Q: Dear Susun,
I want to begin taking your recommended fertility herbs. Would you recommend getting the red clover flowers, nettle leaves and red raspberry leaves and taking the infusions separately but on alternative days? Or should I just begin with the red clover flowers alone?
Please advise. Thank you so much.
A: Hello, these are all wonderful infusions. As nourishing foods, I invite you to drink all of them, alternating every day or two.
The advantage to making each herb a separate infusion, then drinking individually, is your ability to know each more intimately. Eventually this helps you know when you would or would not like a specific one as best fits your needs at the time.
I wish you wonderful health and the best of blessings toward your dreams.
Please do let me know if I can help further!
Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com
Q: dear Karen
Greetings of Peace! i am finally finally (as we speak) doing my very first (red clover) herbal infusion. My question is, over the next couple of days, do i drink it cold?? or room temp? or heat it up a cup, like tea??
Please let me know. thanks so much!
Blessings,
p.s. Susan suggests filling up a quart jar to the top. if i use a bigger jar does it matter if it is not filled to the top? i don't imagine so, but thought i'd ask.
Q: dear Karen,
if they are infused for more than 4 hours, is this alright?? (just in case i am not home after the 4 hours...)
thanks again!
Q: hi Karen,
i wanted to ask.... Is it okay to finish the one infusion in one day instead of two? or is that too much in one day??
THANKS so much!
A: In response to all three emails...
What I do is put an infusion up before bed, then strain in the morning, so it is sitting for at least 8 hours usually! This is okay. I know the directions for infusions say 4 hours for blossoms, but a few are exceptions, like Red Clover.
I think it is best you fill the jar to the top with boiling water, so all the herb gets covered, or else you may have some left dry. Not crucial though. If you do this, just adjust the amount of herb proportionately.
You may drink it in whatever way pleases you - hot, iced, room temperature, mixed with juice, honey, milk... whatever helps you drink it and enjoy and get variety if you need. I tend to drink them as is, room temp.
I believe for Red Clover we are recommended up to four cups a day, so this is not too much. I encourage you to tune into yourself and see how you feel. Maybe right now you want lots of it, but in a few days or week you just want a cup a day, or a quart a week. Red Clover is one I have found people don't usually want to guzzle as much as Nettles, for example. Find what feels right for yourself. Think of it as nourishing food - like a bowl of lentils - if you want to eat many bowls all day long, there is no harm, but soon you may tire of it and favor something else, or have less each day.
You can ask as many questions as you would like!
Blessings,
Karen Joy
Q: Thanks so much Karen. I am starting to get a clearer picture which will emerge even more as i continue with the infusions.
Susan's book actually says infuse for TWO hours with blossoms. I only just realized this. Although the red clover i have is a mixture of flowers and leaves -mostly leaves. They did not have straight blossoms (which apparently are very expensive). Although it seems from your e-mail that infusing longer is okay.... Is 8 hrs okay for nettles and for red raspberry?
I am excited to infuse the next ones tonight. And you recommended alternating between the 3, right?? Do you think they need refrigeration overnight or is one night out okay?
Thanks again!!!
A: Hello, yes overnight is okay for Red Clover, Red Raspberry, and Nettles. There are a few exceptions to the 2 hour blossom rule, and tough red clover blossoms are one of them. I leave my infusions on the counter overnight. I think this is preferable while infusing. After you strain in the morn, you can then refrigerate them :)
Yes, please do alternate between them. I understand what it is like when strarting on something
new and wanting to get it just right. I am so happy to answer your questions.
Blessings,
Karen Joy
Q: HI Karen
i have been enjoying taking the herbal infusions. I am not pregnant, but wondered if they are beneficial to take during pregnancy?
I am alternating between the three as you suggest but I am not sensitive enough to actually feel a difference. I sometimes feel ever so slightly nautious since I started the infusions. Have you heard that this can happen or is it just me?
THANKS so much
A: Hi, yes they are okay while pregnant, in fact I strongly recommend Red Raspberry leaf infusions through pregnancy, especially early on, and Nettle leaf infusions especially nearer to the end. Red Clover is safe but monitor yourself. Some have concern, so you may wish to cut down on consumption of this while pregnant.
Perhaps you would like to experiment with the nausea, and try only one infusion for a period of a week or two to see if you can isolate which it may be. This also gives you a chance to know these infusions more intmately and individually in your body. They are like eating nourishing foods, and take some time to notice much difference, but once a year has gone and you look back, I am sure you will see it!
Blessings,
Karen Joy
Q: thanks for your patience with my questions.
today it ended up that i infused nettles for about 11 hrs. is this too long? if this ever happens with either nettles, red clover or red rasberry is it still fine to drink??
thanks again
A: Hello Rachel, yes usually this is still okay. The concerns are primarily if the taste gets too strong for you, or if it had been sitting in a temperature too hot, if it spoiled. You would know by smell and taste. I know some who leave the herb in the infusion and place the whole thing in the fridge after about 8 hours, and strain only as they drink it :)
Blessings,
Karen Joy
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