HERBS THAT CAN BE USED DURING PREGNANCY AND WHILE NURSING
Bilberry: will fortify vein and capillary support, aids in kidney function and is a mild diuretic for bloating
Blue Cohosh: stops and eliminates false labor pains; for final weeks of pregnancy, to ease and/or induce labor
Burdock Root: helps prevent water retention and jaundice in the baby
Chamomile: aids digestive and bowel problems and relaxes for good sleep.
Echinacea: aids the immune system to help prevent colds, flu and infections
Ginger Root: excellent for morning sickness
Lobelia: helps to relax the mother during delivery and helps speed up the delivery of the placenta
Nettles: will guard against excessive bleeding as it has vitamin K in it; it will improve kidney function and help prevent hemorrhoids
Peppermint: after the first trimester, may be used to help digestion, soothe the stomach and overcome nausea. It is an over-all body strengthener and cleanser
Red Raspberry: it is an all-around excellent herb to use for pregnancy. It is a uterine tonic, anti-abortive, and helps prevent infection. It also aids in preventing cramps and anemia. Prevents excessive bleeding during and after labor and will facilitate the birth process by stimulating contractions.
Wild Yam: for pregnancy pain, nausea or cramping and will lessen miscarriage
Yellow Dock: aids in iron assimilation and will help to prevent infant jaundice
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Bowel: Psyllium with a good amount of water. Cascara Sagrada – start with a very small amount and increase if needed. Do not take so much that it causes cramping or diarrhea.
Build Mother’s Milk: Blessed Thistle, Red Raspberry Leaf, Cell Salts, and Fenugreek
Cough, Congestion: YS Formula
Depression: Skunk Cabbage
Digestion: Digestive enzymes
Heart: HR
Infection: Echinacea (take two weeks, then off one week), Colloidal Silver, Olive Leaf
Kidney: Fluid Retention: KD-B, KA, Buchu
Nausea: Red Raspberry Leaf, Spearmint, Peppermint Leaf (not oil) Ginger, G, Peach Leaf (take in small amounts as it can have laxative effect)
Nerves: Chamomile, Valerian Root, NRV
Pain: PA-H, L&B
Pregnancy Support: PNC, Cell Salts
Prevent Miscarriage: Crampbark Formula, PNC
Sleep: SR, Cell Salts, MEL-L, NRV
Stomach: STM, Dandelion Root
Thyroid: Dulse, THY, Cell Salts (a lack of iodine in mother’s system can cause Down’s Syndrome)
Weaning: Sage or Parsley will assist drying up milk production
HERBS TO BE AVOIDED DURING PREGNANCY
The Following Herbs Should Not Be Used During Pregnancy:
Aloe Vera, Whole Leaf: use externally only
Alfalfa: in high amounts as it can stimulate hormones
Angelica: can cause uterine contractions
Barberry
Black Cohosh, or any herb that has hormone effect
Buckthorn
Cascara Sagrada
Chestnut Leaf
Cinchona: Cinchona and its alkaloids should be avoided in pregnancies because of their oxytocic effects
Coffee: avoid caffeine, as it irritates the uterus; excessive amounts in some sensitive individuals can cause premature birth or miscarriage
Coltsfoot
Dandelion Root (while nursing)
Dong Quai
Eucalyptus oil: should be avoided during pregnancy as it is difficult to eliminate through the kidneys
Feverfew: has been shown to stimulate menses in some women, and may therefore precipitate miscarriage
Gentian
Golden Seal
Juniper: a too-strong vasodilating, diuretic effect
Lovage: causes uterine contractions
Ma Huang (Ephedra): should be avoided during pregnancy as it has too strong of an antihistamine effect; also raises pulse rate and blood pressure
Mathake
Male Fern: too strong a vermifuge
Mandrake
Milkweed: avoid internally
Mistletoe: can cause uterine contractions
Mugwort: stimulates uterine contractions and can be toxic in large doses
Myrrh
Parsley: in nursing mothers will dry up milk
Pennyroyal: can cause abortion of the unborn child
Poke root: should be avoided during pregnancy as it is a powerful emetic
Rue: can cause abortion
Safflower
Saffron
Sage: in nursing mothers will dry up milk
Senna
Schizandra Berry
Shatavari
Shepherds Purse: too astringent; may be used for after-birth bleeding
Suma:– use with caution
Tansy: can cause uterine contractions
Thuja
Turkey Rhubarb
Wild Ginger: an emmenagogue that causes uterine contractions
Wormwood: stimulates uterine contractions and can be toxic in large doses
Yarrow: a strong astringent and mild abortifacient (may cause abortion of the unborn child)
HERBS TO BE LIMITED DURING PREGNANCY
The herbs listed below should not be taken except by the recommendation of your herbalist, and in limited amounts, and then with caution, and then perhaps only in combinations.
Black Cohosh: use only the final weeks of pregnancy; will ease and/or induce labor.
False Unicorn: use only the final weeks of pregnancy; will ease and/or induce labor.
Golden Seal: large amounts can cause uterine contractions.
Pennyroyal: this herb can cause abortion; may be used in final weeks.
NOTE: The following herbs are LAXATIVE in nature and should be used very sparingly or in combinations.
• Aloe Vera
• Barberry
• Buckthorn
• Cascara Sagrada
• Mandrake
• Turkey Rhubarb
• Senna
Strong laxatives should be used with discretion as they cause stomach and intestinal cramping.
