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Herbs: Breast Feeding and Pregnancy

Herbs: Breast Feeding and Pregnancy: Welcome

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)

Herbs: Breast Feeding and Pregnancy: Welcome
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