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Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy
A literature search of the ethnopharmacology of plants used for their abortifacient
or uterine stimulating actions provides a long list of plants to avoid.
According to Marderosian and Liberti in their useful but rather biased book
`Natural Product Medicine', 565 species from 125 families have such
effects.
These otherwise extremely useful remedies often share chemistry that in
some way irritates the placenta or causes muscular contractions in the uterus.
Limiting ourselves to those plants most often encountered in western Phytotherapy,
the following groupings can be identified :
Bitters
From the material concerning bitters already covered, it is clear that the
general metabolic stimulation and especially that of smooth muscle and the
emmenagogue results, are contra-indicated during pregnancy. All strong bitters
should be excluded, with especial attention to :
Artemisia abrotanum Southernwood
Artemisia absinthium Wormwood
Artemisia vulgare Mugwort
Berberis vulgaris Barberry
Chelidonium majus Celandine
Hydrastis canadensis Golden Seal
Ruta graveolens Rue
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Alkaloid containing plants
Alkaloids are a diverse group of secondary plant constituents that have
a wide range of pharmacological impact upon the body. The stronger representatives
are to be avoided, including the caffeine containing social drugs Coffee
and Tea. These include :
Berberis vulgaris Barberry
Colchicum autumnale Autumn crocus
Hydrastis canadensis Golden Seal
Podophyllum peltatum Mandrake
Sanguinaria canadensis Blood root
Sarothamnus scoparius Broom
Oil containing plants
Many of the essential oils can have a devastating impact on the placenta
and foetus is taken internally during pregnancy. Avoid all Essential
oils internally. However, the whole plant that the oil was distilled
from will usually be fine if used in moderation. Important exceptions are:
Juniperus communis Juniper
Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal
Myristica officinalis Nutmeg (in large amounts)
Thuja occidentalis Arbor vitae
Anthraquinone Laxatives
The strong herbal laxatives often owe their effects to the presence of anthraquinones
that stimulate peristalsis in the bowel. They may have a similar stimulating
impact upon the uterus. If a laxative is needed during pregnancy it should
be either a bulk or hepatic laxative. Please refer to appropriate section
for more information.
Cassia senna Senna
Rhamnus catharticus Purging Buckthorn
Rhamnus frangula Alder Buckthorn
Rhamnus purshiana Cascara Sagrada
Others
There are other plants that should be avoided which do not fit into such
convenient categories. Some are listed here. Male Fern is an example of
an anthelmintic remedy for the treatment of worm infestations.
Cinchona spp. Peruvian Bark
Phytolacca spp. Poke
Dryopteris felix-mas Male Fern
Gossypium herbaceum Cotton-Root
Viscum album Mistletoe |
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Whilst working in conservation and lecturing in ecology and the eco-crisis for the University of Wales, David Hoffman became convinced that to heal the world, to embrace planetary wholeness and responsibility for it 
