Natural healing
Get to grips with gripe and beat the baby blues with soothing natural remedies from our in-store practitioner, Chris Ireland.
The Co-op stocks a wide range of beautiful organic herbs that can be used safely through pregnancy and after birth. This article will detail some recipes for regulating breast milk flow, keeping mum’s spirits up in the days after birth, and helping manage digestive discomfort in the new bub.
Breast milk tea
Classically nutritive herbs, fennel and fenugreek seeds can be combined to help increase milk flow in the new mum. Rosemary Gladstar, a doyenne of modern herbalism, internationally renowned for her technical knowledge and stewardship in the global herbalist community, suggests the following breast milk tea:
4 parts fennel seed
2 parts nettle
2 parts raspberry leaf
½ part fenugreek seed
Use 4-6 tablespoons of herbs to a litre of water. Bruise the seeds lightly and add them and the herbs to cold water. Bring the mixture to a slow boil over low heat, with the pot covered. Remove from the heat and infuse for 20 minutes. Strain. Drink 3-4 cups daily.
Beat the baby blues
For lifting the spirits when feeling a bit overwhelmed in the days after birth, this lovely Joy tea is another Rosemary Gladstar classic:
2 parts chamomile
3 parts lemon balm
2 parts hibiscus flowers
2 parts rose petals
1/8 part lavender flowers
1/8 part cardamom pods, chopped
Use 4-6 tablespoons of herbs per litre of water. Add herbs to a pot and pour boiling water over them. Infuse for 5-10 minutes, covered. Strain out herbs. Drink immediately or serve chilled in summer.
DIY gripe water
Get to grips with gripe using this simple DIY recipe:
1 Tbsp fennel seeds
½ inch piece fresh ginger grated
1 tsp chamomile
125ml (½ cup) filtered water
Lightly bruise fennel seeds. Pour boiling water over herbs, cover pot and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out herbs, ginger and seeds carefully with a coffee filter.