I got the idea for this blog post from a pregnant woman who ate lots of culinary herbs on her food. She was worried that it may harm her unborn baby. All herbs are safe to eat of as long as long as you use them in moderation; that is even if you eat them in the small amounts you would on food in several meals a week.

However, herbal supplements that were perfectly safe for you before pregnancy might actually cause pregnancy complications or harm your baby. Even though herbs are all-natural, natural does not mean safe, especially when you’re having a baby.

Herbal supplements, unlike over-the-counter and prescription medications, are not subject to the same process of governmental evaluation and regulation. Because of this, the strength and quality of a supplement can vary from brand to brand, and you can’t always be certain you can trust what’s written on a label.

The trouble with herbs and supplements, according to a National Institutes of Health spokesperson, is that they haven’t been studied at the level that pharmaceutical drugs have–especially in pregnant and lactating women–and there is no comprehensive source on the safety of herbs during pregnancy.

Here’s a list of herbs you should avoid and herbs that are safe when you’re expecting. Remember, this list refers to medicinal and not culinary uses of herbs. The off-limits list is rather lengthy, but there are plenty of natural ways to alleviate your pregnancy symptoms, from ginger to tame nausea to peppermint to help with gas.

*Always consult your health-care provider before you begin taking any supplement, herbal or otherwise.

Herbal Supplements to Avoid:

This list refers to medicinal (not culinary) uses of herbs. Cooking with these herbs** and spices is perfectly safe because they’re used in such small amounts, even when eaten several times per week. Likewise, applying these herbs topically, such as in lotions or soaps, is also safe. These herbs should not be ingested in the form of teas or supplements because they either lack research to prove they are safe during pregnancy, or they can induce uterine contractions, stimulate menstrual flow, and affect hormones, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.

Aloe vera* Angelica Anise** Arnica
Asafetida Ashwaganda Barberry Basil**
Bee balm Birthwort Black cohosh Bladderwrack
Blessed thistle Bloodroot Blue cohosh Blue flag
Borage Buchu Bugleweed California poppy
Camphor Cascara sagrada Cassia Castor oil
Catnip Cat’s claw Celandine Celery**
Chamomile Cinchona Coltsfoot Comfrey
Corydalis Cotton root bark Dong quai Elecampane
Ephedra Ergot stimulate Evening Primrose Fenugreek**
Feverfew Ginseng** Goldenseal Gotu Kola
Guggul Horehound Hyssop Ipecac
Juniper Kava Kava Lemongrass** Licorice**
Lobelia Mace** Motherwort Mugwort
Myrrh Nettles (or Stinging Nettles) Nutmeg**

Oregon grape root
Osha Parsley** Passion Flower Pay D’ Arco
Pennyroyal Peruvian bark Pleurisy root Prickly ash
Quassia Red clover Roman Chamomile Rosemary**
Rue Sage** Saw Palmetto Senna
Slippery Elm*** Thuja

Turmeric** Uva Ursi
Vervain Vitex Wild indigo Wormwood
Yarrow Yellow dock Yohimbe
* Using aloe vera (or products containing it) as a topical skin treatment is safe during pregnancy.

** These herbs are safe to eat and use in cooking.

***While the inner bark of the slippery elm can help relieve nausea, vomiting and vaginal irritations, the outer bark of the same tree contains chemicals that could cause a miscarriage. It’s better to avoid all slippery elm products, just in case some outer bark contaminated the supplements.

The following herbs have been deemed “safe” and/or “possibly safe” by the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database and/or the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (winter 2008 issue). As with any supplement, consult your health-care provider before you begin taking any herb listed below.