Herbal preparation in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Herbal remedies have been used for centuries in many countries to treat a wide variety of ailments.  Herbal remedies are being recommended and prescribed more often in Australia by naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists and other health care practitioners.

In all cases it is advisable that women seek advice from their doctor or the Royal Women’s Hospital Drug Information centre if contemplating the use of any herbal remedy during pregnancy or breast feeding.

Herbal preparations should be avoided wherever possible during the first trimester of pregnancy. Some however may be used after the first trimester: however you should consult your obstetrician before commencing.

Reasons to be careful

Most herbal and homeopathic remedies have not been tested to determine their safety during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Herbal preparations are often quite expensive to buy, and many have not been scientifically proven to be effective.