NORA Tea

What is NORA tea?

NORA is an acronym for Nettle, Oatstraw, Raspberry leaf and Alfalfa. Midwives have been recommending this nourishing tea blend to their pregnant mothers for a long time because it is rich in minerals and vitamins. It’s a great way to naturally support a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

During Pregnancy

Master herbalist and Pennsylvania midwife Rachel Weaver recommends drinking one quart daily during the last 5 months of pregnancy. She says that drinking this faithfully will help to shorten your labor in many cases. If you are trying to conceive starting NORA tea before pregnancy is a great idea. A big question that many mothers ask is can you drink it during the 1st trimester? This is something to discuss with your midwife or OB. There is some debate on using Raspberry leaf too early in pregnancy because of it’s uterine toning capability.

Ingredients + Benefits

Stinging Nettle: Nettle is nourishing to the adrenals and high in vitamins, minerals and protein. It also helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Studies show that Nettle can reduce inflammation and support the endocrine system. It has a high amount of vitamin K that can help to prevent excessive bleeding after birth.

Oatstraw: Oatstraw has similar properties to Nettle as it is also a nutrient dense herb. It is widely known as an effective nerve and nutritive tonic. I’ve heard Oatstraw described as a way to “feed the nervous system.” It is a wonderful source for magnesium.

Red raspberry leaf: Red raspberry leaf high in vitamins and minerals. It is toning to the uterus and helps prepare the mother’s body for an easier delivery. Historically it was used by Indigenous tribes to support pregnancy and women’s health.

Alfalfa: Alfalfa leaf is one of the richest sources of vitamins including vitamin K, minerals and protein. It can help to balance blood sugar and also soothe the digestive system.

Recipe

Mix together and store in a mason jar:

• 2 parts Red raspberry leaf
• 1 part Nettle
• 1 part Oatstraw
• 1 part Alfalfa
• Optional: 1/2 to 1 part Spearmint, Peppermint or Lemon balm for taste

When blending tea by parts you can choose whatever you want the “part” to be. For example the part could be a Tablespoon or a cup. If we’re using a cup which I recommend because you will be going through this tea blend a lot then the recipe would read 2 cups Red raspberry leaf, 1 cup Nettle, 1 cup Oatstraw and 1 cup Alfalfa.

To make a quart of tea from your already mixed NORA tea blend add 1 ounce (roughly 1 cup) to a quart sized mason jar. Top with hot water, place a cap on it and let sit for 4-8 hours. An overnight infusion is a great way to make this tea. Just make at night and leave on container overnight to infuse into a stronger medicinal tea. Strain the herbs from the water into another mason jar. Add ice and sweetener of choice. I like to use these sprouting mason jar lids for easy straining.

For bulk organic herbs used in this recipe check out my two favorite sources for bulk herbs and supplies, Starwest Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs. If you would like to try an already blended NORA tea then I have one available in the apothecary shop!

Postpartum

It is definitely a good idea to continue this blend even after baby arrives. The Red Raspberry leaf can help to tone the uterus after labor and support the nervous system lowering chances of postpartum depression and anxiety. The nutritive herbs can continue to nourish the mother and now the baby through breastmilk. Nettle falls under the herbal category of Galactagogues which are shown to increase milk production. Should you need extra support in maintaining your milk supply some other herbs to consider are Shatavari, Fennel, Fenugreek and Anise seed. These ingredients can be found in our nursing tea.

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