Is echinacea safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about echinacea during pregnancy?

1. Small studies of echinacea use in pregnancy haven't found a higher chance of birth defects than the usual background rate. 1
2. Echinacea may ease common-cold symptoms in the general population, according to a 2023 review, though the evidence behind that is only low to moderate quality. 2
3. Echinacea products vary widely: different plant species, different parts of the plant, and different concentrations, so there's no single safety answer for 'echinacea' as a whole. 1
4. Herbal supplements don't have to prove they're safe, effective, or pure before hitting the shelf, so what's on the label may not match what's in the bottle. 1

Is echinacea safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. First trimester use is the most studied window, though still only a few hundred pregnancies. Short courses haven't shown a higher risk of malformations in these small studies.
• Second trimester. There's less research for this stage. If you keep using it, do so with your provider's guidance.
• Third trimester. Herbs like this that affect the immune system are usually set aside this late in pregnancy. Better-studied supportive options are preferred at this stage.