Why is chamomile tea bad during pregnancy

Commonly used herbs during pregnancy were known to be raspberry, fennel, peppermint, ginger, thyme, chamomile, sage and green tea Linden, peppermint-lemon, ginger have been reported to be the most commonly used herbal products in pregnancy during 1 st and 2nd trimesters in a study conducted in Turkey Moreover, in a preliminary study conducted to evaluate the attitudes of primary care physicians towards herbal medicines used during pregnancy revealed that fennel, linden and cinnamon are the most commonly used and recommended herbal teas among pregnant women in İstanbul The red raspberry leaf is one of the most commonly used herbal tea during pregnancy primarily due to its assumed labor stimulation effect 13 , However the need for labor stimulation or duration of labor has not been demonstrated in any study Like all compounds, the pregnancy risks associated with raspberry leaf have not been well studied.

A year-old woman with gestational diabetes mellitus using insulin, developed hypoglycemia after consuming raspberry leaf tea at 32 weeks of gestation and she had to lower her insulin dose. The relationship of her condition with raspberry leaf tea was confirmed but the extent of effect with the amount use is unknown In animal studies, the hypoglycemic effects of blackberry leaves have been recorded and suggested to be related to raspberry leaves 17 , The animal and clinical studies are inadequate and unable to rule out other undesirable effects on pregnancy outcomes without any additional benefit Peppermint is another plant used to relieve flatulence and emesis thanks to its antispasmodic , and breast milk enhancer effects.

Also it acts as a sedative, and used for the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections 20 - 22 and morning sickness in pregnancy even though it is B2 Category 23 , Inhalation of its essential oil can be used to reduce fever, relieve nausea and vomiting, and improve digestion The antiemetic mechanism of essential oil of peppermint was based on its 5-HT3 receptor antagonistic effects Any harmful effect of peppermint tea to mother or fetus has not been shown 6 , 1.

However its excessive use is contraindicated in early pregnancy due to its emmenagogue effects On the other hand, in a randomized placebo controlled study, conducted on women with nausea and vomiting during first half of pregnancy, the nausea and vomiting decreasing effect of peppermint oil aromatherapy and placebo were found to be the same According to safety classification of herbal medicines used during pregnancy, peppermint German chamomile Matricaria recutita is another most commonly used herbal supplement.

In a study its at least weekly usage is reported during pregnancy 7. It is used for relief of gastrointestinal irritation, insomnia, and joint irritation. However with regular use, a higher incidence of preterm labor or miscarriage has been reported She reported intermittent consumption of camomile tea during pregnancy Ductal constriction associated with camomile tea use is similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAIDs use which are also known to cause ductal constriction in depending on its dose, duration of its use, and gestational age.

Animal studies with Camomile tea Camellia sinensis root extract have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory activity Chamomile was shown to have more than chemical secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds like flavonoids, sesquiterpenes and coumarins 31 , Due to its content of coumarins, there may be risk of an additive effect when taken with warfarin It has affinity with estrogenic receptors as coumarins, flavonoids and miscellaneous phenolic compounds.

Several of them were detected to have, theoretically, more affinity than estradiol to estrogenic receptors In a retrospective study where risks of herbal products on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were investigated, the regular chamomile consumption during third trimester was found to be associated with higher risk of pre-term delivery and lower birth weight Eventually, use of chamomile was considered to be unsafe during pregnancy with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Ginger is usually used for nausea in pregnant women especially in the first trimester A systematic review of twenty four trials revealed that dose of mg ginger and vitamin B6 have been shown to have identical effects against nausea and vomiting of pregnancy For pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum, 1 gram per day mg 4 times a day for four days was used effectively and adverse effects were not reported.

All infants were normal. Only one spontaneous abortion occurred; but a causal relationship with use of ginger was not determined The major part of the antiemetic activity may be due to its ingredient 6-gingerol that acts directly in the gastrointestinal tract In hyperemesis, ginger may act by stimulating the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and its absorbent property may reduce stimuli to the chemoreceptor zone.

It may block the gastrointestinal reactions and the subsequent nausea feedback The ginger also acts on 5-HT3 receptors in the ileum with serotonergic effect and anti-hydroxytryptamine activity 40 , There are several randomized control studies showing the relieving effect of ginger in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and it is used in different doses and durations.

Ginger used in first trimester has been associated with some non—dose-dependent adverse drug reactions, such as dry mouth or worsening of nausea and dehydration 42 , 43 , and during second and third trimesters, it has been associated with bleeding or spotting Ginger use throughout pregnancy was reported to be associated with a significant prematurity and decrease in neonatal head circumference at birth Its interaction with drugs that can be used during pregnancy such as insulin, metformin, and nifedipine has been reported Risk of vaginal bleeding was reported to be associated with ginger use in pregnant women due to its possible inhibiting thromboxane synthetase activity 46 , Interaction of ginger with fetal testosterone metabolism has been also shown 48 , As there are concerns regarding its safety for women, if ginger is to be used during pregnancy, it should be in limited amounts The recommended dose is 1, mg per day for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, not to exceed 4 g, due to its uterine stimulating effects Fennel Foeniculum vulgare , another commonly consumed plant is available in teas.

Its dried ripe fruit or seeds have shown to exert estrogenic effects that may cause increase in menstruation and libido Its main constituents; anethole, dianethole and photoanethole are considered to be responsible for these estrogenic effects 53 , Its favorable effects in hormonal disorders in women have been reported including alleviation of the symptoms of the menopause, improvement of fertility and enhancing lactation.

The effects of oral fennel oil use in dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea and polycystic ovary syndrome have been also clinically demonstrated Its anti-spasmodic effects were studied in rats and fennel essential oil was shown to reduce the frequency of contractions induced by PGE2 in isolated rat uterus The effect of fennel oil on in vitro reduction in limb bud differentiation of rat embryo demonstrated that it has toxic effects on fetal cells, without evidence of teratogenicity Although it is used for years, there are still concerns regarding its potential adverse effect.

Also fennel extracts were known to have human liver cytochrome P enzyme inhibitory activity causing potential interactions with other drugs It is also commonly used during lactation period for its curative effects on infantile colic As reported in the literature month-old girl given two to three teaspoons of fennel tea by her mother every day for the last 6 months developed isolated premature thelarche Two women who consumed herbal tea containing fennel and cumin to induce lactation during postpartum period presented with hepatotoxicity 60 , 2.

Most commonly used herbs are safe when consumed in moderate amounts. Consumption of large quantities are not recommended due to their interference with various metabolic processes.

Current data suggest that herbal medicinal products such as raspberry leaf, peppermint, chamomile, fennel and ginger used during pregnancy may be associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes or toxicity from contaminants. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Medeni Med J v. Medeni Med J. Published online Feb Berna Terzioglu Bebitoglu.

Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Email: moc. Conflict of interest: The author has declared that she has no conflict of interest. Cite as: Terzioglu Bebitoglu B. Frequently used herbal teas during pregnancy - Short update. Medeniyet Med J. Received Jan 26; Accepted Feb A study suggests that high consumption of tea more than three cups per day may interfere with the absorption of folic acid, that essential nutrient for preventing neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Overall, as with anything else in pregnancy, it's best to practice moderation. Unlike herbal teas, which contain only about 0. Sip four or five cups throughout the day, and you've gotten about milligrams of caffeine. A study from Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Division of Research found that pregnant women who consumed more than milligrams of caffeine daily had double the risk of miscarriage compared with those who avoided the stimulant.

However, a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found no association between intakes of up to milligrams of caffeine and miscarriage. Without a definitive answer on the effects of caffeine while expecting, most experts agree it's best to use caution and limit intake to less than milligrams a day.

And here's a trick to decaffeinate your favorite tea. Caffeine is the first substance released into the water during steeping this occurs within the first 25 seconds. To decaffeinate, steep the leaves or bag for 30 seconds, dump the water, then refill your cup with hot water and steep again.

Most of the caffeine will be removed. Also keep in mind that iced tea may be a better bet, as larger servings often come with less caffeine than their hot counterparts. By Amy Paturel, M. Save Pin FB More. An image of a pregnant woman with a mug. Credit: Getty Images. Your doctor might have a different opinion, so check with him or her before incorporating caffeinated tea into your daily routine. Like chamomile tea, the effects of herbal teas on pregnant women have not been significantly studied.

For instance, hibiscus is a common ingredient in many herbal teas, but it is not safe for pregnant women. Lemon balm tea is also generally considered safe according to the American Pregnancy Association , but check with your doctor before you try it.

In the third trimester, raspberry red leaf tea is a popular choice among pregnant women all over the world. One-third of midwives in the United States recommend raspberry red leaf tea to stimulate labor, according to a recent study published by Integrative Medicine. Another study conducted by the Holistic Nurses Association in New South Wales found that women who drank the tea were 11 percent less likely than those who did not to require forceps during delivery. Even the American Pregnancy Association approves, suggesting that the tea can be safely consumed while pregnant and can both decrease the length of labor and reduce the chances of needing assisted delivery or a C-section.

For some women, raspberry red leaf tea can trigger contractions, so get the go-ahead from your doctor or midwife before you drink it. This Will Be the Amazon Coat of Does Hand Sanitizer Work? We Ask Hamptons Chicago San Francisco. Connect With Us. Are you sure you want to remove this item from your Recipe Box? Create a Password Forgot your password? Enter your registered email below! To Save to My Recipe Box. Log In Never created a password? You are not currently subscribed.

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