During both my pregnancies I used herbal medicine to relieve common ailments and prepare for labor.
Herbs have been used during pregnancy for thousands of years and yet there is still little scientific data on their safety during pregnancy due to the ethical implications of testing.
Most of what is currently known about herbal use during pregnancy is based on a significant body of historical, empirical, and observational evidence as well as some scientific research studies.
Much of the evidence shows that many traditional herbal remedies used to treat common pregnancy ailments are actually safer than pharmaceuticals.
As a guide, the safest approach is to avoid the use of herbs in the first trimester unless using herbs to alleviate nausea or prevent recurrent miscarriage.
After the first trimester ensure that you only use herbs that are known either scientifically or historically to be safe during pregnancy and always consult with a trained herbalist.
What about herbal tea?
Herbs safe to consume as tea during the first trimester include ginger and chamomile, then after the first trimester you can take raspberry leaf, spearmint, lemon balm, nettle and rosehips. Using normal amounts of cooking spices is considered safe as well.
The following list provides an overview of a number of herbs that have been demonstrated to be safe for use during pregnancy.
- Raspberry Leaf as a uterine tonic
- Echinacea for colds and flu
- Cranberry for UTI's
- Ginger for nausea
- Chamomile for imsomnia, anxiety and digestion
- Garlic for yeast infections
- Nettle as an iron rich tonic for Anemia
So which herbs are to be avoided during pregnancy?
These herbs contain constituents and volatile oils that are not safe during pregnancy.
- Herbs that can cause miscarriage or induce early labor including Tansy, Wormwood, Yarrow, Angelica, Thuja, Pennyroyal, Cascara, Aloe, Rhubarb, Buckthorn and Mugwort.
- Herbs that are harmful to the developing fetus including Datura, Comfrey, Borage, Goldenseal, Oregon Grape.
It's best to be safe during pregnancy and only take herbs that have been demonstrated or observed to have no side effects. If you are unsure please seek advice from a qualified practitioner.