Herbal Remedies During Pregnancy

Herbal remedies are being widely used among pregnant women as organic and other alternative homeopathic treatments continue to get popular. More women are trusting natural supplements rather than use synthetic substitutes to provide essential nutrition and relief for common discomforts. They also are attracted to organic supplements as these are cheaper than medical counterparts.

While this is the case, healthcare professionals are advising moms-to-be to take extra precaution and inquire for evidence-based information before they buy herbal remedies. This is because there are a lot of products in the market whose efficacies and safeness have yet to be established through extensive research.

Most mainstream health experts have little or no complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) training and yet to understand the pharmacological nature of herbal therapies and the risks they pose to pregnant women. To resolve this issue, a number of medical organizations and registration boards are taking steps to institute care standards to education and knowledge of CAM.

Already there are many health establishments that offer safe herbal products and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and massage. In terms of dietary supplements, only a few herbal remedies have approval from well-known food and pharmaceutical agencies. Most of these recommended products have been processed naturally and help to increase intake of the appropriate vitamins and minerals for both the mother and developing baby.

The safest supplements are those made from various fruits and vegetables. Most health professionals recommend these products as they are simply extracts from common produce, which are often included in the daily diet anyway. Some of these extracts are apples, bananas, blueberries, prunes, water chestnuts, green beans, eggplant, artichoke, lettuce, and zucchini.

Other products are made from herbs and can provide relief of some minor discomforts. For instance, teas made from red raspberry leaf, peppermint leaf, and ginger roots decrease nausea and ease labor pains. Another traditional homeopathic treatment is oats and oat straw, which are rich in calcium and magnesium and also help relieve anxiety and restlessness. The extract from the inner bark of the slippery elm provides relief for heartburn and vaginal irritations when taken orally.

Some herbal extracts that help increase the production of milk are those from nettle leaf and blessed thistle. They aid in the increase of the blood flow to the mammary glands. Chamomile and dandelion, on the other hand, can be used for digestive disorders during pregnancy. Both are good sources of essential vitamins and can be used throughout the pregnancy.

All in all, herbal supplements and other alternative treatments are safe. Still, as a precaution, pregnant women are advised to ask for a doctor's recommendation before they take or do anything since every pregnancy is unique. Many pregnant women have various reactions to different medical and alternative medical treatments. This fact also applies to herbal product usage.