Fennel
A Tea For Nursing Mothers
Some mothers find it difficult to either commence milk production or to maintain a high enough level of production while breastfeeding.
Since it is best for the child to be on breast milk for as long as it is feasible, herbs that will help can be invaluable. For this, herbs such as Aniseed, Blessed Thistle, Caraway Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Goat’s Rue and Vervain are available, with Goat’s Rue being perhaps the most powerful.
These seeds, which are rich in volatile oils, are also very effective and can be combined to make a very pleasant tea.
Combine the following:
- 2 parts Caraway seed
- 1 part part Fennel seed
- 2 parts Fenugreek seed
- 1 part Aniseed
Crush two tablespoons of a mixture of the seeds listed above and put them in a cup of cold water. Bring it to simmering point and then remove from the heat. Leave it to stand for 10 minutes, covered to reduce the loss of the volatile oils. Drink a cup of this tea three times a day.
From: The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal
Mother’s Milk Tea
You can change this recipe as desired, if you do not have access to all these herbs. The best galactic herbs are nettle, alfalfa, blessed thistle, and red raspberry leaf. The other herbs add wonderful nutrition and are healing to the body. The herbs can be rather bland and grassy tasting on their own, so I added cinnamon (about 1-2 tsp for this quantity), which provided a delightful flavoring. You could try chamomile or lemon balm as an alternative.
- 1/2 cup nettle leaf, dried
– a vitamin factory, high in calcium, iron, potassium, etc
– strengthens and tones entire system - 1/2 cup red raspberry leaf, dried
– nourishing tonic for the reproductive system
– high in calcium - 1/4 cup alfalfa leaf, dried
– a superlative restorative tonic, rebuilding vitality and boosting milk supply - 1/4 cup dandelion leaf, dried
-beneficial for all conditions due to the wonderful source of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and micro-nutrients - 1/4 cup fennel seed
– Increase milk production and tone the digestive system, curtailing colic and indigestion
– you could also substitute fennel with any of these seeds: anise, cumin, caraway, coriander or dill - 1/4 cup blessed thistle, dried
– Stimulates the milk flow and helps restore vitality to weary mothers - ground cinnamon,
– to flavor
Use about 1 tablespoon herbs per cup of boiling water. Allow to steep covered for 15 minutes before consuming. Best results if you consumed 3-5 cups per day. A teaspoon of honey tops it off for a refreshing tea beverage. I use my french press for this recipe with perfect results.
You can make as little or as much as you desire. I choose to make a larger batch at once and used 1/4 cup as my 1 part measurement, but you could cut the recipe in half as desired. This produced about 1 quart full of dried herbs. Combine herbs well and cover securely with a lid.
Store the herbs in a dark cupboard as light will cause nutrition loss.
Found at: Passionate Homemaking
Peppermint Tincture for Digestion
- 1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves
- 1/4 cup-1/2 cup very finely diced fresh ginger root
- 1/4 cup dried fennel seeds
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 1 1/2 cups vodka
Put peppermint, ginger and fennel in glass jar and pour over the boiling water until they are just covered. Fill the rest of the jar with vodka and close with air tight lid. Keep in a cool dark place for at least 2-6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through mesh strainer or cheesecloth and store in dark place in small jars.
For adults up to 1 tsp can be taken straight or in water as needed. For heartburn indigestion or nausea, one dose is usually sufficient, though sometimes a second dose is needed.
In pregnancy, 1/2 tsp in the morning often helps with morning sickness, with additional doses if needed throughout the day.
For children, 10-20 drops is usually enough, or it can be used externally.
- Saida: Salves To Heal Up Wounds
- Brenda-Lee: Egg White Cough Cure
- Pat Scott: Marsh Mallow Ointment
- Sharon from Cleveland, Ohio: Egg White Cough Cure
- Vagabond Witch: Soapwort Shampoo