How to Make NORA Tea Infusion for Pregnancy

Learn How to Make Nora Tea Infusion for Pregnancy. It is simple and effective. This ancient herbal tea has been used all over the world for centuries to help support hormonal health in women. Specifically, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and menopausal.

What Does NORA Stand For?

NORA is an acronym that stands for herbal teas consisting of

• Nettle
• Oat Straw
• Red Raspberry Leaf
• Alfalfa

You may infuse this simple, yet effective tea at home for a fraction of the cost with loose-leaf tea vs. individual tea bags. It will save you time and money by buying the herbs in bulk!

The quality of these herbs is crucial. Make sure that wherever you source your tea from it is certified organic and free from chemicals.

I made the mistake of buying Red Raspberry Tea Leaves from Amazon and the tea was littered with small shreds of plastic and lint pieces. It was a major sourcing problem from Bulgaria where the tea is sourced. Other customers said the same thing, they found small pieces of trash mixed in with the tea leaves. ***Just a warning to buy quality tea without plastic.

*This is another reason buying herbs in loose tea form is better most tea bags are made from plastic.

The Difference Between Brewing and Infusion

I learned this recipe as an infusion, meaning the herbs steep in hot water for longer. Instead of the short brew time most teas require, an infusion allows the most absorption of minerals and beneficial properties of the herbs, and plant materials.

This process takes longer but is stronger, and more beneficial.

Benefits of NORA Tea Infusion for Pregnancy

• Nutritional Support: The leading benefit of NORA Tea during pregnancy is the large amounts of vitamins and trace minerals needed for pregnancy and delivery.
• Hydration: Having large amounts of absorbable liquids is very important in pregnancy and childbirth. The vitamins and minerals in this infusion provide ample hydration and can help the body perform optimally.
• Uterine Health: Red Raspberry Leaf and Nettle provide labor benefits by helping tone the uterus and strengthen it for labor.
• Builds the Amniotic Sac: Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and zinc help produce a strong amniotic sac helping to reduce Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes
• Breastfeeding Support: It is safe to consume NORA infusion postpartum to help improve hydration needed for lactation

Nettle:

Stinging Nettle also known as Urtica dioica is known for its nourishing benefits. The name is derived from the Latin word ‘urere’ meaning to burn. The small spikey hairs on the leaves and stem of the nettle cause a stinging sensation that goes away after it is dried and cooked.

This herb was helpful for me as I had a lot of pregnancy swelling in the summer and terrible allergies in the Spring.

• Vitamins and Minerals: Loaded with Vitamins A, B, C, and K, and minerals such as iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, boron, strontium, and silica.
• Phytonutrients: such as chlorophyll, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, quercetin, and rutin.
• Helps with Swelling: Nettle has a lot of properties that support a pregnant woman like clearing excess fluid and helps joint pain.
• Anti-Inflammatory: It is also an anti-inflammatory that helps inhibit hay fever inflammation during seasonal allergies.
• Vitamin K: will help reduce excessive bleeding during and after labor.
• Galactagogue: “an herb that supports breast milk supply for nursing mothers.” Nettle is believed to support lactation by providing essential nutrients.
• Calcium: the highest herb with calcium helps prevent leg cramps, round ligament pain, and bone health.
• Uterine Tonic: Helps tone the uterus preparing it for labor.

Oatstraw:

Oatstraw has been around for centuries and is known for its therapeutic and mineral-rich properties for pregnant mothers. The green part of the common oat plant (Avena sativa) is the green oat straw stem that is brewed for the infusion.

• Minerals: It is high in magnesium (which helps prevent cramping), calcium, and iron
• Soothes the Nervous System: Oatstraw has nerve calming properties making it a nervine tonic.

Red Raspberry Leaf:

Red Raspberry Leaf is the most popular pregnancy tea. Rubus idaeus is native to Europe, North America, and Western Asia and is known mainly for its sweet raspberry fruit.

The benefits of drinking RRL tea during pregnancy are many:

• Uterine support: tones and strengthens the uterus to have a shorter second phase of labor by making the contractions more effective.  “Raspberry leaf has been shown to have biophysical effects on animal and human smooth muscle including the uterus.”¹
• Nutritional benefits: This leaf tea is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, and E, and in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron.
• Hormone Balancing: The Vitamin B6 found in RRL tea/infusion binds to the estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone in your body, aiding hormone balance.

Alfalfa:

Known for its amazing properties for livestock, Alfalfa provides essential nutrients for humans as well. Medicago sativa has been used as a healthful tonic in American folk herbalism, a culinary food in India, and as digestive support in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).²

• Nutritive Tonic: Alfalfa is rich in A, C, E, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorous, and iron.
• Digestive aid: High in fiber and protein, alfalfa contains a digestive enzyme that helps break down food for better digestion
• Blood Sugar: Alfalfa may help control blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the intestines.³
• Uterine Health: Another benefit alfalfa may have because it is a natural diuretic is the flushing out of unwanted bacteria that form a UTI. It may not treat or cure UTIs but can help prevent them.

Additional Add-Ins

This infusion on its own is very earthy, and nutty. I like to add a sweetener like honey or sugar to make it sweet and palatable.

For more hydration and minerals add these trace mineral drops to the infusion.

How to Make NORA Tea Infusion for Pregnancy

The process for making this infusion is simple. All you need is two jars, NORA herbs, and boiling water.

1. Measure out the desired amount of tea and store it in a glass jar
2. Add 1/4 cup of NORA herbal mixture to the quart-sized jar
3. If using sugar, add the sugar in as well
4. Boil cold, filtered water to about 200 F
5. Warm the outside of your mason jar so it doesn’t break from the boiling water
6. Pour the water over the tea leaves, leaving 1/2 in space at the top of the jar, mix, and cover
7. Let it sit out overnight on the counter
8. Strain the tea out and store it in the fridge
9. Pour yourself a cup and enjoy

Disclaimer:

This recipe is not medical advice but intended for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician if this is right for you.

Don’t Forget!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe if you find it helpful. I also created a pregnancy checklist first-time mamas can download for free in the box below! Have a blessed pregnancy, mama!

1. Bowman, Rebekah et al. “Biophysical effects, safety and efficacy of raspberry leaf use in pregnancy: a systematic integrative review.” BMC complementary medicine and therapies vol. 21,1 56. 9 Feb. 2021, doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03230-4 ↩︎
2. https://mountainroseherbs.com/alfalfa ↩︎
3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-alfalfa ↩︎