basil, catnip, lemon balm, marjoram,
oregano, pennyroyal, rosemary, true sage and thyme. Using herbs to flavor food generally doesn’t pose a
risk. The concern lies with high doses in women susceptible to miscarriage.
Plants high in alkaloids: barberry, blood root, goldenseal, coffee and mandrake
Herbs that affect hormones: hops, licorice, motherwort, dong quai and wild yam
Harsh laxatives: senna, rhubarb, cascara sagrada, purging buckthorn, aloe, and yellow dock (in large
amounts)
Strong diuretics: uva-ursi and juniper berries.
Just ask many of these herbs are available at our retail shop located at the Birth Center of Jacksonville