Ginger is one of the herbs a pregnant woman should avoid?

Question

i believe that ginger is dangerous to pregnancy especially in the first trimester,it leads to abortion.and here i am getting answers from yahoo members to take ginger tea as remedy for nausea.dangerous answers.other yahoo members please be careful.

Answer 1

You are right that there are some MDs who believe that in high amounts ginger can cause problems with pregnancy...even abortion. However, the amount normally found in food is considered to be safe...about 1gram dry ginger daily. For people who eat it in their food...they should be safe and it is believed to work well with drugs that help with nausea and can mimic the drugs for some people.

For example...gingerale, gingersnaps, gingerbread...all work and all are safe in moderation. Most MDs would say to try ginger before the anti-nausea drugs because it's safer than they are. Just check with your MD before you take anything!

Answer 2

Nice belief, would you care to perhaps offer some evidence. There is little that normal use of ginger, and a reasonable consumption of ginger tea causes problems.

There is only questionable evidence that extremely large doses cause problems:

Ginger and nausea of pregnancy: more evidence of safety and efficacy
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_255/ai_n6211954

" The safety concern arises from the fact that ginger is found to be teratogenic on the Ames test. Ames testing assesses teratogenicity in bacteria, often using test compounds in extremely high concentrations; therefore, the results don't necessarily translate directly to humans. But it prompted Dr. Heinrichs and his coworkers to do a pilot study in which they placed ginger via feeding tube into the stomachs of pregnant rats. A high rate of miscarriage followed.

Once again, the clinical relevance is questionable. And while these are observations worth following up in human studies, realistically that's never going to happen."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_19_36/ai_81006739

"Ginger: Safe or Not Safe?
Recently there have been claims that ginger can cause birth defects and abortions. Actually the controversy results when an isolated compound of ginger is used, rather than ginger as a whole food. Two studies found that the isolated compound may cause birth defects, but ignored the fact that other parts of ginger contain equally powerful antimutagenic properties. In other words, using the whole herb is not a problem. A 1991 review found no reports in the scientific literature of miscarriage or birth defects from ginger. 8 Another, more recent review of all the studies on ginger could find no evidence that ginger harmed the mother or the child. 9 The FDA considers 5 gram of ginger to be safe as a food, whereas only 1 gram is necessary during even the most severe form of nausea. According to Michael Murray's The Healing Power of Herbs (Prima Publishing, 1995), ginger is safer to use for the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy than the antiemetic drugs, which can cause fetal abnormalities."
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/herbal-allies.html

"The investigators compared pregnant women who were taking ginger during the first trimester of pregnancy with a group of women who were exposed to nonteratogenic drugs that were not antiemetic medications.

Of 187 pregnancies, there were 181 live births, two stillbirths, three spontaneous abortions, and one therapeutic abortion. There were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups, except that more infants weighed less than 2,500 g in the comparison group (12 vs. 3; P
In the group taking ginger, mean birth weight was 3,542 ± 543 g, mean gestational age was 39 ± 2 weeks, and there were three major malformations. Of 66 women who completed scores rating on a scale of 0 to 10 how effective the ginger was for their nausea and vomiting, the mean score was 3.3 ± 2.9 SD.

Although the small sample size resulted in limited power to examine the rates of major malformations, the authors concluded that ginger does not appear to increase the rates above the baseline rate of 1% to 3%."
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/466746

Answer 3

Dude, I wouldn't have made it through any of my three pregnancies (at 31 weeks with number three) without ginger. I had morning sickness do badly that I was losing weight and becoming dehydrated. Without Ginger Ale, ginger cake and candied ginger, nothing would stay down. A little ginger right before meals and snack prevented me from miscarrying or worse due to starvation/dehydration. Even prescription medicines didn't work. My boys are all big, healthy, smart and I credit our survival in those early months with Ginger. Eating three of four entire ginger roots in a day might be harmful but the amount of ginger most of us use to cook with and the small amount for flavor in ginger ale was a life-saver for me.

Answer 4

Ginger is fine during pregnancy. My OB recommended it for nausea. Gingerale, ginger cookies, tea, anything with a little ginger in it. And it really does work too.

You should always take any advice that's not straight from your doctor with a little common sense. However, what you "believe" and what doctors know are very different in this case.

Answer 5

Ginger is safe and mildly effective for the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), according to the results of a prospective comparative study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

"Many women are hesitant to take medicinal drugs for fear of harming the fetus, so consequently they are often interested in nonmedicinal options such as acupressure, acupuncture, and ginger," write Galina Portnoi, MD, from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues.

"Despite the years of the use of ginger in many cultures, there remains little information regarding its safety and efficacy during pregnancy."

The investigators compared pregnant women who were taking ginger during the first trimester of pregnancy with a group of women who were exposed to nonteratogenic drugs that were not antiemetic medications.

Of 187 pregnancies, there were 181 live births, two stillbirths, three spontaneous abortions, and one therapeutic abortion.

There were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups, except that more infants weighed less than 2,500 g in the comparison group (12 vs. 3; P
In the group taking ginger, mean birth weight was 3,542 ± 543 g, mean gestational age was 39 ± 2 weeks, and there were three major malformations. Of 66 women who completed scores rating on a scale of 0 to 10 how effective the ginger was for their nausea and vomiting, the mean score was 3.3 ± 2.9 SD.

Although the small sample size resulted in limited power to examine the rates of major malformations, the authors concluded that ginger does not appear to increase the rates above the baseline rate of 1% to 3%.

"The results also suggest that ginger is somewhat helpful in alleviating the symptoms of NVP, more so with the capsules than any other preparation," they write.

"This evidence-based information can be helpful to women and their health professionals when making the decision regarding the treatment of nausea and vomiting with ginger during pregnancy

Answer 6

What? that doesnt make sense. How does it lead to the mother going out and getting an abortion. I had ginger when I was in my first trimester. You dont make any sense at all. Is this a joke. Its not funny.

Answer 7

Ginger is perfectly safe for pregnancy and does not cause abortions.

Ginger is a harmless rhizome that is used as a spice or for tea or eaten raw.

It has been used for thousands of years for stomach upset. The worst side effect one can have from it is flatulence/gas but that is very rare and will certainly not cause abortion! In fact, pregnant women suffer from gas a lot anyway.

What proof do you have of its dangers?

Answer 8

And what scientific studies are you basing this on?
Women have been using ginger in pregnancy for centuries. There have also been a number of scientific studies done which show it is safe.
Just because you know someone who used it and had a miscarriage doesn't mean anything.

Answer 9

um whatever you've been told about ginger is wrong
it's not dangerous during pregnancy and it certainly does not cause abortion

ginger has been safely used for thousands of years as an anti nausea whether preggy or not

Answer 10

Herbs to Avoid during Pregnancy

The following herbs are considered Likely UnSafe or Unsafe during pregnancy :

Saw Palmetto - when used orally; has hormonal activity
Goldenseal - when used orally may cross the placenta
Dong Quai - when used orally due to uterine stimulant and relaxant effects
Ephedra - when used orally
Yohimbe - when used orally
Pay D’ Arco - when used orally in large doses; contraindicated
Passion Flower - when used orally
Black Cohosh - when used orally in pregnant women who are not at term
Blue Cohosh - when used orally; uterine stimulant and can induce labor
Roman Chamomile - when used orally in medicinal amounts
Pennyroyal - when used orally or topically

Are there any herbs that are Recommended in pregnancy?

Depending on what type of health care provider you see, they may recommend using herbs to help promote the health of your pregnancy. Remember, never try to self dose or diagnose with any medications, including herbs. Because each pregnancy is different, with its own specific details, the best way to use herbs is under the care of a midwife, physician, herbalist, naturopathic or homeopathic doctor.


Choosing to use herbs during pregnancy is a personal choice, but to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby, you should be well educated on the types of herbs, parts of the herb (root, leaf, etc…) and the way that it could be used (caplet, tonic, tea). The herbs that are considered safe to use during pregnancy are often food or tonic herbs. These often will be found in either tablet form, tea, or infusion form.

Herbs used in Pregnancy

The following herbs have been rated Likely Safe or Possibly Safe for use during pregnancy:

Red Raspberry Leaf - Rich in iron, this herb has helped tone the uterus, increase milk production, decrease nausea, and ease labor pains. Some studies have even reported that using red raspberry leaf during pregnancy can reduce complications and the use of interventions during birth. You may see “Pregnancy Teas” that are made from Red Raspberry leaf to help promote uterine health during pregnancy. (Read about Herbal teas for more information)
There is some controversy about whether this should be used throughout pregnancy or just in the second and third trimester, so many health care providers will remain cautious and only recommend using it after the first trimester.
Peppermint Leaf - Helpful in relieving nausea/morning sickness and flatulence
Ginger root - Helps relieve nausea and vomiting
Slippery Elm Bark - (when the inner bark is used orally in amounts used in foods) Used to help relieve nausea, heartburn, and vaginal irritations
Oats & Oat Straw - Rich in calcium and magnesium; helps relieve anxiety, restlessness, and irritated skin

Additional Herbs rated Likely Safe or Possibly Safe:
Blond Psyllium - when used orally and appropriately
Black Psyllium - when used orally with appropriate fluid intake
Garlic - when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods
Capsicum (Cayenne, hot pepper) - when used topically and appropriately

:) Have a Nice Day!!!