Dangerous Herbs for Pregnant Women

Below you will find a list of dangerous herbs for pregnant women to handle. Some of you might be shocked to find ordinary "kitchen herbs" on the list, but herbs such as sage and thyme can stimulate uterine contractions.

I complied this list from research done when I was pregnant. I do not claim that this is an all-inclusive list. Please research, or better yet, avoid any herb you are uncertain of. It is much better to be safe than sorry. As with any medicine, always check with your doctor before use.

I would like to call special attention to the dangers of Pennyroyal. This herb is especially dangerous; it has been linked to spontaneous abortions. If you have it in any form -- including massage or bath oils or lotions --- please discard it immediately. Remember, your baby's life is not worth the risk of keeping dangerous supplies that can easily replaced after your baby is born.

The following commonly used cooking herbs may encourage miscarriage and should be avoided during the first trimester and used sparingly throughout the pregnancy:

Basil, Caraway Seed, Celery Seed, Ginger, Fresh Horseradish, Savory, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Parsley, Tarragon and Thyme.

The following herbs are best avoided while trying to conceive as well as during the first trimester. They have been known to prevent conception and/or cause the uterine to contract:

Pennyroyal, Wild Carrot Seed · Rue · Buckwheat · Elder · Smartweed · Ginger root · Tansy · Angelica · Lemon Balm · Bethroot · Black Cohosh · Blue Cohosh · Cotton Root Bark · European Vervain · Ergot fungus · Feverfew (in flower) · Hyssop · Liferoot (in flower) · Lovage · Marijuana · Mistletoe · Motherwort · Mugwort · Osha · Peruvian Bark · Rosemary (in flower) · Rue · Saffron · Sumac · Sweet Flag · fresh Wood Sorrel

The following herbs could cause birth defects:

Ma Huang (Ephedra) · Osha · Flax seed · Senna · Aloes · Castor Oil · Turkey Rhubarb · Buckthorn · Cascara Sagrada · Buchu · Horsetail · Juniper berries · Agave · Ginseng · Licorice · Hops · Sage

Here are some more herbs to be weary of:

(An Emmenagogue is an agent that promotes menstrual flow.)

Sources: Herbs for Health magazine, March/April 1997 issue, Perinatal Education Associates, Inc., Herbs for Women's Health