- Medicinal plants prohibited in pregnancy
- Low-risk plants that can be used
- 1. Heartburn, nausea and vomiting: ginger
- 2. Urinary tract infection: cranberry
- 3. Tiredness and lack of energy: green tea
- 4. Constipation: prune
The consumption of teas during pregnancy is a very controversial topic and this is because there are still no studies done with all plants, during pregnancy, to really understand what their effects on the woman's body or on the baby's development.
Thus, the ideal is to avoid the consumption of any tea without the guidance of an obstetrician or herbalist, and other natural options should be preferred to treat common problems such as nausea, anxiety, constipation or even flu symptoms.
Although they are natural, teas are made from plants with active substances that can strongly affect the functioning of the body and, thus, cause complications during pregnancy, such as abortion, malformations or bleeding. Thus, even teas that are not considered dangerous, should only be consumed in quantities of 2 to 3 cups per day.
Medicinal plants prohibited in pregnancy
According to the results of several studies, there are plants that should be avoided during pregnancy because they contain substances that can affect pregnancy, even if there is no evidence. Others, however, are completely prohibited because of confirmed cases of abortion or malformations.
Thus, in the following table it is possible to identify the plants to be avoided, as well as those that are proven to be prohibited (in bold) by most studies:
| Agnocasto | Calendula | Greek hay | Macela |
| Licorice | Chamomile | Fennel | Yarrow |
| Rosemary | Cinnamon | Gentian | Passiflora |
| Angelica | Carqueja | Ginkgo biloba | Pennyroyal |
| Aroeira | Sacred cascara | Ginseng | Primula |
| Rue | Horse chestnut | Guaco | Get out |
| Artemisia | Horsetail | Ivy | Parsley |
| Ashwagandha | Lemon balm | Hibiscus | Sene |
| Aloe | Turmeric | Hydraste | Tanaceto |
| Borage | Damiana | Mint | Red clover |
| Buchinha | Foxglove | Wild yam | Nettle |
| Coffee | Fennel | Kava-kava | Vinca |
| Calamus | Hawthorn | Losna | Juniper |
Regardless of this table, it is always important to consult the obstetrician or a herbalist before having any tea.
Many of the teas made with these plants should also be avoided during breastfeeding and, therefore, after childbirth it is important to consult the doctor again.
Low-risk plants that can be used
Although most plants should not be used during pregnancy, there are others that can continue to be used, as long as within certain doses, and under the guidance of the doctor, to treat some common problems of pregnancy:
1. Heartburn, nausea and vomiting: ginger
Ginger is a great natural option to relieve the feeling of heartburn or nausea and can be used in pregnancy, as long as it does not exceed the dose of 1 gram of dry root per day, in 200 mL of boiling water, for a maximum period of 4 consecutive days.
Thus, if you choose to drink tea made with 1 gram of ginger, you should only drink it once a day (and up to 4 days), usually in the morning, as it is the most common period for the appearance of nausea.
Check out other natural options to end nausea in pregnancy.
2. Urinary tract infection: cranberry
Urinary tract infection is a very common problem in pregnancy, especially due to hormonal changes in the woman's body. Thus, the cranberry can be an excellent solution to prevent the problem, since it can be used during pregnancy in the amount of 50 to 200 mL of juice, 1 or 2 times a day.
See other tips to prevent urinary tract infection during pregnancy.
3. Tiredness and lack of energy: green tea
Although it has caffeine like coffee, green tea can be a safer option to replace its use. However, whenever possible, other ways of treating fatigue in pregnancy should be used.
However, with the proper guidance of the doctor, green tea can be consumed in the amount of 1 spoon (of dessert) of leaves in 250 mL of boiling water, once a day, for up to 4 days in a row.
4. Constipation: prune
The prune is a fruit that can be used during pregnancy to naturally treat constipation, without the need to resort to teas. To do this, just ingest 1 prune 30 minutes before the 3 main meals, or else put 3 prunes to steep in a glass of water for 12 hours, and then drink the mixture on an empty stomach.
Know what other strategies you can use to treat constipation naturally.
