The herbs used for pregnancy are the same herbs that have been used by midwives for centuries. One area of great benefit is their high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and other constituents that provide an excellent source of concentrated nutrition. Making herbal teas, enjoying a relaxing and stimulating herbal bath, and massaging the skin with homemade herbal oils is one way to ground the expectant mother in the natural rhythms of the life cycle. Ideally every pregnancy should be guided by the gentle hand of a trusted health care professional, and expectant mothers should also be able to avail themselves of all the choices that modern medicine can afford.

Pregnancy and childbirth are generally a healthy and joyous time, however problems and complications can and do occur. Be very careful to avoid mixing herbs and prescription medicines during pregnancy, and do your homework to find out which herbs are safe, and avoid those that are not. As a rule of thumb, herbs that are classified as emmenagogues, (bring on the menstrual cycle), should be avoided.

Using Aromatherapy

Herbs Used for Pregnancy

Black Haw * Blessed Thistle * Burdock * Dandelion * Elm, Slippery * Ginger * Lavender * Lemon Balm * Raspberry *

Black haw ,cramp bark For: Uterine cramps
Profile	Both viburnums are excellent for "quieting" the uterus and are used for threated miscarriage, uterine cramps, and dysmenorrhea.. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Black haw Viburnum For: Prevent miscarriage, menopause
Profile	Black haw is an excellent remedy for menstrual cramping, and is used by herbalists in helping to prevent miscarriage, and to prevent excessive flow at the menopause. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Blessed Thistle For: Galactagogue
Profile	Stimulates blood flow to the mammary glands to enrich and increase breast milk

Chamomile For: Pregnancy, stress
Profile	Excellent either as a tea, or used in an aromatherapy massage for any woman's disorder that involves stress, anxiety, and tension. Safe to use during pregnancy.

Dill For: Amenorrhoea, Emmenagogue
Profile	The compound apiole in dill is such a powerful emmenagogue that most herbalists warn pregnant women not to use it in medicinal concentrations. (Don't panic, though--eating a dill pickle is okay.) If you want to encourage menstrual flow, you can brew a tea using two teaspoons of mashed seeds James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Ginger tea For: Morning sickness
Profile	Hot ginger tea served with lemon and honey is a delicious way to treat morning sickness. Although there are warnings in Chinese medicine about the use of ginger during pregnancy, used in moderation (the equivalent of 2 teaspoons, or 1 gram, two to three times per day) poses no risk to the health of the mother or developing baby. Recent studies indicate that eating as much as 2 to 3 tablespoons of raw ginger or 5 to 8 table-spoons of cooked ginger (15 or 40 grams, respectively) daily will not stimulate uterine contractions. If this is a concern for you, consider using Cardamom instead Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Lavender For: Herbal bath
Profile	Lavender baths are excellent for pregnant women and are highly recommended during the entire pregnancy. For depression, lavender should be mixed with borage flowers. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Raspberry tea For: Uterine tonic
Profile	Raspberry leaf tea is a safe, nutritive, uterine tonic. It is generally recommended for use during the entire nine months of pregnancy Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Pregnancy Information

• Menopause :
  Herbs containing or acting like estrogen may provide some of the benefits of estrogen in relieving menopausal symptoms.
• PMS :
  The effects of PMS range from mild to devastating an include edema,depression, tension, cramps, cravings, and more.
• Women's Tonics :
  A healthy, functioning liver is an important part of hormone production and hormonal balance is an important factor in PMS, menopause, regulating menses, and maintaining a healthy libido.
• Dysmenorrhea :
  A painful period can range from a dull ache to a violent cramp. When we are in a fragile emotional state, menstrual pain can be even more severe.
• Menorrhagia :
  Heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting or irregular bleeding are come under the heading of menorrhagia.
• Osteoporosis :
  Although osteoporosis can affect both men and women, it is more prevalent in women, especially women who have gone through menopause and have lower levels of bone protecting estrogen in their bodies.
• Amenorrhea :
  Herbs that bring on menstrual flow when there is delayed menstruation --for whatever reason--are known as emmenagogues.
• Candida/Yeast Infection :
  Women may be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections if they are pregnant or have diabetes. Candidiasis is an infection caused by species of Candida fungi, especially Candida albicans.
• Childbirth :
  These herbs can be used in the last few days of pregnancy to help open the womb and ensure an easier childbirth.