Best herbal infusion for your Pregnancy Dosha

It can feel like a full-time job to nourish yourself properly while also growing a human. And even when all the perfect ingredients are there... Acidity, reflux, specific cravings, malabsorption, or even feeling-too-tired-to-eat can all get in the way of your steady energy supply.

Luckily there are other ways to give your body's mineral stash a booster. Bone broth is one favored way. Herbal infusions are another. Some of these herbs are also labelled as nervine. Especially good for when you're feeling Vata - which goes for almost everyone in the postpartum window. 

Here is a shortlist of one favorite pick for each Dosha + how-to brew it. Do you identify with a combination of the Doshas? Feel free to combine the herbs that apply in equal parts to 3 cups of water. For example, if you feel both restless and short-tempered, you can have half a tablespoon of the Vata and Pitta infusion. If you feel all 3, have 1 teaspoon of each herb (makes one tablespoon), sweeten it just a little and enjoy.

Vata: Oatstraw

Are your thoughts all over the place? Is it almost impossible to sit still and do nothing, and insomnia sneaks in at least twice a week? Your pregnancy Dosha (right now) is likely to be Vata: Air and Space. Vata and the Nervous System are *tight*, and on top of the restlessness you may experience for that reason, all that Air element makes you a little lighter than other expecting mamas might be at this point. Vata often struggles with absorption, but: Oastraw to the rescue! This nervine is rich in minerals. Its calming qualities will naturally give you a little less of Vata and a little more of Kapha: Earth and Water. Which, in turn, will help with absorption! 

How To

Take 3 cups of freshly boiled water and place a tea egg or infuser filled with 1 tablespoon Oatstraw (dried). Steep for four hours or leave overnight. Then, drink with a little maple syrup throughout the day. 

Pitta: Nettle Leaf

Do you feel like your blood is boiling these days? Not just physically, but emotionally too? A Pitta (fire) pregnancy reveals itself through a short temper, heat rash, sun sensitivity, a big appetite as well as acidity, and a drive to work through that checklist asap. A Pitta mama's to-do list goes on as soon as it's finished. They are also highly organized. In the body, Pitta and blood are in an intimate relationship. That's also why Pitta mamas are slightly more receptible for itching, minor bacterial infections, and imbalances in the gut microbiome. That's where Nettle Leaf comes in. A Nettle infusion cleanses the blood and nurtures it with trace minerals. Besides supporting the Liver, it also benefits the Kidneys and keeps the urinary tract clear. 

How To

Take 3 cups of freshly boiled filtered/spring water and place in a thermos. Place a tea egg or infuser inside the thermos with 1 tablespoon nettle leaf. Infuse for four hours or leave overnight. Then, sip on it during the day with a touch of Maple Syrup to counterbalance the bitter taste of nettles. 

Kapha: Raspberry Leaf 

Are you feeling sluggish, slow, congested, and cloudy? Your pregnancy Dosha is probably Kapha: Earth and Water. A fair amount of this is to be expected, especially when you're getting closer to the due date. Kapha is responsible for the volume of your blood, your valuable extra weight, breast enlargement, milk production... Many of your body's motherly tasks! That's why we only want to work with a gentle Kapha soother, rather than any aggressive ones. Fun fact: aggressive Kapha reducers are traditionally used in Ayurveda's first stage of a traditional detox. These botanicals trigger purging. During my pregnancy, I was fascinated with my body's natural reaction (morning sickness) to the increase of Kapha in my body. With that said, back to my gentle Kapha reducing botanical of choice: (red) raspberry leaf. You can enjoy a low dose of raspberry leaf throughout your pregnancy and start to increase the dose in the last six weeks towards your due date. By then, your Kapha has likely tripled. And so you want to be using more. Also, (red) Raspberry Leaf, especially in combination with Squaw Vine, is an excellent botanical to prepare your uterus and hips for the process that is labour. 

How To

Place 3 cups with freshly boiled filtered/spring water in a thermos. Add a tea egg with 1 teaspoon (red) raspberry leaf, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, and 1 teaspoon bitter orange to the liquid. Leave to steep for 4 hours, or put aside overnight before you strain and enjoy it. 

May these herbal infusions nourish your blood, warm your heart and ground your nerves 💕.

Love,

Deborah Rose xx