Traditional Medicines in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Childhood
What health agencies and reviews say about traditional and herbal medicines during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood, why caution is advised and what to ask your clinician.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Urgent first
In pregnancy, call emergency services (911 in the United States) for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fainting, a seizure or trouble breathing. If a child may have swallowed a herbal or traditional product, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if the child is very sleepy, has trouble breathing or has a seizure. See poisoning: what to do first. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.The short answer
Official advice is cautious. The NHS says herbal medicines are not recommended for children because not enough is known about their safety, and that you should not take them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. [1] NCCIH says many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. [2] "Traditional" does not mean tested in pregnancy.Children
A systematic review of serious adverse events in children and adolescents found numerous case reports and case series, most linked to herbal medications; it noted that inadequately regulated herbal medicines may contain toxic plants, heavy metals or synthetic drugs. [9] The review could not give reliable incidence figures, so these are warnings, not rates. [9] WHO says lead is particularly harmful to young children. [6] Samples of Mexican folk remedies used for empacho (a traditional illness category) were very high in lead. [10]Breastfeeding
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for specific traditional herbs during breastfeeding, so this page gives no herb-by-herb list. The NHS advice not to take herbal medicines while breastfeeding applies. [1] Ask your clinician or pharmacist before using any product.Questions to ask
- Who is the provider, and are they willing to work with my midwife, obstetrician or pediatrician?
- What exactly is in the product, and has it been tested for metals and hidden drugs?
- Is there a safer way to treat this symptom that has been studied in pregnancy or childhood?
We do not recommend practitioners; see how to check a traditional practitioner.
Related pages
Therapies in pregnancy, pregnancy and breastfeeding supplement safety, children and teens, and the safety overview.Frequently asked questions
Are traditional herbs safe in pregnancy?
Not by default. The NHS says not to take herbal medicines if pregnant or breastfeeding, and a 2019 review advised discouraging use until safety evidence exists. [1][3]
Is ginger safe for pregnancy nausea?
One review of trials found no harmful maternal or neonatal effects for ginger for nausea. Ask your clinician before using it. [4]
Can I give my child a traditional remedy?
The NHS says herbal medicines are not recommended for children because not enough is known about their safety. [1]
Are some products especially risky for children?
Lead-containing remedies are a particular concern because lead is particularly harmful to young children. [6]
Who should I ask?
Your pregnancy care provider, pediatrician or a pharmacist, and bring the product or its label. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
What reviews found for pregnancy
| Review | What it found | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Systematic review of herbal products in pregnancy and the postnatal period (2019) | 47 products and over a million women. Almond oil was linked to preterm birth, raspberry leaf to cesarean delivery and heavy licorice use to early preterm birth; 14 studies reported no adverse events. [3] | Observational links, not proof of cause. Authors advised discouraging use until safety evidence exists. [3] |
| Randomized trials of herbal and homeopathic remedies (2016) | Ginger for nausea showed no harmful maternal or neonatal effects, and castor oil for induction of labor showed a tendency toward more cesarean births. [4] | Few remedies tested; larger trials needed. |
| 111 studies of herbal medicine and offspring outcomes (2026) | Trials in assisted reproduction and threatened miscarriage suggested possible benefits, and adjusted observational studies did not show a clear increase in major adverse outcomes, but exploratory signals appeared for some products such as betel quid, khat and one named Chinese formula. [5] | The authors say signals were based on few studies and need caution. [5] |
These reviews do not agree on one message because they look at different products, populations and designs. The fair summary is that evidence is mixed and limited, some specific products have warning signals, and no review supports treating "herbal" as safe by default. Ginger has one trial-based safety finding for nausea in the 2016 review; that does not extend to other herbs. [4]
Metals and quality in pregnancy
References
- NHS. Herbal medicines. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-22.
- Munoz Balbontin Y and others. Herbal medicinal product use during pregnancy and the postnatal period: a systematic review. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
- Boltman-Binkowski H. A systematic review: are herbal and homeopathic remedies used during pregnancy safe? Curationis 2016. Read 2026-10-22.
- Chen C and others. Benefits and risks of herbal medicine use during pregnancy on offspring outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacological Research 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. Lead poisoning and health. Fact sheet. Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. Mercury and health. Fact sheet. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ernst E. Serious adverse effects of unconventional therapies for children and adolescents: a systematic review of recent evidence. European Journal of Pediatrics 2003. Read 2026-10-22.
- Baer RD and others. Toxic Mexican folk remedies for the treatment of empacho: the case of azarcon, greta, and albayalde. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1988. Read 2026-10-22.