Nothing is foolproof, 100% safe for every person to consume. Ever.
Pharmaceuticals are not always considered “safe” in pregnancy.
Certain foods, environmental toxins, goodness even extreme emotions are all not considered to be “Safe” in pregnancy.
Before putting anything in your body, check in with yourself, and ask, “does this feel safe for me right now?”
You don’t even need to be pregnant to do this.
Herbs are powerful substances. We use them with intention at all times, especially during pregnancy. Every person will receive a plant’s medicine differently, and a body’s relationship with a plant will likely change throughout time.
Think about salt. A dash of salt on our food can help it to taste really good. If it’s sea salt, it may also contain minerals that are nourishing for our bodies, and may make certain parts of our food become more easily absorbed by our bodies.
But if you dump too much salt on your food, it makes it almost inedible. Your body would not feel good.
Herbs are similar.
Herbs, even the best intentioned, can introduce toxins to a body or a baby that could lead to miscarriage or poor health outcomes to the mother or baby. Some herbs can supply the body and baby with minerals, extra nourishment and nervous system support. I will write another post going into the different categories of herbs, but for now:
There are a few ground rules when considering using herbs during pregnancy:
1.Choose good quality herbs, organically grown is a must. Even better, grow them yourself or source them from someone you trust.
2.Because something is “natural,” or even “organic” does not mean it is safe.
3. Use as little of an herb as possible until you trust it and develop a relationship with that herb and your body.
4. Do your own research- speak with trained or experienced herbalists or plant geeks and learn about your options. Learn from the experiences, mistakes and miracles other people have reported from working with plants.
5. Susan Weed, a widely admired herbalist, recommends using herbs for minor problems and basic first aid before trying to tackle serious health issues with herbal protocols.
6. Essential oils are not the same as herbs. They are extremely concentrated forms of plants that should not be consumed internally, for most bodies.
7. Developing a dependence upon any substance is generally ill-advised. Herbs should be used mostly in the short-term while someone is making other changes with their lives.
8. Making any sort of change to one’s health may cause unintended consequences. Perhaps repressed emotional trauma resurfaces, perhaps a symptom that has been in remission re-emerges…be open to the healing journey being a bumpy one.
9. Remember: stop consuming something that does not feel good in your body.
10. Only you know what is safe for your body and your baby.
Some of my trusted sources for herbal safety information in pregnancy:
Aviva Romm, “Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health” - book
Susan Weed- “Herbs for the Childbearing Year”- book
As a general rule, I would not recommend Googling anything when feeling vulnerable and uncertain in pregnancy…
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