Did you know that it's just as important to nourish your body with healthy foods prior to conception as it is to eat healthily during pregnancy? One easy way to do that is to consume herbs that support hormone balance and optimize reproductive health… by drinking this delicious herbal fertility tea!
It's imperative that women's bodies are of the utmost health prior to conception. Conception, pregnancy, and childbirth are beautiful — yet physically demanding!
Nourish yourself even before you get pregnant to help ensure a healthy baby and a healthy mama. Eating a healthy diet pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum are all important, and drinking herbal teas can help support these times.
If you're not a fan of fertility teas (or maybe you're just looking for a little variety), try any of these hormone balancing smoothies that will help balance your hormones throughout every phase of your cycle.
- Mango, Turmeric & Ginger Hormone Balancing Smoothie For Menstruation
- Cherry, Flax & Maca Hormone Balancing Smoothie for the Follicular Stage
- Mixed Berry Hormone Balancing Smoothie For Ovulation Support
- Chocolate, Avocado & Blueberry Hormone Balancing Smoothie For Luteal Phase Support
- (Bonus!) Dairy-Free Hormone-Balancing Chocolate Malt {with maca & collagen!}
For other hormonal and fertility support, check out:
- 10 Essential Oils To Use During Every Phase Of Your Cycle
- Understanding The Female Cycle & How Seeds Can Restore Hormone Balance
- Hormone-Balancing Bliss Balls For Seed Cycling
- Naturally Knocked Up with Donielle Baker
Fertility-Enhancing Herbs
This list isn't extensive. There are many more herbs and adaptogens that enhance fertility (and make a delicious fertility tea), yet the following five herbs are both readily available and generally safe for all women.
Enjoy these herbs as a warm fertility tea, or an infusion over ice!
Stinging Nettle Leaf
Nettle is an all-around perfect herb for fertility tea.
It nourishes the glandular system, tones the uterus, is rich in minerals, and may even relieve seasonal allergies due to its natural antihistamine properties. To top that off, nettle contains the greatest amount of chlorophyll out of all herbs, which is important to clean, purify, and oxygenate the blood. (Source.)
It packs a nutritional punch, with Vitamins A, C, and K1 as well as potassium, calcium, and iron. The calcium specifically may help ease leg and other muscle spasms during pregnancy.
Red Raspberry Leaf
As the name suggests, red raspberry leaf is made from the leaves of raspberries after they are dried and crushed. It contains an impressive amount of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it a great addition to this fertility tea recipe.
Red raspberry leaf tones the uterine muscles with the help of an alkaloid called fragrine and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron (source). This may help prevent miscarriage after conception occurs, particularly when weakness of the uterus is apparent.
Peppermint Leaf
Peppermint leaf is rich in minerals including potassium and calcium, as well as antioxidants, which help your body stay healthy by fighting off illnesses such as fever and cough (source).
Most importantly, it has a delicious flavor that outshines many of the other herbs, making it a delicious addition to the fertility tea recipe below.
Red Clover Herb
Red clover (the whole plant) contains a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals. In fact, it contains nearly every single trace mineral needed by the glandular system.
It aids in detoxification of environmental pollutants and was traditionally used for cardiovascular health (source).
One surprising benefit of red clover's ability to improve circulatory function? Increased cervical mucus and support of uterine tissue (source)!
Cervical mucus is very important during conception because it…
- nourishes the sperm
- protects the sperm
- serves as the medium through which the sperm travels to fertilize the egg
That's why it's incredibly important to have fertile cervical mucus, and red clover is known to aid in vaginal dryness and increase cervical mucus.
Green Tea
I know what you're thinking… Green tea has caffeine! Doesn't that go against everything you've ever heard about optimizing fertility?
Yes, caffeine should be avoided during pregnancy. Yet, green tea is rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, folate, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorous — so it might actually be a good thing to have in your fertility tea arsenal after all!
Most importantly, green tea contains a specific type of antioxidant known as polyphenols. These compounds reduce inflammation and improve the flow of blood to various tissues in your body.
Even though there hasn't been much research to show that green tea can help with conception, its antioxidant properties are promising (source).
Due to its caffeine content, however, we're using only a 1/2 part in this herbal fertility tea blend. Feel free to omit it completely if you are sensitive to caffeine.
How To Make Herbal Fertility Tea
Herbal Tea Blend
Making this recipe is simple, you simply gather your dried herbs and combine them in a bowl.
Transfer the entire mixture into an airtight container and store out of direct sunlight.
Hot Tea
To make a hot herbal fertility tea, steep 1/4 cup herbs in a coffee or tea press.
Cover herbs with water and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
Strain herbs, add honey or lemon (as desired), and enjoy!
Herbal Tea Infusion (Iced Tea)
If you'd like to make a fertility tea herbal infusion, simply add 1/2 cup herb blend to a quart-size Mason jar.
Fill with tepid water to the top, cover the jar with a lid, and leave at room temperature overnight.
In the morning, strain out the herbs and enjoy tea over ice, sweetened with honey, and garnished with a lemon wedge.
Store any remaining tea in the refrigerator.
Herbal Fertility Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups red raspberry leaf
- 1 cup dried stinging nettle leaf
- 1 cup dried peppermint
- 1 cup red clover
- 1/2 cup green tea leaves optional
Instructions
- Combine all herbs and optional green tea into a bowl.
- Stir to combine and store in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
To drink as a tea:
- Add 1/4 cup herb blend to a coffee or tea press.
- Add boiling water, cover, and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
- Discard used herbs, then enjoy tea in a mug with a touch of honey or a lemon slice.
To drink as an infusion:
- Add 1/2 cup herb blend to a quart-sized Mason jar.
- Fill with tepid water to top. Close the jar and leave at room temperature overnight.
- In the morning, pour infusion through a strainer into another quart-sized Mason jar.
- Discard herbs and drink infusion as desired!
- Store in the refrigerator if it will not be consumed within 12 hours.
Notes
- Consider using other nourishing herbs, such as chaste berry vitex and ashwagandha, according to your specific needs! (Learn more about these two herbs here.)
Nutrition
What fertility-friendly herbs would you add to this blend?
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home. Herbs are powerful medicine, so you should always speak to your health provider before ingesting any herb, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any other medications.
The post Herbal Fertility Tea (with 5 pre-conception, fertility-enhancing herbs!) appeared first on Traditional Cooking School by GNOWFGLINS.
