Beneficial properties for nursing mothers
As a means to improve lactation, Ivan tea is ideal for nursing mothers.
The plant has beneficial properties that are determined by its composition:
- vitamin C (strengthens the immune system, fights infections and viruses);
- B vitamins (has a beneficial effect on all body systems);
- minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, titanium, boron, etc.);
- tannins (have strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects);
- polysaccharides, pectins (improves metabolism and eliminates gastrointestinal problems);
- phytosterols (fight cholesterol in the blood);
- amino acids (prevent the development of stress, promote the production of joy hormones).
Ivan tea does not contain caffeine and other harmful substances found in coffee and regular teas.
Ivan tea has alternative names - fireweed or Koporye tea. This plant belongs to the fireweed family, hence the name. As for the derivative word, Koporye is a small village not far from St. Petersburg. It was here that the tradition of brewing an aromatic drink from fireweed leaves originated.
The beneficial properties of fireweed have been taken into account by young mothers who want to feed their babies healthy and nutritious breast milk for longer. In addition, fireweed tea during lactation is a way to calm and relax the baby, because the herb also has a sedative effect. Tea can also be consumed if a nursing woman suffers from stress or symptoms of postpartum depression. In this case, the drink will have a complex beneficial effect on both mother and baby.
But it is important to remember that neither fireweed nor other “magic” herbs will help improve lactation if the main rules of breastfeeding are not followed:
- feeding on demand, not by the clock;
- feeding at night;
- no pacifiers;
- no additional feeding or additional feeding for up to 6 months (except for situations where it is necessary for medical reasons).
Before drinking fireweed, you should pay attention to some features of the effect on the body.
Is it possible to use Ivan tea while breastfeeding, its effect on lactation
No studies have been conducted in Russia on the compatibility of drugs based on fireweed and breastfeeding. Foreign directories also do not provide any information on this issue. Domestic herbalists, based on their experience, consider it safe for a nursing woman to use nutritional and medicinal products from this plant. This takes into account the almost complete absence of contraindications and side effects from fireweed.
Traditional medicine recommends that nursing women use various decoctions, infusions and other remedies made from fireweed tea. It is believed that angustifolia fireweed enhances lactation. This property is not confirmed by official medicine.
When fireweed can cause harm
Is Ivan tea suitable for nursing mothers?
It would seem that the answer is definitely positive - after all, it contains so many useful substances. However, during breastfeeding, a woman should be extremely attentive to all drinks and foods consumed. Ivan-tea is no exception. By observing the reaction of her and another, small organism, a woman may notice the appearance of an allergy. It may appear as a rash or tummy problems. No one has canceled the individual response of the body to certain introduced foods and liquids. Since tea itself has a calming effect, taking any sedatives at the same time is unacceptable.
It is important to consider that fireweed has a laxative effect, so prolonged use of tea can cause diarrhea. In this case, you should immediately stop taking the tea.
Before you start drinking fireweed, you should consult your pediatrician. In addition, it is imperative to maintain the required proportions when brewing tea. A fresh decoction must be prepared every day.
Brewed tea should not be too strong.
So, can nursing mothers drink Ivan tea? It is possible, but very carefully, observing the condition of the baby with all eyes.
Precautionary measures
The reaction of each person's body to fireweed herb may be different. This applies not only to this collection, but also to all folk remedies.
An infusion of fireweed tea can cause an individual reaction in each person.
Drinking fireweed while breastfeeding requires following simple precautions:
- The first use should begin with a few sips and gradually increase the amount of decoction. It is ideal if you get your pediatrician's approval first.
- When purchasing a ready-made pharmaceutical collection, pay attention to the area where the plant was collected.
- The decoction should not be infused for more than the prescribed time, as it will be too strong.
- You need to brew fresh tea every day. Yesterday's decoction will not do any good.
- Do not use sedatives at the same time.
- The course of daily use is one month. If you neglect this rule, stool upset may occur.
It is not recommended to drink more than three cups of herbal decoction per day!
The most reliable indicator of whether a decoction is suitable for you or not is the body’s reaction. Is it possible to drink tea if you have the slightest allergic reaction? The answer is no. If there is no discomfort, then you can safely enjoy the aromatic drink.
How to brew fireweed tea
It would be useful for nursing mothers to learn how to brew tea to increase lactation. You should start by preparing the leaves of the plant. You can, of course, buy Koporye Ivan tea in pharmacies, but it is much more useful to collect and dry the leaves with your own hands. You can find fireweed on forest edges, ravines, and clearings. You can also find it in many summer cottages. It is important that the grass is not collected near busy highways and industrial plants.
The recipe for tea for a nursing mother is as follows: 3 grams of dry leaves of the plant are poured with a glass of boiling water. When the decoction has infused (about 20 minutes), the liquid is decanted and used as directed.
Another popular recipe for improving lactation (in the same proportions):
- Ivan tea is poured into a saucepan and filled with clean water;
- bring the mixture to a boil, leave for about 10 minutes;
- consumed throughout the day.
There is a complex method for preparing leaves for medicinal tea. It consists of the following: take several fresh leaves of the plant with your hands and knead until they begin to release juice. Especially lazy people can use a meat grinder for this purpose. Next, the leaves are placed in an enamel container and placed under a press. They remain in this position for about 20 hours. During this time, the juice will be completely absorbed into the leaf parts of the plant. Next, they are dried in the oven, on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper at a temperature of no more than 60 degrees for about an hour. Subsequently, the plant is taken in the form of a decoction according to one of the proposed schemes.
Rules for using and preparing fireweed while breastfeeding
In order for Ivan tea to be tasty, to have a healing effect on the body of a nursing mother, and to help the mother recover after childbirth, it is necessary to follow the rules for preparing this drink. Firstly, you need to use clean water from an artesian well or purified by filters. Secondly, for daily use it is advisable to choose a fermented type of tea that will delight you with its taste and aroma.
For daily use, fermented fireweed tea is best suited for taste.
How to brew and how much Ivan tea to drink for a nursing mother
Before cooking, rinse the kettle with boiling water. Then you need to take two teaspoons of tea leaves and pour them with 500 ml of water at a temperature of 95–98 °C. At this concentration, a nursing mother can drink two to three cups of the drink per day. To maintain lactation, it should be consumed 15–20 minutes before feeding the baby. The tea should be brewed for at least ten minutes. The resulting drink can be drunk immediately or left for later. The tea retains its beneficial properties for another two to three days. It can also be drunk cold. The same brew can be used to prepare the drink up to five times.
It is recommended to add a little mint or rosehip to the tea for taste. Herbalists do not recommend drinking fireweed tea every day for more than one month, as gastrointestinal disorders may occur.
Infusion of dried fireweed herb, benefits during breastfeeding
To prepare the infusion, you need to perform the following procedures:
- Place three tablespoons of dried herb in a teapot.
- Pour the contents of the kettle with a glass of boiling water.
- Keep the resulting liquid in a water bath for 10–15 minutes.
- Cool and squeeze.
Fireweed-fennel tea for colic
If your baby suffers from colic, it is permissible to use fireweed-fennel tea.
It is quite simple to prepare: one part fennel is mixed with two parts fireweed. The collection is poured with boiling water and left for 25 minutes. This healing drink will help eliminate the problem of mother’s lack of milk and help cope with tummy pain in the baby. To improve the lactation process, Koporye Ivan tea is recommended to be drunk warm. It is better for a young mother to refrain from drinking cold, and especially cold drinks.
How much can you drink
You should not abuse tea during breastfeeding, despite all its advantages and benefits. An ideal option for nursing mothers would be to drink the drink in small portions throughout the day. You can take the decoction half an hour before meals, dividing the frequency of doses by 3-4 times. Tea can be taken both before and after breastfeeding.
Fireweed is an excellent alternative to regular tea during breastfeeding. The Koporye healing drink has been known for its amazing properties since ancient times. And although it’s the 21st century and modern medicine and pharmacology have made great strides forward, is it worth giving up the gifts of nature itself? After all, dry leaves of willow tea are practically harmless and very rarely cause allergic reactions. And the positive effect on the physical and emotional state of mother and baby is extremely great. It is thanks to the action of fireweed that the baby will be able to enjoy mother's milk for a long time.
Method of preparing the drink
Narrow-leaf fireweed tea can be easily purchased at any pharmacy. But still, the surest way would be to collect the grass yourself. Fireweed is collected after the dew has disappeared. Then the grass is fermented and dried in a dark, ventilated room. In this case, it retains the largest amount of all useful microelements.
In order to prepare a healthy and really tasty tea, you need to take 3 grams of dry herb (one teaspoon) and pour a glass of boiling water over it. After this, the decoction must be infused for 20 minutes, and before taking, it is necessary to strain the liquid from the blades of grass.
There is another option for preparing the drink:
- Pour fireweed into a saucepan, pour water on top and bring to a boil.
- Let it brew for 10 minutes.
- Drink the decoction throughout the day in small portions.
