In our culture, the use of teas and infusions as a daily drink or as a natural remedy for certain conditions is quite common. Some herbs and flowers have beneficial properties for the body and counteract some common discomforts, but there are definitely some others with unwanted effects during pregnancy.
There are teas that we can safely consume in adequate amounts and obtain great benefits, for example, ginger and lemon balm help to reduce nausea, rooibos increases defenses to avoid infections and allergies, Altea helps fight constipation, jasmine and orange blossom are relaxing and thyme is rich in vitamins, iron, calcium, and fiber.
The green, black and white tea are also quite safe, but measure you much consumption and avoid daily as they have a high content of caffeine, which in excess can cause poor oxygenation to the future baby and dependence symptoms in the baby’s birth.
On the other hand, many herbs and flowers in common use can be very dangerous and harmful during pregnancy, for example:
Sage, aloe vera, chamomile, eucalyptus, rue, pennyroyal and even Jamaica, among many others, can cause uterine contractions and cause abortion or premature delivery. Others such as fennel, spearmint, wormwood, anise, mistletoe, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort and many more, have toxins that can cause malformations in the baby, licorice can cause blood pressure to rise, and others like raspberry They contain phytoestrogens that can interfere with the normal hormonal process during pregnancy.
It is impossible to list all the varieties of herbs and flowers available for consumption, in addition, in the case of many such as valerian, passionflower, linden and more, there is no reliable information available on their possible adverse effects on women or babies. Of the most common that we must eliminate during pregnancy, in addition to those mentioned above, we can highlight rhubarb, Luisa grass, rosemary, labrador, cat’s claw, lion’s tail, mandrake, nettle, verbena and celery and mugwort.
Many of these are used as a condiment, which does not refer to risk during pregnancy, but they should not be used as tea, infusion, or concentrate.
One of the difficulties that we have when consuming teas is that we cannot know or control the exact dose of its components, and those for commercial sale do not always list the total components or the associated toxins. For this reason, the best recommendation is not to consume teas or infusions during the first trimester, and it is also a good idea not to soak the herbs for more than 3 to 5 minutes to avoid excessive concentration and limit consumption to 2 cups a day. Above all, if you have doubts about the safety of the ingredients, do not consume it better.
By Geraldine Loredo Fuentes, General Practitioner, Doula, Perinatal and Breastfeeding Educator.