Herb Use During Pregnancy
The Safety of Four Popular Herbs & Their Use By Pregnant Women
Are herbs safe to use during pregnancy? Learn what science says about four popular herbal supplements and whether they are safe to use when a woman is pregnant.
Even herbal medicine experts agree that there have been surprisingly few quality studies looking at the the safety of various herbs during pregnancy. Do-it-yourself herbal medicine books are full of scary-sounding words like "emmmenagogue" and "abortifactant" but legitimate proof of herbal medicine's safety (or danger) during pregnancy is scarce.
Here's what science really says about four of the most popular herbs and their safety during pregnancy.
Taking Ginkgo While Pregnant
Ginkgo biloba is one of the best-selling herbs in North America today. Taken mainly to increase circulation to the brain, ginkgo biloba has shown great promise in the fight against dementia, Alzheimer disease and macular degeneration. But it isn't just the elderly who may potentially benefit from ginkgo biloba. A handful of studies have suggested that ginkgo biloba may also improve cognitive function in young people, too.
Unfortunately, in addition to its ability to improve memory and alertness, ginkgo biloba has the potential to cause excessive bleeding and hormonal disruptions. There is weak scientific evidence that the use of ginkgo biloba during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage. More study is needed but, at this time, ginkgo biloba is not generally recommended during pregnancy.
Taking St. John's Wort While Pregnant
Centuries ago, St. John's wort was believed to ward off evil spirits. Today, St. John's wort is used mainly to alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression and in some studies, St. John's wort actually performed as well as prescription anti-deppressants.
Few human studies have been done on the safety of St. John's wort during pregnancy but the animal studies that have been done show no real potential for lowered cognitive development or long-term behavioral disorders in children of women who took St. John's wort while pregnant. However this doesn't necessarily mean that St. John's wort is safe during pregnancy. Researchers looking into the use of St. John's wort during pregnancy urge caution, especially when using St. John's wort with other medications.
Taking Echinacea While Pregnant
Echinacea may not be as popular now as it was a few years ago but this native of North America is still among the best-selling herbs in the world. Used mainly to strengthen the immune system, echinacea was once widely used to treat illnesses from the common cold to syphilis.
Only a handful of studies have looked at the safety of echinacea during pregnancy but there is no good scientific evidence that moderate use of echinacea, when taken as recommended, poses a risk to an unborn child. However, researchers are quick to remind women that more studies are needed before echinacea is finally deemed safe for pregnant women.
Taking Black Cohosh While Pregnant
Still popular in Europe, black cohosh was once extensively used to treat a number of pre-menustral and menopausal symptoms. Despite being recognized as an effective PMS medication in Germany, black cohosh isn't as widely accepted in North America, mainly because of black cohosh's potential to stimulate the growth of some types of breast cancer tumors.
Today, black cohosh is not generally recommended during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. It is feared that the weak estrogenic effect of black cohosh could raise the risk of miscarriage. Obviously, more study is needed before black cohosh is routinely deemed safe for pregant women.
Should Women Take ANY Herbs While Pregnant?
Pregnant women should remember that most herbs have not been exhaustively studied for safety during pregnancy. Their effect on an unborn child is simply not fully understood in most cases. Any woman wishing to add herbal supplements to her daily regimen should talk to her obstetrician for more information about the specific herb she is considering.
Related Suite101 Articles on Herbs & Pregnancy:
Anda Powers' Herbs for Pregnancy
References:
Dugoua, J., Mills, E., Perri, D., Koren, G. (2006). Safety and efficacy of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) during pregnancy and lactation. Canandian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Dogoua, J., Mills, E., Perri, D., Koren, G. (2006) Safety and efficacy of St. John's wort (hypericum) during pregnancy and lactation. Canandian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Dogoua, J., Mills, E., Perri, D., Koren, G. (2006) Safety and efficacy of echinacea (Echinacea angustafolia, e. purpurea and e. pallida) during pregnancy and lactation. Canandian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Dogoua, J., Mills, E., Perri, D., Koren, G. (2006) Safety and efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) during pregnancy and lactation. Canandian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
