Herbal therapy in pregnancy-what to expect when you expect?

Abstract

The use of herbal therapy in pregnancy is common for pregnancy related nausea, vomiting, gestational diabetes, anxiety, insomnia, and preparation for labor, as well as for treating infections. Many conventional drugs may interfere with fetal development and herbal products are considered to be safe. However, herbal therapy requires competent healthcare professional advice before prescribing. Knowledge about the possible adverse effects of active compounds of the herbs on pregnancy outcome is limited. Interference of herbal ingredients with conventional medication or the ailment should also not be excluded. For many herbal products, the pharmacological effect is not clinically proven, and the safe usage in pregnancy is not guaranteed. Here, based on published clinical trials, an overview is given of the efficacy and safety for fetal development and pregnancy outcome of the most frequently used herbs: ginger, cranberry, echinacea, mint, chamomile, valerian, flaxseed, tea and raspberry leaf.