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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Calcium is of primary importance for growth, and the development of bones, teeth, and the nervous system. The most easily assimilated form in which to take minerals is the organic form found in plants and animals.

An excellent herb combination to organically supply calcium is horsetail and oatstraw, steep a teaspoonful of each herb to a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes and drink three times daily.

Two food sources which have the highest concentration of calcium are sesame seed paste (known in the Middle East as tahini),and all forms of seaweed, including kelp. Other good sources are green leafy vegetables, almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and figs.

Iron is necessary for the building of new blood cells. It provides for proper oxygenation to the placenta and helps to protect against anaemia. Both raspberry leaf and nettles are high in organic iron. The deep rooted nettle brings up many valuable minerals from the subsoil including iron phosphate, potassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate and potassium chloride.Both the leaves and the berries of the wild raspberry contain a citrate of iron which accounts for its remarkable blood building and purifying properties. The leaves contain calcium chloride and calcium oxalate. Foods richest in iron include whole wheat, seaweed, tahini, green leafy vegetables (popeye spinach), nuts, dates, figs and beans.

Raspberry leaf is an excellent tonic to take during pregnancy and for a month or two after the birth. Raspbery leaves will strengthen and tone the tissue of the uterus, assist contractions during labour, reduce any haemorrhage, alleviate labour pains, and will also help minimise morning sickness.

As raspberry contains, and aids in, the assimilation of vitamins A,B,C,E and minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and sulphur, it is beneficial in the toning up of the glands and placenta.

Many practitioners recommend that raspberry leaf is best commenced at 32 weeks of pregnancy and continued through to the birth. Parsons (2000) found that taking raspberry leaf tablets, 2.4gm per day from 32 weeks, produced no side effects. Other practitioners recommend that Raspberry leaf can be started at the beginning of pregnancy or even prior to pregnancy. However at the present time there is no known research on the safety of taking Raspberry Leaf earlier in pregnancy. When is the ideal time for a woman to start taking raspberry leaf in pregnancy? What is the correct dosage? These are questions that need to be answered by further research.

Are there any known side effects to Raspberry Leaf?

Both recent studies on Raspberry leaf found that there were no reported side effects (Parsons 1999; Parsons 2000). Anecdotal reports say that Raspberry leaf may cause nausea, increased Braxton Hicks contractions and diarrhoea. But more research is needed involving larger numbers of women before we will truly know if there are any side effects.

The use of herbal products during pregnancy should undergo the careful consideration you would give to taking any medication during pregnancy. One of the problems with herbal preparations in general is the lack of regulation on their manufacture. Some herbal preparations have been contaminated with other substances. There has been reports of contamination of imported herbal products with drugs and animal faeces. It is for this reason that it is important to purchase a product through a reputable certified organic source.

Raspberry leaf can be taken in tablet form, teabags, loose leaf tea, or as a tincture. Raspberry leaf can be purchased from many health food stores or from a health care practitioner. Due to the limited research on raspberry leaf - the ideal preparation and the ideal dosage is not known at this stage.

The following guidelines on consuming raspberry leaf during pregnancy have been taken from Parsons (1999):

Tablets - Take two 300mg or 400mg tablets with each meal (three times a day) from 32 weeks.
 
Teabags (organic) - 1st trimester- one cup per day -2nd trimester - two cups per day -3rd trimester - up to 4 to 5 teabag cups throughout the day.
 
Loose leaf tea (organic) -  2 to 3 cups per day is often recommended especially after 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Put two heaped teaspoonfuls of organic dried leaves or a handful of fresh leaves to a cupful of boiling water in a teapot and let stand for 20 minutes. 

Tincture - A tincture is an alcoholic extract of the herb raspberry leaf. The dosage will depend on the strength of the tincture.
 
Raspberry leaves are naturally high in tannins. Tannin can be constipating, which is something that pregnant women are already prone to. Long term safety of consumption of tannin is unknown and maybe carcinogenic.

If choosing a tincture form of Raspberry leaf be aware that it is alcohol based. Some preparations are very high in alcohol. Remember that there is no safe level of alcohol established in pregnancy.

As an aid to morning sickness and heartburn during pregnancy take ginger as a tea when needed.

The American Indians gave the name squaw root or papoose root to what is commonly known as blue cohosh, because they found it very useful in childbirth. Blue cohosh is high in potassium and magnesium, both of which help to ensure proper muscle tone and a healthy nervous system. It was the habit of the American Indian to drink blue cohosh several weeks before labour. It will help to ensure an easy natural delivery, particularly where labour is slow and painful due to fatigue or an exhausted nerve supply to the uterus. Blue cohosh tincture may be taken in doses of 15 drops to one tablespoon of water three times daily for the last four weeks of pregnancy,  or / and then every hour during labour.

The growth of the unborn child has been likened to an apple which, when fully ripened, falls from the tree. The effect of blue cohosh is to prolong gestation until the foetus is fully developed, and then to aid in an easier delivery.

During the ninth month of pregnancy a daily sitz bath is very beneficial. A sitz bath is a 'hip bath'. Using a child's bath, or a wash basin filled with water as hot as you can stand, sit in it for 10 minutes for the first three weeks and five minutes for the last week. Keep the legs and arms out of the bath, thus stimulating and focusing the effect in the lower pelvic area.
Dr Norbet Glas, in his book Conception, Birth and Early Childhood, recommends lime flower tea be added to the sitz bath. Lime flowers are soothing, relaxing, and strengthening to the nerves.

It is helpful to massage the perineum daily during pregnancy with organic olive oil, to ensure supple tissue for the birth. During the second stage of labour the perineum may be bathed with hot calendula lotion made up from one teaspoon of calendula tincture and one pint of hot water. This enables the perineal tissues to better withstand stretching during birth. This may be combined with perineal massage by the attendant.
Calendula lotion may also be used to asssist with excessive stretching or tearing for the first week after the birth.

To stimulate the milk flow, when breastfeeding, drink freely of a tea, 4-6 times daily, of one or more of the following - blessed thistle, marshmallow root, fennel seed and alfalfa.Contact a local breast-feeding association immediately if you have any problems as they can get you on the right track.
For excess milk or to stop milk supply, sage tea will aid in modifying or drying up the supply.

It is important, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding that the herbs you use are organically grown, unsprayed and unfumigated to ensure optimum health for you and the baby.

Although herbs are, on the whole, beneficial when taken during pregnancy and childbirth, there are some which should not be taken during this period. Mostly they are of a group known as emmenagogues* and may overstimulate the uterus, possibly producing a miscarriage. The main ones are: autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), barberry (Berberis aquifolium), juniper (Juniperus communis), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), rue cruta (Graveolens), southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum), thuja (Thuya occidentalsi), mandrake (Podo -phyllum peltatum), golden seal (Hydrastis canadesis), male fern (Dryoptteris felix mas), pokroot (Phytolacca decandra), sage (Salvia officinalis), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium).

*Emmenagogues - facilitating menstruation

Reference List

Burn J. H. & Withell E. R. (1941). A principle in raspberry leaves which relaxes uterine muscle. The Lancet, July 5, pp. 1-3. 

Thomas. C. L. (ed.). (1985). Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary 16th ed. F. A. Davis: Philadelphia.

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/raspbe05.html 

Parsons, M. (1999). Raspberry leaf. Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond Newsletter, 1(2),  pp. 1-2.

Queensland Health. (1997). A health start in life: Nutrition for mother and child. Author: Coorparoo.

Whitehouse B. (1941). Fragrance: an inhibitor of uterine action. British Medical  Journal, Sept 13, pp. 370-371.

Wilson, M. (1993). Herbal tea consumption during pregnancy. Author: Wollongong.

Disclaimer

The information contained on Ecobites is of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. The information is not meant to replace the recommendations or advise of your doctor or midwife. Please consult your midwife or doctor regarding your health care.