Let's discuss herbs that must be avoided during pregnancy. Let this serve as a warning!
• Penny royal tea is not as toxic as people may think. Like a lot of things (alcohol, acetaminophen) it can be hard on the liver with long periods of constant use. But a pregnant person should be aware that it can cause spontaneous abortion and, therefore, it should be completely avoided during pregnancy. It's also important to know that a strongly infused oil should not be rubbed on the pelvic area as it may, with repeated use, cause loss of pregnancy
• Cotton root bark should never be drunk as a tea, it has a long history of being problematic during early pregnancy. It also has a capacity to thin blood so people who accidentally ingest this plant will need to counter these effects with something like shepherd’s purse or vitamin K.
• Black cohosh, blue cohosh, & angelica root should absolutely never be taken during pregnancy especially alongside one another. These three have the capacity to disrupt hormone development & will typically cause bleeding to begin in just a handful of days in pregnancy.
• Queen Anne's lace should be avoided by anyone who's attempting to conceive as she has a tendency to make the uterine wall slippery & prevents the precious egg from implanting. During pregnancy, if the egg can't implant, the pregnancy won't continue. Queen Anne’s Lace, also known as wild carrot, is very safe. As long as you are not trying to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy in the early stages. Because it will prevent pregnancy.
• Mugwort should be avoided as small amounts consumed in pregnant women may cause uterine contractions. It's also worth noting that infused body oils made from this herb may have a similar effect when rubbed on the pelvic area.
• Rue, while not a commonly used herb, is showing up more in tea blends. This herb can be really problematic during pregnancy. So much so that women have avoided it during pregnancy for thousands of years. It can cause miscarriage. It should not be used for long periods of time or in large amounts to avoid potential adverse effects on the liver. Again, alcohol or acetiminophen can also damage the liver.
• Parsley, while safe in normal food level amounts, should be avoided in large quantities or in concentrated broths as it may cause spontaneous loss of pregnancy. Especially if the pregnant person happens to be taking larger doses of vitamin C, which can also endanger an early pregnancy
• Celery oil and celery seeds are likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy in large amounts. Consuming high amounts of celery might make the uterus contract and cause a miscarriage.
These are just a handful of the many herbs that may disrupt hormones or cause uterine contractions. These common plants that are easy to find should be avoided by anyone wanting to keep a pregnancy viable. Especially do not combine these herbs if you are pregnant, because you will have a miscarriage.
Keep learning about these & other herbs that may cause spontaneous abortion. Here are a few more; tansy, thuja, safflower, scotch broom, wormwood and yarrow.
I mean, how else will we avoid accidental miscarriages?
