These five herbs are known to be safe during pregnancy and can help with a variety of common discomforts and problems while helping prepare your body for a healthy birth.
1. Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) for morning sickness: Ginger is a spicy, aromatic herb with which many are familiar with for cooking. It has been shown to be safe and effective in treating morning sickness
You can make your own ginger ale by grating 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root and squeezing the juice into some carbonated water (plain or lemon flavoured), adding some honey, cane sugar, or maple syrup to sweeten it, or you can get a good quality ginger ale with real ginger.
2. Red raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) for easier labour: This herb is a mineral rich tonic, traditionally used to support a healthy pregnancy and tone the uterus to help a woman prepare for birth. Some studies have shown that it can help to expedite labour and reduce complications and interventions associated with birth.
3. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) for colds: Pregnant women get colds just like everyone else, and because natural hormonal changes in pregnancy already make your nose feel stuffy and a big belly can make it feel harder to breathe, colds and coughs can be extra miserable. Echinacea has been shown to reduce the length of colds and also prevent them from recurring. It can be used either during a cold or to prevent them.
4. Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) for UTI prevention: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common during pregnancy. Medically they are treated with antibiotics the first time, and if a second infection occurs, the medical recommendation is to place pregnant women on antibiotics for the entire pregnancy to prevent further infections. While cranberry should not be used to substitute for appropriate medical care, it has been shown in numerous studies to prevent UTIs.
5. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) for better sleep: Pregnancy is often a time of disturbed sleep whether from vivid dreams, new concerns over becoming a mom, or the discomfort of your growing belly making it hard to find just the right position. One of my favourite herbs for gently and safely promoting relaxation and sleep is chamomile. It is soothing for your tummy and tastes delicious, too. Chamomile can be taken up to several cupfuls daily if you are stressed, and taken before bed for sleep. It is generally recommended 1-2 cups in the evening, but do not drink tea within an hour of going to sleep or you’ll surely be up to pee.
