Herbal medicine in pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Really for USA & Canadian readers:

 

Recently, I have been alarmed at information on herbs for pregnancy

finding its way onto newsgroups via people who have no sound training

in the subject. Information is being taken from old herbals without

a second thought being given as to if modern knowledge has indicated

particular herbs might pose dangers in early pregnancy. Some herbs

may well interfere with the development of a foetus in the first 3

months of development.

 

For example, it is wise in the first 3 months to avoid any herb that

might have a hormonal action. For example, Hibiscus tea has been

shown to decrease male fertility - a hormonal action. Borage herb

contains dangerous alkaloids that while probably having little effect

on an adult, might disrupt liver formation in an early foetus.

Several of the traditional Native American herbs while being

fantastic for gynaecological conditions should not be used in early

pregnancy. Indeed in most cases they were not used in early

pregnancy in that culture; they tended to be reserved for much later

in pregnancy after the early developmental processes in the foetus

had ceased.

 

Some herbs were used to overcome the effects of malnutrition and to

restart the menstrual cycle so that a pregnancy could be achieved.

However, once menstruation commenced, the herbs were usually stopped

and nature left to do its job till closer to labour.

 

Over the last few years I have noticed a big growth in poor

information about herbal medicine coming onto the internet. The same

thing is happening with herbs as happened years ago with essential

oils. This is that many people think they can learn all they need to

know from books; from taking low quality training courses, or from

the internet. Some of these people then come onto newsgroups acting

as if they are very knowledgeable when they really are not. Often

these people have not even been taught how to evaluate the accuracy

of what their teachers have told them, but instead have simply fallen

for scam marketing.

 

In the USA in particular, you have a tradition of spreading herbal

knowledge without its real worth or origin being evaluated. With a

lot of herbal medicine it is vital to know the medical and botanical

sciences and to know the side effects of giving the wrong herbs at

the wrong time, or for the wrong conditions. It is this aspect of the

therapy which is often lacking in their own training of some big

name 'erbalists' in the US and Canadian scene. When I trained in the

UK in the mid 80s, we had a few American and Canadian students who

came to the UK for up to 4 years. Reason they did that was because

back home there were no herb training courses that taught the

sciences of herbs or medicine properly. Those practitioners are now

working in your countries, but they are few and far between compared

to the many whose fundamental knowledge is severely lacking.

 

Some of the advice popping up on newsgroups has the potential to

cause far more harm than good. The internet has engendered a culture

of grab what information you can and don't bother getting

professional help. In any profession one has to pay for sound advice

due partly to the length of time it takes to train. Why do you think

a REAL Shaman takes up to 10 years to train? In South America you may

not pay him or her in cash, but you sure do have to pay, either with

a chicken, pig or a pouch of tobacco. You cannot possibly expect to

get such professional advice from people who have done a few weekends

courses in the subject, or who have just taken what they know out of

books. On this group I have seen poor advice given on herbs, but I

usually don't jump in because in adults the advice wont cause much of

a problem. However, with pregnancy this is another ballgame and you

must beware of taking and giving advice on this subject as far as

herbs are concerned. If you happen to be on any newsgroups involving

pregnancy feel free to repost this or issue your own warnings.

 

Martin Watt

http://www.aromamedical.com

[Guest guest]

Thank you Martin! I agree with you wholeheartedly.

 

Cherry

 

, " aromamedical2003 "

<aromamedical-2@l...> wrote:

>

> Really for USA & Canadian readers:

>

> Recently, I have been alarmed at information on herbs for pregnancy

> finding its way onto newsgroups via people who have no sound

training

> in the subject....

[Guest guest]

Martin-

Thank you for this post- its something that has always been a concern

of mine. I have similar concerns about nursing mothers.

Melissa

 

 

 

> Recently, I have been alarmed at information on herbs for pregnancy

> finding its way onto newsgroups via people who have no sound training

> in the subject.