Natural Pregnancy Remedies: Herbal Supplements

Culinary herbs, which are the herbs used to prepare food, are safe in the amounts most people use when cooking. Many of these herbs are rich in minerals and other nutrients and support normal bodily functions.

Similarly, most vitamin/mineral supplements are safe and helpful in pregnancy at normal doses. However, any substance in large amounts can be detrimental, so moderation is a good rule. Pregnancy is not the time to take high-dose vitamins, unless they have been prescribed by a trained professional.

With regard to natural pregnancy remedies like medicinal herbs, it isn't possible to provide a definitive list of herbs that are unsafe during pregnancy. There just isn't enough research to draw from. Therefore, before using any herbs during pregnancy for medicinal purposes, you should consult your doctor.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few simple guidelines:

• Do not use any medicinal herbs in the first trimester.
• Avoid herbs containing high amounts of alkaloids.
• Do not use any purgative, cathartic laxatives or, obviously, anything known to be toxic, cause uterine contractions or otherwise harm a healthy baby.
• When possible, use foods or other methods to address the concerns that medicinal herbs might be used to treat.
• Use the most dilute form available to do the job. For example, start with tea before turning to capsules or extracts.
• Take the smallest amount for the shortest time that will achieve the desired effect.

In educated hands, most herbs are safe, and many, many herbs have been used safely as natural pregnancy remedies throughout recorded history. These plant medicines are our allies, when we take the time to learn their ways.