My friend and I were leaving Bend, basking in the afterglow of a day spent talking about our favorite subject: childbirth.

We’d spent ten hours learning about the midwifery management of neonatal resuscitation and thought that the perfect way to process it was with cajun tots and pizza margherita.

Of course we talked about sex. And kids. And all of the wonderful stuff we’d just learned. And then the subject changed to cramps. We agreed that one of the greatest benefits of pregnancy was not having a period for nine months. Oh, sweet bliss.

My periods aren’t fun. I get crampy and moody as all get out. But my poor friend has it much worse with migraines and evil cramps on steroids.

So there we were, cursing our uteri, when I remembered what I’ve been doing for the last several months to help alleviate my cramps. In fact, last month, I had none. Yeah, it was awesome. So awesome that between that and my Moon cup, I almost didn’t mind that I had a period. Almost.

But wait, I was talking about something. Oh yes, the magical elixir. It’s an herbal tea, containing the wonderful lady-friendly herbs of Lady’s Mantle and Red Raspberry leaf.

I decided to make some several months ago after reading about the amazing properties of both. If they had that affect on the uterus during pregnancy and after childbirth, surely they would do really well at alleviating cramps. Turns out I was right.

(After a couple of months I added peppermint for some extra flavor. And also because I have a five pound bag of it. If you have any ideas for using up that much peppermint, please let me know in the comments).

Why Lady’s Mantle and Red Raspberry Leaf? I’ve covered them in more depth before (just follow those links for the posts), but here’s a little bit about them so that you can see why I combined the two.

Like red raspberry leaf, Lady’s Mantle is an astringent herb that works well on hollow organs like the uterus. Rather than toning the uterus, though, Lady’s Mantle works to draw out excess fluid and soothe inflammation. For that reason this herb is especially well-suited for consumption after childbirth, during your menstrual cycle and during the delightful time of menopause.

It just makes sense, right? Right.

Happy Uterus Tea

Want to give it a try? Simply mix:

• 1/2 c Lady’s Mantle
• 1/2 c Red Raspberry Leaf
• 1/4 c Lemon Balm

Put these in a pint-size Mason jar with a lid and shake until they’re mixed up well.

To make this tea, you’ll need the afore-mentioned herbs and something to steep them in. Like a tea ball, mesh basket strainer, or my dad’s personal favorite, a coffee filter secured with a rubber band.

Steep a tablespoon of herbs in a cup of hot water for about 5 minutes. I begin drinking the tea about a week before I’m expecting my lovely visitor. If you have problems with heavy cramping, try drinking a cup (warm or iced) every day of the month.

If you need an herbal resource, I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs. Everything they sell is organic and they even buy some of their herbs from the company my dad works for. That’s right, if you buy herbs from them they may have been the same ones that my 6-year-old stomped through on one of his work days with Grandpa.

You can also check your local health food store or co-op.

P.S.

And just to reiterate something – always be suspicious of your diet if you find yourself having severe problems/pain with anything that is a natural bodily function. I say this because my cramps diminished greatly after removing food I was sensitive to and now they’re gone thanks to the soothing and tonifying herbs I’m drinking.

If you experience heavy cramps or headaches with your period, I would suggest starting a food journal.

Note any cravings you get and if you experience any unpleasant symptoms after eating that food. Pay special attention to how you feel after you eat corn, gluten, dairy and sugar. If you suspect that one of those is a problem, try omitting it from your diet for a week or two and then incorporate a little back in. You might just find that your symptoms are magnified and that you have a food sensitivity.

Now go forth and have a happy period. 🙂

P.P.S.

*Please note, some of these links are affiliate links and will give me a small commission if you purchase from those websites. Others are not. I just want you to get all the goodness and help make your cycle a little more enjoyable.