In the early days of motherhood as much as you would like to take time to rest, there’s a new baby that needs your love and attention and self-care can easily slip out of your schedule. An herbal sitz bath is a great way to help you relax, speed up healing, soothe the perineum, and help with hemorrhoids – and not to mention take a few much needed minutes for yourself. Read on for this at home how-to. Herbal sitz baths are a mixture of herbs that you can place directly in your bathtub or even in a small basin that fits over your toilet to soak in after giving birth. Each herb is chosen for its benefit to the postpartum healing process. For example, comfrey leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy. Lavender aids in relaxation and promotes skin regeneration, along with antibacterial properties. Red raspberry leaves can prevent oxidative stress and improve the cell’s ability to expend energy. And Yarrow is used for women’s pelvic cramping, intestinal gas, bloating and to stop bleeding in wounds, such as hemorrhoids. Each of the listed ingredients provide their own relieving effects, so you can mix and match the herbs that you have at home or are easy to find – even just one or two are beneficial.     This DIY recipe is one of our favorites because it’s something that can be done while your little one is sleeping. It’s the little things mama! Follow these simple instructions and treat yourself to a few quiet moments of calm and healing. This could even be a great gift for any mothers you have on your shopping list this holiday season, or for any friends still in pregnancy and preparing for their postpartum life. Ingredients: 1/4 cup Comfrey Leaf 1/2 cup Lavender Flowers 1/4 cup Plantain Leaf 1/2 cup Red Raspberry Leaf 1/4 cup Yarrow Flower 1/4 cup Calendula Flowers 1/4 cup Shepherd’s Purse 1/4 cup Uva Ursi Leaf 1/4 cup Sea Salt or Epsom Salt Instructions: 1. Combine your chosen bath herbs in a large mixing bowl. remember, the proportions don’t need to be exact – you can actually just stick to Comfrey Leaf if you’d like! Store in a mason jar or other container for up to a year in a cool, dark place. 2. Once you’ve combined your bath herbs portion out 1 cup, place in a bowl and heat water with a tea kettle. 3. Remove water from heat and pour over your bowl of herbs. Let the herbs steep, as you would a cup of tea. Strain and add to a bath. 4. Soak for 20 minutes – you can even bathe with your baby if you’d like! (Bonus: The herbal bath will help baby in healing the umbilical cord.) 5. Enjoy and relax! You can find all of the herbs listed above at Mountain Rose Herbs or find pre-made blends on Amazon and Etsy. Sitz bath basins can be found at many pharmacies, on Amazon, or at Walmart. And be sure to check in with your doctor or midwife that a sitz bath is safe for you and your baby.     Photography: Jamie Arrigo ; Recipe and Method: Wellness Mama