This is second in a series on Herbs for Mama. I’ve also covered Milk Thistle and Red Raspberry Leaf.

Time for another look at those wonderful herbs especially helpful to women! Lady’s Mantle is one that’s useful for women in all stages of life as it’s benefits aren’t limited to a certain season.

Photo Credit: Sterlic on flickr

Like red raspberry leaf, Lady’s Mantle is an astringent herb that works well on hollow organs like the uterus. Rather than toning the uterus, though, Lady’s Mantle works to draw out excess fluid and soothe inflammation. For that reason this herb is especially well-suited for consumption after childbirth, during your menstrual cycle and during the delightful time of menopause.

Lady’s Mantle also works to stop excess bleeding, making this an ideal herb to begin taking as labor draws near. But do make sure not to take it until reaching full-term (37 weeks) pregnancy.

Lady’s Mantle’s effects aren’t isolated to the uterus. It works well for mild cases of diarrhea to draw out excess fluid and soothe inflamed intestinal walls. An herbal infusion can also be used as a gargle to soothe sort throats.

This herbs effects aren’t only internal. Soaking sores and wounds in a Lady’s Mantle infusion will provide relief for inflammation and speed healing time. This is an especially good herb to add to a post-partum sitz bath for those tender tissues.

Just remember…

Be careful to avoid this herb until the last few weeks of pregnancy because it does induce uterine contractions.

A couple ways to use Lady’s Mantle

Use Lady’s Mantle by making a concentrated infusion to soak irritated tissues in. Or, make a tea with some red raspberry leaf and peppermint for those last few weeks of pregnancy or during your monthly cycle.

Make a Lady’s Mantle infusion

Take a handful of Lady’s Mantle and put it into a quart-size glass jar. Fill the jar almost to the top with boiling water. Put the lid on and store it in a cool place. Careful, it’ll be hot! I never seem to remember that. When the infusion is completely cool, strain the herbs out and put them in your composting or chicken food bucket (a little reminder for myself :)). There you go, easy as pie and you can use this method for any dried herb.