Herbal tea in pregnancy

QUESTION:
Dear Monica
I just wanted to share with you, the night after I had reflexology, I found some Rooibos Camomile tea and had a sachet with water, milk and honey before bedtime. That night I must have gotten up to wee at least ten times. In the morning, I felt dehydrated and very weak from having had so much water loss and also loss of sleep.

I don't see any nutritional value in drinking a herbal tea as it remains a diuretic for me.

Pls advise.

Fatima

ANSWER:
Hi Fatima,

Sorry about the sleepless night!

In this case, it may be that the 'chamomile rooibos' is not a completely herbal tea at all? Look at the ingredients. Often commercial 'herbal' teas are simply flavoured ceylon teas. I find them tasty, yes, but very deceptive!

If it does contain ceylon(black) tea, then it makes absolute sense that you wound wee all night. Black tea is a diuretic, and who wants to keep all those added artificial flavourants inside them anyway!

In the event that the tea you drank really was natural chamomile and rooibos, then Im guessing that it was just that you drank a warm drink too close to bed time. I do not know that these herbs are documented as diuretics.

Please note, it is better to drink fluids two or more hours away from bed time (unless thirsty), especially with the increased pressure on your bladder from baby. Any fluids close to bed time can increase the need to go to the toilet at night.

The following teas can be added to your tea cupboard, and are generally considered safe during pregnancy. They should be consumed as a food - not as medicine, and can deliver wonderful nutrients and fluids to the body.

*It is important to remember that, like many spices, herbs are also medicinal. You are not to self medicate with these herbs, but it is considered safe to incorporate them as a culinary/ dietary addition to your lifestyle.

- Peppermint Leaf may alleviate flatulence, and nausea/ morning sickness.
- Ginger Root may alleviate nausea and vomiting.
- Slippery Elm Bark may alleviate heartburn.
- Oats & Oat Straw may calm nerves.
- Stinging nettle is a nutritional tonic, but also a diuretic. (I would avoid strong diuretics like this, including tea and coffee, if I was you, Fatima. You already have no swelling, which is actually rather important in pregnancy to preserve blood volumes).
- Red Raspberry Leaf may help tone the uterus, improve milk production, alleviate nausea, and ease labor pains (only last trimester)
- Meadow sweet may be a good digestive
- Chamomile may have a calming and digestive effect (I would avoid having chamomile every day though. There are warnings against using it in therapeutic doses during pregnancy. Once again - moderation is key ).

Other teas generally considered safe: rooibos, rosehips, fennel seed (diuretic), spearmint, strawberry leaf, lemon verbena, and lemon grass leaf, alfalfa (last trimester only)

Herbal teas are a good way to increase water intake, while getting nutrients at the same time. Water transports nutrients from the food you eat to your baby and it helps prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, severe oedema, and urinary tract infections. Pregnant women should try drink 6 - 8 glasses of water every day with an additional glass of water for every hour of exercise they do.

Check out the following links for more info on herbal teas in pregnancy:
- http://www.napiers.net/health/pregnancy_herbs.html (this is a leading herbal remedy company in the UK)
- http://www.teamuse.com/article_050501.html (please note that chamomile is a potential allergen for those who have reactions to the likes of marigolds, ragweed, daisies, celery or chrysanthemums)
- http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/is-it-safe-to-drink-chamomile-tea-during-pregnancy/

Also note that reflexology can increase urinary output. This is a part of the detoxification effect it has on the body.

Hope this helps...

Love,
Monica Codevilla
www.yourhealing.yolasite.com