Your pelvic tissues do a lot of work during labor—stretching, swelling, and sometimes even tearing—which can leave everything feeling pretty tender in the early postpartum days. A warm herbal sitz bath is a soothing way to care for your body and support the healing process. This gentle ritual can help reduce inflammation, ease soreness, and bring comfort in those first sacred days after giving birth.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a wonderful addition to this postpartum blend thanks to its antimicrobial and astringent properties. It helps tone tissues, slow bleeding, and support the healing of minor tears.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has long been used in wound care. Its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial qualities make it a favorite for tender, sensitive pelvic tissue.
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf, often sipped during pregnancy, is also a powerful ally after birth. It’s rich in nutrients that support tissue repair and gently tone the uterus and pelvic area.
Rose (Rosa spp) petals offer both emotional and physical support. Energetically calming and heart-opening, they are also mildly astringent, cooling, and anti-inflammatory—perfect for sore, swollen skin.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a wonderful ally for postpartum, known for its relaxing effects on the nervous system and its ability to ease afterbirth pains. In a sitz bath, its astringent properties also help tone tissues and support healing.
Salt is a traditional addition to postpartum sitz baths for good reason. Sea salt is naturally cleansing, encourages healthy circulation, and helps reduce swelling and discomfort, including from hemorrhoids. It can draw out excess fluid from tender tissues, though some mamas find that it stings on fresh tears or stitches. If that’s the case, feel free to wait a few days before adding it in.
This recipe makes enough for about two weeks’ worth of baths when used daily. Prepare the blend before your baby arrives to have on hand, or gift it to a friend who’s expecting as a thoughtful and nurturing postpartum gift.
Herbal Sitz Bath Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried yarrow
- 1 cup dried calendula flowers
- ½ cup dried raspberry leaf
- ½ cup dried rose petals
- ¼ cup dried motherwort
- About 1 to 1¾ cup sea salt, optional (add 1-2 tablespoons per bath)
Directions:
Combine all the dried herbs in a bowl and mix well. Do not add the salt yet. This can be added when making the bath, since you may want to omit it in the first few days after birth since it can cause a unpleasant, stinging sensation.
Store the blend in a jar or container with a lid.
To prepare a sitz bath—
Add about ¼ cup of the herb blend to 1 liter (roughly 1 quart) of boiling water.
Cover and steep for 10–15 minutes.
Let cool, then strain out the herbs.
Pour the herbal tea into a sitz bath basin or shallow tub filled with just a few inches of warm water. Stir in 1-2,tablespoons of sea salt per bath, if desired.
Soak once a day for up to 20 minutes. If you have stitches, check with your care provider first as too much soaking early on can sometimes interfere with healing.
After soaking, gently pat dry with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing, as it can increase soreness.
