News Moms Need

Have you taken any herbal products during your pregnancy? Are you tempted to do so? A new national study has found that about 1 out of every 10 women takes some type of herbal product while pregnant.

In the study, ginger was one of the most commonly reported products taken early in pregnancy (probably for nausea). Among some women, herbal teas, including chamomile, were popular throughout pregnancy.

It’s good to remember that there can be safety issues with herbal products. In many cases, we don’t know if they work or if they’re safe for women during pregnancy. Also, manufacturing standards for herbals are weak so they can sometimes contain dangerous ingredients.

The best rule of thumb is to ask your health care provider before taking any herbal product while you’re pregnant.

To learn more, read the March of Dimes article about drugs and herbals during pregnancy. The new study “Herbal Use Before and During Pregnancy” was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

I’ve tried echinacea for colds. My husband’s taken gingko to help him remember where he put his keys. I have a friend who took black cohosh for hot flashes.

Guess what? Research has found that these remedies probably don’t work. 

Last week the Associated Press reported on the federal government’s program to study alternative medicine. Ten years ago, the government launched an effort to test herbal and other alternative remedies.

So far, the results have been disappointing. Scientists have found that most of the remedies probably don’t work.

But some can help. Ginger seems to reduce nausea when cancer patients are getting chemotherapy. Acupuncture may relieve some types of knee and back pain. Yoga, massage and meditation may reduce anxiety.

To learn more, visit the Web site of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. These remedies can be costly, so I think twice about trying them. And some of them can be harmful.

If you’re pregnant, don’t use any herbal or alternative remedy without first talking to your health care provider. Some can be dangerous for you and your baby. For more info, read the March of Dimes article.

Your thoughts?

On December 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers not to buy or use more than 25 types of weight loss pills. These pills may seriously harm your health.

Some of the pills contain sibutramine, a controlled substance. Others contain rimonabant, a drug not approved for marketing in the U.S.; it can cause depression and suicidal thoughts. In some of the pills, the FDA found phenolphthalein, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Some ingredients in the pills far exceeded levels recommended by the FDA.

Some of the pills are marketed as dietary supplements and are promoted as being “natural” or “herbal.” In fact, the pills contain ingredients that can be harmful.

For a full list of the products, go to the FDA Web site. If you have been taking any of these pills, stop right away and talk to your health care provider.

Women who can become pregnant, pregnant women and children should not use herbal or dietary supplements without first getting approval from a health care provider. Some supplements and herbal ingredients have undergone extensive testing, but many have not been shown to be safe or effective.

If you are pregnant, do not try to lose weight during pregnancy; this can harm both you and your baby.