Is hibiscus tea safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about hibiscus tea during pregnancy?

1. Hibiscus flowers have a long history in traditional medicine as a plant used to bring on a late period, and that reputation has actually been studied by researchers rather than dismissed as folklore. 1
2. Concentrated hibiscus extract measurably slowed and weakened uterine muscle contractions in animal studies, showing this plant is pharmacologically active on the womb and not just a flavoring ingredient. 2
3. Pregnant rats given hibiscus extract had female offspring that gained extra weight and reached puberty later, changes the researchers linked to elevated stress-hormone levels in the mother during pregnancy. 3
4. A daily hibiscus drink measurably lowered blood pressure over six months in a clinical trial of healthy adults, so this isn't just a folk claim about the tea. 4
5. Hibiscus extract added on top of a prescription blood pressure medication produced blood pressure drops similar to combining two prescription drugs, which is exactly why it's worth mentioning to your provider if you take blood pressure medicine. 5

Is hibiscus tea safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. The first trimester is when this caution matters most. Hibiscus has a long folk history as a plant used to bring on a late period, which lines up with exactly the window you're trying to protect. Most clinicians suggest choosing a different tea for now and checking with your provider before hibiscus becomes a habit.
• Second trimester. The period-related worry matters less by the second trimester, but the blood-pressure question doesn't go away. If your blood pressure has ever run low, or you're on any blood-pressure medication, ask your provider before drinking hibiscus tea regularly.
• Third trimester. Care teams often watch blood pressure closely in the third trimester, so a tea that can lower it on its own adds a variable your provider may not want in the mix. It's simplest to save hibiscus tea for after delivery and ask your provider when it's fine to bring back.