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Pregnancy: Distinguish between useful and harmful herbs

Published On: September 5, 2009, 10:58 am

Pregnancy: Distinguish between useful and harmful herbs By Ishpreet Bindra

Pregnancy is a time when you want to go all natural and herbal, as far as all your intakes are concerned. No one wants to take in chemicals and have them going straight to the baby. Therefore, from small little discomforts to big problems, people go in for herbal supplements during these vital nine months. However, not all herbs are good for you. It is important to know which herbs are the do-gooders and which ones need to be shunned.

 
Also, different herbs have different reactions on different people, bringing out either the best or the worst results. They may also interfere with your ongoing prescriptions. It is therefore important to consult a professional before taking any kind of herbs during pregnancy.
Herbs to rely upon
 
Here are some of the herbs you can rely upon during pregnancy. However, never take any without getting them approved from the concerned practitioner.
 
• Bilberry helps to fortify veins and build capillary support. It also enhances kidney function.
• In case someone experiences indigestion, one can go in for peppermint, especially after the first trimester. The baby starts growing by then which may cause burning sensation or stomach upsets. This will help ease the nausea as well.
• The herb red raspberry is an anti-abortive herb. It not only reduces cramps and infections during pregnancy, but also fights anaemia and is a good uterine tonic. It also prevents excessive bleeding during labour.
• To deal with the problem of false labour, Blue and Black Cohosh are the best bet.
• Chamomile aids the digestive system in pregnant women. It regulates their bowel movements, thus relieves from constipation and induces relaxed sleep.
• Medication is generally avoided during pregnancy. Many a time some problems especially cold, cough and mild fever get difficult to manage without medicines. Under such conditions Echinacea can prove helpful. It builds the immune system and prevents cold, cough etc.
• Ginger root fights morning sickness.
• Topical use of Lobelia herb, relaxes the mother as she goes through labour and helps the placenta to come out faster.
• Nettles is useful in cases of low placenta, as it is a rich source of Vit-K and prevents bleeding.
• Wild yam helps reduce possibilities of miscarriage and is therefore helpful in placenta previa cases.
• Almost all infants born have neonatal jaundice. To prevent this, an intake of the herb Yellow Dock helps.
 
Herbs to avoid
 
While many herbs are helpful, there are some which must be ignored completely during pregnancy. These are:
 
• Aloe Vera, although very useful otherwise, is a natural laxative and should be kept at arms length during pregnancy.
• Angelica is another herb which can cause uterine contractions and thus should not be taken. Arbor Viae, blood root, Broom and Cotton Root, clove oil, Dong Quai, Devil’s Claw, Fewer Few, American Pennyroyal and European Pennyroyal, Rue, Shepherd’s Purse etc are some of the other similar herbs, which work as uterine stimulants and may cause contractions as they are menstrual inducers.
• Autumn Crocus, if used may lead to birth defects in the infant. Mugwort also has similar effect. It needs to be avoided even during breast feeding as do Pokeroot and Pseudoginseng.
• Bugleweed affects hormone production as does false Unicorn root,
• The herb Comfrey has toxic chemicals which may affect the placenta as the toxic chemicals present in Life Root and Mistletoe, which can enter the placenta.
• The herb Peruvian Bark is quite dangerous for pregnant women as it is known to lead to Coma and blindness.
 
It is therefore wise to consult a doctor before taking any of these herbs during pregnancy to avoid any complications later. 
 
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