Breastfeeding Made Easy for New Moms Using Shatavari

Any new mom will tell you that breastfeeding can be one of the most intimate bonding experiences between a mother and her child. But they may also tell you that it can be one of the most difficult aspects of new motherhood. Challenges from latching to lactation can make breastfeeding especially hard for new moms and their newborns.

Known the world-over as the “queen of herbs,” shatavari belongs to the asparagus family and is best known for promoting women’s health, especially as it relates to reproductive health and hormone production. Shatavari can also be a big help for nursing mothers, as it helps with both the quality and quantity of milk production. Read on to learn more about this amazing herb and how it can help new moms make nursing easier.

The Origin of the Queen of Herbs

Although shatavari belongs to the asparagus family, in its natural state, it actually looks more like a pine tree. Its thin trunk and narrow branches often sprout green pine needles, white flowers and even dark berries throughout the year. And while the entirety of the shatavari plant can be used for medicinal purposes, it’s in the roots where the its true power is found. Shatavari plants produce more than 100 roots when they are fully grown, with each being about 3 feet long and looking like pale sweet potatoes. As the roots mature over time and grow deeper into soil, they absorb more nutrients that give shatavari its ancient healing properties.

Most often taken as a liquid or powder extract, shatavari roots are used mainly for female health, including lactation as noted above, as well as conception and reproduction. In fact, some translations say that shatavari means “she who possesses 100 husbands,” as a nod to the herb’s ability to rejuvenate libido and enhance fertility! But while this wonder herb is most often used to give women a boost, it also has a wide range of potential benefits for both women and men, including antioxidant support, brain and mood support, as well as gastrointestinal tract and digestive health support.

Shatavari and Ayurvedic Medicine

The shatavari herb has played a pivotal role in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine is a 3,000-year-old medicinal practice that originated in India and continues to be used all over the world as one of the most popular forms of traditional medicine. The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words for life (“ayur”) and science (“veda”), with key concepts of its medicinal practice including universal interconnectedness between humans, health and the universe, the body’s constitution called “prakriti” and life forces called “doshas.”

The doshas are where shatavari comes in. In Ayurvedic medicine, all living things contain space, air, fire, water, and earth, and these are the building blocks that correspond to three doshas: pitta, vata, and kapha. According to Ayurveda, the pitta dosha can influence an individual’s well-being – both in the moment and over the course of life – but it can also fluctuate in the face of multiple conditions such as weather, emotional state, and stress. If the pitta dosha is out of balance, shatavari may be an ideal herb to help bring it back in line with the four elements of space, air, water, and earth.

How Shatavari Can Help Nursing Moms

Now that you know a little bit about Ayurvedic medicine and shatavari’s role in this ancient medicinal practice, there are some pretty cool ways that this queen of herbs can help mothers who are breastfeeding. Shatavari works, not just to improve the amount of breast milk your body can produce, but also the quality of it. The herb is known to stimulate two key hormones in balanced lactation, called prolactin and corticoids. In fact, shatavari is considered so safe and effective that many pediatricians in India recommend the herb for nursing mothers.

A DIY Shatavari Recipe for Nursing Moms

Using shatavari to help with lactation and breastfeeding is pretty simple. Add the dry root to a cup of milk (dairy, almond, or whatever you like!) and heat for 10 minutes or until it reaches a temperature you like. Filter out the root and any residue and drink early in the morning to promote lactation. As a good rule of thumb, start with one or two small roots, then add additional roots over time until you find what works best for you.

In addition to this DIY shatavari recipe, there are also a host of shatavari supplements you can try. Whether you want a pill, a powder or a liquid, you can find the shatavari remedy that works best for you!

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DIY Tea Recipes for Allergy Season

When you’re dealing with the struggle of seasonal allergies, a warm cup of tea can be truly comforting. However, studies show that the type of tea you drink in the midst of seasonal allergies can play a role in reducing your symptoms. Certain teas contain compounds and nutrients that calm the irritated sinuses and histamines that are set off by an allergic reaction whether your struggle with indoor or outdoor allergies.

Keep reading to learn more about which tea recipes and herbal ingredients you should turn to in the midst of the misery of allergy season.

Best Ingredients for Allergy-Effective Tea Recipes

Nettle

Nettle is by far the most relied-upon ingredient in allergy tea recipes and blends as it contains a natural antihistamine. It can also be taken in capsule form as a daily supplement but is delicious in a tea blend. To try nettle tea for yourself, steep 2 tsp of dried nettle with ¼ tsp of dried ginger and ½ tsp of cinnamon.

If you’d rather purchase a nettle tea that’s 100% pure and ready to steep, try this organic, loose-leaf tea from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Peppermint

Peppermint tea seems to be a wonder-remedy for almost any ailment, including digestion, mood stability, and allergies. The refreshing taste of peppermint can act as a natural decongestant and may help reduce the inflammation associated with allergy symptoms. Nettle and peppermint teas work well together and can be steeped side by side for a powerful defense against sneezing and congestion.

Ginger

Available in both dried and fresh forms, ginger holds a wealth of health benefits including natural antihistamine properties. Ginger tea can be steeped on the stovetop using fresh ginger but is also available in dried tea blends. To put ginger to work for you this allergy season, steep a slice of fresh ginger, a fresh lemon wedge, 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar and a drizzle of raw, local honey for 10 minutes before drinking warm.

Yerba Mate

This popular and naturally caffeinated tea comes from South America and can help the body increase corticosteroid production. Corticosteroids are a helpful anti-inflammatory that may also help open airways and reduce the nasal swelling and itching associated with allergies. If you want to try yerba mate tea to ease your allergies, steep 1 tbsp in 6 oz of hot water and then serve with a splash of almond or coconut milk and a bit of local honey.

Rooibos

Rooibos is a red tea that is grown in South Africa and is naturally caffeine-free and full of powerful, health-boosting compounds. Rooibos tea contains the bioflavonoids rutin and quercetin, both of which are natural histamine blockers and may reduce an inflammatory response.

How To Steep Tea For Best Results

These tea recipes can be enjoyed as needed or as a preventative against allergic reactions. Natural, herbal teas are best when steeped covered, to keep all the helpful compounds inside the mug rather than letting them evaporate into the air. For best results, steep herbal teas for at least 10 minutes and enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of local honey, which can dramatically reduce your seasonal allergy struggles.

Which tea recipes do you turn to when allergies get you down? Share your tips and tricks in for surviving allergy season in the comments section below.

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How to Set Up a Windowsill Herb Garden in 4 Easy Steps

Whether you’re craving a fresh summer salad or about to make a batch of homemade pesto, a windowsill herb garden is the perfect complement to any well-stocked kitchen. And believe it or not, it’s pretty easy! Follow the four easy steps below and you’ll be on your way to growing fresh herbs all year-round.

1. Pick Your Place.

First things first – you’ve got to find the perfect spot for your windowsill herb garden, and remember this: the sunnier the better! While some plants need less, the more natural sunlight herbs can soak up, the more they will thrive. For your new herb garden, pick a windowsill that gets at least six hours of sunlight every day. If not, you’ll end up with drooping, dwindling plants that produce herbs with little flavor … if they produce them at all!

2. Pick Your Plants.

This is the fun part. Head on over to your local nursery or home improvement store and pick out the herbs you want to grow in your windowsill herb garden. We’ll list a few suggestions of what to plant below, but first, we need to address an age-old question: will you start your indoor garden with seeds or already-grown plants?

Seeds vs. Plants – Which Is Best for You?

There’s really no hard and fast rule when it comes to creating a windowsill herb garden with seeds or plants – it really just comes down to preference. With that being said, here are a few things to consider when deciding where to start:

●      Variety – When buying plants, you’re often limited to what is available at your local nursery, while there are countless options when it comes to buying seeds. With just a tiny packet, you can choose the type and even variety of herb you want to plant. Seeds are definitely the winner if you want variety.

●      Time – Obviously, it’s going to take a considerable amount of time to grow your herb garden from scratch if you start with seeds, as opposed to simply repotting a plant you pick up at the store and is ready to use right away. When it comes to time, plants are a better bet.

●      Risk – While it’s always a risk that your herbs won’t make it past a few weeks (especially if this is your first crack at it), the risk of losing your herbs is considerably lower when you buy plants that have already survived the germination stage. With seeds, you’ll have to be even more aware of that delicate balance of when to water or how much sunlight to give. If you’re looking for low risk, plants win here too.

●      Cost – Take one trip to your nursery and you’ll know who wins here. A packet of seeds can cost just a couple dollars (at the most), while plants can be considerably more expensive – you are paying someone to do the work for you, after all! Seeds get first place if you’re trying to save some cash.

Have you decided if you’re starting your windowsill herb garden from scratch or from plants? Great! Let’s move on to the best part: picking your herbs! Here are some popular herbs that are easy to grow, easy to maintain and easy to eat!

 

●      Basil is the king of windowsill herbs, as it’s relatively simple to grow and sustain. Plus, you can buy a basil plant at pretty much any grocery store for a few bucks and get started right away! Basil plants like lots of sun and warmth, so keep yours out of drafty areas and on a south-facing windowsill where it’s likely to get the most sun.

●      Oregano is a relatively hardy plant and adds a great flavor to everything from pasta sauce to salad. Similar to basil, your oregano plant is going to want lots of sun, so make sure it’s in a south-facing window as well. A great way to start your oregano plant – take a clip off an existing plant and pot it!

●      Cilantro is somewhat of a polarizing herb – some people love it and some people hate it –  but if you’re one of the people who loves it, it’s a great herb to add to your windowsill herb garden. This one likes lots of light, but not direct sunlight, so consider setting it up in an east-facing window that will provide direct morning sunlight but lesser light as the day goes on.

●      Rosemary pulls double duty as a delicious herb and a natural air freshener! This little plant loves to get started from a cutting of a larger plant and grows best in direct sunlight – so it’s back to the south-facing window next to basil and oregano for this baby.

●      Thyme is particularly popular in summer dishes, which will likely make it one of the most used plants in your windowsill herb garden. Give your cilantro some company and plant your thyme on a east-facing sill for optimal growth.

3. Pick Your Pots.

Once you’ve determined what you’ll be growing in your windowsill herb garden, purchasing the right pots is just as important. You’ll definitely want to use individual pots for each herb so you can give each unique plant the unique care it needs. Be sure every container has drainage holes and sits on a waterproof saucer, and that it’s large enough to give your herbs room to grow. You can find great windowsill herb garden kits all over the web … even ones that start small and expand as your plant grows!

4. Pick Your Food!

This is the best part of all! As your windowsill herb garden grows and matures, enjoy the fruits of your labor with fresh herbs all year-round! Will you throw together a quick and delicious pasta primavera or succulent marinara sauce? How about a perfect caprese salad or savory roasted potatoes? Maybe you’ll even go crazy with a refreshing summer cocktail that will make everyone swoon. Whatever you choose, you’ll have all the herbs you need thanks to your trusty windowsill herb garden!

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