Herbs to avoid during pregnancy

I am posting two article from the American Pregnancy Association on herbs. I love herbal tea; however, after ovulations I have been very cautious about drinking herbal tea. I found these two articles put my mind at ease about what herbal teas to drink and not drink.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/naturalherbsvitamins.html

The following herbs are considered Likely UnSafe or Unsafe during pregnancy : ³

·         Saw Palmetto - when used orally, has hormonal activity

·         Goldenseal - when used orally, may cross the placenta

·         Dong Quai - when used orally, due to uterine stimulant and relaxant effects

·         Ephedra - when used orally

·         Yohimbe - when used orally

·         Pay D’ Arco - when used orally in large doses; contraindicated

·         Passion Flower - when used orally

·         Black Cohosh - when used orally in pregnant women who are not at term

·         Blue Cohosh - when used orally; uterine stimulant and can induce labor

·         Roman Chamomile - when used orally in medicinal amounts

·         Pennyroyal - when used orally or topically

Are there any herbs that are recommended in pregnancy?

Depending on what type of health care provider you see, he/she may recommend using herbs to help promote the health of your pregnancy. Remember, never try to self dose or diagnose with any medications, including herbs. Because each pregnancy is different, with its own specific details, the best way to use herbs is under the care of a midwife, physician, herbalist, naturopathic or homeopathic doctor.

Choosing to use herbs during pregnancy is a personal choice, but to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby, you should be well educated on the types of herbs, parts of the herb (root, leaf, etc…) and the way that they could be used (caplet, tonic, tea). The herbs that are considered safe to use during pregnancy are often food or tonic herbs. These often will be found in either tablet form, tea, or infusion form.

Herbs used in Pregnancy

The following herbs have been rated Likely Safe or Possibly Safe for use during pregnancy:⁴

·         Red Raspberry Leaf - Rich in iron, this herb has helped tone the uterus, increase milk production, decrease nausea, and ease labor pains. Some studies have even reported that using red raspberry leaf during pregnancy can reduce complications and the use of interventions during birth.⁵ You may see pregnancy teas that are made from red raspberry leaf to help promote uterine health during pregnancy. (Read about herbal teas for more information)

There is some controversy about whether this should be used throughout pregnancy or just in the second and third trimester, so many health care providers remain cautious and only recommend using it after the first trimester.

·         Peppermint Leaf - Helpful in relieving nausea/morning sickness and flatulence

·         Ginger root - Helps relieve nausea and vomiting

·         Slippery Elm Bark - (when the inner bark is used orally in amounts used in foods) Used to help relieve nausea, heartburn, and vaginal irritations

·         Oats & Oat Straw - Rich in calcium and magnesium; helps relieve anxiety, restlessness, and irritated skin

Additional herbs rated Likely Safe or Possibly Safe:

·         Blond Psyllium - when used orally and appropriately

·         Black Psyllium - when used orally with appropriate fluid intake

·         Garlic - when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods

·         Capsicum (Cayenne, hot pepper) - when used topically and appropriately

The following herbs have been rated as having Insufficient Reliable Information Available by the Natural Medicines Database, although many are recommended by homeopathic physicians, herbalists, and midwives who treat pregnant women. More extensive research and discussions with your treating health care provider will help you make the decision about what herbs are safe for you to use.

·         Dandelion - Rich in Vitamin A, calcium, and iron; dandelion root and leaf can also help relieve mild edema and nourish the liver

·         Chamomile (German) - High in calcium and magnesium; also helps with sleeplessness and inflammation of joints

·         Nettles (Stinging Nettles) - High in vitamins A, C, K , calcium, potassium, and iron. Used in many pregnancy teas because it is a great all around pregnancy tonic. Note on the safety of Nettles: Natural Medicines Database gives Nettles a rating of Likely Unsafe, even though it is used in countless pregnancy teas and recommended by most midwives and herbalists. This may be contingent upon which part of the Nettles plant is used (the root or the leaves) and how much is used. According to other sources, the use of Nettles is encouraged during pregnancy because of its health benefits.⁶

Other popular herbs

The following are commonly used herbs which have a safety rating of Possibly Unsafe when used orally. Again, these are herbs you would want to do more extensive research on and discuss with your health care provider before using.

·         Aloe

·         Ginseng (American & Korean)

·         Evening Primrose

·         Feverfew

·         Kava Kava

·         Senna

LIKELY SAFE:
The product has undergone a rigorous scientific evaluation equivalent to a review by the FDA, Health Canada, or other governmental authority and has been found to be safe when used appropriately. Or reputable references generally agree that the product is safe when used appropriately based on two or more randomized, controlled, clinical trials involving several hundred to several thousand patients and published in refereed journals; or based on large-scale post-marketing surveillance showing a low incidence of significant adverse effects.

POSSIBLY SAFE:
Reputable references agree that the product might be safe when used appropriately, and there are human studies reporting no serious adverse effects.

POSSIBLY UNSAFE:
There is some evidence suggesting that use of the product might be unsafe.

LIKELY UNSAFE:
Reputable references agree that the product can be harmful, based on human studies or reliable case reports of significant adverse effects.

UNSAFE:
The product has undergone a rigorous scientific evaluation or a review by a reliable regulatory agency and found to often cause clinically significant harm to humans. Or large-scale post-marketing surveillance shows a high incidence of significant adverse effects