5 Herbs for Postpartum
When it comes to postpartum healing, I’m a big believer in incorporating herbal medicine to speed up recovery & nourish our bodies. In our “bounce back” culture, we’re often told to hustle as quickly as we can to get to that 6-week hump, at which point life is back to normal. We equip postpartum bodies with granny diapers and an Advil/Tylenol regime and send them out the door to recover from a major physiological event virtually by themselves. With any other major trauma to the body, whether surgical or not, most doctors will recommend rest to recover and physiotherapy to rebuild. Yet when it comes to birth, we’re expected to be cooking, cleaning and bouncing babies to sleep the minute we get home from the hospital, and pelvic floor physio isn’t even covered by OHIP (yet, in France, every birthing person receives this treatment as a part of their health care strategy). Long story short, this is where our culture gets it seriously wrong.
Whether you’re looking to deal with pain management, infection prevention, inducing milk supply, mood boosting, healing perineal trauma, or aiding with troubled sleep - there is a herbal solution for each of these postpartum woes. Herbs have been used for centuries as a healing modality, and to this day, there are peer-reviewed studies that show some herbs have equal (or even better) results compared to pharmacological interventions. Read on for some knowledge about 5 herbs to keep supplied in your postpartum recovery kit.
While I’ve spent lots of time working with herbs through my nutrition and Ayurvedic training, please talk to your care provider or herbalist before incorporating something new into your diet. Just because they are natural doesn’t mean they aren’t powerful, and some herbs might be contraindicated with other medications.
Fenugreek
Commonly found in tea form, fenugreek is a galactagogue - or a milk-making substance. It is actually one of the first herbs recorded, dating back to ancient Egyptian times. There are many causes of low milk supply, and having tea isn’t the be all and end all solution, so if you’re struggling with milk supply I always recommend talking to a lactation consultant first to see if there’s a biomechanical issue. However, for many breastfeeding people, lactation teas provide just enough of a boost to keep them going. You might want to try lactation teas with fenugreek to boost supply if:
You are returning to work and need to boost your supply
If you are stocking your freezer
If you feel like you need support to maintain your supply
If you are tandem nursing
If you have a temporary dip in supply due to menstruation, illness, or baby growth spurt (Birthsong Botanicals, 2020).
Schisandra
Your body is particularly prone to infections following birth, whether you deliver vaginally or via c-section. For example, most care providers recommend avoiding any vaginal penetration, including tampons, for 6 weeks following birth to avoid an infection. Using adaptogens to boost your immune system can help fight off infections that enter the body. Packed with antioxidants and polyphenols, schisandra is a great natural defence mechanism to fend off infections. This is also a great herb to help with postpartum healing.
Holy Basil
The baby blues is a natural, hormonal process that can really impact our postpartum enjoyment. Adaptogens have mood boosting properties that can help counter some of the emotional roller coaster that comes along with the postpartum process. This of course, isn’t to say that holy basil will cure postpartum depression, but it is certainly a mood support that can help provide stability and calm during the highs & lows. Holy basil is also a galactagogue and can be helpful to induce milk supply. Most commonly found in tea form, you could also work with a herbalist to determine a healthy dosage in tincture form as well.
4. Ginseng Root
First off, there are a few forms of ginseng. Panax ginseng is not safe for nursing, but Siberian or Indian ginseng is. Ginseng is a staple in the Chinese postpartum tradition of sitting in for 40 days (The First 40 Days by Heng Ou is a great recipe book to learn more about this). Within TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), ginseng is recommended once bleeding stops as an energy replenishing herb. Adaptogens are not stimulants, which can cause further energy depletion once you crash, thus having addictive effects. Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee, try a ginseng tea instead to enhance resistance to stress and lessen burnout.
5. Moringa
Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties, such as isothiocyanates, flavonoids, and phenolic acid, so consider this your natural Advil. It’s also a galactagogue, helping boost your milk supply. It’s extremely rich in nutrients, which can help with the postpartum depletion that occurs after blood loss in birth. Nutrients like calcium, protein, potassium, iron, zinc and vitamins A, B and C are all so important for postpartum healing, even the United Nations recommends Moringa leaves for pregnant & nursing people. Moringa powder can be added to smoothies, lattes, or even added to food like soups or dips.
Daydream Sparkling Water is a delicious way of consuming adaptogens for herbal support. Daydream contains no sugar, no caffeine, and a mix of powerful adaptogens and hemp extracts that work with the body’s immune system. Making it a go-to for increasing focus, reducing stress & reducing fatigue. They sent me their Peach Ginger, Blackberry Chai and Cucumber Lime flavours, and it’s hard to pick a winner. All the flavours are made with hemp oil (which is different from CBD/THC and is safe for postpartum consumption), schisandra, moringa and ginseng root.
