Useful properties and contraindications of Ivan tea during pregnancy
Decoctions based on medicinal herbs are natural remedies that will support and strengthen the immune system, and will be effective in the fight against numerous diseases. However, most of them during pregnancy have to be abandoned - the plant components that make up the composition threaten the mother and fetus. Ivan-tea can be considered an exception, which, if used correctly, will only bring benefits.
Drink Features
Under the poetic name Ivan-tea, the young leaves of the fireweed are hidden. They have long been used as a raw material for brewing a fragrant drink, even before the arrival of Chinese and Indian varieties of tea in Russia.
Harvesting the leaves means only drying them, so the raw material retains a maximum of healing properties. It should be noted the richness of the composition of Ivan-tea, which includes many vitamins and trace elements, as well as pectins and tannins. The finished drink retains amino acids, carotenoids, phytoncides and chlorophyll, which is invariably contained in all green plants of the globe.
Benefit
This tea contains vitamins A, B, E, K, PP, ascorbic acid. This determines its powerful immunostimulating and anti-cold effect. Expectant mothers should include a drink in their diet during the flu and cold season, it will become a prophylactic in the fight against infections, beriberi, loss of strength.
Vitamins A and E have a beneficial effect on the hormonal and sexual spheres of a woman, they are involved in the synthesis of female hormones. During pregnancy, it is extremely important to maintain the level of the latter, since hormone deficiency can provoke miscarriages, intrauterine fetal death.
The mineral composition of Ivan tea is represented by iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, selenium. The combination of vitamin PP, antioxidants (ascorbic acid and tocopherol) with magnesium and potassium in the composition of the plant suggests its beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels.
This is very important for women in position, since during this period the volume of circulating blood almost doubles, which gives a noticeable load on the heart and blood vessels. The heart muscle under the influence of minerals is strengthened, the heart rhythm is normalized. Thanks to vitamins, the permeability of blood vessels, the elasticity of their walls improves, and the level of “bad” cholesterol decreases. Taking a drink based on Ivan tea helps to normalize and stabilize high blood pressure in hypertension.
During pregnancy, a woman often encounters iron deficiency anemia. The disease is fraught not only with the deterioration of the mother's condition, but also with impaired blood exchange between her and the fetus, hypoxia of the latter. Ivan tea, of course, contains a small amount of iron (if we compare this volume with the same content in meat, liver), however, due to the presence of vitamin C in the composition, this iron is almost completely absorbed.
The same thing happens with calcium, the deficiency of which is a fairly common occurrence during the period of gestation and breastfeeding. Calcium in the composition of the plant strengthens the bones and teeth of a woman, participates in the formation of the child's skeleton.In addition, calcium is necessary for normal hematopoiesis and metabolic processes.
A drink based on narrow-leaved fireweed has a pronounced antioxidant effect - it removes toxins from the body, binds radionuclides, and helps slow down the aging process of cells.
In addition, the plant contains tannins, tannins and pectins, which have a beneficial effect on the health of the gastrointestinal tract. They will help food to be digested faster, remove toxins, and in the early stages will help get rid of constipation. Due to the absence of acids and neutral acidity, Ivan-tea copes with toxicosis without causing heartburn.
Organic acids, also present in Ivan tea, normalize the water-alkaline balance. Together with potassium, they will relieve a pregnant woman of edema, removing unnecessary moisture from the body. This, in turn, improves the condition of the genitourinary system, reduces the risk of developing dropsy in the fetus.
B vitamins, as well as the amino acids of the composition, will have a positive effect on the nervous system, the psycho-emotional state of a woman. Gently and not addictive, a fireweed drink will relieve excessive excitability and anxiety. Its reception is indicated for depressed mood, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and neurological headaches.
In addition, B vitamins are vital for skin, nails and hair. They prevent skin flaking, give it elasticity and a healthy glow, strengthen nails and hair.
The plant contains special components called carotenoids, which reduce the risk of developing genetic diseases in the fetus. Chlorophyll in the composition will stimulate metabolic processes.
Finally, the plant has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, helps fight thrush, so in some cases it can replace pharmacy antibiotics and related medications.
Contraindications and harm
During pregnancy, herbal decoctions and teas should be taken with caution, since many of them negatively affect pregnancy. However, Ivan tea, when consumed correctly and in moderation, is rather an exception to this rule.
However, even such a useful plant can harm the body. First of all, with individual intolerance. With a tendency to thrombosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, tea consumption should also be abandoned.
In an effort to saturate the body with useful elements, a woman in position should not drink tea through force. If its taste or smell is unpleasant, then this can cause stress, increased pressure, and, as a result, hypertonicity of the uterus. A drink should always bring pleasure.
Due to the ability of Ivan tea to significantly reduce blood pressure, you should not drink it with hypotension, as this is fraught with a deterioration in the condition - dizziness, weakness, the appearance of "flies" before the eyes, fainting.
Finally, it is important to observe the measure, since fireweed is a medicinal plant and has a corresponding effect on the body. In the absence of contraindications the daily dosage should not exceed a couple of cups per day.
If in the last months of pregnancy tea clearly affects the intestines, increasing its motility, it is better to refuse its use or at least reduce it to 100-150 ml per day.
Active contractions of the intestines in the last trimester can increase the activity of the uterus and cause its increased contractions, which will lead to premature birth.
How to cook?
You can prepare a drink from fireweed leaves using one of two methods. The first involves the infusion of the drink. First, a tablespoon of dry leaves is poured into a glass of hot, but not boiling water. Then cover with a lid or saucer and leave for 20 minutes.
When making a drink in the second way, you should pour the same amount of raw materials into enameled dishes, pour a glass of cool water and then simmer for a quarter of an hour over low heat.
The first method is considered sparing, its use allows you to save the maximum benefit in the leaves of the plant. The tea is usually filtered before drinking.
Tea can be served both hot and chilled. Most pregnant women note that it relieves attacks of nausea (for a greater effect, you can add a slice of lemon to the drink), and quenches thirst well.
Due to the high content of essential oils, the drink can be stored for several days, retaining its taste and healing properties. To do this, it must be prepared in one of the above ways, cool, strain and send to be stored in a dark, cool place. Better in the refrigerator, after pouring into a dark glass container with an airtight lid.
For ingestion during pregnancy, you can not prepare a rich composition. But as a remedy for sore throats, this is just right. The infusion is used to gargle an inflamed red throat, as it has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.
It is not difficult to prepare an infusion for gargling - 4 tablespoons of dry willow-tea should be poured into 1 liter of hot water, the mixture should be left under the lid for 20 minutes.
To brew tea, you should take hot water that is just about to boil (visually, this is manifested by the appearance of air bubbles at the bottom of the kettle that rise up). The best option is to use spring or bottled water. Filtered or at least infused for 8-10 hours will also work.
Usage Tips
Before taking the drink, you should consult with your doctor. In most cases, it is recommended to take tea in a course 1-2 times a day for 2-3 weeks. After that, you should take a week break.
Usually the drink is taken an hour and a half before meals, drinking in small sips.
For a drink, you should use ready-made raw materials purchased at a pharmacy or purchased at a specialized store. Attempts to purchase raw materials on the market or prepare it yourself, at best, can result in tea ineffectiveness, at worst, severe poisoning.
Ivan tea is better to use not in addition to regular tea or coffee, but instead of them. If it’s hard for you to give up these drinks, start replacing some of them with Ivan tea. It does not contain caffeine, and therefore will act as a healthy alternative to coffee and tea. After some time, you can completely abandon them, opting for a natural herbal drink.
It is necessary to start drinking Ivan tea from the minimum dose, after the first consumption, wait 24 hours, listening to your own feelings. The appearance of nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, stool disorders, skin reactions - all this is evidence that now is not the best time to take Ivan tea.
If there is no negative response from the body, you can first increase the frequency of drinking up to 2 times a day, and then increase the amount consumed.But from increasing the concentration of tea should refrain.
You can not drink Ivan-tea, if it is part of the herbal collection. Other herbs may not be as helpful during pregnancy.
On the action of Ivan-tea during pregnancy, see the following video.