Staying hydrated can feel like a chore when you're pregnant, especially if you're eliminating caffeinated drinks or sugary soft drinks in an attempt to care for the unborn baby. Drinking tea can be a refreshing way to satisfy thirst while...
During your pregnancy, it is often confusing determining which herbal supplements are safe to use. Angelica sinensis, or dong quai, is a root used by herbalists for centuries to improve circulation, alleviate menstrual pain and help with...
Progesterone is an important hormone that helps regulate the menstrual cycle in women. Low levels of progesterone can halt ovulation, causing amenorrhea, or the cessation or delay of your monthly period. This can cause reproductive health problems...
Ashwagandha is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry. This herb is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine for pain, stress and strain and as a general herbal tonic. It also is added to ointments to use as a topical analgesic treatment for...
Being pregnant does not mean you can no longer use herbal supplements. In fact, many women use herbal remedies more during pregnancy because they can no longer use as many over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat ailments. Most...
Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are medicines that help reduce the acid production in the stomach. PPIs work by interfering with the mechanism that pumps acid into the stomach, states the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse....
During pregnancy, it's normal to be hesitant to take any kind of medicine or herb. Traditional Chinese medicine uses cinnamon bark to treat a variety of conditions, including stomach upset. You can make cinnamon tea by steeping cinnamon bark...
A sprig of parsley can liven up your dinner plate -- but you may hesitate to eat it if you're pregnant. While pregnant women should not take large quantities of parsley oil, the amount found in parsley leaves used as a food garnish will not cause...
You might have heard that caffeine isn't healthy in immoderate amounts during pregnancy. This is true, but the reason has nothing to do with the unborn baby's DNA structure -- there's no evidence that caffeine causes mutations. Instead, caffeine...
Lycium barbarum -- more commonly referred to as the goji berry -- is a Chinese medicinal supplement. Traditionally, Lycium barbarum is used to reduce inflammation, pain and skin irritation; however, additional research is needed to fully examine...
Patients who have cancer or certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, may find relief using a prescription medication called methotrexate. It is part of a class of drugs called antimetabolites, which work by...
The term "miscarriage" can refer to any type of pregnancy loss. Although many miscarriages occur naturally in the early stages of pregnancy, other types of losses occur later in pregnancy, or are medically or surgically induced due to problems...
Deep-tissue massage is a technique that focuses on deeper layers of muscle to alleviate pain and stress in targeted areas. Though it is a fairly standard technique under most circumstances, pregnant women may be a bit leery of deep-tissue massage...
Alternative health practitioners use black cohosh to treat arthritis, osteoporosis and the symptoms of menopause. This plant contains phytoestrogens, sugar compounds and substances that have anti-inflammatory properties. While black cohosh has...
If you suffer from chronic joint pain or a prostate infection called benign prostatic hyperplasia, you may benefit from treatment with the herbal supplement nettle. Nettle, also called stinging nettle, is a medicinal treatment derived from the...
Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family and both its roots and rhizomes are used for medicinal properties. The term black refers to the dark colour of the rhizome. Black cohosh, scientifically known as Cimcifuga racemosa is a medicinal...
Herbs and holistic medicines have been used by humans for centuries for many different problems. Triphala is a plant that has numerous benefits. However, there are some herbs that certain groups of people should not use, despite the potential...
Ashwagandha has a long history of use in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine system. Sometimes referred to as "Indian ginseng", it has been used for similar purposes including enhancing energy, boosting immune function, improving mental...
Native Americans used the inner bark of the slippery elm tree for a variety of ailments including cough, sore throat, ulcers, digestive problems and wounds. When the bark combines with water, it forms a slick gel coating which can soothe the...
Diuretics are substances that increase urine output, which helps the body excrete sodium and excess water. There are over-the-counter diuretic drugs, as well as prescription diuretics, but some herbs and foods also have diuretic properties. These...
A cough can be a nuisance or a sign of an underlying illness. Your doctor can prescribe medications for a cough, but some people use herbal remedies such as licorice instead. Not licorice candy, this herbal remedy may be beneficial for some...
Pineapple juice can be a healthy addition to a pregnancy diet, especially since it contains vital nutrients that your developing baby needs to remain healthy. While some pregnant women worry about the safety of pineapple juice during pregnancy,...
Fennel has a long history of use for a variety of purposes, including the treatment of gas and other issues of digestive distress and infant colic, promoting menstruation and lactation, and increasing sexual drive. The University of Pittsburgh...
During the first trimester of pregnancy, you generally have free reign to be as active as you'd like. According to the "The Everything Pregnancy Fitness Book," women who are in the early stages of pregnancy may continue their usual fitness...
Ashwaganda is an herb used widely in traditional medicine but with limited clinical trials supporting its effectiveness. Ashwaganda has no direct effect on appetite. Instead, it has calming and anti-stress effects and may reduce stress- and...
Fibroids are benign tumors that can grow in the female uterus. The causes of their formation and development are unknown, although they tend to occur in women older than 30 years of age and are particularly common in African-American women....
Pregnant women often consider using aloe topically in the form of a gel or orally as a juice. Scientific evidence shows both benefits and consequences of using aloe during pregnancy. While topical use of aloe may not affect your pregnancy, taking...
While there is no solid evidence to support the idea that taking ginger root can induce miscarriage, you should weigh the risks and benefits of taking herbs during pregnancy. Learn more about the positive effects as well as the risks of taking...
Urtica dioica, commonly known as stinging nettle, may yield health benefits when used as a medicinal supplement. The roots and leaves of the Urtica dioica plant may be prepared as a tea, tincture, tablet or capsule and is traditionally used to...
