Table 1.
Commonly used herbal medicines (HMs) by pregnant women worldwide.
| Indications | Medicinal herbs |
|---|---|
| Morning sickness, nausea, vomiting | Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), Herbal teas, Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), Bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria L.), Garlic (Allium sativum L.), Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) |
| Cold and flu | Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.), Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), Golden buttons (Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch. Bip.), Wild thyme (Origanum syriacum L.), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), Borage (Borago officinalis L.), Chamomille (Matricaria chamomilla L.), Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea L.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), Rosehip (Rosa spp.) |
| Pain (gastralgia and other types of pain) | Verbena triphylla (Aloysia citriodora Palau), Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), Golden buttons [Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch. Bip.], Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), Wild thyme (Origanum syriacum L.), Sage (Salvia officinalis L.), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), Black cumin (Nigella ciliaris DC.), Chamomille (Matricaria chamomilla L.) |
| Anxiety, stress | Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), Chamomille (Matricaria chamomilla L.), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders, constipation, flatulence | Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), Borage (Borago officinalis L.), Chamomille (Matricaria chamomilla L.), Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), Senna (Cassia senna), Green tea (Camellia sinensis), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) |
| Edema | Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) |
| Urinary tract infection | Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.), Bearberry [Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) (L.) Spreng.], Parsley [Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss], Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) |
| Labor preparation, facilitation and induction | Rooibos [Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R. Dahlgren] tea, coconut (Coco nucifera L.) oil, Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), Golden buttons [Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch. Bip.], Watercress (Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), Cannabis sativa L., Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) |
| Milk production and secretion | Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.), Caraway (Carum carvi L.), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) |
| Fetal health promotion | Gingko (Gingko biloba), Ganoderma (Ganoderma lucidum), Sage (Salvia fruticosa), Olibanum (Boswellia serrata Triana & Planch.) |
| Anemia | Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), Fenugreek (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), Rosehip (Rosa spp.) |