Early Pregnancy Risk With Ginseng
Herbal Remedy Use Should be Cleared with Doctor, Experts Say
The March of Dimes estimates that 60 million Americans use herbal supplements, and surveys show that many do not tell their physicians about them.
Few studies have been conducted testing the safety of herbal remedies during pregnancy, and the March of Dimes web site lists more than 50 that should not be used by pregnant women. They include popular herbal supplements like black cohosh, echinacea, and kava kava, as well as common herbs like ginger root and fennel seed.
Ginseng is not listed, but fetal development expert Jan M. Friedman, MD, PhD, tells WebMD that this doesn't mean it is safe.
"Most of these products have not been tested, so we don't know whether or not they are safe," she says. "It is best to avoid using them, or any other unnecessary medication, during pregnancy."
Friedman says the common misconception that "natural" means "safe" is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
"It is worth pointing out that alcohol is a natural product that we know can cause birth defects when taken in large amounts during pregnancy," she says. "Similarly, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin are all natural products that should be avoided during pregnancy."
Early Pregnancy Risk With Ginseng
Herbal Remedy Use Should be Cleared with Doctor, Experts Say
Most Herbs Untested
The March of Dimes estimates that 60 million Americans use herbal supplements, and surveys show that many do not tell their physicians about them.
Few studies have been conducted testing the safety of herbal remedies during pregnancy, and the March of Dimes web site lists more than 50 that should not be used by pregnant women. They include popular herbal supplements like black cohosh, echinacea, and kava kava, as well as common herbs like ginger root and fennel seed.
Ginseng is not listed, but fetal development expert Jan M. Friedman, MD, PhD, tells WebMD that this doesn't mean it is safe.
"Most of these products have not been tested, so we don't know whether or not they are safe," she says. "It is best to avoid using them, or any other unnecessary medication, during pregnancy."
Friedman says the common misconception that "natural" means "safe" is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
"It is worth pointing out that alcohol is a natural product that we know can cause birth defects when taken in large amounts during pregnancy," she says. "Similarly, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin are all natural products that should be avoided during pregnancy."
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