Postpartum Tea- An Ancient Natural Recipe

Breastfeeding
by Daniela Knaan
Daniela Knaan
UX/UI Designer at - Adobe

What does my body need after childbirth?

Pregnancy and childbirth demand a lot from our bodies and mind. So after giving birth, healthy nutrition is one of many hot topics for most women. So why is it important to take care of ourselves after childbirth, and why can a good postpartum tea make such a difference?

We need healthy food for recovery and breastfeeding, and in most cases, we also want to lose the baby weight gained during pregnancy! On the other hand, we are stressed out by the whole new situation and often sleepless, so the chocolate bar or ice cream we cannot resist is only keeping our sanity…

Like in most situations in life, we should try and find a balance for our nutrition after childbirth, so we can feel well and balance ourselves and be there for our baby.

If you do not breastfeed or finished breastfeeding and really feel you have gained too much weight, read this article to help you lose it!

On this page

  • The ancient recipe
  • The ingredients and their effects on the body
  • Preparation (video)
  • Postpartum Tea and its Tradition

An ancient recipe…

In this post, I am going to share with you a very ancient recipe for postnatal tea. I was born and raised in Germany, but my father is Druze, and my husband happens to be Druze, too. Although I feel very few connections with the religious beliefs and traditions of the Druze community, I love and admire their dedication to the kitchen.

Among so many delicious cooking recipes I learned, I also prepared this amazing postpartum tea after giving birth to my children. A Tea that women have been preparing for decades when having a child and also the traditional beverage served to everybody who comes to visit the new mom.

So how is this tea supposed to help us with postpartum healing?

It is said to:

  • strengthen our bodies after childbirth
  • clean the uterus and prevent infections
  • boost our immune system
  • reduce postpartum pain
  • help with milk supply
  • help get rid of the baby’s belly

The Ingredients

So here is the recipe, further on I will explain the effects of each one of the ingredients on our body and also share a little video to show you exactly how to prepare this tasty tea! Before we start- this tea is not recommended during pregnancy because of the high dosage of cinnamon.

  • Dried ginger roots (2-3)
  • Kulanjan root/ Alpinia Galanga (about 10)
  • Cardamom Pods (4-5)
  • Cinnamon sticks (about a handful)
  • Anise seeds (one teaspoon)
  • Cloves (3-4)
  • About 3.5 liters/1 gallon of water
  • Walnuts and honey/ brown sugar for serving

Watch this short video to know how the tea is prepared

About the ingredients

Ginger

Ginger belongs to the Zingiberaceae Family and is closely related to turmeric and galangal, It has been used for thousands of years for medical purposes. Due to several studies, it is proven to have the following health benefits:

Ginger…

  • Has a positive effect on digestion and may prevent or help with constipation
  • Prevents and reduces inflammation
  • Can relieve menstrual pain
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Helps maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Kulanjan

Like Ginger, kulanjan belongs to the Zingiberaceae Family. and his health benefits are therefore the same as its close relative. Kulanjan is responsible for the tea`s beautiful dark red color.

Cardamom pods

Cardamom is originated in India and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Cardamom is said to have the following health benefits:

  • It has anti-inflammatory effects
  • Lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels
  • Helps with digestive problems
  • Is antibacterial
  • Has been shown to slightly help weight loss in a study with overweight women, though there have not been further significant studies on this topic

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an incredibly tasty spice and its history goes back to ancient Egypt when it was very expensive and considered a valuable gift for kings. It is made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. The health benefits of cinnamon:

  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Helps the body fight several infections, including fungal and bacterial
  • May protect against cancer
  • Lowers blood sugar levels

Anise Seed

Anise is from the same family as carrots, celery, and parsley and has the following health benefits:

  • Is rich in iron
  • May reduce symptoms of depression
  • Is anti- fungal and anti-bacterial
  • May reduce inflammation
  • Reduces blood sugar levels

Cloves

Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree. They are high in nutrients and have the following health benefits;

  • High in fiber which helps with digestion
  • High in vitamin C for boosting our immune system
  • Anti-bacterial
  • May protect against cancer
  • May promote bone health

Walnuts

Walnuts provide healthy nutrients like fiber, fats, vitamins, and minerals and are said to have the following health benefits:

  • A super source of omega-3 fats
  • Decreases inflammation
  • May lower the risk for diabetes
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Promotes healthy brain function
  • Helps control weight as in several studies walnuts were shown to decrease appetite

About the tea and its tradition

For decades this tea is prepared when a woman gives birth. It is strongly recommended for the woman herself to drink several servings a day and also served to every person who comes to visit. In each cup of tea, we put about 2-3 teaspoons of walnuts which are consumed together with the tea.

Does it really have all the benefits and effects on our health?

Well, the benefits of the ingredients are mostly proven through studies and have been used for decades and centuries in traditional medicine. The effect of all of them is very similar and mostly protects a woman`s recovering body from infections of all kinds, boosting the immune system through antioxidants and restoring all kinds of malfunctions that may have occurred during pregnancy. Many of the ingredients help reduce stress and help new moms with their overall well-being, making it possible to cope with the difficulty of healing and taking care of the newborn. And besides- the tea is incredibly tasty!

Related

Postpartum Recovery

Postnatal Yoga

sources:

Daniela KnaanUX/UI Designer at - Adobe