How NORA Tea can Support Postpartum Healing
Learn what NORA tea is and how it can support your body beyond pregnancy into postpartum
If you are familiar with NORA tea for its benefits in pregnancy, you may be surprised (and excited!) to know that the many benefits of this nutrient packed tea don’t stop after your baby is born. If you don’t know the benefits of NORA tea for pregnancy, you can read up on that in our previous blog.
NORA tea stands for (stinging) nettles, oatstraw, red raspberry leaf and alfalfa tea. This powerhouse tea blend can support your body during postpartum in numerous ways including helping to reduce postpartum hemorrhaging, boosting milk supply and lactation, reducing hemorrhoids, supporting nervous system healing, and so much more.
Read on to learn how NORA tea can support your postpartum healing as well as how to brew it!
How NORA Tea Supports Postpartum Healing
Our culture can become so hyper-dependent and focused on medications that we forget or might not even be aware of the abundance of natural healing herbs that are available to us. God didn’t mess up when He created the world, and He provided a way for us to nourish and support our bodies through nature’s best medicine: herbs! Let’s learn about the four incredible herbs in our NORA tea blend that can support your body during your postpartum period.
Nettles
Stinging nettle leaf is such a powerhouse herb! Considering it’s been used for over 2,000 years for its diverse healing properties, I think there’s some wisdom to be gleaned from our ancestors here! Nettle is rich in vitamins A, C and K, and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and copper.
These nutrients are just as important for your body during your postpartum period as they are for pregnancy. You’ve just done the hard work of growing and birthing a baby, mama, and now your body needs an abundance of vitamins and minerals so it can focus on healing (like restoring iron levels) and nursing, which is also incredibly nutrient-draining on the body.
Drinking warm NORA tea during my postpartum
Nettle really shines when it comes to lactation support because it contains compounds called galactagogues, which are substances that help stimulate the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. That’s why regularly consuming nettles can help you boost your milk supply during postpartum.
In fact, one study showed that mothers with premature babies who consumed herbal tea containing galactagogues increased their milk supply from the first to seventh day by 80 percent.
Nettle leaf can also help reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhaging and hemorrhoids as well as support healthy balanced hormone levels by regulating the production and metabolism of estrogen, progesterone, aromatase and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the mother. This is huge because our bodies experience the biggest hormonal shift ever immediately after birth.
Nettle also is a diuretic so it can help with any postpartum fluid retention and support your adrenal function, and has anti-inflammatory compounds that can promote postpartum healing.
Additionally, nettles can promote better sleep, boost your immune system, and balance electrolytes and blood sugar — all very important for a postpartum mama.
Oat Straw
This has quickly become one of my new favorite herbs, and for good reason!
Oat straw has a rich nutty flavor and acts as a nervine, meaning it provides nervous system support and promotes relaxation. I cannot stress how important nervous system support is during your postpartum period, mama! Drinking oat straw in combination with other nervous system supporting herbs (like chamomile) can help restore the adrenals, support nervous exhaustion and anxiety, and bring overall sense of calm back to your system.
I also highly recommend seeking chiropractic care from a Webster certified and nervous system-focused chiropractor, gentle movement (after the first few weeks of rest), prayer and meditation, and fresh air and sunshine as much as possible during postpartum to help with anxiety, nervous system restoration and hormonal balance.
Our boys packaging NORA tea
Oat straw is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins, which can be quickly depleted during prolonged stress. It’s also a demulcent, meaning it has anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial during the postpartum healing period.
This herb is also high in silica, which is an important mineral for healthy, strong hair and nails (something us mamas could benefit from with all those intense hormone fluctuations!).
Red Raspberry Leaf
Commonly referred to as “the woman’s herb” by midwives and holistic care providers, red raspberry is most known as a pregnancy and uterine tonic because of the way its compounds act on the smooth muscles of the uterus. But this herb has additional healing properties and benefits that can support a mother beyond labor and birth.
Similarly to how women prepare their bodies for labor by drinking red raspberry leaf during their third trimester, consuming this tea during the first 6 weeks postpartum can potentially help ease after birth pains and restore the uterus more quickly. It may also help reduce postpartum bleeding.
Rich in key vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C and E, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium, it’s incredibly nourishing for postpartum.
Red raspberry leaf also contains plant compounds like tannins, flavonoids and ellagic acid, which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help protect our cells from damage and promote postpartum healing.
Alfalfa
We’re tapping into that ancient plant wisdom again with alfalfa leaf, an herb that’s been used since 1300 B.C. for various healing purposes.
I found it super cool to learn that the roots of the alfalfa plant descend over 85 feet down into the earth, which allows it to bring up many essential vitamins and micronutrients that are highly concentrated. This includes vitamin A, D, E, and K, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and folic acid.
Purple flowers of the alfalfa plant
Similar to nettles, alfalfa can provide support for your milk supply. It’s considered a phytoestrogen, meaning it mimics estrogen in our body and attaches to receptor sites. And since estrogen signals the pituitary gland to make and secrete prolactin, a hormone responsible for making breast milk, alfalfa can support this process! Cool, huh?
Alfalfa can also support breast tissue development and help the milk duct system to proliferate, which is great if you’re wanting an abundance of milk! However, in some instances if you have an oversupply and want to down-regulate your milk, or experience engorgement, alfalfa might not be right for you or you might reduce how much you’re consuming.
Some additional benefits of this herb for postpartum include improved circulation and reduced water retention, balanced blood sugar, strengthened immunity, and better digestion (thanks to 8 different enzymes in the plant). I don’t know about you mama, but my gut did some wonky things postpartum and I really benefited from some digestive support!
Because of the high levels of vitamin K in the alfalfa plant, women who consume this herb in high amounts during pregnancy may be able to reduce their risk of postpartum hemorrhaging. It should be noted that those on certain blood thinning medications may want to avoid alfalfa because of the high vitamin K content.
Since alfalfa is part of the legume family, those with lupus and autoimmune disorders may want to avoid it.
And of course always consult with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about consuming any of these herbs.
How Much NORA Tea Should I Drink?
Short answer: as much as you want!
All sources recommend a quart of NORA tea at least 5 days a week for pregnancy. While there isn’t necessarily a recommended amount for postpartum, we suggest at least 1-2 cups a day, aiming for the full quart if possible!
Straining NORA tea for postpartum healing
Although you can absolutely drink the tea cold or room temp, we recommend consuming your NORA tea warmed up during your postpartum period because that’s going to be more supportive and nourishing to your system during this time.
For reference, we sell our NOA & NORA pregnancy tea blends in two sizes — Small (60 grams), which is a 10 days supply and Large (120 grams), which is a 20 day supply — so you can give it a try, and then get to batch brewing!
How to Brew our NORA Tea
Our pre-made organic NORA (and NOA) loose leaf tea blends are a convenient way to enjoy the benefits of these herbs throughout all stages of pregnancy and postpartum.
We include instructions below for making a quart or a gallon at a time. It’s important that you steep the tea for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight before consuming. While it might just feel easier to brew a quick cup and steep for the typical 8-10 minutes, you’ll be missing out on all of those amazing restorative and healing benefits we just talked about!
Proper steeping time allows for the herbs to be infused into the liquid for optimal nutrient extraction.
If that feels overwhelming during postpartum, I completely understand.
Now’s the time to tap into your support system, mama. If you’re unable to manage brewing a quart a day (or a gallon every few days) yourself, especially during the early postpartum days, have your spouse, family member or friend help you out. That way, all you have to do is re-heat and drink throughout the day!
Bottom line: this shouldn’t be creating more stress! It’s meant to nourish and support your body during this critical time of healing!
Here’s how to brew yourself a batch (or two!):
Add 1/4 cup of your NORA tea blend into a quart-sized mason jar. To batch brew, add 1 cup of tea blend to a gallon jar. Kombucha jars like these here work great!
Boil 4 cups of water and pour into your jar containing the tea blend. For batch brewing, boil 3-4 quarts of water (depending on container size, you may boil a little less to prevent the jar from being too full)
Add in any extras like honey or lemon, stir.
Cover with cheese cloth secured by a rubber band to ventilate and steep for 8+ hours or overnight. Place the jar in a cool dry place on your counter or even the fridge.
Once cooled, strain using your cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and reheat. You can also enjoy at room temp or cold over ice for a refreshing summer treat (not recommended for postpartum).
Consider sweetening your tea with honey or maple syrup. I recommend 2 tsp per quart (or to taste). Try local raw honey for added benefits and/or fresh lemon for digestive support!
If you’ve batched brewed, once your tea is ready, I recommend straining and distributing into smaller jars like quart sized mason jars and storing in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy!
Try some today!
No matter where you’re at in your postpartum journey, mama, you can benefit from these God-gifted healing herbs! These teas can be an easy way to give your body the much-needed nutrients they deserve during this transitional time. Check out our store for both our NOA and NORA tea blends, available in various sizes.
If you have questions, reach out to us by using the contact form on our website, send us a message on Instagram or shoot us an email at info@fruitofthewombherbals.com
