The Best Herbs & Minerals for Pregnancy Relaxation
Pregnancy is a beautifully sacred time for any woman. It is also a period of intense growth and stretching — physically, mentally and spiritually.
Mama, if you’re pregnant right now and reading this, new life is being knit together in your womb, and that is such a precious and incredible thing. A true miracle. God made women to be life bearers — and with that comes a lot of joy, and also, a lot of physical changes.
That’s why it’s vital for a woman to take care of her God-given temple — her body — during this time. In this article we are going to look at our favorite pregnancy-safe herbs and minerals for promoting relaxation of mind and body throughout pregnancy and into postpartum.
We are also excited to announce the launch of our newest product — Mama’s Soothing Soak — a thoughtfully crafted bath soak for pregnant mamas who want relaxation and relief from common pregnancy aches, pains and muscle soreness.
Common Pregnancy Woes
Pregnancy will literally grow and stretch your body in ways you might not have previously thought possible.
These are just some of the ways your body will change throughout pregnancy:
Leg cramps and muscle tension — Magnesium deficiency is one of the most common and documented deficiencies in pregnancy and is directly linked to leg cramps, particularly at night. Your body needs a lot of minerals to grow a new life and that can leave you a bit depleted. You may also experience swelling and heaviness in your feet and legs.
Sore hips, back, and pelvis — As your body shifts and expands to make room for the new life inside of you (particularly 2nd and 3rd trimester), you will likely experience soreness in these areas.
Sleep disruption — Sleep, especially during the third trimester can be a challenge as it becomes more challenging to find comfortable positions, hormones begin to fluctuate and the baby becomes more active at night. Anxiety and restlessness (both mind and body) may also contribute to poor sleep in pregnancy.
Dry, itchy, stretched skin — As your belly expands and your body becomes depleted of key minerals, you may experience dry itchy skin and stretch marks. Your immune system and function also shifts so that you may begin to experience eczema or other skin issues.
Stress, overwhelm, and the emotional weight of pregnancy — In addition to your physical changes, this is a time of great hormonal shifts and you may also feel more easily overwhelmed, anxious and stressed as your nervous system works harder to regulate the shifts in pregnancy.
4 Herbs for Pregnancy Relaxation
Chamomile — This is nature’s calming herb for good reason. Chamomile has been shown to have an incredibly calming effect on the nervous system and has been traditionally used in many cultures to ease tension and support sleep. It contains the flavonoid apigenin which promotes a gentle sedative effect. When used topically in a cream, salve or bath soak, it soothes the skin and reduces irritation — helpful for sensitive pregnancy skin.
Oat Straw — This is your “classic milky bath” herb. When used topically, oat straw can offer relief from dry itch and stretched skin. It’s rich in silica and soothing polysaccharides and is rich in minerals. Oat straw is one of the key herbs in our NORA and NOA pregnancy teas for its high mineral content and nervous system support when ingested.
Lavender — Nothing invokes a better sense of relaxation than the smell of lavender. This fragrant herb offers relaxation and sleep support, via aromatherapy at gentle concentrations. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help with eczema and other skin issues during pregnancy. We use dried whole flowers instead of essential oils in our Mama’s Soothing Soak because they don’t emulsify in a salt base and can cause skin irritation.
Rose Petals — Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but rose petals also provide skin soothing and softening properties and act as a gentle astringent to clean and detoxify the skin.
Minerals for Pregnancy
Dead Sea Salt — This salt contains over 21 minerals including magnesium chloride, potassium, calcium, bromide, and trace elements like zinc and sulfur making it an incredibly nourishing and soothing salt for soaking in. It comes from the Dead Sea, between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia — one of the most mineral-rich bodies of water on Earth. For reference, the total mineral content of Dead Sea water is ~33% vs. ~3.5% in ocean water.
Magnesium Chloride Flakes — This is a highly effective form of magnesium for topical absorption (such as in a bath soak) that can reduce muscle tension, promote relaxation, and even improve sleep quality. Superior to Epsom salt, this is the form of magnesium most supported by transdermal research to feel gentler on your skin and provide an overall more restorative feeling — perfect for pregnancy and postpartum!
Mama’s Soothing Soak
We really wanted to offer a product that blesses mothers with the gift of relaxation — something that can be hard to come by these days. So we took all of these soothing salts and calming herbs to create the perfect pregnancy and postpartum safe bath soak!
Our Mama’s Soothing Soak is an intentionally crafted soothing blend of Dead Sea salt, magnesium chloride flakes, organic lavender, rose, chamomile, and oat straw designed to offer relaxation and relief from common pregnancy aches and pains.
What Makes Mama’s Soothing Soak Unique:
Mineral Rich Salt Blend — Unlike typical Epsom soaks — which are just one mineral, magnesium sulfate — our hand-crafted blend combines Dead Sea salt (a full-spectrum mineral base of 20+ minerals) with pure magnesium chloride flakes, the form of magnesium best tolerated and absorbed by skin.
The combination of Dead Sea salts and magnesium chloride is traditionally used in balneotherapy, a method that involves bathing in thermal mineral waters to promote health and wellness in various cultures.No Skin Irritating Essential Oils — We deliberately skip essential oils because they don't emulsify in a salt base, tend to concentrate on skin, and can easily irritate — especially sensitive pregnancy skin.
Hand-picked Pregnancy Safe Herbs — Instead we use organic whole dried herbs — chamomile, oat straw, lavender, and rose — each chosen for targeted pregnancy support: nervous-system calm, skin soothing, and muscle relief.
For ultimate relaxation and nervous system support, pair our Mama’s Soothing Soak with our Calm Nerves Tincture — the perfect pairing for any pregnant or postpartum mama!
Directions for Use
Our bath soak is simple enough to use! Each bag includes 4 baths worth of salt (½ cup per bath).
Add ½ cup of bath salt blend directly into a warm bath, or reusable muslin bag (included in your first order).
Swirl around until fully dissolved.
Soak for 20-30 minutes.
If not using a muslin bag, make sure to strain loose herbs before draining tub to avoid clogging your drain.
All first-time orders come with a reusable muslin bag for use in your bath if you do not want to add the salts directly to your tub.
Cautions
For pregnancy, we recommend short soaks (20 min) and warm water (not hot).
Please note that we do recommend postpartum women wait at least 4-6 weeks post-birth or until bleeding has stopped before using this bath soak.
Always consult with your health provider before use.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Final Words
Self care can be a struggle for moms and moms-to-be and there oftentimes comes a lot of guilt with taking time for yourself. We get it — we do! But remember this, mama, motherhood is a pouring-out that requires refilling.
Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
When we treat our body as the temple God so carefully designed it to be, it is honoring God. It pleases Him.
We hope this brings you a word of encouragement and inspires you to take some time to yourself, whether it be a soothing soak, a much-needed nap or something that simply brings you joy.
