Most pregnant women cut down on the intake of tea or avoid it completely due to the effect of caffeine on the fetus. But is it safe for them to take herbal tea? This write-up will provide information on the effect of herbal infusions or tea during the course of pregnancy.
Herbal teas, as the name suggests, are made from the roots, berries, flowers, seeds, and leaves of a variety of plants. These days, the market is flooded with many herbal products, and needless to say, every manufacturer makes tall claims about the product. While some of the herbs have long been used by women during pregnancy to get relief from morning sickness, there are some herbs that are known to induce labor. If taken in excess, some herbal teas could even cause you harm. Thus, it is essential to find out about the possible side effects of the herb.
Herbal Tea for Pregnant Women
Though most of these teas are marketed as completely safe for use during pregnancy, there is a lack of research on their effects. Due to a lack of data, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages buyers, especially pregnant women, to exercise caution. Therefore, it is essential that you buy the ones that are believed to be safe. Some of the teas that are not made commercially might also be unsafe. Some of the herbs might cause harm, if used in excess. Some herbs might not be safe because of their toxic nature. Therefore, avoid the use of an herbal infusion, if there is insufficient data about the herb’s properties.
Popular Teas
Pregnancy is a very crucial time. Since women need to avoid caffeine at this time, they can enjoy drinking tea made from the pregnancy safe herbs. During pregnancy, a woman might experience morning sickness, bloating, indigestion, and vomiting. Some of the herbs have been found to ease pregnancy-related discomfort. For instance, ginger tea can provide relief to women who experience morning sickness and nasal congestion.
Peppermint tea has a calming effect on the stomach and also helps if you are feeling bloated. Lemon balm also has a calming effect and makes you feel relaxed. It might also help in case of insomnia. Besides providing relief from nausea, red raspberry tea has also been found to tone the uterus, stabilize hormones, and ease labor pains. However, there are people who believe that the use of raspberry tea should be avoided during the first trimester, as it can cause uterine contractions.
Teas to be Avoided
Due to insufficient data, some herbs should be avoided during pregnancy. Rosehip, yellow dock, black or blue cohosh, ma huang, ephedra, feverfew, pennyroyal, and mugwart are some of the herbs that should be avoided during pregnancy. While there’s insufficient evidence about some of them, some of them might not be safe during pregnancy. Therefore, if you see any of these ingredients in the herbal preparation, avoid it completely. It would be better to drink only those teas which are known to be safe.
If you are planning to switch to herbal tea during pregnancy, make a well-informed decision. Also, never drink it in excess. After all, you need to take care of yourself and the life growing within you.
