Herbs To Avoid During Pregnancy

Many herbs should never be used during pregnancy. Those containing high quantities of volatile oils (some of which could be toxic, such as pennyroyal), or alkaloids, such as barberry, can affect your central nervous system as well as interfere with the development of your baby’s

Harsh bitter, such as Mugwort, that strongly stimulate digestion and metabolism should be avoided, as should strong laxatives such as senna, buckthorn, cascara Sagrada, and rhubarb; bitters and laxatives can trigger uterine contractions. Herbs with strong hormonal properties are not advised, including sage and licorice.

Consult your health-care provider if you have doubts about the safety of any herb.

	Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)—cathartic
	Angelica (Angelica archangelica)—emmenagogue
	Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)—uterine stimulant
	Birthroot (Trillium spp.)—uterine astringent
	Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)—strong bitter
	Butternut (Juglans cinerea)—laxative
	Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana)—laxative
	Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)—possibly fetotoxic
	Damiana (Turnera diffusa)—nervous system and hormonal activity
	Drug Aloe (Aloe vera)—cathartic
	Ephedra (Ma-huang) (Ephedra sinica)—high alkaloid content, cardiac stimulant
	Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)—emmenagogue
	Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis)—uterine stimulant
	Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)—affects nervous system
	Juniper berries (Juniperus communis)—possibly fetotoxic, affects kidneys
	Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)—emmenagogue
	Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) (safe to use in cooking)—slightly toxic
	Osha (Ligusticum porteri)—emmenagogue
	Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) (safe to use in cooking)—emmenagogue
	Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)—emmenagogue
	Pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa)—cardiac stimulant
	Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)—laxative
	Rue (Ruta graveolens)—emmenagogue
	Sage (Salvia officinalis) (safe to use in cooking)—emmenagogue, hormonal activity
	Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii)—hormonal activity
	Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)—cardiac stimulant
	Senna (Senna alexandrina)—laxative
	Shepard’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)—hemostatic
	Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)—emmenagogue
	Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)—emmenagogue

Excerpted with permission from Herbs for Health magazine, March/April 1997 issue, by Aviva Romm. Visit Herbs for Health online at www.discoverherbs.com; call (515) 247-7571.