Herbs and Pregnancy

Remember that herbs can have powerful effects on you and your unborn child. Just because an herb is “natural” does not mean it is SAFE! Some herbs can be very helpful to you but others should be avoided. Always check with your midwife or doctor before taking herbs during pregnancy.

Avoid the following herbs during pregnancy:

Aloe - Teratogens, Emmenagogues Agave - Teratogens, Emmenagogues Angelica - Emmenagogues Asafoetida - Emmenagogues Baneberry - (actaea) Basil - Emmenagogues Beth Root - (trillium) Emmenagogues Black Cohosh - (cimifuga racemosa) Abortive Blessed Thistle - (cnicus) Steroid Blood Root - (sanguine) Blue Cohosh - (caulophyllum) Abortive Blue Flag - (iris) Toxic Buchu - (barosma) Electrolyte Imbalance Buckbean - (menyanthes) Buckhorn - (rhamnus species) Teratogens, Laxative Butternut - (juglans) Cascara Sagrada - (rhamnus species) Laxative Cotton Root - (gossypium) Culver’s Root - (leptandra) Crampbark Damiana Devil’s club - (oplopancisc) Dogbane - Toxic Dong Quai - Emmenagogues Ephedra - Teratogens Epuzote - (chenopodium) Ginseng - (panax) Teratogens Goldenseal - (hydrastis) Abortive (Placental Vaso Constriction) Guavine Hellebore - (veratrum) Toxic Helonias - (choumaelienum) Emmenagogues

Horse Chestnut - Toxic Inmortal - Emmenagogues Jimson Weed - Toxic Juniper Berry - Teratogens, Electrolyte Imbalance Licorice - Teratogens, Steroid Ma Huang - (ephedrasinensis) Teratogens, Abortive Male Fern - (aspidium) Toxic Mandrake - (podophylum) Toxic, Teratogens Milkweed - Emmenagogues Mother Wort - (leonurus) Mountain Laurel - (kalmia) Ohio Buckeye - Toxic Parsley - (Dries up milk) Osha - Teratogens, Emmenagogues (vasodilator) Pasqueflower - (pulsatilla) Pennyroyal - Abortive Periwinkle - (vinca major and minor) Peruvian Bark - (cinchona) Pleurisy Root - (asclepias tuberosa) Poke Root - Toxic Poleo - (mentha piperiat) Ragwort - (senecio) Rhubarb Leaves -(rheum) Rue - (ruta) Sage - Teratogens Sarsaparilla Saw Palmetto Senna - (cassia species) Teratogens, Laxative Shepherd’s Purse - (capsella) Abortive, Vaso Constriction, Dries up Vagina Tansy - (tenacetum) Uva Ursi - Diuretic Wild Yam Wormwood - Toxic Yohimbe - Toxic

Borderline Herbs: Peppermint (contains menthol) Chamomile (mild menstrual stimulator)

Herbs Which May Be Beneficial: PLEASE NOTE:  Any of the recommendations given on this web site are not to be a replacement for the counsel of your own personal midwife or doctor.   Please discuss your own situation with them before using any herbal suggestions given here. Red Raspberry (antiemetic, astringent, laxative, tonic) The leaves of red raspberry are often considered useful for making “Pregnancy Tea.”   Red Raspberry used reasonably can help with pregnancy sickness, help prevent miscarriage, reduce the chances of uterine hemorrhage, reduce labor pains and aid in increasing milk.   A tea may be made by simmering a handful of the dried leaves in a quart of pure water for about 20 minutes.   A small amount of spearmint can be added for better flavor.   The following recipe can be mixed then made one cup at a time. Pregnancy Tea • 10 parts red raspberry • 5 parts blackberry • 1 part cinnamon 1 teaspoon to 1/2 cup water Yellow Dock (alterative, astringent, laxative, nutritive) Yellow Dock is high in IRON and therefore excellent for anemia.   It does not constipate as most iron pills can do.   It works best combined with other iron-rich herbs such as Alfalfa, Dandelion and Nettles.   It is a blood purifier. TEA:  up to 3 cups daily TINCTURE:  5 - 30 drops 3 times daily POWDER:  5 - 10 #0 caps daily Alfalfa (alterative, nutritive, antipyretic, diuretic, tonic) NUTRIENT, blood purifier, fever reducer, source of calcium, magnesium, vitamins K & P, potassium, phosphorus. TEA: 3 cups daily TINCTURE; 5 - 15 drops 3 times daily POWDER: 5 - 10 caps 3 times daily Dandelion (aperient, cholagogue, diuretic, tonic, stomachic) Good for jaundice, gallstones, fever, insomnia, and constipation.   Good source of iron. Nettles (astringent, diuretic, galatagogue, hemostatic, tonic) Promotes the flow of milk.   Good for urinary tract problems and calcium deficiency. AFTER BABY HERB BATH The following herbs should be simmered in almost boiling water for at least 20 minutes and then added to the bath.   This is a very relaxing and healing herb bath for both mom and baby.   The herbs should be strained before adding to the bath.   Or, they can be put inside an old stocking or bath bag for convenience. Equal parts of: Garlic or Yarrow Sea Salt Uva Ursi Sage Comfrey Chamomile Lavender Nursing Mother Tea (galactagogue) Equal parts of anise, dill, sweet marjoram 1 teaspoon to 1 1/2 cups boiling water Divide into 6 doses.