After a Cesarean: Herbal Healing for Mother and Child the Wise Woman Way

May 19
06:41

2007

Susun S Weed

Susun S Weed

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Susun Weed provides information on herbs to help heal and nourish mom AND babe!

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NOURISHING,After a Cesarean: Herbal Healing for Mother and Child the Wise Woman Way Articles TONIC, AND ANTI-INFECTIVE HERBS

Safe Use of Herbs After a Cesarean:

  • Water-based infusions provide optimum benefit and greatest safety
  • Capsules are most likely to cause ill-effects and odd reactions
  • Avoid poisonous forms of herbs such as essential oils
  • Use tinctures diluted to treat acute problems
  • Herbs move rapidly into breast milk (10-20 minutes)

Simple Nourishing Herbs for Mother and Child After a Cesarean:

1. Nourishing herbal infusions:

  • Nettle (Urtica dioica)
  • Oatstraw (Avena sativa)
  • Comfrey leaf (Symphytum uplandica)
  • Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
  • Linden flowers (Tillia americana)

2. Benefits of nourishing herbal infusions after a cesarean:

  • Nettle increases breast milk and helps replace blood loss.
  • Oatstraw improves sleep and strengthens the nervous system.
  • Comfrey leaf helps incisions heal and helps prevent scarring.
  • Red clover improves breast milk production and brings hormonal sanity.
  • Linden soothes and heals mucus surfaces and incisions; prevents colds.

Tonic Herbs for Mother and Child After a Cesarean:

1. Water bases:

  • Raspberry leaf (Rubus ideaus) to tonify uterus.
  • Aromatic mints - rosemary, lavender, and lemon balm - for digestion.
  • Avoid sage (Salvia officinalis) if breast feeding.

2. Tincture bases:

  • Astragalus (A. membranaceous) strengthens immunity, prevents infection.
  • Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) to ease after-birth pain and prevent post-partum depression.

    Herbs That Can Counter Infection After a Cesarean:

    • Echinacea (Echinacea augustifolia) to increase macrophages; counter bacteria.
    • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) against all gram-positive and -negative bacteria.
    • Usnea (U. barbarata) to counter deep infection.
    • Poke root (Phytolacca americana) - USE WITH CAUTION.

    THE EMPOWERED WOMAN PROMOTES HER OWN HEALTH

    Benefits to Being Pro-Active in Healing After a Cesarean:

    • Quicker healing for mom.
    • Less scarring of the incision site.
    • Better bonding between mom and babe.
    • Deeper sleep for mom and babe.
    • Fewer problems with infection at incision site and fewer infections for baby.

    Bringing It Home:

    1. Making nourishing infusions:

    • One ounce stinging nettle, quart of boiling water; steep 4 hours - for energy.
    • One ounce oatstraw, quart of boiling water; steep 4 hours - for patience.
    • One ounce comfrey leaf, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain; rebrew with two cups cold water, bring to a boil; steep 4 hours, strain - to improve chances of a VBAC with next child.
    • One ounce red clover blossom, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain - to prepare for the next pregnancy.
    • One-half ounce linden flowers, quart of boiling water, steep 4 hours, strain; rebrew with two cups cold water, bring to a boil; steep 4 hours, strain.

    2. Additions to infusions:

    • Honey (Note: do not give honey to infants younger than 12 months.)
    • Milk
    • The Israeli Public Health Ministry recommends against soy beverage for children under the age of eighteen (18); it's not good for mom either.
    • Ice
    • Juice (Note: problems with fructose)

    3. Sources for buying herbs and tinctures:

    • Listed in my books and website.

      For Further Information:

      • Visit www.susunweed.com
      • Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Ash Tree Publishing, Susun Weed

      Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081