8 Herbs and Spices With Health Benefits For Mom and Baby

In today’s wellness world, you may find yourself confused by the many products to choose from without knowing what works versus what doesn’t. For ease and greater understanding, it’s always important to take the rudimentary path of it all - the basics in terms of actual ingredients, what they do and how they work. We guarantee that you’ll be better off with knowledge presented in that manner. Your food and meal decisions will be easier to make and your body will thank you for it.

Herbs play a huge role with lots of health benefits. There’s actaully science behind some of the herbs that we use in our postpartum reocvey kit. So it makes sense to share some of those with you as well as a few of our favoirte spices.

Herbs:

Lavender – Who doesn’t love the aromatic scent that lavender gives? Who doesn’t love the calming effect that is has on us once we inhale or ingest it?

There’s lots of aromatic goodness in lavender but this study concluded that  inhaling the scent of lavender for 4 weeks can prevent stress, anxiety, and depression after childbirth. We’ve spoken about lavender before and we’ve also used the herb in our products! One of these products is our postpartum massage oil. When to use it: “relieves all over body tension and achiness or as a night time wind down ritual which lowers your anxiety and emotions.” It works wonders for C-section moms as well!

Yarrow – In Spanish-speaking New Mexico and southern Colorado this herb is called plumajillo, or “little feather”, because of the shape of the leaves. Native Americans and early settlers used yarrow for its astringent qualities that made it effective in wound healing and anti-bleeding. It works well for ailments such inflammation; wound healing (when used topically), digestive disorders, and anxiety.

This herb can also be found in our postpartum sitz bath.

Chamomile – This calming herb is great in aromatherapy works as well! Tea is among the favorites for its ability to soothe and settle anxiety. But, of course, there’s much more to this herb than a lay person can share.

In a recent blog, we shared that this herb is used to ease anxiety, settle the stomach, and aid in sleep. The best part about chamomile is that we use it in our postpartum sitz bath. The product contains healing herbs inclusive of chamomile that soothes bruises, tears, haemorrhoids, stitches and swelling. It’s the perfect jar of amazingness to help mothers relax and heal at the same time.

Peppermint – In our experience, peppermint is used mostly in teas, hair and skin products and that’s it. However, there’s much more to peppermint that meets the eyes. Peppermint contains the compound “Mentha, or menthol, which is derived from the peppermint plant. The cooling properties of peppermint help ease pain and discomfort.”. This is especially true for wounds like C-section scars or a sore perineum.

Our postpartum perineal balm is made with peppermint, we choose pepperment for its cooling effect. There’s also witch hazel “which provides soothing relief from vaginal soreness, tears and haemorrhoids.” This is another heavenly product for new-born mothers to use.  

Spices:

Cinnamon – cinnamon can be steamed to make teas, it’s also a condiment used when baking or a top up on your oatmeal. However, there’s more to cinnamon especially as it relates to postpartum. Cinnamon is often considered as a warming spice. That aside, its powers include being anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and an antioxidant. This spice “increases circulation and blood flow with restorative properties for both digestion and overall energy. It may lower blood sugar levels and protect the brain. When it comes to postpartum healing, this spice is a great and accessible add-in. You can definitenly add it to our mother’s milk tea.

Cinnamon is often considered a warming spice. When it comes to postpartum healing, this spice is a great add-in.

In a post made by NDTV, the spice helps to increase the flow of a lactating mother’s milk. Cinnamon has the ability to help in delaying periods after childbirth. In terms of use, they recommend using a pinch of cinnamon with a half teaspoon of honey or to a glass of warm milk and drink it!

Turmeric – This root is related to the ginger root in some ways but if you love a good curry, you can thank turmeric for its role in that. According to this New York Times article, Turmeric is hailed for helping a host of conditions: high cholesterol, hay fever, depression, gingivitis, premenstrual syndrome and even hangovers. It is also famed for its antiviral, antibacterial and anti-parasitic, properties especially when used to aid with diabetes, pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, memory, and skin conditions like eczema.

In an article published by Relief Parenting, turmeric, as it relates to post-partum care, acts as a gentle uterotonic which helps get the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size. Turmeric is a mood-booster and contains balancing hormones and dopamine. It has a short lifespan in the body so it’s better to add it in small amounts throughout the day. So why is turmeric good for breastfeeding mothers? Well, this virtual article by a new mom (at the time she published it) shares that this yummy spice can help to increase milk supply. I can already hear the babies in the back give a standing ovation at that! Some good news for the moms in the house is that turmeric is considered vital in the reduced risk of mastitis. Including turmeric in your postpartum diet may help to prevent swollen breast tissue and clogged ducts. This is all thanks to the anti-inflammatory nature of this spice!

Fennel – This is a well-known kitchen spice that has good medicinal properties. It is known to be supportive of lactation. This spice works to eliminate gas, bloating, eases upset stomachs, and aids in digestion. One of the best things about it is that fennel is easy to cook with and is great as a relaxing tea. The folks over at VeryWell Family share that the spice helps increas production of breast milk! If this is a centuries old practice, there may be some truth to it, right? Further, fennel “is believed to be a galactagogue, or a substance that increases breast mil [production].” It’s one of the many lactating ingredients in our mothere’s milk tea. The properties of fennel are connected to its natural estrogen-like properties. Go-figure! Accding to a study done by the National Institure of Health fennel “may increase levels of prolactin, the main hormone responsible for stimulating milk production, and it may also increase milk volume and infant weight gain.”

Ginger – you’ll love ginger for the burn feel its gives when ingested in the form of a strong tea mixed some honey. However, this root is more than just that! As stated by Relief Parenting, ginger, known for calming an upset stomach as the mother's digestion settles and is well known to alleviate nausea. Amazingly, ginger root is supportive of the lactation process. Laura June in her 2016 article for The CUT, pointed out that, “studies suggest that only about 5% of women suffer from chronic low milk supply, but many more suffer from secondary supply issues and breastfeeding difficulties.”

She continues by highlighting a ginger-based study on mothers who had just given birth. According to the study, “thirty women were given capsules of dried ginger in the immediate postpartum period, compared with 33 women who were given placebos. At three days postpartum, the women given the capsules had a higher volume of milk versus those given the placebo.” Though when seven days passed, there was no difference. However, the researchers saw it as encouraging. The final point, new-born mothers can consume more ginger!

Last but not least, remember to consult with your health provider or midwife before taking any herbs or supplements.