Herbs: Breast Feeding and Pregnancy

BREASTFEEDING

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From the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (March-April 2000 page 240):

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Common Herbs to Avoid While Breastfeeding:

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• Aloe

• Black Cohosh

• Buckthorn

• Cascara Sagrada

• Kava Kava

• Ma Huang

• Sage

• Senna

• Wintergreen

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Avoid excessive cocoa, coffee, and tea.

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Herbs that traditionally stimulate milk flow:

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• Caraway

• Celery

• Chaste Berry Tree

• Fennel

• Fenugreek

• Goat’s Rue

• Raspberry

• Rauwolfia

• Verbena

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Herbs that traditionally reduce milk flow:

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• Castor Bean

• Jasmine Flower

• Sage

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PREGNANCY

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Medicinal Herbs to be used with caution during pregnancy:

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• Agave americana

• Angelica archangelica

• Angelica sylvestris

• Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomille)

• Apium graveolens (Celery)

• Arctium lappa (Burdock)

• Arcostaphylos uva-ursi leaves (Bearberry)

• Artemesia vulgaris (Mugwort)

• Berberis vulgaris

• Calendula officinalis (Pot marigold)

• Capsella bursa-pastoris ( Sheperd’s purse)

• Caulophyllum thallictroides

• Chelidonium majus

• Cichorum intybus (Chicory)

• Cinchoma

• Cinnamomu cassia (Cassia)

• Citrus (Lemon and grapefruit)

• Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh)

• Crocus

• Dryopteris

• Ferula asafoetida

• Gossypium herbaceum (Cotton)

• Heracietum lanatum (Cow parsnip)

• Hibiscus roas-senensis flower ( Rose of China)

• Hydocotyle asiatica (Gotu Kola)

• Hydrastis canadenesis

• Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort)

• Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop)

• Jateorhiza palmata (Columba)

• Juniperis communis

• Ledum palustre (Marsh Tea)

• Leonurus cardiaca (Motherswort)

• Marrubium vulgare (Horehound)

• Matricaria chamomile (German chamomile)

• Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)

• Melissa officinalis (Balm)

• Mentha piperita (Peppermint)

• Nasturtium officianal (Watercress)

• Nepeta cataria (Catnip)

• Ocymum basilicum (Basil)

• Origanum margorana (Marjoram – sweet)

• Origanum vulgare (Wild Majoram)

• Oxalis acetosella (Wood sorrel)

• Paeonia officinalis (Peony)

• Phytolacca decandra

• Piper nigrum (Black pepper)

• Plantago (Plantain)

• Polygonum aviculare (Knot grass)

• Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)

• Ruta graveolens

• Salvia officinalis

• Sanguisorba canadensis

• Santalum album (Sandalwood)

• Silybum marianum (Milk thistle)

• Tanacetum parthenium and vulgare (Feverfew)

• Thuja occidentalis

• Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek)

• Turnera (Damiana)

• Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot)

• Urtica dioica (stinging nettles)

• Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

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From the Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics

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Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy (by S Mills and K Bone)

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Medications that have been associated with birth defects:

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• Androgens like DHEA, testosterone

• Iodides

• Lithium

• ACE-I

• High dose of vitamin A (not beta-carotene)