RASPBERRY LEAF

(Rubus striqosus or Rubus idaeus)

The former is found mostly in North America and has prickles, the latter is native to Europe and has few or no prickles. Both grow wild in the field and forests. Ah, but isn’t half the challenge avoiding the spiky bits as you gather the fruit and leaves?

Herbalists throughout the ages have given pregnant ladies a cup of Raspberry Leaf tea a day, for its many health giving benefits.

Its a good idea to start with this one three months before you try for a baby. It has an excellent reputation for aiding conception.

Raspberry Leaf is high in Iron, Copper, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, all needed by the growing baby. It is the highest food source of Folic Acid, a deficiency of which will cause spina bifida, so if you prefer your supplements natural (i.e. absorbable), take a cup of Raspberry Leaf tea a day in the first trimester.

In the second and third trimesters continue with a cup a day as it helps the placanta and also strengthens your uterine muscles so you get good strong contractions to more easily push out your baby during labour.

Keep it afterwards to get your uterus back in shape and to help milk production.

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Breasts are full of lymphatic tissue and are designed to move around. Bras prevent your breasts from doing this and so stop this all important self cleansing mechanism.

This is why it feels good to take off your bra at the end of the day – it should be the first thing you do when you walk in that door – let your breasts breathe. Those push up bras make our boobs look fabulous, there is no doubt about it, but save them for special occasions. Around the house, go braless.

Especially, never wear a bra to bed. And avoid bras with underwire – they cut off the circulation of blood and lymph – if you don’t believe me have a look at the big red mark under your breasts after you take off an underwire bra.

Go to the lingerie section and have your bras fitted – most department stores have staff trained in this and its free – a well fitting bra does much less damage than an ill fitting one. Most women are wearing badly fitting bras – that’s why it feels so good when you take it off. You need to be resized for a bra when you are pregnant, breastfeeding, weaning or when you have gained or lost 5kg or more of weight. Breasts are fatty deposits and when you gain or lose weight you’ll notice it on your breasts almost immediately.

Many fibrocystic lumps disappear altogether if you don’t wear a bra for six months.

An effective, free way to assist with breast health is to lightly stroke your fingers from sternum (breastbone) to armpit for several minutes a day. This helps by promote lymphatic drainage of your breasts.

Fenugreek Tea has traditionally been used to help cleanse the lymphatics also.

Bush Iris from Australian Bush Flower Essences energetically balances the lymphatics. Much more information on Bush Iris is shared during the Level 1 Australian Bush Flower Essences Workshop.

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