Gaia's Garden : Library : Herblore

Health Issues & Warnings
when not to use herbs & oils [page 2 of 3]

Pregnancy
There are a number of herbs and oils which can offer many physical and mental benefits during pregnancy - but generally speaking it is wise to avoid all herbal remedies and essential oils during the first 3 months, unless professionally prescribed. Avoid all emmenagogue oils and herbs, or those described as toxic and those listed under Hazardous Oils.

• Herbs & Oils to avoid totally during Pregnancy :

Agave - Agave americana
Alder Buckthorn - Rhamnus frangula
Aloe Vera - Aloe vera, A. barbadensis - Do not take internally during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
American Spikenyard - Aralia racemosa
Andrographis - Andrographis paniculata
Angelica - Angelica archangelica - Do not take medicinal doses during pregnancy.
Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron - Colichicum autumnale
Avocado - Persea americana - Do not use the leaves and bark during pregnancy.
Barberry - Berberis vulgaris
Basil Oil - Ocimum bascilum
Bay Laurel - Laurus nobilis
[Beth Root - Trillum erectum- Do not take during pregnancy except under professional supervision].
Betony - Stachys officinalis, Stachys beonica
Birch - Betula alba, B. lenta, B. alleghaniensis
Black Cohosh - Cimicifuga racemosa - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Bladderwrack - Fucus vesiculosus - Do not take if pregnant or while breast-feeding.
Blood Root - Sanguinaria canadensis - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Blue Flag, Wild Iris - Iris versicolor
Bog Myrtle, Sweet Gale - Myrica gale - Do not use internally in pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Broom - Cytisus scoparius
Buchu - Barosma betulina - Do not take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Bugleweed - Lycopus virginicus
Bulrush - Typha angustifolia
Carrot Seed - Daucus carota - Do not take carrot seeds during pregnancy.
Castor Oil Plant - Ricinus communis - Do not take castor oil during pregnancy.
Cajuput - Melaleuca leucadendron
Calamint - Calamintha officinalis
Cat's Claw - Uncaria tormentosa - Avoid during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.
Cedarwood Oil - Cedrus atlantica, Juniperus ashei, Juniperus virginana - Powerful abortifacient
Celery Seed Oil - Apium graveolens
Chickweed - Stellaria media
Chinese Angelica, Dang Gui - Angelica sinensis, A. polymorpha
Chinese Wormwood, Qing Hao - Artemisia annua
Chinese Rhubarb, Da Huang - Rheum palmatum - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Cinchona, Peruvian Bark - Cinchona officinalis
Citronella - Cymbopogon nardus
Clary Sage - Salvia sclarea
Clove Oil - Syzygium aromaticum
Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Comfrey - Symphytum officinale - Do not use during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Common Toadflaz - Linaria vulgaris
Corydalis, Yan jhu suo - Corydalis ambigua, C. yanhusuo
Cowslip - Primula veris
Cumin Oil - Cuminum cyminum
Cypress - Cuppressus sempervirens
Devil's Claw - Harpagophytum procumbens
Dittany, Burning Bush - Dictamnus alba
Elecampane - Inula helenium- Do not take internally in pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Embelia - Embelia ribes
Fenugreek - Trigonella foenum-graecum
Fennel Oil - Foeniculum vulgare
Feverfew - Tanacetum parthenium
Ginseng, Ren Shen - Panax ginseng
GoldenSeal - Hydrastis canadensis - Do not take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Greater Celandine - Chelidonium majus - Do not take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Guarana - Paullinia cupana, P. sorbilis - Do not take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Helonias, False Unicorn Root - Chamaelirium luteum, Helonias dioica
Hyssop Oil - Hyssopus officinalis
Juniper - Juniperus communis - Can trigger labour.
Kava Kava - Piper methysticum
Labdanum - Cistus ladaniferus
Lady's Mantle - Alchemilla vulgaris
Lesser Periwinkle - Vinca minor
Liferoot - Senecio aureus
Liquorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra
Lovage - Levisticum officinale
Malabar Nut - Adhatoda vasica, Justicia adhatoda
Marjoram [Oil] - Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare - The essential oil is an emmenagogue and is best avoided during pregnancy.
Mayweed, Stinking Mayweed - Anthemis cotula - Do not take during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Myrrh - Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora molmol
Mistletoe - Viscum album
Motherwort - Leonurus cardiaca
Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris - Traditionally used in the West to induce labour.
Niu Xi - Achyranthes bidentata
Pasque Flower - Anemone pulsatilla, Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium
Peony - Paeonia officinalis
Peppermint - Mentha piperata - The essential oil is an emmenagogue and is best avoided during pregnancy.
Peruvian Cat's Claw
Poke Root - Phytolacca decandra
Pleurisy Root - Asclepias tuberosa
Prickly Ash - Zanathoxylum americanum
Pseudoginseng - Panaz notoginseng
Rose Bay Willow Herb - Chamaenerion angustifolia, Epilobium angustifolium
RosemaryOil - Rosmarinus officinale - Avoid Rosemary essential oil during pregnancy.
Rue - Ruta graveolens
Sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Saw Palmetto - Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata - Do not use during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Senna - Cassia senna, Senna alexandrina
Shepherd's Purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris, Thlaspi bursa-pastoris
Siberian Ginseng - Eleutherococcus senticosus
Southernwood - Artemisia abrotanum
Strawberry Tree - Arbutus unedo
Squill - Urginea maritima
Sweet Woodruff - Asperula odorata, Galium odoratum
Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare
Tarragon Oil - Artemisia dranunculus
Thyme Oil - Thymus vulgaris - Do not use the essential oil externally during pregnancy.
Uva-ursi, Bearberry - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Vervain - Verbena officinalis
Wahoo Bark - Eunoymus atropurpureus
White Bryony - Bryonia dioca, B. cretica
White Peony, Bai shao yao - Paeonia lactiflora, P. albiflora
White Willow - Salix alba - Do not take during pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Wild Yam - Dioscorea villosa
Winter Savoury - Satureja montana
Wormseed - Chenopodium ambrosioides
Wormwood - Artemisia absinthum
Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
Yellow Dock - Rumex crispus - Avoid during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.

• Herbs & Oils to avoid in large or therapeutic / medicinal amounts during Pregnancy :
There are some herbs and oils which are suitable for use in labour, and others which may be used with caution, but never in regular large of therapeutic / medicinal doses. These herbs and oils should still be avoided during the first 3 - 4 months of pregnancy - and some should be avoided if there is a history of or possibility of miscarriage. The culinary herbs listed below are generally considered safe in the quantities used for flavouring food. In some cases the plant is considered safe in small amounts, but the essential oil may not be so safe - some are emmanagogues [encourage menstruation]. If you are uncertain about any herb or oil, always consult a medical professional before use.

Cayenne, Chilli - Capsicum frutescens - Do not take medicinal doses in pregnancy or if breast-feeding.
Celery Seed - Apium graveolens
Chamomile Oil - Anthemis nobilis, et al. - If there is any previous history of miscarriage, do not use at all. In its plant form, German Chamomile [Chamomilla recutita] is generally considered a a useful herb which can be taken safely for 2 - 3 weeks at a time duiring pregnancy. An infusion of the flowers is considered a good remedy for morning sickness and nausea [no more than 4 - 5 cups should be drunk a day].
Cinnamon - Cinnamomum verum, C. zeylanicum
Geranium Oil - Pelargonium asperum - If there is any previous history of miscarriage, do not use at all.
Jasmine Oil - Jasminium officinale
Lavender - Lavendula vera - If there is any previous history of miscarriage, do not use at all.
Marjoram [Sweet] - Origanum majorana - Do not take medicinally during pregnancy. The essential oil is an emmenagogue and is best avoided during pregnancy.
Marjoram [Wild] - Origanum vulgare - Do not take medicinal doses during pregnancy. The essential oil is an emmenagogue and is best avoided during pregnancy.
Nutmeg - Myristica fragrans - Use in moderation and with care.
Parsley Seed - Petroselinum crispum - The herb is a safe herb at normal dosage, but the seeds can be toxic in excessive quantities.
Passion Flower - Passiflora incarnata - Do not take high doses in pregnancy.
Purslane - Portulaca oleracea - Do not take medicinal doses during pregnancy.
Raspberry - Rubus idaeus - Do not take medicinally during the early stages of pregnancy - Raspberry leaf is traditionally considered a supportive treatment for childbirth, as it tones and strengthens the womb, and is generally taken as a (pleasant tasting) tea for about 8 - 10 weeks before birth.
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinale - Do not take therapeutic doses during pregnancy. Avoid Rosemary essential oil during pregnancy.
Saffron - Crocus sativa - Only to be used in amounts normally used in cooking - in very large doses, saffron may induce abortion.
Sage - Saliva officinalis - Do not take therapeutic doses of the herb during pregnancy. If there is any previous history of miscarriage be especially cautious. Also reduces milk-flow production. [Sage essential oil should not be used for aromatheraphy or self-administration at all - potentially toxic].
Squaw Vine - Mitchella repens - Do not take during the first 6 months of pregnancy.
White Horehound - Marrubium vulgare

• Herbs & Oils to avoid if breast-feeding.

Aloe Vera - Aloe vera, A. barbadensis - Do not take internally if breast-feeding.
Black Cohosh - Cimicifuga racemosa
Bladderwrack - Fucus vesiculosus
Blood Root - Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides
Bog Myrtle, Sweet Gale - Myrica gale - Do not use internally if breast-feeding.
Buchu - Barosma betulina
Cat's Claw - Uncaria tormentosa
Chinese Rhubarb, Da Huang - Rheum palmatum
Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara
Comfrey - Symphytum officinale
Elecampane - Inula helenium- Do not take internally if breast-feeding.
GoldenSeal - Hydrastis canadensis
Greater Celandine - Chelidonium majus
Guarana - Paullinia cupana, P. sorbilis
Mayweed, Stinking Mayweed - Anthemis cotula
Sage - Saliva officinalis - Reduces milk-flow production - avoid medicinal doses. [Sage essential oil should not be used for aromatheraphy or self-administration at all - potentially toxic].
White Willow - Salix alba
Yellow Dock - Rumex crispus

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