Almost every nursing mother at least once heard about the miraculous tea with fennel, which is credited with the ability to increase lactation at times. Is this really so and is it possible to tea with fennel to nursing mother, we will try to understand this article. Here you will find a lot of useful information about this product.
What is fennel?
Fennel is a perennial plant belonging to the celery family. Its leaves are very similar to dill leaves. For this, the people with tea with fennel got its second name - "dill water." In fact, the greenery of this plant is very similar to anise in taste and aroma.
In nature, there are two types of fennel: vegetable, which is more used in cooking, and ordinary, the healing properties of which have made it an indispensable assistant for many young mothers. It is the latter type, due to its unique effect on the body of a nursing mother, that has increasingly been used in the manufacture of means to improve lactation.
The biochemical composition of fennel
This plant has very useful properties, which is due to its unique composition. So, fennel contains a lot of oily aromatic substances, which in their pure form can cause allergies. That is why it is best for a nursing mother to choose tea for nursing mothers with fennel, and not his decoction or tincture.
But in aromatherapy, due to the large number of oily substances, this remedy is considered one of the best that have an antibacterial, soothing, wound healing effect.
Also in the composition of this plant there are vitamins A, C, group B, minerals such as copper, iron, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, as well as amino acids necessary for each body. Such a composition allowed the use of fennel even in traditional medicine.
What is the use of fennel for our body?
Indeed, in pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy, traditional and alternative medicine, fennel is deservedly considered a plant that can help with many diseases:
- It has an antispasmodic, as well as carminative effect for intestinal ailments;
- used as an expectorant for diseases of the bronchi;
- as an antibacterial agent that can strengthen immunity;
- helps to organize the work of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
- strengthens the nervous system;
- treats sleep disorders and fights stress;
- normalizes metabolism in our body.
What effect does it have on the body of a nursing mother?
Studies have shown that tea with fennel for nursing mothers is an excellent tool that can significantly increase lactation, because this plant has a positive effect on the production of female sex hormones, which lead to the production by the pituitary gland of prolactin, the hormone responsible for breastfeeding.
Also, tea for nursing mothers with fennel has a calming effect on the nervous system, which is an indispensable help for a woman who has experienced such stress as childbirth.
It is also worth saying that fennel dilates peripheral blood vessels. This contributes to a rush of blood to the mammary glands, relieves spasm from the ducts of the glands themselves, which means that it positively affects the production of breast milk.
It is impossible not to mention the fact that tea with fennel for nursing mothers has some effect on the body of a baby who uses mother's milk. So, fennel, entering the body of crumbs with mom's milk, is able to gently establish the digestion of the baby. It stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, which, in turn, slightly excites the motor activity of his intestines. This effect of fennel on the child’s body helps, if not eliminate, then significantly reduce colic in the baby.
But at the same time, do not forget that it is better not to give it to the baby itself, since lactation can be impaired if the baby consumes any other liquid except mother's milk.
Which tea to choose?
Today, tea for nursing mothers with fennel is made in three varieties: loose herbal, granular or tea bags. If we talk about which one is best to choose, then everything depends on the habits of the mother. So, if she does not have much time and she is used to doing everything on the go, then it will be most convenient for her to use granular tea, which instantly dissolves and is immediately ready for use. Also in this case, you can opt for bagged tea, which is also very quickly prepared, so that you can only squeeze and discard the bag. For mothers who are used to drinking loose, it is better to choose this tea in loose form.
Modern manufacturers offer the attention of young mothers a huge number of teas, which include fennel. The most popular are: tea with fennel "Hipp" for nursing mothers, tea for nursing mothers with fennel from Humana, tea with fennel from the Russian manufacturer "Grandmother's basket" and some others. You can make a drink yourself.
Homemade tea with fennel is a good alternative to the purchase
A good alternative to the purchase can be homemade fennel tea for nursing mothers. It’s easy to find a recipe for it today. In our article, we will give some of the most popular of them:
- Fennel milk tea. To prepare it, you need to chop 2 tablespoons of the seeds of the plant thoroughly, then add a small pinch of salt and nutmeg to the resulting mass and pour it all with warm milk. Insist tea for one and a half to two hours, drink before breakfast.
- Plain fennel seed tea . To prepare it, you just need to take one tablespoon of seeds and pour them 1.5 cups of boiling water. Insist tea for fifteen to twenty minutes and consume two tablespoons before meals throughout the day.
- Herbal tea with fennel, dill and anise. To do this, take these herbs in equal amounts, mix well and brew one teaspoon of the resulting herbs with a glass of boiling water. Consume a small amount several times a day.
When drinking tea for nursing mothers with fennel, whether purchased or prepared at home, it is very important not to abuse it and drink as prescribed in the instructions or tea recipe. Only in this case will it benefit the body of the woman and her child.
Fennel tea - is it possible for all nursing mothers?
If we talk about the possible harm to the body from this tea, then the most important contraindication is pregnancy. Fennel has the ability to increase the tone of the uterus, so it is contraindicated for pregnant women to drink it.
Also a contraindication to its use may be the tendency of a nursing mother to allergic reactions, which is due to the large amount of essential oils in its composition.
If the nursing mother has any heart problems, then it is also necessary to use it with caution, since it can cause tachycardia.
Tea with fennel can be used by nursing mothers, after consulting with a specialist, as it has a number of contraindications, like any other remedy. Only a doctor will be able to tell if a mother needs such tea and, if so, which tea is best to choose and how to use it correctly so that it brings benefit to the mother and baby, and not harm.
Reviews
Among the huge number of mothers, fennel tea for nursing mothers is very popular. Reviews about such tea in most cases are positive, since so many women claim that tea really helped them establish lactation.
Reviews of women claim that lactation really improved, the baby became calmer, and mother too. Many say that fennel tea not only helped increase the amount of breast milk, but also saved the baby from colic. Children really become calmer.
As you can see, reviews about tea are mostly positive, and if consumed in normal amounts, then it is unlikely to be something dangerous for mom or baby. Therefore, if you have problems with breastfeeding, then you should try tea with fennel, which in any case will be useful for both mother and baby.