Herbs to Avoid in Pregnancy
During pregnancy, any medication should be kept to the minimum possible and only used if really necessary, specially during first trimester of pregnancy.
General cautions
Schedule III and other restricted herbs such as Ephedra sinica, Lobelia inflata etc. are not be used. Also, strong laxative anthraquinone containing herbs such as Aloe vera, or purgatives such as Helleborus niger; high volatile oil containing herbs e.g., Juniperus communis etc; Apiol and Thujone containing herbs such as Peroselinum crispum, Salvia officinalis; herbs with oxitocic, emmenagogues actions, e.g., Artemisia absinthium, Calendula officinalis and herbs with estrogenic activity like Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) , Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh root) should be avoided.
Please note that some of the herbs contraindicated in pregnancy are beneficial at the time of birth, and/or during lactation. Also, the homeopathic remedies have often not the same restrictions.
Aloe vera Achillea millefolium
Acorus calmus Ananas comosus
Artemisia spp. Apium graveolens
Arctostaphylos uva ursi Atropa belladonna
Barosma betulina Berberis vulgaris
Bryonia dioca Cassia senna
Caulophyllum thalictiodes Chamealirium luteum
Chincona succirubra Cimicifuga racemosa
Cinnamonum zeylandicum Cytisus scoparius
Dryopteris felix-mas Foneiculum vulgaris
Gossypium herbaceum Harpagophylum procumbes
Hydrastis canadensis Juniperus communis
Levisticum officinalis Lobelia inflata
Lycopus spp Mahonia aquifolium
Mentha puleguim Menyanthes trifoliata
Myrisica fragrans Petroselenium crispum
Peumus boldo Phytolacca decandra
Piscidea erythrina Rhamnus spp
Rheum spp. Rosmarinus officinalis
Rumex crispus Ruta graveolans
Salvia officinalis Salvia sclarea
Senecio aurens Solanum dulcamara
Tanacetum spp. Thuja occidentalis
Thymus vulgaris Urginea spp
Verbena officinalis Vinca spp.
Viscum alba Zanthoxylum clava-herculis