Is drinking herbal tea during pregnancy safe?

Question

I love herbal tea, but I read on a website it may not be okay to drink during pregnancy. They especially adviced to stay away from Chmomile, but I personally don't see any harm in it? Am I wrong?

Answer 1

When it comes to herbal teas you do have to be careful because some herbs are used for home abortions and to induce labour – herbs such as raspberry leaf, dong quai, blue cohosh and rue (natural oestrogenic and uterine contracting herbs).

As such depending on how far along you are some herbs may cause problems, although I doubt this is something you have to worry about particularly if you are not using these herbs for those purposes, but I would still say to play it safe with herbs – do not drink anything unless you know it is okay to do so, people think herbs are harmless but just because they are natural does not make it so.

There is a good guide for you here - http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/pregnancy_herbs.html

Camomile tea specifically, it is generally regarded as safe as per FDA say-so, although it can be used as a mild emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation by softening cervix) in herbal teas in the form of your bog standard tea bags the effects are too small to mention – it is only if you were making tea from the herb itself or in strong doses then it would be considered an emmenagogue that could theoretically be a minor issue to take into consideration with early or late stages of pregnancy.

Despite not being a professional I'd personally say it is safe, its calming affects are very beneficial during pregnancy, and the emmenagogue effects are minimal so not enough to cause problems, probably putting it along the same lines as parsley tea so considered safe during pregnancy, and certainly better than drinking normal black tea.

In simple terms – chamomile tea good, any other herb be careful!

Answer 2

That's a good question, but I don't know of any that are truly safe. In moderation they're mostly fine, but most (all?) can have negative effects. Ginger tea? Good for nausea but ginger contains anti-clotting properties, not so good if you're anywhere near giving birth. I've heard to stay away from green tea and fennel tea, no ginseng... personally I've steered away from my herbal tea addiction in general during the pregnancy because it seems as if everything is potentially a hazard! Fruit teas are okay though and might make a good substitute if you want to go the supersafe route.

Answer 3

Yea it's fine that's about almost the only thing you can drink while pregnant and plus I work in the hospital and alot of pregnant woman I be around order herbal tea.You'll be ok.

Answer 4

yes its ok as long as it dosent have oo much cafeiene