The #1 Herb for Postpartum Anxiety and Depression Relief
If I had to choose just one herb for the postpartum period, it would be stinging nettles. Have you tried it yet?
Many of the moms I work with struggle with symptoms like heart palpitations, insomnia, and mood dips after giving birth. Often, when they bring these concerns to their doctors, they’re referred to specialists such as cardiologists or are prescribed medications immediately. Sound familiar?
But sometimes, a nourishing herb is all it takes to begin shifting your symptoms. One of my clients began drinking just two cups of stinging nettle tea a day, and her heart palpitations stopped entirely.
Stinging Nettle Benefits
Stinging nettles are packed with vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron, and they help balance blood sugar, something many postpartum moms struggle with. That same client had high and erratic blood sugar levels, and nettles helped reduce both her sugar cravings and blood sugar spikes.
So, here’s a tip: if you’re going to have that piece of chocolate cake (no shame here!), drink a cup of nettle tea with it. It may help balance your body’s blood sugar response.
Stinging Nettle and Breastfeeding
If your baby is under 3 months old, use caution with any botanical, including nettles. An infant’s liver isn’t fully mature until after the 3-month mark. Once your baby is older, you can start incorporating more herbs into your diet, but always watch for adverse effects in both yourself and your child.
What are the adverse effects? Any changes in:
Skin (rashes, dryness, irritation)
Digestion (constipation, diarrhea, gas)
Sleep (more wakefulness or restlessness)
If you notice anything unusual, it’s worth pausing and reassessing.
Stinging Nettle Tea
There are three primary ways to consume stinging nettles:
1. Tea
This is my favorite method. Drinking nettle tea twice a day is a gentle and effective way to nourish your body and calm your nervous system. One popular blend I recommend includes stinging nettles and milky oat tops.
A few tips:
Nettles are mildly diuretic, so they may increase urination.
Don’t drink too late in the day to avoid disrupting your sleep.
To get a stronger medicinal brew, steep your tea overnight (4–8 hours), then strain and sip throughout the day. It might even replace your second or third cup of coffee!
If you’re feeling run down or craving caffeine, try nettle tea first. You might find it gives you a surprising energy boost.
2. Tincture
Tinctures are liquid extracts made by soaking herbs in alcohol and water for several weeks. They’re portable, easy to use, and potent. If you're short on time or prefer a quick method, this is a great option. Just be sure to choose one that’s safe for postpartum and breastfeeding use.
3. Capsules (Freeze-Dried)
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, freeze-dried stinging nettles are especially useful.
They retain the plant’s natural antihistamine properties, making them a top herbal remedy for allergy support. Many moms find them safe to use while breastfeeding, just keep an eye out for any adverse effects.
If you're not quite ready to prepare loose-leaf tea, you might enjoy something like Milkmaid Tea, a tea that combines nettles, fennel, and milk thistle.
Milk thistle is amazing for liver support, which is especially important in the postpartum period.
Want to create your blend at home? You can start with nettles and milky oats as your base and then add herbs depending on your needs:
For insomnia or nighttime calming, try passionflower
For muscle tension or jaw clenching: Add a skullcap
For emotional support during the day, A few drops of motherwort tincture can be added to your tea
This way, you become your own herbalist, experimenting, learning, and discovering what works best for you.
Conclusion
Drinking tea is more than just consuming nutrients. It’s a moment of pause. A small act of self-care. Making and drinking tea can be deeply calming, emotionally and physically.
As your children grow, you can even share the ritual with them (though maybe start with gentler herbs than nettles at first). Teaching them how to calm their nervous systems through herbs is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Let’s face it: motherhood is exhausting, chaotic, and beautiful all at once. Especially if you’re juggling more than one child, work, and a million daily responsibilities, having something as simple as a cup of nettle tea in your routine can be a game-changer.
If you’re looking for a gentle but powerful shift, consider choosing nettles over coffee just once a day. See how your body responds.
This is just one piece of the postpartum healing puzzle.
xo
