<p>Knowledge of the risks associated with medications during pregnancy is generally limited in the medical field, and this is even more true for complementary medicine. In Chinese medicine, the only risks traditionally recognized were general toxicity—which could affect both the pregnant woman and the fetus—and the risk of miscarriage. Some contraindications were the subject of controversy. In modern medicine, we consider the risk of teratogenicity to be the most significant one; additional risks have emerged that were not traditionally known. There are now a&#xa0;number of animal studies or <i>in vitro</i> studies—primarily from China—for Chinese herbal medicines that are frequently used during pregnancy. Their results have mostly not found their way into the general practice of Chinese medicine, neither in China nor in Western countries. In standard references, such as renowned textbooks or the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the information regarding pregnancy risks is contradictory and unreliable, largely reflecting traditional understanding. In some cases, disregarding contraindications is justified with a&#xa0;quote from the <i>Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, Essential Questions</i> (<i>Huangdi Neijing Suwen</i>), which must not be understood as a&#xa0;carte blanche for the use of any contraindicated herbal medicine.</p><p>Using Angelicae sinensis radix (<i>Danggui</i>) as an example, it is shown that even for herbal medicines considered well-tolerated, modern research indicates a&#xa0;contraindication for pregnancy. More data on the safety assessment of Chinese medicines during pregnancy, especially from human use, is urgently needed. The indications for Chinese herbal therapy during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, must be strictly established, and the dose and duration of use minimized whenever possible.</p>