When you are expecting a baby and you are interested in the thought: sorrel juice and pregnancy. You can find a lot of useful details on this particular topic, as well as tips, guidance, experiences, and answers in order to questions around pregnancy, proper nutrition and diet plans.
It would not occur to any responsible woman to smoke, drink alcohol or consume narcotics when she is pregnant or breastfeeding due to the danger posed by these toxic substances for the health and survival of the baby, although many have a plant origin. However, when we take an infusion of herbs or light a stick of incense, we do not usually assume that they also come from plants and that some could harm the baby to the point of causing an abortion or slowing its development when breastfeeding.
Plants have phytochemicals, chemical compounds such as carotenes, phenols or alkaloids that can negatively affect the fetus, due to their small size and that during pregnancy, changes occur in the mother’s metabolism that modify the effects of these substances , causing some to be ineffective, more powerful or toxic, even in smaller doses than those usually recommended. In addition, some of the principles they contain can reach the baby through breast milk, so they are also discouraged when she is breastfeeding.
What are the infusions that cause abortions, fetal malformations or premature pregnancies? Are coffee, mate or tea prohibited during pregnancy? And the Chocolate? Can spices be added to food? Do frankincense and essential oils harm the fetus? Let’s analyze it.
Infusions and essential oils
It is indisputable that medicinal plants taken in infusion have innumerable therapeutic effects. In fact, as revealed in the study Use of medicinal herbs in pregnant and lactating women in a university hospital in Bogotá (Colombia), by Gloria Paulina Pulido Acuña, Patricia de las Mercedes Vásquez Sepúlveda and Licet Villamizar Gómez, it is common for both pregnant and lactating women to consume medicinal herbs to relieve annoying symptoms such as colic, morning sickness or internal cold, increase the amount of milk, promote childbirth or accelerate the healing of the scars of the cesarean sections.
However, consuming herbal treatments can be counterproductive for both the health of the mother and the fetus, because it is difficult to determine the danger of some plants during pregnancy and lactation due to the lack of studies on the subject and the characteristics of the organism of each woman. For this reason, it is discouraged to receive most medicinal treatments in these two stages, and the following are strictly prohibited:
- Pennyroyal-mint. Contains pulegone, a substance that has an abortifacient and toxic effect on the liver, kidney and neurology.
- Wormwood, Mountain savory, Angelica, Aquilea, Boldo, Yellow chicalote, Clove, Matricaria, Yarrow, Passionflower, Ruda cabruna or galega (Galega officinalis), Tanaceto, Tarraguillo . They cause abortions.
- Fárfara or horse’s claw . In addition to being abortifacient, it can cause harm to the fetus.
- Parsley . Parsley seeds contain apiol, a powerful abortifacient if consumed as an essential oil. As for the fresh plant, experts disagree: some say that it can be consumed in small quantities and others recommend avoiding it during pregnancy. Celery and fennel also contain apiol; eliminate them from your plant-based diet when you are pregnant.
- Rosemary . Risk of causing a miscarriage due to its estrogenic effect (effect of estrogens on the cervix). It is also not recommended during breastfeeding.
- Maiden grass, Periwinkle or Vinca (Vinca major) . It contains vincamine, a very toxic alkaloid that decreases the production of adrenaline and can cause hypotension and spasms.
- St. John’s wort or St. John’s wort : Alters the metabolism of medications and herbal treatments.
- Siberian ginseng . It can cause androgenization (increased male traits) in newborns.
- Nettle, Vervain grass, Adhatoda Justice . Stimulating action of the uterus.
- Barberry, Green anise, Star anise, Rhubarb, Sage . Contractions in the uterus, bleeding, premature labor.
- Eucalyptus . Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If consumed in excess, it can cause bleeding.
- Echinacea, Cascara sagrada and Cassia . Malformations in the fetus.
- Salvia . Raises blood pressure.
- Licorice not only raises blood pressure, it can also cause abortion, cause premature labor and decrease milk production during the puerperium or quarantine. Avoid it both in infusion and in candies.
- Turmeric .Possible abortifacient and neurotoxic effect.
- Passionflower and Poppy . High content of alkaloids and liver-kidney toxicity.
- Other dangerous plants . Sorrel, Alfalfa, Borage, Coriander, Horsetail, King’s Crown, Queen’s Crown, Hawthorn, Frangula, Bearberry, Hops, Propolis, White Willow, Red Clover, Propolis, Meadowsweet, Valerian … The inclusion of some plants does not imply that they are not dangerous or contraindicated. Please, consult a specialist if you consume any that are not in these lists.
Essential oils . Essential oils are made from the concentrated extract of plants, using kilos of some to extract just a few milliliters of essential oil. For this reason, its internal use (infusions, supplement in drops to be taken with juice or water …) and external (natural cosmetics, creams, soaps, dyes, etc.) during pregnancy is totally prohibited.
Tea, mate, coffee and chocolate: forbidden pleasures?
Tea
There are dozens of varieties of tea and each one has different therapeutic properties depending on the characteristics of the plant, the region that produces it, the specific brand and the way it is prepared and stored.
However and regardless of the variety, it is advisable to moderate its consumption during pregnancy and lactation because some of its components could hinder the absorption of iron and folic acid (both from the mother and the fetus) and due to their content in caffeine, an alkaloid that influences the weight of the baby and increases the risk of premature birth and miscarriage.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the maximum daily amount of caffeine that a pregnant woman can consume is 300 mg. This would mean about two cups of tea, although it will depend on the type of tea, brand and preparation. For example, the caffeine content in a gram of black tea ranges between 30 and 90 mg, while in a gram of green tea it ranges between 11 and 20 mg.
Added to this is the fluoride and aluminum content found in tea packaged in individual bags, instant tea and processed into brick or compact block. According to the study Fluoride in Te by Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, brick tea contains high levels of fluoride and aluminum that were absorbed from the soil by the mature leaves, berries and twigs of the plant. tea; and instant tea usually comes from brick tea blocks. In addition, it will also depend on the preparation of the infusion: the longer the sachet is soaked, the higher the concentration of fluoride and aluminum in the resulting infusion.
Matte
Argentine national drink and one of the most popular in South America, twinning ritual, cultural symbol … Mate is much more than a simple drink, but precisely for this reason, as Mario Moraes, a doctor at Hospital Pereira, explains Rossell (Uruguay), almost no one considers it as a source of caffeine and very few doctors recommend that pregnant women reduce their consumption, forgetting that a single thermos of mate contains 300 mg of caffeine, the maximum daily recommended by the WHO.
As revealed by a study carried out by a team of researchers from the Pereira Rossell Hospital (Uruguay) and led by Moraes, the children of mothers who drank mate (more than one thermos) were born with less height and weight than those of mothers who did not consume it. An alarming fact if we consider that some women consumed up to 1,700 mg of caffeine a day, mate by mate.
Coffee
Henry Collins said «What goes better with a cup of coffee? Another cup of coffee”. Certain! Although he forgot to add “except if you are pregnant.” Depending on the size of the cup, the brand and the way of preparing it, two cups contain the maximum amount of caffeine recommended by the WHO.
However, the Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and childhood growth and overweight: results from a large Norwegian prospective observational cohort study, carried out by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, advises that Eliminate coffee consumption altogether, as it increases the likelihood of babies being overweight. Therefore, the safest thing is to reduce your consumption to zero.
Also eliminate guarana, as well as cola and energy drinks due to their high content of caffeine and artificial substances such as phosphorus, colorings and flavorings.
Chocolate
What about chocolate, the food of the gods, the fruit of the divine tree that makes the bland apple pale as a substitute for sex ?!Well, although it also contains caffeine, most of the sources consulted state that you can eat it in moderation as long as it has certain characteristics: that it contains a minimum of 70% cocoa and only about 30 grams a day.
Aromatic plants and spices
Although spices and condiments are essential in any kitchen that boasts of being, we must not forget that they come from the seeds or barks of certain aromatic plants and that for this reason they should be avoided during pregnancy since they can be toxic in high concentrations , especially the following:
- Saffron . Very toxic in high amounts. Abortive effect.
- Basil, Cinnamon, Cumin, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint, Oregano, Rosemary . Uterine stimulants.
- Turmeric . Possible abortifacient and neurotoxic effect.
- Nutmeg . It contains myristicin, a chemical compound that can be toxic and cause anxiety, hallucinations, irrational behavior, nausea and vomiting in high doses.
- Cayenne and Pepper . Although it has not been found that the usual doses of these two spices can harm pregnant women, it is advisable to moderate the consumption of spicy foods, since they can cause heartburn, digestive discomfort and slow down digestion.
- Other spices and aromatic plants . Cloves, mustard, Juniper: avoid them also during breastfeeding.
Incense
Frankincense is a preparation of aromatic vegetable resins that, when burning, gives off a fragrant smoke whose aroma will depend on the oils used. The problem is that this smoke, fragrant or not, also contains compounds that are potentially harmful to health, whether or not you are pregnant.
Among the studies carried out to determine the damage caused by the regular burning of incense in the home, the one carried out by Cancer Research stands out. After analyzing three specific populations (elementary school children, their nonsmoking mothers and nonsmoking older adults), the researchers concluded that burning incense caused respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, chronic sputum, chronic bronchitis, runny nose, wheezing, asthma , allergic rhinitis, or pneumonia.
It also highlights Incense Burning during Pregnancy and Birth Weight and Head Circumference among Term Births: The Taiwan Birth Cohort Study , the first study to analyze the associations between prenatal incense burning and delivery outcomes . Using data from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study, a longitudinal survey that follows 21,248 babies born in 2005 in Taiwan, researchers Le-Yu Chen and Christine Ho found that Babies of women who had used incense during pregnancy were lighter and their head circumference was smaller in relation to the babies of those who had not used it.
As the researchers point out: «In general, it takes between 1 and 1.5 hours to burn an incense stick, during which time the incense stick emits smoke that contains particles (PM), gaseous products such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylenes, which are potentially harmful to health. Some studies have studied the relationship between direct exposure to incense burning and health outcomes for adults and children of preschool or school age. So far, this literature has found that incense burning in the home and in temples was linked to an increased likelihood of respiratory health symptoms and allergies, and there is mixed evidence linking incense burning to atopic dermatitis and cancer”. Therefore, frankincense is not only harmful during pregnancy, but also in childhood and adulthood.
Final reflection
To finish, I want to emphasize what I told you at the beginning of this report: it is difficult to determine the danger of a plant during pregnancy and lactation due to the lack of studies and the characteristics of each woman’s body. In fact, during the documentation to write it, I have found contradictory information about the benefits of certain infusions, recommended for pregnant women in some specialized websites and discouraged in others, as well as about the amount of chocolate, coffee or cola drinks that they may or may not be consumed daily. Personally, I consider that it is best to eliminate its consumption during pregnancy and lactation, thus avoiding endangering the health of your baby.
Sources:
Use of medicinal herbs in pregnant and lactating women in a university hospital in Bogotá & # 8211; SciELO.
Medicinal plants to avoid during pregnancy & # 8211; Webconsultas.
Abortive plants & # 8211; Botanical-online
Herbal teas during pregnancy: which ones you should avoid and which ones you can consume in moderation & # 8211; Babies and more.
What medicinal plants are safe in pregnancy? & # 8211; Boticaria García.
Fluoride in Te & # 8211; Science in Society.
Relationship between mate consumption in pregnancy and birth weight & # 8211; Researchgate
Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and childhood growth and overweight: results from a large Norwegian prospective observational cohort study & # 8211; BMJ OPEN.
Forbidden spices in pregnancy & # 8211; Pregnancy.
Incense Burning during Pregnancy and Birth Weight and Head Circumference among Term Births: The Taiwan Birth Cohort Study & # 8211; PMC.
Brenda B. Lennox is the pseudonym of a writer with several literary awards behind her back. The mask that allows her to show her wildest side in texts that exude rawness, not without black humor and poetry. The signature that endorses her commitment to her sexuality as a writer for media such as Volonté or La Magia de los Sentidos. We could tell you her real name, but she has assured that she would later have to kill you. And we believe it.
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