Herbs During Pregnancy (and breast feeding)

Pregnancy is a very special time for women, a time of nurturing for both mother and child.

In a perfect world mothers should be fit and well nourished before entering this phase, and preparation for pregnancy is as important as it is for birth.
The growing child relies on the mother to provide a myriad of needs, emotional, spiritual and physical.

Herbs can play an important part in this preparation however, it is always best to take the gentlest route when using any herbal preparation and all treatment should start with herbs and food used in cooking and as teas. The range of herbs available during this period is limited due to many differing factors, detoxification affecting foetus, uterine stimulation properties, mutagenic and genotoxic properties and strong laxatives effects, and should therefore be carefully thought out. A number of products from Herbs Hands Healing ltd we feel would be safe and useful for pregnancy are listed below:

• Echinacea (organic) Root Tincture - Echinacea is safe during pregnancy (American College of Nurse Midwifes [1994]. It can be used for all kinds of infections and feeling low whether viral, bacterial or fungal. Useful as antibiotics cannot be used.
• Chamomile flower Tea - Is soothing and claming (and safe), feeds the nervous system.
• Nettle Tea - Nurturing, tonic, strengthening and blood, calcium building (also endorsing tea socks).
• Lavender Essential Oil - A few drops can be soothing in a bath.
• Marshmallow & Walnut Ointment - Is very helpful to stretch marks, repairs tissue and muscle.
• Linseed and Psyllium Husks and Seed - These are useful to help regulate the bowel. They are gentle safe and effective, contains Omega 3,6 & 9 in highly assimilable form.
• Siberian Ginseng Tincture - An adaptogenic tonic - in other words has no side effects and is safe and supportive during pregnancy and for breastfeeding to support the baby. Initially it helps fertility levels in both sexes. Research in Russia has proved that the herb helps reduce neonatal disorders, especially new born infants with introcranial blood circulation.

As a guide the following text includes herbs that can be safely used, herbs which have some limited use and herbs which should be strictly avoided.

Herbs That Can Be Safely Used In Pregnancy

Herbs With Limited Use During Pregnancy under Supervision - Never Mix with any Drug Medication

The following herbs also have some limited use during pregnancy but it should be noted that due to their cleansing and detoxification properties they should only be used with careful consideration and NOT during the first three months.

Contraindications of Herbs During Pregnancy

Agnus Castus - There is speculation that this herb should not be used during pregnancy and lactation due to its hormonal activity.

Aloe Ferrox - Do not use during pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects of this herb. The anthroquinone content is also potentially mutagenic and/or genotoxic.

Angelica - Do not use during pregnancy or lactation due to this herbs emmenagogue and genotoxic effects.

Arnica - Do not use during pregnancy.

Artichoke - May clog up breast milk in new mothers.

Balm of Gilead - This herb may reduce milk in nursing mothers.

Barberry - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to the uterine stimulant action from the alkaloids. The increase in bile flow caused by this herb may drastically effect the foetus.

Black Cohosh - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue effect. However it may be used to speed an unusually slow stage of labour. Do not use this herb for nursing mothers, due to its potential toxicity in large doses.

Black Pepper - Large doses in pregnancy may have arbortifacient effect.

Bladderwrack -Do not use this herb duriong preganacy due to its potential toxic effects.

Blessed Thistle - Do not use this herb during pregnancy or lactation, due to its uterine stimulant action.

Blue Cohosh - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects. The presence of saponins suggests that it may also stimulate the uterus. Forbidden up to the ninth month of pregnancy. Do not use Blue Cohosh root to prolong gestation in women with past miscarriage. However, it can be used as soon as contractions begin.

Boneset - Do not use during pregnancy due to the arbortifacient effects of the high nitrate content of this herb.

Buchu - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the stimulant properties of pulegone, which may also cause mucousal irritation.

Buckthorn - Do not use during pregnancy due to anthroquinones, which may stimulate uterine contractions, and have mutagenic genotoxic properties. Do not use with nursing mothers, as the anthroquinones may be partly excreted via the milk, with both laxative and genotoxic effects.

Burdock - Excess internal use of this herb should be avoided during pregnancy, due to its oxytoxic effect and its possible uterine stimulant action.

Cascara Sagrada - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the uterine stimulate action, and to the mutagenic and genotoxic anthraquinones. Do not use during lactation due to the secretion of the anthraquinones via milk with potentially genotoxic components.

Catnip - Do not use during pregnancy due to this herb's emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Celery - Large amounts of this herb during pregnancy have arbortifacient and emmenagogue effects.

Chamomile - The whole plant (NOT THE FLOWERS) should be avoided during early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Chapparal - Avoid this herb during pregnancy and with nursing mothers due to the NGDA's which have an inhibitory effect on RNA protein and lipid synthesis.

Cinnamon - An excessive dose may cause nausea and vomiting. (Large amount of pure essential oil when ingested, may cause severe gastro-intestinal irritation with violent vomiting, and may cause kidney irritation and even damage), care with pregnancy and nursing mothers. Avoid during pregnancy due to this herb's emmenagogue effects. Safe in cooking. Avoid with nursing mothers as this herb may cause allergic hypersensitivity due to its cinnamein content.

Coffee - Avoid during pregnancy as this may lead to iron deficiency of both mother and baby, and cardiac stimulation of the foetus. High doses of 600mg are thought to have abortive effects. Avoid with nursing mothers as the caffeine excreted via the mother's milk reduces the level of iron within the milk, increase the risk of mastitis and acts as a nerve stimulant on the infant.

Coltsfoot - Because of the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, this herb which was regarded as harmless, is now considered hazardous. The herb is suggested to be strongly hepatoxic and potentially carcinogenic in humans, this has been concluded due to the production of tumours in experimental animals. There has only been one reported case of poisoning from coltsfoot in humans. A case has been reported of the death of an infant whose mother drank coltsfoot herbal tea during her entire pregnancy. The child was born with severe liver damage caused by the pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the herb consumed by the mother. The child died after 5 weeks from liver failure. The woman had no symptoms of disease. This indicates that infants are much more susceptible to the toxic action of pyrrolizidine alkaloids than adults. Many other cases are reported of death to infants using other herbs containing this alkaloid, and it has been pinpointed as the cause of death.

Comfrey - Comfrey root was banned for internal use in 1992 due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids - see also Coltsfoot contra-indications. Comfrey has a greater amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, therefore any usage is forbidden internally.

Corydalis - Do not use this herb during pregnancy dur to its emmenagague effects.

Crampbark - Regular use of this herb may cause excessive menstrual bleeding, although frequently used for short term excessive bleeding, which it frequently calms.

Cranesbill - Avoid with nursing mothers as this herb has a tendency towards drying up milk.

Dong Quai - Do not take during pregnancy. Excessive dose may cause contractions of the uterus and exert an abortifacient effect.

Elder - Do Not use the batk during pregnancy. Berries and flowers as tea and syrup are safe.

Elecampane - Being a uterine stimulant, do not use during pregnancy. Do not use this herb with lactating mothers as it may cause spasm, symptoms of paralysis and vomiting.

False Unicorn - Avoid during pregnancy due to this herb's emmenagogue effects, however it may be used in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Fennel - Do not use during pregnancy due to this herb's emmenagogue effect, especially the essential oil.

Fenugreek - Avoid excessive doses during pregnancy due to this herb's emmenagogue and arboretifacient effects.

Feverfew - Do not use during pregnancy as it stimulates the uterus.

Flax - Avoid use of this herb during early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Garlic - Avoid excessive doses of the oil during pregnancy due to uterine stimulant action.

Gentian - Do not use during pregnancy due to the uterine stimulant effects of this herb. Do not use with nursing mothers, as this herb makes milk bitter.

Ginger - Avoid large amounts of this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects. However, small amounts e.g. 1 cup daily of fresh ginger tea is advisable during pregnancy for nausea, but the dried herb is contra-indicated (according to ancient Chinese texts).

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, as its safety has not been established.

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) - Do not use this herb during pregnancy and lactation.

Gingko - The nuts of this herb may be toxic to the growing foetus and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy. However, the leaves of this plant are safe for use during pregnancy and while nursing.

Goldenseal - Avoid use of this herb during pregnancy, due to the uterine stimulant actions of the alkaloids berberine and hydrastine, it may also elevate blood pressure.

Gotu Kola - Avoid excessive internal use of this herb during early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Gravel Root - Do not use during pregnancy due to this herb's arbortifacient effects, and the pyrrolizine content. Do not use for nursing mothers due to the hepatoxic effects of this herb.

Horehound (white) - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Horseradish - Do not use this herb during pregnancy as large amounts may be arbortifacient.

Hydrangea - Do not use this herb during pregnancy or lactation.

Juniper - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects of the volatile oils.

Kava Kava - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to this herb's uterine stimulant effects of its constituents. Do not use this herb while breast-feeding, due to possible transfer of toxic constituents.

Kelp - Avoid this herb during pregnancy.

Lavender - Avoid excessive internal use of this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effect.

Lime - Regular use of this herb during pregnancy should be avoided due to its diaphoretic action, which may have arbortifacient effects.

Liquorice - Avoid use of this herb during pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effect.

Lobelia - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its possible toxic potential. It may also relax the uterine and perineal musculature.

Marigold - Do not use this herb in early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Marijuana - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to this herbs cardiovascular effects and effects on the spleen, pancreas and nervous system.

Mistletoe - Overdose highly toxic can cause poisoning symptoms. Do not use this herb during pregnancy or lactation due to its uterine stimulant action and genotoxic effects.

Motherwort - Do not use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid this herb in early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects. Also due to the uterine stimulant effects of its constituents stachydrine and leonurine.

Mugwort - Do not use during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects and the uterine stimulant action of its constituents. Do not use this herb while breast-feeding, due to the transfer of its toxic constituents through the mothers milk.

Myrrh - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Oregon Grape - Do not use this herb during pregnancy.

Parsley - Do not use excessive dose of parsley extract and oil during pregnancy. Do not use the root of this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Pasque Flower - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and uterine stimulant actions. Do not use this herb with nursing mothers, due to gastro-intestinal irritant effects.

Passion Flower - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the uterine stimulant action of its alkaloids and the presence of cyanogenic glycosides or during lactation due to this.

Pennyroyal - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Peppermint - Do not use this herb in early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Pine - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its potential arbortifacient effects.

Poke Root - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its uterine stimulant effects and also its mitogenic effects.

Prickly Ash - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Raspberry - Do not use this herb during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, due to the uterine stimulant activities of its constituents and also its alkaloid content.

Red Clover - Do not use this herb during pregnancy.

Rehmannia - Do not use this herb during pregnancy.

Rhubarb - Do not use in pregnancy and lactation.

Rosemary - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Rhubarb (Turkey) - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its uterine stimulant effects, and the possible mutagenic and genotoxic activities of the anthraquinones.

Sage - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the volatile oil thujone, which has emmenogogue and arbortifacient effects. Do not use this herb during lactation as it reduces milk production.

Saw Palmetto - Avoid use of this herb during pregnancy, as the berries are known to act upon the endocrine and reproductive systems.

Senna - Do not use this herb during pregnancy or while breast feeding, due to insufficient toxicological investigation.

Squaw Vine - Do not use this herb during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, especially where there is a past history of miscarriage.

St. John's Wort - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

Thuja - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its arbortifacient effects.

Thyme - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects.

Turmeric - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue, arbortifacient and uterine stimulant effects.

Uva Ursi - Do not use this herb during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, due to its oxytoxic action.

Vervain - Do not use this herb during pregnancy.

Walnut - Do not use this herb during pregnancy or lactation.

Wild Carrot - Restricted in pregnancy as it may stimulate uterine contractions - however, eaten as a wild vegetable this would not apply.

Wild Lettuce - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its uterine stimulant action.

Wormwood - Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects. Also the uterine stimulant action of the thujone.

Yarrow - Do not use this herb during pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

The information contained in these pages is an indication of possible contraindications, but if you are at all concerned about any herb and its suitability for personal use please contact a herbal practitioner in your area or contact us.