The science of alternative medicine constantly gives us useful therapeutic innovation in various ways. But when it comes to a woman’s pregnancy, extra care and caution should be observed. Some women may include herbal tea in their regimen to achieve optimal pregnancy health. Herbal tea’s popularity can be owed a lot from traditional or Chinese medicine, which has been around for centuries. However, many people argue that herbal tea may do harm to both the expectant mother and the unborn baby. Read on to learn all the precautions you should take when drinking herbal tea during pregnancy.

Is It Safe to Drink Herbal Tea During Pregnancy?

Most women avoid beverages such as black tea during pregnancy given the concerns about caffeine, but are not concerned about consuming herbal teas. In fact, some herbal teas can have side effects which should be considered before consuming them while pregnant. This will vary based on the ingredients that are in different types of herbal teas. It is generally believed that most ingredients in herbal teas are safe in small amounts, but it is important to do research before consuming any of these ingredients while pregnant.

How to Tell Which Herbal Tea During Pregnancy Is Safe to Drink

The FDA does not regulate specifically the safety of herbal teas as most are considered to be generally safe if they can be used in cooking, but this does not mean they can be used by pregnant women. Drinking excessive amounts of any type of herbal tea could cause health problems for you or your baby because the ingredients in these teas are more highly concentrated than they would be if you were to eat them. Because there is so little research on what types of herbal teas are safe to consume while pregnant, many women choose to simply avoid them to ensure they will not have any problems. Others choose to restrict their consumption to well-known items such as thyme or peppermint which are known to be safe to consume in small amount when pregnant.

How to Choose a Safe Herbal Tea During Pregnancy

If you are interested in consuming herbal tea while pregnant as a substitute for caffeinated tea or for the potential health benefits of some ingredients there are steps you can take to ensure your safety:

• Read labels carefully when selecting a tea and avoid any with unfamiliar ingredients that you are unsure of how they will affect your body.
• Restrict your consumption to small amounts to reduce the risk of side effects and only consume plants that you are very familiar with and know you can safely consume while you are pregnant.

Safe to Drink (with Caution) Herbal Teas During Pregnancy

The following herbal teas should be consumed in moderation and under the guidance of your doctor:

• Chamomile tea when used in moderation can help to relive insomnia. Keep in mind that drinking too much can cause you difficulty of sleep at night. You may also be sensitive to chamomile if you have a pollen allergy.
• Raspberry leaves could aid in the delivery with close monitoring and supervision by a health care professional. It is best to take at the third trimester of pregnancy.
• Ginger tea can help to ease morning sickness when used in small amounts.
• Peppermint tea can help to treat nausea, indigestion and heartburn when used in moderation.
• Lemon balm can have a calming effect that may help to relieve insomnia, irritability and anxiety.
• Rose Hips. Though itcontains Vitamin C and can help to boost your immunity, the safety of drinking it hasn’t been proved. Talk to your doctor before taking this herbal tea.
• Making your own tea with familiar and safe herbs or ingredients is more ideal. You can use honey, cinnamon, lemon rinds and fruit juice (apples, pineapples, oranges, pears, lemons and mint leaves) to incorporate in your tea. Just add on boiling water together with your chosen decaffeinated tea.

Warning: Be Careful with Pregnancy Teas

Some “pregnancy teas” contain ingredients such as lemon grass leaf, lemon verbena, fennel seed, alfalfa, nettle leaf, strawberry leaf and rose hips. Not all those ingredients are safe, so checking the ingredients of these pregnancy teas is crucial. Not all are considered safe for a pregnant woman; particularly nettle leaf which causes miscarriage due to its stimulation of the uterus.

Unsafe to Drink Herbal Teas During Pregnancy

When an herb is unsafe to drink, it means not even minimal amounts should the herb be taken. It could contain high level of caffeine that can greatly affect the unborn baby and contain chemicals that has direct and damaging effects to the baby’s system. Some of these herbs are common and can be used to treat morning sickness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting and even mild edema. However, consumption of these teas should be avoided. Access to this database can help pregnant woman identify and especially avoid the herbs in tea that are unsafe to drink. Below are some examples:

• Yellow Dock has high levels of iron and is used to help treat anemia in pregnancy. It also contains Vitamins C, A and calcium. However, it may also serve as a laxative so it is best to avoid drinking it.
• Parsley tea. Fetal development may be affected and your risk of miscarriage being increased if you drink parsley tea in large amount.
• Sage tea. One of the chemicals in sage tea, thujone, has been proved to cause high blood pressure and miscarriage.
• Cocoa, yerba mate, kava root and woodruff has harmful and damaging effects to the kidneys. Taking note of these ingredients in teas can save you and your baby.
• Alfalfa is also unsafe to use.