Herbal tea is made from roots, flowers, berries, leaves and seeds of plants. Although herbal teas do not contain caffeine and contain nutrients, there is not enough data on many types of tea to determine the affect on developing babies. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding herbal tea during pregnancy unless your doctor says it is okay, just to be safe.
Safe Teas
According to the American Pregnancy Association, commercial brands of herbal teas are typically safe to consume in reasonable amounts. Teas like barley, thyme and lime blossom are likely safe. Peppermint leaf and ginger root, which can help relieve morning sickness, are also safe, as well as lemon balm tea that can help relieve insomnia.
Pregnancy Teas
Some teas contain a blend of herbs and are specifically marketed for pregnant women. Safe pregnancy teas may help prevent preterm labor and postpartum hemorrhage. However, the safety and ingredients of these teas are not regulated, so you need to carefully read the labels to make sure all of the ingredients are safe to consume during pregnancy. If you are unsure which types are safe, ask your doctor.
Homemade
The American Pregnancy Association recommends making your own herbal tea by adding fruit like pineapple, oranges, apples, lemons or limes to boiled water or decaffeinated tea. You can also try adding cinnamon or mint leaves.
Warning
Keep in mind that herbs can be as potent as some medications, and excessive amounts of any kind are not safe. Avoid herbal teas that are unsafe or do not have reliable safety information, such as dandelion, chamomile, nettle leaf, rose hips, alfalfa, yellow dock, anise, comfrey and lemongrass. Some of these types of tea, such as nettle leaf, can stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage.
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