Herbal medicine has a long history of use and is still commonly used today, including during pregnancy. Many pregnant women use herbs to treat conditions like morning sickness, menstrual disorders, and labor pains due to their perceived efficacy and safety. However, some herbs can be harmful during pregnancy and should be avoided, like those that cause uterine contractions. Pregnant women must carefully research any herbs they consider using and consult their healthcare providers due to risks from potential toxicity. Overall herbal medicine requires caution during pregnancy and reliance on certified practitioners rather than internet or media sources alone.

1. Benefits and risks of herbal products in pregnancy
Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud Khalifa 2007 / 1176
Herbal medicine PHG 431
Dr. Khaled Meselhy
Spring 2011

2. Final draft
Herbal medicine is the use of herbs to treat diseases. Herbal medicine is the first kind of
medicine used by humans. All cultures used herbs throughout history. Plants served as food,
clothing, shelter and medicine. Ancient people explored the plants surrounding them. They used
to observe wild animals and began to depend on trial and error to know the effects of plants.
Later on, they developed herbal pharmacopoeias. Many people today use herbal drugs. About
25% of drugs prescribed in United States contain at least one active constituent from plant
extract. Herbs are used mainly for four purposes, which are food, cosmetics, health and
medicine. Herbs can be used in pregnancy. Many women used to administer herbal medicines in
pregnancy and menstrual disorders. Herbal medicine is used to treat many diseases associated
with pregnancy such as morning sickness, threatened miscarriage, difficult labour and poor milk
production. Pregnancy is the most wonderful dream for each woman. Women use to search for
the best health care for themselves and for their fetuses. Many pregnant women believe that
herbal medicines are the best choice for their health care. Some pregnant women like to use
herbal products because of their efficacy and safety; whereas, others believe that herbal drugs
cause harmful consequences and have low safety.
Many pregnant women prefer to use herbs due to their high efficacy in treating many
diseases. They can treat menstrual disorders. They treat menstrual irregularity; herbs are used to
treat pain associated with menstruation and to treat irregular menstrual periods. Chaste tree
(Vitex agnus-castus) is a good example for treating menstrual irregularity. Although studies and
clinical trials are limited but it has proven efficiency in treating this disease. This herb works on
hypothalamic and pituitary hormone production. Another disease is the premenstrual tension. It
is treated by a standard therapy which is the standard herbal anxiolytic/antidepressant St John’s

3. wort and valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Therapy can be complemented with diuretics as
dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Other useful herbs are hyperium, chaste tree and vitex.
Evening primrose oil also recommended though no studies confirming effectiveness in
premenstrual syndrome. It also may treat cyclical mastalgia but there is no enough evidence.
Amenorrhoea is one of the complications that are treated by herbal medicine. The use of
emmenagogue is suitable in this situation. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and blue cohosh
(Caulophyllum thalictroides). In the past, people used to use chaste tree to treat infertility. Chaste
tree also was used to induce breast milk flow after birth though it lowers prolactin levels. Red
raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is benefit in all situations of pregnancy and labour management
although must be avoided in the first trimester. It has been used for a long time due to its
prevention of miscarriage. Nettle (Urtica dioica) and dandelion are used as nutritional
supplements but they lack enough evidence of effectiveness. Morning sickness is not treated by
the conventional drugs because the use of anti-emetics is restricted in the first trimester. Since, it
is the period of major organ formation. So, the herbal alternative therapy is used. Ginger
(Zingeber officinale) is the most commonly used but in large doses it may cause miscarriage. In
the internet journal “Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine” Bruce Barett, David Kiefer
and David Rabago demonstrate that although ginger can treat nausea and vomiting during
pregnancy, its recommendations for use are not clear due to its unknown safety.
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is one of the most commonly used herbs in gynaecology
and obstetrics. It is used in miscarriage and many other indications. In the book “Herbal
Medicine”, Rudolf Fritz Weiss and Volker Fintelmann say “Vitex agnus-castus is mainly used
for treatment of premenstrual syndrome, mastodynia, and menstrual abnormalities”. Castor oil
(Ricinus communis) is used as bowel stimulant and is used to stimulate uterine contractions. So,

4. it is used to manage labour. Raspberry leaf and squaw vine are used for preparation of uterus for
delivery. Black cohosh and goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) have the ability to stimulate the
uterus. The most commonly used herbs in labour are evening primrose, red raspberry, castor oil.
Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fungus and ergometrine is a derivative of it. They are used to
cause uterine contraction and decrease post- partum bleeding. Breast feeding is very important
for the baby so we use many herbs to stimulate milk flow. Some of them are the cabbage tree
(Cordyline australis), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).
In the book “Herbal Medicine” Graham Pinn states that one of the most common uses of
herbal medicine is the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Many women complain from
menopausal symptoms. Phyto-oestrogens, mild sedatives and oestrogen substitutes are used in
this case. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) suppresses luteinizing hormone production or it
works by some oestrogenic activity. It is confirmed by the German E Commission for treatment
of premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhoea and menopausal symptoms. The studies illustrated
that it is safe, effective and can be alternative for oestrogen therapy. In addition to black cohosh
dysmenorrhoea can also be treated by chamomile. In the book “Weiss’s Herbal Medicine”,
Rudolf Fritz Weiss denotes “In practice, it will always be best to start with chamomile and only
change to more powerful drugs if the effect is not adequate”.
Some pregnant women are against herbal drugs because of their harmful effects. For
example, angelica herb and lovage roots cause uterine contraction so they are contraindicated
with pregnant women. Cinchona bark cannot be used during pregnancy as it contains many
alkaloids which are harmful during pregnancy. Eucalyptus flower cannot be eliminated from the
kidney so it is not preferable for pregnant women. Ephedra herb acts as stimulant and increase
blood pressure so its prohibited during pregnancy. Mistletoe causes contractions so it is avoided

5. while pregnant. Pennyroyal has high concentration so it should not taken internally. In addition,
it is toxic in nature and leads to miscarriage. Besides, poke root contains alkaloids harmful for
human’s health. It causes vomiting and results in cramps and watery diarrhea. Moreover, rue
produce stomach cramps and vomiting and not recommended for use by pregnant women.
In conclusion, every pregnant woman should take care before taking any herb. Most of
herbs are harmful for pregnant women. She must ask her health care provider about each
medication before use. She must be aware of the risk/benefit ratio of each drug. Being natural
does not mean safe so each woman should ensure safety and follow instructions for correct use
of products. Take care of correct dose and duration of drugs or other with toxicity may occur.
Don’t rely on internet or media sources but rely upon a certified herbalist or a health care
provider. There should be health awareness for medical staff in hospitals to avoid hazardous
misuse of drugs. There must be health awareness for the community through media, commercials
and community pharmacies. Finally, each pregnant woman should think hundred times before
administering any drug.

6. Works Cited
Barrett, Bruce, David Kiefer, and David Rabago. “Assessing the Risks and Benefits of Herbal
Medicine: An Overview of Scientific Evidence”. Alternative Therapies in Health and
Medicine. Vol. 5(4). (Jul. 1999): 40 – 9.
Pinn, Graham “Herbal Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology”. Herbal Medicine. 1st ed.
Blackwell, 2003. 42 - 53.
Weiss, Rudolf Fritz, and Volker Fintelmann. “Gynecological Disease”. Herbal Medicine. 2nd ed.
Stuttgart: Thieme, 2000. 325 – 41.
Weiss, Rudolf Fritz “Gynaecological Conditions and Diseases of the Breast”. Weiss’s Herbal
Medicine. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Thieme, 2001. 307 – 21.