Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation (Third Edition)Treatment Options and Risk Assessment
2015, Pages 511–525
2.19 – Herbs during pregnancy
Abstract
Herbal
preparations have been used with increasing frequency. Unfortunately,
some herbs are truly contraindicated in pregnancy, while others are not.
How the herbs are used and the concentration of preparations are often
key concerns. It is with growing frequency that herbal preparations sold
round the world are not regulated by governmental health agencies, e.g.
US Food and Drug Administration. The concern is that some herbal
preparations may not have the advertised amounts of the herbs included
in the marketed products, and this raises important issues about dosages
consumed. A number of herbs also have contaminates which can be
intoxicating, e.g. arsenic, lead, cadmium. Thus, it is recommended that
herbal preparations used for consumption be certified so that the
patient can be assured the amount taken is correct and that no toxic
contaminants are included. Specifics about herbal preparations used
during pregnancy are detailed in this chapter along with attached
reference materials.
Keywords
- Chinese herbs;
- anthraquinone laxatives;
- ayruvedic;
- essential oils;
- herbs;
- homeopathy;
- dried extract;
- tinctures;
- aromatherapy diffusers;
- alkaloids
