HERBALISM DURING PREGNANCY
By Don Wildgrube
Rev 1992


I am constantly amazed at the number of women that know little or nothing of 
herbs, except to use some cinnamon and cloves and maybe garlic powder now and 
then added to salt and pepper. When they become pregnant, they take training in 
the Lamaze method, classes in birthing, read lots of books, but when it comes to 
holistic health including using herbal teas, they either don't want to listen or 
are talked out of it by medical doctors and happily continue to take pills, 
shots and continue smoking.

This article is intended to be a guide for those who decide to use herbal 
methods that predate modern medicine by centuries.

In pregnancy, you are embarking on an adventure that only women can experience. 
Your body will go through many changes, the major one being the maturation of a 
young human. It is necessary for you to build your health and strength much more 
now then before your pregnancy. It is extremely important to keep your system 
free of toxins to insure a health child. The burden of responsibility is on you, 
for no matter how close you are to the potential father, or the mid-wife or the 
doctor, it is your body that is the home for this new life, not theirs. If you 
haven't stopped smoking, do so now. If you haven't stopped drinking of all 
alcohol, do so now. If you haven't stopped all drugs, do so now. If you haven't 
begun healthy eating habits, do so now. If you haven't begun an exercise 
program, do so now. Yoga stretching exercises are excellent.
 
Now as to herbs. First some rules of thumb. Unless otherwise noted, use 1 to 2 
teaspoons of herb per cup of water. Pour boiling water over the herb. Leaves and 
flowers should be steeped for 10 minutes. Roots and stems should be simmered 
about 10 minutes or steeped when mixed with leaves. Seeds should be bruised or 
crushed before steeping.

Caution ñ Abortaifacts: These are herbs which may cause "spontaneous" abortions. 
Some of them are mild but it would be best to avoid all of them. They include, 
celery, cotton seed oil and root, ergot (rye smut from which LSD is made), 
horseradish, mistletoe, pennyroyal, Peruvian bark (Quinine), shepherds purse and 
tansy.

If you plan to breast feed, which is now recommended, avoid black walnuts, 
English walnuts and sage. These items will cause a decrease in milk flow. They 
should be used when you wean your child.. Also, wean your child when the moon is 
moving out of the sign Cancer and going into Leo.

Herbs that increase milk are: basil, borage, caraway, dill, anise, coriander, 
fennel and European vervain.

To ease your time in childbirth, the following herbs are useful: Althea, 
birthwort, black cohosh, blue cohosh, cannabix (as a tea), comfry, raspberry 
leaves, spikenard (both kinds), squaw vine, wild red raspberry and wormwood.

In case of toxemia, the following blood purifiers will be helpful: Borage, 
dandelion (root in tea and leaves in salads), ephedra and Echinacea root.

If the little one has an upset stomach or colic, he/she can be given spearmint 
and fennel seed tea, by teaspoon. One or two teaspoons should do it.

A note of caution is necessary here in regard to the little ones; Chamomile is 
generally thought to be a nice, pleasant tea that helps to calm people, but 
people, including babies, that have allergies can react violently to it. 
Chamomile tea is made from flowers, and it is loaded with pollen.

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HERBAL REGIMEN FOR PREGNANCY 

I would like to suggest the following tea mixture to be used from the first 
signs of pregnancy until after birthing, with the noted changes:
 
Master Mix (by volume)
Red Raspberry Leaves          3 parts
Lemon Balm                    2 parts
Rose Hips                     2 parts
Dandelion Root                1 part
Dock Root                     1 part

Steep 1 to 2 tsp per cup.
Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.
Note: Lemon and/or honey can always be added.

Changes or additions:
For nausea, morning sickness:
Add 3 parts of Peppermint or Spearmint to the master mix.

During the 8th month:
Add 3 parts each of Althea and Comfrey root to the master mix.

From birthing to weaning:
Make an additional tea mix of equal parts each:
Anise seed, Corriander seed, Dill seed, Fennel seed and Caraway seed. Dring 1 to 
2 cups of tea a day, while cutting down on the other tea.

It is hoped that this article will be helpful to you and to your child, so that 
you both may grow in health. For further information and for reference in 
general, I suggest:
 
THE HERB BOOK
By John B. Lust, ND, DBM
Bantam Books
Paper, 659 pages.