| Wise women believe that most of the problems | | | | however, counter the pain of pelvic |
| of pregnancy can be prevented by attention to | | | | dilation. Assisting in the production of |
| nutrition. Morning sickness and mood swings | | | | plentiful breast milk: The high mineral |
| are connected to low blood sugar; backaches | | | | content of Raspberry leaf assists in milk |
| and severe labor pains often result from | | | | production, but its astringency may counter |
| insufficient calcium; varicose veins, | | | | that for some women. Providing a safe and |
| hemorrhoids, constipation, skin discoloration | | | | speedy parturition: Raspberry leaf works to |
| and anemia are evidence of lack of specific | | | | encourage the uterus to let go and function |
| nutrients; pre-eclampsia, the most severe | | | | without tension. It does not strengthen |
| problem of pregnancy, is a form of acute | | | | contractions, but does allow the contracting |
| malnutrition. Excellent nutrition includes | | | | uterus to work more effectively and so may |
| pure water, controlled breath, abundant | | | | make the birth easier and faster. |
| light, loving and respectful relationships, | | | | |
| beauty and harmony in daily life, joyous | | | | NETTLE LEAVES (Urtica Diotca)Less well known |
| thoughts and vital foodstuffs.During | | | | as a pregnancy tonic but deserving a kinder |
| pregnancy nutrients are required to create | | | | reputation and use, Urtica is one of the |
| the cells needed to form two extra pounds of | | | | finest nourishing tonics known. It is reputed |
| uterine muscle, the nerves, bones, organs, | | | | to have more chlorophyll than any other herb. |
| muscles, glands and skin of the fetus, | | | | The list of vitamins and minerals in this |
| several pounds of amniotic fluid, a placenta | | | | herb includes nearly every one known to be |
| and a 50 percent increase in blood volume. In | | | | necessary for human health and |
| addition, extra kidney and liver cells are | | | | growth.Vitamins A, C, D and K, calcium, |
| needed to process the waste of two beings | | | | potassium, phosphorous, iron and sulphur are |
| instead of one.Wild foods and organically | | | | particularly abundant in nettles. The |
| grown produce, grains and herbs are the best | | | | infusion is a dark green color approaching |
| source of vitamins, minerals and other | | | | black. The taste is deep and rich. If you are |
| nutrients needed during pregnancy. All the | | | | blessed with a nettle patch near you, use the |
| better if the expectant mother can get out | | | | fresh plant as a pot herb in the spring.Some |
| and gather her own herbs: stretching, | | | | pregnant women alternate weeks of nettle and |
| bending, breathing, moving, touching the | | | | raspberry brews; others drink raspberry until |
| earth, taking time to talk with the plants | | | | the last month and then switch to nettles to |
| and to open herself to their spiritual | | | | ensure large amounts of vitamin K in the |
| world.TONICS DURING PREGNANCYWise women have | | | | blood before birth.The benefits of drinking |
| recommended herbal tonics for childbearing | | | | nettle infusion before and throughout |
| for thousands of years. These herbs are | | | | pregnancy include the following: Aiding the |
| empirically safe and notably effective. Tonic | | | | kidneys: Nettle infusions were instrumental |
| herbs improve general health by balancing and | | | | in rebuilding the kidneys of a woman who was |
| sustaining energy flow and focus in the | | | | told she would have to be put on a dialysis |
| body.Tonics allay annoyances and prevent | | | | machine. Since the kidneys must cleanse 150 |
| major problems. They can boost the supply of | | | | percent of the normal blood supply for most |
| vital minerals and vitamins, increase energy | | | | of the pregnancy, nettle's ability to nourish |
| and improve uterine tone. Some uterine tonics | | | | and strengthen them is of major importance. |
| are contraindicated during pregnancy or are | | | | Any accumulation of minerals in the kidneys, |
| restricted to the last few weeks of | | | | such as gravel or stones, is gently loosened, |
| pregnancy.The tonics indicated for pregnancy | | | | dissolved and eliminated by the consistent |
| need to be used regularly; a tonic is to the | | | | use of nettle infusions. Increasing fertility |
| cells much as exercise is to the muscles: not | | | | in women and men. Nourishing mother and |
| much use when done erratically. Of course | | | | fetus. Easing leg cramps and other |
| even occasional use of tonics during | | | | spasms. Diminishing pain during and after |
| pregnancy will be of benefit, since they do | | | | birth: The high calcium content, which is |
| contain nourishing factors. Better benefit | | | | readily assimilated, helps diminish muscle |
| will come from using them 5 times a week or | | | | pains in the uterus, in the legs and |
| more.Some simple suggestions to get into the | | | | elsewhere. Preventing hemorrhage after birth: |
| habit of using tonics: pregnant women could | | | | Nettle is a superb source of vitamin K, and |
| replace the morning cup of coffee with a rich | | | | increases available hemoglobin, both of which |
| Nettle infusion. Or she could brew up some | | | | decrease the likelihood of postpartum |
| raspberry leaf tea and put it in the | | | | hemorrhage. Fresh Nettle Juice, in teaspoon |
| refrigerator to drink instead of soda, wine, | | | | doses, slows postpartum bleeding. Reducing |
| or beer. Wild greens can be added to the | | | | hemorrhoids: Nettle's mild astringency and |
| diet. Women in many cultures have used the | | | | general nourishing action tightens and |
| following herbs for centuries to have a | | | | strengthens blood vessels, helps maintain |
| healthier pregnancy.RED RASPBERRY LEAVES | | | | arterial elasticity and improves venous |
| (Rubus spp.)Brewed as a tea or as an | | | | resilience. Increasing the richness and |
| infusion, raspberry is the best known, most | | | | amount of breast milk.CALCIUMOf course |
| widely used, and safest of all uterine and | | | | calcium is a mineral, not an herbal tonic, |
| pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, | | | | but it is so important during pregnancy and |
| an alkaloid that gives tone to the muscles of | | | | throughout our woman lives that I consider it |
| the pelvic region, including the uterus | | | | a tonic. Lack of adequate calcium during |
| itself.Most of the benefits ascribed to | | | | pregnancy is associated with muscle cramps, |
| regular use of Raspberry tea through | | | | backache, high blood pressure, intense labor |
| pregnancy are traced to the nourishing source | | | | and afterbirth pains, osteoporosis, tooth |
| of vitamins and minerals found in this plant | | | | problems, and pre-eclampsia.Calcium |
| and to the strengthening power of fragrine - | | | | assimilation is governed by exercise, stress, |
| an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles | | | | acidity during digestion, availability of |
| of the pelvic region, including the uterus | | | | Vitamin C, A and especially D, and |
| itself. Of special note are the rich | | | | availability of magnesium and phosphorous in |
| concentration of vitamin C, the presence of | | | | the body and the diet. Getting 1000 to 2000 |
| vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium | | | | mg of calcium every day is not hard with the |
| and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain | | | | help of Wise Woman herbs: The best food |
| vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, | | | | sources of calcium are fish, dairy products, |
| including phosphorous and potassium.The | | | | but there is controversy about the |
| benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew | | | | assimilability of calcium from pasteurized, |
| before and throughout pregnancy include the | | | | homogenized milk. My preferred food sources |
| following: Increasing fertility in both men | | | | include goat milk and goat cheese, salmon, |
| and women: Raspberry leaf is an excellent | | | | sardines, mackerel, seaweed (especially |
| fertility herb when combined with Red | | | | kelp), sesame salt (gomasio), tahini and dark |
| Clover. Preventing miscarriage and | | | | leafy greens such as turnip tops, beet greens |
| hemorrhage: Raspberry leaf tones the uterus | | | | and kale. There are roughly 2(X) grams of |
| and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum | | | | calcium in two ounces of nuts (excluding |
| hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic | | | | peanuts), one ounce of dried seaweed, two |
| uterus. Easing of morning sickness: Many | | | | ounces of carob powder, one ounce of cheese, |
| attest to raspberry leaves' gentle relief of | | | | half a cup of cooked greens, (kale, collards |
| nausea and stomach distress throughout | | | | and especially dandelion), half a cup of |
| pregnancy. Reducing pain during labor and | | | | milk, three eggs, four ounces of fish, or one |
| after birth: By toning the muscles used | | | | tablespoon of molasses. Most wild greens are |
| during labor and delivery, Raspberry leaf | | | | exceptionally rich in calcium and the factors |
| eliminates many of the reasons for a painful | | | | needed for calcium absorption and use. |
| delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, | | | | |