Willowherb, or narrow-leaved fireweed, belongs to the perennial plants of the fireweed family. It is easily identified by its large spike-shaped inflorescences, which bear wide-open pale pink flowers with a double perianth.
The plant has long been known for its healing properties, including stimulation of lactation. Let's take a closer look at how fireweed is beneficial for breastfeeding and how to properly prepare a healing drink.
Beneficial features
Fireweed (fireweed) is a real natural gift.
Its positive properties were known to our ancestors. Ivan tea grows almost throughout Russia, so everyone has access to it.
Thanks to its beneficial properties, the plant helps not only improve lactation, but also cope with possible postpartum depression.
In order to understand the medicinal properties of a plant, you need to understand what vitamins it contains. In the first months after the birth of the baby, you need to pay special attention to the health and general condition of the young mother’s body. It is in this case that fireweed is perfect, since the elements it contains help in removing waste and toxins from the body, thereby improving metabolism.
This plant contains the following beneficial elements.
- Amino acids. These components have a positive effect on the emotional state of the young mother and increase resistance to stressful situations.
- Iron and manganese. Without these elements, the functioning of the circulatory system will be significantly slowed down.
- Vitamin C. Has a positive effect on the thyroid gland, promotes the rapid absorption of iron by the body, and has a positive effect on the nervous system. The vitamin C content in this plant is several times higher than in lemon.
- Substances of the pectin group. Protect the body from the effects of harmful substances coming from the environment.
- Carotene. It has a positive effect on the immune system, allows the body to better resist diseases and viruses, and improves the condition of teeth and bone tissue.
- Tannin. A wonderful antiseptic that has an anti-inflammatory effect on the entire body.
How fireweed grows in nature
The decoction of this medicinal plant does not contain caffeine or other harmful substances that may be contained in tea.
Fireweed is an indispensable assistant for every young mother. This is especially true for those who experience nervous breakdowns or suffer from problems with the digestive system.
You can use an infusion from the plant as an anesthetic that will not have a negative effect on the baby. And this aspect is important, since it is during breastfeeding that medications can almost not be used so as not to harm the baby.
Dried fireweed
Thanks to these miraculous properties, doctors recommend using this decoction in case of a lack of breast milk, since it will not only increase lactation, but also saturate the body with vitamins and microelements. It will also reduce swelling during breastfeeding.
After the birth of a child, a woman has less time to take care of her appearance. This leads to irritability and dissatisfaction. Ivan tea will improve the condition of the skin, reduce hair loss and strengthen nails.
Potential Harm
Despite the significant benefits of fireweed, it can be harmful to the health of mother and child.
- Herbal infusion can cause allergies. Mommy needs to be extremely careful when breastfeeding and monitor the baby’s condition. If skin rashes or problems with the digestive system appear, you should immediately stop drinking fireweed.
- An allergic reaction can also occur in the case of individual intolerance to the components included in the structure of the plant. Therefore, before drinking fireweed tea, you should carefully study its composition.
- You cannot combine the use of sedatives and infusion of fireweed, since the latter, due to its alkaloid content, has a calming effect.
- Long-term consumption (continuously for a month) of fireweed tea leads to intestinal upset. This is provoked by the amino acids contained in it.
- A drink made from fireweed that sits for more than three days after brewing accumulates coumarin, which negatively affects liver function.
- The tannins contained in fireweed tea have the ability to accumulate in the body with constant use of the decoction. This increases the risk of blood clots. Accordingly, it is contraindicated for varicose veins.
Considering the factors described above, fireweed tea should be taken carefully when breastfeeding, strictly observing the proportions when brewing the healing drink. Before you start using it, you should definitely consult with your therapist and pediatrician.
Preparing a decoction for use by the mother
The plant for brewing can be purchased at the pharmacy, but many people prefer to collect it themselves.
Fireweed is collected exclusively after the dew has disappeared.
After collection, the plant is dried in a dark, well-ventilated room - this way it retains all its beneficial properties.
To prepare, you need to take 3 g of dried fireweed (1 teaspoon) and pour a glass of boiling water. After this, the broth should be left for 20 minutes, strained and consumed.
There is another cooking option:
- pour 10 grams of dry plant into a liter saucepan, pour 600 milliliters of water and bring the mixture to a boil;
- After removing the broth from the heat, you need to infuse it for 10 minutes;
- drink 100 milliliters of decoction before meals.
How to brew fireweed correctly?
In order for a drink made from fireweed to enhance lactation, it must be brewed correctly. For its preparation, dried leaves of the plant are most often used. You can buy them at the pharmacy or prepare them yourself.
When brewing tea, it is important to strictly observe the proportions of the ingredients, otherwise the beneficial infusion will become harmful. To make a decoction of fireweed, you need to pour 3 g (2 tsp) of dry leaves of the plant into a glass of boiling water. Leave the mixture for 20 minutes to infuse, strain. The infusion is ready for use.
You can prepare a decoction of fresh fireweed leaves. Place thoroughly washed and dried leaves in a saucepan and fill with clean drinking water. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Cool slightly, strain and serve warm.
Preparing a decoction for use by infants
To prepare an infusion for a small child, you need to take one teaspoon of the dried plant and pour a glass of boiling water.
After this, the broth is infused for 5 minutes, cooled and filtered.
You can also use fresh herbs for brewing. Initially, you need to place 2-3 g of the plant in an enamel pan and add a glass of water.
Afterwards, place the pan on low heat and heat the broth. The prepared herbal tea is infused for 10 minutes.
If preventive or therapeutic measures are necessary, children should take the infusion twice a day. For the very first time, it is better to give the decoction in the morning in order to monitor the body’s reaction throughout the day. To enhance the effect of the decoction, pediatricians recommend adding chamomile or sage to it.
Drinking fireweed tea while breastfeeding
In order not to harm either yourself or the baby, you should adhere to the rules for drinking tea during lactation.
- The decoction should be taken in courses, take a month and take a break for a month. Chronic use may eventually cause intestinal problems.
- It is necessary to brew a new fresh drink every time. Even taking into account that the infusion does not deteriorate over a long period of time, a fresh decoction will bring the most benefit to the health of a young mother.
- Sugar should not be added to the broth. If a young mother has a sweet tooth, then it is better to use a little honey, but only if the baby is not allergic to it.
- It is allowed to use fireweed in the form of tea, but not alcohol tinctures.
- You should not make strong tea leaves. Too strong tea can lead to intestinal dysfunction. In addition, it causes drowsiness.
- To increase lactation, the decoction is taken exclusively warm.
- For the best effect, fireweed tea can be brewed with fennel. This drink will help a woman cope with stomach problems, and will be useful for a baby in the fight against intestinal colic. The daily dose for a nursing mother is 3 cups.
Rules that a nursing mother must follow
It is recommended to take into account the tips described above to eliminate possible harm from the drink. In addition, when drinking the tea in question, it is necessary to focus on a number of such rules:
- Instead of sugar, it is better to add a little honey to the drink, of course, if the baby tolerates it well.
- It is allowed to prepare a drink from both fresh and dry herbs, but the use of tinctures with alcohol is strictly not recommended.
- To increase lactation, you need to drink tea warm.
- The daily norm is 500-700 ml of a not too strong drink.
- In order to avoid problems with intestinal function, you should use tea according to the following scheme: 1-2 months of intake, then a break.
- You should avoid drinking too strong a drink, as it can cause drowsiness and diarrhea.
Ivan tea is an amazing plant that, when used correctly, cannot cause harm. The drink is not only healthy, but also tasty, because it has a slight sweetish taste. During lactation, healthy tea can increase milk production in a young mother and have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole. Remember, in order to achieve positive properties, it is important to drink the drink constantly.
Precautionary measures
Before drinking the drink, you need to familiarize yourself with the precautions.
- Herbal tea affects the body in different ways, and this depends on the individual characteristics of the body. During lactation, you should be especially careful, try a little of everything, and monitor the condition of mother and baby. Before you start using anything, you should consult your pediatrician.
- To ensure that the drink does not harm either mother or baby, it is necessary to make it in moderate concentration and prepare it fresh every day.
- Due to the strong sedative effect of tea when consumed, a nursing mother should not take other medications aimed at improving the condition of the nervous system.
- For some women, this decoction can cause a laxative effect. Its prolonged use can lead to diarrhea. It should not be taken for more than one month.
So, if you have problems with a lack of milk, you can solve them with the help of Ivan tea.
The main thing is that before you start using the presented product, consult with your doctor, since there have been cases when fireweed tea caused a number of side effects in the form of diarrhea or rashes on the skin. As a rule, side effects relate to taking the drug by infants.
If a child has any allergic reactions, it is recommended to avoid using decoctions from the presented plant.
