Skip to main content

Table 3 Consumption of alternative medicine and herbal ailments

From: Use of alternative medicine, ginger and licorice among Danish pregnant women – a prospective cohort study

Intake of alternative medicine and supplements

% (n)

Possible risk in pregnancy / recommendations during pregnancy

Alternative medicines

22.7(51)

 

Psyllium Husk Fiber

6.7(15)

Delayed absorption of other drugs, necessary insulin dosage adjustment (downward) for diabetics [30]

Valerian

0.4(1)

Influence on fetal ossification, cytotoxic and mutagen [5]

Glucosamines

0.4(1)

No available information

Ginger

11.1(25)

Induce abortion, influence fetal testosterone metabolism and maternal vaginal bleeding from gestational week 17 [5, 31]

Pregnancy tea (raspberry leaves and ginger)

0.4(1)

Antigonadotrophic effects [5]

Mint tea

1.8(4)

Emmenagogue properties [30]

Cranberry tablets

0.4(1)

Insufficient treatment of UVI [3]

Kefir

0.4(1)

Contains small amounts of alcohol (fermented)

Kombucha tea

0.4(1)

Contains small amounts of alcohol (fermented)

Krauterblüt (herbal iron remedy)

2.7(6)

Iron deficiency due to insufficient supplementation [32]

Thyme tea

0.4(1)

Inducing abortion [2]

L-lysine

0.4(1)

No available information

Green tea

0.4(1)

Contains caffeine [30]

Turmeric

0.4(1)

Induces abortion [33] and is cytotoxic [34]

Lactic Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria

0.9(2)

No available information

Boldocynara (Boldo, dandelion, mint, artichoke)

0.4(1)

No available information, but mint has emmenagogue properties [30]

Oregano

0.4(1)

No available information

Essential (Norwegian remedy)

0.4(1)

No available information

MK oil (Linseed, evening primrose, rosehip, caraway)

0.4(1)

Caraway has emmenagogue properties and spasmolytic effects [30], evening primrose increases the incidence of prolonged rupture of membranes, oxytocin augmentation and vacuum extraction [31]

  1. Overview of the reported use of alternative medicines by the women and an outline of the current recommendation and reported risk aspects in pregnancy from the medical literature