For purposes of clarification, pregnant women can consume the herb Kacip Fatimah only during the last week or two of pregnancy to help prepare for child birth (by strengthening the uterus and birth canal).
There are many other herbs that a pregnant woman shouldn’t take except for the last two weeks of pregnancy, as they can cause the uterus to contract and could thus expel the fetus causing spontaneous abortion. Such herbs include Blue Cohosh, Black Cohosh, Beth Root, etc. Oxytocic herbs are to be avoided for the first 38 or 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Because an oxytocic or parturient herb stimulates contraction of the uterus, a pregnant woman would not want this function for the first 38 or 39 weeks of her pregnancy, but she would want it for the last week or two of her pregnancy to help facilitate her delivery.
The 2-week period for purposes of consumption of oxytocic or parturient herbs before delivery is the exception to the rule with oxytocic and/or parturient herbs of which Kacip Fatimah falls under. So on the safe side, Dherbs.com recommends women to avoid these herbs (oxytocic and parturient herbs) during the first 38 or 39 weeks of pregnancy.
A woman can take other herbs not recommended for pregnancy if she takes them in very small dosages or amounts. For example, a woman would not take Goldenseal Root while pregnant, but during the first trimester when she is experiencing morning sickness, she could put a pinch of Goldenseal Root powder on her tongue to help alleviate the nausea, a symptom of morning sickness.
A woman also would not take or consume Beth (Birth) Root during pregnancy, but if she was spot bleeding during the pregnancy, especially in the first trimester (a possible sign of a miscarriage, but not necessarily), then to stop the bleeding or perhaps onset of a miscarriage, she could take Beth Root in small amounts (in addition with other styptic or anti-bleeding herbs, e.g. Cranesbill or Aum Root, Lady’s Mantle, Shepherd’s Purse, Goldenseal Root, Cayenne, etc.). Her body would focus these otherwise harmful herbs (while pregnant) on stopping the bleeding and whatever other functions were needed.
Oxytocic and parturient herbs include:
- Kacip Fatimah
- Blue Cohosh
- Black Cohosh
- Rue
- Pennyroyal
- Sqauwvine
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