Handbook of FertilityNutrition, Diet, Lifestyle and Reproductive Health
2015, Pages 253–260
Chapter 23 – Herbal Supplements in Pregnancy: Effects on Conceptions and Delivery
Abstract
Before
and during pregnancy, women are apprehensive about the potential
toxicity of conventional medicines, so they use herbal remedies (HR) to
complement or to replace them, although much current practice is not
evidence-based. The current stage of knowledge is still inadequate to
sufficiently inform clinicians, researchers, and the public about the
benefits or potential risks of the use of HR for female infertility
treatments. The extent of herbal remedies use in pregnancy has been
widely researched throughout the world. Epidemiological studies reported
a wide range of use of herbal remedies in pregnancy. Too few studies
have been devoted to safety and efficacy of singular herbs. With the
exception of ginger, there are no consistent data to support the use of
any other herbal supplement during pregnancy.
Keywords
- fertility;
- herbal remedies;
- herbal supplements;
- pregnancy;
- traditional medicines
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.