Pregnancy Precautions
Using Herbs & Oils with Pregnancy
It is extremely important to understand that precautions must be taken when you are pregnant and wish to use herbs, essential oils, or products containing either
of these. You should always be careful and do research on products that contain herbs or essential oils (and especially those products with "fragrance" listed in
it's ingredients) to make sure that what you are using on your body is safe for the baby. There are herbs and oils that may cause miscarriage, premature birth, uterine contractions, or injury to the fetus. Please err on the side of caution and seek the advice of a physician, midwife or certified herbalist.
We have compiled a list of ingredients that should not be used, but also of ingredients that are safe during pregnancy. You may be surprised at the common herbs found here.
Unsafe Herbs & Herbal Medicines
The following cooking herbs may encourage miscarriage and should be avoided during the first trimester and used sparingly throughout the pregnancy:
Basil Caraway Celery Seed Ginger Fresh Horseradish
Savory Sage Marjoram Nutmeg Rosemary
Saffron Parsley Tarragon Thyme
The following herbs are best avoided while trying to concieve as well as during the first trimester. They have been known to prevent conception and also cause uterine contractions.
Agave
Aloe Vera
Angelica
Arbor
Autumn Crocus
Barberry
Bethroot
Black Cohosh
Blackthorn
Bloodroot
Blue Cohosh
Buchu
Buckthorn
Buckwheat
Butternut
Calamus
Cascara Sagrada
Castor (oil)
Cayenne
Celandine
Celery Seed
Cinnamon
Coltsfoot
Comfrey
Cotton Bark Root
Damiana
Devil's Claw
Dong Quai
Elder
Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Ergot Fungus
Feverfew Flowers
Flax Seed
Fennel
Fresh Wood Sorrel
Ginger Root
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Gotu Kola
Hops
Horsetail
Hyssop
Juniper
Juniper Berries
Lady's Mantle
Lemon Balm
Licorice
Liferoot Flowers
Lovage
Male Fern
Mandrake
Marijuana
Mayapple
Mistletoe
Motherwort
Mugwort
Osha
Parsley seed
Pay D'Arco
Passion Flower
Pennyroyal
Peruvian Bark
Peyote
Pluersy Root
Pokeweed
Roman Chamomile
Rosemary
Rosemary Flowers
Rue
Saffron
Sage
Sarsparilla
Saw Palmetto
Scotch Broom
Senna
Shepard's Purse
Smartweed
Southernwood
Sumac
Sweet Flag
Tansy
Thuja
Turkey Rhubarb
Vervain
Vitae
Wild Carrot Seed
Wild Cherry
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yohimbe
Unsafe Essential oils
Aniseed
Angelica
Basil
Birch
Bitter Almond
Black Pepper
Boldo Leaf
Buchu
Calamus
Camphor
Cassia
Cedarwood
Chamomile (Roman)
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Clove
Elecampane
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Fir
Ginger
Horseradish
Hyssop
Jaborandi Leaf
Juniper
Lemon
Lemongrass
Marjoram
Mugwort
Mustard
Myrrh
Nightshade
Nutmeg
Oregano
Parsley Seed
Pennyroyal
Peppermint
Pine
Rose
Rosemary
Rue
Sage
Sassafras
Savin
Savory
Southernwood
Stinging Nettle
Tansy
Thuja
Thyme (red & white)
Wintergreen
Wormseed
Wormwood
Safe Herbs & Oils
Herbs:
Wild or German Chamomile
Dandelion Greens & Root
Oat Straw
Raspberry Leaf
Strawberry Leaf
Slippery Elm Bark
Essential Oils:
The following oils can be used safely in aromatherapy and body products during pregnancy. They are not to be ingested.
Chamomile (wild or German)
Geranium Rose
Lavender
Rose
Tangerine
Ylang Ylang
As always, thank you for visiting Scents of Spirit!