Other Herbs and Spices that Are Not Safe During Pregnancy

Certain other herbs and spices are universally unsafe during pregnancy. Generally speaking, any emmenagogue, or herb that induces menstrual flow, is a bad choice for expectant mothers. Responsible herb experts usually do not disclose the amount of the herb that can induce abortion, since a botched attempt at an herb-induced abortion can result in the death of both mother and child. Don't use herbs to terminate pregnancy.

Pregnant women should avoid all of these herbs in any amount, but there is no need to panic if you have used a small amount of herbs in the first two groups.

• Herbs and spices that stimulate the uterus, possibly interfering with the implantation of the fertilized egg, include black cohosh, ginger, horseradish, and Queen Anne's lace. Ginger is safe for morning sickness because morning sickness does not occur until after the fertilized egg is implanted in the lining of the uterus.
• Herbs and spices associated with spotting, or small amounts of blood loss, include parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. These are not like to jeopardize pregnancy, although they may make carrying the baby to term more difficult when the mother has chlamydia or pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Herbs and spices associated with larger amounts of blood loss include asafetida (an ingredient in some Indian spice mixtures and in Worcestershire sauce), pennyroyal, and rue.
• Herbs and spices associated with uterine contraction, or premature labor, include blue cohosh, dong quai, and marijuana.
• Absinthe, tansy, chamomile, and juniper berries may stimulate the uterus in ways that keep a later-term baby from assuming the head-first position prior to birth.
• Blue cohosh can stimulate blood flow and uterine contractions and should be absolutely avoided by any woman who intends to become or who may be pregnant.

It's also important to avoid excesses of vitamin A or vitamin C. Taking more than 5,000 IU of vitamin A a day is not advised for women who can become pregnant, because it can damage the embryo during the first month of pregnancy. This low recommended dose is a safety precaution; actual reports of damage involve chemical derivatives of vitamin A such as the acne drugs Accutane and Retin-A, or women who took 250,000 to 500,000 IU of the vitamin daily for skin treatment.

Also, since vitamin C stimulates the immune system and the growing embryo is a "foreign body," many experts recommend limiting vitamin C to no more than 500 mg a day for any woman who is or who may become pregnant