Herbal teas and herbs

3 min read

Herbal does not automatically mean safe. Many herbs have never been studied in pregnancy, and some act like medicine. That is why most guidance is cautious about herbal teas.

Generally fine in moderation: ginger, peppermint, rooibos and fruit teas made only from fruit. Ask first about chamomile and fennel. Raspberry leaf tea is often used late in pregnancy, but not earlier. Best avoided: licorice root, and any blend containing pennyroyal, dong quai, blue cohosh, comfrey or large amounts of sage.

Be wary of teas marketed as detox, slimming or “mama” blends, and always read the full ingredient list. Products for pregnancy sometimes contain herbs that are not recommended.

Culinary herbs and spices in normal cooking amounts are fine. Concentrated herbal supplements and essential oils taken by mouth are a different matter, so check with your doctor or midwife first.