Herbs that may be in teas considered unsafe during pregnancy

[mikaleen]

Here is a list I found on an herbal site of unsafe herbs during pregnancy.  Some of these herbs may be in herbal teas, some are just herbs that are used in other ways.  I know that a few were in the tea I was drinking prior to a m/c, but I never knew until I read the actual ingredients.  If you have herbal ingredients in a tea that aren't on this list you can always google it's use during pregnancy and find some good information.


aloe vera                              caster oil                                mace
angelica                            catnip                                      motherwort
ansie                            celandine                              mugwart
arnica                            celery                                      myrrh
asafetda                            coltsfoot                              nutmeg
ashwaganda                    comfrey                                      oregan grape root
barberry                            corydalis                              osha
basil                            **** quai                              parsley
blck cohosh                    elecampane                              pennyroyal
bladderwrack                    ephedra                                pleurisy root
blessed thistle                    fenigreek                              prickly ash
blood root                        feverfew                                      quassia
blue cohosh                    goldenseal                              red clover
blue flag                            guggul                                      rue
borage                            horehound                              senna
                                                                                    tansy
buchu                            hyssop                                       thuja
bugleweed                    ipecac                                       vervain
california poppy                    juniper                                       vitex (Chaste tree)
camphor                            lemongrass                               wild indigo
cascara sagrada            licorice                                       wormwood
cassia                            lobelia                                       yarrow

[mikaleen]

Oh I LOVE mat'e!  It's been way too long since I've had it!  My childhood best friend's family was from Argentina so every time I went over there we would share Mat'e.  I probably drank way way too much for an 8 year old, but it's the most awesome stuff.  I'll never forget her father explaining to us that the Mat'e cup we were drinking from was made out of a bull's testicle!  It didn't stop us though. =)  Then years went by and I hadn't had any for a long time, and a friend at work traveled to Argentina came back with some so we would share it at work.

The only thing I've ever heard of to beware of with Mat'e is that it does contain caffeine, but a cup a day doesn't contain the 300 mg intake limit...1 cup contains from 25-100 mg.  If you drink it through a bombilla make sure you don't use super hot water because of the potential to scald your throat and esophagus .  There's research being done about the scalding increasing risks of esophageal cancer.

[ita17]

That is FUNNY about that "word"!  LOLx's2!!!!!
Yeah, I figure it's NOT worth it, if I don't get pg this month, I can take it next month once I KNOW what "ancient Chinese secrets" are in them!

Hey I'm Argentinian, & drink Yerba Mat'e, like 1 cup a day.  I don't drink coffee so the ONLY caffeine I have is in the small amounts of my mat'e.
It has very little compared to a regular cup of coffee, like one cup = MAYBE (if I let it steep for the full 5 minutes, which I HARDLY ever do) 1/3 of that of a one cup of coffee.

I LOVE my mat'e cosido ;) & I know my mom drank it w/ALL of her pregnancies, & WAY WAY more than I do........her & my dad STILL drink it, but they drink it the traditional way.
Anyway, just was wondering what you thought, since it sounds like you too are familiar w/herbs ;)
thanks

[mikaleen]

oh, and I didn't notice before, but the starred out word before quai is   d o n g.     LOL!

Ita, I love herbal medicine, I was big into it for a long time, but totally agree with you, they can be more harmful than good if not treated like medicine.  So many conventional medicines started out as herbs!  I did take EPO a few cycles since I was following O but I would probably stop other herbs at 10 DPO, not wait until AF, only because I am so convinced m/c #1 was caused at 5 weeks by some of the herbs.  I read the labels of all the tea I drink now that aren't just regular green or black or oolong tea.

[ita17]

Thanks ;)  Thats helpful!  My acupuncturist prepared a team blend for me & told me to drink it from then until AF shows (or NOT!) Then to stop it.  I asked her what it had, & she said next time I come, she will have it all written down for me.  
Well, even though 8 days worth cost me $40.00!!!!!!  I have not taken them.  I can't put something in my body unless I know what it is.  I had asked her if it was safe to drink during pregnancy.....cuz I COULD be pregnant, & she said yes, but even though I think she is a great acupuncturist, I still need to know what it is I am taking......herbs can be VERY VERY strong, & you need to treat them like medicine.