Good read - herbal teas are thought to soothe nausea and they were assumed to be harmless as they do not contain caffeine, that's a misconception.
Which teas are not safe?
Many herbs used in teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can be harmful. Some may even increase the odds of miscarriage, early labor, or low birth weight.
Herbs that may cause problems include anise, ginger, lime blossom, rose hip, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called
ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine and banned in the U.S. since 2004), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.
Ginger is commonly used to ease morning sickness during pregnancy, and studies have shown its effectiveness and safety for this purpose. But there's also some evidence that it may negatively affect fetal sex hormones. So before you drink ginger tea, be sure to discuss its benefits and risks with your healthcare provider.
Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. It should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs mentioned above if you're pregnant or nursing.
Note: You can still eat food that contains some of these herbs, like rosemary and anise, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea—and not as potent. (The brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs.)
Other reasons to avoid certain herbs used in teas:
- Coca (also known as mate de coca) may contain small amounts of cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
- Comfrey, kava root, and woodruff may damage your liver.
- Mate (or yerba mate) can contain as much caffeine as coffee.
None of these herbs should be taken while you're pregnant or nursing.
What about the herbal teas that are marketed to pregnant women?
The same cautions apply to teas made specifically for pregnant women, which are sold in supermarkets and health food stores. While the makers of pregnancy teas promote their products as healthy for expectant moms, no clinical studies support these claims, and the safety of the ingredients is not regulated.
Pregnancy teas usually include ingredients such as alfalfa, fennel seed, lemongrass leaf, lemon verbena, nettle leaf, rosehips, and strawberry leaf. Not all of these are safe to take during pregnancy. For example, nettle leaf (also known as stinging nettle leaf) stimulates the uterus and can cause miscarriage.
Read on:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_herbal-teas-during-pregnancy_3537.bc