
We love to fuse eastern and western herbal medicine when it comes to nourishing our pregnant mamas. One western herbal blend that we recommend is NORA tea. NORA tea is a blend of nettle, oat straw, red raspberry leaf and alfalfa. This blend should be consumed at or after the 16th week of pregnancy. Let's look at the benefits of NORA tea.
Nettle: Is blood building. It is high in iron, potassium, calcium and copper. Nettles support the mother by balancing electrolytes, it contains vitamins A, C, K and B which helps to improve blood vessel strength reducing strain on varicose veins and promotes the movement of lymphatic buildup in the extremities. Nettles can also help reduce blood pressure by reducing inflammation in the arteries and blood vessels.
Oat Straw: has a mildly sweet pleasant flavor, rich in minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium, silica, zinc and vitamins A,C, E, K and B vitamins. It helps to support the nervous system and reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia. It is a mild diuretic and helps to balance the endocrine system for supporting the adrenal glands and can help to balance cortisol levels. Oat straw can help with hormonal mood swings.
Red Raspberry Leaf: Is rich in vitamin E, tannins, minerals and antioxidants. It can increase blood flow to the uterus making it a uterine tonic. It helps strengthen the muscle fibers in the uterus to contract in an organized fashion. It also has a mild diuretic effect that can help with puffiness caused by water retention. ****Red Raspberry Leaf tea should be used with caution please consult your Midwife or medical provider (me!) to make sure you are a safe candidate for use. Our NORA tea is formulated with just the right amount of Red Raspberry Leaf for each individual.
Alfalfa: Is rich in vitamin K which can help with preventing postpartum hemorrhage by promoting proper blood clotting. It's packed with chlorophyll and beta carotene can help to promote breast milk, support digestion and regulate blood sugar.
We add peppermint to the NORA tea to help ease digestive symptoms like nausea, and heartburn.
Due to the nutrient dense botanicals, NORA tea can also be used to help enhance fertility, and reduce PMS, menstrual cramps and clotting. If a pregnancy test is confirmed, stop drinking the tea until the 16th week of pregnancy.
Brewing instructions:
Add 3 of our natural tea bags or ¼ c of tea into a quart sized mason jar, pour 4 cups of hot water over tea and steep in the fridge overnight. Strain tea and drink at room temperature or warm up and drink hot. Drink one quart of tea 5 days per week.
In Health,
Dr. Jessica Gallegos-White, LAc. DAHM
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