I don't know much about this at all, but just got this from babycentre.
Which teas are not safe?
Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce
miscarriage. These include anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.
Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. In any case, it should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs in this list during pregnancy and lactation.
Note: You can still eat
food that contains herbs like rosemary and sage, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea — and not as potent (the brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs).
Among other reasons to avoid certain herbs used in teas:
- Coca (also known as mate de coca) contains small amounts of cocaine.
- Comfrey, kava root, skullcap, valerian, and woodruff may damage your liver
- Lobelia contains nicotine.
- Mate (or yerba mate) can contain as much caffeine as coffee.
None of these herbs should be taken while you're pregnant or nursing.
