When your back aches, your feet swell, and your stomach churns, you might be willing to try just about anything to get relief. And when standard treatments fall short, herbal products may seem like an appealing option. Many women -- as many as 60 percent in some surveys -- take herbal remedies to ease the discomforts of pregnancy. Ancient folklore and modern marketing can make these products sound like miracle cures, but do they really work? And are they safe for you and your baby?

Unfortunately, there are few simple answers to these very important questions. Herbal products aren't required to meet any government standards for safety or effectiveness, and the actual contents can vary widely from one pill or tea bag to the next. Some products may even be contaminated with heavy metals or prescription drugs.

For these reasons, experts at the FDA advise pregnant women to avoid herbal products altogether, and the National Women's Health Information Center strongly advises women to check with a health care provider before taking any herbal supplement or drinking herbal teas while pregnant. The March of Dimes echoes this advice and warns, "the safety and effectiveness of many herbal supplements have not been demonstrated."

Despite all of the unknowns surrounding herbs, doctors, pharmacists, and herbal experts have created some basic guidelines based on many years of observations. Some products seem generally safe and may be worth trying with the approval and guidance of your doctor. Other herbs should definitely be avoided.

Many herbs pose serious risks to pregnant women and their babies. Some -- including black or blue cohosh, dong quai, ephedra, feverfew, pennyroyal, and thuja -- may cause contractions in the uterus that can trigger miscarriage or premature labor. According to the March of Dimes, large amounts of tea made with peppermint or red raspberry leaf may also raise the risk of premature labor. Other herbs, such as comfrey, contain toxins that can harm you and your baby.

Here is a list of herbs that you should never take during pregnancy, according to the University of Texas Pharmacy Program. In each case, there is scientific evidence that the herb can harm you or your baby.

Alconite

Aloe (taken internally)

Barberry

Betel nut

Bitter almond

Black cohosh

Blue cohosh

Calamus

Comfrey

Dong quai

Ephedra

Lavender (essential oil)

Mayapple

Pennyroyal

Rue

Senna

Thuja

Wormwood

Wormseed

Zoapatle

Again, these herbs are all well-documented offenders. Dozens of other herbs at least have potential to be dangerous during pregnancy. A few herbs should be avoided because nobody really knows how they affect pregnant women. These include chamomile, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John's wort, and valerian, according to the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing.

While many herbal products are either known hazards or unknown mysteries, a few herbs seem to be generally safe and effective during pregnancy. Even these "safe" products need to be taken with caution, however, and only with the consent of your doctor. Your doctor can make sure you aren't taking something that will interact with your medications and may also be able to suggest a more effective, better-tested treatment for your problem.

Ginger, an ancient remedy for nausea, is at the top of the list of herbs that may be worth taking during pregnancy. A review article published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology in April 2005 concluded that ginger seems to be "an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy" but that more studies needed to be done to determine whether it was absolutely safe.

If your doctor approves the use of ginger during pregnancy, there are a few different ways to take ginger. Perhaps the most satisfying option is to make a tea by steeping fresh ginger root in boiling water for 15 minutes. Sweeten the brew with honey and sip it throughout the day for a soothing, stomach-calming treat. Ginger is also available in capsules. The standard recommendation is to take a 250-milligram capsule four times a day.

Cranberry, an herb often used to treat urinary tract infections, is also thought to be safe to take during pregnancy, according to the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. You can try drinking cranberry juice sweetened with other fruit juices or you can take cranberry pills. Again, talk to your doctor first. A urinary tract infection can be a danger sign during pregnancy, and your doctor needs to know about it.

The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing says that young dandelion leaves in a salad may help ease swelling in late pregnancy. Make certain the leaves are clean and haven't been sprayed with pesticides. Be sure to tell your doctor if swelling suddenly increases. Extreme swelling may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition that calls for far more than a few dandelion leaves.

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology, is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive and the co-author of Generation Extra Large: Rescuing Our Children from the Epidemic of Obesity (Perseus, 2005). Connie Matthiessen is a former staff writer for the Center for Investigative Reporting who has written widely on health and medical issues.

References

Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive

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