Avoiding pregnancy constipation - Ask the experts: answers to your questions from the leaders in natural medicine - Brief Article

Natural Health, Dec, 2002

I drink a tea with senna, licorice root, and other herbs weekly to keep me regular. Can I continue this therapy in pregnancy? If not, how do I prevent constipation?

ADRIANE FUGH-BERMAN, M.D., REPLIES: The ingredients in your tea are safe for weekly use by nonpregnant women, but I would not recommend using them during pregnancy. Doctors and researchers do not know if many herbs are safe to take during pregnancy, so it is better to err on the safe side and avoid all herbs, especially during early pregnancy, when fetal organs are developing.

Senna (Cassia spp) and other anthraquinone-containing herbs like cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana), aloe leaf (Aloe vera), and Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) could increase the risk of uterine contractions.

The herb licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) may increase the risk of premature delivery. A recent study of Finnish women found that heavy licorice eaters (who consumed more than 500 mg of glycyrrhizin, the active ingredient in licorice, per week) were twice as likely to give birth before 38 weeks than women who ate little or no licorice. Licorice affects hormone production in the adrenal glands and has caused low potassium levels, high blood pressure, and other complications in some people. There's no way that we know of to determine whether someone is sensitive to licorice or not, but women appear to be more sensitive to licorice than men. Most American brands of licorice candy are okay because they are flavored with anise (Pimpinella anisum) rather than licorice; Twizzlers licorice candy is an exception.

Safe options for constipation during pregnancy include molasses (add 1 to 2 tablespoons a day to hot cereal or mix it with hot or warm water and drink it) or flaxseeds (soak 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds in 6 ounces of water and drink; take once or twice daily).