Herbal medicines and pregnancy.

The prevalence of herbal medicine use during pregnancy is between 7% and 55%, depending upon the geographic area surveyed and the surveyed group's socio-cultural aspects and ethnicity. Why are women taking natural health products (NHPs) in pregnancy? Women who learn they are pregnant are concerned about the safety of their fetus and may turn to NHPs rather than prescription medication. Use of NHPs in pregnancy is an area where more research is needed. The importance of knowing about these products is to understand their potential dangers in women of childbearing age, particularly when it is known that they are trying to conceive. Information on select NHPs is provided in this presentation.