Is it safe to take Echinacea when pregnant?!
Question: Is it safe to take Echinacea when pregnant.?
I have done some research but there is nothing conclusive as to yes or no. I have a cold and don't like taking conventional medicines especially paracetamol. Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed! xHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
No!!
Drugs.com says "Do not take echinacea without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether echinacea will harm an unborn baby."
WebMD says "During pregnancy, this product should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor." (they are a little more liberal in their claims)
The problem is, if you boost your immune system too high, your immune system might actually start attacking the fetus. Echinacea is great for boosting the immune system, in fact, it's so potent that there's a warning on it not to take it long term because it'll make your immune system too strong where it will start fighting against natural processes in the body (like the beneficial bacteria in your intestines and leading to brain function).
I wouldn't consider risking it.Health Question & Answer
Drugs.com says "Do not take echinacea without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether echinacea will harm an unborn baby."
WebMD says "During pregnancy, this product should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor." (they are a little more liberal in their claims)
The problem is, if you boost your immune system too high, your immune system might actually start attacking the fetus. Echinacea is great for boosting the immune system, in fact, it's so potent that there's a warning on it not to take it long term because it'll make your immune system too strong where it will start fighting against natural processes in the body (like the beneficial bacteria in your intestines and leading to brain function).
I wouldn't consider risking it.Health Question & Answer
Why would someone prefer to take a remedy that has not been sufficiently tested over an evidence-based medicine.? I recommend the wiki article. It says,
"In the absence of sufficient data, the use in pregnancy and lactation is not recommended."
It also points out that evidence so far suggests that, when taken for a cold, echinacea has "no clinically significant effects on rates of infection or duration or intensity of symptoms. The effects held when the herb was taken immediately following infectious viral exposure and when taken as a prophylaxis starting a week prior to exposure."
Edit: You give a good reason for not taking painkillers in your case but it's not a good reason for taking natural remedies that haven't been sufficiently thoroughly tested.Health Question & Answer
"In the absence of sufficient data, the use in pregnancy and lactation is not recommended."
It also points out that evidence so far suggests that, when taken for a cold, echinacea has "no clinically significant effects on rates of infection or duration or intensity of symptoms. The effects held when the herb was taken immediately following infectious viral exposure and when taken as a prophylaxis starting a week prior to exposure."
Edit: You give a good reason for not taking painkillers in your case but it's not a good reason for taking natural remedies that haven't been sufficiently thoroughly tested.Health Question & Answer