Herbal Medicine and Pregnancy

The usage of herbal medications is increasingly commonplace worldwide, and this trend is also noticeable among pregnant women. Pregnant women may use herbal medicine to improve their general health. Although self-diagnosis and self-dosing are common in herbal medicine, they are unsafe and highly discouraged. It is advisable to use herbs for pregnancy management only under the guidance of a midwife, physician, herbalist, naturopathic, or homeopathic doctor because each pregnancy is unique. This chapter discusses the use of herbal remedies during pregnancy and the types of herbal remedies used. Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal preparations, and finished products made from herbs, and they contain active compounds from plants with known or suspected therapeutic advantages. To ensure the best outcome for pregnant women and their babies, herbal medicine products should only be recommended for use by individuals who are well-versed in the types of herbs, their parts (e.g., roots, leaves, etc.), dosage, and how they could be used (e.g., capsules, tonics, teas) before consuming herbs during pregnancy. Most pregnant women who use herbal medicine conceal their usage from their attending conventional medical professionals. However, most women were encouraged by their families and friends to utilize herbal medications because are considered safer, more effective, and had fewer adverse side effects than modern medicine. During pregnancy, herbs that are considered safe to use are usually those used for food and other related purposes. The most common form of these supplements is a tablet, a tea, or an infusion.