Herbal Teas to Not Take When Pregnant
Herbal teas are a popular nutritional supplement for pregnant women and can alleviate common pregnancy discomforts. Herbs can be powerful medicinal agents and must be used with knowledge and respect.
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Respecting Their Power
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Some herbs should be avoided during pregnancy. If you are unsure about the safety or identity of an herb, do not use it. Many of the herbs listed below are uncommon and rarely are included in commercial herbal tea blends intended for pregnant women. A pregnant woman preparing her own herbal teas will need to exercise extra caution not to include an herb that is unsafe for her or her developing baby. Some of the herbs, while contraindicated for pregnant women, are sometimes used by experienced herbalists to treat pregnancy-related ailments or to help in labor. The nuanced nature of using herbs means that it is imperative that pregnant women follow the advice of an experienced herbalist. All herbs listed below are followed in parentheses by their scientific species name.
Emmenagogues
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The most important category of herbs to avoid during pregnancy are "emmenagogues," or those that promote menstruation. Examples of these include:
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Bethroot (Trillium erectum)
Birthwort root (Aristolochia spp.)
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Cotton root bark (Gossypium herbaceum)
Ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea)
European Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Lemon balm leaves (Melissa officinalis)
Liferoot (Senecio aureus)
Lovage root (Levisticum officinale)
Marijuana female flowers (Cannabis sativa)
Mistletoe leaves (Viscum album)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Mugwort (Artemesia vulgare)
Osha root (Ligusticum porten)
Parsley, fresh leaves (Petroselinum crispum)
Pennyroyal leaves (Mentha pulegium)
Peruvian bark (Cinchona spp.)
Rosemary, in flower (Rosemaryinus officinalis)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Saffron stigmas
Sumac berries (Rhus spp.)
Sweet flag root (Acorus calamus)
Tansy leaves (Tanacetum vulgare)
Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
Vitamin C in high doses -
Teratogens
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Pregnant women will also want to avoid herbs that are "teratogens," or those that can cause birth defects. Examples include:
Herbal antihistamines (Ma-huang/Ephedra [Ephedra vulgaris], osha root)
Herbal laxatives (flax seeds, senna [Cassia senna], aloe (aloe vera), castor oil, turkey rhubarb, buckthorn [Rhamnus cathartica], cascara sagrada [Rhamnus purshiana])
Herbal diuretics (buchu [Agathosma betulina], horsetail [Equisetum arvense], juniper berries [Juniperis communis])
Herbs containing steroids (agave, ginseng [Panax quinquefolium], licorice [Glycyrrhiza glabra], hops, sage)
Cooking herbs that may promote miscarriage (basil, caraway seeds, celery seeds, fresh horseradish, savory, marjoram, nutmeg, rosemary, saffron, sage, parsley, tarragon, thyme, watercress)
Other Contraindicated Herbs
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Other herbs that are contraindicated during pregnancy include:
Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
Arnica (Arnica Montana)
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Beth root (Trillium spp.)
Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus)
Blood root (Sanguinaria Canadensis)
Broom (Sarpthamnus scoparius)
Butternut (Juglans Canadensis)
Calamus (Acorus calamus)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Damiana (Turnera phrodisiaca)
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Goat's Rue (Galega officinalis))
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Gotu kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica)
Ipecac (Ipecac ipechachuana)
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria magalis)
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
Fern, male (Dryopteris felix-mas)
Mandrake ( Podophyllum peltatum)
Periwinkle (Vinca spp.)
Pleurisy root (Aesclepius tuberosa)
Poke root (Phytolacca decondra)
Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinale)
Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Stillingia (Stillingia sylvatica)
Thuja (Thuja occidentalis)
Wormwood (Artemesia absinthum)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Trusting Your Source
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Like any food, nutritional supplement or drug taken during pregnancy, you will want to feel confident that herbal teas are safe for you and your baby. The most important rule of thumb is to trust your source: the source for the herbs and teas and the source of the information about herbal tea safety and identification. Used wisely, herbal teas can be a valuable supplement for nutrition, as well as support in addressing pregnancy-related discomforts and ailments.
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