Simple Comforts

Teas and Baths

Uterine Tonic Tea
½ ounce Squaw Vine
½ ounce Cramp Bark
½ ounce Raspberry Leaves
3 grams of Lobelia

Mix together with one pint of boiled water, steep twenty minutes, and strain. "This uterine tonic can be used for prevention of miscarriages," suggests Jensen. "This combination can also be used for treatment of bladder infections and vaginal discharge."

Raspberry Bath Tea
1 ounce loose Red Raspberry Leaf
1 pint boiled water
1 quart Epsom salt

Mix the raspberry with the boiled water and steep, just as you would for a drinkable tea. Draw a bath and add the tea along with the Epsom salts. This is a great soak for treating the aches and pains of pregnancy.

Oils and Aromatherapy

Soothing Belly Oil
½ cup cocoa butter
½ cup coconut oil
20,000 IU vitamin E oil
2 tsp grated beeswax
1 tsp lanolin
¼ cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil

Gladstar suggests rubbing this mixture over your belly and breasts two to three times a day throughout your pregnancy. You can add a variety of essential oils to this basic mixture. Oils that are safe for inclusion are chamomile, geranium, lavender, rose, and sandalwood (these can also be added to baths and room vaporizers).

Peppermint Oil Vapors
3-5 drops peppermint oil
Epsom salts
A small vial or container

Helpful links / Sources

http://www.wic.net/waltzark/herbpreg.htm - found by Kendra Grant-Bingham from kitchen_witch and Meredith Nunn found in John B. Lusts book The Herb Book

http://www.wic.net/waltzark/herbpreg.htm - Helpful Herbs During Pregnancy

http://www.childbirthsolutions.org/articles/pregnancy/herbsandvit/index.php - Child Birth Solutions Inc.

http://www.allaboutstretchmarks.com/homeremedies.htm - Home Remedies for Stretch Marks

http://www.babyzone.com/ - Baby Zone

http://www.pregnancy.org/bulletinboards/home.php - Pregnancy.org

http://www.iparenting.com/ - i parenting

http://www.storknet.com/ -Stork Net

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/community-overview/pregnancy - revolution health

http://www.pregnancy.com/ - Pregnancy.com

http://dailystrength.org/c/Pregnancy-Teens/support-group - Teens Support Group

http://www.babycenter.com/ - Baby Center

http://www.govbenefits.gov:80/govbenefits_en.portal;jsessionid=tnkdJK1dDTypJ1LKJnqG1TyT7cpxB2M9NpfRZRVy3S8mhdHNBFS2!1331527745?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=gbcc_page_home&_nfls=false - Benefits.Gov

Good Herbs During Pregnancy

These are herbs that will help the mother and baby in the early development stages.

Black Haw - used in the early stages of pregnancy to help prevent miscarriage

Blessed Thistle - used in the latter stages of pregnancy as a liver tonic and builder, as well as a stimulant of blood flow to the mammaries, and used to increase milk production; also reduces hemorrhaging during childbirth


Burdock Root - has a high concentration of vitamins and minerals and is a liver booster


Chamomile - lifts the spirits and calms the nerves, used for digestive disorders during pregnancy, is combined with ginger to help morning sickness, and has a high calcium content as well as an anti-inflammatory aid


Dandelion - greens and root - a high source of vitamins and minerals, aids digestion, nourishes and tones the system, diuretic, useful for fatigue and exhaustion, liver booster


Ginger Root - used for morning sickness and digestive problems, safe during pregnancy for treating colds, sore throats, and congestion


Kelp - high in vitamins and minerals, aids thyroid


Nettle Leaf - rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially iron, so it is very useful for those suffering from chronic fatigue and exhaustion due to low iron, aids in enriching and stimulating flow of milk; good for use throughout all stages of the pregnancy


Red Raspberry Leaf - tones and nourishes the uterine muscles, rich in vitamins and minerals, enriches and increases milk flow, restores the system after childbirth; good for the entire pregnancy


Spirulina - high in vitamins and nutrients


Bee Products - - royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen, raw honey - many nutritional benefits
Always remember to eat a very healthy diet when pregnant and/or nursing!

Herbs To Avoid During Pregnancy

Many herbs contain a mild toxin, strong uterine stimulants, or steroids that can affect the baby's development during pregnancy and/or nursing. 

Angelica - stimulates suppressed menstruation

Birthroot - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Birthwort - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, flowering herb

Black Cohosh - uterine stimulant - mostly used during labor

Blind nettle - stimulates, suppressed menstruation, plant, flowers

Blue Cohosh - a stronger uterine stimulant

Borage oil - a uterine stimulant - use only during the last few days of pregnancy

Buckthorn -stimulates suppressed menstruation, bark

Carrot - stimulates suppressed menstruation, seeds (wild plant)

Celery - Uterine stimulant, the plant, especially juice, Use only in small amounts

Comfrey - can cause liver problems in mother and fetus - use only briefly, externally only, for treating sprains and strains

Common Groundsel - uterine stimulant, plant

Cotton - uterine stimulant, the bark off of the root Total Avoidance

Damask Rose - stimulates suppressed menstruation, this is what is used to make attar of roses, the rose oil used most in perfumes and flavorings

Dong Quai - may stimulate bleeding

Elder - do not use during pregnancy or lactation

Ergot - uterine stimulant, fungus off of rye plant Total avoidance

Fenugreek - uterine relaxant

Fraxinella - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, herb, and seed

German Chamomile - stimulates suppressed menstruation, flowers

Ginger - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, Use only in small amounts

Goldenseal - too powerful an antibiotic for the developing fetus, also should not be used if nursing

Hedge Hyssop - uterine stimulant, plant

Hemlock Spruce - uterine stimulant, bark

Henbane - highly toxic

Horsetail - too high in silica for the developing fetus


Horseradish - uterine stimulant, the root, take only in small amounts

Lady's Mantle and Silvery Lady's Mantle - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Larch - stimulates suppressed menstruation, bark, resin, young shoots, needles,

Licorice Root - can create water retention and/or elevated blood pressure

Lovage - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Milfoil - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Mistletoe(European and American) - uterine stimulant, plant, poisonous, do not use without Dr.'s help

Motherwort - stimulates suppressed menstruation


Mugwort - can be a uterine stimulant


Nutmeg - can cause miscarriage in large dose. 

Parsley - stimulates suppressed menstruation plant, seeds, Use only in small amounts

Pennyroyal Leaf - stimulates uterine contractions (NOTE: Pennyroyal essential oil should not be used by pregnant women at any time!) - do not handle if pregnant or nursing

Peppermint - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, Use only in small amounts

Peruvian Bark -uterine stimulant, bark

Pride of China - stimulates suppressed menstruation, root bark, fruit

Ragwort (other names, European ragwort, cocash weed, coughweed, golden ragwort, grundt swallow, life root, squaw weed) -strong stimulant, plant, not medically advisable to use without a Dr.'s supervision

Rosemary - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, flowering tops, Use only in small amounts

Rose of China (other names, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis or Chinese Hibiscus) - stimulates suppressed menstruation, roots, bark, flowers

Rue - strong expellant

Sage - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, burnt, or oil, use leaves in cooking only in small amounts during pregnancy

Saffron - can cause miscarriage and other problems

Shepherd's Purse - used only for hemmorhaging during/after childbirth

Star Grass - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock

Sweet Marjoram - stimulates suppressed menstruation, herb

Tansy - uterine stimulant, stimulates suppressed menstruation, plant

Tarragon - stimulates suppressed menstruation, the flowering plant

Thuja (other names White Cedar or Yellow Cedar) - stimulates suppressed menstruation, branchlets, leaves, bark

Uva Ursi - removes too much blood sugar during pregnancy and nursing

Watercress - stimulates suppressed menstruation, leaves, roots, young shoots

White Mustard - stimulates suppressed menstruation, seed, Use only in small amounts 

Wild Ginger - stimulates suppressed menstruation, rootstock, Use only in small amounts

Yarrow - uterine stimulant