Are herbal teas safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about herbal teas during pregnancy?

1. Herbal teas and supplements sold in the U.S. don't have to prove they're safe, effective, or pure before hitting the shelf, so what's on the label and what's actually inside can differ. 1
2. You can look up safety notes and known interactions for most common tea herbs one ingredient at a time in NCCIH's Herbs at a Glance library. 2
3. Licorice root in large amounts has been linked to preterm birth risk, senna and cascara are stimulant laxatives, and pennyroyal has documented toxicity, so all three are worth watching for on a label. 3
4. Talk with your provider before starting any herbal supplement or tea during pregnancy. 4

Is herbal teas safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Stick with well-studied single-ingredient teas like ginger, peppermint, or rooibos for now, and skip anything you're unsure about.
• Second trimester. Same idea applies. Some pregnancy-marketed blends add herbs like red raspberry leaf that can mildly affect the uterus, so talk to your provider before drinking one regularly.
• Third trimester. Some blends are marketed specifically for the third trimester, red raspberry leaf being the classic example. Those are decisions to make with your provider, not casual choices.