Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

Common
Scientific Name Part(s) Used Form of Use Comments
Name(s)

       
 
Achillea Stems,
Milenrama, May induce uterine
millefolium leaves, and Tea
Yarrow contractions.
flowers
Cohosh negro,
Actaea racemosa May induce uterine
Black cohosh Root Tea, capsules
contractions.
Maidenhair fern,
Adiantum Fronds May induce uterine
Culantrilllo de Tea
capillus-veneris (leaves) contractions
pozo
Gel used topically is
Cremas, considered safe. Avoid
Aloe vera Sábila, zábila,
Gel and latex Preparaciones, Hoja ingesting whole leaf
Aloe, babosa
entera, Bebidas preparations as they may
induce uterine contractions.
Alchemilla, May induce uterine
Lady’s mantle Leaves Tea, capsules
xanthochlora contractions
Angelica May induce uterine
Tea, capsules
archangelica Angélica Root contractions.

Angélica china,
Dong Quai,
Angelica sinensis May induce uterine
Dang gui, Root Tea, capsules
contractions.
Chinese
angelica
Manzanilla
Anthemis nobilis May induce uterine
romana, Roman Flowers Tea, capsules
contractions.
chamomile
Various species of
Estafiate, wormwood contain
Artemisia spp. Leaves and
Istafiate, Ajenjo, Tea potentially neurotoxic
stems
Wormwood ingredient known as
thujone.
Shepherd’s Leaves,
Capsella bursa- May induce uterine
purse, Bolsa de stems and Tea, tinctures
pastoris contractions.
pastor flowers
 Common
Scientific Name Part(s) Used Form of Use Comments
Name(s)

       
 
Cascara sagrada Cáscara sagrada, May induce uterine
Tree bark Tea, capsules
Sacred bark contractions.
Caulophyllum Cohosh azul,
May be toxic to fetus and
thalictroides Blue cohosh, Root Tea, capsules
induce uterine contractions.
squaw root
Centella asiatica Gotu kola, Steams, May induce uterine
Tea, capsules
Centela leaves contractions.
Occasional use as a
Cinnamomum
condiment considered safe.
cassia Canelón, Cassia Tree bark Tea
Taken as tea may induce
uterine contractions.
Grows in various
Ergot, species of infected
Claviceps Fungus May induce uterine
Cornezuelo del cereal grains (rare
purpurea (sclerotium) contractions.
centeno in industrialized
countries)
Occasional use as a
Cinnamomum Canela,
condiment considered safe.
verum Cinnamon, true Tree bark Tea
Taken as tea may induce
cinnamon
uterine contractions.
Estramonio,
toloache Various species of Datura
Datura spp
Jimsonweed, Planta entera Tea are toxic and
stramonium, hallucinogenic. Avoid use.
moonflower
Wild yam, Root and Tea, tinctures,
Dioscorea villosa Uterine stimulant
Cabeza de negro rhizomes capsules
Male fern,
Dryopteris filix- May induce uterine
Helecho macho, Root Tea, extracts, pills
mas contractions.
Dentabrón
Occasional use as a
condiment considered safe.
Wormseed, Contains a toxic compound
Dysphania spp Leaves and
Mexican tea, Tea known as ascaridol; may
stems
Epazote, Paico induce uterine contractions.
Avoid ingesting oil, as it is
neurotoxic.
High doses should be
Foeniculum Seeds, root, Tea, pills, capsules,
Fennel, Hinojo avoided, as they may
vulgare leaves essential oil
induce uterine contractions
 Common
Scientific Name Part(s) Used Form of Use Comments
Name(s)

       
 
Harpagophytum Devil’s claw, May induce uterine
Root Tea, pills, capsules
procumbens Garra del diablo contractions
May induce uterine
Humulus lupulus Lúpulo, Hops Fruits Tea, pills, capsules
contractions.
Hydrastis
Sello dorado, May induce uterine
canadensis Root Tea, pills, capsules
Golden Seal contractions.
Hierba de San
Juan,
Hypericum Flowers, May induce uterine
corazoncillo, Tea, pills, capsules
perforatum Steams contractions.
hipérico, St.
John´s Wort
Hierba de San
Juan,
Hypericum Flowers, May induce uterine
corazoncillo, Tea, pills, capsules
perforatum Steams contractions.
hipérico, St.
John´s Wort
Sabino, Juniper May induce uterine
Juniperus spp. Berry Tea
berry contractions.
Leonorus Motherwort, Stem, leaves, Tea, tinctures, May induce uterine
cardiaca Agripalma and flowers syrups contractions.
Lycopus Bugleweed, Stem, leaves, May induce uterine
Tea, tinctures
virginicus Menta de lobo and flowers contractions.
Manzanilla
Matricaria alemana, Tea, capsules, May induce uterine
Flowers
recutita German Enema contractions.
chamomille
 Essential oil should not be
leaves,
Poleo, used internally;
Mentha pulegium Steams and Te, Aceite esencial
Pennyroyal abortifacient and liver
Flowers
toxic.
Montanoa Zoapatle. Leaves and May induce uterine
Tea
tomentosa Cihuapatli stems contractions.
Castor oil used as laxative
Nicotiana Tabaco, may stimulate uterine
leaves Smoked, chewed
tabacum Tobacco contractions. The seeds are
very poisonous.
Safe as a condiment. Avoid
Ocimum Basil, Albahaca, Leaves and
Tea, essential oil essential oil during
basilicum Albacar stems
pregnancy.
 Common
Scientific Name Part(s) Used Form of Use Comments
Name(s)

       
 
Occasional use as a
condiment considered safe.
Taken as tea may induce
Leaves and
Origanum spp Oregano Tea, essential oil uterine contractions. Avoid
stems
topical use of essential oil
during pregnancy; avoid
ingestion of essential oil.
Ginseng
Safety for use during
Panax ginseng coreano, Korean Root Tea, capsules
pregnancy not established.
ginseng
Ginseng
Panax americano, Safety for use during
Root Tea, capsules
quinquefolius American pregnancy not established.
ginseng
Flor de la
Passiflora May induce uterine
pasión, Passion Flowers Tea, capsules
incarnata contractions.
flower
Pausinystalia May induce uterine
Yohimbe Tree Bark Tea, capsules
yohimbe contractions.
Contains a toxic compound
Peumus boldus Boldo leaves Tea known as ascaridol and a
hypnotic alkaloid, boldine.
Piper Rhizomes, Liquid extracts, Safety for use during
Kava kava
methysticum root capsules pregnancy not established.
Rhamnus Espino cerval, May induce uterine
Corteza Tea, capsules
purshiana Buckthorn contractions.
Ruibarbo, May induce uterine
Rheum spp Root Tea, capsules
Rhubarb contractions.
Castor oil used as laxative
Ricino, Castor
Ricinus may stimulate uterine
oil, palma Seeds Oil
communis contractions. The seeds are
Christi
very poisonous.
Occasional use as a
condiment considered safe.
Taken as tea may induce
Rosmarinus Romero, Steams and
Tea, essential oil uterine contractions. Avoid
officinalis Rosemary leaves
topical use of essential oil
during pregnancy; avoid
ingestion of essential oil.
Ruta graveolens Rue, Ruda Leaves and Tea Toxic internally, may
 Common
Scientific Name Part(s) Used Form of Use Comments
Name(s)

       
 
stems induce uterine contractions.
Bark may induce uterine
Palma sabal, Berrys
Serenoa repens Pills, capsules contractions. Unripe berries
Saw palmetto
are toxic.
Avoid prolonged use
Symphytum Planta entera
Comfrey Tea, capsules internally; can be liver
officinale
toxic.
Palo de arco, Flowers,
May induce uterine
Tabebuia spp lapacho Pau d´ Arbol, Corteza Tea, capsules contractions.
arco
Tanacetum Tanaceto, Flowers, May induce uterine
Tea, capsules
vulgare Feverfew Steams contractions.
Tanacetum Tanaceto, Flowers, May induce uterine
Tea, capsules
vulgare Feverfew Steams contractions.
Trifolium Flowers, May induce uterine
Trébol, Clover Tea, capsules
pratense Steams contractions.
Alholva,
Trigonella leaves, May induce uterine
fenogreco, Tea, capsules
foenum-graecum Semillas contractions.
Fenugreek
Damiana, hierba Flowers, May induce uterine
Turnera diffusa Tea, capsules
de la pastora Steams contractions.
May induce uterine
Uncaria Uña de gato, Cat
Liana Tea, capsules contractions.
tomentosa ´s claw
Safety for ingestion during
Corn smut,
pregnancy not established.
Ustilago maydis Cuitlacoche, Fungus Food
Avoid especially during the
Huitlacoche
first trimester of pregnancy.