Dear Bob Liebert,

I am nine weeks pregnant and have been drinking black cohosh tea. Is this safe during pregnancy?

anonymous

Dear Friend,

Black Cohosh is NOT to be used in the first trimester, and in fact is never used until the last two weeks of pregnancy. Actually Cohosh is not very active made as a tea, but I would definitely stop its use (though no permanent harm will have been done, but it is a uterine stimulant). An herb like Black Haw is used where there is history of miscarriage; otherwise Raspberry Leaf is the herb of choice that can be used throughout pregnancy. Where may you have gotten the info. on using Black Cohosh?

You can buy these herbs and many more in the Formula and Single Herb sections of the Teeter Creek Herb website. Herbs that don't appear in the Formula or Single Herb lists can usually be requested in the "Message" section at the bottom of the order page.

The information expressed is the personal observations of Herbalist Bob Liebert based on his personal experience and his studies of folk and traditional herbalism. These observations are not meant to be a substitute for qualified medical diagnosis and treatment. Uses of many of the herbs have not been scientifically verified.