How to Avoid Harmful Herbs During Pregnancy
Nearly 11 percent of women use herbs in the three months before or during pregnancy, according to a study published in the May 2010 edition of the ̶0;American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.̶1; The study, ̶0;Herbal Use Before and During Pregnancy,̶1; listed ginger, ephedra and chamomile as the most commonly used herbs by study members. Some herbs are harmful during pregnancy and should only be used as directed under the supervision of a professional who is knowledgeable in pregnancy and herbal remedies.
Instructions
Consult a certified master herbalist, integrated-medicine physician or naturopath specializing in pregnancy before taking any herb or herbal preparation, according to Dr. Julie McKee, M.D., in the ̶0;Rodale News̶1; Herbs That Work -- and Are Safe to Use -- During Pregnancy. It is best if you stop all herbs not critical to your health prior to becoming pregnant. Check with your health care providers to determine that anything you continue to take is safe during the earliest days of pregnancy when the baby is quickly developing and you might not know of the pregnancy, advises McKee. Use any herb your health care provider recommends only as directed. Some herbs are safe in low doses, but can cause problems in higher dosages. Ginger can quell nausea in small amounts, but can also cause uterine bleeding in a small number of women, according to MedlinePlus. Your pregnancy health care provider might suggest ginger is safe in foods, such as ginger tea or cookies or pumpkin bread, but should be avoided in capsules where the concentration is higher and contaminants could be present, according to an article by Linda B. White, M.D.at the Atlanta Birth Care website. The Office of Women̵7;s Health agrees in their article ̶0;Staying Healthy and Safe.̶1; Avoid any herb not specifically recommended by your pregnancy health care provider without checking first with both your care provider and a certified master herbalist. Some pregnancy health care providers lack specific knowledge about herbs, so present any information from the herbalist when talking to your obstetrician or midwife. If you have any doubt about the safety of the herb, avoid consuming it, especially in concentrated forms. Eliminate the use or consumption of saw palmetto, goldenseal, dong quai, ephedra, yohimbe, passion flower, blue and black cohosh, pau d̵7;arco, roman chamomile and pennyroyal, advises the American Pregnancy Association article ̶0;Herbs and Pregnancy.̶1; Additional herbs to avoid include birthwort, cinchona, cotton root bark, gotu kola and Peruvian bark which can cause uterine contractions, suggests Dr. White. Avoid herbs that can cause menstrual flow such as agave, angelica, chicory, feverfew flowers, hyssop, motherwort, poke root, tansy, thuja and yarrow. Other herb classifications to avoid include herbs high in volatile oils such as eucalyptus or mint family herbs in more than food quantities, herbs with a laxative or diuretic effect such as aloe or uva ursi, high alkaloid herbs such as barberry and coffee and herbs affecting your hormone balance such as licorice or wild yam, advises Dr. White.
