We swear by the herbs to boost our fertility so why not rely on them during pregnancy? It’s true that there is a lot of caution about everything and anything you intake during pregnancy but the thumb rule is to check the safety of the product before using it. Herbs can not only ease you sail through pregnancy but also help you transition into motherhood. Just try these natural remedies and allow yourself to be reassured that you are doing the best for your body, mind, baby and spirit.

To Beat Morning Sickness

Due to all the hormonal fluctuations, nutritional needs and low blood sugar, morning sickness is seemingly inevitable. However, if nothing really has helped you beat morning sickness, you may want to give herbs like dandelion root, meadowsweet, fennel seed and chamomile a shot. Just combine these herbs in tea and sip when nausea sets in. Just pour some boiling water over the herbs, stir and steep for ten to fifteen minutes. If that seems too much of a work, simply store a jar of herbal tea in the fridge and drink in three to four days to lift your spirits when you aren’t feeling so great.

To Improve General Health

Are you exhausted? Try red raspberry leaves, alfalfa, red clover and nettle for your general health and balance throughout your pregnancy. Instead of sipping on a cup of hot water and a slice of lemon, try drink nettle tea or red raspberry leaves tea two to three times a day. Sweeten with a drizzle of honey for a really comforting cup of tea. Here's how you can plan a healthy pregnancy. 

To Avoid Stretch Marks

As the baby and the belly grows, stretch marks and uncomfortable itching are only natural. Try mixing cocoa butter, coconut oil and grapeseed oil and rub the mixture on your belly and breasts two to three times a day to avoid those stretch marks. You can also add a few drops of essential oil if you like. Lavender, rose, chamomile and sandalwood are safe choices. Here are dietitian-recommended healthy foods mothers should add to their diet. 

To Ease Labour

St. John Wort’s oil can be extremely healing if rubbed on the perineum during delivery.  During labour, this oil can help calm and relax the body. You can start using the oil in the last month of your pregnancy and also post-delivery to heal tearing.

And while curling up with a warm cup of tea might seem like the perfect thing on a blustery afternoon, certain herbs in large amounts aren’t great for your developing foetus. Herbs work like magic during pregnancy, but you cannot go all crazy about them. Avoid herbs like passionflower, cayenne, yarrow, mugwort and comfrey during pregnancy. Also, consult a qualified medical herbalist before taking any herbal remedies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2019 10:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).