Traditional cultures have been using plant medicine and herbal soaks to heal after birth for generations. Plants and herbs can help us recover, heal and feel held and nourished through our postpartum period and beyond.
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses teas and soaks to bring rest and warmth to the body. In Ayurveda, herbs and soaks are used to encourage warmth and remove excess Vata.
There are specific herbs that are safe for postpartum and have unique benefits for postpartum recovery . You can find our favourite herbs for nourishing postpartum over on a previous journal post . These are both wonderfully nourishing and easy to source.
Warmth is an essential element of postpartum healing and using teas and soups can be a wonderful way to bring warmth to the body. Herbs and plants can help encourage warmth, circulation, nourish the body and promote healing. They are also a wonderful way to support adequate hydration for breastmilk production.
Sitz baths are a wonderful way to cleanse, support recovery and soothe symptoms. They can help increase blood flow to the perineal area and alleviate discomfort from tearing, episiotomy and haemorrhoids. You can use a specifically designed sitz bath toilet insert or just run a shallow bath. You can buy specific sitz bath mixes which can contain a range of herbs for supporting the healing process and some salts.
Herbal baths are a wonderful way to incorporate self care and relaxtion into postpartum recovery. A herbal bath can be enjoyed solo or shared with your baby. Herbal baths can improve blood circulation, nourish the nervous system and enhance energy levels and mood, encourage faster wound healing and increase milk supply. As well as herbs, epsom salts or magnesium flakes can be added to support muscle stiffness, fatigue and nervous system support. An immersion bath is not recommended after a caesarean until cleared by your doctor but a foot soak can have many wonderful benefits too.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) they believe that the temperature of your feet is directly related to the temperature of your womb and a herbal foot soak can be a wonderful relaxing option for a new mama and can be done while breastfeeding. A foot soak with herbs and salts can encourage blood flow in the lower pelvic area, and warm the uterus which supports healing. A herbal foot soak is calming and relaxing and can help support a new mamas nervous system.
Yoni Steaming, otherwise known as vaginal steaming, is an ancient healing practice using herbal steam to cleanse and nourish the womb and honour the woman. Yoni steaming is a gentle way to offer warmth infused with plant medicine to the tissues of the vagina, the cervix and ovaries. Yoni steaming can be used postpartum to address imbalances in the womb and alleviate inflammation/tenderness after birth. You can learn more about yoni steaming, herbs to use and how to steam here.
A peri bottle is a wonderful tool for postpartum recovery, in fact it made our top 7 essentials for the first 48 hours after birth list. They can be filled with warm water to help gently flush the perineal areas or they can be filled with herbal fusions to further support cleansing and recovery.
Abhyanga self massage is an ayurvedic practice using warming oil to circulate energy and warmth to encourage healing. Oils can be infused with warming spices, herbs and plants. Infused oils can help mama relax and de-stress, promote circulation to encourage healing, relieves pain or discomfort and can support the flow of breastmilk. Different oils can be used on mama and baby.
Balms and creams can be infused with healing plants and herbs and used on mama and baby. They can help with healing tears, scars, nappy rash, cracked nipples and haemorrhoids.
Herbal tinctures and tonics can be takes for a range of postpartum conditions and help support physical and emotional symtoms. Tinctures, tonics and essences are usually prescribed by a herbalist or naturopath and require specific dosing for the mama and her need. From afterbirth pains to milk supply, herbal tinctures and tonics are a wonderful tool for postpartum recovery.
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