Safe Herbal Teas During Pregnancy

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 | Alternative Remedies, Articles Category | | Print This Article

 

One of the best resources for dealing with morning sickness, at least for some women, seems to be tea. There are a variety of herbal teas that you can use to alleviate morning sickness, such as ginger and peppermint tea. Yet, it’s important to think at least for a moment about anything you put into your body, and whether it’s truly safe while you’re pregnant.

Most herbal teas are safe

Most herbal teas are safe for pregnancy. That being said, it’s important to recognize that herbal teas aren’t under the watchful eye of the FDA, which means that there hasn’t been the kind of robust testing of their effects on pregnancy as some other types of items.

Before you start any herbal teas or any herbal supplements during your pregnancy, you need to realize that herbs are in some ways nature’s medications. Just like nicotine and caffeine can be classified as drugs, so is the case with many herbs and ingredients in herbal teas.

Before you drink any particular herbal tea during pregnancy, make sure you check out the specific list of ingredients. If you’re not sure about the safety of it, you can always talk about it with your doctor as well.

Teas designed for pregnancy

Some herbal teas are especially formulated for a pregnant woman. These teas are aimed at helping to alleviate the aches and pains of pregnancy, such as morning sickness. Others are aimed at helping you have a healthier pregnancy. These kinds of claims haven’t been regulated by the FDA, but in some cases they have been scientifically studied.

Some herbal teas are thought to be especially useful during pregnancy. Many of these teas contain ingredients such as rosehips, alfalfa, fennel seed, nettle leaf, strawberry leaf, lemon verbena, and lemon grass leaf.  All of these herbs should be considered safe in terms of pregnancy.

Other tea, like raspberry tea, may be able to be used during a specific point during pregnancy. For example, it’s thought to help induce labor. If you’re at a high risk for premature delivery, for example, you should stay away from it. On the other hand, if you’re a week past your due date, raspberry tea might actually help.

Again, if you have concerns about specific herbal teas and their safety, you should raise the issue with your health care provider.

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