Herbs during pregnancy? Are they safe?
February 28, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
Using herbs to relieve stress, pain, and other problems is becoming increasingly common. You don’t even need to go to a health food store or natural products store; you can find these herbal products in many drugstores and even in big name stores.
But if you’re pregnant, should you even consider taking them? First of all, it’s important that you speak with your midwife or doctor, especially if you’re taking medications for a medical disorder. Many seemingly harmless herbs could cause serious interactions with some medications.
If you want to do some research on your own, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health, has made available this list of the most common herbs used in North America, their uses and cautions, including if they shouldn’t be used during pregnancy: Herbs at a Glance.
What do you think? Do you use herbs? Would you like to?
~~~~
Images: Newscom.com and iStock
Tags: pregnancy blog, herbs in pregnancy, complementary medicine, alternative medicine
I feel comfortable using some herbs during pregnancy but I consider them as carefully as I do a drug because some have potent effects. But herbals teas and the like are a lot like nutritional supplements rather than heavy-strength drugs. I think caution and knowledge are needed but herbs can be a good option for issues during pregnancy. I like Susan Weed’s book on herbs during and after pregnancy