If you clicked on this article about NORA tea, then I’m assuming that you are expecting a baby. Congratulations! Creating and growing another human in your body and birthing that baby and becoming a mother are some of the most exceptional and special things that we, as women, do. I hope that this pregnancy tea will help you feel nourished, equipped, and empowered to grow a healthy baby.
What is NORA Tea?
NORA tea stands for tea that is made with the following herbs:
Nettle
Oatstraw
Red Raspberry Leaf
Alfalfa
Why Drink a Pregnancy Tea?
Women have been using herbs to keep their bodies strong and healthy for thousands of years. Herbs contain an extremely high amount of minerals and they’re one of the easiest ways to supplement your diet and be sure that you are getting enough vitamins and nutrients.
Herbs not only contain many vitamins and minerals, but they are in a form that is very easily absorbed by your body. This means that you body should have no trouble receiving, digesting and absorbing all the nutrients that the herbs provide.
NORA tea recipe: a Nourishing Pregnancy Tea
This tea recipe contains several nutrient packed herbs that I’ve chosen to blend together for their synergistic and nourishing effect on the body. I made this recipe all the time during my pregnancy with my son -it’s tasty and nourishing all at once!
Nettle: Nettle is known as every herbalist’s favorite herb, because it’s such a powerhouse of a plant! Some sources say that one quart of a nettle infusion contains 1000mg of Calcium and 300mg of Magnesium! For reference, that meets the daily recommendation for women for both calcium and magnesium. Nettle also contains Vitamin A, C, E, F, K, Zinc, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium, boron, bromine, chlorophyll, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, chromium, and many of the B Complex Vitamins. It has more protein than almost any other plant.
Oatstraw: Oatstraw is excellent for mothers because it is an incredibly gentle, nourishing herb. It supports the immune system, as well as gently increasing your body’s tolerance to stress. It contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B. It also contains Resistant Starch which functions like fiber in that it escapes digestion and feeds friendly gut bacteria.
Red Raspberry Leaf: Red Raspberry Leaf has been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years, specifically to support Women’s health. It contains vital nutrients like calcium, iron and magnesium, as well as strong antioxidant properties. During pregnancy especially, it works to nourish and “tone” the muscles of the uterus, helping to make contractions more efficient. Several studies have shown that drinking red raspberry leaf regularly during the third trimester was associated with a decreased likelihood of preterm labor, going too far past your due date, and a decrease in having the bag of waters manually broke to stimulate labor.
Lemon Balm: Lemon Balm is an incredible anxiety reducer and a calming, nourishing plant that gently helps strengthen and calm our frazzled nerves and anxious minds. It nourishing our nervous system and provides what feels like a giant hug over our whole body.
Peppermint: Peppermint has traditionally been used for calming an upset stomach. In this tea it helps to provide a yummy flavor over the top of these other more “earthy” tasting herbs. Spearmint can also be used if you prefer spearmint over peppermint.
Is NORA tea safe during pregnancy?
All of the herbs in this blend have a traditional usage for women all throughout pregnancy. I personally consider all of them safe after the first trimester of pregnancy.
in our modern times, most midwives recommend Red Raspberry Leaf tea beginning during the third trimester of pregnancy. I personally drink this tea starting around 30 weeks. Before that, I drink Nettle or Oatstraw infusions multiple times per week to make sure I’m getting plenty of nutrients. Once I enter my third trimester, I begin drinking all of the herbs together including the Red Raspberry Leaf.
It’s important to listen to your body and see how you feel after drinking it! Some women drink Red Raspberry Leaf tea throughout their second trimester, and others prefer to wait until their third trimester. Listen to your body and ask your midwife what she recommends as well!
Where to Buy Herbs for NORA tea?
Mountain Rose Herbs is one of the best places to purchase bulk herbs from!
Their herbs are organic and high quality. They also run sales all the time. They are my favorite and I highly recommend purchasing your herbs through Mountain Rose Herbs.
How to make NORA tea:
Gather the Ingredients for your Nourishing Pregnancy Tea:
- Nettle Loose Leaf Herb
- Oatstraw Loose Leaf Herb
- Red Raspberry Leaf Herb
- Alfalfa Loose Leaf Herb
- Peppermint Loose Leaf Herb
- Lemon Balm Loose Leaf Herb
Measure and Combine in a Bowl:
2 Parts Nettle
2 Parts Oatstraw
2 Parts Red Raspberry Leaf
1 Part Lemon Balm
1 Part Peppermint
A “part” can be any unit of measurement. If you are trying to just make one cup of tea, than a “part” could be 1/2tsp. If you are wanting to make a bulk amount of the tea, then a “part” could be 1 TBS, or 1/4cup, or 1 Cup. It’s totally flexible based on how much you want! I used a 1/4 cup measurement as my part and it made plenty of tea to last me for several weeks!
Mix the herbs together and store in a jar or sealed paper bag out of direct sunlight.
I recommend making a long-steeped infusion for this tea.
Click here to see a tutorial of how to make an herbal infusion. Essentially, you want to let the herbs steep in the water for 4-8 hours (I do overnight) in order to make sure that all the minerals have been extracted out.
Other Blog Posts You Might Like:
- How to Make An Herbal Infusion
- Five Herbs Every Mother Needs
- Sample Birth Plan: Birth Plan Example for a Natural Birth
Hey, I'm Victoria!
I'm so glad you're here, sweet mother!
My goal is to inspire you to remember your primal roots & live a WILD life in alignment with nature. On my blog I empower you to use herbs and natural remedies to keep your family healthy, teach you how to eat a nourishing, traditional foods diet, and inspire you to raise your babies consciously and respectfully.
