Home : Articles : Pregnancy Nutrition : Nutrients : Herbal Remedies

0 votes

Herbal Remedies During Pregnancy

There are a number of herbal plants around the world which have fantastic healing qualities about them. Most, if not all of them however should be avoided during your pregnancy because they could be detrimental to your pregnancy for a number of reasons.

They may irritate the placenta, cause mutation of the developing fetus and stimulate muscular contractions of the uterus amongst others. Before taking any herbal remedies during your pregnancy you should consult your healthcare provider or a qualified herbalist.

There are around 560 plants which we know have the ability to cause miscarriage or other defects during pregnancy – although only around 50 of these plants are commonly used in the United States today. These plants can be broken down into the following groups:

Alkaloid Containing Plants
This group of plants is known to constrict blood vessels and cause an increase in blood pressure:

Coffee
Tea
Barberry
Ephedra
Golden Seal
Mandrake
Tobacco
Sanguinaria

Bitters
This group is known to lead to fetal defects and/or miscarriage:

Barberry
Cascara Sagrada
Celandine
Feverfew
Gentian
Golden Seal
Mugwort
Rue
Tansy
Wormwood

Diuretics
This group of plants is known to encourage water loss:

Buchu
Horsetail
Juniper Berries
Uva-Ursi (large doses)

Emmenagogues
Induces loss of uterine lining -- may cause miscarriage:

Angelica spp.
Basil, oregano, marjoram (OK in "normal" amounts as spices)
Black Cohosh (Safe in the last six weeks)
Blue Cohosh (Safe in the last six weeks)
Ginger (okay in "normal" amounts)
Hyssop
Motherwort (OK in small doses)
Mugwort
Myrrh
Nasturtium
Osha
Parsley
Squaw Vine (small amounts okay)
Pennyroyal
Rue
Sage
Shepard's Purse
Tansy
Wormwood

Laxatives

Aloes
Castor Bean
Barberry
Buckthorn
Cascara Sagrada
Coffee
Senna

Steroid Precursors

Dong Quai
Ginseng
Licorice
Sarsaparilla

Oxytocic

Blue Cohosh
Golden Seal
Black Cohosh
Mistletoe
Blue Flag
Uva-Ursi
Cotton Root Bark

Although there may be some of these herbs which may be safe to taken when used by a skilled professional, you must consult with a professional before taking in any of these herbs and know what you may be in for if you do take them.

Was this information helpful?           What is this? YesPartiallyNo