Botanicals ~ Herbs and Remedies During Pregnancy

My teacher, Dr. Sarita Shrestha of Nepal was a staunch believer in NO HERBS UNLESS NECESSARY during pregnancy. And I tend to agree. Let's try to get as much nourishment and balance from foods, lifestyle and loving relationships. However, there are times when they are of use... as well, anxious Mama's want to know what is to be avoided, so you'll find that below too. If you don't know if an herb is safe, hold off until you can talk to a trusted advisor about any herb or tea you are interested in. Just because something was beneficial before you were pregnant, does not mean it is appropriate during pregnancy or lactation. If you would like me to recommend specific botanicals for you {such as Flower Essences} we can do that during your Prenatal Sessions. 

In particular, unless prescribed specifically for your pregnancy avoid herbs {except for those that help with nausea} during the first trimester, even Pregnancy Tea. Also please avoid any herbs that are laxative. There are food and lifestyle based remedies for many pregnancy discomforts {like the Raisin trick for constipation below}

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Beneficial + Safe Botanicals

• Brahmi in moderation {if recommended in proper doses by a professional, can help with pregnancy brain}
• Cardamom {green} - increases joy, warmth, digestion. It can be added in cooking but is especially good in sweets or warm almond milk. 
• Cardamom {black} the seeds can be roasted and chewed {or ground and eat a pinch a couple times a day} for 1st trimester nausea
• Chamomile is great for calming mind and nervous system, balancing vata or pitta, encouraging sleep, and reducing aches and pains naturally. Test a little before use by holding some chamomile flowers or swishing tea in your mouth before using because rare people are allergic. Avoid chamomile if there is a history of miscarriage or if spotting. 
• Chlorophyll - I prefer Chloroxygen brand. Add a dropper full to a glass of water to increase your iron. 
• Cranberry ~ can be useful for natural treatment of UTIs, which can arise during pregnancy. 
• Flower Essences ~ Diluted {3 drops at a time in water} such as Rescue Remedy {great for anxiety or stress} ~ I recommend Bach or Floracopiea. 
  
• Ginger {can help with nausea and digestion} - Ginger tea, ginger in your cooking, etc. It's all good. 

• Gooseberry or Black cardamom can help with nausea
• Kelp ~ this sea veggie is a great source of nutrients. It can be cooked and eaten, or you can add it to soups or stews and draw out if you don't like the texture. You can purchase it powdered at health food stores and sprinkle on your food.. it will have the flavor of the sea. This is really more of a food supplement than an herb. Make sure it's organic. 
• Lavender - a great prenatal essential oil on the skin {in a carrier oil or lotion}, a few drops in your bath or diffused in your living or working space. It's calming and relaxing. The dried flowers themselves can be added to warm water or ginger tea for their calming effects. 
• Melissa {Lemon balm} - again you can use the dried herb itself in a tea or the essential oil diffused or in your bath. Calming and rejuvenating to vitality.
• Natural Makeup - my favorite is Eccobella and Jane Iredale. 
• Natural Skincare - my favorite is Floracopiea
• Nettles ~ Find Nettles tea {or make your own}, especially during the third trimester, very nourishing and great for increasing Iron {along with eating your greens and cooking in an iron skillet} 
• Products made by Wishgarden Herbs that are designed for pregnancy - I highly recommend you have her Immune Boost and Cold Season formulas on hand just in case you need to fight a cold or flu. 
• Pregnancy Tea ~ I do not recommend this until you are closer to the 36th week
• Rosehips ~ a great source of vitamin C and can be enjoyed as a tea {or even a cool tea with mint as a summer pregnancy coctail}
• Sandalwood and Turmeric ~ TOPICALLY for any dark spots caused by hormones and for natural facials during pregnancy. You can make a paste with either or both powders with yogurt, water, organic milk or coconut water. 

• Raisins soaked in water overnight and then added to boiled milk and consumed in the morning are a safe way to deal with prenatal constipation. Of course raisins are not an herb! But they are a great home remedy and totally safe. 
  

Botanicals to Avoid

• Alder Buckhorn
• Aloe Vera
• Arnica
• Angelika
• Autumn Crocus
• Barberry
• Black Cohosh
• Beth Root
• Blessed thistle
• Blood Root
• Blue Cohosh
• Broom
• Butternut
• Herbs to increase breastmilk / lactation. Do not take these during pregnancy, but start immediately after birth. These include fennel and fenugreek {fine in food, but not to be taken medicinally during pregnancy}
• Calamus
• Calendula
• Cascara sagrada
• Cinnamon {in food is fine, avoid medicinal amounts}
• Coltsfoot
• Comfrey
• Conventional makeup and other toiletry products have hormone interrupting ingredients. Go for natural botanical options. 
• Cotton Root
• Cowslip
• Damiana
• Dong quai
• Ephedra {ma huang}
• Essential Oils - use only topically, do not take internally during pregnancy unless prescribed by a medically trained professional
• Feverfew
• Ginseng
• Goats rue
• Godlenseal
• Hing {asafoetida}
• Ipecac
• Juniper Berry
• Laxatives such as Triphala or any laxative herbs prescribed for constipation {beware that these can be included in herbal formulas or combinations - you really need to know each herb in a formula}
• Licorice
• Lilly of the valley
• Lobelia
• Male fern
• Mandrake
• Mistletoe
• Mugort
• Neem
• Nutmeg {in medicinal amounts, small amounts is fine}
• Osha
• Papaya
• Parsley {in medicinal amounts, small amounts is fine}
• Plantain
• Pennyroyal
• Periwinkle
• Peruvian Bark
• Pleurisy root
• Poke root
• Raspberry Leaf, unless prescribed by a prenatal professional
• Rhubarb
• Rue
• Sage
• Sarsparilla
• Senna
• Shepherd's purse
• Slippery Elm
  
• Stillingia
• Tansy
• Thuja
• Turmeric in medicinal amounts {such as taking tablets. cooking with turmeric is fine, however if you have lots of Vata or dryness during pregnancy you may want to avoid or very much reduce it, remember that Turmeric is a main ingredient in curry powder}
• Wormwood
• Yarrow

Because much of my training only covered Ayurvedic herbs and a few western ones, thank you to The Natural Pregnancy Book and Aviva Romm for filling in the blanks on these lists!