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SAFE HERBS for a More Comfortable Pregnancy and Better Birth Like those of you who are pregnant, as a mom of 4 kids, I am no stranger to some of those miserable common symptoms that can plague pregnancy. For me it was awful first trimester nausea and then later, occasional insomnia. As a midwife and medical doctor, I have been using herbs in my practice with pregnant women for over 25 years and have found them to be helpful in treating many of the symptoms we have during those nine months of growing our babies including nausea, insomnia, yeast infections, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids. They can even tone your uterus for labor. Are herbs safe during pregnancy? Pregnant women commonly experience minor symptoms such as nausea, colds, and insomnia for which natural remedies can actually be gentler and safer than pharmaceuticals – many of which lack proof of safety in pregnancy or are known to be harmful. While there is limited scientific research on the safe use of most herbs in pregnancy, there is good evidence of safety for several. Overall, most herbs that are traditionally used to support pregnancy are safe for use in moderation. There have been almost no reports of adverse outcomes in pregnant women, and when they have occurred, it has been from using herbs that are not considered safe in pregnancy, or from products that have been tainted with unsafe herbs or even pharmaceutical additives – which has mostly been a problem with imported products from China and India. Using herbs during pregnancy The safest approach is to avoid using herbs during the first trimester of pregnancy unless necessary (for example, ginger for treating morning sickness), to only use those herbs known to be safe in pregnancy, and to consult with an experienced midwife, herbalist, or MD on the safe use of herbs in pregnancy. Beverage teas that are known to be safe in moderate amounts (e.g., red raspberry, spearmint, chamomile, lemon balm, nettles, rose hips), and ingestion of normal amounts of cooking spices are considered safe in pregnancy. Herbs considered safe in pregnancy Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) for morning sickness I think I'd rather go through natural labor without an epidural faster than I'd repeat those horrible weeks of morning sickness I experienced! I remember getting home from a particularly eventful car ride through the mountains during the early part of one of my pregnancies, laying flat on the living room floor, and telling my husband to just let me die now. I am sure I was green. SAFE HERBS for a More Comfortable Pregnancy and Better Birth Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 5| Page 47