Spotlight on: Postpartum care

I work closely with specialist U.K. based suppliers that have rigorous quality and safety standards in place. Most of my herbs are cultivated in Wales with adherence to organic growing and ethical wildcrafting principles, using innovative extraction methods to enhance efficacy. I can recommend trusted suppliers for your home pharmacy.

The side effects of taking your herbal medicine are the therapeutic effects! When taken correctly as prescribed, there are rarely negative side effects as long as the practitioner has taken into account herb-drug interactions, appropriate dosage, frequency, and duration of treatment. Some herbs increase liver activity, bowel transit time or other elimination pathways. This may result in a short period of adjustment upon commencing the protocol, although halving the dose works for many as a transitional soft introduction.

There is some conflation of these two different phases. Pregnancy is a time for delicate and careful use of herbs, to avoid stimulating the uterus or affecting the baby, and particularly tinctures due to the alcohol content. There are however some very useful and safe herbs to support healthy growth, mitigate nausea and related digestion issues, and to facilitate restful sleep. Postpartum and during lactation, we are able to work with a wider range of plants to strengthen tissue repair, reduce stress, restore tone, and many other common health goals arising at this special time.